Jura whisky
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Jura Red Wine Finish Tube Incl.
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Jura Red Wine Finish Tube Incl.
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Jura Red Wine Finish is a Scottish single malt from Jura built around the influence of a wine cask finish. Rather than presenting itself through an age statement, it draws attention to the red wine finish named on the bottle and the way that choice shapes its style.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a Jura for drinkers who want to explore a wine-finished malt without moving into a peat-led, salty or heavily woody profile. The supplied flavour profile points more clearly toward spice, with lighter fruity and floral touches in support.
At 40% alcohol, it remains straightforward in presentation while keeping the wine finish at the heart of its identity. Additional information about the brand can be found at https://www.jurawhisky.com/
The (…)Chichibu 2018 6y (Adelphi) Incl. Box
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Chichibu 2018 6y (Adelphi) Incl. Box
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Chichibu 2018 6y is a Japanese single malt where the limited nature of the release is central to its appeal. Drawn from a single cask and bottled at cask strength, it was released in a run of just 210 bottles. Rather than presenting a broad house style, it captures one very specific cask from Chichibu's maturation.
Distilled in Japan in 2018, it matured in a first fill bourbon barrel. The whisky is unpeated, so the emphasis moves away from smoke and towards purity, finesse, fruit-driven character and a clear spicy side. The wood influence is present, but it plays a supporting role rather than dominating the whisky.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this bottle sits in the selection as a precise and limited Chichibu release for drinkers who appreciate Japanese single (…)Jura 12y Oloroso Tube Incl.
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Jura 12y Oloroso Tube Incl.
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Jura 12y Oloroso is a Scottish single malt from the Jura region, bottled at 46% after twelve years of maturation. The name points clearly to the Oloroso influence, while the stated combination of sherry and bourbon casks suggests a whisky led by fruit, with wood and spice playing a supporting role.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of Jura we would place in front of someone looking for a fruit-driven single malt without a pronounced peated direction. The twelve-year age statement gives it a clear sense of maturity, while the overall style remains more about fruit expression than heavy oak.
The flavour impression is led by fruit, with a light touch of wood and a modest spicy undertone. Peat is not a defining feature here, so the whisky comes across as (…)Jura 12y Tube Incl.
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Jura 12y Tube Incl.
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In stockJura 12y is a Scottish single malt with a traditional foundation and a quietly distinctive twist. It spends almost ten years in American oak ex-bourbon casks, building the main body of the whisky, before moving into sherry casks for a notably long finish. Rather than a quick touch of sherry influence, Jura allows time for those flavours to settle into the whisky; two to two and a half years is not unusual here.
There is another detail that gives this whisky its shape. Jura mainly works with unpeated spirit, but this release also includes a small proportion of heavily peated spirit. The result is not a smoky whisky in the dominant sense. It is more like seasoning: a faint thread of smoke that helps the fruit, grain and spice stand out more clearly.
At (…)Jura 15y Manzanilla Tube Incl.
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Jura 15y Manzanilla Tube Incl.
In stock
Jura 15y Manzanilla is a Scottish single malt from Jura, bottled at 46% and matured for 15 years. That age gives it a clear sense of maturity, while still leaving room for the whisky's cask-led character to come through without feeling overcomplicated.
The maturation brings together bourbon and sherry cask influence. Rather than leaning into peat, this Jura is built around a more pronounced spicy side, with fruit playing a supporting role and a light touch of wood in the background.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a Jura for customers looking for an aged single malt with cask presence and spice, but without smoke taking the lead.
The flavour profile is led by spice, with a gentler fruit note sitting underneath. Wood influence is (…)Jura 16y Perspective N°1 Tube Incl.
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Jura 16y Perspective N°1 Tube Incl.
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Jura 16y Perspective N°1 is a Scottish single malt with its origin placed firmly at the centre of the story. It comes from Jura, carries a 16-year age statement and is bottled at 46.5%, giving it a clear presence without suggesting an overly forceful style.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of Jura we would introduce to someone interested in maturity and restraint rather than heavy smoke or dominant oak. The flavour profile points towards light floral, spiced and fruity elements, while peat, salt and wood are not presented as defining features.
That makes Perspective N°1 a more nuanced way to explore Jura: aged, composed and shaped around subtle aromatic detail rather than impact alone.
The stated flavour profile suggests a (…)Jura 18y Tube Incl.
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Jura 18y Tube Incl.
Only 2 left in stock!
Jura 18y is a Scottish single malt from Jura, built around long maturation and a carefully chosen finish. It spends 18 years in ex-Bourbon barrels made from American white oak before being finished in refined red wine casks, adding another layer to the whisky's mature foundation.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a whisky for drinkers who enjoy subtle development rather than overt intensity. The profile points to gentle wood, light spice and a fruit accent, with no peated character taking the lead. That makes the red wine finish feel especially relevant, giving the whisky a darker, more polished edge without overwhelming its single malt identity.
