American bourbon: names, reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

American bourbon is also known as corn whiskey. The drink is the real national pride of Americans. The original name was obtained in honor of one of the towns in Kentucky, where the recipe for this product was first developed. It differs in its recipe and is about the same importance as whiskey in Scotland, schnapps in Germany, vodka in Russia and cognac in France.

General information

Recently, American bourbon has become very popular all over the world. But not all admirers of this drink know the best producers. Some users are familiar with only two brands ("Jim Beam" and "Jack Daniels"). But this is a very superficial view of such a global issue. There are dozens of quality corn whiskey makers in the US. Next, we will examine some of the most famous brands in this segment.

Jim Beam

Jim Beam American Bourbon is one of the best-selling and popular drinks in its class. In the reviews, many connoisseurs of this product note that this particularvariety is made in Kentucky.

The second word in the name of whiskey means the name of its founders. The first batch of this drink was made at the end of the 18th century by Jacob Beam. The initial word is associated with the period of prohibition in the United States. At this time, the company was headed by Jim Beam, under whose leadership the company managed to survive the most difficult times for itself. It was then that the real name of this brand of bourbon was established.

Jim Beam varieties

Currently, there are several types of American bourbon from this producer. They differ in prescription technology and endurance. The line includes:

• White Label aged four years.
• Black Label, aged eight years.
• Collection series "Bookers" (Booker's), strength 63, 2 gr.
• Baker's version made using a special fermentation process.
• "Basil Hayden's" with a large selection of spices and spices.
• Nine year old drink Knob Creek.

Consumers note that any variety of the specified whiskey has a unique rich taste and unsurpassed aroma.

Jack Daniel's

Among its many competitors, Jack Daniels stands out for its special filtering method. American bourbon passes through a three-meter layer of charcoal. The average duration of the process is from eight to ten days. The originality of whiskey is further emphasized by the nuance that alcohol throughout the world is called exclusively Jack Daniel's Tennessee Wiskey. Other features of this brand include a special water chemistry along with a special fermentation process carried out using sour wort.

Features of Jack Daniels

Users in reviews of the oldest American bourbon point to the original configuration of the bottle and the incomprehensible number 7 in the name. The form of a container represents a parallelepiped with the taken-away neck. "Seven" this drink got thanks to its creator Jasper Daniel. The origin of this number is not known for certain, one of them indicates that 7 is a symbol of good luck.

Connoisseurs of strong drink note its sweetish deep taste, along with the finest bouquet in the aroma. In the product line there is a variety of Honey, which is added honey.

Heaven Hill

American whiskey (bourbon) of the Haven Hill brand has been made since the repeal of Prohibition in the United States. It was during that period that the Shapiro brothers decided to invest the available capital in the production of alcohol. The name of this corn whiskey is associated with the hero of the war against the Indians William Havenhill. It was not without the intervention of chance. One of the workers in charge of registering the name made the mistake of writing it in two words. As a result, the current name appeared, which translates as "heavenly hill".

Gourmets in reviewsnote that "Heaven Hill" delivers true pleasure to connoisseurs of strong drinks. Whiskey is distinguished by a golden-bronze color scheme, noble wood, caramel, haze, cinnamon are felt in the aroma. The flavor bouquet is saturated with notes of nuts, various fruits, spices, herbs and honey. Connoisseurs recommend tasting the Old Style series. It maximally emphasizes that the product belongs to the classic standards for the production of quality alcohol in the States.

Four Roses

American whiskey (bourbon) "Four Roses" is named after the creator Rufus Rose, symbolizing one of the roses. The fact is that the literal translation of the original name is “four roses”. The other three flowers symbolize Rufus' wife and two children. Corn whiskey is also produced in Kentucky, giving it an edge over its counterparts in Montana, Ohio or other US states.

Consumers note that Four Roses has a light and sophisticated taste. According to experts, the secret of the recipe lies in the use of crystal clear spring water. At least 60 percent of corn wort is used in production. It is this component that gives the drink a sweetish aftertaste. Like other analogues, "Four Roses" must insist in oak containers, previously burned from the inside. An identifiable element on the bottle of said drink is the four embossed red roses on the label.

