CSP Single Malt & Blended Scotch Categories 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Scotch whisky category is defined as a blend of single malt whiskies from at least two different distilleries?
- Blended Scotch whisky
- Blended malt Scotch whisky (Correct answer)
- Blended grain Scotch whisky
- Single malt Scotch whisky
Correct answer: Blended malt Scotch whisky
Blended malt Scotch whisky is a blend of single malts from two or more distilleries, containing no grain whisky.
Question 2: What is the minimum number of years a Scotch whisky must mature in oak casks in Scotland?
- 2 years
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 5 years
- 10 years
Correct answer: 3 years
All five categories of Scotch whisky must be matured in Scotland in oak casks for a minimum of three years.
Question 3: A distillery releases a whisky made entirely from malted barley, distilled in pot stills, at a single distillery, but from multiple vintages blended together. How is this classified?
- Blended malt Scotch whisky
- Single grain Scotch whisky
- Single malt Scotch whisky (Correct answer)
- Blended Scotch whisky
Correct answer: Single malt Scotch whisky
Single malt Scotch whisky can combine casks from different years as long as all spirit comes from one distillery using malted barley in pot stills.
Question 4: Which grain cereal, besides malted barley, is most commonly used in the production of blended grain Scotch whisky?
- Rye
- Corn (maize)
- Wheat (Correct answer)
- Oats
Correct answer: Wheat
Wheat is the most commonly used cereal grain in Scottish grain whisky production, though corn and other grains are also permitted.
Question 5: The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 define five categories of Scotch. Which of the following is NOT one of those five?
- Single malt Scotch whisky
- Single grain Scotch whisky
- Single cask Scotch whisky (Correct answer)
- Blended grain Scotch whisky
Correct answer: Single cask Scotch whisky
Single cask is not a legally defined Scotch category; the five categories are single malt, single grain, blended malt, blended grain, and blended Scotch whisky.
Question 6: What distinguishes a 'vatted malt' from a 'blended Scotch whisky' under modern regulations?
- Vatted malt uses only pot stills; blended uses column stills exclusively
- Vatted malt (now blended malt) contains no grain whisky; blended Scotch contains both malt and grain (Correct answer)
- Vatted malt must be aged longer than blended Scotch
- Vatted malt is produced only in the Highlands
Correct answer: Vatted malt (now blended malt) contains no grain whisky; blended Scotch contains both malt and grain
What was once called vatted malt is now classified as blended malt Scotch whisky — it contains only malt whiskies with no grain spirit.
Question 7: In a standard blended Scotch whisky like Johnnie Walker Black Label, approximately what percentage of the blend is typically malt whisky?
- 5–10%
- 20–40% (Correct answer)
- 50–60%
- 70–80%
Correct answer: 20–40%
Most blended Scotch whiskies contain roughly 20–40% malt whisky, with grain whisky making up the remainder.
CSP Single Malt & Blended Scotch Categories 2
Which Scotch whisky category is defined as a blend of single malt whiskies from at least two different distilleries?