What is American Whiskey ?

Bourbon

Is mainly produced in Kentucky, but can come from any other state as long as it includes 51 percent corn and has been aged in new barrels. The traditional makeup of bourbon is 75 precent corn, 15 precent rye, and 10 percent barley. In bourbons that contain wheat, like Maker’s Mark, the rye is substitued with heat to lighten the flavor of it.

Tennessee Whiskey

It is not really that much different than Bourbon but the difference is in the one extra step during process of making it. The step, which is called the Lincoln County Process, that makes it different is that after its distilled, it is filtered very slowly through ten feet of sugar-maple charcoal. The smooth and sweet tasting result after its done is one of the reasons Jack Daniel’s is so popular today and the world’s best selling whiskey. Tennessee Whiskey must have at least 51 perfect of one dominant grain, but that dominant grain does not have to be corn.

Corn Whiskey

Is immature whiskey something you enjoy? Perhaps also known to you as Moonshine, Hooch, White lightning, and many other names. It is often clear in color and extremely strong. Its creation came from when a whiskey tax was imposed in 1791, disgruntled distillers migrated to corn-rich regions, where they began production. Corn Whiskey must be made from at least 80 percent corn mash. The whiskey is typically run off to high proof and cut to not less than 40 percent alcohol by volume.

Rye Whiskey

American rye whiskey must be made of at least 51 perfect rye. There’s also Canadian rye whisky, that may or may not include rye, as long as it has the taste, smell and character typically attributed to Canadian whisky can it be legally labeled “rye”.

Blended Whiskey

It is typically the product of mixing one or more single malt whiskies (made from 100 percent malted grain such as barley or rye) together with other grain whiskies or neutral grain spirits. Scotland, Ireland, and Canada are the most common countries of origin for the blends.

Straight Whiskey

Straight whiskeys are unmixed or mixed only with whiskey from the same distillation period and distiller. Blended whiskeys include mixtures of similar products made by different distillers and in different periods (Scotch) and also whiskeys made with combinations of the neutral whiskeys (which have no distinctive flavour characteristics) and straight whiskeys (United States and Canada).