Three protected names
- Scotch — distilled and matured in Scotland, oak casks, minimum 3 years, bottled at 40%+
- Bourbon — made in the USA, 51%+ corn, NEW charred-oak barrels, no colouring allowed
- Irish whiskey — distilled and matured on the island of Ireland, minimum 3 years
These aren't style suggestions — they're law. A 'bourbon' aged in a used barrel isn't bourbon; a 2-year-old 'Scotch' isn't Scotch.