Bourbon Education Hub
Master the Art of Bourbon Appreciation
Bourbon 101: The Fundamentals
What Is Bourbon?
Bourbon is America's native spirit, a type of whiskey with specific legal requirements. To be called bourbon, the spirit must be:
- Made in the United States
- Contain at least 51% corn in the mash bill
- Distilled to no more than 160 proof (80% ABV)
- Entered into the barrel at no more than 125 proof (62.5% ABV)
- Aged in new, charred oak barrels
- Bottled at 80 proof (40% ABV) or higher
Understanding Mash Bills
The mash bill is the recipe of grains used to make bourbon. While all bourbon must contain at least 51% corn, the remaining grains create distinct flavor profiles:
Traditional Rye Bourbon
Corn (70-80%), Rye (10-15%), Malted Barley (5-10%)
Adds spicy, peppery notes. Used by Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve.
Wheated Bourbon
Corn (70%), Wheat (16%), Malted Barley (14%)
Produces softer, sweeter profile. Used by Maker's Mark.
Four Roses is unique, using five different yeast strains and two mash bills to create 10 distinct bourbon recipes, offering incredible flavor diversity.
How Bourbon Is Made
1. Milling & Mashing
Grains are ground and mixed with water to create a mash. The mixture is heated to convert starches into fermentable sugars.
2. Fermentation
Yeast is added to the mash, converting sugars into alcohol over 3-5 days. This creates a "distiller's beer" around 8-10% ABV.
3. Distillation
The fermented mash is distilled, typically twice, to concentrate the alcohol and refine flavors. Most bourbon is distilled to around 130-140 proof.
4. Aging
The clear "white dog" spirit enters new, charred oak barrels where it ages for years. Kentucky's temperature variations cause the bourbon to expand into and contract out of the wood, extracting color, flavor, and character. Most bourbon ages 4-12 years, though there's no minimum aging requirement (except for "straight" bourbon, which requires 2+ years).
5. Bottling
After aging, barrels are selected and sometimes blended. Water may be added to achieve desired proof before bottling. Some bourbons are bottled "barrel proof" or "cask strength" without dilution.
Bourbon Tasting Guide
How to Taste Bourbon
1. See
Observe the color, which indicates age and barrel char. Darker doesn't always mean better.
2. Smell
Nose the bourbon with mouth slightly open. Identify aromas: caramel, vanilla, oak, spice, fruit.
3. Sip
Take a small sip, let it coat your mouth. Note the flavors and how they evolve. Add water if desired.
Common Tasting Notes
Sweet Notes
Caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, honey, brown sugar, maple
Spice Notes
Cinnamon, pepper, clove, nutmeg, allspice
Fruit Notes
Cherry, apple, orange peel, dried fruit
Oak Notes
Toasted wood, charred oak, tobacco, leather
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