maturation
Marrying
No legal definition
Holding a completed blend or vatting together — in a vat, or returned to inert or refill casks — for weeks or months before bottling, so the components integrate.
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
Time spent marrying in a steel or lined vat is not maturation and does not count towards age anywhere; time in an oak cask under 700 litres in Scotland does. That is the practical reason blenders distinguish marrying vats from marrying casks.
Related terms
Last reviewed 2026-07-30 · All glossary terms