Bourbon vs. Tennessee Whiskey: The Main Variations

Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey are typically confused for each other contained in the minds of many patrons—there’s even debate contained in the whiskey world as as to if Tennessee whiskey might very effectively be thought-about bourbon. Nonetheless, irrespective of nearly equal manufacturing processes, the usual American whiskey types do have some key variations. Correct proper right here’s the entire thing you’ll want to know when evaluating the 2.

The Similarities

They each are made primarily with corn.

The mash invoice, or make-up of grains in bourbon and Tennessee whiskey, should embody not decrease than 51% corn. The remaining 49% might embody completely totally different grains like rye, wheat, and barley. Though the mash invoice can attribute utterly completely totally different proportions of grains, it’s value noting that the foremost producers of each Tennessee whiskey and bourbon are typically extra corn-heavy, with mash funds typically reaching 70% corn or elevated.

They each should age in new charred oak barrels.

The charred new oak by which bourbon and Tennessee whiskey should age has compounds like vanillins, lactones, and tannins that assist to supply each spirits their attribute caramelized shade and elegance profile, which is often thought-about candy as in contrast with completely totally different whiskeys.

Neither spirit has a minimal rising older requirement for his or her base designation, although they have to be aged for not decrease than two years to be labeled “straight,” or not decrease than 4 years to be labeled “bottled-in-bond.”

They share completely totally different distillation necessities.

Each spirits have to be distilled to a most of 160 proof (80% ABV) and barreled at a most of 125 proof (62.5% ABV). They have to be bottled at a minimal of 80 proof (40% ABV).

The Variations

Tennessee whiskey goes by a charcoal filtering course of.

Tennessee whiskey makes use of the Lincoln County Course of, a approach for which the unaged whiskey have to be steeped in or filtered by maple charcoal chips before it’s barreled. This course of removes impurities and strips the whiskey of a few of its bolder corn profile, leading to a mellower, softer spirit.

Though the terminology for the Lincoln County Course of dates to the mid-1800s, the strategy of utilizing charcoal to mellow spirits has almost definitely been utilized in whiskey-making for many of years. Nearly all Tennessee whiskeys ought to make use of the Lincoln County Course of by state regulation, nonetheless a particular exception was made for Prichard’s Distillery when proprietor Phil Prichard argued that charcoal filtering was a course of his ancestor, Benjamin Prichard, didn’t use.

Tennessee whiskey can solely be produced in Tennessee.

As its set up suggests, Tennessee whiskey can solely be produced in Tennessee. Whereas most bourbon, upwards of 95%, is made contained in the state of Kentucky, it could actually technically be produced wherever in america.

Notably, whereas bourbon, as a classification, is regulated and outlined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Commerce Bureau (TTB), Tennessee whiskey presently shouldn’t be, and pointers are enforced at a state stage. Completely totally different safety agreements, just like the North American Free Commerce Settlement (NAFTA) and its successor, america–Mexico–Canada Settlement (USMCA), notably outline Tennessee whiskey as “a straight Bourbon Whiskey permitted to be produced solely contained in the state of Tennessee…manufactured in accordance with the licensed ideas and pointers of america governing the manufacture of Bourbon Whiskey and Tennessee Whiskey.”

Frequent Producers of Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey

There are spherical 30 distilleries that make Tennessee whiskey, nonetheless important producers embody Jack Daniel’s, George Dickel, Nearest Inexperienced, and Prichard’s.

There are nearly 100 distilleries in Kentucky alone. Successfully-liked bourbon producers embody Jim Beam, Evan Williams, 4 Roses, Knob Creek, Maker’s Mark, Michter’s, and Wild Turkey.