The most important things for you summarized:

• With whiskey varieties, different countries of origin play an important role
• The type of production and the composition of the ingredients also distinguish different varieties from each other
• Mild and soft whiskeys are particularly suitable for cocktails

What types of whiskey are there?

The world of whiskey varieties is huge: single malt, single cask, bourbon, blended, peated – just to name a few.

Not to forget that the countries of origin also play an enormous role .

Whether a whiskey comes from Scotland, Japan, Germany or the USA or whether you have an Irish whiskey in your glass – each has its own character.

So where to start? We’ll enlighten you.

Here you will find an overview of 10 types of whiskey:

Single malt whisky

The single malt is a big and much imitated star.

The manufacturing process of the Scots for this king of whiskeys is a worldwide standard .

The “single” means: This is one of the whiskeys made by a single distillery and from a single grain .

It is made from malted barley (“malt”). Single malts are distilled in copper stills (“pot stills”).

After distilling, the single malt whiskey is aged in oak casks for at least three years .

This is where character really takes shape and is influenced by the barrel used.

If you want to know more about the production and properties of single malt, you should have a look here: What is single malt whiskey

single case

While the single malt comes from a single distillery, different bottlings from different casks are certainly combined (“blending”).

This step is not necessary with the single cask.

This is a whiskey that comes from a single cask .

Single refers only to the keg, not the grain.

This can also be made with other types of whiskey and come from any country.

The decisive factor is that the barrel must contain really good quality, because there is no need for a taste comparison through blending .

In addition, the good stuff is limited.

Single cask whiskeys are expensive collector ‘s items .

Blended malt whisky

The “malt” is still in it – an indication of 100 percent malted barley .

The “Blended” stands for the mixing of cask contents from different distilleries .

The origin can be international.

Is blended malt the same as blended scotch whisky?

Like blended malt, blended scotch is made from whiskeys from different distilleries.

But the starting material is different in blended Scotch: not only malted barley as in single malt, but also grain whiskey , which is made from other grains such as rye, wheat and corn.

This creates mild, velvety whiskeys.

grain whisky

“Grain” simply means corn.

Grain whiskey contains varying proportions of wheat, rye, barley and corn .

This whiskey is catchy and has a slightly sweet fruitiness.

It is therefore ideal for first-time discoverers of the whiskey varieties.

If the grain comes from a single barrel, it is called single grain whiskey – also a collector’s item.

Irish whiskey

The production method of Irish single malt whiskey does not differ much from Scottish single malt varieties.

Barrel aging in oak is not mandatory for the Irish – but most distilleries choose to do so.

In Ireland, whiskey is distilled three times in pot stills – not twice like in Scotland.

This creates a product that is one of the lighter, smoother types of whiskey – easy to drink.

Nevertheless, the good Irish whiskeys are never flat, but complex with fruity aromas and warm cask notes.

A whiskey specialty unique to Ireland is Single Pot Still Whisky .

For this, malted and unmalted barley is processed.

This was originally intended to save taxes.

Today, super soft and pure whiskeys are created in this process.

Bourbon Whiskey

Bourbon is a whole different breed of whiskey.

Easily catchy, tending toward sweetness, with a more defined play of aromas.

An ideal entry-level whiskey.

Bourbon comes from the USA.

Strongholds here are the states of Kentucky and Tennessee.

Bourbon whiskey is always at least 51 percent corn.

Then there are rye, wheat and barley.

The production differs from the whisk(e)y varieties of Scotland and Ireland.

Most bourbon is distilled in column stills – three times.

There is no minimum maturation period as with the European whiskey varieties.

However, two years of minimum cask aging in fresh American white oak are required for Straight Bourbon.

The barrels are burned out in defined degrees of strength – this intensifies the barrel aromas and color intensity.

Then there is the bottled-in-bond bourbon whiskey among the American whiskey varieties .

It has strict requirements : from a distillery, from one season, at least four years of barrel aging, no cold filtration.

And finally, the Americans have also created whiskey varieties for collectors: the single barrel bourbon .

So single cask bottling with strong limitation.

Tennessee whiskey

The Tennessee is actually one of the Bourbon Whiskey varieties .

But first, it’s a designation of origin (like “Scotch”).

And secondly, there is a one-time production step.

The composition and firing are the same as for bourbon.

However, the finished distillate is filtered through several thick layers of maple charcoal .

This makes Tennessee one of the mildest whiskeys around.

Typical of this specialty are strong vanilla aromas, caramel, maple syrup, but also spices such as allspice and pepper.

Corn Whiskey

We’re still in the US and not far from bourbon.

A corn whiskey contains at least 80 percent corn .

Types of whiskey made entirely from corn are called straight corn whiskey.

No cask aging is required for the corn-based distillates .

Corn whiskeys are very pleasantly drinkable spirits.

They feel sweet, creamy and intense in the mouth and smell of popcorn, banana, cinnamon, vanilla and nuts.

The golden color of the corn whiskey is also striking .

Rye Whiskey

We’re not at the end of American whiskeys yet.

The Rye disappeared for a long time, but is now celebrating a renaissance.

This is what makes rye whiskey so special : the grain must contain at least 51 percent rye.

It is stored for at least two years in freshly charred oak barrels.

The rye is very spicy, slightly bitter and dry in taste.

Flavors such as cloves, ginger, cinnamon and orange peel are often noticeable.

Rye is one of the types of whiskey that can be enjoyed neat.

But it is also good as a cocktail ingredient – for example in the Manhattan.

Cask Strength Whiskey

If you ever need a really strong sip, go for a Cask Strength.

This is the strongest of all whiskeys . So the most alcoholic.

Normally, all types of whiskey are made with the brewery’s spring water to a
drinking strength of 40 to 46 percent.

With the Cask Strength you don’t do that.

It comes from the barrel into the bottle as it is.

Since volume percentages are lost during maturation (the Angels Share, the Scots say), there is no fixed value for these whiskeys.

A cask strength is between 50 and 68 percent by volume .

Please only try while sitting!

The barrel storage & its effect on the aromas

There’s one thing you can’t accuse the whiskey makers of: lack of imagination.

When you see what’s out there, you realize that there has always been a lot of experimentation in this area.

For example with the barrels.

Many types of whiskey are aged in used casks . This characterizes the taste:

• Ex-Bourbon casks: fine aromas of light fruits, citrus fruits and lots of vanilla
• Ex-Sherry casks: dark colour, complex flavors (brown sugar, dried fruit, tobacco, cinnamon)
• Ex-port casks: dark red hue, full-bodied dried fruit aromas
• Ex – wine barrels: multifaceted play of aromas from fruits, berries and fine spices
• Ex – rum casks: exotic fruit aromas of mango, melon, papaya, banana, pineapple

Whiskey Types FAQ

The whiskey regions of Scotland

It’s really true: speaking of “whisky” is about as precise as “Europeans”.

The whiskey stronghold of Scotland alone produces very different types of whiskey in its regions.

An overview:

• Lowlands: dry, mild profile; good entry into the single malt world
• Highlands: spicy, complex, heavy, prestigious
• Speyside: perhaps the most famous whiskey region in the world, with elegant, complex, delicate whiskeys of the highest balance
• Campbeltown: heavy and oily
• Islay: unique combination of peat, smoke, sea air with floral, sweet heather notes

Whiskey or whisky – what’s the difference?

This is where confusion can arise: some bottles say Whisky while others use the spelling Whiskey.

Is that just a play on words?

In fact, the spelling already gives an indication of the origin of the whisk(e)ys and thus also of its character.

In general, it can be said that only whiskey from Ireland and American bourbon are written with an e.

Scottish, Canadian, German or Japanese whiskey are used in the spelling without the e.

The difference lies in the production : Irish whiskeys use malted and unmalted barley, which is also not kilned, as is the case with Scottish single malts, for example.

