Hirsch Horizon Straight Bourbon Whisky

American Whiskey Varieties

American whiskey is whiskey (a distilled beverage made from fermented grain puree) produced in the United States. The main types of American whiskey are bourbon whiskey, rye whiskey, rye malt whiskey, malt whiskey, wheat whiskey, Tennessee whiskey and corn whiskey. All of them are made from mashed potatoes containing at least 51% of the aforementioned grains. 

Mixed whiskeys, whiskey blends, grain whiskeys and distilled whiskeys that do not indicate a dominant grain are also included. ... In the case of blends, American whiskey can include artificial colors and flavors. The laws governing the above products differ between products made for consumption in the United States and those exported abroad. 

With a wide variety in one category, American whiskey refers to any spirit drink made in America distilling fermented grain must - usually corn, wheat, rye or barley. American whiskey must be distilled to a maximum alcoholic strength of 95% and bottled with an alcoholic strength of 40% or higher. To be called pure whiskey, it must also be aged in white oak barrels for at least two years and must not contain any added color or flavor.

Bourbon Varieties

Bourbon is most often associated with Bourbon County, Kentucky, although technically it can be produced anywhere in the United States. Kentucky is traditionally where American bourbon has been produced since the late 18th century. To be considered a bourbon whiskey, the drink must contain at least 51% corn and must be aged in new carbonized white oak barrels. Bourbon whiskey is available in bottles of eighty ABV (40% ABV) or more and cannot contain any color or aroma additives. A versatile alcohol that can be drunk pure, with water or ice, also goes well with cocktails like an Old Fashioned.