What is mash in bourbon?

A bourbon whiskey mash bill is a combination of grains used in a distiller's recipe to create the distiller's beer. A mash bill consists of some percentage of corn, malted barley, rye, and/or wheat. Essentially, if it's a whiskey or bourbon, it needs a mash bill to get the process started.

What's the difference between bourbon and mash?

Bourbon, a whiskey that was first produced in Kentucky, U.S., uses at least 51 percent mash from corn in its production. It also uses a sour mash process — that is, the mash is fermented with yeast and includes a portion from a mash that has already been fermented.

What is mash made of?

A typical primary mash ingredient is grain that has been malted. Modern-day malt recipes generally consist of a large percentage of a light malt and, optionally, smaller percentages of more flavorful or highly colored types of malt. The former is called "base malt"; the latter is known as "specialty malts" (by whom?).

How is bourbon mash made?

Bourbon is made from a sour mash consisting of at least 51% corn and several other cereal grains like rye and barley. These grains are ground together and then used to create a thick, sour mash. The sour mash is mixed with Kentucky water and blended together in a large tank.

What does mash mean in whiskey?

A “mash” in the world of whiskey refers to the mixture of grain, water, and yeast that is initially fermented to produce alcohol. Distillers are very careful to regulate the pH of their mash; if it gets too high (basic), unwanted bacterial growth can occur.

Bourbon Basics: What is a Mash Bill?

Are all bourbons sour mash?

Sour mash is as ubiquitous in the production of Bourbon whiskey as corn. Every major Bourbon brand, and straight rye too, could put the words “sour mash” on its label, even though only a few do.

Is Jack Daniels bourbon or sour mash?

Many people believe that Jack Daniels is an American bourbon. While it has ingredients similar to those found bourbon, it actually is Tennessee sour mash whiskey.

Is sugar added to bourbon mash?

Bourbon is made by creating a mash of at least 51% corn, and other types of grain including wheat, barley, rye, etc. This mash is made by taking these grains and mixing them in hot water to extract sugars, almost like making porridge.

What is Jack Daniels made from?

Jack Daniel chose a well-considered recipe of 80% corn, 12% barley and 8% rye that we still use today. Using only No. 1 quality grade corn gives the mash an inviting sweetness. An ample amount of rye rounds out the sweetness with robust notes of pepper and spice.

How is bourbon different from whiskey?

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.

Is Maker's Mark a sour mash whiskey?

Most bourbon distillers, including Maker's Mark use a sour mash process. This refers to what the distillers call 'set back' being added to the mash. 'Set back' is the undistilled residue that remains from the previous distillation. The term 'sour mash' is a reference to this acidic, sour tasting set back.

Why is malted barley in bourbon?

For instance, malted barley is used in making bourbon mainly for its enzyme properties (that assist in breaking down the simple sugars from the wheat or rye and corn), however, it also provides those malty and toffee aromas in the product.

Is Jim Beam a sour mash?

In contrast to Jim Beam, Jack Daniels is a sour mash whiskey, often referred to as a Tennessee whisky. Jim Beam is a type of bourbon, while Jack Daniels is a bourbon.

Is Blanton's sour mash?

It's a “high-rye” bourbon.

We do know that Blanton's is distilled from Mash Bill #2, a “high-rye” mash bill — meaning after the higher proportion of corn common in Buffalo Trace bourbons, the rest (or much of the rest) of the mash bill is made up of rye.

Why is bourbon called sour mash?

Why Is Bourbon Called Sour Mash? Michter's Original Sour Mash stands out for its unique taste whereas the “Sour Mash” name originated from the same whiskey production process, in which previously fermented mash is used as the starter for new mashes to be fermented.

What is the difference between bourbon and Jack Daniels?

What Is The Difference Between Jack Daniels And Bourbon? After Tennessee Whiskey is distilled, it is filtered through sugar-maple charcoal, which distinguishes it from Bourbon, such as Jack Daniel's. A place known as Old Bourbon, now part of Bourbon County, Kentucky, is the source of the name Bourbon.

What is Jim Beam made from?

But we can tell you that Jim Beam is produced from the fermentation and distillation of corn, rye, and malted barley. We love the bourbon we make, but Beam Suntory does not advise legal-age adults whether or not to drink.

Is Jack Daniels technically a bourbon?

Jack Daniel's chooses not to call itself bourbon, but the historic brand applies for federal label approval under the class of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey is listed as straight bourbon in the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Why is bourbon so sweet?

Scotch, on the other hand, uses mostly or all barley in its mash and the glucose content of corn is much higher. That glucose is what gives bourbon its easily recognizable sweetness. 51%+ corn in the mash is why bourbon is so sweet.

Is there sugar in Jim Beam bourbon?

Home > Whiskey > How Much Sugar Is In Jim Beam Whiskey? short answer is that bourbon contains no sugar.

Is bourbon healthy to drink?

But bourbon is also a heart healthy alcohol. With all its antioxidant power and its ability to prevent cholesterol build up in your arteries; bourbon could help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

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.

What kind of whiskey is Jim Beam?

Owned by Beam Suntory and produced in Clermont, Ky., Jim Beam is a bourbon whiskey. And while bourbon can be produced anywhere in the United States, it must be made from a minimum of 51 percent corn (among other requirements) in order to be called as such.

What is the difference between Jim Beam and Jack Daniels?

Jim Beam has a brandy flavor, as if it is mixed with brandy. Jim Beam is classed as bourbon while Jack Daniels is a whiskey and although bourbons can be whiskeys, not all are. Jim Beam is far cheaper compared to Jack Daniels. Jim Beam tastes more alcoholic and fruity while Jack Daniels tastes mellower and smoother.