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Bourbon is named after its alleged birthplace -- Bourbon County, Kentucky. Like other types of liquor, bourbon is distilled from fermented grain. There are three main types of bourbon:
- Straight Bourbon - Straight bourbon is distilled from a mixture of grains of which at least fifty-one percent is corn. Corn is what gives bourbon its classic bittersweet flavor.
- Blended Bourbon - To be considered a Blended bourbon, it must contain no less than fifty-one percent Straight bourbon, but can be mixed with other liquids.
- Sour Mash Bourbon - Not unlike sourdough bread, Sour Mash requires that some of the mash (grains through which bourbon has already been distilled) from an old batch be used in starting the new batch, giving the resulting liquor a sour, aged flavor.
The United States federal government has placed strict regulations on what can be sold under the name "bourbon." The first of these is that the distillate must contain at least fifty-one percent corn. Each batch must also be distilled below the alcohol level of 160 proof, or eighty percent alcohol. The law requires that the distillate be aged for at least two years in new, charred oak barrels, though it is common practice to age the product for much longer, sometimes upwards of a decade. Most importantly of all, the bourbon must be made in the United States. A foreign product meeting the other requirements may not be sold in the US as "bourbon." However, there is no law stating that bourbon must be made in Kentucky. In fact, as much as twenty percent of the world's supply is made outside of Kentucky, including a notable brand called Virginia Gentleman.
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In the years following the American Revolution, pioneers pushed west of the Allegheny mountains, founding a new land originally called the "Kentucky District of Virginia." As large parcels of land were divided into vast counties, many were given French names as a token of gratitude to France for aiding the young United States in gaining their freedom. One of these such counties was called Bourbon County, after the influential French royal family. After Kentucky gained its statehood in 1792, Bourbon County was divided further into many smaller counties, though many still called the region "Old Bourbon."
Within the boundaries of Old Bourbon was a busy Ohio River port which became the main hub of whiskey exportation. Distillers stamped "Old Bourbon" onto the sides of their barrels to mark their origin. Recipients of the product took a liking to the new whiskey made with corn, and soon began asking for it by name. Many assumed that "Old Bourbon" was the name of the whiskey, and not just the region it was made in. Over time, the term "bourbon" has come to refer to any whiskey distilled with corn.
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Tennessee whiskey is commonly mistaken for a bourbon, when it is not. Though distilled the same as a bourbon, Tennessee whiskey has an additional step for it's particular flavor. This step, filtering slowly over charcoal made from sugar maple timbers, is the reason it is categorized as a whiskey, by law.
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