Bourbon labeled as blended (or blended) may contain colorings, flavorings, and other spirits, such as unaged neutral grain spirits, but at least 51% of the product must be pure bourbon. [32] [33] The bourbon strain must have matured for at least two years, but pure bourbon between two and four years must have an age indication on the bottle indicating the age of the youngest spirit drink in the bottle. Pure bourbon over four years old does not require age. As old standards like bottling become increasingly rare, we`re still proud that Angel`s Envy starts as pure Kentucky bourbon. According to Taft`s definition, pure whiskey could only contain whiskey and the water with which it was approved. Blended whiskies could only contain whisky and neutral alcohol from cereals, and any whisky mixed with molasses-distilled juice or spirits would now be considered an “imitation” whisky. Taft`s 1909 decision would be codified with the 1964 Senate resolution, but we are now focusing on the aging requirements of pure whiskey. All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskies are bourbon. Wait, did that confuse you? For example, the invention of bourbon is often attributed to Elijah Craig, a Baptist minister and distiller credited with many Kentucky firsts (e.g., fulling mill, paper mill, rope), who is said to have been the first to age the product in charred oak barrels, a process that gives bourbon its brownish color and distinctive flavor. [7] In Bourbon County, across the border from Craig Distillery County, in what was then Fayette County, an early distiller named Jacob Spears is credited with being the first to refer to his product as Bourbon whiskey. [ref.

needed] BH: That`s absolutely right. Now there is a lot of flavored whiskey that uses bourbon as a starting point. So there is whiskey with a honey flavor and often it starts with bourbon. There`s cinnamon-flavored whiskey, of course, and there`s bourbon that`s stuffed into other barrels after it`s baked, and that`s called finishing. And you can add a few different flavors to it, but it`s technically no longer bourbon. For our 30-minute conversation on U.S. bourbon law, from consumer protection to intellectual property, check out Law of Bourbon. The extreme temperatures between the hot summer and the cool winter seasons in which bourbon is produced contribute significantly to the aging process of bourbon whiskey. Temperature changes affect how bourbon reacts with oak, speeding up the aging process compared to other whiskies. For bourbon to be called “pure bourbon whisky”, it must have aged for at least two years in charred new oak barrels. Aging plays a big role in the final taste of bourbon.

Bourbon, which has matured for at least two years, will probably still taste like cereal grains. Yes, the spirit can be called bourbon, although it is not made in Kentucky. The spirit only needs to be made in the United States. According to regulations, you can only use new barrels once for bourbon production. Bourbon should be aged in new charred oak containers, so you should not use it again for bourbon production. JC: As two lawyers talking about bourbon, why not start with a legal definition? Is it really a defined term? On May 4, 1964, the United States Congress recognized bourbon whiskey by competing resolution as a “distinctive product of the United States.” Bourbon can be produced anywhere in the United States where it is legal to distill spirits, but most brands are made in Kentucky, where bourbon production has a strong historical connection. [37] Filtering iron-free water through the region`s high limestone concentrations is often touted by Kentucky bourbon burners as a characteristic step in the bourbon-making process. [38] Bourbon classified as “bonded bottled” must have been produced in a distillery during a single distillation season, aged for at least four years in a state-linked warehouse, and bottled in 100 tests, as originally defined in the Bonded Bottle Act of 1897. Only American whiskies can bear the “Bottled in Bond” label, and any such bourbon label must identify the distillery from which it was distilled and bottled. A concurrent resolution passed by the U.S. Congress in 1964 declared Bourbon a “distinctive product of the United States” and appealed to the “competent authorities of the United States government.” take appropriate measures to prohibit the importation into the United States of whisky known as `bourbon whiskey`. [17] [18] Federal regulations now define bourbon whiskey as including only bourbon produced in the United States.

[19] Bourbon must contain at least 80 tests or 40% alcohol by volume when bottling. You can get the most bourbons at this strength. 1. Whiskies of the types referred to in subparagraph (b)(1), (4), (5) and (6) of this Section shall have distinctive characteristics of the United States and, when produced abroad, shall be designated by the appropriate description prescribed in those paragraphs, as well as by the term “American type” or the term “product (distilled, blended) in __”. the space to be filled with the name of the foreign country: provided that the word “bourbon” cannot be used to refer to whiskey or whiskey-based distilled spirits not produced in the United States. Legally, bourbon must be made in America. This is clear from the Senate`s concurrent Resolution 19 of 1964, which officially declared bourbon to be “a distinctive product of the United States.” But many of Bourbon`s other legal requirements date back to the early 20th century. As you can see here, Scotch whisky doesn`t need to be aged in new casks, and it may contain caramel coloring, which bourbon certainly cannot. There are, of course, many other differences between bourbon and scotch, but the main ones are the use of malted barley as the main component of the grain and the fact that this barley is often smoked/dried with peat. Anything over 160 Proof usually eliminates most of the complex flavors that make bourbon so unique. JC: So there`s no honey bourbon that can go under the name bourbon? Contrary to popular belief, bourbon does not need to be made in Kentucky, although 95% of it is made. It can be made in any state in America, and right now there are bourbons from all 50 states.

Bourbon has no fixed minimum ripening period. [26] Products that have only matured for three months are sold as bourbon. [27] The exception is pure bourbon, which has a minimum aging requirement of two years. In addition, any bourbon under the age of four must have an age indication on the label. [28] [29] Bourbon can be used in a variety of confectionery, such as a banana bourbon syrup for waffles, a flavoring for chocolate cake, and fruit-based desserts such as grilled peach sundaes served with salted bourbon caramel or brown sugar cake with heated bourbon peaches. It`s an optional ingredient in several traditional American cake recipes, including pumpkin pie, where it can be combined with brown sugar and pecans to make a sweet, crunchy topping for the creamy pumpkin pie filling. [74] It can also be used as a flavoring agent in sauces for savory dishes such as grain cakes with country ham with bourbon mayonnaise, Kentucky bourbon chili and grilled flank steak. [75] BH: That`s right, no previous use. Scotch uses bourbon barrels or cherry barrels. Tequila often uses bourbon barrels. Once they are emptied, we basically prepare casks for the rest of the whisky world, but ours are used first so that they have more interaction with the char that releases the sugar from the wood and you get a sweeter whisky than, for example, with scotch.

Bourbon must mature for at least two years in new charred oak barrels and be made with a grain blend of at least 51% corn before it can be called pure bourbon. Most bourbons use corn, malted barley, and rye or wheat in their recipes, but no matter what grains they use, the mash bill should contain at least 51% corn. The federal standards of identity for distilled spirits, codified under 27 CFR §5.22(b)(1)(i), state that bourbon is destined for the United States.