Scotch Whisky Categories: from Single Malt to Blended Scotch Whisky
Scotch Whisky is made from just three natural ingredients - cereals, water, and yeast. It must be distilled and matured in Scotland for at least three years and bottled at a minimum alcoholic strength of 40% ABV.
Discover the different categories of Scotch Whisky below.
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
A Scotch Whisky mashed, fermented and distilled at a single distillery from water and malted barley without the addition of any other cereals, and by batch distillation in copper pot stills. Single Malt Scotch Whisky must be bottled in Scotland.
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
A blend of one or more Single Malt Scotch Whiskies with one or more Single Grain Whiskies.
SINGLE GRAIN SCOTCH WHISKY
A Scotch Whisky distilled at a single distillery from water and malted barley with or without whole grains of other malted or unmalted cereals, and which does not comply with the definition of Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
BLENDED GRAIN SCOTCH WHISKY
A blend of Single Grain Scotch Whiskies, which have been distilled at more than one distillery.
BLENDED MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
A blend of two or more Single Malt Scotch Whiskies distilled at more than one distillery or a blend of Single Malt distillates.
2024 EXPORTS BY CATEGORY
In 2024, Scotch Whisky exports by category (defined by value) were:
- Bottled Blend £3.2bn +4.4% vs 2023 (59.4% of global exports)
- Single Malt £1.7bn -17.2% vs 2023 (31.0% of global exports)
- Bulk Blend £189m +9.1% vs 2023 (3.5% of global exports)
- Bulk Blended Malt £137m +17.1% vs 2023 (2.5% of global exports)
- Bottled Blended Malt £103m -25.6% vs 2023 (1.9% of global exports)
- Bulk Single & Blended Grain £74m +37.9% vs 2023 (1.4% of global exports)
- Bottled Single & Blended Grain £14m -45.3% vs 2023 (0.3% of global exports)
Use the interactive graphs below to explore Scotch Whisky exports in 2024 by category.
2024 EXPORTS BY CATEGORY VALUE
2024 EXPORTS BY CATEGORY VOLUME
Download our infographic below on Scotch Whisky categories.
