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Observing "National Bourbon Heritage Month" is the celebration of America's "Native Spirit". Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky brought the bill to the Senate in 2007 and passed unanimously. Throughout the month I will post different recipes and meal parings for different types of Bourbon.
But first a little history as to why this specific spirit is the spirit of America and a personal favorite. May 4th, 1964 the US Congress recognized Bourbon "A distinctive product of the United States" and for a whiskey to be a Bourbon it has to meet the following seven requirements.
- must be made of a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn.
- must be distilled to no more than 160 (U.S.) proof (80% alcohol by volume).
- must be aged in new, charred oak barrels.
- may not be introduced to the barrel at higher than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume).
- meets the above requirements and has been aged for a minimum of two years, may (but is not required to) be called Straight Bourbon.
- aged for a period less than four years must be labeled with the duration of its aging.
- if an age is stated on the label, it must be the age of the youngest whiskey in the bottle.
So raise your glasses of Bourbon; to the celebration of native spirit of America, it warming you to the coming of fall, and the wonderful addition it makes to food. Cheers!
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