Bourbon Refresher

History:

 Bourbon originated in the late 18th century in Kentucky, which is now known as the "Bourbon Capital of the World". It is believed that the name "bourbon" comes from Bourbon County, Kentucky, where many of the early distilleries were located. Bourbon quickly gained popularity in the early 19th century and became a symbol of American craftsmanship and independence. 

Qualifying Standards: 

There are several standards that must be met for a whiskey to qualify as bourbon:

• The whiskey must be made in the United States
• The mash bill (the mixture of grains used to make the whiskey) must contain at least 51% corn
• The whiskey must be aged in new, charred oak barrels
• The whiskey must be distilled to no more than 80% alcohol by volume (ABV) and bottled at no less than 40% ABV

Types of Bourbon: 

There are several different types of bourbon, including:

• Straight bourbon: aged for at least 2 years and has no added flavors or coloring
• Small batch bourbon: made from a small batch of barrels, which allows for more consistency in flavor
• Single barrel bourbon: made from a single barrel, which allows for unique flavor profiles
• Bottled-in-bond bourbon: aged for at least 4 years and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV)