Fac Potiones Excellens
Tipples → Alcoholic Beverage Products → Distillates → Spirits → Direct Spirits → Whiskies → Whiskies → Maize Whiskies → Bourbon Whiskies
Classic Bourbon Whiskey
Jump to: description | tasting notes | bestselling brands | artisanal-bottlings | noteworthy drinks
DESCRIPTION
A Bourbon whiskey is here considered classic if is distilled from a mash of the following grains:
Barley: 10%↔19% (12%↔15% is most traditional)
Rye: 10%↔19% (~parity with barley)
Maize: 51%↔79%
Barley enables fermentation, and produces the historical flavor of whisk(e)y.
Rye produces spicy and nutty flavor notes.
Maize is a bulk grain that is inexpensive and low in flavor, but produces the intimation of sweetness.
The key feature in the classic Bourbon mash is a traditional amount of barley balanced with a similar amount of rye.
Classic Bourbon whiskey became the most common type of whiskey used in American bars and homes when Prohibition was repealed in late 1933. From then through about 2001, this type of Bourbon whiskey was the flavor almost universally associated with American whiskey.
Bar favorites, such as the Old-fashioned Whiskey Cocktail and the Whiskey Sour (both historically made with rye whiskey) were nearly ubiquitously made with traditional Bourbon whiskey after repeal. Even with the rise of inexpensive high-rye, and wheated, forms making the traditional form less ubiquitous, such drinks are still commonly made with traditional Bourbon whiskey.
TASTING NOTES
If the spirit has not been overaged, the barley in a good classic Bourbon whiskey should give an initial taste of buttery porridge. This is the whiskey note. Next, the taster will become aware the sweetness of the maize, immediately followed by spicy, and nutty, accents from the rye grain. If the whiskey has been aged, but not overaged, the flavor of the barrel will 'polish' the already-mentioned whiskey flavor and spicy accents with hints of caramel and toffee, and the wood will enrich the sweetness of the maize.
BESTSELLING BRANDS
The following classic Bourbon whiskies are the sales leaders, in order by brand (not by specific bottlings):
- Jim Beam (Bourbon whiskies, only)
- Evan Williams
- Wild Turkey (Bourbon whiskies, only)
- Elijah Craig
- Knob Creek (Bourbon whiskies, only)
At Elemental Mixology Wild Turkey 101° proof Bourbon Whiskey is commonly used in all applications. It is good enough for Thoroughbred drinking and Slings, while not being too expensive for Grogs, Punches, and Possets.
Evan Williams Black Label will still save you money at 86° proof, but it is most suitable for Grogs, Punches, and Possets.
ARTISANAL BOTTLINGS The following classic Bourbon whiskies are included here because of depth of adherence to traditional methods and superior ingredient selection – ranked by probable sales:
NOTEWORTHY DRINKS
