American whiskey facts for kids
American whiskey is a special kind of whiskey made in the United States. Whiskey is a drink made from fermented grain. The main types of American whiskey are bourbon whiskey, rye whiskey, rye malt whiskey, malt whiskey, wheat whiskey, Tennessee whiskey, and corn whiskey. For most of these, at least 51% of the grains used must be the grain named in the whiskey's type.
There are also blended whiskeys, which are mixtures of different whiskeys. Sometimes, these can have extra colors or flavors. Rules about how American whiskey is made and labeled can be different for whiskey sold in the U.S. compared to whiskey sent to other countries.
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Rules for Making American Whiskey
The rules for making and labeling American whiskey are set by the U.S. government. Many other countries, like Canada, agree that certain types of American whiskey, such as bourbon and Tennessee whiskey, must be made in the U.S. to be called by those names. This helps protect the special quality of these American drinks.
Sometimes, when American whiskey is sold in another country, it also has to follow that country's rules for whiskey. These rules might even be stricter than the U.S. rules!
Types of American Whiskey
Here are some of the main types of American whiskey, and what makes them special:
- Rye whiskey: Made from a mix of grains that is at least 51% rye.
- Rye malt whiskey: Made from a mix of grains that is at least 51% malted rye.
- Malt whiskey: Made from a mix of grains that is at least 51% malted barley.
- Wheat whiskey: Made from a mix of grains that is at least 51% wheat.
- Bourbon whiskey: Made from a mix of grains that is at least 51% corn (maize).
- Corn whiskey: Made from a mix of grains that is at least 80% corn.
For most of these types, the whiskey must be distilled (cleaned) to a certain strength. This makes sure the flavor from the original grains stays strong. Also, you can't add any coloring or extra flavors to these whiskeys.
All of these, except corn whiskey, must be aged in new oak barrels that have been burned (charred) on the inside. This aging process gives the whiskey its color and much of its flavor. Corn whiskey doesn't have to be aged, but if it is, it must be aged in used or uncharred oak barrels. Often, it's aged in old bourbon barrels.
Straight Whiskey
Straight whiskey is a special kind of whiskey that has been aged for at least two years. It's not mixed with any other spirits, colors, or flavors. If a straight whiskey also fits one of the types above (like rye or bourbon), it's called a "straight rye whiskey" or "straight bourbon whiskey."
If a straight whiskey has been aged for less than four years, its label must say how old it is. If it's aged for four years or more, the age doesn't have to be on the label.
Bottled in Bond
A whiskey can be called bottled in bond if it meets even stricter rules. It must be aged for at least four years in a special government-supervised warehouse. It also has to be bottled at a specific strength (50% alcohol) and come from one distilling season. This label was created to guarantee the quality of the whiskey.
Other Types
- Blended whiskey is a mix that includes at least 20% straight whiskey. The rest can be other whiskeys or neutral spirits. It might also have added flavors or colors.
- Light whiskey is made at a higher alcohol level and stored in used or uncharred oak barrels.
- Spirit whiskey is a mix of neutral spirits and a smaller amount of stricter types of whiskey.
Tennessee Whiskey
Tennessee whiskey is a special type of American whiskey. It's a straight bourbon whiskey that is made in the state of Tennessee. A unique part of making Tennessee whiskey is the Lincoln County Process. This means the whiskey is filtered through a thick layer of maple charcoal before it goes into barrels for aging. Famous brands like Jack Daniel's and George Dickel use this process. One distillery, Benjamin Prichard's, is an exception and does not use this filtering method.
History of American Whiskey
The history of American whiskey is tied to the early days of the United States.
Whiskey and Taxes
In 1791, the U.S. government decided to tax whiskey. This was the first time a product made in the U.S. was taxed. Many people, especially farmers who made whiskey, were very unhappy about this. This led to something called the Whiskey Rebellion, which lasted until 1794 when the government sent militias to stop it. This event showed that the new federal government had the power to enforce its laws.
Improving Quality
By the late 1800s, the quality of whiskey made in the U.S. wasn't always very good. To fix this, the government passed the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. This law helped make sure that whiskey was made to certain standards for how it was made and how long it was aged.
Prohibition Era
The Temperance Movement was a time when many people wanted to ban alcohol. This led to a period called Prohibition in 1920, when it became illegal to make, sell, or transport alcohol in the U.S. Many distilleries had to close. However, a few companies were given special licenses to make whiskey for medicinal purposes. When Prohibition ended in 1933, many old distilleries started making whiskey again.
