production
Kilning
No legal definition
Drying green malt with heated air to halt germination and fix flavour and colour — the point at which peat smoke, if used, is introduced.
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
Phenol pick-up happens early, while the malt is still moist; once the bed dries, further smoke deposits little. Peating level is therefore a function of the wet phase of kilning rather than simply hours of smoke.
Related terms
Last reviewed 2026-07-30 · All glossary terms