Bottled at 44%, it has enough strength to carry its age and cask influence while keeping a composed, (…)Jura 1991 30y Artist #11 (Signatory - Artist Edition) Incl. Box
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Jura 1991 30y Artist #11 (Signatory - Artist Edition) Incl. Box
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Jura 1991 30y Artist #11 is a Scottish single malt with the quiet authority of a very limited cask selection. Distilled in 1991 and bottled in 2021, it spent 30 years in a bourbon barrel, giving this release the feel of a precise, mature snapshot rather than a broad house-style bottling.
Signatory selected it for the Artist Edition and bottled it at cask strength, 54.1%. As a single cask release, it is all about one individual barrel and the character it developed over three decades. With only 100 bottles produced, and the last bottles now available, it has a special place in the Drankenshop Broekmans range for drinkers interested in older Jura in a direct, unblended form.
The profile is led by wood influence, supported by lighter floral, spicy, fruity and (…)Jura 1994 30y (Alistair Walker - Infrequent Flyers) Tube Incl.
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Jura 1994 30y (Alistair Walker - Infrequent Flyers) Tube Incl.
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Jura 1994 30y is a Scottish single malt with a strong sense of time, cask and provenance. Distilled in 1994 and bottled in 2024, it brings three decades of maturation into a single cask release selected by Alistair Walker for the Infrequent Flyers series.
Only 221 bottles were drawn from this cask, and it was bottled at cask strength at 52%. The virgin oak finish adds a clear layer of wood, sweetness and spice, giving the whisky a firm, expressive edge while keeping the focus on this particular Jura cask rather than on a broad house style.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, bottlings like this are valued because they show whisky in a very specific form: one distillation year, one cask, one limited release. With the last bottles now in view, this Jura 30 year old feels (…)Jura 1995 Single Cask Nectar 10th Anniversary Incl. Box
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Jura 1995 Single Cask Nectar 10th Anniversary Incl. Box
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Jura 1995 Single Cask Nectar 10th Anniversary is a rare single malt built around one very specific cask story. Distilled on 13 December 1995 and bottled in 2016, it spent 20 years maturing before being released at cask strength, 56.1% alcohol. Only 117 bottles were drawn from this single cask.
The Sauternes Finish gives this Jura a generous fruit-led direction. The influence of that famous French sweet wine comes through in the supplied notes of ripe apricot, tropical fruit, sweet white grapes and warm vanilla custard. Around that richness there is still a lightly rugged side, with a gentle smoky and saline accent mentioned in the tasting description.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of bottle we would present to someone looking beyond regular (…)Jura 2009 12y (Cadenhead - Original Collection)
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Jura 2009 12y (Cadenhead - Original Collection)
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Jura 2009 12y is a Scottish single malt from the Jura region, bottled by Cadenhead as part of the Original Collection. With its 2009 distillation year and 12 years of maturation, it presents itself as a clearly framed release: specific in origin, age and bottling style.
The sherry finish gives this whisky an important point of focus. The flavour profile places spice at the centre, supported more gently by fruit, floral notes and wood. Peat does not drive the style here, so the whisky reads more as a sherry-finished, spice-led Jura bottled at a confident 46%.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of bottle that tends to interest customers looking beyond the most familiar Jura releases. With only the last bottles remaining, it has become a more limited (…)Jura 2009 16y (The Whisky Agency - Made For Friends & Wave Farewell)
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Jura 2009 16y (The Whisky Agency - Made For Friends & Wave Farewell)
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Jura 2009 16y is a single malt with a distinctly darker, more comforting side. Distilled in 2009 and matured for 16 years in a Tawny Port cask, it was bottled by The Whisky Agency as part of the Made for friends & wave farewell series. The port cask brings the focus towards candied plum, dark chocolate and gentle spice, giving this island whisky a rich and rounded presence.
Its appeal lies in the detail: one single cask, bottled at cask strength at 51%. Rather than feeling like a broad house style, this is a specific snapshot of maturation, shaped by one cask and one bottling moment.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this Jura stands out as the kind of independent bottling that rewards a closer look. With its 16 years of maturation, Tawny Port influence and last (…)Jura 2011 13y Red Wine (Douglas Laing Old Particular)
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Jura 2011 13y Red Wine (Douglas Laing Old Particular)
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Jura 2011 13y Red Wine is a Scottish single malt with a very specific identity: island whisky from Jura, bottled by Douglas Laing in the Old Particular range, matured for 13 years and finished in a Ruby Port cask. The result is a whisky shaped by the meeting of the maritime strength mentioned in the product information and the generous fruitiness of fortified wine.
