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Hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Donald Trump, the Department of Revenue on February 13 notified a significant tariff cut on bourbon, a barrel-aged American whiskey made primarily from corn. The new structure will impose a basic customs duty of 50% on bourbon and an additional 50% levy, bringing the total tariff imposed to 100%, down from 150% previously.
Here’s all about what the US Congress in 1964 declared was “distinctive product of the United States”.
According to US law, for a whiskey to be labelled bourbon, it must
By law, bourbon can be produced anywhere in the US, but it bears close associations with the rural South, specifically in the state of Kentucky. It is popularly believed that bourbon gets its name from Bourbon County in Kentucky, although scholars disagree about its origins. (More on that later).
Most bourbons are made of roughly 70% corn. The particular mix of other grains used — rye, malted barley, or wheat — gives each brand its distinct flavour. The master distiller mixes all the grains with water and yeast under low heat.
One well-combined, the mixture is left to ferment for upto two weeks, during which the sugar in the grains reacts with the yeast, a single-celled fungal organism, to produce ethyl alcohol. Most bourbons add a “sour mash” — leftover from the previous distillation — during fermentation, which prevents bacteria growth.
The fermented mixture is strained. The remaining liquid, which contains water, alcohol, and other chemicals, is distilled to increase the concentration of alcohol. Essentially, the alcohol is physically separated from other components, primarily water, by relying on their different boiling temperatures. Most bourbons are put through the distillation process twice.
The distillate is then aged in charred oak barrels, which helps caramelise the remaining sugars in the liquid, contributing to bourbon’s distinct oaky and sweet flavour and colour. Where the wood has been sourced from, the amount of charr on the barrel also impacts flavour, and how long it is left to age also impact the flavour of the final product.
Before bottling (sometimes also before aging), bourbon is diluted with distilled water to lower its alcohol content to permissible levels. The whiskey stops aging once it is bottled.
The Irish and the Scots disagree about who invented whiskey — and when. And much like Bengalis and Odias will never agree about the origin of the beloved rasgulla, the two neighbours will probably never settle the debate. (That’s a story for another time).
What can be said for sure is that whisky — more specifically, the process of distillation — came to North America with Scot and Irish settlers as early as the 17th century. The natives in North America had been farming maize for a millenia, and consuming corn-based fermented beverages for probably just as long. Soon enough, corn had made it into American-made whiskey’s mashbill, and voila, bourbon was born.
There are a few different apocryphal stories about the invention of bourbon. One of the most popular ones credits Elijah Craig, an 18th century Baptist minister from Kentucky. Craig is set to have been the first person to age the product in charred oak casks to give bourbon its brownish hue and distinctive taste. Another one credits Jacob Spears, a distiller from Bourbon County, for not only inventing bourbon but giving it its name.
In all likelihood, there likely was no single “inventor” of bourbon, which evolved over time. In fact, it took its present form as late as the 19th century, according to many experts. Initially a blue collar drink, bourbon skyrocketed in popularity especially after the end of Prohibition era (1920-33), when the middle and upper classes increasingly gravitated towards it.
In recent years, it has become one of the most popular spirits, not just in the US where its “American origin” is celebrated, but also around the world. According to Allied Market Research, the global bourbon spirits market was valued at $7.8 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $12.8 billion by 2031. India imported bourbon worth $2.5 million in 2023-24, PTI reported.
What makes bourbon so popular today is that it can be consumed in multiple different ways depending on preference, and the kind of bourbon one has in hand.
Purists believe that high quality bourbon should be consumed neat, with no additions. This allows one to experience the whiskey’s full aroma, texture, and the nuances of its taste. “Swirl gently to release the aromas, take a small sip, and let it linger on your palate before swallowing,” an article in Taster’sClub.com says.
Many prefer to drink bourbon with a splash of water, something that is believed to “open up” the drink to enhance its aroma and flavour. Remember a splash means a few drops — do not drown your whiskey in water. Others prefer it “on the rocks”, whether it be using real whiskey rocks which will cool the drink without diluting it, or ice.
Lastly, bourbon can also be consumed with cola, or in a cocktail. Some popular ones include Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and Whiskey Sour.
Some of the most popular brands of bourbon are Jim Beam, Woodford Reserve, Maker’s Mark, Evan Williams, and Wild Turkey 101. Jack Daniel’s and Gentleman Jack are often referred to as bourbon but they are in fact Tennessee whiskey. That said, Tennessee whiskeys often meet the legal standard for being considered bourbon.
Note: The Indian Express does not condone the consumption of alcohol. Drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive.
