Bourbon vs. Whiskey?
A survey of recently turned 21 year olds in bars across America would reveal an alarming number of self-proclaimed whiskey drinkers who could not answer the simple question, “What is the difference between bourbon and whiskey?” Strangely, the exact same newly minted adults could probably tell you the exact difference between Bud Light and Bud Select, probably even Smirnoff Ice and Zima, but for some reason the finer points of whiskey distillery have eluded the younger generations of drinkers. To answer the question, simply ask yourself, “What is the difference between a square and a rectangle?”As you may or may not remember from middle school geometry class, all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. A square is a specific variety of the larger group of rectangles, requiring more stringent qualification barriers. While a rectangle needs only have 4 sides with 90 degree angles between them, a square goes a step further, specifying that each of those 4 sides must be the exact same length. In this analogy, whiskey is the rectangle and bourbon is the square, thus all bourbons are a type of whiskey, but not all whiskeys qualify as bourbon.Popular misconception is that all bourbons must be distilled in Kentucky, specifically Bourbon County, but contrary to this belief, location has nothing to do with the distinction (though most bourbon is in fact native to the state). In order to be considered bourbon, the product must be made from no less than 51 and no more than 79 corn, and aged for at least two full years. These are the minimum requirements; in common practice, most bourbons are aged closer to 4 years, with higher end bottles sometimes aged for decades. Furthermore, bourbon must be distilled at 80 alcohol by volume, equal to 160 proof, with no added dyes or sweeteners that may alter color or taste.
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