International Whisky Law

Scotch whisky is strictly protected (Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009). The core rules: • Production and maturation entirely in Scotland. • Matured at least 3 years in oak casks of no more than 700 litres. • At least 40% vol at bottling. • Only from water, grain and yeast — no additives except water and caramel colouring (E150a). The five legal categories: • Single Malt: 100% malted barley, ONE distillery, distilled in pot stills. • Single Grain: ONE distillery, with other grain/column still. • Blended Malt: only malts, but from several distilleries. • Blended Grain: only grains, from several distilleries. • Blended Scotch: a mix of malt and grain whisky. An age statement always names the YOUNGEST spirit it contains.

The US rules (TTB Standards of Identity) are precise: Bourbon: • Mash at least 51% corn. • Distilled at most 80% vol; into the cask at most 62.5% vol (125 proof). • Matured in NEW, internally charred oak casks. • Bottled at least 40% vol. NO minimum age. • "Straight Bourbon": matured at least 2 years. Others: • Rye whiskey: at least 51% rye (otherwise like bourbon). • Tennessee whiskey: like bourbon, plus charcoal filtering (Lincoln County Process). • "Bottled in Bond": from ONE distillery/ONE season, at least 4 years, exactly 50% vol, matured in a bonded warehouse. Important: bourbon may be produced anywhere in the USA — not only in Kentucky.

Ireland (Irish Whiskey Technical File): • Production and at least 3 years' maturation on the island of Ireland, in wooden casks ≤ 700 L. • Single Pot Still whiskey: an Irish speciality from malted AND unmalted barley, from one distillery. Japan (JSLMA definition since 2021): • "Japanese Whisky" must be mashed, distilled AND matured for at least 3 years in Japan (oak ≤ 700 L), bottled ≥ 40%. • Before that there was no definition — some "Japanese" whisky was bought-in, imported spirit. The rule finally brings clarity (transition period until 2024). The rest of the world: for "whisky" the EU generally requires grain, oak-cask maturation ≥ 3 years and ≥ 40%. Countries like India or Taiwan have their own, sometimes looser rules.

A label is full of terms — some legally defined, many just marketing: Legal/meaningful: • Age statement = youngest spirit. • Single Malt / Single Grain / Blended … = the protected categories. • % vol = bottling strength (cask strength = undiluted). Common, but NOT legally protected: • "Single Cask" (one cask), "Natural Colour" (uncoloured), "Non Chill-Filtered" (unfiltered) — reliable only if the producer is honest. Pure marketing (no fixed meaning): • "Rare", "Reserve", "Small Batch", "Selection", "Finest". And: "Matured in …" means main maturation; "Finished in …" only a short second maturation. NAS = no age statement (not automatically worse). Rule of thumb: look at facts (age, strength, cask, category), not decorative words.