# Grain & Stave Notebook > 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. Grain & Stave Notebook publishes original, long-form guides about whiskey education. Every article opens with a concise direct answer, is structured with clear headings and FAQs, and reflects mainstream expert consensus. ## Tasting & Serving - [Adding Water to Whiskey: A Practical Test](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/adding-water-to-whiskey/): 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. - [Best Whiskey Glass Shape for Tasting](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/best-whiskey-glass-shape/): 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… - [How to Host a Whiskey Tasting at Home](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/how-to-host-whiskey-tasting/): Host a whiskey tasting around one clear theme with three or four samples, identical clean glasses, small pours, water, plain food, and note sheets. - [How to Read a Whiskey Label](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/how-to-read-whiskey-label/): Read a whiskey label in this order: formal class or type, alcohol by volume and optional proof, age statement, regulated modifiers such as straight or… - [How to Store Open Whiskey Bottles](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/how-to-store-open-whiskey/): Store open whiskey upright with the cap or cork fitted tightly, in a cool, dark place with stable temperature. - [How to Taste Whiskey Without Pretending](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/how-to-taste-whiskey/): Taste whiskey in four passes: observe, nose, sip, and finish. - [Neat vs Rocks: How Serving Changes Whiskey](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/neat-vs-rocks/): Neat whiskey is served without added water or ice, preserving the bottle's original proof and making it easier to evaluate consistently. - [What Is a Whiskey Finish? How to Describe It](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/whiskey-finish-meaning/): A whiskey's finish is the sequence of flavor, aroma, texture, warmth, and dryness that remains after swallowing or spitting. - [Whiskey Proof vs ABV: Simple Conversion](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/whiskey-proof-vs-abv/): In the United States, proof is twice the alcohol-by-volume percentage. Multiply ABV by two to get proof, or divide proof by two to get ABV. - [Whiskey Tasting Notes: Build a Useful Vocabulary](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/whiskey-tasting-notes/): Write whiskey tasting notes in four parts: nose, palate, texture, and finish. ## Whiskey Basics - [Bottled in Bond Whiskey: What the Label Means](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/bottled-in-bond-whiskey/): Bottled-in-bond whiskey comes from one distiller at one distillery during one distilling season, uses the same kind of spirit and class of materials,… - [Bourbon vs Whiskey: The Difference Made Simple](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/bourbon-vs-whiskey/): Whiskey is the broad family; bourbon is a regulated American type within it. - [Cask Strength Whiskey: Proof Terms Explained](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/cask-strength-whiskey/): Cask-strength or barrel-proof whiskey is bottled at a proof no more than two degrees below its proof when dumped from the barrels. - [Corn Whiskey vs Bourbon: What Changes?](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/corn-whiskey-vs-bourbon/): Corn whiskey uses a mash containing at least 80% corn and does not have to be aged. If it is stored under the U.S. - [Rye vs Bourbon: Grain Rules and Flavor Clues](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/rye-vs-bourbon/): Rye whiskey must use at least 51% rye in its mash, while bourbon must use at least 51% corn. Under U.S. - [Small Batch vs Single Barrel Whiskey](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/small-batch-vs-single-barrel/): Single-barrel whiskey is presented as coming from one barrel, making barrel-to-barrel variation part of the experience. - [Straight Whiskey Meaning: What the Label Guarantees](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/straight-whiskey-meaning/): For named U.S. types such as bourbon and rye, straight whiskey must meet the type's recipe and production rules, age at least two years in the required… - [What Is Bourbon? The Rules Behind the Name](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/what-is-bourbon/): Bourbon is American whiskey made from at least 51% corn, distilled at no more than 160 proof, entered into charred new oak barrels at no more than 125… - [Whiskey Age Statements: How to Read the Number](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/whiskey-age-statements/): A whiskey age statement identifies the youngest whiskey represented by the statement, not the average age. U.S. - [Whiskey Mash Bills: How Grain Recipes Work](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/whiskey-mash-bills/): A whiskey mash bill is the percentage recipe of grains fermented before distillation. ## Full text for LLMs - [llms-full.txt](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/llms-full.txt): every article as plain markdown in one file - Each article is also available as markdown at https://benmilamwhiskey.com/.md ## Site - [About](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/about/): editorial approach and standards - [All articles](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/all/) - [Contact](https://benmilamwhiskey.com/contact/)