However, in order to create whiskey, this liquid must be further distilled — often multiple times. Ready? Her recipes range from Grandma’s favorites to the latest food trends. If it drops below 51%, it’s no longer bourbon. At least 51 percent of the grains used to make straight bourbon must be corn, with the rest permitted to be a mixture of certain grains, usually malted barley, and rye, or sometimes wheat. Most consider the unique limestone spring water found in Kentucky the only water with that "just right" combination of minerals suitable enough for the finest Bourbons. Lower-priced bourbons tend to be aged relatively briefly. [65], The bottling operation for bourbon is the process of filtering, mixing together straight whiskey from different barrels (sometimes from different distilleries), diluting with water, blending with other ingredients (if producing blended bourbon), and filling containers to produce the final product that is marketed to consumers. Contract Teardown Drafting Featured Webinars. According to Popular Mechanics writer Jacqueline Detwiler, who documented the test, the sample that made the waterborne journey "was mature beyond its age, richer, with new flavors of tobacco, vanilla, caramel, and honey. The industry trade group Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) tracks sales of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey together. According to US Trade Legislation, a “bourbon” is a type of whiskey where the “mashbill”—which is the recipe of grains used to produce the whiskey— consists of 51% - 80% corn. Display. [25] Products aged for as little as three months are sold as bourbon. Some are employed in the manufacture of various barrel-aged products, including amateur and professionally brewed bourbon-barrel-aged beer, barbecue sauce, wine, hot sauce, and others. [67] No whiskey made outside the United States may be labeled bourbon or sold as bourbon inside the United States (and in various other countries that have trade agreements with the United States to recognize bourbon as a distinctive product of the United States). [2] A proposed change to U.S. regulations will expand allowable "grains" to include seeds of the pseudocereals amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa. The rest is made in Tennessee, Virginia, and Missouri. The Spruce Eats uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Bourbon Whiskey, kurz Bourbon, ist eine ursprünglich nur in Kentucky gebrannte Variante des amerikanischen Whiskeys.Er wird als Destillat einer Getreidemischung mit mindestens 51 % Mais hergestellt, daneben sind meistens Roggen oder Gerste enthalten. The law. [27][28], Bourbon that meets the above requirements, has been aged for a minimum of two years, and does not have added coloring, flavoring, or other spirits may be – but is not required to be – called straight bourbon.[29]. When it comes to understanding what all of the words on a bourbon label actually mean, you have to be careful to trust the source. The surname of a branch of the royal family of France. Single Barrel has no legal definition in the bourbon world. states. bourbon - Named for Bourbon County, Kentucky, an American whiskey made from at least 51 percent corn, plus other grains (all bourbons are whiskey, but not all whiskeys are bourbon); whiskey is an alcoholic liquor distilled from grain, such as corn, rye, or barley, and contains approximately 40 to 50 percent ethyl alcohol by volume. The U.S. regulations for labeling and advertising bourbon apply only to products made for consumption within the United States; they do not apply to distilled spirits made for export. House of Bourbon, one of the most important ruling houses of Europe. Spent mash is also known as spent beer, distillers' spent grain, stillage, and slop or feed mash, so named because it is used as animal feed. Most bourbons also have barley, rye, and/or wheat in the mash. On 4 May 1964, the United States Congress recognized Bourbon Whiskey as a “distinctive product of the United States.” The Federal Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits (27 CFR 5) state that bourbon must meet these requirements: Bourbon must be made of a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn. "Old Bourbon" was stencilled on the barrels to indicate their port of origin. DEFINITIONS • CLASS The broad category “distilled spirits” is divided, under standards of identity, ... STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKY ¹ • Bourbon whisky stored in charred new oak containers for 2 years or more • “Straight Bourbon Whisky” may include mixtures of two or more straight bourbon whiskies provided all of the whiskies are produced in the same state. Legal Definition of Bourbon In the Federal Regulations, is a legal definition of what can be called bourbon. [25][47][50][51] Prior to 2013, the Lincoln County Process was not legally required for products identified as Tennessee whiskey. About Pricing. Search Dictionary. [2] The name "Bourbon" was not applied until the 1850s, and the Kentucky etymology was not advanced until the 1870s. The first two (totaling 90% of the blend) are 4 year-old MGP sourced bourbons and the third (at 10% of the blend) is Cathead’s own 2-year-and-1-month-old Mississippi bourbon. [3] Major export markets for U.S. spirits are, in descending order: Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and France. All "bottled in bond" bourbon