There is a list of flavours and aroma’s on the Revised Scottish Whisky Flavour Wheel. This list is the result of hard work that was done by many people. The origins of the RSWFW, as I call it in short, can be found following this link.
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I wanted to learn and then share where all the Congeners in the Revised Scotch Whisky Flavour Wheel (#RSWFW) come from!
- How were the congeners made during the whisky production process?
- What is meant by them?
- Where do they come from?
This page will be an updated to include links to individual blog entries. So if you want to find out what makes whisky taste like vanilla? Just scroll down and click the link.
ps: I started this task on 31 December 2016. I will go from the first to the last descriptor. So if you find a descriptor without a link … I have probably not gotten around to it yet.
pps: feel free to send input!
| Head | Sub | Descriptors |
| A: Peaty | 1. Burnt | Tar |
| A: Peaty | 1. Burnt | Soot |
| A: Peaty | 1. Burnt | Ash |
| A: Peaty | 2. Smokey | Wood Smoke |
| A: Peaty | 2. Smokey | Kippery |
| A: Peaty | 2. Smokey | Smoked bacon |
| A: Peaty | 2. Smokey | Smoked cheese |
| A: Peaty | 3. Medicinal | TCP |
| A: Peaty | 3. Medicinal | Antiseptic Germoline |
| A: Peaty | 3. Medicinal | Hospital |
| B: Grainy | 1. Cereal | Digestive biscuit |
| B: Grainy | 1. Cereal | Husky |
| B: Grainy | 1. Cereal | Bran |
| B: Grainy | 1. Cereal | Leathery |
| B: Grainy | 1. Cereal | Tobacco |
| B: Grainy | 1. Cereal | Mousy |
| B: Grainy | 2. Malt | Malt extract |
| B: Grainy | 2. Malt | Malted barley |
| B: Grainy | 3. Mash | Porridge |
| B: Grainy | 3. Mash | Draff |
| B: Grainy | 3. Mash | Wort |
| B: Grainy | 3. Mash | Cooked Maize |
| C: Grassy | 1. Fresh | Leafy |
| C: Grassy | 1. Fresh | Wet/Cut grass |
| C: Grassy | 1. Fresh | Flower stem |
| C: Grassy | 1. Fresh | Green Apple |
| C: Grassy | 1. Fresh | Green Banana |
| C: Grassy | 2. Dried | Hay |
| C: Grassy | 2. Dried | Straw |
| C: Grassy | 2. Dried | Tea |
| C: Grassy | 2. Dried | Mint |
| C: Grassy | 2. Dried | Herbal |
| D: Fruity | 1. Solventy | Nail varnish remover |
| D: Fruity | 1. Solventy | Paint thinner |
| D: Fruity | 1. Solventy | Fusel oil |
| D: Fruity | 2. Orchard | Apple |
| D: Fruity | 2. Orchard | Peaches |
| D: Fruity | 2. Orchard | Pear |
| D: Fruity | 3. Tropical | Pear-drop |
| D: Fruity | 3. Tropical | Banana |
| D: Fruity | 3. Tropical | Pineapple |
| D: Fruity | 3. Tropical | Melon |
| D: Fruity | 4. Citrus | Orange |
| D: Fruity | 4. Citrus | Lemon |
| D: Fruity | 4. Citrus | Grapefruit |
| D: Fruity | 4. Citrus | Zest |
| D: Fruity | 5. Berries | Tomato stem |
| D: Fruity | 5. Berries | Black Currant |
| D: Fruity | 5. Berries | Catty |
| D: Fruity | 6. Dried | Raisins |
| D: Fruity | 6. Dried | Figs |
| D: Fruity | 6. Dried | Prunes |
| E: Floral | 1. Natural | Rose |
| E: Floral | 1. Natural | Lavender |
| E: Floral | 1. Natural | Violet |
| E: Floral | 1. Natural | Blue bell |
| E: Floral | 1. Natural | Carnation |
| E: Floral | 1. Natural | Heather |
| E: Floral | 1. Natural | Honey |
| E: Floral | 2. Artificial | Fragrant |
| E: Floral | 2. Artificial | Scented |
| E: Floral | 2. Artificial | Perfumed |
| F: Feints | 1. Grainy | |
| F: Feints | 2. Cheesy | |
| F: Feints | 3. Oily | |
| F: Feints | 4. Sulphury | |
| G. Woody new | 1. Sap | Green bark |
| G. Woody new | 1. Sap | Wet wood |
| G. Woody new | 2. Cedar | Sawdust |
| G. Woody new | 2. Cedar | Sharpened pencil |
| G. Woody new | 3. Oak | Resin |
| G. Woody new | 3. Oak | Polish |
| G. Woody new | 4. Pine | Turpentine |
| G. Woody new | 4. Pine | Retsina |
| G: Woody Extractive | 5. Nutty | Coconut |
| G: Woody Extractive | 5. Nutty | Hazel nut |
| G: Woody Extractive | 5. Nutty | Walnut |
| G: Woody Extractive | 5. Nutty | Almond/marzipan |
| G: Woody Extractive | 6. Vanilla | Ice cream |
| G: Woody Extractive | 6. Vanilla | Custard |
| G: Woody Extractive | 6. Vanilla | Cola |
| G: Woody Extractive | 6. Vanilla | Toffee |
| G: Woody Extractive | 6. Vanilla | Chocolate |
| G: Woody Extractive | 6. Vanilla | Cake mix |