For Drankenshop Broekmans, the appeal lies in its small-scale nature as much as in its flavour direction. This is a single cask release of just 264 bottles, bottled at 48.4% without colouring and without chill filtration. That gives the whisky a close connection to the individual cask, with the port finish forming an essential part of this particular release rather than a simple finishing touch.
Jura 212 Incl. Box
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Jura 212 Incl. Box
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Jura 212 is named with a sense of place: the number refers to the 212 residents of the remote island of Jura. It is a small detail, but it gives this Scotch single malt a clear identity. The release also marked the beginning of a new series of annual limited editions following Jura's range renewal in 2018.
This 13-year-old whisky matured in American white oak before being finished in Chinkapin oak casks. Chinkapin, a yellow oak found in North America, is the feature that gives this bottling its distinctive angle. The character sits around clear wood influence and spice, with fruit playing a supporting role rather than taking over.
With 6000 bottles produced and the final bottles now indicated, Jura 212 has a natural place in the Drankenshop Broekmans (…)Jura 21y Tide And Time Incl. Box
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Jura 21y Tide And Time Incl. Box
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Jura 21y Tide And Time is built around the feeling of time passing slowly on Jura, where the movement of the tide becomes part of the whisky's story. It is a Scottish single malt with 21 years behind it, shaped by patience rather than haste.
Its maturation starts in American white oak ex-bourbon casks, followed by a finish in hand-selected American white virgin oak. That second stage gives the whisky a firmer oak presence and a spiced edge, while the fruit and sweetness remain very much part of the experience. The supplied notes also point to a smoky accent, expressed in a way that sits alongside the richer dessert-like flavours.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a mature Jura with a clear sense of place and theme: tide, time, wood and warmth. Bottled (…)Jura 29y Marriage (The Single Malts Of Scotland - Single Malts Of Scotland Marriage)
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Jura 29y Marriage (The Single Malts Of Scotland - Single Malts Of Scotland Marriage)
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Jura 29y Marriage is a Scottish single malt with age and composition at its centre. Bottled by The Single Malts of Scotland in the Marriage series, it brings together multiple vintages into one 29-year-old release, keeping Jura firmly at the heart of the whisky.
It is bottled at cask strength at 42.9%, a naturally measured strength for a whisky of this age. The stated Bourbon Barrel maturation supports a style where wood, spice and fruit have a clear role, with lighter floral touches and a gentle peated accent sitting further in the background.
With 576 bottles released and only the last bottles remaining, this Jura has a distinctive place in the Drankenshop Broekmans selection of independent Scotch single malts. It is the kind of bottle that rewards (…)Jura Bourbon Cask Tube Incl.
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Jura Bourbon Cask Tube Incl.
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Jura Bourbon Cask is built around a clear and easy-going idea: a fresh, fruity single malt from the Isle of Jura, with vanilla, toffee and apricot at the centre of its style. It does not rely on an age statement to tell its story; instead, the focus is on a straightforward bourbon cask character.
Maturation in ex-bourbon barrels made from white American oak gives this whisky its gentle sweetness and approachable shape. At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see it as a Jura for drinkers who enjoy fruit-forward Scotch single malt with light spice and a subtle wood influence, rather than a whisky dominated by smoke.
There is, however, a small detail that gives it a little extra interest. Jura describes it as mainly unpeated, with just a touch of peated malt. That does (…)Jura French Oak Tube Incl.
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Jura French Oak Tube Incl.
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Jura French Oak is a Scottish single malt from Jura, bottled at 42% ABV and presented as part of the distillery's recently renewed core range. Its character is shaped by maturation in American white oak, followed by a finish in hand-selected French oak.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of Jura we would introduce as refined rather than forceful. The fruit sits clearly at the centre, supported by gentle wood influence, light spice and a very subtle smoky hint as described in the product information.
It is a well-composed reference for discovering Jura through orchard fruit, floral freshness and soft sweet notes, with the French oak adding an extra layer of polish. Additional information about the brand can be found at https://www.jurawhisky.com/
Jura Islanders Expressions N°1 Barbados Rum 1l
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Jura Islanders Expressions N°1 Barbados Rum 1l
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Jura Islanders Expressions N°1 Barbados Rum 1l shows Jura single malt from a slightly different perspective, shaped by rum maturation and carrying a Barbados reference in its name. Rather than focusing on an age statement, this release draws attention to style, cask influence and a softer drinking character.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a Jura for customers who enjoy exploring a familiar island malt through a different lens. The flavour profile is gentle rather than forceful, with light fruit, spice, wood and a floral touch all sitting in a restrained register.
