The white buildings of Port Ellen distillery overlook a body of water surrounded by a rocky shore. On one of the white walls, in large black writing, are the words ‘Port Ellen’.

How to Read a Whisky Bottle

It is often thought that an older single malt will be a better one. But is a number on a bottle the only thing to consider when you’re looking for a great-tasting whisky? You can learn a lot from a whisky bottle before you’ve even taken a sip, especially if you know what you’re looking for.

So, where do you start?

Distillery or brand name

Let's start at the very beginning. On the bottle, take a look at the distillery or brand name (which are often used interchangeably). Each distillery brings their own expertise and distillation process to their whiskies. The obvious exceptions here are blended whiskies which source whiskies from multiple distilleries released under a different brand name, like Johnnie Walker.

A great way to learn more about distilleries is with a visit to experience tours and tastings. From remote Islay to central Speyside, every distillery has a different story to tell.

Discover all distilleries

A close up of the label of a bottle of Talisker whisky

Type of cask

Oak, sherry, refill bourbon... all whiskies have been aged and matured in casks. The type of wood that the whisky has been aged in imparts unique flavours. Ex-sherry casks will add sweetness to the whisky whereas ex-bourbon casks adds increased depths of flavour. Master blenders are increasingly experimenting with different cask finishes such as port and cognac. Some whiskies are single cask, where they are bottled from an individual cask and often the bottles are labeled with specific barrel and bottle numbers.

Learn more about different whisky flavours

several wooden barrels sit in a row. One barrel has white writing on its front which says ‘D&J McCallum, 1985, Cragganmore, 943’.

Age of the whisky

Quite self-explanatory, the bottle can tell you the age of the whisky. Scotch whisky law dictates that the spirit is not considered whisky unless it has been matured for a minimum of three years. It's important to note that the age displayed on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle. Fear not though, there are more often than not samples from much older whiskies in each bottle that help create the complex flavours we all enjoy.

Learn more about how whisky is made

Two small boats sit on a body of water in front of a white building with the words Lagavulin painted onto the wall. Next to the building are grass-covered hills; the sky is blue and dotted with white clouds.

Production region

The region displayed on a whisky bottle can give a clue to its flavour. In the case of Scotch, Scotland is the spiritual home of whisky with five distinct whisky producing regions; Campbeltown, Lowlands, Highlands (including Speyside), Islands and Islay. Each region has its own characteristics and unique flavour profiles. To begin acquainting your tastebuds to different regions, select one and then pick a bottle to try.

Visit distilleries by region

Size of bottle

On a bottle you will also see the quantity of whisky contained inside. In the EU the standard bottle size is 70cl (or 700ml) per EU directives as of 1992. However, you can also find miniatures ranging from 20-50ml, and often in airports you will see that the standard bottle size is 1 litre.

Discover our bestsellers

A bottle of Mortlach single malt Scotch whisky sits on a plinth in front of a gold and blue background.

Associated collection

Distilleries are increasingly releasing collections of whiskies which can take you on an incredible journey of the senses. Collections can be a number of different bottles released all at once, like the Special Releases, or special collections such as the annual Fèis Ìle series. These collections are often limited in availability, making them highly collectable.

Shop our Special Releases

A bottle of The Singleton 14 year old whisky sits on a blue plinth next to a highball glass with a fizzy cocktail in it.

Non-chill filtered

When whisky has ice or water added, it naturally becomes cloudy due to the decrease in temperature. Some perceive this cloudiness as leading to a negative consumption experience so instead, before bottling, craftspeople will chill the whisky down and filter out the elements that create cloudiness. Hence, 'non-chill filtered' or ‘natural’ whisky tastes have become a signal of quality in the whisky world and are called out on bottles.

Discover more whisky lingo

A woman holds up a dram glass containing whisky and inspects it, while standing in front of lots of wooden barrels.

Explore the world of Malts

View All

A rocks glass containing whisky and ice sits on a bar, with a cocktail shaker and jigger behind it.

The Beginner’s Guide to Different Whisky Types

From American bourbon to Scotch whisky, read our handy guide to the different types of whisky, how they’re made and how they differ.

An Old Fashioned cocktail in a rocks glass sits on a glass table, surrounded by playing cards, dominos and some canapes. Two people sit behind the cocktail.

Whisky Flavours Explored

From peaty whisky to fruity whisky, lean on our expert insights to discover the full variety and character of different whisky flavours.

A rocks glass of ice and whisky sits on the edge of a pool table. A man holds a pool cue and repositions a white pool ball.

The Best Whiskies for Beginners

Choosing the correct beginner whisky is an important step for any budding malts enthusiast. Let us help you start your journey.

A woman holds a rocks glass or whisky and ice

Whisky Tasting for Beginners

Professional whisky tasting takes practice. Use our do's and don'ts to demystify the experience and enjoy your drams in a whole new way.

View All