| G: Woody Extractive | 7. Spicy | Clove |
| G: Woody Extractive | 7. Spicy | Cinnamon |
| G: Woody Extractive | 7. Spicy | Ginger |
| G: Woody Extractive | 7. Spicy | Aromatic |
| G: Woody Extractive | 7. Spicy | Nutmeg |
| G: Woody Extractive | 8. Caramel | Candy floss |
| G: Woody Extractive | 8. Caramel | Treacle |
| G: Woody Extractive | 8. Caramel | Coffee |
| G: Woody Extractive | 8. Caramel | Toast |
| G: Woody Extractive | 8. Caramel | Liquorice |
| G: Woody Extractive | 9. Previous use | Sherry |
| G: Woody Extractive | 9. Previous use | Bourbon |
| G: Woody Extractive | 9. Previous use | Port |
| G: Woody Extractive | 9. Previous use | Rum |
| G: Woody Extractive | 9. Previous use | Brandy |
| G: Woody Extractive | 9. Previous use | Wine |
| G: Woody Defective | 10. Mothball | Paraffin |
| G: Woody Defective | 10. Mothball | Naphtha |
| G: Woody Defective | 10. Mothball | Camphor |
| G: Woody Defective | 11. Musty | Mouldy |
| G: Woody Defective | 11. Musty | Earthy |
| G: Woody Defective | 11. Musty | Fusty |
| G: Woody Defective | 11. Musty | Corked |
| G: Woody Defective | 12. Vinegary | Acetic |
| G: Woody Defective | 12. Vinegary | Sour |
| H. Sweet | 1. Buttery | |
| H. Sweet | 2. Fruity | |
| H. Sweet | 3. Floral | |
| H. Sweet | 4. Woody | |
| I. Stale | 1. Cardboard | Papery |
| I. Stale | 1. Cardboard | Filter sheet |
| I. Stale | 2. Metallic | Inky |
| I. Stale | 2. Metallic | Tinny |
| I. Stale | 2. Metallic | Wet iron |
| I. Stale | 2. Metallic | Rusty |
| J. Sulphury | 1. Stagnant | Sewer |
| J. Sulphury | 1. Stagnant | Drains |
| J. Sulphury | 1. Stagnant | Foul water |
| J. Sulphury | 1. Stagnant | Rotten vegetables |
| J. Sulphury | 2. Meaty | Yeasty |
| J. Sulphury | 2. Meaty | Rotten egg |
| J. Sulphury | 2. Meaty | |
| J. Sulphury | 2. Meaty | Marmite |
| J. Sulphury | 3. Vegetable | Turnip |
| J. Sulphury | 3. Vegetable | Potato peel |
| J. Sulphury | 3. Vegetable | Cooked |
| J. Sulphury | 3. Vegetable | Cooked Cabbage |
| J. Sulphury | 4. Sour | Pickled onion |
| J. Sulphury | 4. Sour | Garlic |
| J. Sulphury | 5. Gassy | Acrid |
| J. Sulphury | 5. Gassy | Burnt match |
| J. Sulphury | 6. Rubbery | Tyre / tubes |
| J. Sulphury | 6. Rubbery | Pencil eraser |
| J. Sulphury | 6. Rubbery | Plastic |
| K. Cheesy | 1. Rancid | Sickly sour |
| K. Cheesy | 1. Rancid | Baby vomit |
| K. Cheesy | 1. Rancid | Oxidized fat |
| K. Cheesy | 2. Sweaty | Old trainer / sock |
| K. Cheesy | 2. Sweaty | Musky |
| K. Cheesy | 2. Sweaty | Piggery |
| L. Oily | 1. Soapy | Waxy |
| L. Oily | 1. Soapy | Unscented soap |
| L. Oily | 1. Soapy | Detergent |
| L. Oily | 1. Soapy | Damp laundry |
| L. Oily | 2. Buttery | Creamy |
| L. Oily | 2. Buttery | Toffee |
| L. Oily | 2. Buttery | Butter scotch |
| L. Oily | 3. Lubricant | Mineral oil |
| L. Oily | 4. Fat | Fatty |
| L. Oily | 4. Fat | Greasy |
| L. Oily | 4. Fat | Fish oil |
| L. Oily | 4. Fat | Castor oil |
| P. Primary taste | 1. Bitter | |
| P. Primary taste | 2. Salt | |
| P. Primary taste | 3. Sour | |
| P. Primary taste | 4. Sweet | |
| Mouth effect | 1. Astringent | Drying |
| Mouth effect | 1. Astringent | Furry |
| Mouth effect | 1. Astringent | Powdery |
| Mouth effect | 2. Coating | Oily/creamy feeling |
| Mouth effect | 3. Warming | Alcoholic burn |
| Mouth effect | 3. Warming | Fiery |
| Nasal effect | 1. Pungent | |
| Nasal effect | 2. Drying |
Download your own EXCEL file here: RSWFW DOWNLOAD FROM ILADDIE WHISKY NERD
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August 30, 2018 at 03:57
Great work, thanks for posting. I have to get this printed out – often I am thinking, what is that flavor? Having a reference will help solidify the impressions I’m getting from the nose.
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August 30, 2018 at 08:54
Thanks for the feedback! You can download the excel file on the bottom of the page if that helps. Plus their are some flavour charts on my site that help too.
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August 30, 2018 at 08:55
Ps, feel free to share on your social media 😉
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