What makes bourbon whiskey different from whiskey

With each country using its own manufacturing and aging processes, though, the resulting liquid is as unique as its country of origin. Just as Scotch whisky can only hail from Scotland, bourbon is a type of whiskey made only in the United States.

But what sets the storied American hooch apart from other whiskeys enjoyed across the globe? Keep reading to learn more about how bourbon distinguishes itself from the pack. The origins of whiskey are murky, with both the Irish and Scottish claiming to have been first to the still. Some sources suggest that the first written record of whiskey can be found in the Irish Annals of Clonmacnoise, purportedly written in , predating Scotch production by about 90 years.

Both took their names from the House of Bourbon, a European royal house of French origin. Bottled-in-bond relates to an American-made distilled beverage that meets the legal requirements laid out in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of The act dictated that spirits must be the product of one distilling season from one distillery and bottled at proof. It must also be aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse. It must be aged for at least three years to be recognised as whiskey in the EU.

While law dictates that no flavourings or colour additives may be added to bourbon, it nevertheless has a diverse flavour profile, typically characterised by vanilla, oak, caramel and spice.

The best way to find out, though, is to try for yourself! Yes, bourbon is the featured spirit in many cocktail recipes from the classic old fashioned to the refreshing mint julep. Skip to content Skip to main menu Menu. All whiskey is spirit made from fermented grain and then aged in barrels. But the kind of grain and the kind of barrels determines the variety of whiskey.

Per the American Bourbon Association , in order to be classified as bourbon, a whiskey needs to be distilled from a mixture of grains, or mash, that's at least 51 percent corn. That corn gives bourbon its distinctive sweet flavor.

Bourbon also must be aged in new charred oak barrels, and cannot include any additives or colorings. Other whiskeys can be aged in barrels previously used to age other spirits, and they don't necessarily need to be whiskey barrels—port, sherry, and rum casks are used in the aging process for non-bourbon whiskeys.

To be designated "straight bourbon whiskey," bourbon has to have been aged in new charred oak barrels for a minimum of two years. When bourbon is barreled, it also has to hit a certain proof, or alcohol content in the spirit. The mash must be distilled at proof or 80 percent alcohol by volume or less, and aged in barrels until it is no more than proof Before bottling, bourbon is filtered and diluted down to no less than 80 proof 40 percent alcohol by volume.