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Bourbon: The Straight Facts

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



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