Bourbon and whiskey are very similar drinks, and for a good reason: bourbon is actually a
specific variety of whiskey, just like how a ham sandwich is a type of sandwich. Even still, a
lot of people prefer to keep them distinct from one another, especially if they are a big fan of
getting their drinks right or following some of the more exclusive alcohol varieties.
But what is bourbon compared to generic whiskey, and why is it so popular? Here is a quick
comparison between your standard whiskey options and a typical glass of bourbon.
Bourbon uses Corn
All whiskey types can be made differently, but they generally follow the same fermenting
process: you put grains in a barrel, ferment them, and then age them until you are ready to
bottle and sell them. This means that the grains used can have an impact on the type of
whiskey you get, as can the specific shape, size, or materials of the barrel.
Bourbon is a result of fermenting a mixture of different grains with a majority of corn: 51%
corn is the minimum possible requirement for it to be considered bourbon by the American
Bourbon Association. This is meant to be what gives the bourbon a sweeter flavor and taste.
Of course, that still leaves 49% or less to be filled up with other grains, which is why there
are different kinds of bourbon. The exact grains used can alter the kind of flavor you get,
even if the majority is still regular corn grains.
Bourbon Needs a Certain Barrel
Since the barrel impacts the results of the fermenting process, bourbon is almost always
created using the same container. These are new charred oak barrels, and most bourbons
specifically need to be kept away from additives or colorings during the process. In contrast,
many whiskeys are fermented in used barrels that contained other spirits, which gives them a
different taste.
The most popular and well-known form of bourbon is straight bourbon whiskey, which has
been kept in one of these specific barrels for at least two years. Other types exist, but they are
not always produced on the same scale or at the same rate. Since the barrel types matter, it is
also possible for local wood to create a different flavor to similar types in another country.
Bourbon Comes from Certain Areas
Well, not really. A common claim is that bourbon has to come from Kentucky to really be
considered bourbon, but that is not exactly true unless you are specifically looking for
‘Kentucky bourbon.’ This is the same principle as certain cheeses needing to come from
certain towns: it is not really true, but a lot of people like to stand by it either way.
Remember that whiskey is quite a common drink in many countries across the world, and as
long as there is corn available, it is technically possible to brew bourbon. This means that any
bottle of bourbon could have come from almost anywhere in the world, and it is practically
impossible to tell the difference if the general ingredients and grains are the same.
Bourbon Needs Certain ABV Levels

ABV (alcohol by volume) is a good indicator of how alcoholic a drink is. In the case of
bourbon, it has to hit a certain proof/alcohol content by the time it gets barrelled: the mash of
grains needs to be distilled at 160 proof (roughly 80% ABV) and reach about 125 proof
(62.5% ABV) before it is bottled.
When the bourbon is actually being bottled, the mixture needs to be diluted down to
somewhere above 80 proof, which is 40% ABV. This is in contrast to other whiskey types,
which either have no limits or other ABV ranges that they have to hit. This is not just
something that a bourbon club would notice since it changes the fundamental ingredients and
strength of the drink itself.
This is important since the ABV of a drink changes how alcoholic it is by adding more or less
alcohol to the mixture. Bourbon, in this case, is around 40% alcohol, whereas other types
might be best around 36% ABV. Personal preference matters, of course, but pushing the
ABV too high or too low generally makes it into a different drink entirely.