production
Direct fired
No legal definition
Heating a still by flame beneath the pot rather than by internal steam coils, producing localised hot spots and Maillard reactions in the charge that add roasted, toffee-like heaviness.
Not a legal term
No whisky regulation in Scotland, Ireland, the United States, the EU or Japan defines this. It is a trade or marketing term, so it is only actionable if its use is actively misleading.
Worth knowing
Requires a rummager — a revolving copper chain mesh — to stop solids scorching. Very few remain in Scotland: Glenfiddich, Glenfarclas, and Springbank in part. It is a heating method, not a regulated production claim.
Related terms
Last reviewed 2026-07-30 · All glossary terms