Kentucky straight whiskey - Whiskey that has the same corn and proof requirements as bourbon, but the barrels it is matured in may have been used before. Rebel Yell is Kentucky Striaght Bourbon Whiskey.

Malt - Malt is barley which has been allowed to germinate by soaking in water. This converts stored starch into sugar.

Malt whiskey - Whiskey made from malted barley and distilled in a pot still.

Marrying - Term given to the process of mixing whiskeys from more than one distillery in order to form a blend or vatting.

Mashing - The process of adding the Grist to hot water in order to dissolve the fermentable sugars.

Mash tun - Large container holding Grist and hot water for mashing process. The product of which is known as wort.

Maturation - Process of storing whiskey in wooden casks or barrels to react over a period of time with the chemicals within the wood. The longer whiskey is left in the cask the greater effect the chemicals in the wood will have altering the flavor and color of the whiskey.

Mouth - the flavors in whiskey when in one’s mouth prior to swallowing.

Nose - the aroma of a whiskey.

Nosing glass - It looks like a big sherry glass or snifter. Because of its form, it catches the nose of the whiskey.

Palette - the characteristics of the taste of the whiskey. Usually describe by referring to other recognizable flavors. (honey, butter, nutty)

Pot Still - A copper still that resembles a big onion and is used for the distillation of malt whiskey.

Proof - The strength of alcohol by volume (ABV). The proof number is twice the percentage of alcohol in the bottle. So 80 proof is 40 percent (ABV); 100 proof is 50 percent (ABV). Usually adjusted by diluting with water before bottling.

Single barrel - Most bourbons are a mixture of whiskey from several barrels, allowing the distiller to control the consistency of flavor. (Do not confuse this with "blended.) Premium single barrel bourbons are bottled from one barrel only.

Small batch - Most bourbons are produced in large quantities. For example, some bottlers produce 17,000 cases daily. Small batch is a flexible term, but usually means a bottling from 1,000 gallons or fewer.

Straight - Whiskey that hasn't been modified with neutral spirits, color additives or flavor additives.

Vatting - The mixing together of identical whiskeys from a single distillery but from different casks in order to maintain consistancy of character for a particular brand of whiskey.

Wash - The term given to the fermented liquid prior to being pumped into the wash still for the first distillation.

Worm - Apparatus in which the vaporized alcohol
from stills is condensed and separated from the
water. Normally a coiled copper tube.

Yeast - An organism which feeds off of sugar,
forming alcohol as a by-product. Yeast is added
to the wort in the mash tun to create fermentation.