Malt whisky whisky regulations require malt whisky to be made in pot stills using water and malted barley without the addition of any other cereals, and the whisky must be aged for at least three years in oak casks. The use of new barrels is not required. Caramel coloring can be added, but no other additives are allowed. Irish whiskey regulations are almost identical to Scotch regulations. Malt whiskey must be distilled in a pot still from a mash of 100% malted barley, which may be peated or unpeated in character, although unpeated malt is typically used. All Irish whiskeys must be
Black Dog Scotch Whisky prior to import. (Import duties may be as high as 150% for liquor bottled prior to import, but only about 30% when bottled in India.) The brand's main competitors outside the Diageo family are Ballantine’s Finest Blended Scotch, 100 Pipers Blended Scotch, both owned by Pernod Ricard and two expressions from the Teachers' family, Teacher’s 50, a premium 12 year old Scotch whisky, blended and matured in Scotland but bottled in India starting August 1997 to celebrate India’s 50 years of independence and Teacher's Highland Cream, both owned by Beam Suntory. The Black Dog brand of Scotch Whisky was first