A spirit made from malted barley, subsequently brewed into beer and then distilled, usually in single batches in a pot still. It has been said that Scots make so much beer into whisky because it is so bad. The whisky must age for at least three years before it can legally be sold. No new barrels are permitted, with most Malt aging in former Bourbon casks, a minority on former sherry casks. A very few Malts are transferred to other more exotic casks for a short time to give them a `finish`. These have included Port, Sauternes, Syrah and so on. The vast majority of Malt whisky is used in blended scotch, though we see a lot of distillery and independent bottling. (CW 23/01/12)