Bottled at 40% in a 1 litre format, it presents the rum-matured side of Jura without moving into heavy peat or pronounced coastal saltiness. Additional information about the brand can (…)Jura One And All 2017 Incl. Box
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Jura One And All 2017 Incl. Box
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Jura One And All 2017 is a 20-year-old single malt with a clear sense of place. It was created as a tribute to the Diurachs, the people of Jura, and to the close relationship between the island community, the distillery and the remote Isle of Jura itself. The whisky was selected by Jura's distilling team, all Diurachs, which gives the release a very personal island connection.
Its character is shaped by a broad mix of casks. First fill Bourbon barrels sit alongside whisky matured in Sherry Wood, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir casks. That combination brings together fruit, spice, sweetness and wine influence in a way that feels closely tied to the story behind the bottling.
Bottled at cask strength at 51%, without chill filtration and with (…)Jura Rum Finish Tube Incl.
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Jura Rum Finish Tube Incl.
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Jura Rum Finish shows a fruit-led side of Scottish single malt from the island of Jura. The rum cask finish gives it a distinct direction, placing the emphasis on a more fruity style rather than peat, smoke or coastal salinity.
With no age statement, the focus is less on maturation age and more on the way the cask finish shapes the whisky's personality. The supplied flavour profile points to clear fruitiness, supported by lighter floral, woody and spicy touches.
At Drankenshop Broekmans, we see this as a useful Jura expression for customers looking for an unpeated single malt with a rum-finished twist and a gentle, approachable flavour structure.
More information about Jura can be found at https://www.jurawhisky.com/
Fruit is the (…)Jura Tastival 2015 1997 18y Incl. Box
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Jura Tastival 2015 1997 18y Incl. Box
In stock
Jura Tastival 2015 1997 18y was created for Jura Tastival 2015, with Willie Cochrane working alongside Richard Patterson on this special release. Distilled on 12 March 1997 and matured for 18 years, it was bottled at cask strength, giving the whisky a direct and concentrated presentation.
The maturation story is central here. After a long rest in a bourbon cask, the whisky was finished in French wine casks from the Bouvet Ladubay estate in Saumur. That wine cask influence brings the fruitier side of Jura to the foreground, supported by gentle wood and spice rather than heavy peat or pronounced salinity.
Within the selection at Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of bottle we like to point out to customers who enjoy limited Jura releases with a clear sense (…)Jura Tastival 2016 Incl. Box
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Jura Tastival 2016 Incl. Box
On request only
Jura Tastival 2016 comes from a very specific moment in the Jura calendar: the island's annual Tastival, held in the same week as the Islay festival for music and whisky. It is a single malt with a clear sense of occasion, tied to the atmosphere of an island whisky celebration rather than a regular core-range release.
The sherry influence is the part that gives this bottling its direction. It was finished in Palomino Fino, Amoroso Oloroso and Apostoles Oloroso sherry casks, bringing a sherry-led style where spice takes a prominent role and fruit adds support without taking over.
At 51% and bottled at cask strength, it has real presence. With 8000 bottles released, this is a defined edition, and at Drankenshop Broekmans we see these last bottles as a chance to (…)Jura Tastival Bottling 2014
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Jura Tastival Bottling 2014
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Jura Tastival Bottling 2014 is a Scottish single malt with a clear festival connection. It was the first release in a series of four limited Tastival bottlings, created for the popular Feis Ilse whisky festival on Islay, where Jura takes part as something of an outsider.
The cask story is the part that gives this whisky its particular interest. It matured in ex-bourbon casks before receiving a finish in no fewer than six different types of French oak. That adds flavour and structure without pushing the whisky into extremes, staying close to the easy-drinking, full-flavoured Jura style described in the supplied information. It also naturally brings to mind the later Jura Seven Wood.
Only 3000 bottles were produced, and with the last bottles now indicated, this (…)
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about whisky
What is whisky?
Whisky is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grains (such as barley, corn, rye or wheat) and then aged in wooden casks, usually oak. The result is a complex drink with aromas that can range from fruity and floral to smoky, spicy or woody.
Generally speaking, a drink must meet the following basic requirements to be called whisky:
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Made from grains
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Fermented with yeast
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Distilled to a maximum of ±94.8% alcohol (so that flavour is retained)
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Matured in wooden casks
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Bottled with a minimum of 40% alcohol
Which whisky is tasty?
Which whisky is good? Which whisky is good? The answer to these questions is so specific and so personal that we cannot possibly answer them for everyone. In our range of whisky you will find more than 3,000 bottlings, each with their own taste and profile, to objectively identify a universal "good whisky" is impossible.
You can look for the whisky you like in different ways. Either you start from whisky with a fairly flat and neutral flavour profile and expand and explore from there, but other enthusiasts prefer to start at the extremes to quickly discover what they absolutely do not like. We would not recommend that second approach, as whisky with a distinct character is often an "aqcuired taste", something you gradually work towards and often learn to develop an appreciation for as you build your palate.