is 100 proof. See, small batch doesn’t have any legal definition right now. As to how long a bourbon must be aged, the law doesn't specify any amount of time. [37], On August 2, 2007, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution sponsored by Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) officially declaring September 2007 to be National Bourbon Heritage Month, commemorating the history of bourbon whiskey. Bonded Bourbon Whiskey: Straight Bourbon Whiskey that has been aged and bottled according to the requirements of the Bottled and Bond Act of 1897. means Bourbon or any Subsidiary of Bourbon. Bourbon definition, a member of a French royal family that ruled in France 1589–1792, Spain 1700–1931, and Naples 1735–1806, 1815–60. Bourbon is an American Whiskey produced mainly in the southern part of Kentucky State. Learn more. 2. bourbon - whiskey distilled from a mash of corn and malt and rye and aged in charred oak barrels. Only American whiskeys can carry the label of “Bottled in Bond,” and any such bourbon label must identify the distillery from which it was … [3][4] According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, in 2018 U.S. distillers derived $3.6 billion in revenue from bourbon and Tennessee whiskey (a closely related spirit produced in the state of Tennessee) sold in the United States. Located within Old Bourbon was the principal port on the Ohio River, Maysville, Kentucky, from which whiskey and other products were shipped. Even for higher-priced bourbons, "maturity" rather than a particular age duration is often the goal, as over-aging bourbons can negatively affect the flavor of the bourbon (making it taste woody, bitter, or unbalanced). nez bourbon, supra.Du nom de la famille des Bourbons, dont une des branches régna sur la France depuis le roi Henri IV; les membres de cette famille étaient dotés d'un nez … While this vast county was being carved into many smaller ones, early in the 19th century, many people continued to call the region Old Bourbon. [57][58], To be legally sold as bourbon, the whiskey's mash bill requires a minimum of 51% corn, with the remainder being any cereal grain. Similarly, the Spears story is a local favorite but is rarely repeated outside the county. [17][39] The resolution was passed again in 2008. Any bourbon that is aged for at least two years has the possibility of being named Straight Bourbon, although it is not a requirement. To see if this document has been published in an e-OJ with legal value, click on the icon above (For OJs published before 1st July 2013, only the paper version has legal value). Is there a legal definition of Craft Bourbon. How to use bourbon in a sentence. See more. A 2016 experiment by Louisville craft distiller Jefferson's Bourbon suggests that in the era before whiskey was routinely bottled at the distillery, Kentucky bourbon developed a superior taste because it was shipped in barrels, using water transport wherever practical. It has a totally different legal definition. I saw where Barrell bourbon was called a Craft Bourbon which I understand their craft is in blending as their product is sourced. Proof is exactly twice the percentage of alcohol, thus a bottle that is 60 proof would be 30 percent alcohol. It must be made in the United States, it must be at least 51% corn, it must be aged in a new charred oak barrel, it can't be distilled to more than 160 proof, and can't go in the barrel at more than 125 proof, can't be bottled at less than 80 proof. Usually mash from a previous distillation is added to ensure consistency across batches, creating a sour mash. Rye whiskey in the US lives under similar laws, where 51% of the bill must be rye. (No idea if that’s a real product). After processing, barrels remain saturated with up to 10 U.S. gallons (38 liters) of bourbon, although 2–3 U.S. gallons (8–11 liters) is the norm. The Legal Definition of Bourbon; The Legal Definition of Bourbon. [1] Although bourbon may be made anywhere in the United States, it is strongly associated with the American South and with Kentucky in particular. It states that, to be considered bourbon by American standards, the spirit must have been distilled from a grain mixture that is a majority corn (51 percent or more) and then aged in new charred oak barrels for no less than four years. [1], Another proposed origin of the name is the association with the geographic area known as Old Bourbon, consisting of the original Bourbon County in Virginia organized in 1785. The resulting clear spirit, called "white dog", is placed in charred new oak containers for aging. [8] The late date of the Bourbon County etymology has led Louisville historian Michael Veach to dispute its authenticity. Bonded whiskey is not blended. This short recording is meant to help beginners understand what makes a whiskey a "bourbon". Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash.Various grains (which may be malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat.Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, generally made of charred white oak. This comes from the 1964 Senate Concurrent Resolution 19, which formally declared that bourbon was “a distinctive product of the United States.” But many of bourbon’s other legal requirements date all the way back to the turn of the 20th Century. This short recording is meant to help beginners understand what makes a whiskey a “bourbon”. Text 13.2.2008 EN. [9] It included the current Bourbon County in Kentucky, which became a county when Kentucky separated from Virginia as a new state in 1792. Bourbon: Real Talk is a podcast where the host Randall Sullivan sits down with a guest over a drink and listens to their story. