Bourbon whiskey
In 5-10 years that same bottle could be worth double–especially if the industry continues growing at its current rate. Nowadays, a collector might spend $10,000+ on a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 20-year-old bourbon, which would then be stored away to age for another ten years.Īnd if that price made you gasp, think about this: Just to give you an example of how ridiculous this has gotten… Some have even invested in new technology to make their products more competitive on a global scale.Īnd all of this growth has led to a massive increase in bourbon collecting.īottles that used to collect dust on the shelves and cost $40 like Weller 12 are now hundreds of dollars and nearly impossible to find. They’ve had to expand their facilities and build new ones all over America. In order to meet this demand, distilleries have had to increase production at a huge cost to them financially. In 2019, sales grew by 12.9%, and over the last 5 years, it’s predicted that the industry has grown at an annual compound growth rate of 7.9%. The bourbon industry is thriving like never before, and it’s been that way for a few years now. Several books have been written on the topic of bourbon history since no one seems to know exactly how it came to be.
BOURBON WHISKEY HOW TO
Others think that it could have been Native Americans who introduced settlers to corn and showed them how to make whiskey from it. What we do know is that the word “bourbon” originated from Bourbon County, Kentucky.īut in terms of how the spirit came to be, some believe that it started with settlers who brought their whiskey-making techniques with them when they fled Europe before the Revolutionary War. What You Need to Know About Bourbon Originsīourbon has a long history, but its origins are still unclear. If not, you’ll probably like a different whiskey like scotch better. People from Europe will try Jack Daniels and think it’s disgusting.Īnd bourbon lovers will make fun of scotch lovers because their whiskey tastes like a soggy marsh.īut what I can tell you is that if you tend to like things on the sweet side, bourbon is for you. Scotch lovers make fun of bourbon lovers because they “can’t handle” the peaty flavor and opt for a sweeter liquor. This is completely subjective–the reason there are so many different types of whiskey is because everyone has different flavor preferences. The only requirements are for being labeled a “straight bourbon” (2 years minimum) or “bottled-in-bond” (4 years minimum). Surprisingly, there aren’t any age requirements for a whiskey to be called bourbon.
BOURBON WHISKEY CODE
Congress recognized bourbon whiskey as a “distinctive product of the United States” and outlined the rules of the spirit (listed above) in Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Bourbonīourbon is a specific type of whiskey that’s made from at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak barrels.Īnd that hardly scratches the surface of the requirements for a whiskey to be considered “bourbon”… So, basically, the word “whiskey” is a broad label for any spirit made from a grain and aged in a wooden barrel for any amount of time. There are tons of different types of whiskey, including: In order to legally be called “whiskey,” it must be made from a grain product– typically barley, corn, rye, or wheat–and aged in wood barrels. In the most basic terms, whiskey is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. The simple difference between bourbon and whiskey is that bourbon is a type of whiskey that’s made from at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak barrels, while whiskey can be made from any grain and aged in any type of wood barrel.īut there’s a lot more to it, so let’s dive into the specifics.
And to make things even more confusing, all bourbon is technically whiskey but not all whiskey is bourbon.Īnd figuring out the difference between bourbon and whiskey is important.īecause though they seem to share many similarities, bourbon and whiskey are actually very different drinks.Īnd after reading this article, you’ll be the smart person at the bar who can walk people through the bourbon vs whiskey confusion (making everyone think you’re the coolest and want to be your friend). These terms are often used interchangeably. Confused about the difference between bourbon and whiskey?