Whisky Label Knowledge

Similarly to German or French wine, a lot can be read off from the label of a whisky. With a few fundamental rules you can differentiate between simple or high-quality whiskies. This article shows you the most important characteristics of a whisky.

1. Blended Scotch Whisky

A simple Blended Scotch Whisky (Inver House the manufacturers of Pinwinnie may forgive me) contains at least the data described on the above label. In addition, there is this still somewhat verbal explanation necessary.

Scotch: Whisky may only bear the name Scotch, if it was distilled and matured for at least three years in Scotland in an oak barrel. Without the indication Scotch the whisky may have an origin in e.g. India. India belongs to the world-wide largest whisky producing countries.

Bottle content: Different units are allowed for the indication of the bottle content. You can write e.g. 70cl or 0,7Litre. The letter 'e' behind the volume indication refers to the measurement of the volume. 'e' stands for filled in. If you empty the bottle, you get out somewhat less, since the bottle inside remains wet.

Alcohol Strength: The alcohol strength is indicated in per cent of the bottle content (volume). This is also named sometimes ABV (absolute by volume). Theoretically one could also indicate the alcohol strength as the percentage of the weight (alcohol is lighter than water). However this is not allowed by law.

Characteristic: This label shown here describers a DeLuxe Whisky. This additive expresses a higher quality.

2. Single Malt Whisky (Scotch)

Single Malt Whisky is exclusively made from malted barley and comes from only one individual distillery. Therefore the distillery name is also always indicated on the label. If you should find the description 'Pure Malt' on a whisky bottle, the whisky usually is a, from several distilleries mixed, (Vatted) Malt.

Age: The age on the label of a whisky indicates, how old the youngest whisky was at the time it was filled into this bottle. Even Single Malt Whiskies contain differently aged whiskies from an individual distillery. In general you can say: the older the whisky, the softer and better it is. A whisky, that matured 12 years in a small barrel, is usually softer than a whisky, that matured e.g. 18 years in a very large cask. Thus please do not stubbornly select for the age. Often you can already find an age indication on less quality Blended Scotch Whisky.

Alcohol Strength: The better a whisky is, the higher it usually is bottled in alcohol strength. This is due to the manufacturers’ philosophy to give the consumer more when he buys a more expensive product. But note! Most whiskies taste better when diluted with than without addition of water. This has nothing to do with adulteration. A bottle with higher alcohol strength thus usually lasts longer than one which is reduced to a drinkable strength.

3. Cask Strength Fillings

The bottling of a Scottish Single Malt Whisky from a single cask is something special, which you shouldn’t withhold yourself. The whisky comes undiluted from the cask into the bottle!

Filtering: Some bottlers swear on filtering, others are strictly against it. Some cool off the whisky down to a few degrees (Celsius), in order to catch all small-soluble components during the filtering (Chillfiltering).

Limited number: Since whisky in casks matures individually, each cask tastes differently. For this reason there is only a limited number of bottles available for cask strength whiskies from single casks. If the whisky has success, the bottler will again try to bottle a comparable cask, naturally with a slightly different taste. Beside the bottle number sometimes the whole number of filled bottles is indicated.

Alcohol Strength: Do not be scared by the relatively high alcohol content of a cask strength vintage. These whiskies are usually reduced with a 50:50 ration down to a drinkable strength using still, mineral-poor spring waters. These bottles thus last twice as normal ones at 40%. And the more intensive taste caused by the fresh mixture with water and the possibility to experiment, extends your taste experience enormously.

Please read also the article Alcohol and Water.