Laws and Guidelines for Bourbon

• It must be produced in the United States
• The grain mixture must be made of at least 51% corn
• It must be aged in new, charred oak barrels
• Distilled to no more than 160 proof
• Entered into the barrel for aging at no more than 125 proof
• Bottled at 80 proof or more
• To be called Straight whiskey, it must remain in barrels for at least 2 years
• If the whiskey is under 4 years old, there must be an age statement on the bottle 

Single Barrel: All of the bourbon in a given bottle came from one barrel

Small Batch: A small section of barrels that are located in similar parts of the warehouse, that are selected, dumped, and bottled

Barrel Proof: Whiskey has not been diluted before going into the bottle, resulting in a higher proof

Bottled-In-Bond: Product of one distillation season, by same distiller, at same distillery. Aged 4 years in a bonded warehouse and bottled at 100 proof

Mash Bill: The ratio of different grains used to make whiskey

Corn: sweetness

Rye: bold/spicy

Wheat: caramel/vanilla

Barley: nutty