Spirits - Bourbon Flashcards
When did Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon begin? What is the timeline from there.
Julian Van Winkle Snr. Aka Pappy, started selling whiskey for WL Weller in 1893.
In 1903 Pappy and another salesman bought a controlling interest in the Weller company, and then bought controlling interesting in the Stitzle distillery. Businesses were operated independently until prohibition in 1919, when Weller was dissolved as a wholesaler.
The newly named Stitzel-Well distillery was constructed and opened in 1935. Pappy ran that distillery until 1965, when he died. The Family sold the company in 1972, with the exception of one pre-prohibition brand “Old Rip Van Winkle”
The Van Winkle family nursed their Rip Van Winkle whiskeys along for the next 20 years, with Julian the 3rd continuing the brand by using Stitzel-Weller stocks and also sourcing from other distilleries.
The real hype for pappy started in the 90s, a bottle of 20 years (Made from whiskey sourced from Wild Turkey, who also sourced it from elsewhere) earned a 99 point score.
Buffalo Trace partnership started in 2002, they now handle everything from grain to bottle. It is unclear as to when the actual Stitzel-Weller stocks ran completely dry and stop being blended in.
How many whiskey distilleries in Kentucky survived Prohibition?
6, which were given special licenses to produce “medicinal whiskey.”
When did Prohibition end?
1933
What is the mash bill for Pappy Van Winkle? When did it really take off as a brand?
No Rye, very high wheat content, along with malted barley. Took off in the mid 00’s and later.
How does the Pappy family prefer their Pappy?
Rocks, touch of water, lemon twist.
How does the water in KY affect bourbon production?
Historically, KY has perfect disillting water due to a limestone shelf, which removes Iron (potential to oxidize) and makes for soft water.
Today distilleries use reverse osmosis h20 from the city.
How did Bourbon production emerge in Kentucky?
European immigrants that were familiar with distillation were tempted by the state of Virginia to move to Kentucky with the “Corn Patch & Cabin Rights” Law of 1776 - build a cabin and plant a patch of corn and you get 400 acres of land.
Corn is also very heavy so distillation makes sense.
What other product helped revive Bourbon consumption in the 1990s?
The ‘Big Flavor’ moment in California Wine.
What was James Crow’s contribution to Bourbon?
Crow, a Scot, is credited with bringing scientific rigor and consistency to bourbon production starting in 1825.
What is the definition of Bourbon?
Made in the USA
At least 51% Corn
Distilled to no higher than 160 Proof
Into Barrel at no higher than 125 Proof
Barrel must be Charred
Bottled no lower than 80 Proof
What is the definition of straight bourbon?
Must be aged at least two years
Cannot contain coloring or flavorings
True or False - any bourbon less than 4 years old must list an age statement?
True
True or False - there is a minimum aging requirement for bourbon?
False, that is only the case with ‘Straight Bourbon’
Name some leading wheated styles of Bourbon?
Pappy, Weller, Maker’s Mark (Influenced by Pappy).
What is the format for bourbon barrels?
200L is the norm, but there are no legal requirements for barrel size.
What is sour mashing and how does it affect flavor?
Sourmashing is adding the spent ‘beer’ from the still back into the unfermented/fermenting mash. This raises the PH and creates for healthier & more consistent fermentation.
Which two main distilleries are located in Louisville?
Heaven Hill’s Early Times & Brown Forman’s Bernheim
Explain the production structure of Buffalo Trace
15 Different labels produced, based on just 4 Mash Bills (3 Bourbon 1 Rye) and various aging regimens.