Bourbon vs Scotch: What’s the Difference?

Thomas Short — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 20:00:45 +0000

Bourbon and Scotch are both types of whiskey, but they come from different places, are made with different grains, and age in different barrels. Bourbon is an American whiskey made mostly from corn and aged in new charred oak. Scotch is a Scottish whisky made from malted barley or grain and aged in used barrels. You might have also noticed that bourbon is a “whiskey” and Scotch is a “whisky.” The difference in spelling just comes down to regional preference; at the end of the day, they’re both types of whiskey (or whisky). What Makes Bourbon Bourbon To legally be a bourbon, a whiskey needs to be: There are plenty of misconceptions about bourbon. For starters, bourbon does not need to be produced in Kentucky to be called a bourbon. Also, any bourbon made outside the US or made with less than 51% corn might be called “bourbon-style,” but it isn’t technically a bourbon. There’s no minimum age requirement to be classified as a bourbon, though it does need to age in a barrel for two years to be called a “straight bourbon.” With bourbon, you can expect a sweet profile with caramel and vanilla notes. This is thanks to the corn in the grain bill and the freshly-charred wooden barrels. Whiskey tends to take on a lot of flavor from the barrel, and the unused oak transfers plenty into the bourbon. What Makes Scotch Scotch Scotch has its own set of rules. To legally be a Scotch, the whisky needs to be: Most Scotches are aged in used sherry or bourbon barrels. The barrel’s flavor expresses in the final Scotch product, which gives Scotch a wide range of flavors. If you’ve had Scotch, you might have noticed it was light and fruity, or peaty and smoky, or somewhere in between. The broader variety of barrels and grains used gives Scotch a ton of range. It’s also pretty common for Scotches from a specific region to be more uniform with others from that region. For example, Islay is known for peat flavor while Speyside tends to be lighter. Bourbon vs Scotch at a Glance Bourbon Scotch Country of origin United States Scotland Primary grain Corn (51%+) Malted barley or mixed grain Minimum age None (2 years for “straight bourbon”) 3 years Barrel type New, charred oak Used barrels (often from bourbon or sherry) Typical flavor profile Sweeter, caramel, vanilla Wide range, can be smoky/peaty or light and fruity Bourbon vs Scotch: Which Should You Choose? Bourbon and Scotch are different enough from each other that you might prefer one style over the other. If you like sweet flavor and you’re newer to whiskey, bourbon can be an easy entry to enjoy. If you want more range or you’re looking for a specific flavor, Scotch has plenty to offer. Both styles can be exceptional, and it’s worth giving a few versions of both a try to see which you like more. FAQ

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Bourbon vs Scotch: What’s the Difference?