Bourbon is a hot commodity these days. Folks are spending small fortunes for certain brands and investing in others – such as Pappy Van Winkle. Bourbon aficionados are taking tours and tasting their way across Kentucky to find that special bourbon.
That reminds me of a story my Daddy told me about the “perfect bourbon.”
A man gave one of his employees a bottle of bourbon for Christmas and later asked the beneficiary how he liked it.
“It was perfect,’ said the employee.
“Perfect? Really? What do you mean by perfect?” the boss asked.
“Well,” said the man. “If it was any better, you wouldn’t have given it to me and if it was any worse, I couldn’t have drunk it.”
Bourbon – good or bad – starts with a sour mash. It is taken from a previous batch of mash set out to sour overnight, and then added to a new batch. Bourbon is distilled from a fermented mash of grain, yeast, and water. The mash must have a minimum of 51% corn.
Bourbon must be aged for at least two years. Many premium bourbons on the market are aged between 5 and 12, with some as long as 27 years.
Also, to be considered a bourbon, it must be aged in brand-new barrels made of white oak and charred on the inside.
By law, nothing can be added at bottling except water. Nothing is added that might enhance flavor, add sweetness, or alter color.
Bourbon is bottled at between 80 and 125 proof. Only water may be used to lower the proof of the alcohol. Bourbon can be made anywhere in the US, but only whiskey produced in the State of Kentucky can be called labeled Kentucky Straight Whiskey.
Some of today’s great bourbons include Buffalo Trace, Old Fitzgerald, Bulleit, Elijah Craig, Knob Creek, Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, and many others.
I sometimes indulge in some of these higher priced bourbons and relish them as gifts from my kids, but I usually choose the “bottom shelf” bourbons – like Evan Williams, Early Times, Ancient Age and one of my favorites – Virginia Gentleman.
Virginia Gentleman is a reasonably priced bourbon that was distilled in Kentucky, then redistilled in the A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg. The nose is described as a little caramel, vanilla, corn on the cob, and just the lightest of oak.
Since I drink my bourbon with a little ginger ale, Virginia Gentleman works very well as a go-to whiskey. It’s not “perfect”, but it’s a good bourbon for the money.
