A Scotch Chix Glossary

American Whiskey:  Whiskey made in the United States. Most US whiskeys must be aged in new oak charred casks.

Body: The way the whisky feels in one's mouth.

Bourbon: A type of whiskey made in the United States with at least 51% corn. Originated in Bourbon County, KY.

Blended Scotch Whisky: Contains both malt whiskys and grain whiskys, usually in a a 40% malt to 60% grain ratio. Whiskys may be from many distilleries. A violation of Scotch Chix Rule Number 1.

Canadian Whisky: Whisky made in Canada, either from corn or from barley.

Cask: The wooden barrel in which whisky is stored while it matures.

Cask Strength Whisky: Whiskys bottled at typically 100-110 deg proof (57-63% alcohol).

Dram: A measure of whisky.

Field Trip: A single malt whisky adventure.

Finish: The taste after one has swallowed the whisky.

Flight: A sampling of whiskys offered in a bar or pub.

Grain Whisky: Whisky made from malted and unmalted barley, wheat, or corn.

Highball: A drink served in a tall glass consisting of liquor (often whisky) mixed with water or a carbonated beverage: clear violation of Scotch Chix Rule #2. A traditional highball was made with Rye Whiskey.

IB: Independent Bottling. An independent company buys casks of whisky and bottles them for sale.

Irish Whiskey: Whisky made from unmalted barley, distilled three times and aged at least four years.

Malt: Barley which was soaked in water, germinated, then dried to stop the germination process.

Malt Whisky: Whisky made from malted barley.

Master Blender: An individual who creates the final whisky product from multiple casks.

Nose: Aroma.

Neat: Scotch simply served in a glass. The only way to order it, Ladies and Gentlemen. 

OB: Official Bottling or Original Distillery Bottling. The bottling of whisky by the distillery that produced it.

Palate: The taste while the whisky is in one's mouth.

Peat: Compressed vegetable matter cut from peat bogs and then dried. Peat is burned as the malt is dried to give the malt and therefore the scotch its smoky flavor.

Remedial Scotch Chix Training: Education in the basic principals of the care and drinking of a single malt whisky. Recommended for individuals with questionable palates or who violate the Scotch Chix Rules.

Scotch: A spirit that conforms to a 1991 UK order requiring that it: be distilled at a Scottish distillery, be made from water and malted barley (to which whole grains may be added), be matured in oak casks in Scotland for at least three years and one day, be distilled at less than 94.8% alcohol by volume and bottled at more than 40% alcohol by volume.

Scotch Chick: A sensual and sophisticated female connoisseur of single malt whisky.

Scotch Chix Rules: A set of rules for the care and drinking of a single malt whisky.

Scotch Gent: A sensual and sophisticated male connoisseur of single malt whisky who is worthy of a Scotch Chick.

Scotch on the Rocks: Scotch with ice – a clear violation of Scotch Chix Rule Number 2.

Slainte Mhah (slawncha-va): A toast mean good health.

Single Malt Whisky: Whisky from a single distiller made solely with malted barley and aged at least three years.

Tasty Tidbit: A savory goodie.

Tasty Treat:  A sweet goodie.

Tennessee Whiskey: A type of bourbon made in Tennessee and filtered through sugar maple charcoal.

Trusty Hip Flask: A container for carrying whisky. A Scotch Chick should never be without it.

Vatted Malt Whisky: A mixture of single malt whiskys from different distilleries.

Whisky: A spirit made from fermented mash of grain or barley, aged in barrels. The name is corrupted from the Gaelic "Uisge Baugh," meaning "water of life."