Whiskey is a broad classification of alcoholic beverages. The defining characteristic of whiskey is that it’s made from grain that has been fermented and then aged in wooden barrels. Whiskey is often spelled without the “e” in Canada and Scotland, where the drink originated. The word whiskey is often used interchangeably with the word brandy, but brandy is made from wine, not grain. Rum is distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses. Vodka is distilled from grains but is not aged in wooden barrels. Gin is a potent, juniper-flavored liquor that’s usually sweeter than whiskey. Barley is the main ingredient in all types of whiskey, but other grains, such as rye, are sometimes used to make rye whiskey. Barley is a cereal grain and the main ingredient in beer. It’s the grain used to make beer, ale, porter, and stout. Barley is used in the making of whiskey because it is what fermentation turns into alcohol. The Whiskey Making Process At A Glance Malting Malt is simply the general term f