Scotch whisky is malt whisky or grain whisky, made in Scotland.
Scotch whisky
Greybeard Heather Dew Scotch whisky jug
Scotch whisky labels declare their composition ("Single Malt Scotch Whisky" at top), and in the example above the single distillery of manufacture (The Balvenie). An age statement ("12 years") indicates the maturation time of the youngest whisky used in a particular bottling.
Various Scotch whiskies
Single malt Scotch refers to single malt whisky made in Scotland. To qualify for this category, a whisky must have been distilled at a single distillery using a pot still distillation process and made from a mash of malted barley. Therefore, a single malt means that the whisky has not been blended elsewhere with whisky from other distilleries. As with any Scotch whisky, a single malt Scotch must be distilled in Scotland and matured in oak casks in Scotland for at least three years, although most single malts are matured longer.
A glass of Bowmore 12-year-old single malt Scotch whisky
Whisky stills in Scotland