Bourbon 101

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The Whiskey Rebellion: True Story

Shortly after the United States was formed, it experienced its first rebellion of its own citizens: the Whiskey Rebellion. The two fighting factions were frontier farmers in Pennsylvania and federal taxmen and politicians back East. The Whiskey Rebellion's effect on the newly created country was far-reaching. It's amazing the change that happened all over a single whiskey tax...

Bourbon And Branch

The bourbon and branch is a classic approach to appreciating the distinct yet smooth flavors of bourbon, allowing individuals to appreciate their Kentucky whiskey in a simple and sophisticated way.

Kentucky Bourbon Trail

The Kentucky Distillers' Association (KDA) launched the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 1999 to help serve as a marketing tool for the Kentucky bourbon industry. With the state responsible for more than 95% of the world's bourbon production, people wanting to visit a distillery will likely start researching vacation options in Kentucky...

Bourbon vs Whiskey: Which To Choose?

Some people use bourbon and whiskey interchangeably. However, bourbon is a type of whiskey. All bourbons are whiskeys, but not all whiskeys are bourbons. You'll find some important differences when comparing bourbon vs. whiskey...

Visiting Bourbon Street in New Orleans

As the sun goes down, neon illuminates the entire street, and loud music seems to spill out from every door. With bead decorations everywhere and people carrying their "go-cups" filled with sweet bourbon-themed libations there's no mistaking you've arrived at the historic Bourbon Street...

Bourbon Glasses 101: A Complete Guide

If you're new to drinking bourbon, choosing the right glasses for your drink may feel overwhelming. Fortunately, by learning the basics of bourbon glasses, you can make it easy to find the right one for your next tasting...

Bourbon And Beyond 2022: Event Details

The Bourbon & Beyond 2022 Music Festival is just around the corner. If you're considering attending, here are answers to all the questions you might be asking right now.

Bourbon Fermentation: The Complete process

Production of every kind of whiskey, including bourbon, begins with the mash bill, which determines the types of grain used, and in what proportions, for each particular whiskey. Each grain adds a distinct flavor that contributes to the taste characteristics of the bourbon fermentation..

History Of The Gin And Tonic

The gin and tonic cocktail has a rich and complex history that dates back to the 15th century and began in the Netherlands with a medicinal drink called genever, the Dutch word for juniper, and what we know now as gin. This drink, later called Dutch courage, was a mixture of botanicals including coriander seeds, juniper berries, and star anise distilled with malt spirits.

Japanese Whiskey vs American Whiskey

Even the most seasoned whiskey connoisseurs may not fully appreciate the nuances and differences between Japanese whisky versus American whiskey. If you've never had either before, they are both worth trying...

What Is Sweet Mash Bourbon?

The process to make sweet mash bourbon or whiskey is as old as the sour mash process. At the same time Catherine Carpenter was recording her sour mash recipe in the early 1800s, she was also notating her sweet mash recipe. But unlike sour mash, the sweet mash process does not use any backset during fermentation...

What Is Bourbon "Bottled In Bond?"

In order for a spirit to be bonded, it must undergo a distillation season at one distillery by the same distiller in the United States. It must also be aged in a bonded facility for a minimum of four years. It must also be bottled at 100 proof with a 50% ABV...

What Is A Small Batch Bourbon?

Small batch bourbon, also known as small batch whiskey, is a bourbon that contains a blend of contents from a select number of barrels. In the alcohol industry, "small batch" does not have a legal or scientific definition. Distilleries often create their own standards when determining what small batch whiskey is...

How Grains Affect Bourbon Taste

Ingredients are the most important additive to enhance the flavor of any good recipe. The slight change or addition of an ingredient can either throw a recipe off or make it fantastic. This is the same for spirits like bourbon

A "Smooth" Bourbon

Describing a bourbon as "smooth" can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Generally speaking, those new to bourbon use the term quite often because they may not be able to fully articulate the bourbon tasting experience.

Bourbon Barrels: How It's Made

Spirits and liquor are made by mixing ingredients followed by a fermentation process. One of the most surprising steps in the bourbon-making process, one that sets it apart from other spirits, is that bourbon needs to sit in a barrel for a certain amount of time after the fermentation process. But, there's more to the bourbon barreling process than meets the eye...

What Is Sour Mash Bourbon?

While browsing through bourbon whiskey bottles, you may have come across the term "sour mash" on some labels. This term refers to how bourbon is made, not how it tastes. Before purchasing your next bottle of whiskey and giving sour mash bourbon a try, it's important to understand what it is and what makes it different from a regular bourbon...

Barrel Entry Proof: Why It Matters

You can find a whiskey's alcohol proof on the bottle, but it's not necessarily the same as barrel entry proof. Alcohol proof, or its strength, is twice the amount of ethanol (alcohol) by volume. The term barrel entry proof refers to the alcohol strength of the bourbon when it enters the barrel...

What Is A Glencairn Glass?

Developed in Scotland, the Glencairn glass is specifically designed to enhance the whiskey drinking experience. In recent years, it has replaced the rocks glass for many people who enjoy their whiskey neat...

Bourbon Barrel Char Levels

In order for a whiskey to legally be called a "bourbon" or "straight bourbon whiskey", distillers must adhere to specific requirements. One of those rules is only to use brand-new oak barrels, which must be charred...

Bourbon Distillation: A Brief Overview

The sweet, brown bourbon that you buy from the shelves goes through a complex production process spanned over multiple years. From processing grain mash to finally bottling the bourbon, the alcohol goes through a series of intermediary steps to refine, yield a clear texture, and maintain the consistent, signature taste for which bourbon is so well-known. The bourbon distillation process is a major step in its manufacturing process that imparts color, texture, and flavor...

The Best Wheated Bourbons

In the ever-growing world of whiskey, America's love affair with bourbon has led to distillers continuously evolving their recipes to create new taste experiences. One area that has seen a growth in popularity, and hence an increase in availability, is wheated bourbon...

Heigold High Rye bourbon

Bourbon has long been America's favorite tipple, but in recent years, its popularity has rocketed to an incredible level. Lovers of the golden spirit are becoming more discerning and moving away from the large bourbon producers

Sour Mash Rye Whiskey

Sour mash rye is a whiskey made using a production method that regulates the growth of bacteria that might taint the whiskey. It also helps to ensure the consistency of quality and flavor from one batch of whiskey to the next... Most bourbon and rye whiskey distillers use the sour mash method.

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