- Bourbon must be made of a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn.
- Bourbon must be distilled to no more than 160 (U.S.) proof (80% alcohol by volume).
- Bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak barrels.
- Bourbon may not be introduced to the barrel at higher than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume).
- Bourbon which meets the above requirements and has been aged for a minimum of two years, may (but is not required to) be called Straight Bourbon.
- Bourbon aged for a period less than four years must be labeled with the duration of its aging.
- If an age is stated on the label, it must be the age of the youngest whiskey in the bottle.
- Only whiskey produced in the United States can be called bourbon.
... it's amazing how different two Bourbons can be thanks to variables such as that 49% of possible other grains in the mash bill (or maybe just more corn), barrel char levels, yeast strains, grain varieties, etc.. It's this variety that keeps us trying different Bourbon expression from the plethora of distilleries across this great land of ours, always on the lookout for "The One", or maybe just something different.
Speaking of different...
The makers of Bulleit Bourbon have just released a new expression that kicks things up a notch or two (they took it from 45% ABV to 50% ABV for this one). The name of this new expression is Blenders' Select. Here's what they have to say about it:
Created by Bulleit Blender Eboni Major, Bulleit Bourbon Blenders' Select No. 001 is the latest innovation out of Bulleit Distilling Co. and features the thoughtful mingling of three out of the 10 whiskey types used to make the original Bulleit Bourbon. The exceptional blend includes distinct notes of vanilla bean, honey, dried fruit and toasted oak, as well as a smooth finish with a lingering of sweet cream and fruit wine decadence.We're no strangers to Bulleit Bourbon and have enjoyed it many times over the years. To find out if we enjoyed their latest Bourbon release, click the play button on the following video:
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Many thanks to Taylor Strategy for sending us this very generous sample!
Categories: Booze Banter, Booze Dancing TV, Booze Review, Bulleit
Tagged as: A Tasting at the Murder Table, Booze Dancing TV, Bourbon, Bulleit Blenders' Select, Review, Reviews, Whiskey, Whiskey review, Whisky