Why It’s Time to Bone Up on Your Bourbon Knowledge

Sharp Staff October 14, 2020

Since 2007, September has been National Bourbon Heritage Month. But there’s really no wrong time to enjoy America’s Official Native Spirit. Despite bourbon’s popularity, the American whiskey remains a mystery to many. Here are 3 facts to get you started:

Does it have to be made in Kentucky?
Bourbon is so intrinsically linked to the ‘Bluegrass State’ it’s easy to think the spirit is exclusively made there. What’s more, according to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, 95% of the world’s supply comes from Kentucky The reality, however, is that it can be produced anywhere in America.

Can it be made outside of America?
No, the federal standards governing the identity of bourbon dictate that it is a ‘distinctive product of the United States’ and that ‘the word “bourbon” shall not be used to describe any whiskey or whiskey-based distilled spirits not produced in the United States’.

What is the difference between bourbon and whiskey?
For a whiskey to call itself bourbon, its mash (the mixture of grains from which the product is distilled) must contain at least 51% corn. The mash must be distilled at 160 proof or less, the distillate must be stored in new oak barrels at 125 proof or less, and it must not contain any additives.

Now that you’re all caught up, try these bourbon cocktail recipes at home:

Horse’s Neck

Cousin to the Moscow Mule, this refreshing cocktail is courtesy of Ironclad Distilling in Norfolk, Virginia. Located along the scenic James River, the distillery is a destination that will delight any cocktail enthusiast and is a testament of bourbon’s appeal beyond Kentucky.

INGREDIENTS