Many people do not know what the difference is between bourbon and whiskey, although the differences are not great, they do make a difference is the taste. While all bourbons are whiskey, not all whiskey’s are bourbon.

Whiskey or whisky (as spelled by the Scots and Canadians) is a fermented mash of various cereal grains and water. They will be different in taste, looks and scent because of the different types of local grains and water used in the fermenting and distilling process. It is then aged in wooden (usually oak) barrels. Also each distillery has their own methods of distilling and aging, this will also make a difference.

All governments strictly monitor the distilling and aging of all whiskeys both for import and export.

Whiskey is a distilled liquor, made from the starchy materials of various grains. The grains are first ground into a mixture somewhat like cornmeal. This “mash” is then fermented, distilled, blended and aged. Although not always necessarily in that order. That is where the differences come in to play.

There are different grain mixtures, many different distilling methods, hundreds of different blending methods, with about as many different aging methods.

Canadian Whisky is a blended whisky, distilled from rye, corn and barley. It may only be produced in Canada under strict government control. The Canadian Whisky sold here in the United States must be aged at least four years, and be 80 proof. Much lighter in taste and color than most other whiskeys. Canadian whisky and Scotch will be very similar, since in the early days of whisky making Scottish immigrants came to Canada and started distilleries using their original recipes from Scotland. Canadian Whisky’s include Black Velvet, Canadian Club and Windsor Canadian, just to name a few.

Irish Whiskey is a blended whiskey made from barley and grain malts. The malt is dried in coal-fired kilns so the aroma of the fires does not flavor the malt. Irish whiskey is heavier, sold at 86 proof and can only be produced in Ireland. Bushmills and Jameson are top sellers of Irish Whiskey’s.

Scotch Whisky is another blended whisky made generally from malt and grain whisky. This whisky is known for it’s smokey flavor that comes from drying the malted barley over peat fires. Can only be produced in Scotland, in order to be exported to the United States, the Scotch must be aged at least 2 years, though if fewer than 4 years, an age statement must appear on the label and have a proof from 80 to 86. Popular Scotches include Dewars and Johnnie Walker. There are also single malt Scotch’s such as Glenlivet and Glenfiddich. Single malt Scotch is produced at one distillery using a barley malt and must be aged for 3 years.

Bourbon Whiskey is distilled from grain mash containing 51% corn and aged more than 4 years in new charred oak barrels. It is amber colored, and a little sweeter and heavier in texture than other whiskeys. Bourbon gets it’s name from Bourbon County in Kentucky where it originated. Examples include Jim Beam, Wild Turkey and Maker’s Mark.

Rye Whiskey is distilled from a grain mash that is at least 80% corn then aged in charred oak barrels. Jim Beam, makes a rye whiskey as well as Old Overholt.

Straight Whiskey is a whiskey that it distilled from grain, but is not blended, unless blended with another whiskey made by the same distiller or the same batch. This whiskey must be aged in charred oak barrels for at least 2 years.

Kentucky Whiskey is a whiskey made in the state of Kentucky and includes Early Times.

A Tennessee Whiskey is a whiskey made in the state of Tennessee including Jack Daniels and George Dickle.

All information about a whiskey can be found on it’s label. For example Jack Daniels, the label states that it is a Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey, meaning it was made in Tennessee and the mash used in making one batch of whiskey is added to the next. Hence the term sour mash.

Another example is Johnny Walker Black Label. The label clearly states that this is a blended Scotch whisky. Meaning that this whisky is made in Scotland from a blend of several different batches of whisky.

As you can see there are many different types of whiskey. The best way to determine which is the best for you, is to just sample them. As you will see, each has it’s own scent, taste, looks and texture. If you really want to sample the different tastes, it is best to drink it neat (straight up) or with a few drops of water added.

First look at the color, while most are amber colored, there are different degrees of the shade. Generally if a whiskey has a light color, the taste will be lighter also.

Now look at the viscosity, this is the amount of the whiskey that clings to the side of the glass when swirling. This will tell you a bit about the texture of the whiskey. If much of the whiskey clings to the sides of the glass, this means that it is a heavier whiskey.

Now smell, you are going to smell alcohol, but keep smelling, do you smell a bit of smoke, charcoal? What about a little sweet smell? After time, you will be able to pick up other scents besides alcohol.

Lastly taste, take small sips to start, there will be an “alcohol burn”, but getting past that you will be able to pick up other tastes. Peat, smoke, sweetness of the grains and the oak from the barrels will slowly come to you. There are different after tastes also. As your pallet becomes more experienced you will be able to tell the different grains that were used in making the whiskey. While more inexpensive whiskeys are fine for mixing, more costly whiskeys are made for sipping. You can figure a price range as wide as the varieties of whiskeys available.

I hope this gives you a little more outlook on the different types of whiskey’s and also clears up the confusion about bourbon and whiskey.

Written by Cynthia Muir

Updated by HungryMonster.com (June 2005)