I’ve been on a bit of an American whiskey kick lately. it started with Maker’s Mark on cinco de mayo, and has rolled right into the weekend with a new bottle of Knob Creek.
What caused this, you ask? Well, yesterday when I got home from work, I had a fresh issue of Food & Wine waiting for me with an article featuring the Best New American Whiskeys. It outlines a few, including one Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey, whose distillery is walking distance from house.
I was inspired to try an American whiskey and while at the Costco today, picked up a bottle of Knob Creek, a kentucky straight bourbon. I opted for the small batch variety. I haven’t cracked it open, but I learned today that bourbon isn’t what I thought it was. I was under the impression bourbon meant the whiskey was made IN Bourbon County, KY. Bourbon County is considered the birthplace of bourbon, but for the designation, a whiskey doesn’t HAVE to be made there. It actually means it is made from at least 51% corn.
Another tidbit: Straight Whiskey is a whiskey made from 51% of one grain, so by designation most bourbons are straight whiskeys. They just have to be aged for at least 2 years in charred new oak barrels.
I’ll post something when I break into the bottle, but until then, consider yourself learned on some whiskey facts.
Here’s a photo of a bottle chilling in an Eames Lounger. (Thanks Whiskey Grotto):
