Whisky words and glossary

Unlike wine, for example, whisky is not really about mystification. But it does bring its own jargon. Any unusual terms you are likely to come across are described and defined in this section. If we have missed any, be sure to let us know.

A Age , Ageing , Alcohol by volume/ABV , Amylase , Angels' share

B Backset , Ball of malt , Beading , Beer , Beer still , Blending , Bond , Bothie , Bottled in bond , Bourbon , Brewing

C Cask strength , Charcoal mellowing , Charring , Chill filtration , Column still/continuous still , Congeners , Couch , Cut , Cytase

D Distillation , Doubler , Draff , Dram , Drum maltings

E Enzymes

F Feints , Fermenter , Fillings , Floor maltings , Foreshots , Furfurol , Fusel oil

G Gauger , Grain whisky , Green malt , Grist

H Heads , High wines

J Jigger

K Kieve , Kilning

L Leaching , Lincoln County Process , Liquor , Lomond still , Low wines , Lyne arm

M Malt , Malt whisky , Malting , Maltings , Marrying , Mash , Mash bill , Mash tun , Mashing

N New-make spirit , Nose , Noser

O Organic whisk(e)y

P Peat , Peated malt , Pot ale , Pot still , Premalt

Q Quaich

R Reflux , Rummager , Run , Rye whiskey

S Saladin box , Single barrel whisk(e)y , Single malt whisky , Small grains , Sour mash whiskey , Spent beer , Spirit safe , Spirit still , Steep , Stillage , Straight whiskey , Sweet mash

T Tails , Tennessee whiskey , Thin stillage

U Uisge beatha

V Vatted malt , Vatting

W Wash , Wash back , Wash still , Worm , Worts