Whiskey is a category of spirits that includes scotch and bourbon.
Whiskey is an alcoholic drink made from any grain-based distillate. The remaining options will no longer be whiskey. For example, brandy is made from grape distillate.
Malted barley or other grains are crushed and then “soaked” in hot water to release the nutritious carbohydrate medium from the starch of the grains.
Yeast cultures produce alcohol as a result of interaction with starch sugars. This is exactly what is expected of them. The raw material is then distilled and aged in oak barrels.
So, bourbon and scotch are whiskey. There is also “rye whiskey”, which is called “Rye Whiskey”.
More details about some types of whiskey. Tennessee Whiskey. Tennessee whiskey is a drink produced in Tennessee from a mixture of grains. Corn dominates among them. The production technology is in many ways similar to the production of bourbon: distillation method, aging. However, for example, the manufacturer of Jack Daniel’s talks about such a fundamental difference as the use activated carbon when filtering the final product.
The most famous Tennessee whiskeys are Jack Daniel's and George Dickel.

Irish Whiskey

The inscription “Irish whiskey” quite logically implies that the drink was produced in Ireland. Various manufacturers use different proportions of certain grain crops, but, in addition to the place of production, key feature is a three-year aging of the finished drink in oak barrels.
Also, Irish whiskey undergoes triple distillation, which gives the taste of the drink a characteristic sweetish taste and softness.

Canadian Whiskey.

Canadian drink, predominantly corn and/or rye. It is thanks to the pronounced rye aroma that they gained popularity. Unlike American producers, who first mix the grains and then prepare the drink, Canadians first make various distillates and then mix them together.
Whiskeys from Canada are aged in old and new barrels, this is done in order to avoid excessive saturation of the drink with notes of oak.

Rye Whiskey

The key point by which whiskey belongs to this group is determined: the rye content in the raw materials used for production is at least 51%.
This whiskey is very popular in Kentucky. Typically aged in new charred American oak barrels.

Which is correct: Whiskey or Whiskey

The essence of the terms is the same. Differences in spelling are due to geography and writing traditions.
In the US and Ireland the term used to refer to alcoholic beverages made from grain "whiskey" in Canada and Scotland - "whiskey".

Bourbon

Bourbon is a type of whiskey. All bourbons are whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.
American legislation describes the following mandatory requirements for bourbon:

• At least 51% corn in raw materials.
• The only additive is water
• The strength of the distillate should not exceed 80%.
• Must be manufactured in the USA.
• Must be aged in barrels for at least two years.
• Aging must be done in new charred white oak barrels.

In addition to corn (the main component of the drink), rye, barley and/or malt can be added.

Scotch whiskey. Key industry requirements.

UK legislation imposes the following requirements for a drink to be called “scotch”:

• Must be made in Scotland.
• Must be produced from a wort containing malted barley and other grains.
• Fermentation must be carried out exclusively by yeast added during production.
• The strength of the distillate should not exceed 94.8%, and the finished drink should not be weaker than 40 degrees.
• The drink must be aged in an oak barrel for at least three years.
• Only water and caramel color permitted for use as additives.

Types of scotch (Scotch whiskey):

• “Single malt whiskey”. Malt whiskey produced from the distillates of one specific distillery.
• “Single grain whiskey”.Grain whiskey, which is produced from distillates prepared on the same farm.
• Blended malt whiskey: malt whiskey, which is blended from distillates produced by several distilleries, which contains two or more single malt Scotches made in different distilleries.
• Blended grain whiskey: grain whiskey from a mixture of distillates from several estates.
• Blended whiskey. Whiskey, which combines both malt and barley distillates from different producers.
  Again:
• Whiskey is a drink obtained by distilling the fermentation products of grain crops.
• Scotch is whiskey made in Scotland, in accordance with the requirements of English law.
• Bourbon is an American whiskey that uses corn as its raw material.

I present to your attention comparative characteristics two wonderful drinks, such as bourbon and whiskey, so beloved by many, and together with you we will solve one of the most important and eternal problems of connoisseurs of elite alcohol: “What, after all, is better? Bourbon or whiskey?

Well, let's start by defining the properties of each of the products in question, in terms of the term and method of production.

Whiskey is Reviver, which usually contains 32 - 50 vol. alcohol obtained by fermentation, distillation, and aging in oak barrels. The main raw material for production is various varieties grains, namely barley, rye and wheat, and corn. The birthplace of this type of alcohol is considered to be Great Britain.

