American whiskey
A glass of bourbon | |
| Type | Distilled beverage |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 17th century |
| Alcohol by volume | At least 40% |
| Proof (US) | 80 and higher |
| Colour | Pale gold to dark amber |
| Ingredients | Malt, water |
American whiskey is whiskey (a distilled beverage produced from a fermented mash of cereal grain) produced in the United States. The best known American whiskey is straight whiskey, which is characterized by a mash consisting of a predominant grain (at least 51% of the mash) and, with some exceptions, aged in new charred white oak barrels. Examples of straight whiskeys include bourbon whiskey, rye whiskey, Tennessee whiskey, rye malt whiskey, malt whiskey, wheat whiskey, and corn whiskey.
Other American whiskeys include blended whiskeys, light whiskeys, and spirit whiskeys. Laws regulating the products vary between those produced for sale in the U.S. and those exported abroad.