Whisky Type Profile - Bourbon
Overall, Bourbon is known for:
Whisky Type Overview
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey, a barrel-aged distilled liquor made primarily from corn. The name derives from the French Bourbon dynasty, although the precise inspiration is uncertain; contenders include Bourbon County in Kentucky and Bourbon Street in New Orleans, both of which are named after the dynasty. The name "Bourbon" was not applied until the 1850s, and the Kentucky etymology was not advanced until the 1870s. Bourbon has been distilled since the 18th century. Although bourbon may be made anywhere in the United States, it is strongly associated with the American South in general, and with Kentucky in particular. Bourbon was recognized in 1964 by the United States Congress as a "distinctive product of the United States". Bourbon must be made of a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn, distilled to no more than 160 (U.S.) proof (80% alcohol by volume), aged in new, charred oak barrels, and may not be introduced to the barrel at higher than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume). Bourbon which meets the above requirements and has been aged for a minimum of two years, may (but is not required to) be called Straight Bourbon. Bourbon aged for a period less than four years must be labeled with the duration of its aging. If an age is stated on the label, it must be the age of the youngest whiskey in the bottle. Only whiskey produced in the United States can be called bourbon.
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Ahhhh yes, Blanton's. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Knob Creek. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Buffalo Trace. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, W.L. Weller. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Baker's. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Booker's. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Eagle Rare. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Woodford Reserve. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Maker's Mark. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Bardstown Bourbon Company. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Barton 1792. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Widow Jane. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Old Forester. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Jim Beam. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Jefferson's. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Wild Turkey. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Basil Hayden. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Joseph Magnus. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Elijah Craig. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Kentucky Owl. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Woodinville Whiskey. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, James E. Pepper Distilling Co.. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Lexington Bourbon Whiskey. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Ezra Brooks. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Russell's Reserve. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Larceny Bourbon. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Barrell Craft Spirits. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Rebel Bourbon. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Balcones Distilling. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, FEW Spirits. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Wyoming Whiskey. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Little Book. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Garrison Brothers. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, New Riff. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Rabbit Hole. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Belle Meade. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Remus Bourbon. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Noble Oak. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Clyde May's. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Frey Ranch. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Penelope Bourbon. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Blade and Bow. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, 2BAR. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Laws Whiskey House. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Blood Oath. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Bib & Tucker. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Breckenridge Distillery. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Doc Swinson's. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Koval. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, WhistlePig. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Heaven Hill. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Henry McKenna. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, . Nice choice!
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What you smell and taste in a whisky is highly subjective.
Even the pros do not always agree on the tasting notes. Therefore, we have combined the tasting notes from several sources into a cross-section of the most likely Nose, Palate, and Finish to find the commonalities between two whiskies. We use the Aroma Wheel with its concentric circles of increasingly specific tastes and smells (general in the center; more specific the further out you go) to find Exact, Secondary, and General matches between two whiskies. We also take into account other factors such as ABV, region, and price (used as a rough proxy for quality). We then weight each factor based on what we believe to be the approximate importance it has in determining whether two whiskies are similar.
We're all different.
Again, we cannot stress enough that what you smell and taste in a whisky is likely going to be different than the person you're drinking it with. Whisky Mates is meant to be a guide to help you find what you like drinking, using the best methodologies available. In the end, rely on your own palate to tell you what you like and don't like.
