It all comes down to which type of whiskey, or whisky, you’re talking about. If the drink has its origins in Scotland, it’s known as ‘whisky’. If it’s Irish, then it’s ‘whiskey’. Elsewhere, the two terms are used interchangeably. There’s no right or wrong - unless you’re talking about Scotch whisky or Irish whiskey!

Whisky is produced all over the world, so you can order whiskey online to be delivered to your door from across the globe. From the beauty of the Scottish Highlands, to the vibrancy of Ireland, all the way to Japan and then back around into the depths of West Canada, you could say whisky is a bit of a globetrotter. 

Take a trip around the world when you buy whisky online, starting with iconic Scotch whisky from heritage brands like Glenfiddich or Johnnie Walker, dabble in some Gelston’s aged Irish whiskey, immerse yourself in the blended wonders of Super Nikka Japanese whisky, or stick to the classics with a No7 Jack Daniels whisky.

There are six key steps to the whiskey production process:

1. Malting - the grain (such as barley or rye) is treated to convert its starches to sugar

2. Mashing - the grain’s sugars are ground and mashed with hot water to create what’s known as ‘wort’

3. Fermentation - yeast is added to convert the sugars to alcohol

4. Distillation - whisky is distilled via pot stills or column stills, as the liquid is heated to just below boiling point. Its compounds begin to vaporise, with the vapour collected in a large copper coil. It’s then converted into a liquid. Some whiskies are double or triple distilled for an even more unique taste

5. Maturing - the liquid is then poured into barrels (usually oak casks) to age. Most whiskeys are matured for at least three years, but they can be aged for up to 25 years, or sometimes even longer

6. Bottling - when it exits the barrel, cask-strength whisky is typically 60% ABV (alcohol by volume). It’s then cut with water to bring this down to 40% ABV before being bottled

Whisky is a rich, full-bodied drink that typically features notes of spice, vanilla, oak, and sometimes zesty fruit too. Whisky is known for its heat - it’s not a spirit for the faint-hearted. Expect fire with every mouthful. Feel the burn.

The taste of each individual whiskey will vary depending on exactly how it’s been made and matured, but each blend will be identifiable as whisky, wherever in the world it’s been made. Flavoured whiskies are also available, for a different take on the classic taste.

Whiskey should be served at room temperature to get the most from its subtle flavours. Many long-time whisky drinkers believe you should only ever drink it neat - but not everyone can handle the burn. You could drink a little water in between each sip to counter the heat, but some prefer to dilute their whisky directly. 

Most purists will recommend serving your whisky with water - if you have to. If you’re new to drinking whiskey, diluting it with a small amount of water can prevent it from burning your taste buds - over time, you might prefer to drink it neat. You can always add a little extra water, but you can’t take it away, so dilute with a steady hand. 

Some serve whisky ‘on the rocks’, but over the course of a good conversation with friends, ice melts, potentially diluting your whiskey more than you would have liked. 

One option to prevent unwanted dilution is whiskey stones. These are small stones that can cool your whisky, without diluting its taste. 

For the ultimate whiskey experience, choosing the right glass is part of the drink itself. Before you order whisky online, check you’ve got a suitable vessel to drink it from, and peruse our selection of whisky glasses if you don’t. 

The most common choice of whisky glass is a tumbler, sometimes also known as a ‘rocks glass’, as it’s the perfect choice for enjoying a finger of your favourite tipple. 

A Glencairn glass is another popular option. These glasses are teardrop-shaped, with a wide bottom that’s ideal for swirling the whisky to get the most from its delicate details. Maximise the flavour of your Scotch for the tasting experience it deserves.

There are lots of different whisky cocktails you can make at home. These are just a few of our all-time favourites:

• Whisky Sour 
• Bourbon Old Fashioned 
• Manhattan
• Tennessee Mule
• Hot Toddy
• Rob Roy
• Rusty Nail

Stock up on mixers and other cocktail essentials when you buy whisky online, so you’re ready to mix up an Old Fashioned whenever the clock strikes cocktail hour.

The vintage of a whisky is usually given as a particular year. That will be the year that the whiskey was distilled and filled into its cask. The vintage can be different to the age of the whisky, as the latter typically refers to how long the spirit was matured in the cask before bottling.

Certain vintages are more limited and therefore more coveted than others, with older vintages highly prized. Our collection includes some truly stunning vintages, including a 44 Year Old Talisker x Parley Scotch, and a 30 Year Old Blended Malt from The Famous Grouse.

Whiskey isn’t like wine; once it’s bottled, that’s when the ageing process ends. When you buy whisky, it’s already aged, so there’s no need to save it for the future like you might with a wine. The only factors that might change the taste over time are oxidation or exposure to sunlight while it’s sitting on your shelf waiting to be drunk. That’s why it’s best to open it sooner, rather than later.

Whisky should be stored in its bottle, which should be kept upright. The perfect temperature to drink whisky at is somewhere between 15 and 20°C, so below room temperature, but not fridge-cold. If whiskey gets too cold, it can turn cloudy, affecting the drinking experience.

Whisky can go off - more so than some other spirits. When you order whiskey online, it’s important to be aware of how the particular blend has been made, as this will impact how long it takes to go off.

Whisky always takes sharper when it’s been barrel-aged for longer, but after a certain point, the whole flavour profile of a whiskey can change, and it might not be desirable to drink at all. Burning wood and ash typically give off tar, which coats the inside of barrels and eventually leaches out into booze. 

The longer a whisky spends in contact with the old charred wood of its barrel - especially if it’s a single malt Irish whiskey - then the taste will eventually start to degrade, as the over-darkened flavours will begin to overshadow other flavours.

You can also buy whisky with low or no alcohol content from The Bottle Club. Lyre’s American Malt is an alcohol-free whiskey alternative with aromas of roasted nuts and vanilla, with soft notes of herbs for a long finish. It’s delicious with cola or mixed into a mocktail. Keep a cool head with this contemporary alternative.