After all, the word is translated from Celtic as “water of life,” so let’s hope that it miraculous properties They won’t give in to the opponent’s sweetness of alcohol.

Unlike the “favorite” of the British, bourbon was born in the USA and its main difference is the presence of corn as the main component. Its strength is 40 vol. If you noticed, little is said about it, because in fact it is a type of whiskey. Although if you want to drink true and unadulterated quality alcohol, then it must contain water from the Kentucky River, which in the past was characterized by low iron content and high limestone content.

So, after such a brief acquaintance with two elite alcoholic drinks, it is still too early to answer the question what better bourbon or whiskey.

If you are a true connoisseur, then before choosing between them you should know a few important points.

Bourbon:

1. It has subtle notes of vanilla, cinnamon and flowers in the taste, and notes of fruit in the aroma. Which gives it a particularly unique aftertaste.
2. According to the canon, you should drink from glasses with a thick bottom and transparent walls in order to fully enjoy not only the taste, but also the view.
3. The composition allows you to make a cocktail from this drink by adding a little juice or something else that does not contain alcohol. Or add it to various dishes.
4. You shouldn’t rush into something like drinking, because it can most wonderfully relax you after a quarrel with a loved one or after a hard day at work.
5. The price is reasonable, provided there is a high-quality alcoholic and original composition.

Most famous brands bourbon: Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Early times, Wild Turkey.

Whiskey:

1. The manufacturing process is painstaking and therefore, perhaps, of higher quality.
2. You should not add ice, because it completely ruins this wonderful alcohol. Although on the other hand, a couple of drops ordinary water All it takes is for the liquids to mix and you will experience relatively new aromas.
3. Age is important (at least three years), because it takes time to obtain excellent quality.
4. There are a great variety of classifications, and everyone who chooses something to their liking will definitely be satisfied.
5. As for the price, it will correspond to the impressions received and, as a bonus, is slightly lower in terms of price.

The most famous brands: Macalan, Chivas Regal, Dewars, Black or Blue Label

We recommend choosing drinks starting from the middle price segment. The cheapest options may disappoint you in taste and quality. Single malt varieties are most valued and the older the better. It is advisable that the drink be at least 12 years old.

That's all. I would like to believe that you have received the answer to the question what better than whiskey or bourbon, and also that you have chosen a worthy candidate, from the two proposed, for cultural pastime and, if the opportunity arises, you will be able to wipe the nose of your interlocutors with the knowledge of qualitative differences.

American whiskey is a unique drink. The history of its appearance was associated with the Indians, the army, doctors and religion. It goes without saying that American whiskey began to be produced later than European whiskey. Immigrants from Scotland and Ireland, who were famous for their ability to produce this strong drink, moved to the States. They used their proven recipes to produce whiskey. But time passed, and the drink acquired its originality, its own unique style and even a name. It was now called bourbon. The drink appeared around the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries in a city called Paris, which was located in Bourbon County, Kentucky. As you can see, everything is simple, where you were born is where you came in handy...

First billboard American whiskey residents of the States saw it in 1821, although according to some sources it appeared a little earlier. Bourbon, which was not officially called bourbon at that time, is somewhat different from whiskey even in composition, let alone the name. It is made from crushed corn grains, its share is 51%. The rest is oats or rye. Bourbon, unlike whiskey, is strictly prohibited from being tinted. The peculiarity of bourbon is that malted barley is not used for its production. It is replaced by rye and corn. This eliminates the malting step and production is naturally simpler than Irish or scotch whiskey. Maybe that's why American whiskey is in second place in the world in terms of sales and production. Bourbon degrees in the States are determined using the proof system. Therefore, you should not be surprised if you suddenly see 100 proof on the label instead of the strength of the drink. You just need to divide the proof index by two and get the usual degrees.

Corn appeared in the drink for a reason. This is due to the US government's tax on distilled alcohol. It goes without saying that farmers used the leftover grain to make alcohol, and they didn’t particularly want to pay them for it. When the population experienced first-hand that bourbon had become difficult to obtain, folk protests began in the country.
unrest that grew into a real rebellion, which George Washington suppressed only with the help of the army. The most zealous were even taken into custody. However, later the rebels were forgiven and released. Small businessmen, bourbon producers who did not want to pay taxes, found an interesting solution to the problem. They began to move their mini-factories away from human eyes, namely into the fields.

