For example, if you have a whiskey cocktail that uses a smokey Scotch, use a smokier bourbon for a similar result, and vice versa. The cocktail flavor shouldn't change much when you use a bourbon with a similar profile. whiskey as long as you like the taste of the cocktail. Some whiskey enthusiasts are adamant you should not swap them for one another, but other people do not see the problem with using bourbon vs. Some cocktails historically use bourbon, while others use specific types of whiskeys. Irish whiskey is usually light with vanilla and floral notes.Ĭan You Substitute Bourbon for Whiskey in Cocktails and Food? For example, Scotch typically features smokey and seaside flavors like briny notes. You can often tell where whiskey is from by its flavor profile. The more corn in the mash typically means a sweeter bourbon.

The amount of corn in a bourbon typically falls somewhere between 70% and 90%. Each distiller's mash profile will add more complex notes to the final flavor profile. Whiskey: Taste Differencesīourbon has a distinctive flavor profile, typically offering sweeter notes than other whiskeys. The bottle must contain an age statement for a straight bourbon aged for less than four years.Ĭomparing Bourbon vs. If you see a straight bourbon label, the distillate must have aged for a minimum of two years. However, they may not need to follow the same rules for distillate strength. Other whiskeys must adhere to proof requirements at bottling. At bottling, bourbon must be at least 80 proof. whiskey proof levels, the rules for bourbon are more strict. Bourbon must not exceed 125 proof when entering the barrels and be no more than 160 proof when distilled. Used bourbon barrels work for aging Scotch whisky. Used sherry and port casks are also popular options for whiskey aging. Other whiskey types can age spirits in used barrels, including ones used for bourbons. When bourbon makers use only new oak barrels, they can ensure the bourbon won't get influenced by other distillates. whiskey, where the distillate must age in new oak charred barrels.

However, whiskey producers need to age the product in used or uncharred barrels otherwise, the liquor would still be bourbon.īarrel aging is more regulated in bourbon vs. Corn whiskey has corn mash content that exceeds 80%. The remaining percentage of mash can be any cereal grain, such as wheat, rye, or barley. Bourbon must have a minimum of 51% corn mash. Whiskey doesn't have the exact requirement. For one, bourbon must contain a specific mash profile. Production methods are similar when comparing bourbon vs. Go through the Lincoln County Process (charcoal filtering process).īourbon vs.To be labeled a Tennessee whiskey, the liquor must be: Tennessee whiskey also has its own set of rules. Otherwise, the product would be another type of sparkling wine. Only Champagne produced in Champagne, France, can be legally labeled Champagne. This definition is the same as Champagne. However, bourbon made outside of the United States cannot be labeled a bourbon even when it follows all the rules for bourbon production. In theory, whiskey can be made anywhere, provided it is grain-based and aged in wood barrels. To be labeled a bourbon, the liquor must originate in the United States. Bourbon is distinctly American, with over 90% of production occurring in Kentucky. Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the United States, and Japan still produce whiskey. It's commonly associated with the southern part of the United States. Bourbon is a relatively new spirit, dating back to the late 18th century in the United States. Countries such as Scotland and Ireland produced the spirit over a thousand years ago. Whiskey has a much older origin story when comparing bourbon vs. whiskey so that you can distinguish them like a pro.īourbon vs.

Discover the characteristics of bourbon vs. With American whiskeys, you have several different subcategories as well. All bourbons are whiskey, but all whiskeys are not bourbon.įive types of whiskeys exist - American, Canadian, Irish, Japanese, and Scotch. However, whiskey encompasses various types, bourbon whiskey being one of them. Whiskey and bourbon are both distilled spirits made from fermented grains. VS WHISKEY You might hear some people use whiskey and bourbon interchangeably, but some notable differences exist when comparing bourbon vs.

Rules for bourbon vs whiskey