Bourbon
By: Barnaby Dorfman

About

Bourbon is a corn based whiskey that is aged in charred oak barrels. The exposure to charcoal mellows it after distillation and gives the liquor a slight smokey flavor. Bourbon is named for Bourbon County, Kentucky and most commercially available bourbon is still produced in Kentucky. Used in a variety of cocktails, including the Manhattan, bourbon is also an ingredient a variety of sauces and meat marinades.

Information
Other names: Bourbon Whiskey, Sour Mash
Translations: Burbons, ブルボン, Burbonas, بربون, Borbó, Burbon, Rượu whisky ngô, Burbon, Бурбон, 버번, Taong konserbatibo, बूरबॉन, בורבון, Бурбон, 波旁酒, Бурбон, Borbón, Бърбън


Physical Description

Colors: Red-ish orange


Tasting Notes
Flavors: Bitter, Sweet, Hot, Smoky
Mouthfeel: Sharp
Food complements: Chicken, Steak
Beverage complements: Water, Ginger ale, Club soda, Lemon, Cola
Substitutes: Rye whisky, Scotch whisky


Selecting and Buying
Seasonality: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december
Peak: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december
Buying: Available to purchase Bourbon anywhere in the United States where it is legal to distill spirits. Most brands are produced in Kentucky.


Preparation and Use
Many different types of drinks can be made with the use of bourbon, a few easier recipes are as follows: Bourbon Highball, Dixie Julep, Kentucky Cocktail, and Chapel Hill.


Conserving and Storing
It is generally best to store whisky upright in a cool place out of direct sunlight. 


Social/Political
On May 4, 1964, the United States Congress recognized Bourbon Whiskey as a "distinctive product of the United States" and is associated with the Commonwealth of Kentucky
History: Scotch and Irish immigrants who settled in Appalachia brought along their whiskey distillation skills, but had difficulty finding the proper grains, such as rye. Since corn was plentiful they used it in place of the harder to find grains, resulting in bourbon. Most historical sources believe the name comes from Bourbon County which was originally in Virginia, but due to moving of boundary lines on numerous occasions, Bourbon County is currently in Kentucky. Estimates are that 95% of the world's bourbon is distilled and aged in Kentucky.