Bourbon & Whiskey

ALL BOURBON IS WHISKEY, BUT NOT ALL WHISKEY IS BOURBON!

  1. Produced from a fermented mash of at least 51% corn.
  2. Distilled at no more than 160 proof.
  3. Must use NEW white-oak barrels charred on the inside, stored at no more than 125 proof.
  4. No color or flavors added, additive free.
  5. Made ONLY in the United States of America. (not solely Kentucky)

There is a good reason bourbon has a maximum proof. Every time a batch of alcohol is distilled, the alcohol comes off at a higher proof than before. This process removes anything that is not alcohol from the liquid. This means for every distillation; more character and flavor are removed. As an example, the reason vodka is somewhat tasteless is due to numerous distillations. Bourbon maintains more of its flavor because it is not stripped away from repeated distillation.

It has been said that in the early days, as corn whiskey was becoming more popular and in demand, there became a shortage of oak barrels used to transport whiskey. As demand grew, there was a lack of barrels. People started storing whiskey in wooden barrels that had previously been used for vinegar and fish. This obviously affected the taste, as one could imagine. To solve this problem, people began to burn the insides of these used barrels attempting to get rid of any bad taste. As the whiskey spent more time in these charred barrels while being transported to their destination, this clear liquid was found to take on a golden color and a richer flavor. People began to like this whiskey more and thus, a new process was born.

What is Whiskey?

Whiskey is a spirit distilled from a fermented mash of grain or grains at less than 95% alcohol by volume or 190 proof. Various grains can be used to create different varieties of whiskey. The most common is barley, corn, rye, and wheat. It is said that the first whiskey created came from Scotland during the early 1400’s. Their scotch whiskey (they spell it whisky) comes from barley. The first fermented grain used. The word whiskey translates to “water of life”. Often used in celebrations, ceremonies and weddings, whiskey is symbolic and represents a relationship that will stand the test of time.