Bourbon – Everything You Need to Know
Bourbon is American whiskey made primarily from corn, aged in new charred American oak barrels, which gives it a caramelized, vanilla-driven flavor. This spirit is one of my personal favorites, and I’d say I use bourbon just as much in cocktails as I enjoy sipping it neat. Few spirits feel so balanced, smooth, and at the same time complexly spiced. That combination fits my palate perfectly.
Bourbon is strongly associated with Kentucky, where most of the country’s – and therefore the world’s – bourbon is produced, even though it’s legally allowed to be made anywhere in the United States. More and more producers seem to be broadening their horizons, and new distilleries are popping up in places where bourbon-making is less common – Colorado and Texas, for example.
There are several common terms you’ll often find on bourbon bottle labels. For example, “Single Barrel” means the whiskey has been bottled from one single cask. “Small Batch” means that, regardless of the size of the distillery, the product has been crafted using artisanal, small-scale methods. If the spirit is completely unaged and the label says “White Dog”, it’s unaged American whiskey – fiery in taste, but an interesting flavor booster in cocktails. It’s also common to see “Proof” listed, followed by a number – for example, 100. This has historical ties to alcohol content, and simply put, the alcohol percentage is half the proof number. So a bottle marked 100 Proof contains 50% ABV.
The Rules of Bourbon – An Alphabetical Guide
A – America: Bourbon must be produced in the United States.
B – Barrels: Aging must take place in new, charred barrels made from American white oak. To be called Straight Bourbon Whiskey, it must be aged for at least 2 years.
C – Corn: The mash bill must contain at least 51% corn.
D – Distillation: It cannot be distilled above 80% ABV.
E – Entry Level: The spirit must not enter the barrel at higher than 62.5% ABV.
F – Fill: Bottling strength must not be lower than 40% ABV.
G – Genuine: No additives, coloring, or anything other than water may be added to the final spirit.
