Or ageing. The process through which the whisky contained in its cask acquires its character. Some unfavourable components are eliminated through evaporation, at the same time as take place some complex exchanges between the spirit and the cask's wood, which are beneficial to the whisky's character and balance. See also the illustrated description of ageing in the pages about the making of whisky.

Change due to ageing or developing of subject(s) during experiment, either within groups or between groups. A threat to internal validity.

The process whereby distilled spirit is aged until it has the right flavours, strength and mellowness for whisky.

The mellowing and ageing of spirit in oak wood casks.

Process of leaving whiskey in casks to react over a period of years with the chemicals within the wood of the cask. The longer whiskey is left at the maturation stage the greater influence the chemicals within the wood will have.

The practice of storing whisky in casks in order to achieve a more mellow and well-rounded spirit. Many countries specify a legal minimum maturation period. During maturation the porous casks allow the whisky to interact with the external atmosphere, and the spirit takes colour and flavour from the wood. At the same time, some of the higher alcohols are transformed into esters and other compounds with attractive aroma profiles.

A process of holding beer at near freezing temperatures while the yeast precipitates out creating a smoother palate for the beer.

The time the whisky spends in the cask. During this time, which by law must be at least 3 years - but is usually between 8 years and 25 years, the whisky changes from the clear, fiery raw spirit into a mellow malt whisky of a colour varying from the palest yellow to the deepest amber.

Unfolding of an often age-related sequence of physical changes and behavior patterns, including the readiness to master new abilities. (6)

The process of aging wine and spirits until they reach peak condition and are ready for drinking.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level; "he proposed an indicator of osseous development in children"

The process of ageing wine until it reaches its peak condition and is ready for drinking.

The amount of time the wine waits at the winery till it is bottled.

the sequential unfolding of inherited predispositions in physical and motor development. (106)

(Food & Wine) The period following fermentation when the wine settles down and loses its rough edges.

(medicine) the formation of morbific matter in an abscess or a vesicle and the discharge of pus

In embryology: the process of first meiotic cleavage and migration of the nucleus towards the animal pole, until germinal vesicle breakdown in post-vitellogenic eggs (hence, after completion of vitellogenesis).

The process by which stem cells transform from immature cells without a specific function into a particular type of blood cell with defined functions.