Every great whisky starts life the same way, as a clear spirit that has never seen a cask. That spirit is called new make, and at Stirling Distillery we know it well, because our own new make was judged the best in the world at the World Whiskies Awards. This is a distiller's guide to what new make spirit is, how it is made, what it tastes like, and how to drink it.
Whether you are whisky curious or already a fan, understanding new make is the fastest way to understand whisky itself. Here is everything you need to know, straight from the still house at the Old Smiddy beneath Stirling Castle.
What is new make spirit?
New make spirit is the clear, unaged spirit that runs off the still before it goes into a cask. It is whisky before it becomes whisky: the same barley, water and yeast, distilled and collected, but not yet matured in oak. It usually comes off the still at around 63 to 70 percent alcohol by volume, so it is bright, powerful and full of raw character. In Scotland the spirit has to rest in oak for at least three years before it can legally be called whisky, so new make is what you taste at the very start of that journey.
How new make spirit is made
New make is the product of four clear stages. Each one shapes the spirit that ends up in the cask.
- Malting and mashing. Barley is malted to unlock its sugars, then milled and mixed with hot water in the mash tun. This draws out a sweet liquid called wort.
- Fermentation. The wort is cooled and yeast is added in the washback. Over a couple of days the yeast turns the sugars into alcohol, creating a beer like liquid of around 8 percent called wash.
- Distillation. The wash is heated in a pot still. Alcohol boils before water, so the vapour rises, passes over the neck of the still and condenses back into a stronger liquid. Most Scotch is distilled twice, which lifts the strength and cleans up the flavour.
- The spirit safe and the cut. The final run passes through the spirit safe, a locked brass and glass box where the distiller decides which part of the spirit to keep. Only the middle portion, the heart, becomes new make.
The heart cut and why it matters
The heart cut is the most important decision a distiller makes on the day. The first spirit to come through, the heads, is harsh and full of volatile notes. The last to arrive, the tails, is weak and heavy. In between sits the heart, the clean, sweet, well shaped middle. Cut too early or too late and you drag those rougher notes into the spirit. We make our cut by nose and by strength, keeping only the part that carries the character we want. Get the heart right and you give the cask the best possible spirit to work with, which is a large part of why our new make was judged best in the world.
What does new make spirit taste like?
People often expect new make to taste rough, but a well made spirit is anything but. Because there is no cask to add colour, vanilla or oak, what you taste is the true character of the distillery. Our own new make leads with soft cereal and porridge notes, then opens into green apple and pear, a lift of floral and citrus, and a gentle spice underneath. There is a natural sweetness to it, a little like fresh bread dough, carried on the bright grain intensity that comes from a high strength spirit.
Tasting new make is a rare treat, because it shows you the foundation before the wood takes over. When you later taste the matured whisky from the same spirit, you can pick out which flavours were there from the start and which the cask brought. That side by side lesson is one of the best things about tasting at a working distillery, and it is why we pour our new make next to our maturing casks on our whisky tastings.
How to drink new make spirit
New make is more versatile than most people think. Here are the ways we enjoy it.
- Neat at room temperature. Start here. Take a small sip and let it coat your mouth, so you meet the spirit as it is.
- With a few drops of water. A little water opens the spirit up and softens the strength, releasing the fruit and floral notes. Add it slowly and taste as you go.
- Chilled. Straight from the freezer it turns thick and clean, a punchy pour for a warm evening.
- In a cocktail. Its high strength and green fruit character make it a lively base. Use it where you might reach for a young gin or a blanco spirit, with plenty of citrus.
There are no rules here. New make rewards a curious palate, so try it a few ways and see which you prefer.
New make spirit vs whisky
The difference between new make and whisky is time in wood. By law, Scotch whisky must mature in oak casks in Scotland for at least three years. During that time the spirit takes colour from the cask, picks up oak, vanilla, dried fruit and spice, and mellows as its sharp edges soften. New make is that same spirit at day one, clear and lively, before any of that happens.
Because new make has not been through the three year maturation, it cannot legally be sold as whisky, which is why distilleries label it as new make spirit or new make. It can be sold straight away, so it is often the first product a young whisky distillery can offer while its casks quietly mature in the warehouse.
New make, moonshine and poitin
Clear unaged spirit goes by different names around the world. In America a similar corn based spirit is often called white dog or moonshine. In Ireland the traditional unaged spirit is poitin. In Scotch whisky making we call it new make. The names and recipes differ, but the idea is the same: a spirit enjoyed fresh from the still rather than aged in a barrel.
Why new make spirit is worth trying
New make is a window into how whisky begins. Tasting it lets you meet the true character of a distillery before the cask has its say, which is why it has become a genuine curiosity for enthusiasts and collectors, and a talking point for anyone who loves whisky. It also makes a distinctive gift, a piece of a distillery's story caught at the very start, so it sits nicely alongside our bottles and vouchers when you browse gifts and vouchers. If you would like to taste ours, you can try our award winning new make spirit on a guided whisky tasting experience at the distillery, or take a bottle home from our whisky collection. It is the same spirit that will one day become our first Stirling single malt.
Frequently asked questions
Is new make spirit the same as moonshine?
They are close cousins. Both are clear, unaged spirits, but moonshine usually refers to an American corn based spirit, while new make is the barley spirit made for Scotch whisky. New make is legal and fully regulated, made in a licensed distillery.
What ABV is new make spirit?
New make typically comes off the still at around 63 to 70 percent alcohol by volume. Distilleries often reduce it a little with water before bottling or filling a cask, but it stays a high strength spirit.
Can you drink new make spirit neat?
Yes. A well made new make is smooth enough to enjoy neat at room temperature. Many people add a few drops of water to soften the strength and bring out the fruit and floral notes.
Is new make spirit legal to sell?
Yes, as long as it is made in a licensed distillery and sold as new make spirit rather than whisky. It only becomes whisky once it has matured in oak in Scotland for at least three years.
Does new make spirit go off?
An unopened bottle keeps for years, since the high alcohol content preserves it. Once opened, store it somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight and enjoy it within a year or so for the freshest flavour.
That is new make in a nutshell, the clear spirit where every whisky story begins. The best way to understand it is to taste it beside a matured dram, so come and try ours on a distillery tour at the Old Smiddy, beneath Stirling Castle.
