Whisky by country

Scotland

Scotland is the world's largest whisky producer. There are 97 distilleries throughout the country, with the Lowlands, Highlands, Speyside, Campbelltown and these islands being the 4 main whisky-producing regions. 1.5 billion bottles are produced every year. Scotch whisky is the most popular whisky, and one of the best in the world. There are many single malts.

Ireland

Ireland's whisky is generally sweeter and fruitier. Irish distilleries stand out for their triple distillation and use both malted and unmalted barley. The oldest, Old Bushmills, and the newest and most technologically advanced, Midleton, have long coexisted within the same group, Irish Distillers. This group had a virtual monopoly until 2006, when Diageo took over the Bushmills distillery. In 1987, a major distillery also made its mark: Cooley by John Teeling.

Japan

Japanese whisky isn't the oldest, but it's still the world's fourth-largest producer. It uses very pure water and produces some of the world's finest whiskies. Two major groups share this market. Suntory owns the Yamazaki distillery and Hakushu, creator of the famous Hibiki blend. Then there's the Nikka group, which owns the Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries. 

United States

The USA has become the home of bourbon and rye whiskey. Today, many distilleries have set up shop and broken the bourbon monopoly, as in New York with the Tuthilltown (Hudson) distillery.

France

France has more distilleries than Ireland! There are no fewer than forty distilleries, notably in Brittany and Alsace. In 1980, a group of Bretons embarked on the whisky adventure: the Armorik distillery.