American Whiskey Styles
Editorial hold: source records required
American whiskey styles include bourbon, rye, wheat and corn whiskey, as well as American single malt whisky. This hub helps you navigate the categories and the terms used to describe them.
Start here if you are new
Begin with the American whiskey guide, then read the bourbon guide for a closer look at one type.
American whiskey styles and terms
These guides cover individual categories, production terms and label language. Choose a guide for the question you want to explore.
- American Whiskey: The Complete Guide: Start with an overview of the US whisky class and its types.
- Bourbon: The Complete Guide: Read this for the rules that define bourbon.
- What Makes a Whiskey "Straight"?: Understand the US straight designation and its requirements.
- Bottled in Bond Explained: Explore the history and meaning of bottled in bond.
- Rye Whiskey Explained: Compare US rye whiskey with the Canadian use of the name.
- Tennessee Whiskey: The Lincoln County Process and Its Exception: Examine the Tennessee requirements and their exception.
- Wheated Bourbon: What Wheat Does in Place of Rye: See how wheated bourbon differs from wheat whiskey.
- Corn Whiskey Explained: Learn how the US rules distinguish corn whiskey.
- American Single Malt Whisky: The 2025 US Standard: Read about the US standard for American single malt whisky.
- Small Batch and Single Barrel: What the Words Mean: Consider what these label terms do and do not establish.
- Sour Mash: What It Is and What It Does: Follow the role of recycled stillage in production.
- What Is a Mash Bill? How Grain Recipes Shape Whiskey: Learn what a mash bill describes.
- Light Whiskey and Spirit Whiskey: America's Lesser Known Categories: Explore two less familiar US categories.
- Blended Bourbon and Blended American Whiskey Explained: Read about the US rules for blended whiskey.
- Wheat Whiskey Explained: Examine wheat whiskey and its straight designation.
- American Malt Whiskey and Rye Malt Whiskey Explained: Compare the US malt and rye malt categories.
- Barrel Proof, Cask Strength and Full Proof Explained: Understand how these strength terms are used.
The source records and current official legal texts must be checked before a complete Sources block can be prepared.