Build a Bar Workshop: Bourbon

With all due respect to Rye Whiskey, Bourbon is what comes to mind for most people when the question is American whiskey. It's the largest category of American whiskey in our stores.

Woodford Reserve fermenters

Bourbon's roots go back to the late 1700s, when westbound British, Irish and Scottish settlers started making whiskey in Kentucky. As we detailed previously, rye was more frequently used as a whiskey base than other grains. In 1964, the US Congress established federal regulations for producing bourbon and other American whiskey. All American whiskeys are distilled from a fermented mash (mixture) of cereal grain and water without any coloring or flavoring additives. American whiskey must by law be aged in new, charred oak barrels and no more than 160 proof (80% alcohol by volume). In order to be classified as "straight" whiskey, it must be aged for at least two years and unblended. Bourbon must be made from a mash that is at least 51% corn. The rest of the mash is made up of any ratio of rye, wheat and/or malted barley. While most bourbon today is still made in Kentucky, it can legally be made anywhere in the United States, and you see that on the shelves at Joe Canal's. The spirit’s beautiful amber color comes from the wood that it's aged in for at least two years while the alcohol by volume climbs to a minimum of 40% (80-proof) before bottling.

Buffalo Trace

The best way to briefly describe bourbon might be this: Distilled from at least 51% corn, aged for at least 2 years, with nothing added and nothing removed.

Over the last ten years, bourbon has seen a rapid rise in popularity around the world. Demand has grown so much that distillers are having trouble keeping up. If you recall, Maker's Mark talked about cutting their bourbon with water to extend supplies, before deciding against that. As with any spirit, the more time bourbon spends aging in a barrel, the more the angels take. That means Pappy might have only 65% of a barrel to sell after it's aged to their standards. High demand, low product availability, and that often leads to higher prices for the remaining supply.

Jim Beam Rickhouse, one of many

In addition to the color, barrel aging tends to add vanilla notes to bourbon, as well as the obvious oak notes. In basic terms, here's how that bit of science happens. The barrels are stored in large warehouses, typically called a rickhouse. In warmer weather, the heat causes the wood to expand, and the whiskey seeps into the oak. In colder weather, the wood contracts, expelling the whiskey, after it has taken on some of the oak characteristics. That goes on year after year. Where the barrel is located within a rickhouse will have an impact on this exchange; higher floors get hotter, after all. Some distillers will move barrels around, so that all barrels are similar. Other times, barrels are left in place to preserve that individuality.

While not as vast a category as vodka, there are seemingly limitless choices in bourbon. Jim Beam remains the world's best-selling bourbon. Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, Evan Williams and Wild Turkey are also among the top selling national brands. We also carry a number of choices under each label, giving you more decisions to make.

The boom in craft distilling has brought a number of new brands to the market, and many of these producers are outside of Kentucky.

Tuthilltown Spirits has the Hudson Baby Bourbon. This upstate New York distiller keeps things local. When you take the Hudson New York Corn Whiskey and store it in a first-use charred American Oak barrel,out pops the Baby. The barrel aging process gives this spirit a light sweetness and deep amber color. This 100% corn bourbon has a bright,defined taste and a warm finish with notes of marzipan and roasted corn. Look also for the Four Grain Bourbon, as well as other whiskey from Tuthilltown.

A self-admitted whiskey nerd founded the Breckenridge distillery, in Colorado, at the highest altitude of any distillery.

Year round, we make grain to bottle Whiskeys and Rum, distill botanicals, and blend Bourbon Whiskey in small batches. Our Blend of Bourbon Whiskeys also consists of Barrels selected from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana chosen for their unique qualities, heritage, and ability to marry in our blend, always made from a high-rye mash bill.

Breckenridge Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys: Deep honey-amber hue with warm, pronounced aromas of under-ripe banana and brown sugar, with spicy notes of white pepper and toasted sesame. Light body with warm texture and long sweet oak, vanilla finish with a touch of bitterness to balance. Reminiscent of a slice of toasted rye bread with honey drizzled on it.

Smooth Ambler Old Scout is distilled in the southeastern part of West Virginia. Appalachia has always been known for whiskey. Like the Scotch-Irish farmer-distillers and settlers who forged western Virginia from the surrounding jagged hills, we too, have built our homes and lives here. Ingrained are the virtues of beauty, family, quality and hard work in everything we do; including the world class whiskeys and white spirits we produce. From grinding our  own carefully selected regional grains, to labeling and signing each bottle, Smooth Ambler does everything by hand, the old-fashioned way. Our folks have one goal; to create a truly rare drink you and your friends will never forget.

We carry their Old Scout Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 7 plus year old barrels with a high rye content of 36%, this fine whiskey has exceptional taste and smoothness.  Non chill filtered, non carbon filtered.  A robust 99 proof, it’s strong, but deliciously drinkable like all of Smooth Ambler’s offerings.  Bold, sweet-spicy flavors with subtle apple, cherry and tobacco aroma. 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malt – a ‘high rye’ bourbon. Look also for Contradiction.

Contradiction blends two whiskeys. One is a 'wheater', or wheated Bourbon and the other is a Bourbon made with rye. We are very proud of our knack for bringing you great spirits we hand-make and excellent spirits we hand-select; Contradiction is the opportunity to enjoy in a single sip,  the convergence of those two very different efforts.

We think you'll have no trouble finding something that fits your palate and budget at Joe Canal's. Please stop in and ask questions if you need.

Some information courtesy of Liquor.com, as well as the distillers mentioned in this post.