| Bourbon is one of those drinks that go extremely well | | | | Just as California is known for wine and Colorado is |
| with cigars. Cheese can have wine, candy can have | | | | known for beer, Kentucky is known for Bourbon, |
| soda, toast can have orange juice, but Bourbon is all | | | | though it can technically be produced in any US state |
| about getting a good smoke. Despite this fact that | | | | where distilling alcohol is not illegal. In the past it has |
| Bourbon and cigars are a match made in tobacco | | | | been produced in Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, |
| Heaven, a lot of cigar lovers misconstrue what | | | | Tennessee, Missouri, and Kansas. In addition to |
| Bourbon is really all about: it's more than a street in | | | | Kentucky, Bourbon is presently produced in Virginia. |
| New Orleans. | | | | Still, it is the Bluegrass State that is off to the races |
| Bourbon is a high maintenance alcohol, one that | | | | when it comes to Bourbon; it is a derby Kentucky has |
| involves several regulations. The rules and laws that | | | | been winning since the 1700's. |
| govern Bourbon production are strict. In short, | | | | There is no single person credited with the invention of |
| manufacturers must follow the below criteria in order | | | | Bourbon - though Al Gore may claim to be the initial |
| for whiskey to get its "bourb" on. | | | | creator - but the history of it is known. The Bourbon |
| Some people may assume that Bourbon is just the | | | | name was derived from Bourbon County, a large |
| same as whiskey or that it is barley, er barely, | | | | Kentucky county founded after the American |
| different, but Bourbon is very distinct; it is a whiskey | | | | Revolution. |
| made of corn. By US law, at least 51 percent of a | | | | Bourbon County had a penchant for growing crops, |
| whiskey must be made of corn in order to be called | | | | and farmers soon found themselves with more corn |
| Bourbon. Most Bourbons are, however, made up of | | | | than their livestock could eat. The extra corn was |
| even more corn: they are made up of around 70 | | | | turned into whiskey, and bourbon was born. |
| percent and, being cornier, often tell jokes that aren't | | | | Bourbon County was eventually divided into smaller |
| really all that funny. The remaining ingredients in | | | | counties and residents began to refer to it as "Old |
| Bourbon include wheat, rye, and malted barely. | | | | Bourbon." When whiskey makers began shipping their |
| Another key component to Bourbon is age: it must be | | | | liquor on the Ohio River, which served as a major port, |
| distilled and put inside white oak barrels for a minimum | | | | they stamped their sealed barrels with the name "Old |
| of two years. This, like corn content, is rarely an issue | | | | Bourbon." The name stuck and Bourbon became a |
| as most Bourbons are aged in barrels for around four | | | | synonym for corn whiskey. |
| years. Once aging is complete, nothing can be added | | | | In 1964, the US Congress made Bourbon the "native |
| to the Bourbon to change the color, add flavor, or | | | | spirit," sealing its place in American history forever. |
| enhance sweetness. | | | | |