production
Wort
No legal definition
The sweet, unfermented sugary liquid drawn off the mash tun and cooled before yeast is pitched.
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
Wort clarity is one of the few genuinely decisive process choices in malt whisky flavour: cloudy wort carries lipids and solids that suppress ester formation and push spirit towards cereal and nutty notes.
Related terms
Last reviewed 2026-07-30 · All glossary terms