Are you looking for a whisky for someone else and have no idea what they drink and what they like? If so, limit yourself to whisky with a light and balanced flavour profile. With most of our whisky, you will find a flavour profile where the whisky is rated from 0 to 3 on six basic pillars: peaty, spicy, salty, woody, floral and fruity. If you blindly buy a whisky for someone else, limit yourself to whisky where none of the six pillars slip through. If you do know what kind of whisky the lucky person drinks, then with a bit of luck, you can also find that whisky in our range and from there you can look for other whiskies that have a similar flavour profile.
Is whisky Scotch or Irish?
Both Scotland and Ireland claim the origins of whisky, and both countries have a rich history of distilling it. The earliest written mention of whisky comes from Ireland, from the 12th century. But Scotland has brought the art of whisky making to perfection and today is famous worldwide for its whiskies. Ultimately, whisky is both Scottish and Irish, each with its own unique traditions and flavours.
What is Scotch whisky?
In addition to the basic rules to speak of whisky, there are a number of additional conditions for Scotch whisky.
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Must be wholly produced and matured in Scotland
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Aged for at least 3 years in oak casks
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Only water and caramel colour (E150a) may be added
Which Scottish regions are famous for their whisky?
Scotland is divided into a number of regions, each of which makes its own signature whisky. Exactly how many there are depends on how accurately you want to describe them.
On the Scottish mainland, we talk about
- Highland (Ben Nevis, Ardnamurchan, Edradour, ...)
- Lowland (Johnny Cree, Lochlea, Auchentoshan, ...)
- Campbeltown (Springbank, Kilkerran, Longrow, ...)
- Speyside (Benriach, Tomintoul, Glenglassaugh, ...)
As the first island, Islay is always mentioned separately. From Islay come mainly peated whiskies such as Bowmore, Port Ellen, Bruichladdich and Ardbeg.
You will also find a number of islands around Scotland, called the "Islands". Within that group, another distinction is often made between
- Isle of Arran
- Isle of Harris
- Jura
- Mull (Ledaig, Tobermory, ...)
- Orkney (Highland Park, Scapa, ...)
- Skye (Talisker, ...)
What is Irish whiskey?
To speak of Irish whiskey, the drink must meet a number of additional conditions.
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Produced and matured in Ireland
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Aged for at least 3 years in wooden casks
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Often triple-distilled, but this is not compulsory
What is American whiskey?
American whiskey is also again subject to a number of specific rules, in addition to the basic guidelines to speak of whiskey.
For bourbon whiskey:
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At least 51% corn in the grain mix
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Matured in new charred oak barrels
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Distilled to a maximum of 80% alcohol
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In the barrel a maximum of 62.5% alcohol
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No additives allowed (except water)
For rye whiskey, at least 51% rye must be used.
Tennessee whiskey follows the same guidelines as bourbon, but must be filtered through charcoal.
What is the difference between "whisky" and "whiskey"
The difference in terminology is related to the country of origin. In principle, "whiskey" is always referred to, except when spirits from the United States or Ireland are involved. In those countries, the term "whiskey" is consistently used.
What is the difference between single malt, blended and grain whisky?
Single malt whisky comes from a single distillery and is made exclusively from malted barley. These whiskies often have a distinct and characterful flavour profile. Blended whisky is a mix of different whiskies (both malt and grain) and tends to be softer and more approachable. Grain whisky is made from other grains such as corn or wheat and is often used in blends, but also exists as a separate bottling with a lighter style.
What is a "no age statement" whisky?
If a whisky is marked "NAS" or "No Age Statement", it means that no age is stated on the bottle.
When an age is mentioned on the bottle, it must, according to the rules, always be the youngest whisky in the blend and not the age that is most represented percentage-wise in the blend. A producer will therefore deliberately choose not to state an age on his bottle in two cases: when an old whisky is blended with a small proportion of younger whisky, or when young whisky is blended with a proportion of older whisky. In the first case, he does not want to put a young age on his bottle if his blend contains mainly older whisky, and in the second case, marketing-wise it is more interesting to go out with that particle of older whisky.
What is a "single cask" whisky?
A single cask means that the whisky in the bottle comes from only one cask and was not blended with another whisky from another cask. Because the content comes from a single cask, the number of bottles depends on the size of the cask and the evaporation of the product (the so-called Angel's Share), the number of bottles is limited (and often numbered) and no new bottles of this specific reference come onto the market. A single cask is thus always unique in flavour and profile, and never quite comparable to similar bottles that do not come from the same cask.
What is a whisky at "cask strength" ?
A cask strength whisky is not diluted with water before bottling, but goes straight from the cask into the bottle and therefore retains the alcohol percentage during/after cask maturation. One of the advantages of cask strength whisky is that as a drinker you can decide how strong you like your whisky by diluting or not diluting it with a little water yourself according to your preference, rather than the producer having already done this for you. Cask Strength whisky has a higher alcohol content and this can sometimes suppress the subtlety of the whisky.