In addition, whiskey is triple distilled, resulting in a higher alcohol content than whiskey.

American bourbon whiskey also has special manufacturing specifications that distinguish it from whiskey and Irish whiskey.

Which whiskey for cocktails?

You don’t pour a single malt into a cocktail.

It is best drunk straight.

Bourbon is one of the types of whiskey that goes well on ice or in a cocktail.

Probably the most well-known whiskey cocktail is the Old Fashioned.

Southern writer William Faulkner also enjoyed a mint julep.

But the whiskey sour , the original cocktail of all sours from the gold rush days, is also convincing with its sweet and sour aromas.

Where can I buy good whiskey?

You can get really good whiskey not only in well-stocked spirits shops or directly from the manufacturer.

There are many coverings that can be used as floors in children’s rooms. When buying, you should note that children like to romp and play. The floor in the children’s room should also be healthy.

Floors to romp about

Children perceive their floor with at least four senses: they can see immediately whether they like the color and structure. You can feel whether it is hard or soft, cold or warm, has a good grip or is slippery and whether it cushions your jumps. You smell when it evaporates. You hear when he makes noises. It’s best for parents to do the same before choosing a floor covering for the children’s room: listen, sniff, take off your shoes and don’t forget to jump!

The children’s room floor made of cork

Children like to jump off the table or bunk bed. A cork floor made of air-filled cells cushions, thus protecting the joints and relieving the spine. Barefooters like the good thermal insulation of cork , and people with sensitive hearing are happy that it absorbs sound and footsteps. The floor for the children’s room is available on the roll, as a tile and in many colours. Cork floors, which are glued over the entire surface, are made of one layer and made entirely of pressed cork or have two layers of veneer. By the way, this flooring grows on a tree. Cork oaks are carefully peeled by hand, their trunks remain intact. The bark grows back until it is harvested again nine years later. Cork oaks can live up to 200 years.

Cork parquet as floor

Ready-made parquet consists of cork veneer, which is usually glued to wood fiber boards with tongue and groove. If you lay the cork floor floating, i.e. without gluing it to the subfloor, you save the preparation of the subfloor and thus time. You can leave the finished parquet floor sealed ready for use and put the furniture away again straight away. Another advantage is that it can be removed again. A floor made of ready-made parquet is therefore an ideal floor for tenants. You can move from apartment to apartment with him.

Sealing and cleaning of cork floors

The cork surface is treated with oil, wax or varnish. This surface seal prevents dirt and dust from penetrating and makes the floor durable and easy to care for. Cork floors can be sanded down and resealed if they ever need a makeover – provided they aren’t too flimsy. To keep them clean, all you need is a broom or vacuum cleaner and a slightly damp cloth.

The floor in the children’s room made of rubber

Rubber is obtained from the sap of the tropical rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). As a floor covering, it is extremely hard-wearing and non-slip, has a high level of footfall sound insulation and is easy to wash off. This is particularly beneficial when the children spontaneously show an interest in painting and begin to be creative on the floor. Rubber floors are available in all colors, the surface structure ranges from nubbed to smooth.

Linoleum as a children’s room floor covering

Everyone knows linoleum flooring from gyms. The floor covering is particularly popular here because of its slip resistance and durability. However, linoleum is also used more and more in living spaces. The fabric is now also available in beautiful colors – even as ready-made parquet in plank and cassette format. Hard fiber boards have a linoleum layer about two millimeters thick, and the cork underside serves as heat and footfall sound insulation. Linoleum is obtained or cooked from natural raw materials such as linseed oil, tree resin, wood flour, limestone powder, color pigments and jute.

Wooden floor for the children’s room

Every wooden floor is unique. It creates a comfortable atmosphere, cushions the walk, is robust, regulates moisture and does not become electrostatically charged. Dust can also be easily removed from its smooth surface. Dust mites have to find another home, much to the delight of residents with allergies . Children can play all year round on a wooden floor, even without stockings. The wood stores heat and dissipates little, so the floor always feels warm to the feet.

The classics are solid floorboards or parquet floors . In the living area, they are screwed or nailed to a wooden beam ceilingor a false floor. If they are laid on concrete, you need support battens as an intermediate structure – fully bonded to screed, wooden floors are only used in public spaces with very high loads. Solid wood is extremely durable; worn floors can be sanded and resealed several times to look like new. However, this only becomes necessary after several decades. When it comes to choosing wood, the budget is also a deciding factor: Common floor woods are, for example, beech, maple and oak.

Treatment and maintenance of wood

Wood surfaces are sealed with oil and wax to keep dirt and moisture out. Alternatively, paint can also be used. For the sake of health, however, people tend to choose products without organic solvents. Oiled and waxed wooden floors have the advantage over varnished ones that annoying scratches or notches can be repairedcan be done without completely renovating the floor. Sealed wooden floors can be easily cleaned with a broom or vacuum cleaner. Pippi Longstocking pours a kettle of water on the floor, ties scrubbing brushes to her feet and slithers across the room until the floor is clean, leaving the sun to dry. Wiping is easier with a slightly damp cloth. Miss Longstocking’s amount of water would do more harm in the long run.

Ready-made wooden parquet

Ready-made parquet and other industrially manufactured flooring elements are alternatives. They cost less than solid wood floors and are quicker to install. They are considered to be dimensionally stable, but can only be sanded down once or twice. Its three-layer structure is reminiscent of a sandwich: the top layer consists of three to four millimeters thick fine wood, which lies on a middle layer and a bottom top layer made of inexpensive wood material or softwood. Due to this structure, the floor “works” less to lay parquet. They float on the screed or glue it with a parquet adhesive that is as solvent-free as possible. A glued floor is very difficult to remove. Another advantage of floating floors is that they have little room to maneuver and hardly give way. They are therefore good for the feet and the entire musculoskeletal system – ideal as a floor covering in the children’s room.

OSB panels as flooring in the children’s room

OSB panels (oriented strand boards) have an unusual visual appearance: They are made of coarse shavings (strands) aligned lengthwise, crosswise and again lengthwise, pressed and glued. Formaldehyde-free glued, sanded panels, which can be bought in specialist wood shops, are suitable for children’s rooms. Thanks to their tongue and groove profile, they can be installed floating. In order to make them barefootable and easy to care for, you should definitely paint, wax or oil OSB boards . Like floorboards, OSB panels only need to be vacuumed or swept and wiped with a damp cloth. Children find this floor covering in the children’s room as warm to their feet as other wooden floors.

Laminate floor in the children’s room

Laminate consists of a carrier layer (usually medium-density fibreboard), decorative laminate and a wear-resistant synthetic resin coating. Once the top layer has worn off, it cannot be restored. Laminate floors sometimes crackle when you walk on them, which can bother sensitive ears. Because they feel cool, they need a partner in the children’s room – for example, a wool rug that children can stay on the ground longer.

Carpet floor in the children’s room

Children like to go barefoot, and that’s a good thing: they can leave their slippers in the corner as long as their feet stay warm and don’t slip. Indestructible carpets that are warm, feel good and are easy to care for are suitable as flooring for the children’s room: For example, low-pile, i.e. “short-haired” carpets from the roll or in the form of tiles. The latter are particularly suitable for the children’s room, because mishaps often happen here: loosely laid carpet tiles can be easily replaced. Individual carpets made of wool also look good in the children’s room. Sometimes the child crosses the oceans as a pirate captain and sometimes it conquers the skies.

Comfortable carpets made of wool

There are also comfortable carpets made of polyacrylic, polyester and other chemical fibers, natural carpets made of coconut and sisal. Children’s room residents should be able to stay on the carpet often and for a long time, so it is best to use the material that is also good for the body, namely wool. Wool from sheep is skin-friendly, soft and warm. Wool from goats, on the other hand, feels firmer, but otherwise has the same properties as new wool. As carpeting, it can absorb a lot of moisture and release it back into the room air. Wool stores heat, insulates noise and does not become electrostatically charged. So you don’t get a knock on the doorknob, because the carpet is so conductive that it can reduce voltage differences.

