What Makes a Bourbon

What Makes a Bourbon

Whisky education from Whisk(e)y Advent 2025 (2025-11-30). Summary below; full write-up with sources and images: calendar/2025-11-30.qmd.

Bourbon must be made in the USA, from >=51% corn, aged in new charred oak, distilled to <=80% ABV and bottled at >=40% ABV - with no minimum aging (a ‘straight bourbon’ is aged >=2 years). High-rye bourbons skew spicier; wheated bourbons skew softer.