How to Read A Whiskey Label

Choosing the right whiskey can be overwhelming, and most of that comes down to the language. Single malt, cask strength, single pot still, 12 year old, every one of those means something specific, and together they tell you what's in the bottle before you ever open it.

Here's how to read a whiskey label, from the biggest words on the front to the small print on the back.

Distillery VS Brand

The primary point of contact for the buyer, which they will look for, is the whiskey's brand or distillery name, the two are often interchangeable. Every distillery has its own production and distillation methods, therefore each offers a different tasting experience.

Usually you'll see the distillery clearly stated on single malts, as by definition they originate from one place. Blends tend to lean heavier on the brand itself, as the blend draws on whiskey from several distilleries, so there is no single distillery name and the blending house becomes the identity. A third name the buyer might come across is the independent bottler, which are companies that buy casks from distilleries and bottle the whiskey themselves. Names like Cadenhead's, Gordon & MacPhail and Thompson Brothers are worth knowing.

Single Malt vs Blended vs Single Pot Still

These distinguish what's actually in the glass better than the brand does.

Single malt: this means the whiskey came from one distillery, made entirely from malted barley. 'Single' refers to the distillery, not the cask. More character and a stronger house style.

Blended: a blend of malt and grain whiskey from several distilleries combined together by a blending house. Blending is how the brand keeps the same taste in the bottle over time, and why blends are smoother and easier to drink, like Jameson and Johnnie Walker.

Single pot still: Ireland's own, one distillery, a mash of both malted and unmalted barley. The unmalted barley gives it the creamier body and peppery finish, found nowhere else. Brands such as Redbreast and Powers are best for this.

Understanding the Different Types of Whiskeys

Next, checking the type or style of the whiskey is the perfect way to avoid buying what you don't like. In terms of different types of whiskey there is bourbon, Scotch, rye, Irish or Japanese whiskey. These all have different production processes which entirely affect the taste.

Bourbon/American Whiskey

Made from a mix of at least 51% corn, usually in America, and is aged in new charred oak barrels. The new wood gives the whiskey a sweeter taste with notes of vanilla, caramel and toasted oak. If you see 'straight' bourbon this means it has been ageing for at least 2 years.

Scotch

Made from malted barley and aged in oak barrels for a minimum of three years in Scotland. It can have smoky notes or fruit and spice, depending on the region.

Rye

Made from the rye grain (at least 51%), aged in new charred oak barrels. The rye gives it a pepper and spice taste, bringing a drier, almost sharper taste. Perfect for an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan.

Irish Whiskey

Smoother due to triple distillation, distilled and matured on the island of Ireland for at least three years. This extra distillation gives it a smoother, lighter taste, flavours ranging from fruity to floral. Redbreast, Powers and Green Spot are all good places to start.

Japanese Whiskey

Distilled and matured in Japan for at least three years, with a delicate and precise taste.

Country and Region

The terroir of the whiskey can make a difference to the taste, due to the difference in weather and location, though it is a point distillers will argue over, with some saying the cask will override it. The region gives you hints as to what the whiskey will actually taste like. Scotch whiskeys will most likely be distilled in regions like Islay, Speyside or the Highlands, each with strong production regulations and plenty of variation in taste.

Age Statement

A fairly self-explanatory section. The age displayed is the age of the youngest whiskey in the bottle. Where there is no age statement present, the spirit could be as young as the country's legal minimum age for whiskey, which differs per country.

• Scotland, Ireland & Japan: minimum age matured is three years.
• Australia: matured for two years.
• America: no age statement means the whiskey is at least four years old.
• Vintage age statement: entire contents of the bottle must legally come from that specific year.

Cask Type

The cask is the type of wooden barrel the whiskey has been left to mature in. Knowing the cask type helps the buyer understand what flavours to expect from the bottle. Between 60–70% of a whiskey's flavour and all of the colour comes from the wood, so the size and type of the cask shape the final product more than anything else on the label.

What contents the cask had in it before is important and will tell the taste:

• Ex-bourbon: vanilla, honey, coconut, soft spice
• Oloroso sherry: dried fruit, orange peel, Christmas cake
• Pedro Ximénez: raisin, fig, dark chocolate, seriously sweet
• Port: berry, jam, a touch of chocolate
• Red wine: red fruit and a drying, tannic grip
• Virgin oak: big vanilla and fresh-sawn timber

Size plays an important role in the finished taste. With a smaller cask the liquid has more contact with the wood, so a quarter cask (125L) works faster on the spirit than a butt (500L).

Two words worth knowing: matured means that the whiskey lived in the cask the whole time, while finished means it was moved into a second cask for the final stretch of the maturing process.

ABV

The alcohol by volume (ABV) will be represented as a percentage, telling you how much alcohol is in the bottle of whiskey. 40% is the legal minimum in most countries. 43% is the standard for most whiskeys today. Anything above 46% strength is likely to give a richer feel with bold flavours. Natural cask strength is the ABV of the whiskey directly from the cask, which can range from 40% to the high 60%s, these can of course be diluted with water to find the correct balance.

The Bottom Line

A whiskey label isn't there to confuse you, it's there to tell you exactly what's in the bottle. Five things do most of the work: who made it, where it's from, what style it is, how long it was aged and what cask it sat in. Once you understand those five, you'll know what you're looking at before you ever open it, and you'll find the whiskey that suits you far quicker.

Have a browse of the full range at The Whiskey Reserve and put it into practice.