Bourbon at Whiskey For Sale Shop
Bourbon is a variety of whiskey that uses at
least 51% corn in the distillation process. But, oh, how much is compacted into
that one dry sentence.
All whiskeys are made from grain, often using barley as a base. The
barley is soaked to germinate, then dried and mixed with water and yeast. The
liquid is heated and the evaporate flows up through a bent-neck still where it
ultimately condenses into another container. The brew is then placed in barrels
to age for a few years to make the golden beverage enjoyed by millions.
Using corn makes for quite a difference during this journey from field to
mouth.
The name comes from the county in
One difference is how the barrel is chosen and used. American White Oak is the
usual choice, because it lends a chemical called lactone that brings out a
flavor recognized around the world. The charred barrels are used only once
during the process (a legal requirement). But they then go on to be used by
makers of fine scotch.
While the legal requirement to be called Bourbon is 51% corn in
the mash, most distillers will use between 65-75%. It's that high use of this
alternative grain that gives the brew its distinctive flavor. Also, according
to law, it must be aged at least two years. But, ten or 25, or even 50 years in
the barrel is far from unknown. Nothing is added to artificially color or
flavor the end product.
Ironically, one of the brands most associated with Bourbon isn't technically
one at all. Jack
Daniels, a fine and mellow liquid appreciated by whiskey
aficionados worldwide, is filtered through sugar-maple charcoal before being
placed in the cask to age. This so-called
Jim Beam, on the other hand, carries that category name proudly on the label.
While perhaps the best known Bourbon, it is far from the only fine whiskey of
that type. Blanton's, for example, is a reddish amber brew whose color reflects
its taste. The citrus tones blend with cloves and caramel to
produce an end result that no Jim Beam lover would wisely turn down.
of premium charred oak. The result, such as that found in a bottle of Wild
Turkey Rare Breed, is also premium. The latter's mixture of vanilla and peppery
tastes is appreciated anywhere fine whiskeys are sampled and that covers a lot
of ground, literally. The Blanton's is only one of many so-called Single Barrel
Bourbons, the name deriving from the fact that each bottle comes from a single
barrellove of Bourbon has spread as far as
With the decision to use corn as the base for ethanol fuel, the price of a good
Bourbon may rise. But, fortunately, one thing about this spirit will always
remain the same: the outstanding taste many generations have come to know and
love.