New wool fibers are curled in a spiral and are therefore very elastic. Regardless of whether you stretch or compress them, they spring back to their original shape like springs. Thanks to their high elasticity, wool carpets are easy on the joints and very hard-wearing – they recover easily from furniture pressure points, for example.

Wool is naturally insensitive to dirt, as its own fat layer envelops and protects the fibres. Even spilled liquid can penetrate only slowly. Dirt particles stick to the surface until the vacuum cleaner sucks them up. Sparkling mineral water will help remove stains.

Carpet tiles

There are carpet tiles made of goat hair and new wool that are laid loose without glue – in more than 40 colors. A plastic foam coating weighs down these “self-laying” tiles (Tretford). So you can equip the children’s room with very individual mosaics. Unfortunately, loose laying is only suitable for rooms that are no larger than 20 square meters.

Private landlords in Kenya face two challenges: determining the fair market price for their property and looking for a reliable tenant. Comprehensive know-how is required to make the right decisions. We give tips!

Determine potential target group

Real estate is a good investment – ​​as long as it is successfully rented out. If possible, landlords choose the property with the desired target group in mind. Before looking for a tenant, you can then optimize the apartment for future residents. This is an accepted notion among real estate experts. Commuters, for example, are often looking for furnished apartments. Families who want to settle down like to furnish themselves. They are not put off by the lack of a fitted kitchen, for instance.

Determine the right amount of rent

How high the rent can be depends on the size, location, year of construction, condition and equipment. The easiest way to find out the local comparative rent is to check online in various platforms and see what other landlords are charging for the same property.

Usually, a place like Seasons in Kasarani will charge about Ksh18,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. All other houses in the area will fluctuate between this average, with a difference of plus or minus 2,000 in most cases. However, it all depends with the specific building and what other additional amenities are offered.

Be prepared to start looking for tenants

Before the search begins, landlords collect all relevant data and documents. This includes the energy certificate. The rental contract should also be prepared before the advertisement goes online, appears in the newspaper or is posted on bulletin boards. If you rely on word of mouth, you can reduce the effort. Have you ever had a tenant you were happy with? Ask him about a possible successor. Viewings should also be specifically arranged. Appointments during the week are usually for serious people, while more jokers can be found over the weekend.

Ask tenants politely

When inviting interested tenants, send them everything important in advance. In such a way, when you meet them, you do not have to tell them a lot on the spot. You can use the time to try and get to know the people. Of course, their financial situation is also a deciding factor. Landlords can fill out a tenant self-disclosure, check salary statements. There is additional security if the previous landlord confirms in writing that there are no rent arrears. This protects against rental nomads. Anyone looking for a tenant should have the time, know-how and knowledge of human nature.

If you want to build a house, you have to deal with the house construction costs in detail. Not only because you could otherwise lose track of the construction costs, but also because you can save a bit on the overall costs. Below you will find a list of all the house building costs.

Whether you want to know the cost of construction in Kenyan urban areas or in rural Kenya, this guide will give you a clear picture of what you should expect to part with. Town and rural construction costs will not be the same if everything else is the same. For instance, construction materials tend to be cheaper in the city than in the rural areas but the total cost of construction in Kenya favors those in the rural areas than those building in cities. Why? In rural Kenya, labour is cheap and people tend to use some locally available resources, eliminating some of the costs.

In the year 2022, the construction costs in Kenya average from Ksh34,650 per square metre to Ksh77,500 per square metre. You should also note that a simple mabati house structure will cost you around Ksh 350,000.

Costs for a new building in Kenya: overview and comparison

Anyone dreaming of owning their own property inevitably asks themselves: How much house can I afford? Because the cost of building a house can quickly shatter the dream. The answer to that depends on many factors. One of the most important is and will always be the type of house you want to build. And it’s not just about the question of whether you want a modern or a classic house – it’s more important to look at the shell and the construction. Also because certain types of house can only be built on certain plots of land, possibly only with a basement, at least a partial basement, and therefore cost more than others that stand on a floor slab. The home classics are still solid houses, architect houses or developer houses. Container houses are still the exception – and they in particular create a more cost-effective alternative to conventional living situations. Also because they can be built on small plots of land, for example in vacant lots. Since both wood and sand, insulating materials, mineral oil products and reinforcing steel have risen sharply in price in the recent past, information on house construction costs can only be snapshots at the moment. Prices are likely to rise even faster in the coming months, making it more and more expensive to build a house . Or do you want to build an apartment building?

If you are planning and building a prefab house, you will quickly notice that the house construction costs for a prefab house are not much lower than for a stone house, because both in terms of quality and the degree of possible individualization, the prefab house manufacturers have in the past ten years caught up.

Cost of a tiny house in Kenya

Overall, a tiny house is cheaper than a regular house – but the construction costs per square meter are comparatively high. The main reason for this is that a tiny house has significantly less square meters than an average single-family house: namely only between 17 and 50 square meters. In this case, you also need a smaller plot of land or, if you want a mobile home and don’t want to bother with the building permit for tiny houses, you don’t need your own plot of land at all. But the total cost of building a house is divided by fewer square meters for a tiny house. And when it comes to interior design, a tiny house can of course also become a stylish space miracle by installing high-quality equipment or space-saving custom-made products. For around 1,000,000 euros you get a tiny house kit that you can assemble and set up yourself. Ready to move in cheap tiny houses are usually between Ksh3,500,000 and Ksh8,000,000 with an average of 28 square meters – i.e. between 125,000 and 200,000 Kenyan shillings per square meter.

What do house building costs in Kenya depend on?

The cost of building a house in Kenya depends on many factors and no two houses are the same. Therefore, it is always very difficult to give precise information about house construction costs. Some of the cost items are obvious, such as the property, the type of home, the roof, the basement, the size and amenities of your dream home, and the quality of the materials used. Others are less obvious and builders tend to forget them. We therefore recommend that you roughly calculate the costs of building a house well in advance: the house building costs also include the excavation work , the outdoor facilities and the ancillary construction costs. The costs also vary depending on the number of windows and doors, the heating.

When building a house in Kenya, costs also depend very much on the region in which you want to build. Starting with property prices and the associated follow-up prices for the property through to wages of the craftsmen you employ on your construction site. If you are flexible in terms of work, you can save tens of thousands of shillings in house construction costs with the location alone. Builders can also save some costs by doing their own work when building a house. The less you can do yourself, the more expensive your house will be.

Ancillary construction costs in Kenya are not insignificant

Calculating ancillary construction costs correctly is not an easy task, also because you have to keep an overview of all expenses – after all, around 22 percent of the house construction costs flow into the ancillary construction costs. They include the costs for the notary, possibly a broker’s commission, the land transfer tax, the measurement of the property, any tree felling work, the building surveyor, the building permit, the development costs, the construction site equipment, various insurances for builders, the layout of the garden, the garden paths as well as the construction of the terrace , the carport or the garage and the paving of the driveway. Not to forget the costs to move to the new home and housewarming party.

financing costs

For most homeowners, owning a house is the most expensive purchase of their life. But you can also save a few euros when it comes to construction financing . If you carefully plan your own contributions, you can include a so-called muscle mortgage in the loan negotiations. Low interest rates on loans and high repayment flexibility are two other ways to save on building construction costs. One thing is clear: the more equity you have, the less money you have to borrow and the cheaper it is to build a house. But even those who want to take out a higher loan can save interest by carefully comparing. The LBS mortgage lending calculator provides you with further information .

