American whisky

American whiskey is a distilled beverage produced in the United States from a fermented mash of cereal grain. Among the types included under this designation are bourbon whiskey, rye whiskey, rye malt whiskey, malt whiskey, wheat whiskey, and corn whiskey. All of these are made from mashes with at least 51% of their named grains.

Also included are blended whiskey, blend of straight whiskeys, grain whisky, and spirit whiskey, which do not specify a dominant grain, and in the case of blends may include artificial color and flavorings.

Laws regulating the above products vary between those produced for consumption within the United States and exported abroad.

Outside of the United States, various other countries recognize certain types of American whiskey, such as bourbon and Tennessee whiskey, as indigenous products of the United States that must be produced (although not necessarily bottled) in the United States. When sold in another country, American whiskey may also be required to conform to other local product requirements that apply to whiskey in general when sold in that country, which may in some aspects involve stricter standards than the U.S. law.

Canadian law also requires that products labeled as bourbon or Tennessee Whiskey must satisfy the laws of the United States that regulate its manufacture "for consumption in the United States". Some other countries do not specify this requirement. This distinction can be important, as the U.S. regulations include substantial exemptions for products that are made for export rather than for consumption within the United States

Some key types listed in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations are:

• Rye whiskey, made from mash that consists of at least 51% rye
• Rye malt whiskey, made from mash that consists of at least 51% malted rye
• Malt whiskey, made from mash that consists of at least 51% malted barley
• Wheat whiskey, made from mash that consists of at least 51% wheat
• Bourbon whiskey, made from mash that consists of at least 51% corn (maize)
• Corn whiskey, made from mash that consists of at least 80% corn