Maker's Mark

Among the types of American bourbon, one of the most expensive is Makers Mark. into Russianthe name is translated as "sign of the master". All connoisseurs who tried this product noted its high quality. This brand stands out among competitors with its original production recipe. The purest water is taken from a private lake, which is located on the company's premises.

As the main wort, a mixture of sweet corn, winter red wheat, and selected m alts is used. The proportions of each component are kept secret. Cereal components are ground by a special method in one old mill, after which they are sent for heat treatment. Then they are mixed with water and yeast. Fermentation takes place in huge cypress barrels. The rest of the process is observed according to the classical scheme. The peculiarity of Makers Mark production is small volumes of production, which indicates not the pursuit of profit, but the preservation of traditions and the highest quality.

Early Times

An American bourbon called "Early Times" was produced during the Prohibition period as a medicinal product. True, now it is not specified what diseases this “potion” was supposed to treat. The name in translation means "old times", focused on convincing consumers that the whiskey manufacturer strictly adheres to the traditions of alcohol production.

It is worth noting one interesting fact. Under US law, the drink in question cannot be sold as bourbon due to the absence of the “Made in Kentucky” mark on the label. This fact is directly related to its aging, although the product is infused in old oak containers. Lightthe tone of the corn whiskey of this brand is due to precisely this circumstance. Many connoisseurs in the responses note that the Airlie Times is one of the most balanced spirits among competitors.

Blanton's American Bourbon

This corn whiskey was developed by Colonel Albert Blanton. There is information that the developer went to the final version for almost fifty years. Long years of experiments have shown a well-known axiom that everything ingenious is simple. The composition of the alcoholic drink "Blanton-s" includes sweet corn, selected varieties of rye and specially prepared barley. All extraneous additives and impurities are excluded. This is the main feature of Blanton’s.

Judging by the reviews of experts, the bourbon in question is considered one of the standards of quality. Connoisseurs note notes of citrus fruits, honey, apples, spices and chocolate in a rich aftertaste. The branded bottle from under this product is known all over the world. Tara is crowned with a figurine of a jockey riding a mustang racing at full speed.

Daniel Stewart

It cannot be argued that Daniel Stewart is a very popular and well-known brand in the States. This brand was included in the review because of its relatively budgetary cost for the domestic market. Reviews about this manufacturer are mostly positive. They do not note any special advantages over competitors, except for the price, but they practically do not indicate any negative points either.

Organolepticthe parameters of the drink are quite consistent with accepted standards, although the aftertaste quickly breaks off, despite its initial saturation. The description of this corn whiskey suggests that the product is quite suitable as a budget category bourbon. Especially the acquisition of "Daniel Stewart" is relevant for the preparation of various cocktails based on it. At the same time, it is not particularly suitable for the first acquaintance with a real American product, as it does not make it possible to appreciate all the qualities of the drink.

Benchmark

Among all brands of American bourbon, the Benchmark brand is distinguished, which is also made at production facilities in Kentucky. In addition to corn, the composition of the drink includes selected barley and rye. It is worth noting that the last ingredient occupies a large share in the recipe. According to company instructions, this cereal should be at least 51%.

Whiskey is aged for at least four years in new wood barrels, which are made of American oak. The distinguishing features of consumers include the optimal combination of high quality and reasonable prices. The appearance of the bottle is somewhat similar to the capacity of Jack Daniels. The taste of these drinks differs significantly from each other. In Benchmark, it is thin and somewhat dry, with a burning and rather sharp aftertaste. Tasting highlights include soft notes of chocolate, cinnamon and caramel.

Wild Turkey

Initially, this classic drink had a different name - American Bourbon 101. Its history beganin 1855, when the owner of a store specializing in the sale of alcohol and coffee, Austin Nicolet, began to make his own liquor. Corn whiskey of this brand until 1870 was sold only in barrels. The current name of the drink appeared in 1940. Turkey hunters liked the taste and aroma of this product so much that they suggested calling it "Wild Turkey" (wild turkey). Now the trademark belongs to the Italian alcohol brand Gruppo Campari.