September marks the sixth National Bourbon Heritage Month. Here, courtesy of Beam Inc and Kentucky Distillers’ Association, are some facts on the US spirit, including its strict definition.
- Bourbon must be produced only in the US
- It must be made of a grain mix of at least 51% corn
- It must be distilled at less than 160 proof (80% abv)
- It must be aged only in new, charred white oak barrels
- Water is the only additive permitted, which can be used to reduce the abv
- 95% of the world’s Bourbon supply comes from the state of Kentucky
- Production of Bourbon has risen by more than 50% since 1999 – in 2010, production totalled 786,778 barrels
- Total Bourbon inventory reached 4.7m barrels in 2010, reaching its highest point since 1982
- Exports of distilled spirits from the US broke $1bn in 2010 for the fourth consecutive year. Kentucky Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey made up just over $700m
- In 1840, the spirit being made in Old Bourbon County officially became known as Bourbon. Prior to this it was often labelled ‘Bourbon County Whiskey’ or ‘Old Bourbon County Whiskey’
- In 1964, an act of Congress declared Bourbon as ‘America’s Native Spirit’ and the country’s official distilled spirit
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