Bourbon whiskey

Bourbon - The American Whiskey

Originated from Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA, it is not hard to figure out where the name for this beverage, which was invented some time during the 18th century, has derived.

 

Bourbon is classed as an american whiskey, a distilled spirit made primarily from corn, and while it can be made and drunk anywhere in the United States, it is strongly associated with the southern part of the country, especially its state of origin, Kentucky. It is estimated that around 95% of the Bourbon around the world is made in the state of Kentucky, however, other states such as Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Tennessee and others have been known to make Bourbon.

The rules to be called a bourbon

Bourbon was decided by the United States congress in on May 4th 1964 to be a "distinctive product of the United States" and a few requirements were stated to be allowed to call something Bourbon Whiskey:

1. At least 51% of the mixture must be corn.
2. Distilled by no less than 80% alcohol by volume.
3. No caramel coloring (E-150).
4. Must be aged in new, charred oak aging barrels.
5. Poured into an aging barrel with a higher alcohol by volume level of 62.5%.
6. Aged a minimum of two years, may be called Straight Bourbon.
7. Aged less than four years must be labeled with the duration of aging.
8. If an age is stated on the bottle, it must be the age of the youngest whiskey in the bottle.

 

These requirements are actually not that hard to live up to as most Bourbon Whiskey made today is made out of more than two thirds of corn, is aged for more than four years, although some distilleries exist that only ages their Bourbon for around three months. The history of bourbon is not well documented and there are a few conflicting legens and stories as to how and when bourbon first got introduced.