Whiskey is a distilled spirit made from fermented grain mash or by distilling beer. Grains may be barley, corn, rye, or wheat. Whiskey is typically aged in wooden casks of charred white oak, and develops characteristics of grainy, oaky flavors with notes of caramel, vanilla, fruits, and spice. Whisky or whiskey, depending on where your pour is from, has become a sophisticated and global category of spirits.