Bourbon is the embodiment of the traditions of American distillation. The drink is very similar to other types of whiskey, but has some features that make it possible to distinguish it into a separate subgroup of hard alcohol.
Differences between bourbon and whiskey:
1. Raw materials. Whiskey is made from barley, wheat and rye. Classic bourbon is at least 51% corn, the remaining 49% is rye, barley and wheat. Corn began to be used in America due to its cheapness and good yield. At first, bourbon was alcohol for the lower strata of society, but as the skill of local distillers grew and, as a result, quality improved, it turned into the national pride of the United States, the country’s hallmark on the world alcohol market.
2. Production technology. Whiskey requires malting – soaking, sprouting, drying and peeling grains to release enzymes in it that break down starch into sugar in a natural way. In the production of bourbon, malting of corn is not used. Grains are crushed, poured with water and boiled. The resulting wort is saccharified with barley or other types of malt, fermented with yeast from the previous sourdough and distilled. At some distilleries, such as Jack Daniels, the drink is filtered through maple charcoal before aging.
Bourbon insist only in new oak barrels, burned inside. The minimum aging period is 2 years (usually 4 or more). For whiskey, sherry, cognac, madeira, calvados and bourbon casks are repeatedly used. Scotch whiskey is aged for at least 3 years, Canadian – 6 years, Irish – 5 years (on average).
3. Region. Whiskey is a broad concept that covers drinks from Scotland, Ireland, Canada and Asian countries. Bottle labels with Irish whiskey are marked with the inscription “Whiskey”, Scottish – “Whisky” or “Scotch” (scotch tape). Whiskey labels from other countries simply indicate their geographical origin, for example, “Canadian whiskey”. According to US law from 1964, only drinks produced in the United States using traditional technology can be called bourbons.
Disputes often arise: Jack Daniel’s (Jack Daniels) is bourbon or whiskey. The bottle is labeled “Tennessee Whiskey”, but the drink itself is 80% corn, 12% barley, 8% rye and is aged in new charred barrels. According to the production technology, this is a classic bourbon, but because of one additional stage, it is considered a separate variety – whiskey from Tennessee. The only difference between Jack Daniel’s and traditional bourbon is that after distillation, the distillate is additionally filtered through sugar maple charcoal, which makes the drink softer.
4. Organoleptic properties. Thanks to raw corn, the taste of bourbon is richer and has a slight sweetish tint. Irish whiskey is known for its bitter notes, Scotch whiskey for its smoky flavor.
Aging in oak barrels makes bourbon dark golden or amber, usually darker than other whiskeys.
