I have enjoyed various whiskeys and bourbons throughout my life (mostly in cocktails), but I’m just recently learning the various types and the history behind them. To help further my understanding, I decided to write this post to not only expand my understanding but to also help anyone else who dares to read this post!
What is whiskey?
Whiskey is a fermented liquor made from grain, such as corn, barley, wheat, and rye. The minimum proof point of whiskey is 80, which is 40 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).
What is the difference between whiskey and bourbon?
Whiskey can be made from varying amounts of grain, made anywhere in the world, and aged in various types of barrels. Bourbon is whiskey; however, bourbon must be made in the United States, must have at least 51% corn in its mash bill, must be aged in newly charred oak barrels for at least two years, must not be distilled at more than 160 proof, must not be barreled at more than 125 proof, and cannot be bottled less than 80 proof.
What is required to be called a bourbon?
For a whiskey to be called a bourbon, the following criteria must be met:
- A mash bill containing at least 51% corn
- Aged in a newly charred oak barrel for at least two years
- Distilled at no more than 160 proof
- Barreled at no more than 125 proof
- Bottled at no less than 80 proof
What is a single-malt whiskey?
A single-malt whiskey is a whiskey made with one type of malted grain and comes from a single distillery.
What is a rye whiskey?
A rye whiskey is a whiskey that has at least 51% rye in its mash bill and if it is an American rye whiskey, it must be aged in newly charred oak barrels.
What is a wheat whiskey?
A wheat whiskey is a whiskey that has at least 51% wheat in its mash bill and if it is an American wheat whiskey, it must be aged in newly charred oak barrels.
What is a wheated bourbon?
A wheated bourbon meets all of the requirements of a bourbon; however, it contains wheat in its mash bill.
What is a malted grain?
A malted grain is a grain that has been germinated and the dried in a process referred to as “malting”.
What is a finished whiskey?
A finished whiskey is a whiskey that was aged as normal (generally in an oak barrel or cask) and then transferred to another barrel or cask, such as a sherry, cognac, wine, or rum barrel.
What is bottled-in-bond?
If a whiskey label states that it is bottled-in-bond, the whiskey must be aged for at least four years, bottled at 100 proof, made by a single distiller at a single distillery during one season (either January – June or July – December), and state the name and number of the distillery where it was produced and bottled.
What is a mash bill?
A mash bill, also referred to as a grain bill, is the percentages of grain used to produce the wort that is fermented into alcohol. For example, a whiskey’s mash bill could be 52% corn, 18% rye, and 30% malted barley.
What is wort?
Wort is the liquid that is produced when the various grains are mashed prior to fermentation.
What is a cask?
A cask is similar to a barrel; however, a cask is generally larger and used to age larger batches of whiskey.
What is a stave?
A stave is a narrow length of wood that has edges that are slightly beveled in order to form a barrel or cask.
What does proof mean?
A spirit’s proof is its measurement of alcohol, which is presented as twice the percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV). If a beverage has 45% ABV, its proof is 90.
What does age stated mean?
When a whiskey states its age, it is letting the consumer know how many years it was aged in its barrel or cask prior to it being bottled.
What is an allocated bottle?
A bottle is considered allocated when a state is allotted an insufficient amount for general distribution. Allocated bottles are handled differently between states.
What is cask strength?
A cask strength whiskey is a whiskey that is bottled at the same strength as it was in the cask. Often whiskeys are diluted with water to reduce their proofs. A cask strength whiskey is the same as a barrel proof or a barrel strength whiskey.
What is a small batch whiskey? A small batch whiskey is a whiskey that is blended from a small selection of whiskey barrels (can be as low as 2 barrels or over 200 barrels) that contain similar flavor profiles which present a quality bottled whiskey.
What is a chill filtered whiskey?
A chill filtered whiskey is a whiskey that has been chilled and filtered prior to bottling. The chill filtering process removes substances, such as fatty acids, proteins and esters. The chill filtering process is done purely for cosmetic purposes to avoid cloudiness.
What is a non-chill filtered whiskey?
A non-chill filtered whiskey is a whiskey that has not had its extra sediments and esters removed during a chill filtering process. A non-chill filtered whiskey may appear cloudier than a chill filtered whiskey.
What should one note when tasting a whiskey?
When participating in a whiskey tasting, you should note the whiskey’s color, aroma (nose), flavor on your palate, mouth-feel on your palate, and its finish. A whiskey can either have an open aroma (reveals multiple elements that you can expect to taste on the palate) or a closed aroma (hidden – only providing a glimpse of what you can expect on the palate). A whiskey can be very favorable on the palate allowing the taster to pick out multiple flavors such as oak, caramel, honey, black pepper, leather, cherries, etc. The whiskey’s mouth-feel will be its viscosity or thickness. The whiskey’s finish will either be long (lingers), medium or short (leaves your senses quickly).