The history of American whiskey
With the arrival of Scottish and Irish immigrants to the US, whiskey arrived as well. The hour of birth of American whiskey is not clearly defined, however, in North America whiskey was regarded as the most popular spirit in the 18th century. At this time, whiskey was made from rye on the East Coast for the first time. This was for the simple reason that barley, which was used for most Scottish whisky, didn’t grow there very well.
In 1791, President George Washington saw the chance to create a new income stream from the emerging economic branch and he decided to impose a whiskey tax. This was the first tax ever on a domestic product that was imposed by a newly formed government. This resulted in a lot of resentment from the population and farmers, who often distilled their leftover grains into whiskey.
In Pennsylvania, the so-called whiskey rebellion began. For more than three years, the tension between the government and farmers kept growing, which led to protests made up of hundreds of armed farmers. Finally, the rebels were overpowered by a 13,000 man army led by Henry Lee III. Before all the rebels could be arrested, hundreds fled to the mountains. Many of them later settled in Kentucky and Tennessee, where the majority of American whiskey production takes place today. Nowadays, farmers proudly present their origin on their labels: Terms like “Tennessee Whiskey” or “Kentucky Whiskey” can be seen on many bourbon bottles.
After the whiskey production had moved inland, using corn as an ingredient became more popular. During this time, two main varieties of American whiskey started to emerge: sour mash and bourbon. And while every sour mash whiskey is also a bourbon, not every bourbon is a sour mash whiskey.
What is bourbon whiskey?
What makes the aroma of bourbon so special is that it’s made from at least 51% corn. The fermentation is prepared by adding water to the mashed or rolled corn. Before the alcohol content reaches 80%, the bourbon has to be distilled. Bourbon whiskey always has to be aged, however there is no minimum duration. The exception is straight bourbon, which has to mature for at least two years and cannot contain any additives. If a straight bourbon is aged for less than four years, the maturation length has to be displayed on the label.
What is sour mash whiskey?
Although sour mash whiskey is produced similarly to bourbon, there is one big difference: Fermented corn mash with living yeast enzymes is added to the fresh corn mash. The acid of the added mash creates the optimal pH-level for the yeast to perform optimally. The result of the sour mash process is a spirit with a sweeter and deeper aroma.
Indeed, most distilleries use the sour mash process today, even if it’s not explicitly stated on the label.
What should you be aware of when you’re buying American whiskey?
Just like whisky from Scotland or Ireland, American whiskeys can be so-called “single malts” - however, the term is less common in the US. Still, it is helpful to know these terms when you’re trying to decide which new whiskey you want to try. A single malt whiskey is always made from 100% malted barley and can only be made in a single distillery. This means that such a thing as a “single malt bourbon” can’t exist.
Another term that comes up often is the designation “blended whiskey”. What’s interesting to know is that an American blended whiskey has to be made from at least 20% straight whiskey. If a blended whiskey is made from at least 51% of one type of grain, it will usually be indicated on the label.
Special brands
Many American whiskey brands are known worldwide. Among the most successful companies are Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam, Four Roses Bourbon, Maker’s Mark, Koval and Cinnamon Ball (previously known as “Fireball”). However, there are dozens of other exciting brands that no whiskey fan should miss out on, including Palmetto Moonshine, John B. Stetson, Blanton’s, Midnight Moon and Ole
