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Bourbon whiskey

Smooth, spicy, fruity or intensely oaky, bourbon offers an aromatic range as diverse as the American regions where it is produced. Made from a mash containing at least 51% corn and aged in new oak barrels, this distinctive whiskey takes on a different character with every distillery, mash bill and choice of secondary grains, from historic Kentucky producers to a new generation of craft distillers. Whether you enjoy it neat to explore its full depth or use it as the foundation of an Old Fashioned, My French Comptoir has selected bourbons that are genuinely worth discovering.

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Rebel Straight Bourbon

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What is bourbon whiskey?

Bourbon is an American whiskey made from a grain mash containing at least 51% corn, as required by US regulations. What sets it apart from other whiskeys lies both in this grain base and in its mandatory ageing in new, charred American oak barrels, which contribute characteristic notes of vanilla, caramel and warm oak.

Bourbon is often associated with a smooth, generous profile, yet it can display remarkable complexity. Depending on the mash bill and length of maturation, it may be delicate, powerful or distinctly spicy.

The origins of bourbon

The history of bourbon dates back to the late 18th century, when Scottish and Irish settlers in America adapted their distilling expertise to locally available ingredients, replacing barley with corn, which was widely grown across the southern plains. Old Bourbon County in Kentucky is generally regarded as the historical birthplace of the spirit, and Kentucky still accounts for the vast majority of bourbon production today.

US law does, however, allow bourbon to be produced anywhere in the United States, and numerous craft distilleries have emerged in recent years, from Texas to New York.

What are the requirements for bourbon whiskey?

The name “bourbon” is more than a matter of tradition: it is defined by US federal regulations. The mash bill must contain at least 51% corn. The spirit cannot be distilled above 80% ABV, and it must enter the barrel at no more than 62.5% ABV. Only new, charred American oak barrels may be used for maturation. When bottled, bourbon must contain at least 40% ABV, with no additives other than water.

There is no minimum ageing period required for bourbon, but the designation “Straight Bourbon” guarantees at least two years of maturation in oak.

How is bourbon made?

From milling the grains to bottling, bourbon production follows a precise sequence of steps, with every decision influencing the final character of the whiskey.

Milling and cooking: The grains are ground into a coarse meal, then mixed with water and heated to release their natural sugars.
Fermentation: Once the mixture has cooled, yeast is added. Fermentation generally lasts between two and four days, converting the sugars into alcohol.
Distillation: The fermented mash is distilled to concentrate the alcohol. The resulting distillate may be diluted with water before the next stage.
Ageing: The spirit is transferred into new, charred oak barrels, where it gradually develops colour, becomes smoother and gains aromatic complexity.
Bottling: After maturation, the bourbon is removed from the barrels, filtered and bottled at the desired strength.

What does bourbon taste like?

A bourbon's aromatic profile depends on several interacting factors: the mash bill and choice of secondary grains such as rye, wheat and malted barley, the yeast strain used during fermentation, the distillation process and the length of maturation. Depending on these elements, bourbon can be smooth and approachable or rich and full-bodied. Some of the most common flavours include:

Vanilla and caramel, characteristic notes derived from charred oak
Sweet spices such as cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg, particularly when rye forms part of the mash bill
Fruit and honey, including black cherry, apricot and acacia honey in more mature or wheat-forward expressions
Nuts and toasted oak, often more pronounced in longer-aged or higher-strength bottlings

How should you drink bourbon?

Bourbon lends itself to several styles of tasting. Served neat in a tulip-shaped glass, it allows you to explore its aromas in greater detail and is particularly well suited to older releases and single barrel bottlings.

Served over ice or with a splash of water in a tumbler, it offers a more relaxed tasting experience in which the rounded character of the corn often comes to the forefront.

Bourbon is also a cornerstone of cocktail making. Its natural balance of sweetness, structure and spice makes it a remarkably versatile base, with enough character to stand up to bitters, citrus and syrups without being overwhelmed.