National Bourbon Day
The Official Spirit of America is celebrated on National Bourbon Day on June 14th.
Bourbon must meet specified requirements and be produced in a specific geographical area in order to earn its name, such as Scotch, Cognac, and other spirits. Bourbon is a whiskey that can only be described by the word when it is distilled in the United States. Specific requirements must be met in order for a distillery to legally identify their whiskey as "Bourbon."
#nationalbourbonday
- The whiskey must be 51% corn
- The distillery must tell the whiskey in new (not aged) charred-oak barrels
- They also have to distill the whiskey at no more than 160 proofs
- Finally, distillers must ensure that the Bourbon is barreled at 125 proof
This particular whiskey derives its name from the name of a Kentucky county of the same name. Early settlers settled the county in 1785 and were major producers of corn. They distilled the corn and poured it in barrels stamped "Old Bourbon" and shipped them down the Ohio River back then.
A Congressional Resolution designated Bourbon as America's national spirit in 1964. Since then, no one in the world can make a whiskey and call it Bourbon.
Bourbon's deep roots go back to the immigrants who would homestead in Kentucky. These pioneers set their stills to work, making a whiskey that still lives today, with an abundance of corn. These pioneers had an abundance of corn. They also put their own stamp on the quality and flavors of their whiskey. Bourbon's character continues to develop throughout the years, from the oak barrels to the rich soils.
How to use national bourbon day is a topic that has been discussed on national bourbon day
On social media, pour a glass of Bourbon and hashtag #NationalBourbonDay. Study up on Bourbon as you savor the depth of flavor. Watch a documentary or read a book about Bourbon's past. These will take you back in time and tell you about the people behind the drink we know as the Official Spirit of America.
Here are our staff picks to learn about Bourbon's past.
- The Story of Bourbon (2018), written and directed by David Altrogge, is a fictionalization of Bourbon's Story
- Straight Up: Kentucky Bourbon (2018), written and directed by Eric Byford, is a film directed by Eric Byford
- Gerald Carson's book The Social History of Bourbon by Gerald Carson
- Dane Huckelbridge's book A History of the American Spirit by Dane Huckelbridge