Brokerage fees are tax -deductible as income-related expenses if you bought your building plot through a brokerage agency. The purchase of the property and the construction of the house should be split into two contracts – because this way real estate transfer tax can be saved . If you have already officially moved into the house and then have work done by craftsmen, you can deduct the wage portion of the bills for tax purposes and get back up to 120,000 shillings a year.

Personal contribution as a savings option

Skilled craftsmen, together with their family and friends who help with the construction, can reduce the costs of building a house by doing their own work and thus build a little more cheaply. But be careful: You should only do this after consulting the professionals and only for things that you really trust yourself and your helpers to do. Shoddy construction will later cost you dearly as the builder and you will live in a nightmare house instead of your dream house. In principle, you should choose simple activities and think carefully about how much time you have to work on the construction site. Insulating heating pipes, painting, wallpapering, laying tiles, laying laminate, plastering – these are the classic jobs that builders use to reduce house building costs through their own work. The attic conversion, especially if you do not need the room immediately, and the garden can be done as a personal contribution to reduce the costs of building the house in Kenya.

Experienced do-it-yourselfers can install a shower tray themselves and thus save quite a bit of money. I explain how you can use step-by-step instructions to install the tub feet or a tub support yourself.

At a glance:

• The careful execution of the seal between the shower basin and the wall ensures that there is no water damage.
• A tub support is a styrofoam body on which the shower tray rests. It can be covered directly with tiles.
• Tub feet consist of a frame with adjustable feet and are covered with aerated concrete blocks.
• While the shower tray itself has a slope, the waste water pipe must be laid with a slope away from the siphon.

Installing the shower tray: options for installing the tray

Shower tray on tub feet

A shower tray can never stand directly on the ground, but must always be elevated. This is due to the process, which applies about ten centimeters downwards. One option for assembly is therefore tub feet. It is a square frame with an adjustable foot in each corner and one in the middle. The shower tray rests on this frame and can be easily adjusted even on uneven ground. The cavity between the floor and the shower basin must then be filled, for example with aerated concrete blocks.

Shower tray in the tray support

An alternative to the tub feet is the tub support. A styrofoam body, which is tailored to the respective shower tub, is placed on the subsurface and the shower tub laid down. Additional feet are not necessary. In addition, no aerated concrete blocks are required, since the tiles are glued directly to the polystyrene body.

Floor-level shower

As a third variant, you can build a floor-level shower . It is characteristic that there is no step between the bathroom floor and the shower tray. This means that the shower is also suitable for people with restricted mobility or – as is common in modern bathrooms – as a walk-in shower without a shower cubicle. Splashes of water on the floor are pulled back into the wet area with the help of a squeegee. There are three options with this type of construction: either a super-flat shower base (with feet) is sunk so deep that the upper edge of the shower basin and the upper edge of the floor tiles form a line, or a tileable shower board with an integrated drain is used, or the screed is sloped into the shower area and a shower channel or drain installed.

Installing the shower tray: list of materials

• shower tray
• Liquid waterproofing with paint roller and sealing tape
• pencil
• level
• tub rim insulation set
• soundproof tape
• waste set
• HT tubes
• deep ground
• tile glue
• tiles
• silicone

For installation with bath feet:

• tub feet
• tub rim clamp support
• aerated concrete blocks
• saw

For mounting with tub support:

• notched spatula
• Construction foam/assembly foam

Installing the shower tray: step-by-step instructions with tub feet

Step 1: Prepare and seal the shower area

Before the actual assembly can start, you have to clean the work area. Dirt such as small stones on the subsurface or old tile adhesive will otherwise interfere with the sealing. Both the wall and the floor must be as smooth and dirt-free as possible. After cleaning, the shower area is sealed. The wall and floor are coated with a liquid sealant. This works best with a paint roller with a medium pile. Apply the seal in at least two layers up to the minimum thickness specified by the manufacturer. To ensure all areas receive at least two coats of paint, powdered paint is added to the caulk on the second round. There is special sealing tape for the corners, which you stick to the wall before painting. Then brush the liquid waterproofing over the sealing tape.

Step 2: Assemble the shower tray with the feet

To assemble the bath feet, place the shower tray on the floor with the underside facing up. The tub feet are pre-assembled on a frame that can be flexibly pulled apart and shaped. Now place this frame on the tub and adjust it so that your feet are positioned as far out as possible. The screws for mounting should be supplied with the frame. With these, you then screw the tub feet firmly to the shower tray.

Place the shower tray in its final position and adjust the height of the feet by turning. The gradient for the water is already incorporated in the tub and does not have to be taken into account. Trace the bottom edge of the tub onto the wall with a pencil. Mount the tub rim clamp brackets flush with this line. The shower basin then rests on them so as not to wobble later. You must also mark the position of the drain hole on the floor. The tub rims that are in contact with the wall are fitted with tub rim sealing tape. Glue this to the shower tray according to the instructions and fold it towards the inside of the tray. Glue soundproofing tape to the sealing tape to decouple the shower tray from the wall.

Step 3: Install drain fitting

Before the shower tray is in position, you must assemble the waste fitting or siphon according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then place them on the marked position on the floor and connect the drain to the existing drain lines using HT pipes. When the siphon is fully connected, place the shower tray in place and onto the rim clamp supports. Depending on the mounting system, the supports are tightened with screws. Once the shower tray is fixed, connect the upper part of the siphon to the prepared drain fitting. It is important that you only tighten the screw connection hand-tight so as not to damage anything.

Now you can check whether all connections are tight. To do this, take a watering can or bucket and let about five liters run into the shower basin. Then feel with your finger at all connections of the sewage pipe whether there is moisture there. If so, you have to readjust the connections again. The prepared bathtub rim sealing tape is glued to the wall and pressed firmly. Then paint the sealing tape with the liquid waterproofing and make sure that there are no gaps at the transition to the wall.

Step 4: Underpin the shower tray

In order to create a smooth surface for the later tiles, cover the cavity between the tub and the floor with aerated concrete blocks. To do this, paint the subsurface in the area of ​​the stones and floor tiles with a deep primer so that the adhesive adheres better. Then use a saw to cut the stones so that they are about an inch shorter than the space between the tub and the floor. Glue the aerated concrete blocks to the floor with tile adhesive. Make sure to move the stones inwards a little so that the later tile (including the adhesive) is flush with the edge of the tub. Once the glue is dry you can start and finish the tile work. Finally, a silicone joint is drawn between the tiles and the shower tray.

Installing the shower tray: step-by-step instructions with tray support

Step 1: Prepare and seal the shower area

This work step is identical for both types of installation for shower trays.

Step 2: Mount the tub support and drain fitting

Now prepare the tub support for installation. Depending on the manufacturer and system, first mount spacers on the tub support on the sides that face the wall. Then place the tub support in the desired position and place the shower tray in it. Trace the outline of the support on the floor with a pencil and mark the tub drain on the Styrofoam. In addition, you must transfer to the carrier where the existing sewage installation is located. Put the shower tray aside for the time being and assemble the drain fitting. This is also positioned on the tub support in order to mark the exact position.

You will need to cut away the Styrofoam to allow for the drain fitting and extending HT pipes to fit outside of the tub support to the plumbing. Before you connect the waste fitting to the waste water installation, check whether everything fits together with the bathtub support. If so, you can mount the siphon and remove the tub support again. Since it will be difficult to get to the pipes later, we recommend a leak test by filling a cup of water in the waste fitting and checking the transitions with your finger.

If everything is tight, you can then treat the entire floor in the area of ​​the tub support with deep primer to bind dust and increase the adhesion of the adhesive. Then apply tile adhesive to the floor with a size 8 notched trowel and place the tub support in the mortar bed. Using a spirit level, adjust the carrier so that it sits straight. A gradient does not have to be incorporated, as the shower tray already has one integrated.

