Dwg: Article written and Venn diagram created.

2026-01-24T11:20:07Z

Article written and Venn diagram created.

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== Differences between bourbon and whiskey ==
While all bourbon is a type of whiskey, not all whiskey is bourbon.<ref name="ref1" /> Whiskey is a broad category of distilled alcoholic beverage made from a fermented mash of cereal grain.<ref name="ref2" /> Styles of whiskey—such as Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, and Canadian whisky—are produced worldwide with varying methods and legal definitions. Bourbon<ref name="ref3" /><ref name="ref4" /> is a specific type of American whiskey that must adhere to a strict set of legal standards for its production, as defined in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.

These<ref name="ref5" /> regulations were first codified in 1964 when the U.S. Congress recognized bourbon as a "distinctive product of the United States". A common<ref name="ref4" /> misconception is that bourbon must be made in Kentucky; while the majority is produced there, it can legally be made anywhere in the United States.

=== Comparison table ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Category !! Bourbon !! Whiskey (General)
|-
| '''Geographic Origin'''
| Must be produced in the United States.
| Can be produced anywhere in the world.
|-
<ref name="ref1" />| '''Mash Bill'''
| Must be made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn.
| Made from various grains, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat, with no single grain majority required for the general category.
|-
<ref name="ref2" />| '''Aging Container'''
| Must be aged in new, charred oak containers.
| Can<ref name="ref5" /> be aged in a variety of wooden casks, including those previously used to age other spirits like sherry or wine.
|-
<ref name="ref2" />| '''Distillation Proof'''
| Cannot be distilled to more than 160 U.S. proof (80% alcohol by volume).
| Varies by country and style; for example, Scotch must be distilled at less than 94.8% ABV.
|-
<ref name="ref1" />| '''Barrel Entry Proof'''
| Must enter the barrel for aging at no more than 125 U.S. proof (62.5% ABV).
| Varies by country and style; regulations for many whiskey types do not specify a barrel entry proof.
|-
| '''Additives'''
| No artificial coloring or flavoring may be added. Only water can be added to adjust the proof.
| Varies by type. For example, some Canadian whiskies permit the addition of coloring and flavoring.
|-
| '''Bottling Proof'''
| Must be bottled at a minimum of 80 U.S. proof (40% ABV).
| Varies, though a minimum of 40% ABV is common for many international standards.
|}

[[File:Venn_diagram_Differences_between_Bourbon_versus_Whiskey_comparison.png|thumb|center|800px|alt=Venn diagram for Differences between Bourbon and Whiskey|Venn diagram comparing Differences between Bourbon and Whiskey]]

=== Other American whiskeys ===
Other types of whiskey made in the United States have their own legal definitions that distinguish them from bourbon.
* <ref name="ref1" /> '''Rye whiskey''' follows similar rules to bourbon, but its mash bill must contain at least 51% rye grain.
* <ref name="ref1" /> '''Corn whiskey''' must be made from a mash of at least 80% corn.
* <ref name="ref1" /> '''Tennessee whiskey''' is legally defined as a straight bourbon whiskey produced in the state of Tennessee. It undergoes an additional step of being filtered through charcoal chips before aging, a process known as the Lincoln County Process.

==<ref name="ref3" /> References ==
<references />

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="ref1">[https://www.bardstownbourbon.com/blogs/bourbon-vs-whiskey-guide/ "bardstownbourbon.com"]. Retrieved January 24, 2026.</ref>
<ref name="ref2">[https://eightoaksdistillery.com/blog/whiskey-vs-bourbon-understanding-the-difference/ "eightoaksdistillery.com"]. Retrieved January 24, 2026.</ref>
<ref name="ref3">[https://www.whisky.com/how-bourbon-whiskey-is-made.html "whisky.com"]. Retrieved January 24, 2026.</ref>
<ref name="ref4">[https://caskx.com/blog/bourbons-legal-definition/ "caskx.com"]. Retrieved January 24, 2026.</ref>
<ref name="ref5">[https://www.newriffdistilling.com/what-makes-bourbon-bourbon/ "newriffdistilling.com"]. Retrieved January 24, 2026.</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Comparisons]]

Differences between Bourbon and Whiskey - Revision history

Dwg: Article written and Venn diagram created.