Bourbon and American Whiskies

Question 1

Bourbon Whiskey Definition

Answer 1

-not exceeding 80%ABV
-fermented mash of at least 51% corn
-stored in charred new oak no more than 62.5%ABV
for at least two years
-bottled at no less than 40%ABV
-can be made anywhere in the States but only Kentucky label
-no caramel or additives

Question 2

Bourbon Origin

Answer 2

• county(and port) where where whiskey was shipped.
• “Old Bourbon” was place of Origin
• “Old Bourbon” was the first corn whiskey people tasted

Question 3

American Whiskey

Answer 3

-Staten Island, NY under the Dutch in 1640

Question 4

Elijah Craig

Answer 4

-first Bourbon Distiller

Question 5

George Washington

Answer 5

-started a distillery and produced 11,000 gallons of Whiskey in 1797

Question 6

Bottled-in-Bond bill

Answer 6

• protected consumers from counterfeiting whiskey by sealing bonded bottles with a green strip stamp
• 50%ABV and aged a minimum of four years

Question 7

Styles of Bourbon

Answer 7

• Single Barrel Bourbon
• Small Batch Bourbon
• Vintage Bourbon
• Bottled in Bond

Question 8

Single Barrel Bourbon

Answer 8

• single hand selected barrel by the master distiller

- typically uncut and not chill filtered

Question 9

Small Batch Bourbon

Answer 9

-about 30 to 50 barrels married, hand selected, by the master distiller

Question 10

Vintage Bourbon

Answer 10

-Whiskey distilled in a certain year at its peak of maturation, bears year of distillation and year of bottling

Question 11

Bottled in Bond

Answer 11

-50%ABV and aged for a minimum of four years

Question 12

Types of American Whiskies

Answer 12

1. Straight Whiskey
2. Straight Bourbon
3. Corn Whiskey
4. Straight Rye Whiskey
5. Straight Wheat Whiskey
6. Tennessee Whiskey
7. Blended American Whiskey
8. Light Whiskey
9. Kentucky Whiskey
10. American Single Malt Whiskey

Question 13

Straight Whiskey

Answer 13

• at least 51% of a single grain in a mash bill
• distilled no more than 80%ABV barreled no higher than 62.5%ABV
• Minimum two years aged in new charred oak
• no addatives allowed

Question 14

Straight Bourbon

Answer 14

• at least 51% corn in the mash bill
• if wheat is used instead of rye as the second grain it is “Wheated Bourbon”
• Age must be disclosed if less than 4 years old

Question 15

Corn Whiskey

Answer 15

• at least 80% corn
• no minimum aging
• if aged new charred or un-charred barrels used

Question 16

Straight Rye Whiskey

Answer 16

-at least 51% rye grain, the rest being corn and or just malted barley

Question 17

Straight Wheat Whiskey

Answer 17

-at least 51% wheat whiskey in the mash bill

Question 18

Tennessee Whiskey

Answer 18

-straight bourbon produced in Tennessee

Question 19

Blended American Whiskey

Answer 19

-at least 20% straight whiskey and rest neutral grain spirit

Question 20

Light Whiskey

Answer 20

• aged in used or new un-charred oak

- distilled no higher than 80%ABV but less than 95%ABV

Question 21

Kentucky Whiskey

Answer 21

• Not officially recognized

- whiskey aged in used barrels

Question 22

American Single Malt Whiskey

Answer 22

-from 100% malted barley, produced at one distillery

Question 23

Cooking

Answer 23

-process in Bourbon where grains are ground and mixed at intervals with iron free limestone water

Question 24

Fermentation

Answer 24

• yeast is added to the mash and produces distiller’s beer

- takes 2 to 4 days

Question 25

Distillation

Answer 25

• virtually all Bourbons are distilled twice

- Beer Still then a doubler or thumper

Question 26

Maturation

Answer 26

-new charred white oak barrels at no more than 62.5%ABV

Char Levels: 1 light, 2 medium, 3 medium heavy, 4 heavy(alligator)

Question 27

Rickhouse

Answer 27

Place where barrels are stored and maturation takes place