Step 3: Mount the shower tray

With the styrofoam support, the shower tray also has a tray rim seal and a sound insulation strip for decoupling. First stick the sealing tape on the shower tray and fold it away inwards. Then comes the soundproofing tape. However, both are only mounted on the sides that are in contact with a wall. Now place a thin film on the tub support so that it protrudes about ten centimeters all around. This serves as protection for the construction foam with which the shower tray is then fixed. To do this, trace the contour of the tub support with construction foam on the film – slightly inward – and press the shower tray firmly onto it. Make sure that as little foam as possible spills out and sticks to the visible area of ​​the shower tray.

As soon as the foam has dried according to the manufacturer’s instructions, cut the foil flush with the shower tray. Then the prepared bathtub rim seal is glued firmly to the wall and completely sealed with liquid sealant. Here, too, pay attention to the transitions between the wall and the sealing tape so that there are no gaps, but a full-surface seal is provided. The shower tray is now fully assembled and you can start tiling the wall and floor. Finally, draw a silicone joint between the shower tray and the tiles. Once the work is complete, you can assemble the shower cubicle.

Advantages and disadvantages of the installation types

 

Tips and tricks for tub installation

• Mosaic tiles can be used to set accents in the bathroom and pick them up again in the area under the shower tray. Especially with round showers, these are also sufficiently flexible to maintain the curve.
  Silicone joints are maintenance joints and must be checked again and again for their condition. If they crack or peel off, you’ll need to remove the old silicone and reapply.
• The waste water pipes from the drain fitting to the main line should be laid with a gradient of one percent, preferably two percent. This corresponds to a height difference of two centimeters per one meter of cable length.
• There are specially prefabricated corners made of sealing tape for inside and outside corners of showers and walls.
• Self-adhesive sealing tape is stuck to the wall and then painted over with liquid waterproofing. Sealing tape without an adhesive film, on the other hand, is pressed into a wet layer of liquid waterproofing and then painted over again.
• In order to avoid water damage, it is necessary that the liquid waterproofing and also the sealing tapes are processed very carefully. If you are unsure about the thickness of the liquid waterproofing layer, apply another layer to be on the safe side.
• Please note that the shower basin and support must be coordinated. Both parts cannot be combined indiscriminately. If there is no tub support for your desired shower tub model, the only option is to install it with feet.
• The instructions for assembling a bathtub are quite similar. However, the siphon system differs here, as the bathtub also has an overflow to prevent water damage from flooding.
• The deeper you can get into the ground with the siphon, the lower the entire shower will be in the end. With a super-flat shower tray, you only get a small step up if floor-level installation is not possible.
• An inspection opening is no longer necessary today. If you absolutely want one, we recommend installing it with tub feet instead of tub supports.
• For some shower trays there is also an apron to cover the area between the tray and the floor.
• For the installation, it makes no difference what material the shower tray is made of. Shower basins made of sanitary acrylic, steel enamel or cast mineral can be installed in both ways.

The eighties were a decade of madness – also on the streets. Almost 40 years ago, some sports cars reached more than 300 km/h.

First of all: Many of the vehicles in this series of photos are absolute cult today. The prices are correspondingly brutal. If you still want to park a Lamborghini Countach LP5000S Quattrovalvole in your garage, you need deep pockets. The same applies to almost everything from Maranello, the Ferrari city. It becomes a bit more bearable with a look across the pond, because the V8 sports cars from the USA are also rare, but apparently less popular among classic car collectors and enthusiasts.

Well-preserved models of the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am start at around 20,000 euros. You could get a Buick Grand National Regal for 50,000 euros if it doesn’t have to be one of the rare “GNX” models and a little less power is enough. The “Bond submarine”, the Lotus Esprit, is also found in this price range.

Little going on for less than 100,000 euros

1 Turbo is available for around 120,000 euros, and an iconic Testarossa also changes hands from around 100,000 euros.

After that it becomes painful. A Lamborghini Countach will not change garages for less than 400,000 euros, the extremely rare Aston Martin V8 Zagato is also in this price range.

Millionaires are free to choose: a Porsche 959 is available from 1.3 million euros, a Ferrari F40 in very good condition currently costs two million euros, sometimes even half that. It looks really bad when it is supposed to be a Ferrari 288 GTO. The offers for this vehicle start at 3.5 million euros.

1986 from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds

But which car is now the fastest in this series of photos? The Lamborghini Countach with its 455 hp is not. From 0 to 100 kilometers per hour, the racing flounder needs 4.9 seconds, at 295 km / h is the end. Neither is the Aston Martin V8 Zagato with its 438 hp. It takes around five seconds to reach 100 km/h – too slow.

So Ferrari? Not quite. The 288 GTO is definitely out. It “only” reaches 305 kilometers per hour and does 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.

The Scuderia shares first place with Porsche. The F40 super sports car shines with the highest top speed: 324 kilometers per hour. But for the 100 km/h it needs 4.1 seconds. This is where Porsche comes up trumps: The Porsche 959 reaches 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds. But five kilometers per hour are missing for victory in terms of top speed. At 317 kilometers per hour, it is a little behind Ferrari.

1. Lamborghini Countach

• Manufacturer/model: Lamborghini Countach
• Years of construction: 1974 to 1990
• Special features: The “LP5000S Quattrovalvole” had the greatest power with 455 hp. Lamborghini built 610 of them.
• Current used car prices: between 400,000 and 500,000 euros are due for the high-powered models.

2. Porsche 959

• Manufacturer/model: Porsche 959
• Year of manufacture: 1986 to 1988
• Special features: Was considered the fastest production vehicle in the world. The six-cylinder boxer engine delivers 450 hp.
• Current used car price: If found, the price is between 1.3 and 1.7 million euros.

3. Porsche 911 SC Turbo

• Manufacturer/model: Porsche 911 SC Turbo
• Year of manufacture: 1978 to 1989
• Special features: The Porsche 911 Turbo of the eighties had a maximum of 300 hp. A vehicle from 1982 is shown.
• Current used car price: Models in good condition currently cost around 120,000 euros.

4. Manufacturer/model: Ferrari F40

• Years of manufacture: 1987 to 1992
• Special features: Enzo Ferrari’s last Ferrari. For a long time the fastest and most powerful Ferrari, put 478 hp on the road.
• Current used car price: A good offer would be one million euros, two million are usual.

5. Buick Grand National Regal GNX Year of manufacture

• Manufacturer/model: Buick Grand National Regal GNX
• Year of manufacture: 1987
• Special features: The GNX was only built for one year, Buick made 547 copies. The car delivers 276 hp and, due to structural features, straightens up when you accelerate hard.
• Current used car price: A real “GNX” is very difficult to find, in the US prices are around 200,000 to 250,000 US dollars.

6. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

• Make/Model: Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
• Years: 1982 to 1992
• Special Features: Knight Rider’s favorite car. The 5.7-liter V8 of the years ’88 and ’89 made 225 hp.
• Current used car price: Rare, but not too expensive. Beautiful models are available from 22,000 euros.

7. Lotus Esprit

• Manufacturer/model: Lotus Esprit
• Year of manufacture: 1976 to 2004
• Special features: The car was used as a submarine in the Bond film “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977).
• Current used car price: The prices are between 28,000 and 55,000 euros, depending on the engine and equipment.

8. Ferrari 288 GTO

• Manufacturer/model: Ferrari 288 GTO
• Year of manufacture: 1984 to 1986
• Special features: There were less than 300 copies in total. He established the tradition of building supercars.
• Current used car price: under three million euros no chance, currently 3.5 to four million euros are usual.

9. Aston Martin V8 Zagato

• Manufacturer/model: Aston Martin V8 Zagato
• Year of production: 1986 to 1990
• Special features: Not beautiful, but rare. No more than 130 of the Zagato Aston were built.
• Current used car price: In fact, the prices are between 350,000 and 450,000 euros because of the enormous rarity.

