Bourbon Whiskey Flashcards
Bourbon Standards
Minumum 51% corn
Distilled at no more than 160 Proof (80% ABV)
Must be stored at no more than 125 Proof (62.5% ABV)
Must be stored in NEW charred oak barrels
Must be bottled at 80 Proof (40% ABV)
Bourbon Mash Bill
Corn
Rye
Malted Barley (small act needed to complete the conversion)
Wheat
Bourbon Sour Mashing
Some of the residue (backset) from the first distillation run is placed in the fermenter for use in the next batch.
Backset is quite acidic and is important as much of the local water is quite alkaline which would interfere with the yeast.
Bourbon Distillation
Most is double distilled (not required) some are triple distilled in pot or column stills made of copper or steel (beer still).
2nd distillation in a doubler, an addition to the pot still that continuously receives the low wines from the 1st distillation.
Thumper is a type of doubler that receives vapors from the 1st distillation into a layer of hot water.
Bourbon Aging
No legally mandated minimum aging requirement.
No coloring can be added.
Maturation
2 types of facilities used to store bourbon: metal rackhouses and warehouses made of brick.
Ages differently from the top floor to the ground floor.
Consistency is controlled by rotating barrels to different floors of the warehouse.
Honey Barrels
The best barrels that are usually reserved for single barrel bottling.
Bottling
After aging, most bourbon is diluted with water and bottled at 80 proof.
Other common proofs are 86, 90, 94, 100 and 107
Barrel Proof
Bourbon takes straight from the barrel and not diluted
Straight Whiskey
Must be aged a minimum of 2 years
If straight whiskey is aged for 4 or more years, an age statement is optional.
If aged less than 4 years, age must be stated on the label and if a blend, it must reflect the youngest age.
Straight whiskies can be bourbon, rye, wheat, malt, rye malt and corn.
Blended bourbon
May contain coloring, flavoring or other spirits but it must contain 51% straight bourbon.
Tennessee Whiskey
Same regulations with respect to mtshbil and aging as bourbon but must me made in Kentucky and use the Lincoln County Process of charcoal filtering.
Lincoln County Process
Sugar maple charcoal is used to remove some of the lighter aldehydic congeners giving the remaining spirit a smooth texture and a full, robust flavor.