What does the term non-chill filtered mean?
The term non-chill filtered, or well-known variations of it such as "unchilled filtered" or "not cold filtered", indicates that the spirit was not cold filtered before bottling. During cold filtration ("chill filtration"), the whisky is cooled to around freezing point and then filtered. This process removes certain substances from the spirit such as fatty acids, proteins and esters.
Whisky that does not undergo that specific filtering process has a number of specific properties: they often have more character, the mouthfeel is fuller and oilier and more flavour compounds are retained. Because they have more body, they often feel creamier on the palate and the aromas are more intense. The disadvantage of skipping cold filtering is that the whisky can be cloudier.
Most whisky on the market is chill filtered because it produces a clear and consistent spirit in the bottle and in the glass, even with the addition of ice or water. That consistency leads to better presentation and less chance of consumer complaints. Unchill filtered whisky is especially popular with aficionados and purists for the same reason, because they know and understand why their whisky is the way it is. For this reason, "chill filtered" is usually not explicitly stated, but "unchill filtered" is.
What is a peated whisky?
The term "peat", often also described as "smoky", "smoked" or "peated" is part of the flavour profile that is very typical and recognisable in whisky.
Peated whisky evokes scents of a seaside campfire, a smoky charcoal grill, and sometimes even medicinal, salty notes reminiscent of the Scottish coast. These whiskies have a depth and character that either enchant or terrify aficionados.
Peat is an organic material made up of compressed plant remains, formed over centuries in boggy areas. In Scotland, where peated whisky originated, peat has traditionally been used as a fuel. This later became an integral part of the whisky-making process and resulted in the unique smoky flavour these whiskies are known for.
The distinctive flavour of peated whisky is created in the malt phase of whisky production. Barley is first soaked in water and then spread out to germinate. During this process, the barley begins to develop sugars that are later needed for fermentation. Once the barley starts germinating, drying is interrupted by a fire of burning peat. The smoke soaks into the barley and impregnates it with phenols - the chemical compounds responsible for the smoky flavour.
Which whisky suits my taste (sweet, smoky, fruity...)?
Whisky can be roughly categorised by flavour profiles. Do you like sweet? Then go for whiskies with notes of vanilla, caramel or honey (often matured in bourbon casks). Prefer fruity? Choose Speyside or Irish whiskies with fresh apple and citrus aromas. If you are a fan of powerful, smoky flavours, then Islay whiskies are a good choice. Those who like spicy or woody notes may look more towards whiskies with sherry barrel maturation.
Which whisky is good for beginners?
For beginners, accessible, smooth whiskies without too much smoke or complexity are ideal. Think fruity and slightly sweet styles, such as many Irish whiskies or soft Scottish Speyside whiskies. These often have notes of apple, honey and vanilla and are easy to drink. Avoid strongly smoky (peated) whiskies at first, as that flavour is too intense for some. From there, you can gradually discover which styles suit you best.
Which whisky makes a good gift?
A good gift whisky is usually a safe, accessible choice that will appeal to many people. For example, choose a well-known single malt with a smooth and balanced profile, or a nice bottle in a gift box.
Do you know the recipient's tastes? Then you can choose more specifically: a smoky whisky for lovers of powerful flavours, or a fruity and mellow variant for beginners. In doubt? Then you will always be right with a classic, non-smoky whisky.
What does the designation PPM mean in a whisky?
The abbreviation PPM is used to describe the intensity of the peat flavour in a peated whisky. The abbreviation PPM stands for Phenol Parts Per Million, and the higher the number the more intense the peat flavour is. A whisky with 10 PPM has a subtle smoky character while a whisky with 50 PPM or higher can be a real smoke bomb.
How strong is whisky?
When people talk about the "strength" of liquor, they usually mean its alcohol content (ABV).
Whisky is a regulated product, meaning that a number of conditions must be met before the final product can be called "whisky". One of the rules is the minimum alcohol content: in the EU (including Scotch and Irish whiskey), the US and Canada, whisky must contain a minimum of 40% alcohol by volume to be called whisky.
Many standard bottlings are around 40-43%, some quality or "non-chill filtered" releases choose 46% ABV. In the US, bourbon and rye are also common at 45-50% ABV (e.g. Bottled-in-Bond at 50%). In Japan, 40-43% is common. "Cask strength" or "barrel proof" whiskies are bottled undiluted and are therefore higher in strength: usually between about 50% and 65%. Regional exceptions exist, such as India where many whiskies are bottled around 42.8% ABV,
For average commercial whiskies, 40-46% is the normal range, and you will find most whiskies within that range.
What does the designation "proof" mean in whisky?
