Drinking straight whiskey12/29/2023 The limit of 80% maximum abv concentration for the distillation is a key element of the definition of straight whiskey. In contrast, even the regulations governing single malt whiskey production in some countries allow the addition of caramel coloring to enhance appearance. For a straight whiskey to be called corn whiskey, it must use a mash with at least 80% corn and be aged in used or uncharred barrels.Įxtra ingredients, such as caramel coloring, are forbidden in straight whiskey. An especially prominent variation is the labeling "Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey", used to indicate a straight whiskey made in Kentucky from a mash of at least 51% corn grain. For example, a straight whiskey may be a bourbon whiskey (using a mash of corn), malt whiskey (using a mash of malted barley), rye whiskey, rye malt whiskey, or wheat whiskey. When at least 51% of the content of the mash used in the production of a straight whiskey consists of corn, rye, barley, or wheat, the designation can be coupled with a special name associated with the type of grain and whether the grain was malted. Bonded whiskeys must also fulfill several other requirements. All bonded whiskeys are required to be straight whiskeys, and are additionally required to be aged for at least four years. Other than an age statement, which lists the age of the youngest spirit in a bottle, the only other special labeling dealing with the age of a straight whiskey in the U.S. The spirit oxidizes during this aging period, and penetrates the wood, extracting many of the flavor compounds and caramelized wood sugars.Ī straight whiskey that has been aged less than four years is required to be labeled with an age statement describing the actual age of the product. The core aging requirement that defines a whiskey as straight is if the distillate has spent at least two years stored in charred new oak barrels, except corn whiskey which must use uncharred or used oak barrels. Thus, in bartending terminology, straight is typically synonymous with neat. Īlternatively, straight can also refer to a way of requesting and/or serving a drink of whiskey-pouring the spirit without any water, cordial, or other mixer. The regulations do not necessarily apply to American whiskey made for export. This definition is established for production of American whiskey for consumption within the United States as per the U.S federal Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits. The only allowed modifications to straight whiskey prior to its bottling consist of batching whiskey from different barrels (and sometimes from different distilleries, although only from within the same state), chill filtering the whiskey, and adding water to reduce proof while retaining at least a 40% abv concentration. Domestic sales of straight whiskey surpassed 27 million 9-liter cases in 2021. Straight whiskey (or straight whisky), as defined in United States law, is whiskey that is distilled from a fermented ( malted or unmalted) cereal grain mash to a concentration not exceeding 80% alcohol by volume (abv) and aged in new charred oak barrels for at least two years at a concentration not exceeding 62.5% at the start of the aging process.
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