Whisky Scotch whiskies are generally distilled twice, although some are distilled a third time and others even up to twenty times. Scotch Whisky Regulations require anything bearing the label "Scotch" to be distilled in Scotland and matured for a minimum of three years in oak casks, among other, more specific criteria. Any age statement on the bottle, in the form of a number, must reflect the age of the youngest Scotch whisky used to produce that product. A whisky with an age statement is known as guaranteed age whisky. Scotch whisky without an age statement may, by law, be as young
The Whisky Barrel whiskies aimed at investors. The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, intended to provide Scotch whisky producers and retailers protection from foreign imitations, came into force on 23 November 2009 and apply to all home nations of the United Kingdom. The regulations apply to production, labelling, advertising and packaging of Scotch whisky. As a direct result The Whisky Barrel company cannot transfer or bottle oak casks of maturing Scotch whisky outside Scotland from 22 November 2012; all single malt Scotch whisky can only leave the country for retail purposes if it is contained within a bottle clearly stating its contents and source.