10. Ferrari Testarossa

• Manufacturer/model: Ferrari Testarossa
• Year of manufacture: 1984 to 1996
• Special features: In the eighties, a Testarossa had 390 hp. Elton John, Dr. Dre and Dieter Bohlen had one.
• Current used car price: There are good vehicles from around 100,000 euros upwards.

Who doesn’t know it: At most Christmas celebrations in Kenya you have chosen a fine drop for your loved ones, but wrapped in gift paper every bottle, no matter how high-quality, looks a bit miserable. For those who don’t want to use store-bought packaging, we have tips on how to pack your bottle-shaped gift attractively. If you haven’t bought your bottle already, you can head over to Kiu Drinks and choose a drink to gift your loved ones for this Christmas holidaly and all other celebrations that may follow.

1. Wrap bottle with cloth – Furoshiki

Wrap bottles without ugly kinks around your neck! The trend of wrapping gifts in cloth comes from Japan and is called Furoshiki. The decorative cloths are now more and more available in decoration and handicraft shops – but you can also use leftovers, discarded scarves or tea towels. With the right folding technique, each cloth becomes a decorative gift wrap that also protects your bottle during transport – and in the best case can be reused.

By the way, the bottle packaging is called Bin Tsutsumi in Japanese and there are many different variants. But even without elaborate folding instructions, you can enhance your bottle gift with cloth towels. Simply wrap the fabric around the bottle as you see fit, secure with ribbon and drape and straighten creases and folds as you wish. Finished!

Wrap bottles with ribbons as gifts

Whether with decorative bows or fully wrapped – gift ribbons are ideal for wrapping bottles as gifts thanks to their flexibility. Bottles can be completely wrapped with wide wire bands, which are often also printed with seasonally appropriate motifs. Wire reinforcement around the edges means the fabric straps keep their shape, making them ideal for wrapping bottles. For example in this variant:

1. Measure out 2 wire straps that are twice as long as the bottles and protrude by at least 10-15 cm (depending on how thick the bottle to be wrapped is).
2. Attach double-sided adhesive tape to the bottom of the bottle and attach one of the wire bands in the middle from below. Then again attach adhesive tape to the underside of the attached wire band and glue other wire band so that the bands extend from the bottom of the bottle in a cross shape (“in all four directions”).
3. Fold the ribbons up tightly and tie them together above the neck of the bottle with conventional ribbon.
4. Form excess ribbon into loops – the ends point inwards – and arrange in a fan shape. Tangle or knot the ends together in the middle so that they are no longer visible.
5. Finally wrap the bottle decoratively with a conventional gift ribbon.

But you can also spice up your bottle-shaped gift with just conventional gift ribbons. You can use several ribbons of different colors and widths to tie loops around the neck of the bottle.

If you like it simpler, you can simply tie a self-made card to the bow. Simply cut cardboard or solid paper, punch holes in the edge and write the Christmas or birthday greeting on it. Finished!

Upgrade Bottles with Flowers & Twig

Whether flowers in summer or fir branches and cinnamon sticks in winter – plants enhance every gift! Whether your natural decoration dangles from the bottleneck individually or in a bouquet depends on personal taste. It doesn’t matter which flowers, plants, branches or even spices you use – after all, you decide what looks good! Only with flowers does it make sense to use dried plants so that they don’t wither too quickly.

Pack the pineapple bottle with candy

This packaging variant is not only quick and easy, but also looks really good and is also very suitable for those with a sweet tooth. You need:

• a sheet of paper
• sufficient Ferrero Rocher (also works with other sweets that can be attached individually to the bottle)
• green paper
• Hot glue gun or masking tape
• cord (optional)

First, wrap the sheet of paper around the bottle and secure it with tape. This will prevent the label from being damaged. Then glue the Rocher balls in place in a circle, starting at the bottom edge. To hide the neck of the bottle, cut the green paper into tapered strips and attach them to the neck of the bottle. To hide the transition between Rocher balls and leaves, you can wrap some string around it. A delicious and fun gift wrap for your bottle is ready!

Wrap the bottle properly with wrapping paper

Of course, you can also wrap the fine wine that you want to give away in conventional wrapping paper.

If you completely wrap the bottle in wrapping paper, be sure to secure the wrapping neatly to the bottom. Because nothing is worse than a gift that falls on the floor when it is handed over…

Shirt sleeves as gift packaging for bottle

Do you have shirts or sweaters that you no longer need? Then you’ll have DIY gift wrapping in no time! Simply cut the sleeves to the right length, turn inside out and tie or sew at the bottom, turn right side out again and put the bottle in! If you invest a little more time, you can also make small ties from the leftover fabric and hang them around the neck of the bottle. This type of gift packaging is well suited, for example, for liquid gifts for colleagues or employees.

Upcycling – reusing old boxes as gift packaging

Last but not least, a super easy way to pack bottles: Just take old boxes, fill them with straw, paper or similar, pack the bottles in and pack them nicely. Not only do you give old shipping boxes or packaging a second life, you also save yourself the hassle of wrapping the bottles. In the box you have a great rectangular gift that is much easier to wrap – and doesn’t reveal its contents at first glance!

Every year again gift madness! The pre-Christmas period not only means mulled wine, gingerbread, cookies and roasted nuts, but also endless errands. All relatives need the right gift, and best of all for friends and colleagues too. And because of course you don’t want to give the same gift every year for Christmas, by December at the latest you’re racking your brains about who to buy what for.

Christmas presents are super easy to find, especially for adults ! Because everyone likes to eat and drink . While sweets and groceries can be found under every Christmas tree, very few people think that the palate is also happy about a fine drop or a good coffee at Christmas. So that you are not spoiled for choice, we will show you the best drink Christmas gifts with and without alcohol here!

Christmas gifts with alcohol

If you need an acloholic drink to gift to your friends and relative, we got you. Giving away handmade gin , fine spirits or good whiskey for Christmas is always a good idea, because: in our hearts we are all epicures. But not all gin is the same and not everyone likes smoky or peaty whiskies. That’s why we’ve collected a few recommendations for you.

Christmas gifts for whiskey lovers in Kenya

If you’re looking to give whiskey as a Christmas present, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you are already giving presents to experienced whiskey drinkers, you are guaranteed not to go wrong with their favorite brand. Anyone who is already a little familiar with the whiskey terrain will also be happy about complex whiskeys with smoky and peaty aromas at Christmas.

Beginners, cocktail fans or people who like to try something new here and there, you are more likely to please with sweet whiskeys with a nice fruit or caramel note at Christmas. This is because the palate first has to feel its way around smoke and peat aromas, very similar to bitter notes, and get a taste for it, so to speak. You can usually find out which whiskey tastes how from the tasting notes of the respective whiskey.

Ideally, you shouldn’t give away whiskey from the supermarket shelf at Christmas, but a real insider tip. In our whiskey gift guide we already have great whiskey gifts that are suitable for both lovers and newcomers and are guaranteed to look good under any Christmas tree.

Christmas gifts for gin fans in Kenya

If you want to give gin as a gift at Christmas , you should also think about what the recipients like: Do they like to mix different and sometimes complex cocktails and can it be pure gin with unusual botanicals? Or are they actually classic gin and tonic drinkers?

Depending on this, you should pay attention to the composition of the gin botanicals and the tasting notes. Formative juniper notes with citrus aromas can be found in many classic London Dry Gins and look good in any cocktail. But there are also unusual gins that draw attention to themselves with wilder taste experiences, such as a truffle gin, hop gin or a gin with cocoa. These taste particularly good for experienced gin fans.

If you’re still unsure who to give which gin to for Christmas, there’s good news: We have more gin gift recommendations for you! In our gin gift guideyou will not only find excellent gins that you can put under the Christmas tree, but also tips on which gin is particularly suitable for whom.

