Bourbon
is undeniably on a major roll. Over the last few years, sales of the
whiskey have shot up around the world. While we love that bars and
stores now boast big selections of the spirit, we still hear plenty of
misinformation about the liquor. So to set the record straight, we’ve
debunked some of the most common bourbon myths. Cheers!
Jack Daniel’s is bourbon.
An easy bar bet to win is to ask your friends to find the word “bourbon” on a bottle of
Jack Daniel’s.
You’ll stump them every time, since the spirit is a Tennessee whiskey,
not a bourbon. What’s the difference? Jack Daniel’s goes through a
special charcoal-filtering process before it’s put into barrels.
All bourbon is made in Kentucky.
While most bourbon comes from the Bluegrass State (according to the
Kentucky Distillers’ Association, 95 percent of the planet’s supply is
born there), by law the alcohol can be distilled anywhere in the United
States. And we’ve tasted bourbons from across the country, like those
from Upstate New York’s
Tuthilltown Spirits and Chicago’s
Few Spirits.
Older bourbon is better.
Nearly every week, we’re asked about super-premium and super-old bourbons such as
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 Years Old.
Though these bottlings are beloved by bartenders and drinkers, they are
really the exception and not the norm. Older bourbon isn’t necessarily
better: If the spirit spends too long in a barrel, all you’ll taste is
the wood.
You can’t add ice & mixers.
Don’t let anybody tell you how to drink your whiskey. You should
enjoy it any way you want. And in fact, a bit of water helps open up the
bourbon just as it does
Scotch.
If you want to add ice, use a jumbo cube that chills thoroughly but
melts slowly. Bourbon is also, of course, delicious in cocktails. We
particularly like it in a simple and refreshing
Presbyterian and the classic
Mint Julep.
Bourbon is made from a secret recipe.
While there are many bourbons on store shelves, there are just three
basic formulas for making the liquor. Knowing which ones your favorites
employ will help you discover new brands that you’ll also like. Check
out our
list of recipes and corresponding whiskies, which we compiled with bourbon expert Bernie Lubbers.
