cask
Puncheon
No legal definition
A short, wide cask of roughly 465–500 litres. Two forms are current: the 'machine puncheon' of thicker American oak used for rum and grain whisky, and the sherry-shape puncheon in European oak.
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
Both stay under the 700-litre ceiling that applies to Scotch, Irish, EU and Japanese-standard whisky. Port pipes at around 650 litres are lawful; a 1,000-litre vat is not.
Related terms
Last reviewed 2026-07-30 · All glossary terms