Decoding Whisky Labels: A Complete Guide to Reading Whisky Labels

When it comes to reading whisky labels, think of them as your ultimate guide to your chosen whisky. They offer a wealth of information about what you're purchasing, helping you make informed decisions about your whisky selection.

❶ Brand Name: most of the time is the name of the distillery in which the whisky was made.

❷ Whisky Type: Single Malt, Single Grain, Blended, Bourbon, Rye etc.

❸ Quarter Cask: cask size (or in some cases cask types such as American Oak, Sherry, Port, etc) in which the whisky was matured.

❹ Bottler or Distillery: this may be a distillery owner or an independent bottler.

❺ Capacity: most common size is 700ml or 500ml in some cases.

❻ Alcohol Percentage (ABV): the alcohol level at which the whisky was bottled (minimum of 40% or 80Proof).

❼ Age Statement: refers to the number of years the whisky has spent in the cask before being bottled, and it has to be the age of the youngest whisky in the mix.

❽ Origin/Region: country of production, the region is used predominantly for whisky from Scotland.

❾ Whisky Companies: big companies like Diageo, Beam Suntory, Chivas Brothers, William Grant & Sons who own most of the whisky distilleries in the world.