Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey From New Riff
New Riff is independently owned by one family. Our independence has allowed us to make an unprecedented declaration for quality: Bottled in Bond Without Chill Filtration, the worlds highest quality standard.
We are inspired by the great Bourbon makers of the past and the wider tradition in Kentuckybut we will play our own riff, on the Sour Mash Kentucky Regimen, both with our standard of Bottled in Bond Without Chill Filtration, and through applying that production regimen to wholly new styles of Kentucky whiskey.
Follow New Riff for additional news and information on our Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
What Is Small Batch Bourbon
There’s no one definition for Small Batch whiskey. Here’s how it’s defined across the board.
Technically: It means nothing. The words “small batch” do not appear on the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau definitions.
“Small batch has no precise, defined, legal meaning, and even in practice, it is almost meaningless,” Brian Haara, author of Bourbon Justice: How Whiskey Law Shaped America, says. “Some distillers or bottlers consider two to five barrels a small batch. Others use fifteen to twenty barrels. Still others use forty barrels or more.”
Technically, you could slap “small batch” on the label of whiskey made in 1,000 barrel batches. The recently rebranded Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch is made in batches of “no more than 300 barrels,” while Maker’s Mark’s mainline small batch offering is typically made in 30 to 40 barrel batches. This is why it’s unlikely we’ll ever get a hard-and-fast definition. Brands that work on massive scales market small batch products as often as mid-sized and small producers because the term has never had legal meaning, giving it meaning now could undercut business big and small.
What does this all mean to you? Small batch bourbon is made in batches that are relatively smaller than the absolute maximum size batch a whiskey maker could produce, but probably a very large amount of whiskey all the same.
Which Tastes Better Bourbon Vs Whiskey
Bourbon vs Whiskey? The preference in whiskeys is personal for most people. The different grains and distillation processes give each type its unique flavor. Bourbon has a heavier sweeter taste partly due to the corn its made from and the sugars in the white oak barrels in which they age.
Most experts agree that when drinking bourbon, the aroma is part of the experience and the liquid should be in a glass that helps bring it to the forefront. Some bourbon drinkers like to put it in brandy snifters or a Glencairn glass, which is the traditional serving glass for Scotch.
First-time whiskey drinkers may want to try a finger or two of whiskey over ice, but those with whiskey experience usually drink it neat at room temperature. To further bring out the aromas of bourbon, they may add a few drops of water to enhance its scent and flavors.
Image via Pexels
Also, to truly experience whiskey, it should be sipped, not gulped down in shots. Sipping it allows drinkers to taste and smell it, which can enhance its flavor. Whiskey cocktails are another good way to introduce someone to drinking the grain beverages. An Old Fashion, which is made with bourbon, may entice someone to try the whiskey neat.
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Does It Have To Be Made In Kentucky
Bourbon is so intrinsically linked to the Bluegrass State that its easy to think the spirit is exclusively made there. Whats more, according to the Kentucky Distillers Association, 95 per cent of the worlds supply comes from Kentucky. The reality is, however, that it can be produced anywhere in America, and new bourbon distillers are cropping up across the country all the time.
What Is The Difference Between Bourbon And Whiskey
One of the main challenges of learning about whiskey for the first time is getting your head around the different types of whiskey that are available. There are many varieties including Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, Bourbon whiskey, and Rye whiskey.
Each whiskey variety differs in terms of its ingredients, how it is distilled, where it is made, and how it is blended. There are even rules and regulations which determine how a whiskey must be made to be labeled a certain way.
To help you better understand whiskey in all of its forms, this post will answer the very common question What Is The Difference Between Bourbon And Whiskey?
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Old Forester 86 Proof
Average Price:$24
The Whiskey:
Old Foresters 86 Proof is a very straightforward whiskey. The mash bill is mid-range rye with 18 percent next to 72 percent corn and a final ten percent malted barley. The juice is aged in a fairly heavily charred oak barrel for an undisclosed amount of time . The whiskey is then blended and proofed down to a very manageable 86 proof.
Tasting Notes:
This has a big nose of vanilla-cherry tobacco with a hint of fresh mint lurking in the background next to a touch of floral honey. The taste has a grilled corn-on-the-cob vibe with a hint of pepper and butter next to small doses of citrus and soft oak. The end is surprisingly long and leaves you with a spicy warmth and a touch more of that sweet corn and butter.
Bottom Line:
This really is a great mixing whiskey. Wed argue that it also works on the rocks. When that water starts to cut into the whiskey, itll open up for some of those flavor notes while cooling it down a bit.
Bourbon Is Always Aged In New Charred Oak Barrels
Bourbon also must be aged in new charred oak barrels, and cannot include any additives or colorings. Other whiskeys can be aged in barrels previously used to age other spirits, and they don’t necessarily need to be whiskey barrelsport, sherry, and rum casks are used in the aging process for non-bourbon whiskeys. To be designated “straight bourbon whiskey,” bourbon has to have been aged in new charred oak barrels for a minimum of two years.