You may also have seen "proof" written on bottles, for example "100 proof". It is an alternative way of indicating the strength of whisky and is only used in the US today. The formula is thankfully simple; the "proof" value is actually double the alcohol content (ABV). In other words, a bottle of "100 proof" corresponds to 50% alcohol.
What is meant by "small batch"?
"Small batch" is a term indicating that the whisky was produced in relatively small quantities per batch (production run). Instead of huge volumes being mixed continuously, the distiller selected only a limited number of casks or ingredients to bring together. The idea behind it is to have more control over quality, flavour and consistency, for example by blending a few carefully chosen casks to achieve a specific flavour profile.
Small Batch often suggests craftsmanship and attention to detail, but it is not a strictly regulated term. So there is no set definition of exactly how much "small" is, and it can vary greatly from producer to producer.
What is the difference between cheap and expensive whisky?
The price difference is often in factors such as ageing time, casks used, production method and rarity. More expensive whiskies have usually matured for longer or come from special casks, providing more complexity and depth. However, this does not mean that a more expensive whisky is always "tastier". Taste remains personal, and there are also affordable whiskies of excellent quality that perfectly suit your preference.
What does the age on a whisky bottle mean?
The age on a whisky bottle indicates the minimum time the whisky has been aged in cask. In blends, this means that the youngest whisky in the blend is that age.
During that maturation, the whisky develops its flavour, colour and aromas. The longer the ageing, the more influence the cask has on the final result.
Which whisky is suitable as an investment?
If you are looking for a bottle as an investment, the references we refer to as "Collector" are often a good choice. However, it is no guarantee of success, some bottles rise in values, others do not and in a few cases a sudden hype drives the price up suddenly. For this reason, always keep Jan Broekmans' own advice in mind: don't buy whisky as an investment that you would never want to drink yourself. If the price doesn't go up, at least you'll still have the pleasure of drinking them yourself.
Is older whisky always better?
Not necessary. Older whisky can be more complex and softer, but sometimes loses fresh or fruity characteristics. Quality depends on many factors, such as the cask and the conditions in which the whisky matures.
Ultimately, "better" is a matter of taste. Some younger whiskies can be surprisingly lively and full of character, perfectly matching what you are looking for.
Does whisky mature further in the bottle?
No, whisky matures only in cask. Once the whisky is bottled, the maturation process stops completely.
In principle, the flavour remains stable, although an opened bottle can change slightly after a long time due to contact with oxygen. This is why it is best to store whisky tightly sealed and out of direct sunlight.
Is whisky going bad?
Whisky is a strong drink with a high alcohol content, which means it has a virtually unlimited shelf life. If you have a bottle of whisky that is properly sealed, you can keep it for years, even decades, without its taste or quality deteriorating. However, the flavour can change if the whisky is exposed to light, air or temperature fluctuations. If there is too much air in the bottle relative to liquid then "oxidation" can also occur, directly affecting its flavour and intensity.
So an open bottle of whisky will often lose some of its aromas over time, but it will not "go bad".
Make sure you store your bottle in a cool, dark place and seal it well after each use, and that the bottle is always at least a quarter full (the less air there is in the bottle, the less oxidation can occur). Leftovers are best poured into smaller sample bottles that can be sealed well from the outside air (apothecary bottles are ideal, glass decanters are not), or you can artificially fill the original bottle with, say, marbles to reduce the volume of air in the bottle.
What is an independent bottler?
Independent bottlers are entrepreneurs who buy whisky from existing distilleries and then bottle or blend it themselves. They are not involved in the actual production process, but they take care of the further development of the whisky. This means they select the casks themselves and decide how long the whisky matures, in order to create a unique final product.
Some whiskies are sold exclusively to independent bottlers and are not used for the original distillery's range. Examples of such bottlers include Signatory, Douglas Laing, and Cadenhead's.
There are also 'secret bottlings', where the bottler does not reveal which distillery the casks come from.
Independent bottlings are usually single casks. They are often not coloured, are usually non-chill filtered and very limited in availability, which only makes the product more unique. This constitutes a delightful change from regular whiskies, you could say.
In which glass do you pour whisky?
The classic glass in which whisky is very often poured is called a tumbler. This is a low, straight and wide glass. Some people prefer to drink their whisky from these glasses because of the tradition and the feel it gives. This glass has a wide, cylindrical shape and a thick bottom, making it perfect to use when mixing whisky with other drinks like cola or water, for example, or when you want to add ice to your whisky. It is most often used with bourbon and blended whisky.
However, connoisseurs prefer to opt for a tulip-shaped glass, as it bundles the aromas better in the nose. Snifters and copita glasses, for example, have such a shape, but are still more commonly associated with cognac and sherry. The general consensus therefore seems to be that the Glencairn glass is still usually the best choice to maximise the better whisky. The advantage of all three is that you can hold the glass in such a way that your body heat will not warm up the spirit in your glass.
