Cheers! To American Whiskey

Bourbon is only Bourbon when whiskey is made in a particular way, and it’s made in the United States. It’s a little like how a traditional method sparkling wine can only be champagne when it’s from the region of Champagne. Pedigree is everything. Bourbon is whiskey that follows specific regulations to safeguard quality – so only certain whiskeys can be designated bourbon. Ultimately, there are a number of styles of whiskey and all are worthy of exploration.

From barrel selection (new) to colouring or flavour additives (none) and storage, recipe, distillation and bottling, Bourbon is uniquely (and only) American. These and other characteristics are just the beginning of what makes whiskey and Bourbon so very special in the world of spirits. With the rise in cocktail culture and our affinity for all things craft, this is whiskey’s – and Bourbon’s – time to shine.

According to an IPSOS survey with Restaurants Canada , our love affair with whiskey has held steady since 2019 and Bourbon has seen a slight bump in popularity. That’s relatively impressive, considering we entered a global pandemic in 2020 and restaurants experienced significant slowdowns. It’s not really surprising considering whiskey is deeply ingrained in America’s history: In fact, United States Founding Father, George Washington, operated one of the largest whiskey distilleries in early America, producing 11,000 gallons in 1799.

The United States has a proud and noble tradition in crafting their whiskey, including their most unique expression –Bourbon. Bourbon itself was recognized by Congress back in 1964 as “a distinctive product of the United States” and is known the world over as a premium spirit made only in one place: the United States. Whiskeys, specifically Bourbon have firmly established top tier shelf space in bars and gained a foothold in pop culture, from the infamous Whisky a Go Go on Sunset Boulevard to liquid cameos on Mad Men.

People think Bourbon is only from Kentucky, but technically Bourbon can be made anywhere in the US. To be declared Bourbon it must be made from a minimum of 51% corn with the remainder of the Mash Bill consisting of malted barley, rye, or wheat; Bourbons with a higher amount of wheat are typically softer and sweeter in their profiles. Bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States, but it must be aged for some time in new oak barrels and must be bottled between 40% and 80%. If Bourbon is aged for at least two years in barrel, it can also be designated as “straight” Bourbon.

Tennessee Whiskey is made much like Bourbon, but it’s filtered before bottling – using sugar maple charcoal, and still has aging requirements in new oak barrels, can’t be coloured, flavoured or other spirits in the final product and the mash bill has to be a minimum of 51% corn. Perhaps most importantly, Tennessee Whisky has to come from Tennessee.

American Rye Whiskeys are all the rage right now in whiskey circles Made with at least 51% rye grains, the profile is lighter but also spicier than other American whiskeys. As with other whiskeys, no flavouring, colouring, or other additives can be included and still bear the name or Rye whiskey, Bourbon, or single malt whiskey. Two major styles are Pennsylvania or Maryland, but several distilleries are sourcing their grains to produce varied or unique styles. One great fact about age statements on American whiskeys is that generally longer periods of barrel aging aren’t needed compared to the UK or Canadian examples since most distilleries are in much warmer climates and the aging takes much less time!

Single Malt Whiskey has been riding a new wave of popularity over the past decade or so. Did you know that Single Malt Whiskey can be made anywhere in the world – including the United States? To be called a Single Malt it must be made entirely at a single distillery, and these can be made anywhere in the country Most American Single Malts are made from at least 51% malted grain, like corn, barley, or wheat This is the whiskey where terroir – that elusive sense of quality of place – will become most apparent.

Interested in learning more or celebrating this great American spirit?

Bourbon Day is June 14th this year and restaurants, bars, and other watering holes will likely be more than happy to share a drop or two and help you discover why these whiskeys have stood the test of time. And here are some whiskey recipes for you to try at home on Bourbon Day!

Deep South

¼ OZ Bourbon

¼ OZ Aperol

¼ OZ mango nectar

¼ OZ lime

⅛ OZ honey syrup (for honey syrup blend 200 g honey with 100 g water)

5 dashes Angostura Bitters

Top with ginger beer

Using a cut lime and Tajin Spice blend, rim a tall glass and set aside. In a shaker tin, measure all the ingredients accordingly except the ginger beer. Add ice and shake the mixture until the outside of the tins are nicely frosted. Strain the cocktail over fresh ice into the glass and top with ginger beer.

Recipe Courtesy Tabi Irani – 222 Bar

Check Your Dash Light

½ OZ Bourbon

¼ OZ Aperol

¼ OZ orange liqueur

¼ OZ lemon juice

Top with sparkling wine

In a shaker tin, mix all of the ingredients except for the sparkling wine and add ice. Shake the mixture until the outside of the tins are frosted and strain over fresh ice into a wine glass. Top with sparkling wine and express an orange peel over the cocktail. Garnish with a lemon and orange wheel.

Recipe Creator: Marta Ess – BKS Speakeasy at Muir

Dusk Till Dawn

½ OZ Bourbon

⅜ OZ mezcal

⅜ OZ Averna

⅜ OZ fino sherry

4 dashes hazelnut liqueur

Measure all ingredients in a mixing glass and add ice. Stir the mixture until the desired dilution is achieved. Strain the cocktail into a stemmed cocktail glass and finish by expressing an orange peel over the cocktail. Garnish with manicured orange peel.

Recipe Creator: Daniel Désir – The Cloak Bar