Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870)

B.02.020 [S]. (1) Canadian Whisky, Canadian Rye Whisky or Rye Whisky

• (a) shall

  • (i) be a potable alcoholic distillate, or a mixture of potable alcoholic distillates, obtained from a mash of cereal grain or cereal grain products saccharified by the diastase of malt or by other enzymes and fermented by the action of yeast or a mixture of yeast and other micro-organisms,

  • (ii) be aged in small wood for not less than three years,

  • (iii) possess the aroma, taste and character generally attributed to Canadian whisky,

  • (iv) be manufactured in accordance with the requirements of the Excise Act and the regulations made thereunder,

  • (v) be mashed, distilled and aged in Canada, and

  • (vi) contain not less than 40 per cent alcohol by volume; and

• (b) may contain caramel and flavouring.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), no person shall make any claim with respect to the age of Canadian whisky, other than for the period during which the whisky has been held in small wood.

(3) Where Canadian whisky has been aged in small wood for a period of at least three years, any period not exceeding six months during which that whisky was held in other containers may be claimed as age.