maturation
OLA — original litres of alcohol
The quantity of pure alcohol in a cask when it was filled: bulk litres multiplied by strength at fill. Used as the baseline figure on cask purchase documentation.
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.
Often confused with RLA
OLA is a historic figure fixed at fill and never changes; RLA is the current figure after evaporation. Quoting OLA for an old cask overstates what is actually there — the gap is the angel's share.
Worth knowing
OLA and RLA are cask-trade conventions, not statutory terms; HMRC works in litres of pure alcohol and bulk litres. Buyers of casks in bond should insist on a recent regauge and price on RLA.
Related terms
Last reviewed 2026-07-30 · All glossary terms