Every major whiskey-producing nation's legal requirements, side by side โ minimum age, cask type, grain minimums, distillation limits, and bottling ABV. Use the search box to filter any row.
| Country / Style | Min Age | Cask Type & Size | Min Grain / Base | Max Distillation ABV | Min Bottling ABV | Additives Permitted | Key Legal Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐บ๐ธ Bourbon | None (Straight: 2 yr) | New charred oak containers (any size) | 51% corn | 80% ABV (160ยฐ proof) | 40% ABV (80ยฐ proof) | None | TTB 27 CFR ยง5.143 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Straight Bourbon | 2 years minimum | New charred oak containers | 51% corn | 80% ABV | 40% ABV | None | TTB 27 CFR ยง5.143 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Bottled-in-Bond | 4 years minimum | New charred oak (bonded warehouse) | 51% corn (bourbon) or 51% rye (rye) | 80% ABV | 50% ABV (100ยฐ proof โ exactly) | None | Bottled-in-Bond Act 1897 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Tennessee Whiskey | None specified | New charred oak | 51% corn | 80% ABV | 40% ABV | None | TTB + TN Code ยง57-2-106 |
| ๐บ๐ธ American Rye | None (Straight: 2 yr) | New charred oak | 51% rye | 80% ABV | 40% ABV | None | TTB 27 CFR ยง5.143 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Corn Whiskey | None | Used or uncharred oak (if aged) | 80% corn | 80% ABV | 40% ABV | None | TTB 27 CFR ยง5.143 |
| ๐บ๐ธ Wheat Whiskey | None (Straight: 2 yr) | New charred oak | 51% wheat | 80% ABV | 40% ABV | None | TTB 27 CFR ยง5.143 |
| ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Scotch โ Single Malt | 3 years | Oak casks โค700L, in Scotland | 100% malted barley | 94.8% ABV | 40% ABV | Water + caramel (E150a) only | SWR 2009 |
| ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Scotch โ Single Grain | 3 years | Oak casks โค700L, in Scotland | Malted barley + other cereals | 94.8% ABV | 40% ABV | Water + caramel (E150a) only | SWR 2009 |
| ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Scotch โ Blended | 3 years | Oak casks โค700L, in Scotland | Malt + grain combination | 94.8% ABV | 40% ABV | Water + caramel (E150a) only | SWR 2009 |
| ๐ฎ๐ช Irish โ Single Pot Still | 3 years | Wooden casks, in Ireland | Malted + unmalted barley (both required) | 94.8% ABV | 40% ABV | Water only | Irish Whiskey Technical File |
| ๐ฎ๐ช Irish โ Single Malt | 3 years | Wooden casks, in Ireland | 100% malted barley | 94.8% ABV | 40% ABV | Water only | Irish Whiskey Technical File |
| ๐ฎ๐ช Irish โ Blended | 3 years | Wooden casks, in Ireland | Combination of categories | 94.8% ABV | 40% ABV | Water only | Irish Whiskey Technical File |
| ๐จ๐ฆ Canadian Whisky | 3 years | Wood (any size), in Canada | None specified (any grain) | Not specified | 40% ABV | Up to 9.09% other spirits; caramel | Canadian FDR B.02.020 |
| ๐ฏ๐ต Japanese Whisky | 3 years | Wooden casks, in Japan | Malted grain required + other cereals | Not specified | 40% ABV | Caramel colouring only | JSLMA Standards (eff. 2024) |
| ๐ฆ๐บ Australian Whisky | 2 years | Oak casks โค700L | Cereal grain mash | Not specified | 40% ABV | Limited per FSANZ | FSANZ (Food Standards Aust NZ) |
| ๐ฎ๐ณ India โ Premium Grain | Varies by state (typically 2โ3 yr) | Oak casks | Grain mash required (premium) | Varies | 42.8% ABV (standard) | Varies by state regulation | FSSAI + State Excise Boards |
| ๐ช๐บ EU Member States (e.g. France, Germany, Sweden, Wales) | 3 years | Oak casks | Cereal grain mash | 94.8% ABV | 40% ABV | Caramel colouring (E150a) | EU Spirits Regulation 2019/787 |
| Country / Category | Primary Still Type | Effect on Spirit | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๐บ๐ธ Bourbon / Rye | Column (continuous) + Doubler/Thumper | Lighter than pot still; max 80% ABV off still | Jim Beam, Buffalo Trace, Four Roses |
| ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Scotch Single Malt | Copper pot still (batch) | Heavier, oilier, more complex congeners | Glenfiddich, Lagavulin, Macallan |
| ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Scotch Single Grain | Coffey / Column (continuous) | Lighter, cleaner, higher ABV | Cameronbridge, Girvan |
| ๐ฎ๐ช Single Pot Still | Large copper pot still (batch) | Spicy, creamy, oily โ unique character | Redbreast, Powers, Green Spot |
| ๐ฏ๐ต Japanese Single Malt | Various copper pot stills (batch) | Delicate, precise; multiple still shapes used | Yamazaki, Yoichi, Hakushu |
| ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ Penderyn (Wales) | Faraday single copper pot still | Very high purity at ~92% ABV in one pass | Penderyn Madeira Finish |
| ๐ธ๐ช Mackmyra (Sweden) | Traditional copper pot still | Fruity, floral; gravity-fed distillery | Mackmyra Svensk Rรถk |
| Cask Type | Previous Contents | Legal Use | Primary Flavour Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Charred American Oak | None (virgin) | Required for bourbon; optional elsewhere | Vanilla, coconut, caramel, sweet spice, toast |
| Ex-Bourbon (Used American Oak) | Bourbon whiskey | Common for Scotch, Irish, Japanese | Subtle vanilla, light wood, dried fruit, honey |
| Ex-Sherry (Oloroso / PX) | Oloroso or Pedro Ximรฉnez sherry | Common for Scotch premium expressions | Dried fruit (raisin, fig, date), chocolate, nut, richness |
| Ex-Port | Ruby or Tawny port | Popular cask finish for Scotch & world whisky | Berry, plum, chocolate, jammy sweetness |
| Ex-Wine (Bordeaux, Burgundy) | Red or white wine | French whisky specialty; Starward (Aus) | Tannic, fruity, grape-forward, light oak |
| Ex-Rum | Caribbean or industrial rum | Growing trend for Irish, World whisky | Tropical fruit, molasses, vanilla, sweet spice |
| Ex-Cognac / Armagnac | French brandy | French whisky specialty | Dried fruit, floral, grape spirit, soft wood |
| Mizunara (Japanese Oak) | Various โ or virgin | Japan specialty; extremely expensive | Sandalwood, incense (oud), coconut, oriental spice |
| French Limousin Oak | Various | French whisky; some Scotch finishing | Tannic, savory, structured, light fruit |
| STR Cask (Shaved, Toasted, Re-charred) | Red wine | Craft distilleries worldwide; Kavalan | Rich fruit, vanilla, toasted wood, complexity |
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