The whiskey rules are pretty strict when it comes to straight whiskey. It has to be aged two years or more, in oak. But for many other types of whiskey, the rules have gotten pretty lax, and it seems like it only has to be aged but a moment.
Where you have a whiskey not designated as straight, it’s ok to age it let’s say one month, but the regulations require an age statement, any time the total age is less than four years. Here are a few examples of such age statements, roughly from shortest to not so short.
- High West Silver Whiskey. STORED IN OAK FOR MERE SECONDS (2013)
- High West Silver Whiskey. MINIMALLY AGED IN TOASTED OAK (2016). This label is also noteworthy because it is one of the very few that actually mentions TTB, and such administrivia as class/type codes, right on the front label. WHISKEY is big but the actual c/t is quite small.
- Old Natchez Trace Rye Whiskey. RESTED FOR ONE MINUTE IN A USED WHITE OAK BARREL.
- Clark New Whiskey. BARRELED FOR MAYBE 5 MINUTES; STORED 5 MINUTES IN REUSED COOPERAGE. ...