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whiskey
American whiskey
backgrounds and favorites
American whiskey comes from the USA, isn't that logical? And you've probably already had a taste of firewater from the "Wild West". The obligatory supermarket whiskey is nothing more than the tip of a huge iceberg of enjoyment. Come with us on a journey into the variety of flavors of American whiskey and find out what makes the distillates from overseas so special.
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History - From Europe to the "New World" and back
Distilling whiskey is a very Scottish and very Irish tradition. So it is no surprise that the art of distilling came to the "New World" with the first settlers from Scotland and Ireland? After all, alcoholic beverages, both brewed and distilled, were completely foreign to the continent's native inhabitants. The settlers eventually pushed ever further west through the states of Virginia and Pennsylvania.
During the American Revolutionary War, the states of Kentucky and Tennessee developed into the centers of the whiskey industry.
The birth of the typical bourbon whiskey came in 1800, when the books "Distiller" and "The Art of Making Whisky" were published as standard works on American whiskey production. After the Second World War, the liquid gold washed back across the pond to Europe with the influence of the American occupying forces. Since then, the typical spirits have enjoyed increasing popularity here too.
What makes American whiskey special
The character of US whiskey is due to the grain used. Since barley did not grow well in the "New World", the first distillers made a virtue out of necessity. Instead of barley, which is characteristic of Scottish and Irish whiskeys, corn and rye were used as the base grain. These grains give American whiskey its soft but at the same time racy taste, which Americans like to describe as "mild and mellow".
The grain mixture and therefore the aroma depends heavily on the type of whiskey. Another special feature of American whiskeys is that they are aged in freshly burned American white oak barrels. This gives them their characteristic aromas with rich vanilla and caramel notes. Added to this is the natural deep golden color, which comes exclusively from the barrel aging and is not colored.
American whiskey varieties
To tar all American whiskey with the same brush would be like reducing the incredible variety of Scottish whiskeys to the classic Johnnie Walker blend. In fact, there are several types of whiskey in the USA that differ significantly in their characteristics on the palate and tongue.
bourbon
Bourbon is the classic among US whiskeys. Its name comes from Bourbon County in Kentucky, which owes its name to the French royal family of the Bourbons. By law, bourbon must be made from at least 51 percent corn. The corn is supplemented by a mixture of rye, wheat and barley, with each distillery having its own secret recipe. The result, after at least two years of barrel aging, is a very soft and sweet whiskey with dominant caramel and vanilla aromas.
corn whiskey
Corn whiskey is much rarer today. Its special feature is the high proportion of corn in the mash, at least 80 percent. Corn whiskey has a subtle taste. It is considered very light and, because it does not have any strong aromas, is particularly suitable for cocktails.
Rye
You can imagine the rye as the aromatic counterpart to bourbon. As the name suggests, the rye mash is dominated by rye. As with bourbon, the rye content must be at least 51 percent for it to be called rye. This whiskey is also matured in freshly burned white oak barrels. Due to the dominance of the rye, the rye is characterized by a particularly spicy and racy aroma. Aromas of vanilla and caramel are complemented by notes of pepper and nutmeg.
Tennessee
"Every Tennessee whiskey is a bourbon, but not every bourbon is a Tennessee whiskey." To avoid any confusion, we want to solve the mystery straight away. The main difference is that bourbon from the US state of Tennessee is sold under exactly this label. In terms of production, the only difference is that the raw spirit is filtered through a layer of charcoal several meters thick before it is aged in barrels. This step makes Tennessee whiskey even milder on the tongue than classic bourbon.
These are the best American whiskeys!
Bulleit Rye Whiskey
1. According to the guidelines, in order to distill a rye whiskey, at least 51% rye is required during production. With Bulleit Rye Whiskey, the manufacturers have taken it to the extreme and added a total of 95%. Freshly burned oak barrels are used for storage. The Bulleit Rye Whiskey then stays there for around 5 to 8 years. The aromas range from woody to herbs to thyme and tarragon. This whiskey is a great alternative to the popular bourbon whiskeys. After purchasing it, you will find a completely unique world of aromas in the glass. The price is 25 to 30 euros per bottle.
Jack Daniels Single Barrel
2. In order to keep the taste consistent in a series of whiskeys, different barrels from one batch are mixed together. This makes it all the more exciting for whiskey fans when there is a single barrel whiskey, because it actually comes from just one barrel. A barrel holds around 200 liters. So around 230 to 250 bottles can be made from one barrel if you deduct the Angels Share. A bottle of this whiskey costs around 30 euros and is a very special gift for any connoisseur. You can assume that other bottles from a different barrel will definitely have a different taste.
Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon
3For a little look outside the box, whiskey fans should take a closer look at the Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon. It is made according to the rules of a pre-prohibition whiskey and then stored for 9 years in a burnt oak barrel. However, only 2 years are legally required for bourbon. The aromas are grateful, because Knob Creek contains pine resin, forest honey, flowers and many other botanicals. A great whiskey experience if you want something different. The price is 30 euros per bottle.
Booker's Bourbon
4Booker's Bourbon contains a full 63.4% alcohol. This makes it anything but a spirit for beginners. Overall, it is very spicy and slightly hot. The taste is rather woody, which is also very noticeable when nosing. With this Kentucky Bourbon, a dash of water is a must, otherwise the alcohol is too strong. If you enjoy it then, you will find the sweetness of the caramel. Definitely a whiskey for advanced drinkers who are familiar with strong varieties. A bottle costs around 80 euros, which is reasonable for the quality.
Four Roses Single Barrel
5. The Four Roses Single Barrel also has the peculiarity that all bottles come from a single barrel. Nothing has been mixed, changed or blended here. The result is that the Four Roses Single Barrel is an honest whiskey on the shelf that is relatively inexpensive at 30 euros. Nevertheless, the taste is a surprise because it comes straight from the barrel, just like in the bottle. Since the aromas are always different, this is a great gift for a real whiskey connoisseur.
Elijah Craig 12 years
6. Bourbon actually only needs to be aged for 2 years before it can be called bourbon. In the case of Elijah Craig, this time was extended to 12 years. This gives it very strong aromas that immediately come to the fore when nosing and tasting. We have vanilla, citrus, strawberries and a lot of smoke and roasted aromas. Despite the great complexity, the taste remains very balanced and pleasant. A bottle costs around 30 euros and is more suitable for advanced connoisseurs. The Elijah Craig 12 year old is proof that there can be other premium whiskeys besides Jim and Jack.
Enjoy American whiskey consciously!
When it comes to enjoying whiskey, you shouldn't copy anything from Hollywood! But if you want to know how to really enjoy your whiskey at home, then check out the next post!
... Or go to the overview to learn more about the whisky!