Do you drink whisky with ice?
The most loaded question is whether you should drink whisky at room temperature or "on the rocks". We take no position on right or wrong and advise everyone to enjoy it in the way that suits them best. If you like a particular whisky better on ice rather than at room temperature, who are we to deprive you of that pleasure?
That said, there are some differences: a room-temperature whisky evaporates more easily, making the nose more intense as with a chilled whisky. In turn, using ice dilutes the whisky, so the flavour and intensity can diminish once that ice starts to melt in your glass. Whisky stones can be a good alternative if you don't like a whisky at room temperature but at the same time don't want your spirit to be diluted by the melting ice in your glass either.
Should you add water to whisky?
Adding water to whisky is not a must, but it can help release aromas better. Especially with whiskies with a higher alcohol content, a few drops of water can make the flavour more accessible.
Most important is personal preference: drink whisky the way you like it best, pure, with water or possibly with ice.
What is a "dram"?
A "dram" usually refers to one serving of whisky. The quantity of a dram is around 3cl, some serve 2.5cl and others go up to 3.5cl. From a 5cl sample or mini-bottle, you basically get just 2 drams, enough to discover a spirit for two.
Handy to remember if you ever want to organise a tasting yourself: from a standard 70cl bottle with a standard filling level you get:
- 35 drams of 2cl (tip: the bottle pilot on our webshop doses exactly 2cl)
- 28 drams of 2.5cl
- 23 drams of 3cl
- 20 drams of 3.5cl
However, do not count too strictly when organising a tasting, and always keep a few drams in reserve in case there is a spillage when pouring or the bottle does not contain exactly 70cl spirit (with older bottlings, the filling level can decrease slightly over time due to natural processes). And don't forget to include the host of your tasting, of course!
What does "angel's share" mean?
The term "angel's share" refers to the part of a whisky (or other matured spirit) that slowly evaporates in the barrel during the maturation process. As the spirit is aged in wooden barrels for years, a small amount of alcohol and water escapes through the pores of the wood each time. This loss can amount to about 2% per year, depending on factors such as climate, storage location and barrel type. The name is meant poetically: it is said that this part is "for the angels".
Although technically a loss for the distiller, the angel's share plays a crucial role in the development of flavour and aroma. The evaporation concentrates the residual flavours, and the contact with the wood provides complexity such as vanilla, spice and fruity notes. In warmer climates (such as rum), the angel's share tends to be greater, resulting in faster maturation than, for example, in cooler whisky regions such as Scotland.
How do I get started on Scotch whisky?
Many people assume that a more expensive bottle of Scotch whisky is automatically better. It sounds logical: the higher the price, the better the quality. But in reality, the difference between a bottle of a few tens and one of thousands of euros is rarely purely in the taste. What you pay has much more to do with age, scarcity, marketing and reputation than with what you actually taste in your glass.
To understand this properly, it helps to look at Scotch in different "levels". Each level tells you something about what you are drinking and, more importantly, what you are paying for, but not every epicurean goes through all these levels.
You can read all about it in our blog post Why an expensive Scotch doesn't necessarily taste better - the different levels of Scotch.
How do I get started on Irish whiskey?
At one time, Irish whiskey dominated the world. In the late 19th century, more than 70% of all whiskey came from Ireland. But wars, trade conflicts and prohibition in the US caused a dramatic decline. By 1980, barely two distilleries remained. Today, that picture has been completely reversed. Ireland once again has dozens of distilleries and the range of offerings ranges from simple entry-level bottles to rare collector's items costing thousands of euros.
But as always, more expensive does not automatically mean better. What do you actually get for your money? And from what point do you mainly pay for prestige? You can read more about it in our blog post Irish whiskey explained: from pub classics to million-dollar bottles.
How do I get started with Japanese whisky?
In 1918, a young Japanese student Masataka Taketsuru left for Scotland with one clear goal: to learn how to make whisky. He studied in Glasgow, apprenticed at several distilleries and obsessively noted down every detail of the process. Those notes would later form the basis of the Japanese whisky industry.
Today, Japanese whisky is a phenomenon. Bottles go under the hammer for tens of thousands of euros, distilleries can barely keep up with demand and the number of producers has exploded. But at the same time, that also makes it confusing: where do you start if you just want to drink it?
You'll discover all about it in our blog post Japanese whisky explained: from entry-level to untraceable.
Where can I buy whisky?
Basic whisky and no-name whisky can be found in any shop or supermarket, but you undoubtedly want something more. Then you're in the right place at Drankenshop Broekmans, because our range of almost 3,000 whiskies covers all brands, all distilleries, all bottlers, all flavour profiles and all price ranges.