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Bourbon Vs Whiskey: Which Is Better To Drink And When
by Hilary Holland | May 4, 2019 | Bourbon, Whisky |
If you don’t drink spirits on a regular basis, then you may not care what the differences are in whiskey and bourbon or whiskey and Scotch.
However, if you buy it in a store and you dont know the difference, reading the various labels can be confusing. To help ease the confusion, this information will help you learn the differences between bourbon vs whiskey and when to drink it.
Image via Pixabay
Whiskey is an alcoholic beverage, a spirit, that is made from grain. The grains often found in whiskeys include corn, barley, rye, and wheat. Bourbon is a whiskey that includes corn, as well as other grains like rye or barley. So, bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskeys are bourbon because there are many other types.
The locality of the whiskey distillery also helps to define it. For instance, only Scotch is from Scotland, Irish whiskey is from the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, and Tennessee whiskey is usually made in Tennessee. Bourbon is an American spirit as 95 percent of the worlds supply is from the United States, specifically from Kentucky.
Aging And Labeling Requirements
The core aging requirement that defines a whiskey as straight is if the distillate has spent at least two years stored in charred new oak barrels, except corn whiskey which must use uncharred or used oak barrels. The spirit oxidizes during this aging period, and penetrates the wood, extracting many of the flavor compounds and caramelized wood sugars.
A straight whiskey that has been aged less than four years is required to be labeled with an age statement describing the actual age of the product.
Other than an age statement, which lists the age of the youngest spirit in a bottle, the only other special labeling dealing with the age of a straight whiskey in the U.S. is bottled in bond. All bonded whiskeys are required to be straight whiskeys, and are additionally required to be aged for at least four years. Bonded whiskeys must also fulfill several other requirements.
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Thirty-One Whiskey is a website owned and operated by Burke & Blais, LLC. All rights reserved. More information at www.burkeandblais.com
Whiskey Vs Bourbon Vs Scotch Abv Essentials
If you still cant understand what the difference between whiskey and bourbon is, this should help. The good old Scotch Whisky Act guidelines state that a whiskey must be distilled at an alcohol by volume strength of less than 94.8% and have a minimum alcoholic concentration of 40% by volume to be considered a scotch. By American liquor standards, any bourbon higher than 125 proof shouldnt enter the barrel for maturation, and anything under 80 proof cant be bottled as bourbon.
We hope this article answers the age-old question, Whats the difference between bourbon and whiskey? to your satisfaction. Looking for a place to get Marsala or any other type of liquor you could possibly desire? Check out Arrow Liquormart, the nearest liquor store that can deliver straight to your doorstep!
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In This New Edition The Profesor Explains What A Bourbon Is And What A Kentucky Straight Type Bourbon Is
You have already read it in bourbon bottles such as those of Jim Beam or Makers Mark, the Kentucky Straight label has a reason to be. But first, we will briefly explain what a bourbon is.
What is a bourbon?
A bourbon is a type of American whiskey. To produce it you need a recipe with a minimum of 51% corn. The mash is distilled at 160 proof or less. The distillate must then be stored in new charred oak barrels at 125 proof or less, and must not contain any additives. .
Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Now, with this in mind, lets talk about Kentucky Straight bourbon. This type of bourbon needs to follow certain guidelines to qualify as such.
First, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of a Straight Bourbon:
Bourbon barrels in a distillery
Second, in addition to following the guidelines for a Straight bourbon, it must be aged in the charred oak barrel for at least two years. In case it has been aged less than 4 years, it is necessary to indicate it on the label.
Third, and finally, to classify as a Kentucky Straight Bourbon it is necessary to follow the guidelines of the Straight Bourbon and also to have been distilled and aged for at least 1 year in Kentucky.
Not All Blends Are Created Equal
Just how the word blend came to accrue a bad reputation is worth exploring, too. For starters, the word is not consistently used across the global whisky industry Greene herself says she has found 38 different definitions for blend.
The word blend changes no matter where you are, says Greene. There is no universal definition of blend, which is really confusing and super unfortunate in a lot of ways because consumers are just massively confused.
But in America, the word became synonymous with a category of poor-quality whiskeys that enjoyed popularity in the 70s and 80s. The makers of these bottom-shelf brown spirits, which were often used as mixers, were free to add neutral grain spirits, flavorings and additives to aged whiskey . While now obscure, their reign was long and terrible enough to attach scare quotes to blend for a generation.
Its unfortunate the word is shared with some of the best whiskeys in the world, and some of the crappiest whiskey, Greene says.
