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What is American whiskey?
There are many different types of American whiskey. Bourbon is by far the most well-known and can only be made in the United States. It is often thought that all bourbon must be made in Kentucky, but that is not correct. Bourbon can also be produced elsewhere in America. Tennessee whiskey must really come from Tennessee again.
Then there is still rye whiskey. It does not necessarily have to be made in America. Canada, for example, is known for rye whiskey, but this style is also produced in the Netherlands. In addition, single malt whiskey, the style Scotland is known for, is also made in America.
The flavors of American whiskey
The myth that often circulates about American whiskey is that it is all sweet. It is understandable where this comes from. Corn is indeed widely used for American whiskey. And that is a sweeter grain than, for example, barley, which is mainly used in Scotch whisky.
But it is too simplistic to say that all American whiskey is sweet. Especially bourbon has that reputation, and vanilla and caramel are indeed often found. But also the tannins from the wood play a very important role. With rye whiskey The grain provides an earthy, fruity taste with a fine spiciness. The best is, of course, to start tasting yourself. Then you will quickly discover how diverse American whiskey is.
What is it made from?
All American whiskey must be made from grain. But there are stricter requirements per category. For instance, bourbon must consist of at least 51% corn. The rest can be supplemented with a combination of other grains. Often that is rye or wheat. For Tennessee whiskey the same requirement applies.
Rye whiskey must, on the other hand, be made from 51% rye. The rest usually consists of corn, wheat, or malted barley. Then there is something like corn whiskey, which must consist of 80% corn.
How is American whiskey made?
The rules are not very strict. American whiskey is therefore an umbrella term for many types of whiskey. Whiskey in America may be made in pot stills or columns. Furthermore, there are (with a few exceptions) the following rules:
- distilled up to a maximum of 95% and aged in oak
- bottled at a minimum of 40%
- it must have the general taste, aroma, and characteristics of whiskey
A whiskey may only be called a straight whiskey if it is at least 2 years old and nothing has been added to it. For bourbon and rye whiskey the rule still applies that it can only mature in new oak barrels. These barrels are largely responsible for the taste. Additionally, the whiskey can be distilled up to a maximum of 80%.
Then there is Tennessee whiskey. The same rules apply, except that an extra step is added to the production process, the so-called Lincoln County Process. During this step, the whiskey is filtered through sugar maple charcoal. This happens before the whiskey matures in barrels.
Buy American whiskey & bourbon online
With the wide range of Tasting Collection, you'll always succeed. Take your time to shop in our webshop and take advantage of our affordable prices. Once you've found your favorite, it's a breeze to order. We will of course ensure that you have your American whiskey or bourbon at home quickly.
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