Bourbon whiskeys are the national spirit of the United States of America. It’s a highly regulated product that must be manufactured in the United States, and they have a few distinguishing features. By far the most popular whiskey, bourbon is also one of the most popular styles of whiskey worldwide.
The world of bourbon whiskey is complicated, and there are several brands to choose from. It’s important to understand what constitutes bourbon, what goes into distilling it, and how all of this relates to the whiskey in your glass to completely appreciate it.
What Is Straight Bourbon?
Bourbon whiskeys that have been aged for at least two years may use the term “straight bourbon” on the product’s label if the whiskey’s age is mentioned. However, “straight bourbon” that has been aged for a minimum of four years does not require an age statement. As a result, if a bottle says “straight bourbon” but doesn’t say how old it is, it’s going to be four years old, if not older.
Understanding Aging
Bourbon must be matured in fresh oak barrels by law.
The insides of these barrels must be burned, and most distilleries, including a company such as Balcones Distilling, utilize a number four char, sometimes known as “alligator” char. Bourbon distillers cannot legally reuse their barrels after the first usage, so they are frequently sold to age other spirits such as rum and tequila.
The law is silent on the length of time a bourbon must be matured. A distiller might mature whiskey for one day and call it bourbon lawfully. On the other hand, most bourbons only spend a few years in the barrel; the average is four to seven years.