How to make bourbon at home with this beginner recipe – Still'n The Clear (2024)

FAQs

What are the 5 rules of bourbon? ›

To be bourbon, whiskey must be (1) made and aged in the U.S., (2) made from a mash that is at least 51% corn, (3) distilled to a proof no higher than 159 (79.5 percent ABV), (4) aged in new charred oak barrels and put into the barrel at no more than 125 proof (“entry proof”), and (5) bottled at no less than 80 proof, ...

To make a fermentable base, distillers will mix grains—corn, rye, and barley malt—with water and yeast. They then heat and stir the mixture (sometimes called “bourbon mash”) to ensure it's well combined and ready to ferment.

The Federal Standards of Identity for Bourbon state determine what is and what isn't Bourbon. For a whiskey to be considered Bourbon, its mash – the mixture of grains from which the product is distilled – must contain at least 51% corn. The rest of the mash is usually filled out with rye or wheat, and malted barley.

In conclusion, while Jack Daniel's is often mistaken for bourbon, it is technically classified as Tennessee whiskey. The distinction lies in the additional step of charcoal mellowing, also known as the Lincoln County Process, that Tennessee whiskey undergoes.

As long as bourbon is barrelled correctly, aging really has no requirement for how long or less. It can go for any amount of time. But, there are two exceptions to this – straight bourbon whiskey has to be aged for a minimum of two years, and bottled-in-bond must be aged for at least four years.

Bourbon fermentation typically takes three days, during which the yeast converts the grain sugars into alcohol (ethanol or ethyl alcohol) and carbon dioxide. The liquid produced through fermentation is known as distiller's beer, or simply beer, which reaches an alcoholic content of around 8% to 9.5% ABV.

Bourbon must be made in America and predominantly from corn. This makes bourbon unique among all other styles of whiskey. Furthermore, bourbon is never stored in used barrels. New oak barrels age bourbon slowly over time so it garners a deep amber color and rich flavors as it matures.

Bourbon can be made from a number of grains, however, at least 51% of this must be corn. Other grains, such as rye or malted barley, will still be used in a bourbon in order to add more intricate flavours to the expression. However, the primary ingredient in a bourbon legally must be corn.

Bourbon is aged for a minimum of two years in new, charred oak barrels. If bourbon is aged for less than four years, then it must say the age on the label. The aging process is a complex and long process that uses the temperature and humidity changes of the seasons to create delicious bourbon.

What's the difference between whiskey bourbon and bourbon? ›

Whiskey is a general term for an alcoholic liquor made from fermented mashed grains. Bourbon is the term for a whiskey made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn. Bourbon was traditionally made in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and most bourbon is still produced in the state of Kentucky.

Neat means that you don't add any water or ice. It's just room-temperature bourbon served from a glass. On the other hand, straight involves placing the bourbon in a glass with ice, shaking it or stirring it to cool it, and then straining it into a glass to serve.

Specifically, Crown Royal is a Canadian whisky, and even though this technically uses a bourbon mashbill (64% corn, 31.5% rye, 4.5% malted barley), bourbon can only be made in America. Though the TTB originally approved the label, they reversed their decision and forced the brand to stop using the name 'Bourbon Mash'.

The process is much like that of starting a sourdough bread. The Recipe - Bourbon is distilled from a fermented mash of grain, yeast and water.

There's no law mandating that bourbon must be produced in Kentucky, although it might seem that way given the state's dominance in distilling the distinctive corn-based, barrel-aged whiskey.

Straight bourbon must be aged for a minimum of two years, but straight bourbon aged between two to four years must display an age statement on the bottle indicating the age of the youngest spirit in the bottle. Straight bourbon aged over four years requires no age statement.

Rule #1 –To be called bourbon, it must be made in the United States. (Crown Royal is Canadian, and doesn't have an “e”, so that's definitely not bourbon.) Rule #2 – Bourbon must be made from a fermented mash of at least 51% corn. (Anyone else thinking of the old TV Show “Moonshiners” right about now?)

While bourbon must be 80 proof or higher, it typically runs between 80 and 100 proof. Some consider 100 proof to be the traditional benchmark of a spirit.