Differences between Bourbon and Whiskey

Differences between bourbon and whiskey

While all bourbon is a type of whiskey, not all whiskey is bourbon. Whiskey is a broad category of distilled alcoholic beverage made from a fermented mash of cereal grain. Styles of whiskey—such as Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, and Canadian whisky—are produced worldwide with varying methods and legal definitions. Bourbon is a specific type of American whiskey that must adhere to a strict set of legal standards for its production, as defined in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.

These regulations were first codified in 1964 when the U.S. Congress recognized bourbon as a "distinctive product of the United States". A common misconception is that bourbon must be made in Kentucky; while the majority is produced there, it can legally be made anywhere in the United States.

Comparison table

| Mash Bill| Aging Container| Distillation Proof| Barrel Entry Proof

Category	Bourbon	Whiskey (General)
Geographic Origin	Must be produced in the United States.	Can be produced anywhere in the world.
Must be made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn.	Made from various grains, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat, with no single grain majority required for the general category.
Must be aged in new, charred oak containers.	Can be aged in a variety of wooden casks, including those previously used to age other spirits like sherry or wine.
Cannot be distilled to more than 160 U.S. proof (80% alcohol by volume).	Varies by country and style; for example, Scotch must be distilled at less than 94.8% ABV.
Must enter the barrel for aging at no more than 125 U.S. proof (62.5% ABV).	Varies by country and style; regulations for many whiskey types do not specify a barrel entry proof.
Additives	No artificial coloring or flavoring may be added. Only water can be added to adjust the proof.	Varies by type. For example, some Canadian whiskies permit the addition of coloring and flavoring.
Bottling Proof	Must be bottled at a minimum of 80 U.S. proof (40% ABV).	Varies, though a minimum of 40% ABV is common for many international standards.

Venn diagram comparing Differences between Bourbon and Whiskey

Other American whiskeys

Other types of whiskey made in the United States have their own legal definitions that distinguish them from bourbon.

• Rye whiskey follows similar rules to bourbon, but its mash bill must contain at least 51% rye grain.
• Corn whiskey must be made from a mash of at least 80% corn.
• Tennessee whiskey is legally defined as a straight bourbon whiskey produced in the state of Tennessee. It undergoes an additional step of being filtered through charcoal chips before aging, a process known as the Lincoln County Process.