high wine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowtechnical, historical, industrial
Quick answer
What does “high wine” mean?
A strong, crude spirit produced during the first distillation in the process of making whiskey or other spirits.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A strong, crude spirit produced during the first distillation in the process of making whiskey or other spirits; an intermediate product that is later redistilled.
In historical and technical contexts, can refer to any unrefined, high-proof alcoholic distillate before aging or further processing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is technical and largely identical in both varieties, used primarily in the whisky/whiskey industry. Spelling of related terms may differ (e.g., whisky/whiskey).
Connotations
Neutral industrial term. No significant connotative difference.
Frequency
Extremely low in general language; used almost exclusively by distillers, historians, or enthusiasts.
Grammar
How to Use “high wine” in a Sentence
The distiller produced [high wine].They collected the [high wine] from the still.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the production and cost analysis of spirit manufacturing.
Academic
Found in historical texts on distilling, chemistry, or industrial processes.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Precise term in distilling for the spirit collected after the first distillation, before the spirit run.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “high wine”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “high wine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “high wine”
- Using it to describe any strong wine or fortified wine like sherry.
- Confusing it with the finished product (whiskey).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, despite the name, it is not a wine in the conventional sense. It is a distilled spirit, essentially a strong, crude alcohol produced during the whiskey-making process.
Technically yes, but it is harsh, unaged, and often impure. It is not intended for consumption in that state; it is meant for further distillation and aging to become a smoother spirit like whiskey.
Low wine is the weaker spirit produced from the first distillation of fermented mash. High wine is the stronger, more refined spirit collected from the second distillation (or the heart of the first run in some methods).
It is not common in everyday language. It remains a technical term used within the distilling industry and by historians of technology and brewing.
A strong, crude spirit produced during the first distillation in the process of making whiskey or other spirits.
High wine is usually technical, historical, industrial in register.
High wine: in British English it is pronounced /haɪ waɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /haɪ waɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'high' alcohol, not 'high' quality; it's the strong, raw wine from the still, high up in the distillation process.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROCESS AS A JOURNEY (high wine is an early, strong stage on the journey to becoming whiskey).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'high wine' primarily associated with?