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Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
New Riff Distillings core Bourbon expression is a genuinely high-rye, full bodied whiskey offering savory, spicy character. Building upon Americas 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Actalready the highest quality standard for aged spirits in the worldNew Riff Bourbon is Bottled In Bond Without Chill Filtration. Featuring a mash bill of non-GMO grains at 65% corn,30% rye, and 5% malted barley, it represents a new riff on Kentuckys most hallowed whiskey traditions. Aged four years in 53-gallon toasted and charred new oak barrels, there are no shortcuts taken in our production. All New Riff whiskeys are made with the full sour mash Kentucky Regimen all carry an age statement, and are always bottled without chill filtration. Check out a list of our cocktails with bourbon.
Regarding The Tasting Lineup
It was coincidental that a recent Whisky Wednesday tasting I went to at Gordons DTX was all about bourbon .
All the bourbons were straight bourbon whiskies, with one exceptionthe Uncle Nearest 1856 was a Premium Whiskey, and while Im not sure what that term means, it was there and damn fine.
Nuff saidlets get to the tasting!
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What About Bourbon Whiskey
What constitutes bourbon whiskey differs from country to country. However, it always refers to whiskey that is made from a mash containing at least 51% corn.
The definition that matters the most is the American one because bourbon has a long history in the deep south of the United States. Distilleries have been making bourbon in Bourbon Country, Kentucky since the late 18th Century after distilling was brought to the region by European immigrants.
The Americans mastered the production of bourbon so much that it is considered the birthplace of the spirit. In fact, the name Bourbon is thought to have come from either Bourbon Country or from Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
So what is American bourbon whiskey? It is a whiskey that is:
- Made in the United States
- Made from a mash that contained at least 51% corn
- Aged in new, charred oak barrels
- Distilled to no more than 160 proof
- Placed into the container for aging at no more than 125 proof
- Bottled at 80 proof or more
There is no minimum aging period for bourbon, so it can reside in a cask for as little a couple of months before being bottled. The exception is straight bourbon whiskey, must be aged in a charred new oak barrel for at least two years. Straight whiskeys must not contain any added flavoring, coloring, or other additives. Any bourbon that is aged for less than 4 years must specify so on its label.
Setting The Record Straight
The first thing to understand is that the straight in straight bourbon doesnt imply that something wasnt blended. It simply means that the juice inside first met all the legal requirements to be called a bourbon and was then aged in new American oak barrels for a minimum of two years. Said more simply, straight indicates a proper bourbon aged for at least two years.
As Greene recounts, nearly every whiskey is the result of blending, whether its by marrying casks from the same distillery or multiple distilleries to produce the intended character and flavor profile. To be honest, everyones using the technique of blending unless its a single barrel, she says. Theyre just not saying it because the word is associated with something bad.
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Different Types Of Bourbon Whiskey
Not all bourbon is equal and there are actually quite a few varieties. Indeed, different techniques can be used as qualifiers, which result in more than one type of bourbon. In some cases, they can be combined such as the celebrated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
In this guide, we will outline the following types of bourbon whiskey:
You can use the links above to jump ahead or scroll down to discover them all.
Bourbon Has To Hit Certain Abv Marks
When bourbon is barreled, it also has to hit a certain proof, or alcohol content in the spirit. The mash must be distilled at 160 proof or less, and aged in barrels until it is no more than 125 proof or less. Before bottling, bourbon is filtered and diluted down to no less than 80 proof . Other whiskeys have different ABV standards for barreling and distilling. The minimum bottling strength for Scotch whiskey, for example, is also 80 proof or 40 percent ABV, but there is no maximum or minimum ABV for the distillate.
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Best Whiskey To Drink Straight
Are you a person who loves the taste of whiskey in its natural form? Dont you want to add some additional flavors to it? Whiskey is the most popular alcoholic drink in the world. Nearly 350 million liters of pure alcohol are produced for consumption each year. It has many rich flavors and a complex fragrance, making it an enjoyable drink without any mixers.
Here is a list where you can find the smoothest whiskey of all.
Whiskey Vs Bourbon Vs Scotch Ingredients
A significant difference between bourbon and whiskey lies in the fermentation process they undergo. Whiskey can be distilled from any fermented grain such as barley, corn, rye, and wheat or a mixture. It is generally stored to mature in wooden oak barrels, imparting the distinctive brown color and taste profile. Single malt scotch must be prepared from a 100% malted barley grain mash, while grain scotch can be fermented from malt and unmalted barley and wheat mixture.
On the other hand, the American Whiskey variety or bourbon must have at least 51% corn in its mash bill, with a mixture of rye, wheat, or barley making up the remaining portion of the basic recipe. The reason behind choosing corn as the primary ingredient is its historically high availability in the USA. Also, the higher the corn content, the sweeter the bourbon produced, whereas rye-based bourbons have a distinctively spicier note.
Although all whiskey is aged in charred wooden oak barrels, bourbon must be matured in a brand new oak barrel every time. Also, to get the official scotch label, the Scotch Whisky Act states that the spirit must be noticeably devoid of any added substances except water or plain caramel coloring. Bourbon, however, cannot have anything added to it except for water.
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