Bourbon is a type of whiskey that is produced in the United States. It is a distilled spirit made from a mash bill that consists of at least 51% corn, with the remainder typically being a mix of grains such as rye, barley, and sometimes wheat. The use of corn in the mash bill is one of the defining characteristics of bourbon and contributes to its distinct flavor profile.

To be legally classified as bourbon in the United States, the spirit must meet several requirements:

• Mash Bill: As mentioned earlier, it must be made from a mash bill containing at least 51% corn.

• Distillation Process: Bourbon must be distilled to no more than 160 proof (80% alcohol by volume) and entered into the barrel for aging at no more than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume).

• Aging: It must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. There are no specific age requirements for bourbon, but to be labeled as "straight" bourbon, it must be aged for at least two years.

• Bottling Strength: Bourbon must be bottled at a minimum of 80 proof (40% alcohol by volume).

• Location: While often associated with Kentucky, bourbon can be produced anywhere in the United States, but it must be produced in the United States

The exact date of the first bourbon production is not definitively known, as the origins of bourbon are steeped in history and folklore. However, bourbon's beginnings can be traced back to the late 18th century in what is now the United States.

The most widely accepted account attributes the origins of bourbon to a Baptist minister and farmer named Elijah Craig. According to the legend, around the late 1780s or early 1790s, Craig established a distillery in what is now Georgetown, Kentucky. He is said to have been the first to age his whiskey in charred oak barrels, a practice that would later become a defining characteristic of bourbon.

The name "bourbon" itself is believed to have derived from Bourbon County, Kentucky, where Craig's distillery was located. Bourbon County was established in 1785, and its name is thought to have been a tribute to the French royal family, the House of Bourbon.

It's important to note that while Elijah Craig is often credited with popularizing the aging process in charred oak barrels, other distillers in the region were likely experimenting with similar techniques around the same time. Additionally, whiskey production, including corn-based spirits, was already a common practice in the United States during the late 18th century.

Before 1897 there were no federal regulations on whiskeys. As a result, many of the products available on the market were of lesser quality, or ‘rectified’ — whether it be blending various barrels together, or the addition of anything from tobacco juice, rusty nails to creosote. Ever heard of Rot Gut Whiskey? This is where the term comes from.

Many people were getting sick or even dying, so the government had to step in . 

The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 ensured quality products, serving as this country’s first piece of consumer protection legislation. 

Only in 1906, a significant nine-year gap passed before the establishment of the Food and Drug Administration. 

There are a couple additional requirements for bourbon to be labeled Bottled in Bond

1.  It must be made from a single distillery in a single season Single Season is usually from Jan-June or July to December

2. It must be aged at least 4 years. 

Single Barrel vs Small Batch 

Single Barrel means that all the Bourbon is from 1 single barrel. Small batch is made from combining two or more barrels together before it’s bottled. Despite the fact that bourbon is one of the most regulated spirits in the world, there is no official definition of, or requirement for, what constitutes a 'small-batch bourbon. A small batch can be drawn from two  barrels, dozens of barrels, hundreds of barrels. It means whatever the bottler wants it to mean."  

Bourbon Ages

No age requirements for Bourbon, but to be considered Straight bourbon it must be aged at least 2 years.

Straight bourbon aged 2-4 years must display age (of youngest spirit age) So what does that mean?  It means if you have a bourbon that is a blend of a 2 year old bourbon and a 4 year old bourbon, the age on the bottle must be 2 year old bourbon.  

If the Straight bourbon aged over 4 years old, then there is no requirement to display the age.  So that means that if you see a bottle of Straight Bourbon with no age, you can assume that it is at least 4 years old.

Proof and Barrel Strength

Proof is a number to determine how much alcohol is in the bourbon.  Actually this is used across all spirits.The proof number is double the amount of alcohol, so 80 proof Bourbon is 40% alcohol.

When Bourbon is bottled, it is usually cut with water to lower the proof, but some bourbons are bottled straight from the barrel, called barrel strength.