Bourbon

Name: Koval Bourbon
SKU: KV.02
Price: 279.99 PLN
Availability: InStock

Whisky Bourbon Koval Bourbon

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Bourbon vs whisky

We often ask ourselves what is the difference between Bourbon and whisky. To answer it, we need to go back to the roots of alcohol production in different regions of the world. In the north of Europe, in Ireland and in Scotland, barley was mainly grown for centuries. That's why Scotch and Irish whisky is made from barley. Of course, you may wonder why not wheat or rye. The answer to this question is very simple, wheat needs much better soils to grow, while rye has a low sugar content which makes barley the best choice for alcohol production.

Where does bourbon come from?

Bourbon, on the other hand, is an alcohol produced in the United States. In order for Bourbon to be called Bourbon it must be made from a minimum of 51% corn, come from the United States (not necessarily from the famous Kentucky) and aged in new oak barrels for a minimum of 2 years. All these rules were enacted by Congress in 1964. So, in answering the question of what makes Bourbon different from whiskey, we already have the first clues. First of all, it is the type of grain used in production.

In the United States, the very corn in question was and still is grown on a large scale. And always the easiest way is to use what you have the most of. The bourbon basin is, of course, the state of Kentucky, where good sunshine has for many centuries favored the cultivation of corn and thus the production of bourbon. Another difference, between whiskey and Bourbon, is the minimum barrel aging period. For whiskey it is a minimum of 3 years, while for bourbon it is 2 years. Of course, producers of both spirits often mature their spirits for much longer, but if they do not reach the minimum age of aging they will not be able to boast that they have Bourbon or whiskey in their portfolio.

Bourbon vs. whisky, maturation

But the differences don't end there. In maturing alcohol, not only the years spent in the barrel are important, but also the type of barrels used. Whisky must spend a minimum of 3 years in oak barrels, but it is not established in which exactly, it can be fresh oak, Bourbon, sherry or other alcohol barrels, in the case of bourbon it can only be fresh oak barrels. All these differences that occur in the production process obviously affect the final taste of both products. Bourbon, since it is primarily made from corn, is loaded with more sweetness, oiliness and vanilla notes (coming from fresh barrels). Of course, corn is complemented by other grains such as rye and wheat, which also gives the liquor different characters. Rye adds stronger, more pronounced, spicy notes giving us a drier spirit. Wheat enhances the sweetness, making the alcohol softer and lighter tasting. Producers can also use other grains such as millet. The use of millet as a complement to corn in Bourbon is an innovation brought to market by Koval, a family-owned kraft distillery based in Chicago. It is certainly a good choice if you want to try something new and unprecedented. For those who would like to try a bit of American history, a good choice might be one of the most famous Bourbons in the world, Jim Beam Bourbon, which dates back 200 years and has been continuously produced by the Beam family (for 7 generations now).

Bourbon whiskey

You will also often come across the term Bourbon whiskey, not whiskey, this may cause consternation. However, this is nothing more than a difference in spelling found in Ireland and Scotland. The Scots spell whisky, the Irish spell whiskey, and since it was mostly the Irish who emigrated to the US hence they significantly influenced not only the production of the golden liquor, but also the way the name is spelled.

Bourbon whiskey, what is it after all?

In summary, what is Bourbon? Bourbon is a corn-based liquor produced only in the United States, aged a minimum of 2 years in fresh oak barrels. In most cases, it is milder and sweeter than whiskey, and it's best to find out for yourself by undertaking a tasting.