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Bourbon
Bourbon
Bourbon
Bourbon is America's own spirit,steeped in time from as much as 300 years ago, dating back to some of the early settlers, this unique American product has continually evolved and been refined over the past 200 plus years to become the bourbon that most of us enjoy today.
The first settlers to bring their whisky traditions to this country were Scotch/Irish of Western Pennsylvania. Although whiskey was produced throughout the colonies (George Washington himself even turned his hand to the distillation of said whiskys), with these settlers the bourbon legacy begins.
To help finance the revolution, the Continental Congress put a tax on the distillation of whisky. So infuriated were the settlers that they refused to pay and tax levied. To restore order among the ensuing "Whiskey Rebellion" of 1791 to 1794, Washington was forced to send the Continental Army to quell the uprising.
This turned out not to be a far more daunting task than was first perceived and save the government from a potentially embarrassing political situation and to avoid further difficulty with some of the more hard line elements in society, a settlement was agreed, giving incentives for those who would move to Kentucky, the significance of this is that the early whisky was made primarily from rye, this was about to change with their move and "Bourbon" would be born.
Thomas Jefferson who was the Governor of Virginia at that time, offered pioneers sixty acres of farm land in Kentucky if they would build a permanent structure and raise "native corn" it was also surmised that no family could eat sixty acres worth of corn a year and it was too perishable to transport for sale so the genius behind the idea was simple the corn were turned into whiskey, both problems would disappear. This corn based whiskey, which was clearly distilled, would become "bourbon" only after two coincidentally related events happened.
In West Virginia, which was then the county of Kentucky, was at this time subdivided in 1780 and again in 1786. One of these subdivisions was named Bourbon, after the French Royal House. Kentucky was awarded stateship in 1792 and Bourbon became one of its counties.
In 1783 It is documented that Evan Williams might have been the first commercial distiller in Louisville although nothing has yet been proved, The legend goes that Evan Williams was a penny pincher and used old barrels to transport his whiskey to market in New Orleans. He charred the barrels before filling them, thus after his whiskey made the long trip to market, it had "mellowed" and taken on a brown color.
In 1964, a congressional resolution protected the term "Bourbon" and only since then has the product been defined. The basic elements of Bourbon are that they must be a minimum of two years old, distilled under 160 proof, and be made from a mash of at least 51% corn. It must be aged in charred new oak barrels. 99% of Bourbon Whiskey comes from Kentucky.
The next stage of Bourbon development is how the elements of production, storage, aging and bottling are handled, If the mix of small grains in the mash changes, or the yeast strain used is different, the product changes also. Many distill and age their bourbon at a different proof, Some crack the corn and some roll it.
There are those that pay attention to every detail from the growing and preparation of the grain to the proper rack house barrel rotation. In all premium bourbons you can find a unique point of difference and it is these subtle differences in the end product that make all the difference.
There are many bourbons available for distribution they vary in strengh from 80 proof (40% alcohol) to 150 proof (75% alcohol) below are a few recommended bourbons for you to try.
Jim Beam White
Jim Beam is a bourbon whiskey, which is distilled in the Clermont region of Kentucky. This brand of bourbon has been distilled since 1795. The Jim Beam brand is owned by Beam Global Spirits & Wine, which is in turn owned by holding company called Fortune Brands.
Jim Beam Black
Jim Beam meets the particular requirements for being a bourbon, its mash is over 51% corn, and it is stored in new charred oak barrels for longer than the national requirement of 2 years, which is mandatory the required time aloted to be called straight bourbon
Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve is the Official Bourbon of two of horse racing's most prestiges occasions, The Kentucky Derby and the Breeders Cup. It is a 90.4 proof bourbon (43% alcohol). One of the notable features of this brand of bouban is the numbering system used on every bottle.
Bookers
Booker’s bourbon is one of the small batch bourbons produced by the same distillery as Jim Beam. It was personally selected by the late distiller emeritus Booker Noe. Noe originally bottled this bourbon as gifts friends loved ones, but eventually made it available to everyone. The beauty of this bourbon is it is uncut and un filtered, just as it was the day it was created, and consequently its 126 proof (63% alcohol)is made to be cut with water and/or ice before it is consumed.
Bakers
Named after Baker Beam, grand nephew of the legendary Jim Beam, Baker’s Bourbon is 7 old and hand bottled at 107 proof (55% alcohol). Embracing over six generations of distilling experience, Baker's Bourbon uses a special strain of jug yeast that has been in his family for over half a century.
Makers Mark
Maker's Mark is a hand crafted small batch bourbon, distilled in Loretto, Kentucky.
When the famous T.W. Samuels family of distilling sold their assets in the 1950s, those family members who continued in the business began a search for a small distillery to purchase and continue the trade on a smaller scale, emphasizing high quality production over high volume production.
Basil Hayden 
Basil Hayden's is the lightest bodied bourbon whiskey in the family of Jim Beam small batch bourbons. It is 80 proof (40% alcohol)in contrast with its three sibling brands of higher concentration (Knob Creek, Booker's, and Baker's).
Basil Hayden is named in honor of Basil Hayden Sr. Hayden was a Maryland Catholic who led a group of twenty five Catholic families from Maryland into what is now Nelson County, Kentucky in the year 1785.
Knob Creek
Named after Abraham Lincoln's childhood home in Kentucky state, Knob Creek is truly bourbon at its upmost. Created to represent whiskey before it was mass produced, Knob Creek embodies the look, feel and taste of pre-prohibition bourbon. This full-bodied, flavorful bourbon takes classic cocktails to a new level.
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