Single malt whisky (and sometimes a third) time. The final spirit, called "new make spirit", generally has an alcohol content of 60 to 70%. Most new-make malt whisky is diluted to about 62.5% a.b.v. before it is placed in casks to mature. The "new-make spirit", or unaged whisky, is then placed in oak casks to mature. By law, all Scotch whisky must be aged for a minimum of three years in oak casks, though many single malts are matured for much longer. The whisky continues to develop and change as it spends time in the wood, and maturation periods of twenty years or
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.