Part of what makes bourbon is its aging in oak barrels.
Photo by terrend, CC BY-SA 2.0
America can't claim to have invented whiskey - the Scots and the Irish beat us to it - but bourbon is a uniquely American take on the art. Back in 1964, Congress declared bourbon "America's Native Spirit." In a rare display of bipartisanship, the U.S. Senate followed up in September 2007, designating it as National Bourbon Heritage Month.
Most people tend to enjoy their spirits or their cocktails without giving much thought to their historical importance, and that's truly as it should be. After all, a cocktail is something to be savored for its flavors, and to some extent for the social pleasure among friends. But it doesn't hurt to occasionally spare a moment to appreciate the history. The National Bourbon Heritage Month resolution put it best, stating in part:
“Whereas Congress declared bourbon as `America's Native Spirit' in 1964, making it the only spirit distinctive to the United States;
Whereas the history of bourbon-making is interwoven with the history of the United States, from the first settlers of Kentucky in the 1700s, who began the bourbon-making process, to the 2,000 families and farmers distilling bourbon in Kentucky by the 1800s;
Whereas bourbon has been used as a form of currency;
Whereas generations have continued the heritage and tradition of the bourbon-making process, unchanged from the process used by their ancestors centuries before;
Whereas individual recipes for bourbon call for natural ingredients, utilizing the local Kentucky farming community and leading to continued economic development for the Commonwealth of Kentucky....”
Who knew that bourbon was so important? It's a great thing to sip, it makes great cocktails, and it's even great to cook with. All the more reason to celebration Bourbon Month with Examiner.com.
More articles for Bourbon fans:
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- Woodford Reserve Bourbon's 2009 Kentucky Derby Bottle
- Handmade Bourbon from Kentucky
- Red Stag flavored bourbon from Jim Beam
- Kentucky Bourbon Festival
- Drunken Mango Pulled Pork
- Best Kentucky Derby Pie recipe
- Dark chocolate bourbon cake recipe
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