What Is Spirit Whiskey?

Spirit whiskey is one of the United States’ 41 different federally recognized types of whiskey. The category was first introduced in the middle of the 20^th century, following Prohibition, when aged stock was scarce and drinkers were opting for lighter spirits like gin, vodka, and blended whiskey over heavier bourbons and single malts.

Here’s spirit whiskey according to the feds:

Whisky produced by blending neutral spirits and not less than 5% on a proof gallon basis whisky, straight whisky or combination of whisky and straight whisky provided the straight whisky is used at less than 20% on a proof gallon basis. 

Whew. Let’s unpack that.

1. Neutral spirits. In the spirits industry, neutral spirits can be made from just about anything—corn, wheat, rye, barley, cane sugar, sugar beets, even grapes—distilled to a very high proof, usually 95% alcohol by volume. They’re often equated with vodka, although that’s not quite right, as most vodkas are further treated by redistillation and/or filtration to improve the taste.

2. The U.S. government defines whisky as any spirit distilled from a “fermented mash of grain at less than 95% alcohol by volume,” bottled at not less than 80 proof, and that has “the taste, aroma, and characteristics generally attributed to whisky.”

3. Straight whisky is whisky that meets the following criteria: It’s at least two years old, was stored in a new charred oak cask, and may contain a mix of two or more straight whiskeys as long as they were distilled in the same state.

Like blended whiskey, the spirit whiskey category is a broad one, encompassing anything from a spirit made from 95% neutral spirits and just 5% whiskey, all the way to products containing 19% straight whiskey, 80% whiskey, and 1% neutral spirits.

In practice, however, most spirit whiskeys tend towards the lighter side of this spectrum. If you’re a hardcore barrel-proof bourbon fan, spirit whiskeys won’t be your thing. But if you’re a vodka man looking for a baby step towards the brown stuff, you may have found your match.