"Blended Whisky"

[Bourbinvestor]

Are there specific standards a company has to abide by when they put "blended whiskey" on the label? I'm drinking one that is 80 proof and priced on the lower end of the spectrum and I am having a hard time believing the strong vanilla note and flavor is not from added flavoring.

[Harry in WashDC]

23 hours ago, Bourbinvestor said:

Are there specific standards a company has to abide by when they put "blended whiskey" on the label? I'm drinking one that is 80 proof and priced on the lower end of the spectrum and I am having a hard time believing the strong vanilla note and flavor is not from added flavoring.

[Some stuff deleted as the info was misleading - I really should not read regs while running a fever of 101.  Just saying . . .  Read the next post for better info.]  You can visit the website for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (https://ttb.gov/spirits/spiritsregs) and read the applicable regs in full.  See 27 CFR §§ 5.22(b)(4) for the definition of "blended whisky".  Other definitions appear in that section.  Those definitions must be read along with section 5.23 which addresses how such additives alter the classes of spirits defined in section 5.22.  ALSO, that site has some user guides, PowerPoint slides, etc., to help explain the classes of spirit and how they must be labeled.

 

 

 

Edited December 14, 2017 by Harry in WashDC

[tanstaafl2]

No telling what you might find in there since only 20% has to be true whiskey and the rest can be neutral grain spirit per the TTB.

 

 

BLENDED WHISKY OR WHISKY - A BLEND

 

Whisky produced by blending not less than 20% on a proof gallon basis (excluding alcohol derived from added harmless coloring, flavoring or blending materials) straight whisky or a blend of straight whiskies and, separately or in combination, whisky of any type or neutral spirits

[Jazzhead]

Look for a label that states "a blend of straight whiskies".     That'll ensure no artificial flavorings.     There are some terrific pours in this category,  BTW.    For example,  Stoll and Wolf; their latest batch is a blend of 5 year old "low rye" MGP juice (my favorite MGP mashbill) blended with 2 year old craft-distilled rye (from Virginia, I believe).  Yummy stuff.

 

  The point of a good blend, as it is with scotch, is to achieve optimum balance.    I look forward to trying more blends from makers who are upfront and disclose the provenance of the whiskeys that make up the blend.