All bourbon is whiskey but not all whiskey is bourbon. Now, you might be asking yourself “what the heck does that mean”? Without drawing some elaborate Venn diagram, it basically means that bourbon is an elite class of whiskey that must meet certain criteria to be called bourbon.
Defined by the United States Congress, you must meet a rigid set of criteria to earn the classification of bourbon; otherwise, it is just whisky.
The difference between bourbon and whiskey is defined by the law of the Federal Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits.
What makes bourbon different than whiskey is that bourbon has to:
- Be made in America.
- Be made of 51% corn.
- Meet distillation, entry, and fill proof requirements.
- Be aged in a new charred oak barrel.
- Not contain any additives.
It can be daunting when you first get into bourbon because there is an overwhelming amount of information. We are here to break it down in simple terms. We are going to clarify what these five definitions mean and what makes this magical spirit we call bourbon so different than whiskey.
Bourbon Has to be Made in America
Can bourbon only be made in Kentucky?
Most people think bourbon has to be made in Kentucky to be called bourbon but that is not true. To earn the designation of bourbon, it has to be made in the United States of America; bourbon doesn’t have to be made in Kentucky.
You can use the same process to make bourbon but if it’s done in Canada, for instance, it can’t be called bourbon. It would just be whiskey.
Why is most bourbon made in Kentucky?
Now it is true that most bourbon is made in Kentucky. Kentucky happens to provide the perfect environment for making great bourbon which is why most bourbon distillers are located in Kentucky.
Kentucky has a limestone bed in most of its water supply which is a perfect filtering system for water used to create bourbon. The Kentucky limestone removes iron which can give a bitter taste. The Kentucky limestone beds also add calcium which adds to the sweet taste of bourbon.
The Kentucky weather climate also has the perfect conditions for the aging process of barrels done over multiple years for the creation of bourbon.
According to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, there are more than 7 million barrels of bourbon aging in Kentucky which is almost twice the entire population of the state at 4.5 million people.
Bourbon Has to be 51% Corn
What are the ingredients in bourbon?
By law, to be designated as bourbon, it has to be 51% corn. The corn imparts a unique flavor of sweetness on the bourbon that gives it a different taste than whiskey or other spirits. Another reason Kentucky is a great place to make bourbon is its close proximity to where a lot of corn is grown in the Midwest of the United States.
Bourbon is known for its corn flavor. Typically, distillers will use more than 51% percent to give bourbon its desired flavor.
The other main ingredients in bourbon are typically what is called a mash build. Typically wheat, barley, rye, and other grains are what creates a mash build. Most distillers go way over the corn requirement of 51% to give their signature flavor.
Below is a picture from a demonstration of the mash build at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky.
Bourbon has to be Made with New Charred Oak Barrels
Can you reuse bourbon barrels?
Bourbon must be made in brand new barrels and absolutely cannot be made in used barrels. The barrels are a key part of the bourbon-making process as the bourbon will absorb the white oak of the charred bourbon barrels and affect the taste of the bourbon.
Whiskey and scotch can be made with used barrels. Some distillers of whiskey and scotch reuse barrels to achieve the desired taste. This cannot be done with bourbon.
So what do the bourbon barrels do?
The wood of the barrels themselves adds to the flavor and life of the bourbon. Just how wine is affected by the grapes used, bourbon is affected by the trees used to make the barrels. The barrel gives a rich caramel flavor that is a distinct flavor for bourbon.
The barrel itself is the most expensive part of the bourbon-making process. The average bourbon barrel costs $150 to make and it cannot be reused by law. Conversely, with other spirits like whiskey, the barrels are permitted to be reused.
Charring the inside of the barrels caramelizes the wood sugars that will add a sweet flavor. The charring from the inside of the barrel is also what causes the amber coloring of bourbon.
Kentucky’s extreme weather fluctuations, with harsh winters and blistering summers, provide a great environment for aging in the barrel. The weather conditions impact the taste by causing the barrels to expand into the wood and then contract, which adds to the flavor.
Bourbon Must Meet Distillation, Entry, and Fill Proof Requirements.
What does proof mean with bourbon?
The proof is a measure of the alcohol content in a beverage. In the United States proof is the % of alcohol by volume also known as ABV. The proof is twice the percentage of the ABV. So for instance Wild Turkey 101 Proof is 50.5% ABV. With bourbon, the law is very particular about the proofs in the different stages of the alcohol making process.
What is the distillation proof required for bourbon?
The first stage of the bourbon process is creating a liquid called “white dog” which is what is put into the bourbon barrel. At the time of distillation, the liquid produced can’t be higher than 160 proof to be considered bourbon.
What is the barrel entry proof required for bourbon?
When the “white dog” liquid is put into the barrel that is what is called the entry proof. Limestone water can be added to the liquid but can’t be less than 125 proof to be called bourbon when it is put into the barrel for the aging process.
What is the fill proof required for bourbon?
When bourbon is bottled it can’t be less than 80 proof to be called bourbon. Bourbon doesn’t have a minimum aging period but there are different classifications of bourbon-based on how long it aged and where it is aged. For example, to earn the name of Kentucky Strait Bourbon it must be aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky.
No Additives are Allowed, Bourbon has to be Genuine
Can you add flavors to bourbon?
No additives are allowed in bourbon. Bourbon has to be natural. If flavors are added, it is not bourbon, it is whiskey. You will see many flavor-added bourbons in the bourbon aisle at the liquor store, but they are not bourbon by definition, they are whiskey.
Below is a product I found in the bourbon aisle at my local liquor store that looks like bourbon but is a whiskey cocktail. It can be tricky because retail chains may put items like this in the bourbon section or aisle of the store that looks like bourbon but they are not. If they are putting additives in the beverage it is not bourbon.
How can you add flavor to bourbon?
The mash build of the corn, wheat, barley, and other grain ingredients add to the flavor. The wood used for the barrel also significantly affects the flavor and aroma of bourbon.
The aging process and the storing locations of bourbon are the secret sauce of bourbon. Bourbon aged in different parts of the warehouse can significantly change the flavor.
Many distillers will rotate their barrels around the warehouse and have found the sweet spots of the warehouses that produce the best-flavored bourbon.
So What Is the Difference Between Bourbon, Scotch, and Whiskey?
In order for whiskey to be called scotch, it must be made in Scotland. Similar to how bourbon has to be made in the United States or it is considered whiskey. The ingredients of scotch differ from bourbon. Scotch has to be mainly made from malted barley.
All bourbon is whiskey but not all whiskey is bourbon.
Bourbon is a wonderful American spirit that is an elite class of whiskey. Now you should be able to answer with confidence the difference between bourbon and whiskey.