"Bourbon, America's Native Spirit...a visit to Buffalo Trace"

Bourbon is "America's Native Spirit" and if you don't know the difference between whiskies then this will help define what qualifies.  All bourbons are whiskey, but not all whiskies are bourbon.  First a bourbon must be made on U.S. soil.  Second, it must be comprised of at least 51% corn in the mash.  Third, it must be aged in New American Charred Oak.  Fourth, must be distilled to no more than 160 proof, 80% by volume.  Lastly, entered into the barrel at no more than 125 proof, 62.5 % by volume.  Bourbon has no real aging requirement unless it is "Straight bourbon" then it must be aged a minimum of 2 years.  A bottle that lists a year requires that the youngest bourbon in the bottle is aged to at least that old.  Many are blended to maintain a typicity.  Only bourbons made in a geographically determined area in Kentucky can claim to be "Kentucky Straight Bourbons".

A brief history of the area will help answer some additional questions that you might have.  With American pioneers pushing west of the Allegheny Mountains following the American Revolution, they  began settling vast counties.  One such county was established and named after the French Royal family, Bourbon.  Some of these pioneers settling the area in the 18th century were of Scottish and Irish heritage.  With "spirit" know-how they crafted a corn whiskey and stenciled "Old Bourbon" on their barrels.  In time, bourbon became synonymous with any corn-based whiskey.

                                 *This is White Dog or White Lightning...un-aged 160 proof

           *Just a sample of some of the more than a dozen different product lines produced here

Last year I was fortunate enough to take a road trip across the U.S. and visit several whiskey distilleries.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is only one producer, but it manufactures 18 different product lines.  Many are quite recognizable for bourbon fans...Van Winkle, Stagg, Weller, Elmer T., Blantons, Eagle Rare, just to name a few.  This is our heritage...drink it with pride!  
Cheers to team USA and moving on to the Round of 16!
https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/