Whisky Jargon

Malt whisky that is the product of just one distillation run, from just one individual cask, from just one distillery. It is usually bottled at cask strength (around 55% abv - 65% abv depending upon the particular distillery) and the process of chill filtration is frequently omitted. Examples include the rare 1973 Talisker 28 year-old and The Managers’ Choice Single Cask Selection.

Whisky that is made of 100% malted barley, is from just one single distillery location and has not been blended with any other product from elsewhere. Each distillery has a style of whisky due to the ingredients used, production techniques and aging. Single malt whisky is the premium whisky product and all of The Classic Malts are single malts.

A toast of “Slàinte Maith” with a response of “Slàinte Mór” (pronounced “slahnje vay ... slahnje vor”) - meaning “Good Health ... Great Health” - is the equivalent of the English toast of “Cheers” and is almost exclusively used when drinking whisky.

These malts are typically complex, offering fruity and floral flavours with hints of green apples and citrus notes. The Speyside malts include Cardhu, Cragganmore, Glen Elgin and Knockando.

A large, usually brass-bound and glass-walled container, found in all our distilleries, with several glass vessels that act as receptacles for the distillate. It also has instruments such as a thermometer and hydrometer, allowing the distiller to analyse and manage the spirit coming out of the spirit stills. Spirit safes carry padlocks, placed there by Customs and Excise, which prevent anyone siphoning off the new make spirit, to avoid paying duty on it.

A distilling vessel made out of copper in which the spirit is created. The name derives from the Latin ‘stillare’ and means to drip. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and each of the 13 Classic Malts distilleries has its own unique still.