Friday, May 22, 2009

What Is the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey?

What Is the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey?

3 comments:

  1. Bourbon, which got it's name from Bourbon County, Kentucky, has many other rather important distinguishing facts, such as:

    -It cannot be distilled at more than 80 proof, cannot be bottled at less than 80 proof and cannot enter the barrel higher than 125 proof.

    -It cannot contain any artificial caramel coloring. (it gets it redish color from the charred oak barrels)

    -Bourbon cannot be called "Straight Bourbon" unless it has been aged for at least 2 years. Conversely, anything aged for less than 4 years must state the length of aging on the bottle, and that aging must be the youngest Bourbon in the blend.

    -

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  2. Just to be clear, Bourbon is just one type of whisky, as are Scotch, Irish, Tennessee, Canadian...

    There are specific "rules" for most if not all those whiskies, governing various things such as the grain used, the source of water to dilute the whisky from its "cask" strength to the bottling strength, to the aging process.

    Good explanation.

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  3. Hmmm... no artificial caramel coloring? Cool! That keeps it gluten-free! :)

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