Weaning day

Definition

Bottling day (bottling) is the specific day on which the whisky is drawn from a cask into bottles and released to the market. At this point, certain technical parameters for the final bottle edition are also determined, and the liquid is prepared for distribution.

Bottling process - Selection of the cask(es) and decision on the bottling method (batch or single-cask). - Tasting and color analysis to assess style, body, and quality. - Determination of the desired alcohol strength (ABV). Many whiskies are bottled at higher ABV and diluted with distilled water to the standard 40–46% ABV; some are bottled as 'cask strength' without dilution. - Filtration and texture: parts of the whisky undergo chill filtration to remove traces of highly viscous oils, while non-chill-filtered products retain more body, mouthfeel, and aroma. - Bottling and labeling: mechanical or manual filling, capping and sealing. The bottles are labeled with information including name, ABV, volume, bottling date, batch/lot number, and cask number. - Documentation and traceability: recording bottling date, batch and cask to ensure traceability and quality monitoring.

Techniques and practice - ABV and dilution: how the strength affects taste, body and shelf life. - Filtration: differences between chill filtration and non-chill filtration and their impact on mouthfeel. - 'Cask strength' and batch-based bottling: how some products are bottled without dilution and in multiple batches.

Quality, shelf life and labeling - Shelf life in the bottle: whisky changes slowly in contact with oxygen and light; the bottling day marks the beginning of the bottle's life cycle. - Labeling: lot number, bottling date, ABV, and cask number are important for identification and recall in the event of any faults.

Variations and context - Single-cask vs. batch: single-cask bottling is drawn directly from a cask without blending, while batch bottlings combine several casks. - Differences between distilleries and products: some products are marketed as limited editions, and the bottling date is part of the product's identity.