Whiskey Basics
Whiskey Basics
American whiskey styles, production rules, proof, age statements, and label terms.
Whiskey Basics
What does “bottled in bond” establish?
Read the regulated term in context, then check the class, age, proof, and producer details elsewhere on the label.
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Tasting & Serving
Tasting & Serving
Repeatable ways to observe, compare, serve, store, and discuss whiskey without ceremony.
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Tasting & Serving
Adding Water to Whiskey: A Practical Test
Add water to whiskey gradually: taste it neat, add three to five drops of clean still water, wait briefly, and compare aroma, heat, texture, and finish.
Whiskey Basics
American Single Malt Whiskey: Read the Label
American single malt whiskey is a U.S. whiskey made from a fermented mash of 100 percent malted barley, distilled at no more than 160 proof at one U.S.
Tasting & Serving
Best Whiskey Glass Shape for Tasting
A tulip-shaped glass with a rounded bowl and narrower opening is the best general shape for focused whiskey tasting because it concentrates aroma near the…
Whiskey Basics
Blended Whiskey vs Blended Straight Whiskey
Blended whiskey contains at least 20 percent straight whiskey on a proof-gallon basis; the rest may be whiskey, neutral spirits, or both, with neutral…
Whiskey Basics
Bourbon vs Whiskey: The Difference Made Simple
Whiskey is the broad family; bourbon is a regulated American type within it.
Whiskey Basics
Cask Strength Whiskey: Proof Terms Explained
Cask-strength or barrel-proof whiskey is bottled at a proof no more than two degrees below its proof when dumped from the barrels.
Grain & Stave Notebook is an independent educational publication for curious whiskey drinkers. It explains American whiskey styles, label language, tasting, and serving without brand worship or velvet-rope theater.