Whisky · History · Short entry

Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009

UK regulations in force from 23 November 2009 that define Scotch Whisky, its five categories and its protected regional names. Since 2012 they require Single Malt to leave Scotland in retail bottles.

Location: Scotland, United Kingdom

23 November 2009

Statutory definition of Scotch Whisky and of Single Malt, Single Grain, Blended Malt, Blended Grain and Blended Scotch Whisky; protection of Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Campbeltown and Islay; rules on age statements and labelling.

Why it mattered

It fixed the categories that appear on every Scotch label and limited regional names to whisky distilled in those places.

What the regulations do

SI 2009/2890 came into force on 23 November 2009. Regulation 3 defines Scotch Whisky and its five categories; regulation 10 protects the regions Highland, Lowland and Speyside and the localities Campbeltown and Islay; regulation 12 governs age and distillation-year statements. Regulation 7 has, since 23 November 2012, prevented Single Malt Scotch Whisky from leaving Scotland except in bottles labelled for retail sale.

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