Whisky Vocabulary

Angel Share – The name given to the evaporation from the casks which amounts to around 2 per cent of the whisky every year.

Bonded Warehouse – Where the casks are stored after being filled to allow them to mature.  They are kept under lock and key and only the distillery manager has access to them (and those lucky enough to take the Connoisseur tour).  This area is controlled by Customs & Excise.

Draff – The non-soluble part of malt left over after mashing.  At Tullibardine our draff is taken away and used by local farmers as animal feed.

Grist – The end product after the malted barley and flour have been ground together.  This will then be used for the mashing stage of the whisky making process.

New Make Spirit – The name given to the spirit which is produced at the end of the distillation process.  It will then be transferred into casks to mature into whisky.

Slainte Mhath – This is said before drinking whisky.  It is the gaelic for Cheers/Your good health!

Usige Beathe – This is the Scottish-Gaelic name for whisky and literally means the water of life.

Wort – The sweet liquid produced from the mashing process.