Whiskey 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, Bardstown Bourbon Company. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Remus Bourbon. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Penelope Bourbon. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Woodford Reserve. Nice choice!
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Ahhhh yes, Lexington Bourbon Whiskey. 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.