Kentucky has become a paradise on earth for bourbon producers. It was here that one could obtain a plot of land and build a house on it. In exchange for such benefits, the settlers were required to grow corn, which they began to do with great pleasure. After some time, farmers realized that it could and should be used to produce bourbon. By 1811, 2 thousand farmers were officially registered in the state of Kentucky and had their own distillery producing American whiskey.

It should be noted that bourbon came from American whiskey purely by accident. There is even a joke that there was even divine intervention in this. The thing is that bourbon must be aged for at least two years in oak barrels, scorched from the inside. This was started by the American priest Elijah Craig. To send the finished whiskey to the market, it was necessary to spend three whole months, since it was located in New Orleans. Not finding any suitable containers, the resourceful priest used barrels in which fish had previously been stored. To fight off the fishy smell, Craig stuffed them with straw and set them on fire. To be honest and honest, it was an old trick. In this way, food storage containers were disinfected a long time ago. The drink was poured into charred barrels and sent to the market. As a result, traders were in for a surprise - the drink acquired a unique aroma that customers liked. After this incident, they often asked farmers if they had the same “Bourbon whiskey” (meaning the area). After some time, the name of the district became a common noun for alcoholic drink, which later became known as bourbon.

Due to the fact that the drink is aged in special barrels, charred from the inside, bourbon gets a thick color and a sweeter taste compared to its overseas counterparts.

Before the bourbon production had time to get stronger and get back on its feet, a new attack came - Prohibition of 1920. Despite
to this end, Congress left a small loophole for farmers. It was publicly announced that bourbon had value as a medicine. So, if the average American wanted to bite, he had to see a doctor, but only if there was a medical indication, and then only once every 10 days. Can you imagine the queues of “sick and suffering drinkers” that lined up for the appointment? Fun, to say the least! Therefore, the four bourbon factories worked properly, like clockwork, so that on time and on time the right amount supply “medicine” to doctors (who also sometimes fell ill and were also treated with bourbon... Why are they worse than their patients?). However, in general, these four “uchkuduk” did not save the state of Kentucky from ruin. After the factories shut down, thousands of Americans were left without work, so they were now unable to buy another barrel of bourbon at all. The second time the drink was born was in 1934, when Prohibition was repealed.

Like any other drink, bourbon is divided into two types: Straight Whiskey (Unblended) and Blended Whiskey. Straight Whiskey is made from a mixture that is 51% or more from a single grain. Uncut bourbon should not contain any flavorings or neutral spirits. Blended Whiskey is whiskey that has been mixed from different varieties Straight Whiskey. Today, bourbon is the national American drink, and this is its well-deserved official status!

Bourbon and whiskey– such similar drinks that inexperienced drinkers strong alcohol sometimes they are even confused, causing the indignation of more experienced people. But there are still differences, and there are not so few of them - both in raw materials and technologies for preparing drinks, and in organoleptic properties.

After reading this article, you will learn how bourbon differs from bourbon and will be able to accurately determine which drink is poured into your glass, which will, without a doubt, arouse the interest and respect of your friends.

A little about whiskey

Of course, within the framework of one article (and what’s more, within the framework of an entire website!) it is impossible to describe everything that may be of interest to lovers of this drink. Let’s dwell only on the simplest points that anyone who considers himself a connoisseur should know by heart:

• Barley, wheat or rye are used as raw materials.
• The cooking process is based on malting– the grain is soaked and sprouted, after which it is dried and hulled in order to release the enzymes involved in the reaction of breaking down starch into sugar.
• The bulk of whiskey comes from Scotland, Ireland, Canada and several Asian countries (by the way, a drink from Japan recently took the title of best). Interesting feature- a drink made in Scotland will contain the inscription “Whisky” (or “Scotch”) on the label, while “Irish” ones are labeled with the inscription “Whiskey”. This will allow you not to read the label if the task is to buy a “Scot” or “Irish”. Drinks from other countries most often contain a direct indication of the region on the bottle - for example, “Canadian Whiskey”.
• Minimum holding period – 3 years(Scotland). The Irish are a little more patient - they are ready to wait for the first test 5 years. And Canadians do not allow the word “whisky” to be used on the label unless the drink has spent 6 years in a barrel.
• Keep the drink in old barrels from sherry, cognac, Madeira, Calvados. The use of certain barrels is used to impart certain notes to the drink.

