ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Single malt arrangement

Okay kiddo, are you ready to learn about single malt arrangement? Great! So, you know how when we go to the store to buy juice, there are many different kinds and flavors, right? Well, it's the same with whisky. Single malt whisky is a special kind of whisky that is made using only one type of malted grain, usually barley.

The arrangement part just means how the single malt whisky is made. It's made in a special way just like how mom makes her special cookies. First, the grains are soaked in water and then spread out to germinate, which means they start to sprout. Then, they're dried in an oven with peat, which is like a kind of mud that's often found in Scotland. This is what gives the whisky its smoky flavor.

After this, the grain is ground up and mixed with hot water to make a sweet liquid called wort. The wort is then fermented with yeast, like how bread dough rises, and left to sit for a while. This is what turns the sweet wort into alcohol.

Finally, the whisky is distilled, which means that the alcohol is separated from the water as it's heated up and transformed into steam. This steam is then cooled down and collected into a liquid again. It's like how when you boil water to get steam, but the steam is collected and turned back into water again.

Now, we have our single malt whisky! It's a special drink that's been made in a unique way. Just like how mom's cookies are special because she uses her own recipe, single malt whisky is special because it's been made with care and attention to detail.