Are all bourbons whiskey?

All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. A strict set of standards from the government regulates what's what. Learn more about what defines "America's native spirit" and the difference between bourbon and whiskey below.
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What is the difference between a whiskey and a bourbon?

Whiskey is a distilled spirit made from grains like corn and rye and aged in wooden barrels. Bourbon is a type of whiskey, and there are strict rules in place to ensure its quality. Bourbon must be made in the US, distilled from at least 51% corn, and aged in new oak-charred barrels.
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What's the difference between bourbon and scotch?

Bourbon and Scotch are different types of whiskey. They're similar in terms of nutrition but have slightly different taste and flavor profiles, as bourbon is mostly made from corn mash, while Scotch is typically made from malted grains and has been aged for at least three years.
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Is Jack Daniels a bourbon or a whiskey?

Jack Daniel's is a Tennessee whiskey, so it absolutely is whiskey as well. It's even in the name. Whiskey is just the broadest term for distilled grain that's aged in oak barrels, regardless of factors such as the grains used (e.g., corn, rye, wheat, barley, rice), where it's made, the barrels used, and more.
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Is Crown Royal a bourbon?

Specifically, Crown Royal is a Canadian whisky, and even though this technically uses a bourbon mashbill (64% corn, 31.5% rye, 4.5% malted barley), bourbon can only be made in America. Though the TTB originally approved the label, they reversed their decision and forced the brand to stop using the name 'Bourbon Mash'.
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Difference between Whiskey, Scotch



Is Johnnie Walker a bourbon?

A blending Scotch whisky, Johnnie Walker is made from malted barley. In contrast to bourbon, which is made in the USA from distilled corn, Johnnie Walker has grain whiskies as well as malt whiskies, all distilled from three or more different distilleries, as opposed to a single malt which comes from one.
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Why Jack Daniels is not a bourbon?

The company does not prefer to call it Bourbon whiskey.

Like most Bourbon whiskey brands, Jack Daniel's is produced on American soil. It has a predominantly corn-based mash bill, and is aged in new, charred-Oak barrels for at least two years. These are the legal terms that define a 'straight Bourbon' whiskey.
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Is Jameson Scotch or bourbon?

Unlike Jack Daniels, Jameson Whiskey is an Irish Whiskey, not a bourbon like Jack Daniels. The Jameson whiskey is triple-distilled and is made of malted barley and other ingredients, while the Jack Daniels whiskey is made with sour mash and caramelized with sugar maple charcoal before being aged.
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Is Jack Daniels a Scotch?

Jack Daniel's is the highest-selling American whiskey and Johnnie Walker is the top-selling Scotch whisky in the world. Both brands are named after their founders (Jasper Newton "Jack" Daniel and John "Johnnie" Walker) and are among the Top 100 global brands, with Jack Daniel's at #78 and Johnnie Walker at #92.
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Is Maker's Mark bourbon?

Maker's Mark®

Bill Samuels, Sr., simply wanted a whisky he would enjoy drinking. Never bitter or sharp, Maker's Mark® is made with soft red winter wheat, instead of the usual rye, for a one-of-a-kind, full-flavored bourbon that's easy to drink.
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What qualifies whiskey as bourbon?

For a whiskey to be considered Bourbon, its mash – the mixture of grains from which the product is distilled – must contain at least 51% corn. The rest of the mash is usually filled out with rye or wheat, and malted barley.
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Is Southern Comfort a bourbon?

Is Southern Comfort A Bourbon Or Whiskey? There is no whiskey known as Southern Comfort. This original spirit, created in 1874 by New Orleans bartender Martin Wilkes Heron, combines fruits, spices, and low-quality whiskey for a smooth, sweet taste.
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Is Southern Comfort a whiskey?

Southern Comfort is a unique spiced American whiskey flavoured liqueur, a fun spirit to mix with, created in New Orleans by iconic bartender M.W. Heronin 1874. We have been crafting Southern Comfort for over 140 years, so we know it tastes good.
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Is Johnnie Walker whiskey or Scotch?

Founded in 1820, Johnnie Walker is one of the iconic brands in Scotch whisky. The portfolio of blended scotches is made up of expressions that range from affordable to super premium.
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Why is Tennessee whiskey not bourbon?

Both whiskeys require the same corn percentage in the mashbill and must be aged in new charred oak barrels. The primary difference is that Tennessee whiskey must go through a charcoal filtering process, which mellows the whiskey's character. For that reason, bourbon is often bolder and has a more robust flavor.
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What type of alcohol is Jim Beam?

Jim Beam® is aged four years, twice as long as required by law for Straight Bourbon Whiskey, resulting in a fuller, smoother taste. Whiskey made in the US using at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak barrel.
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Why is Irish whiskey different?

Finally, unlike Scotch, which is distilled twice, Irish whiskey is usually triple-distilled, which results in a smoother, higher-alcohol spirit. This practice was introduced by John Jameson, a Scottish transplant who established one of Ireland's most successful whiskey distilleries, in 1780.
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Is sour mash bourbon?

“Sour mash” refers to a specific process used by some distillers to add a distinct flavor to their whiskey. A sour mash whiskey can actually be classified as bourbon since both types of whiskey are made under the same restrictions (51% corn in the mash, aged in new charred oak barrels, etc).
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Why is bourbon only from Kentucky?

Kentucky boasts some of the richest, most fertile soil in the country, ideal for growing the major ingredient in bourbon: corn. Bourbon must contain at least 51 percent corn, and Kentucky is up to the task. The state has been corn country since its earliest days in the late 1700s.
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Is Hennessy a whiskey?

No, it's not a whiskey.

Contrary to popular confusion, Hennessy is not a whiskey but is instead a type of brandy. The term brandy refers to a spirit distilled from a fermented fruit juice, be it grape or other fruits such as apple (used to make apple brandies like Calvados).
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Why is Johnnie Walker Blue so expensive?

Why is the Johnnie Walker Blue label so expensive? Johnnie Walker Blue label is expensive because of the rarity of the scotches that make up the blend. The quality is incredibly high. Only 1 in 10,000 casks are considered good enough by the brand to merit the Blue label.
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Is Blue label bourbon?

Mayor Pingree 10-Year Bourbon

Valentine's Mayor Pingree 'Blue label' Single Barrel Straight Bourbon is bottled from a single cask sourced from the former Lawrenceburg, IN distillery at full proof and non-chill filtered.
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Why is it called bourbon?

The origin of bourbon's name remains, if not murky, perhaps just a tad cloudy. The word bourbon itself comes from the House of Bourbon, a famous French dynasty. Its connection to the American South nods to the region's long-standing connection with France (Louisiana, after all, was once a French colony).
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