Giving rum for Christmas as gifts in Kenya

Just like whiskey or gin , rum is one of the lover’s drinks that make great gifts under the Christmas tree . As with the other spirits, the same applies here: Complex aroma structures are more for advanced users, classic and mild aromas for beginners and cocktail fans.

Especially if you are not very familiar with rum, all the additional designations can be quite confusing. So here’s a little help:

• Name suffixes such as VS , VSOP or XO allude to the storage times of the rum (VS at least 3 years, VSOP at least 4 years, XO at least 6 years)
• Añejo or Gran Añejo are also camp or age designations
• A Rum Solera is made using a special process in which the amount of evaporation during aging is balanced with younger rums
• A rum or rhum agricole is not made from molasses, but from fresh sugar cane juice
• Of course, the countries of origin of the rum also play a major role in the taste

However, don’t let all the jargon discourage you. If you are unsure, just take a look at the flavor descriptions again to find the right rum Christmas gift!

Schnaps & Liqueur as Christmas gifts

You don’t know if your loved ones like special spirits? Don’t worry, you can’t go wrong with a good schnapps or liqueur at Christmas either. On the contrary: many distilleries and distilleries have special Christmas bottlings on offer that make great gifts. Like this one for example!

But many are also happy about classics such as a good fruit brandy, herbal schnapps or nut liqueurs. That’s why schnapps or liqueur tasting and gift sets are particularly suitable as Christmas gifts: everyone will find the right drop for themselves here!

Gifts for Christmas without alcohol

Of course, not everyone likes to drink alcohol. But you can also make these people happy with drinks Christmas presents. For example, you can make tea drinkers happy with a special tea blend. But other non-alcoholic drinks also make great Christmas gifts under the tree, such as coffee!

Gift ideas for coffee junkies in Kenya

Even though coffee is a fairly commonplace commodity these days, dark beans still have a touch of something special about them. So what is a better Christmas present than a special coffee roast that the recipient can look forward to every morning at the breakfast table? In our gift guide for coffee lovers, we have collected great gift recommendations that will also spread a great atmosphere at Christmas. But these coffees here are also ideal as Christmas gifts:

Gift tip for Christmas: non-alcoholic spirits

Finally, we have an absolute insider tip that you can use to make your loved ones who don’t tolerate alcohol but still like to drink a lot of fun at Christmas: non-alcoholic spirits alternatives ! They are in the right moment. Instead of having to resort to juice or soda when everyone else is being served cocktails or schnapps, alcohol-free gin, rum or whiskey alternatives can finally provide variety in the alcohol-free glass! And yes, the selection here is more than impressive.

You see: no matter which palate you want to please at Christmas, with a drink gift you will always find the right one. Whether with or without alcohol! If the decision is too difficult for you or you just don’t know what your loved ones like to drink, you can always visit Kiu Drinks for more options.

Merry Christmas!

You just got a marriage proposal? Congratulations, a wonderful and exciting time is about to begin! There is a lot to organize for a wedding, because your celebration should be the most beautiful day of your life.

If you want a big celebration with many guests, you should definitely start planning your wedding 6 to 12 months in advance, because many wedding locations are fully booked many months in advance.

You should also decide as early as possible what type of wedding you want: do you want a traditional, civil, or church wedding, or do you want a free wedding? Also finding the perfect wedding dress and a good wedding photographer takes some time.

The most important things for you summarized:

• Single malt whiskey is made exclusively from malted barley
• It comes from a single distillery, but can be blended from different cask bottlings
• Usually single malt whiskey is distilled in pot stills
• The storage time is usually at least three years

There is something dry about definitions. They don’t do justice to a drink of the gods like single malt whiskey. But it doesn’t work without a definition either. So what is a single malt?

What is single malt whisky?

A single malt whiskey is whiskey made exclusively from malted barley and from a single distillery. However, not from a single cask or a separately held still. It is precisely the mixing of different cask contents that guarantees a manufacturer consistency in taste, aroma and colour.

Many associate single malt whiskey with Scotland. Although many of the highly valued single malts come from Scotland, such top-quality whiskey can also come from Scandinavia or Japan.

Since each of these countries has its own legislation , there are theoretically no one hundred percent fixed production methods. Nevertheless, most stick to the grandmaster Scotland: Malted barley, distilled on pot stills (copper stills), aged in oak barrels for at least three years, from a distillery.

Why are there such big differences between the single malts?

Just because they are single. They are the product of a specific distillery. In a specific country. In a certain environment. Hardly any product reflects the interaction of its raw materials as well as single malt whisky. How a single malt whiskey tastes depends on its production conditions

The production process also plays a role. How is the barley dried? How are the pot stills shaped? Finally the storage. In which casks does the single malt mature towards its perfection? And how long is the whiskey stored in the casks? All of these criteria have an impact on how a single malt ultimately tastes.

Single malt – the great aromatic variety

Let’s try to orientate ourselves between the different single malt whiskey styles. With the flavors light – full-bodied and smoky – soft , helpful “main wind directions” for the flavor assessment have been determined. How light or full-bodied a whiskey is depends, among other things, on the drying process of the barley

The smoky has something to do with the Scottish landscape. It’s full of peat. And this peat is used by some distilleries to dry (kiln) the barley. But be careful, there is a difference between smoky whiskey and peated whiskey: while in peated, i.e. peated whisky, the barley was actually kilned over peat, in smoky whiskey other substances are burned to dry the grain.

Back to the peat. Peat consists of dead plants. Sometimes heather dominates, as in Speyside, Scotland; sometimes seaweed like on Islay. The smoke from the peat fire and its aromas carry over to the barley and whiskey. Scotland’s Islay south coast produces the smokiest single malt whiskeys in the world. Try it yourself if you’re an Islay guy!

Perhaps it is advisable not to get to know the wildest side of single malt whiskey right away. Soft (delicate) whiskeys are made by drying the barley without smoke, purely over hot air. Another decisive factor is how often the single malt whiskey has been distilled. A triple distillation at least gives the direction to a softer character.

The stills are also important – the more contact with the copper, the smoother the whiskey becomes. The length of storage and the type of cask determine whether the wine is rich or light. For example, the oak wood of sherry casks gives the single malt whiskey lush aromas of coffee, tobacco, chocolate, raisins and red fruits.

How is Scottish single malt made?

It all starts with the barley and the water. Scottish water is very special. It’s incredibly soft, as Scotland’s geology is devoid of limestone.

Whiskey production uses a lot of water – for soaking the barley or cooling the stills, for example. Therefore, when you see a whiskey distillery, there is always good water nearby. Single malt whiskey is distilled in copper pot stills.

Some distilleries still malt themselves. To do this, the barley is soaked and laid out on germ trays. Once the starch has turned into sugar, the grain goes to the malting floor. There it is dried with hot air or peat fire. In the next step, the malt goes to the grain mill and is ground into malt flour. From there it enters the mash tun. The sugar is dissolved out with hot water in several steps.

Off to the still

The whiskey experts cool the sugar solution down to 20 degrees. They skim off the mash, pour the liquid into large fermentation vats, and add yeast cultures. These convert the sugar into alcohol.

After two to four days, a kind of beer has emerged (Scottish “wash”) with an alcohol content of between eight and nine percent. This beer comes in the copper still, the pot still. The first fire produces an alcohol content of between 20 and 25 percent. The intermediate product enters the second pot still where it is distilled to 65 to 70 percent alcohol by volume. Both the size and shape of the still, as well as the temperature during firing, affect the taste of the whiskey.

The shape of the stills affects the taste of your single malt whiskey. Long, slender forms produce smooth distillates. Short, squat ones produce a strong, intense taste. The intensity of the heating also has an effect: the hotter and faster it is burned, the less soft the whiskey turns out.

