Bourbon is a type of barrel-aged American whiskey made primarily from corn (maize). The name derives from the French Bourbon dynasty, although the precise source of inspiration is uncertain; contenders include Bourbon County in Kentucky and Bourbon Street in New Orleans, both of which are named after the dynasty. The name bourbon may not have been used until the 1850s, and the association with Bourbon County was not evident until the 1870s.
A selection of bourbons and Tennessee whiskeys at a liquor store
Nineteenth century bourbon bottle
American white oak barrels filled with new bourbon whiskey rest in a rickhouse, giving bourbon its well-known copper color
The bourbon distilleries that produce Buffalo Trace (left), Maker's Mark (center), and Woodford Reserve (right), are National Historic Landmarks in Kentucky.
American whiskey is whiskey produced in the United States. American whiskeys made from mashes with at least 51% of their named grains include bourbon whiskey, rye whiskey, rye malt whiskey, malt whiskey, wheat whiskey, Tennessee whiskey, and corn whiskey.
A selection of American whiskies. The predominant variety, Bourbon whiskey, is made mostly of corn.
The production line at the Maker's Mark bourbon distillery in Loretto, Kentucky
Tennessee whiskey aging in charred new oak barrels at the Jack Daniel's distillery
An 1882 advertisement for Cyrus Noble Old Bourbon, a defunct brand from Lynchburg, Ohio.
