Scotch vs. American vs. English Whisky: The Yeast Divide

Scotch vs. American vs. English Whisky: The Yeast Divide

For decades, yeast in whisky was a behind-the-scenes player, important but barely acknowledged. Traditionally, its role was seen as functional, converting sugars into alcohol, while the focus was on grain, oak, and time.  But over the past few years, yeast has stepped into the spotlight, with distillers beginning to recognize it as a key contributor to whisky’s flavor. From Scotland to America and England, yeast is now being viewed not just as a…