The difference between bourbon and whiskey
Love your whiskey but don’t know much about the different kinds of whiskeys available in the market? Don’t worry, we are here to provide a detailed understanding of all the different kinds of whiskeys and how they are made. Whiskey is a distilled alcoholic beverage that is made out of fermented grain mash. Different grains are used to make different types of whiskeys, such as barley, corn, wheat, and rye. Typically, a whiskey is first fermented, then distilled, and, lastly, aged in wooden barrels.

There are many types of whiskeys that are made all over the world, and whiskey drinkers are very specific about the kind of whiskey they like. Each whiskey has its own flavor, texture, and aroma. It is usually distilled and matured in a particular area and gets its name from that region. Let’s find out more about the varieties and also the difference between bourbon and whiskey.

What are the different types of whiskeys?
There are many varieties of whiskey, and they all have a distinct taste, smell, and flavor:

• Malt whiskey: It is mainly produced in Scotland and is made from malted barley and needs to be distilled in pot stills. Thereafter, the whiskey is matured in oak casks for a minimum of three years.
• Grain whiskey: This whiskey is made from any type of grain or even a mixture of different grains. It is mainly produced in Ireland and Scotland. It is aged in column stills and has lesser flavors.
• Blended whiskey: This whiskey is a blended variety from different distilleries. The ratio of varied whiskey varies, but a good blended whiskey will always have the same ratio so the taste is the same. These whiskeys are usually produced in Ireland and Scotland.
• Tennessee whiskey: This is made in the state of Tennessee and is made out of rye.
• Rye whiskey: This variety of whiskey is made in the country and in Canada. It has 51% rye and is matured in oak casks for a minimum of 2 years. It has a spicy flavor.
• Corn whiskey: This variety is produced from 100% corn and is made in the country.

What is bourbon?

• Bourbon whiskey is a kind of whiskey that is primarily made in the country in Bourbon County, Kentucky.
• It is an amber-colored drink that is sweeter and heavier in texture than most other whiskeys.
• It is made from 51% corn and is stored in charred-oak barrels, unlike other whiskeys.
• Also, to be classified as bourbon, the whiskey has to be distilled for not over 160 proof and put into the barrel at 125.
• It does not have any additional color, flavor, and other additives.
• Some of the best bourbon whiskey brands are Blanton’s Original single barrel, Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle’s family reserve 20 year, Jim Beam®, and Hudson baby bourbon whiskey.

How is bourbon different from whiskey?

• Whiskey is the broad category that covers grain-based and barrel-aged spirit.
• Bourbon is a type of whiskey that is made in the country in the district of Kentucky.
• Bourbon needs to have at least 50% corn, and the remaining can be a mixture of other cereal grains.
• Also, Bourbon needs to be aged in new, charred American oak casks, while the same is not true for other whiskeys.
• It is often said that “All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon,” which clearly sums up the meaning.

What is the difference in taste between a bourbon and whiskey?

• A bourbon is sweet and at the same time, it has a smokey flavor as it is put in a charred oak.
• Other whiskeys have distinct flavors. For instance, a scotch is less flavored, while a Rye whiskey is spicy.

Is Jack Daniel’s a bourbon or whiskey?

• Jack Daniel’s is not a bourbon although it is made of corn.
• The only difference lies that after the spirit is distilled, it is put through sugar-maple charcoal, giving it a smokey flavor.
• Jack Daniel’s is dripped slowly through firmly packed charcoal that is made from hard sugar maple before it is put in charred oak barrels to be matured. This process makes it smooth.