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