What does the term "distillation proof" indicate?

The term "distillation proof" specifically refers to the alcohol content of the whiskey immediately after it has been distilled, prior to any dilution or further processing. This measurement is crucial in the production of spirits, as it indicates how much pure alcohol is present in the distillate. Typically, distillation proof is higher than the final bottling proof due to the addition of water to bring down the alcohol content to the desired level for consumer consumption.

Understanding distillation proof helps clarify how distillation impacts the flavor and potency of the final product, but it does not directly measure flavor intensity or determine the aging time, nor is it a reference to the final proof before bottling. Therefore, recognizing that distillation proof is about the alcohol content directly after distillation reinforces the foundational knowledge of whiskey production.