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WhatDrink

Spirits

Whiskey

  • Spirit
  • Alcoholic
  • 4 drinks

What is Whiskey?

Whiskey is a family of grain-based distilled spirits. Production and labelling rules vary by jurisdiction and subtype, so Bourbon, Scotch, Irish, Rye and Japanese Whisky are treated separately where their standards differ.

Is this for me?

Choose this if…

  • ✓You enjoy rich, complex spirits with oak, vanilla or smoky character.
  • ✓There are 4 drinks on WhatDrink using this.

Skip if…

  • ✗You prefer light, neutral or sweet spirits.

At a Glance

75 kcalCalories
0gSugar
0gCarbs
SpiritType
4Recipes

Ingredient nutrition is approximate and varies by brand, recipe and preparation.

What does Whiskey taste like?

Flavor varies substantially by whiskey type, grain, distillation, maturation, cask and producer; the category is not represented by one universal tasting profile.

Ways to use whiskey

Cocktails (1)Coffee cocktails (1)Punches (1)Shots (1)

Popular drinks with Whiskey

Whiskey authority guide

What defines Whiskey?

Regulatory reference

Under U.S. federal standards, whisky is a distilled spirit made from a fermented mash of grain at less than 190 proof, with whisky character, and bottled at not less than 80 proof; individual whisky types such as bourbon and rye have additional requirements.

Source: U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)

The product-level view below is built from 12,867 approved WhatDrink whiskey records. It currently spans 317 named distilleries.

12,867
Products
48.1%
With age data
19.4%
With cask data
49.6%
With distillery data

Explore and compare whiskey types

These are related category pages, not aliases of Whiskey.

BourbonScotch WhiskyIrish WhiskeyRye WhiskeyJapanese WhiskyTennessee Whiskey

Age statements in the graph

6,193 products have an approved age statement, ranging from 1 to 85 years in the current dataset.

Common documented cask types

Sherry cask · 1184Bourbon cask · 552Oloroso sherry cask · 338Pedro Ximenez sherry cask · 124Port cask · 96Wine cask · 72Rum cask · 51Virgin oak · 37

Most represented distilleries

Macallan · 506Springbank · 261Karuizawa · 246Bruichladdich · 218Glenfarclas · 202Bowmore · 169Glenrothes · 162Ardbeg · 153Highland Park · 146Dalmore · 139

Representative products

  • Ardbeg, Single Malt Single Cask Strength 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel Cask No 10 Bottled 2020, Islay
    single malt · Ardbeg
  • Ardbeg, Single Malt Single Cask Strength 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel Cask No 5824 Bottled 2019, Islay
    single malt · Ardbeg
  • Ardbeg, Single Malt Single Cask Strength Sherry Butt No 86 Bottled 2007, Islay
    single malt · Ardbeg
  • Benriach, Single Malt Single Cask Bottling - Batch 13 Peated/Oloroso Sherry Finish Cask No 7569 29YO Bottled 2016, Speyside
    single malt · 29 years · BenRiach
  • Benriach, Single Malt Single Cask Bottling - Batch 13 Tawny Peated/Port Finish Cask No 5462 39YO Bottled 2016, Speyside
    single malt · 39 years · BenRiach
  • Glengyle, Single Malt Kilkerran Cask Strength Bourbon Cask Matured 8YO 55.8%, Campbeltown
    single malt · 8 years · Glengyle
  • Glengyle, Single Malt Kilkerran Cask Strength Bourbon Cask Matured 8YO Bottled 2025 55.6%, Campbeltown
    single malt · 8 years · Glengyle
  • Glengyle, Single Malt Kilkerran Cask Strength Port Cask Matrured 8YO 57.9%, Campbeltown
    single malt · 8 years · Glengyle
  • Glengyle, Single Malt Kilkerran Cask Strength Sherry Cask Matured 8YO 57.4%, Campbeltown
    single malt · 8 years · Glengyle
  • Glengyle, Single Malt Kilkerran Cask Strength Sherry Cask Matured 8YO 58.1%, Campbeltown
    single malt · 8 years · Glengyle

Coverage percentages describe approved fields in WhatDrink's current specialist dataset; an unfilled field is not treated as a negative claim.

Drink counts and recipe data are based on published WhatDrink recipes. Figures may vary as new recipes are added.