There are unique and wonderful whiskeys that come from different regions such as Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Japan, India, and America that are of distinct characters. To pick the best whiskey from these regions is a daunting task, especially with no whiskey knowledge. Bourbon and Tennessee are among the most popular whiskey from America. To ease our task, here, we will dive into Bourbon and Tennessee to better our whiskey world knowledge.

American law defines whiskey as an alcoholic beverage distilled from fermented grains. The American distilleries have not rested on creativity and innovation to produce the best whisky brands of their unique taste profile for the world to enjoy. The American whiskey bourbon and Tennessee hails from states next to one another are and are some restrictions on their name. Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey are legally regulated but at different governmental levels. Bourbon whiskey is lawfully defined at the federal level, while Tennessee whiskey is defined at state law. These spirits have been appealing to American whiskey fans for many years because they're American-made and home-grown.

To a large extent, Tennessee and Bourbon whisky are made in almost the same way. Both are distilled from corn at least 51% and aged in charred new oak barrels. Where they differ is in a filtration process. Tennessee gets charcoal filtered a process known as the Lincoln County Process. Let look at these similarities and differences.

Bourbon

For a whiskey labeled as a bourbon, it must be produced in the U.S. and meet American whiskey's legal requirements. Bourbon whisky can be distilled anywhere in the United States or the world, as long as it meets the set requirements. However, it is strongly associated with Kentucky in America. Bourbon produced within the state of Kentucky, it can be labeled as Kentucky bourbon. Bourbon's legal definition, to some extent, varies from country to country. In the U.S., the regulations for labeling and publicizing bourbon only apply to the spirit made for consumption within the United States, and it does not apply to distilled spirits made for export.

The Federal Regulation Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits, states that bourbon whiskey made for U.S. consumption must be:

Produced in the U.S.A
The mash bill should be at least 51% corn
The spirit must be matured in new charred American oak barrels.
Distilled to not exceeding 160 U.S. proof (80% ABV)
Entered into the aging barrel at no more than 125 proof (62.5% ABV)
Bottled at 80 proof or more (40% ABV)
There is no minimum specified aging duration for bourbon whiskey, except for straight bourbon, which is required to be matured for at least two years.
Whiskey label as Straight bourbon must be aged for at least two years and should not have other additives added (coloring, flavoring, or other spirits).
Any bourbon whiskey aged for four years or less must include an age statement on its label.
A bourbon that is labeled as straight that has been aged under four years must be labeled with the duration of its aging.
Bourbon has an age stated on its label, the aged stated must be of the youngest whiskey in the bottle.
Bourbon that is labeled blended may contain added coloring, flavoring, and other spirits, such as un-aged neutral grain spirits. Neutral-grain spirits are not considered whiskey under regulations and are not required to be aged.

Tennessee Whiskey

Tennessee whiskey is a whiskey produced in the U.S. Tennessee state and have almost identical requirements for bourbon whiskey. The main difference is that, after distillation, Tennessee whiskey must be filtered through maple charcoal. Though most producers filter directly after distillation, the law doesn't specify when it must be done. The Tennessee law gives a firm definition to Tennessee whiskey. On the other hand, the federal legislation that defines bourbon whiskey produced in the United States and requires statements of origin on labels to be accurate.

The state law requires the whiskey labeled as Tennessee whisky to be produced in Tennessee and go through the Lincoln County Process along with the existing bourbon requirements. Its composition must contain at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak barrels, and observe the alcohol limits concentration for distillation, aging, and bottling. However, Benjamin Prichard's is exempted by the law from using the Lincoln County Process for filtration before aging. Note; Not all whiskey made in Tennessee is Tennessee whiskey (but all Tennessee whiskey has to made in Tennessee). Only the whiskey that goes through the Lincoln County Process is called Tennessee whiskey.

Lincoln County Process

The Lincoln County Process is a filtration method wherein the fresh distillate is filtered through maple charcoal chips or "ricks." Jack Daniel's set up shop in Lincoln County and spearheaded the process. Charcoal filtering is a subtractive process. The filtering process of the distilled spirit through the charcoal prior to barreling strips it off the much of its harsh flavors, creating a smooth and easy to drinking whiskey. The Lincoln County Process has certainly helped to define Tennessee Whiskey. The most popular Tennessee whiskey is Jack Daniel brands.

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