What "Blended" Really Means on a Whiskey Label

The word shows up on plenty of bottles, and it doesn't always mean the same thing.

The basic rule

Plain "blended whiskey" only needs to contain 20% straight whiskey. The rest can legally be neutral spirit.

A stricter version

"Blended bourbon whiskey" or "blended rye whiskey" require at least 51% straight whiskey of that specific type, a much higher bar than the generic blended category.

An even lighter version

"Spirit whiskey" allows as little as 5% actual whiskey blended into mostly neutral spirit.

Why it's worth reading closely

A bottle simply labeled "blended whiskey" could be mostly neutral spirit. One labeled "blended bourbon whiskey" guarantees a real majority of straight bourbon. The exact wording matters more than just seeing the word "blended" at all.

Ask us to walk through the label on anything blended you're considering. It only takes a minute, and it changes what you should expect in the glass.