A little about bourbon

• As we mentioned just above, this drink is exclusively American y, the use of the name is strictly protected by law, so you will not find a label with the word “bourbon” anywhere in the world if the contents of the bottle were not produced in the USA.
• The raw material consists of at least 51% corn. The remaining 49% is divided between rye, barley and wheat. It is the raw materials from which it is produced that bourbon owes mild taste and a little more sweet than whiskey.
• Another difference between classic bourbon and whiskey is that it is aged in new charred oak barrels(read: ). The aging period is lower than that of its overseas “brother” - at least two years.
• The preparation technologies also differ - corn malting is not used in the production of bourbon. The crushed cereals are boiled, after which saccharify barley (or other) malt, fermented with yeast from the previous starter and distilled.

Whiskey Jim Beam It is by mistake that it is often called “whiskey”. Judging by the preparation technology and region, we can definitely say that Jim Beam is bourbon. But disputes about ownership the most famous drink“” pop up with enviable consistency even among regulars of drinking establishments.

On the bottle itself you can see the inscription “Tennessee Whiskey”, which is how those who consider the drink to be whiskey justify their position. Meanwhile, Jack's raw materials consist of 80% corn(12% - barley, the remaining 8% - rye), and the drink itself is aged in new charred oak barrels.

You probably already realized that according to the production technology, Jack is one hundred percent bourbon, right? But during production, after distillation, the distillate undergoes additional filtration through sugar maple charcoal, and it was this difference that allowed the manufacturer to create a new name - “Tennessee Whiskey”.

From this article you learned how it differs American bourbon from whiskey - not only in terms of the preparation process, but also in terms of taste qualities. Armed with this knowledge, you can not only identify the difference between whiskey and bourbon in taste, but also surprise your friends by telling them the difference between whiskey and bourbon.

The main component of which is corn. Its name comes from Bourbon County in Kentucky, where it was first made.

The creator of bourbon is considered to be Baptist preacher Elijah Craig, who lived in Georgetown. Today, bourbon is also primarily produced in Kentucky. The Bardstown area has been called the "Bourbon Capital of the World." Varieties such as Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Wild Turkey and others are produced there.

There are several differences between Bourbon and other types.

Manufacturer country

Whiskey is produced in Scotland (where it is called scotch), Ireland, Canada and Japan. Whiskey made in the USA is called bourbon.

The technology for producing bourbon was invented in the USA. Therefore, only a drink produced in the States can be called bourbon.

Composition of the drink

Depending on the composition, there are the following types of whiskey:

• Malt. It is the rarest and most expensive. Its main component is barley malt; grain whiskey is not involved in the production process.
• Grain. Its main components are corn and malted barley. Characterized by more low quality than a malt drink and lacks odor.
• Blended – a mixture of malt and grain.

Bourbon is a whiskey made from 51 to 79% corn, and also contains barley and rye. Corn began to be used as a raw material for the production of alcohol due to its low price and good yield. Bourbon was not originally elite alcohol. It was the drink of the poor and medicine which was used by the monks.

Other differences

When making whiskey, the grain is malted. Malting is a process that involves the steps of soaking, sprouting, drying and shelling grains to produce enzymes that break down starch into sugar. Next, the grain is smoked with peat smoke and then the wort is boiled from it. When making bourbon, the malting and smoking stages are skipped. Corn grain crush and add spring water to it. After this, the mixture is immediately boiled to obtain wort.

It is believed that it is better to age whiskey in barrels that previously held wine or other alcoholic beverages. For maturation of bourbon, only new barrels are used, charred inside, while for whiskey wooden barrels can be used repeatedly.

The aging period for bourbon is a minimum of two years, for whiskey this period is a minimum of 3 years (for Scotch whiskey). In Ireland, this drink matures for at least five years, and in Canada for at least six years.

The taste of bourbon is softer in taste and has more rich aroma than whiskey. These features are due to the use of corn in the recipe. Bourbon is much darker in color than whiskey due to aging in charred barrels.

It is prohibited to add any flavorings, dyes, or food additives to bourbon.

The strength of bourbon is 40-42%, and whiskey - from 32 to 50%.

Bourbon is filtered using only sugar maple charcoal. This is not done at all distilleries. For example, such filtration is used in the production of Jack Daniels.