Whisky Glossary

Explore key terms to deepen your understanding of the whisky world.
A guide for everyone from beginners to enthusiasts to enhance their knowledge.

A

Aging
The process of maturing whisky in barrels, developing flavor and color.
Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
The percentage indicating the alcohol content in a beverage.
Angel's Share
The amount of whisky that evaporates from the cask during maturation.

B

Bourbon
An American whiskey primarily made from corn and aged in new barrels.
Blended
A combination of malt whiskies and grain whiskies from multiple distilleries.
Blender
An expert who combines different whiskies to create the final product.
Bottled in Bond
Whiskey produced under specific conditions according to U.S. law.

C

Cask Strength
High-proof whisky bottled directly from the cask without dilution.
Cellar
A place where whisky is stored and matured.
Chill Filtration
The process of filtering whisky at low temperatures to remove substances that cause cloudiness.
Congener
Compounds produced during fermentation and distillation that affect flavor.
Cooper
A craftsman who makes and repairs whisky barrels.

D

Distillation
The process of concentrating alcohol and removing impurities.
Distillery
A facility where whisky is produced.
Drum Malting
A mechanized process for malting barley.

F

Finish
An additional process of maturing whisky in a different type of cask for a short period.
Foreshots
The high-alcohol liquid obtained in the early stages of distillation, usually not used.

G

Gaelic
The traditional language of Scotland and Ireland, origin of many whisky names.
Grain Whisky
Whisky made from grains other than barley (mainly corn or wheat).

H

Head
The top part of the still where alcohol vapors condense.
Highland
One of the main whisky-producing regions in Scotland.

I

Islay
A Scottish island known for its strongly peated whiskies.

K

Kiln
A furnace used for drying malted barley.

L

Lagering
The process of temporarily storing freshly distilled whisky in large wooden vats.
Lowland
The southern whisky-producing region of Scotland, known for its light flavors.

M

Malt
Germinated barley, the main ingredient in single malt whisky.
Mash
The liquid created by mixing crushed grains with water and allowing them to ferment.
Master Distiller
A skilled expert who oversees the entire whisky production process.
Middle Cut
The highest quality part of the distillation process, also known as the heart.

N

Nose
A term referring to the aroma or bouquet of a whisky.
No Age Statement (NAS)
Whisky that does not specify its age of maturation.

P

Palate
The taste of the whisky when it is in the mouth.
Peat
Dried turf used in drying malted barley, imparting a smoky flavor.
Peating
The process of using peat during the drying of malted barley to add smoky flavors.
Pot Still
A traditional still used for batch distillation.
Proof
Another measure of alcohol content, typically twice the ABV value.

R

Rectified Spirit
Highly purified alcohol, also known as neutral grain spirit.
Refill Cask
A cask used for the second or subsequent maturation of whisky.

S

Single Cask
Whisky bottled from a single barrel.
Single Malt
Whisky made from 100% malted barley at a single distillery.
Smoky
A smoky aroma or taste resulting from the use of peat.
Speyside
The region in Scotland with the highest concentration of distilleries, known for fruity flavors.
Spirit Safe
A device used to monitor and control the flow of alcohol during distillation.
Still
The apparatus used for distillation.
Strath Isla
The name of a river in Speyside, home to many famous distilleries.

T

Tasting
The process of evaluating the flavors and characteristics of a whisky.
Tain
A town in Scotland, famous for the Glenmorangie distillery.

W

Wash
The fermented liquid made from grains, ready for distillation.
Washback
A large vessel where grain fermentation takes place.
Water of Life
The meaning of whisky in Gaelic, the origin of the word whisky.
Worm Tub
A traditional device for cooling vapor from the still.