All Bourbon Is Whiskey, But Not All Whiskey Is Bourbon

If a bottle says “Bourbon Whiskey” and stops right there, that means it followed every rule to earn the name bourbon.

Bourbon is a type of whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. To be legally called bourbon, it has to meet a very specific set of regulations that have been in place since 1964.

To make it easy to remember, I created a quick guide: the A-B-C-D-E-F-Gs of Bourbon. Here’s what it takes:

A = America Bourbon must be made in the United States.

B = Barrel It has to be aged in a brand-new, charred white oak barrel.

C = Corn The recipe, called the mash bill, must be at least 51% corn.

D = Distilled Proof

The spirit can’t come off the still higher than 160 proof.

E = Entry Proof

It must go into the barrel at no more than 125 proof.

F = Finished Proof

What ends up in the bottle must be at least 80 proof.

G = Genuine Nothing added. No flavors, no colors, no shortcuts. And no second barrel finishes.

If you break even one of these rules, it’s not bourbon anymore. It’s whiskey.

Here’s where people get confused:

Let’s say you make a perfect bourbon and age it properly. But then you pour it into a second barrel, like one that used to hold rum or wine. That extra step disqualifies it from being called bourbon. It doesn’t matter how good it tastes. Once it touches that second barrel, it no longer meets the legal definition.

Now it’s a finished whiskey, not bourbon.

Bottom line:

If the label says “Bourbon Whiskey” and nothing else, you’re holding a true bourbon that followed all the rules.

If it says “Bourbon Whiskey finished in rum casks” or something similar, that means it started as bourbon but took a little detour. It’s still whiskey, and it might be delicious, but it’s not legally bourbon anymore.

Stay tuned for the next post where I’ll break down each letter of the ABCDFGs and show you how to spot these details on real bottles.

Angelique Rison Founder Sipping in the South

Taste Bourbon and Whiskey Side by Side

Tasting bourbon and whiskey side by side is the fastest way to learn the difference. Review the legal rules with the Kentucky Distillers' Association, read the ABCDEFGs of bourbon, and compare bourbon and whiskey styles on Bourbon Curious. Still curious about bourbon and whiskey? Visit Bourbon Education.