How the cask affects the character of the whisky

The first and last runnings of the finished distillate are discarded. They contain methanol, fusel oils and undesirable flavors. Only the core, the clear and tastefully balanced middle course, gets from the still into the barrel.

The cask storage of a single malt whiskey is an art in itself. There are barrels between 125 and 500 liters capacity. They are always made of oak wood. Oak is breathable, resin-free and durable. Whiskey casks are always oak casks.

Raw whiskey is absolutely colorless, clear as water. It only takes on its color and concentrated aromas during maturation. Most distilleries use American white oak bourbon casks. They transfer wood and vanilla aromas as well as notes of citrus fruits to the whiskey. Others rely on sherry or port wine casks, which impart dark fruit aromas and opulent notes of chocolate and tobacco to their contents. Aging in ex-rum casks also occurs.

The storage location and its climate also play a role. A single malt from India reaches its maturity much faster than in the snowy Scottish Highlands. The choice of the right cask storage has a very significant influence on the aromatic character of the single malt.

The Angels Share

While the whiskey gains in colour, softness and nuances in the cask, around two percent of liquid evaporates during storage each year and thus 0.2 to 0.6 percent by volume of alcohol. The evaporation rate is what the well-spoken Scots call “Angels Share”. Single malt whiskey is a god-given drink for them. Angels Share is the proportion of whiskey that evaporates during cask storage.

The Marriage of the Barrels

Finally, the Master Blender comes into play. A very creative job in the distilleries, because now it’s about blending the whiskeys from the individual casks to a brand-typical taste.

Note: Most single malt whiskeys are blends from several casks. Nevertheless, they can be addressed as single malts, because they come from a single distillery and are based on malted barley. This distinguishes them from blended whiskeys, a mixture of different types of whisky. The single cask whiskey is a special case: it only comes from a single cask. Single cask whiskey is a special case. This is a single malt that comes from a single cask and is often sold in limited editions. Some independent bottlers have specialized in this and offer uncolored single casks without cold filtration. With such a drop you get a particularly natural product in your bar.

Difference between Single Malt Whiskey and Blended Scotch Whisky

Since whiskey has always been there in Scotland, it has of course become the national drink. But in the 19th and 20th centuries, it was not single malt that dominated, but blended Scotch whiskey. This is a blend of complex malt whiskey and grain whiskey. This is mainly based on wheat, corn and rye.

The blended Scotch whiskey tastes sweeter and more pleasing than a single malt. This produces round, easy-to-sip whiskeys and has long appealed to the public’s taste. The single malt whiskey renaissance began when Glenfiddich launched a single malt in the 1960s. Since then, the single malt has become the flagship of whisky.

Difference between single malt whiskey and bourbon whiskey

Bourbon whiskey is spelled with an e. But that’s just one of many differences. Bourbon comes from the USA. It is distilled from a grain mixture in which corn dominates. Distillation takes place in stainless steel column stills and not in copper stills. Unlike single malt, bourbon is not only made from barley.

Bourbon is always aged in new, freshly burned oak casks. There is no minimum storage period like with Scottish single malt whisky. Due to the high proportion of corn, the soft taste nuances dominate in bourbon. The fresh oak casks and the burnout give this American whiskey powerful notes of wood, vanilla and caramel.

Whiskey from other countries

So far, the Scottish single malt whiskey has been the focus. There’s a good reason for that. You must first get to know the measure of all things before you judge others. The Scottish distillation and storage process is considered the ultimate in all notable distilleries. Ireland has at least as long a whiskey (here with e) tradition as Scotland. But the Emerald Isle has repeatedly been slowed down politically and economically. Irish single malt whiskey has only been on the rise again in recent years.

Indian and Japanese whiskey

The Japanese are regarded worldwide as an outstanding nation of craftsmen. They master the craftsmanship of distilling whiskey admirably. Producer Yamazaki creates a Japanese whiskey that is considered one of the most expensive and coveted of its kind in the world. In Japan, too, people know how good single malt is made.

Let’s take another look at the country with the largest whiskey production. That’s not Scotland, it’s India. Whiskey enthusiasts may have heard of the Amrut distillery, which outperformed Scottish single malts in blind tastings. In doing so, they prove that good whiskey distilling is not necessarily tied to a particular country or climate. However, whiskey blends are mainly bottled in India.

Whiskey from Kenya

There are also some interesting whiskey producers in Germany who can hold a candle to their Scottish colleagues in terms of craftsmanship and passion.

Single malt from the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Spain

In addition, the rest of mainland Europe also has excellent whiskeys to offer. There is also excellent whiskey in the Czech Republic, Spain or Switzerland that real whiskey connoisseurs should definitely try.

Alternative to single malt whiskey from Ireland or whiskey from Scotland:

• Trebitsch single malt whiskey from the Czech Republic – kosher whiskey from the Trebitsch Distillery
• Maund Whiskey from Switzerland – Single malt whiskey made in the Alps
• Single malt whiskey from Spain – e.g. from the Destilería Acha

Questions & answers about single malt

Single malt whisky: the older the better?

Whether an older whiskey actually tastes better than a younger one actually depends more on your personal taste. Nevertheless, there is a clear relation to whiskey age: the longer a whiskey matures, the more expensive it becomes. The Laphroaig distillery in Scotland is one of the most famous whiskey distilleries in the world. This can be explained quite simply – with every year that the spirit is allowed to mature longer, more and significantly more complex aromas end up in it. However, this also means more work for the distillery (or less space to store new whiskey), which is why an 18-year-old whiskey is usually more expensive than a 10-year-old whiskey.

As far as the quality of the whiskey is concerned, this means the same thing that applies to all other foodstuffs: the slower it is produced and therefore the longer it has had to mature to its full aroma, the better the quality. Of course, you have to decide for yourself which whiskey you personally like better.

The following applies to beginners in whiskey drinking: It is best to start with the milder whiskeys. Before you dare to try strong, peaty variants, you should first give your palate the opportunity to get to know the aromatic basic palette of the whisky. Only gradually increase your smoke aroma and find out where the best aroma can be found for you.

Are there bottle-aged single malts?

Definitely no. The maturation and development of the single malt takes place in the cask. Once bottled, it has only one purpose: to be opened to flatter your senses.

How do you drink single malt?

The tumbler probably comes to mind immediately. This is a relatively low drinking glass with a heavy base and a wide opening. You can fill your bourbon in there, optionally with ice – but never a single malt whiskey. Because through the large opening, the fine nuances of this complex drink evaporate, never to be tasted again.

Get a nosing glass (with a stem) or a Glencairn glass (with a stem ). Both taper upwards , sending the concentrated flavors straight to your nose. The whiskey is at room temperature. And there are never ice cubes in your glass. Those who prefer their single malt chilled can use stone or metal ice cubes/ However, as the temperature drops, you lose quite a bit of flavor variety. It is always best to drink single malt from a nosing or a Glencairn glass.

After pouring, the first thing to do is wait. It is said that the single malt needs one minute to rest in the glass for every barrel year. Then carefully lead to the nose, sniff, hold away, sniff again. A good single malt whiskey is incredibly aromatic.

A nosing wheel helps with orientation. This is a disc where you can sort the flavors into major and minor groups. The first sip stays in the mouth for a moment , playing over the tongue and palate. Feel the taste as you swallow and repeat the process with the other sips. Always thoughtful and focused.

Can you dilute single malt whiskey with water?

Maybe a matter of taste, but actually unnecessary. After all, the normal cask strengths of between 40 and 46 percent have already been diluted with water by the distilleries. At best, water may be added to the higher-proof whiskeys – but always try, drop by drop. You don’t need to dilute your whiskey. It is therefore better to use stone or stainless steel cubes for cooling.