There is a very specific set of standards to which all bourbon makers must adhere. The Federal Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits state that bourbon made for U.S. consumption must be:
- Produced in the United States
- Made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn.
- Aged in new, charred oak barrels
- Distilled to no more than 160 (U.S.) proof (80% alcohol by volume)
- Entered into the container for aging at no more than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume)
- Bottled at 80 proof or more (40% alcohol by volume)
Something in the Water
Ninety-five percent of the world’s bourbon is produced in Kentucky, and if you’re wondering if there’s something in the water, there is.
On its way to becoming bourbon, Kentucky’s water flows through limestone reserves – the same mineral said to make our horses grow stronger. Along with our ideal climate and fertile soil for growing corn and other ingredients, you’ve got yourself the perfect conditions for bourbon-making.
Barrel Aging
The exact char on the new oak barrel (which is unique to each brand) is as much a part of the “recipe” for bourbon as are the grains for the mash.
Once filled, the barrels are left to age in non-environmentally controlled bourbon rickhouses. The change in temperature from season to season causes the barrels to expand and contract, allowing the bourbon to move in and out of the wood. Because of this, a portion of the bourbon evaporates (known as the Angel’s Share). This aging process produces much of the flavor and unique color of the final product.
Once the aged bourbon is “dumped” from the barrels, the barrels remain saturated with bourbon. As they cannot be reused for bourbon, most are sold to age other spirits. Some are employed in the manufacture of various barrel-aged products, including bourbon-barrel-aged beer, barbecue sauce, wine, hot sauce and more.
Kentucky Bourbon By the Numbers
- In 1964, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution declaring bourbon whiskey “a distinctive product of the United States...unlike any other type of alcoholic beverage.” (The original signed resolution is on public display at the Frazier History Museum in Louisville.)
- Kentucky has 68 distilleries as of 2018, up 250% in the last decade.
- More than 7.5 million barrels of bourbon currently sit in Kentucky rickhouses. That comes out to nearly 1.75 barrels of bourbon for every person in Kentucky – yes, there are more barrels of bourbon here than people!