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, The 13 Best Gifts for Bourbon Lovers in 2020. Bourbon's legal definition varies somewhat from country to country, but many trade agreements require that the name "bourbon" be reserved for products made in the United States. [39], As of 2018, approximately 95% of all bourbon is produced in Kentucky, according to the Kentucky Distillers' Association. Legal requirements. It is distilled to (typically) between 65% and 80% alcohol using either a traditional alembic (or pot still) or the much less expensive continuous still. [34], Bourbon that has been aged for fewer than three years cannot legally be referred to as whiskey (or whisky) in the EU. [41][3][42][43], Bardstown, Kentucky, is home to the annual Bourbon Festival held each September. [3] The largest percentage increases in U.S. exports were, in descending order: Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Israel, and United Arab Emirates. Only limestone-filtered spring water (which is virtually iron-free) may be used to lower alcohol content. Many must make a small batch and a single barrel. It was not until May 4, 1964, that federal regulation recognized bourbon as a unique product and put specific laws on the books to ensure quality standards of bourbon. What Is Bourbon? Language 3 . [A], Bourbon also was and is made in other U.S. The Federal Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits, codified under 27 CFR §5.22(b)(1)(i), states bourbon made for U.S. consumption[21] must be: Bourbon has no minimum specified duration for its aging period. It was some of the best bourbon any of us had ever drunk." The vast majority of bourbons far exceed this 51% minimum corn content and most are bottled with between 40% and 50% alcohol ABV (80° and 87.5° proof). ‘The Bourbons strove to control the state's economic machinery and to maintain white supremacy.’ ‘The Bourbon period set off growing violence and lynch mobs as illegal forms of control, introducing what he calls the most brutal system of punishment in U.S. history.’ Definition of bourbon noun in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Official Journal of the European Union. Sep 24, 2020. It was not until May 4, 1964, that federal regulation recognized bourbon as a unique product and put specific laws on the books to ensure quality standards of bourbon. Bourbon definition is - a member of a French family founded in 1272 to which belong the rulers of France from 1589 to 1793 and from 1814 to 1830, of Spain from 1700 to 1808, from 1814 to 1868, from 1875 to 1931, and from 1975, of Naples from 1735 to 1805, and of the Two Sicilies from 1815 to 1860. These barrels must be charred on the inside and most distilleries use a number four (or "alligator") char. [69] It can also be used as a flavoring in sauces for savory dishes like grit cakes with country ham served with bourbon mayonnaise, Kentucky bourbon chili or grilled flank steak. Bourbon synonyms, Bourbon pronunciation, Bourbon translation, English dictionary definition of Bourbon. [38] Notably, the resolution claimed that Congress had declared bourbon to be "America's Native Spirit" in its 1964 resolution. "Maker's Mark to restore alcohol content of whiskey", "Kentucky Bourbon Trail expands to include stop in downtown Louisville…", "Bardstown - Nelson County Tourist & Convention Commission", "Welcome! Legal requirements. At least 51 percent of the grains used to make straight bourbon must be corn, with the rest permitted to be a mixture of certain grains, usually malted barley, and rye, or sometimes wheat. [68], Bourbon is served in a variety of manners, including neat, diluted with water, over ice ("on the rocks"), with cola or other beverages in simple mixed drinks, and in cocktails, including the Manhattan, Bourbon Smash, the Old Fashioned, the whiskey sour, and the mint julep. 1. Straight bourbon must be aged at least two years, and blended bourbon must contain at least 51% straight bourbon on a proof gallon basis (i.e., most of the alcohol in the blend must be from straight bourbon). The acid introduced when using the sour mash controls the growth of bacteria that could taint the whiskey and creates a proper pH balance for the yeast to work. To test this theory, Jefferson's cofounder Trey Zoeller sent two barrels of the company's signature product to New York City via barge, first down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and then along the Intracoastal Waterway. The State (Columbia, SC), 5-1-02, p. D1. [4] In 2014, more than 19 million nine-liter cases of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey were sold in the U.S., generating almost $2.7 billion in wholesale distillery revenue. Le bourbon est un whiskey américain fabriqué à partir d'au moins 51 % de maïs, le reste étant généralement du seigle ou du blé. Wheated bourbon? `` 80 and 125 proof, with the legal definition for aging the Federal Regulations, a! The law does not stipulate origin, 99 % of the mash for! Us proof ( 40 % abv ) actually contain whiskeys from quite a number of different barrels by. 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