Does Bourbon Have To Be Made In Kentucky?
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Kentucky and bourbon, bourbon and Kentucky. There isn't much else more synonymous with the Bluegrass State than the brown spirits. From visiting the Bourbon Trail to picking up a bottle for bourbon cocktail recipes, bourbon is a Kentucky staple.
In order to be classified as bourbon, the spirit must be made in the United States, but does bourbon have to be made in Kentucky? The short answer is no, according to Melissa Rift, master taster at Old Forester.
"Bourbon doesn't have to be made in Kentucky,” Rift tells Southern Living. “You can make bourbon anywhere in the United States, not just [the] continental United States."
Related: Kentucky's Bourbon Boat Might Be The Best Way To Experience The Bourbon Trail
Meet The Expert
Melissa Rift is the master taster for Old Forester in Louisville, Kentucky.
Does Bourbon Have To Be Made In Kentucky?
No, bourbon does not need to be made in Kentucky. This was established in 1964 when congress ruled that bourbon was a product of the United States—but it should be labeled correctly. For example, if bourbon was made anywhere but in the United States, it wouldn't be allowed to be called bourbon on the label.
Related: The 9 Best Bottles Of Bourbon, According To Southern Chefs And Bartenders
What Makes Bourbon, Bourbon?
Bourbon is a type of whiskey that is made from corn. All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Bourbon is considered a style of whiskey, and Rift offers an easy way to remember it.
"Whiskey is a family tree, and bourbon is like a member of the family," she explains. "So with lots of different types of spirits, you have rules and regulations of what defines that spirit and then you have subcategories within it that are styles and types—and members of the family—of that spirit."
When it comes to whiskey, bourbon has some of the most strict parameters. To be classified as a bourbon, the whiskey must adhere to these rules:
Made in the USA
Made from at least 51% corn
Aged in new (virgin) white oak barrels
Distilled no higher than 159 proof
Bottled at at least 80 proof, with no additives
Related: Is There A Difference Between Bourbon And Whiskey?
What Is The Difference Between Bourbon And Kentucky Bourbon?
To be called a Kentucky bourbon, it needs to be made in Kentucky. Rift says that properly labeling bourbon bottles is regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, or TTB.
"Anytime you're putting something on your label, whether it's bourbon whiskey, straight bourbon whiskey, straight Kentucky bourbon whiskey, those regulations are kind of checked by the TTB," she says. "If you were to say Kentucky bourbon and you actually made and aged all of your products in Indiana, then you would get dinged by the TTB."
Related: 27 Bourbon Cocktail Recipes Made For Sipping
Why Is So Much Bourbon Made In Kentucky?
When it comes down to it, climate and geography are the reasons behind the production of whiskey in Kentucky. Kentucky has incredibly fertile soil, hard water that is ideal for distilling, and natural blue limestone that adds minerals for flavor as well as acts as a filter, eliminating things like iron. The weather also plays a part.
The cold winters and hot summers of Kentucky together create an ideal aging scenario for bourbon. The temperature and humidity not only give bourbon its color, but also its flavor.
Related: The South's Best Bourbons for Gifting and Drinking
Read the original article on Southern Living
