American whisky

The United States has its own whiskey tradition, spelt with an e, based on corn, rye and the new charred barrel. Its best-known styles are bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and rye, and most is made in Kentucky and Tennessee, although today there are distilleries in almost every state. The catalogue includes houses such as Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey, Four Roses and Jack Daniel’s.

In the catalogue
104 whiskies
Distilleries and brands
29
Most common type
Bourbon
Peated
2 of 104

History, style and where to startIts distilleries on the world map

104 whiskies

Guide to American whisky

History

Scottish, Irish and German settlers brought distilling to America, and in the 18th century rye dominated in Pennsylvania and Maryland. With the westward expansion, the corn of Kentucky and Tennessee gave rise to bourbon. Prohibition, between 1920 and 1933, closed almost every distillery, and only a few carried on with permits for medicinal whiskey. After decades in the shadow of vodka, bourbon regained prestige from the 1980s with small batch and single barrel releases, and today it is booming, with hundreds of craft distilleries.

What the law says

Bourbon must be made in the United States with at least 51% corn, distilled to no more than 80% ABV, entered into the barrel at no more than 62.5%, matured in new charred oak barrels and bottled at at least 40%, with no colouring or flavourings. There is no minimum age, but straight bourbon needs at least two years. Rye follows the same rules with at least 51% rye, and Tennessee whiskey also has its own state law.

Style and flavour

The new charred barrel is the key: it brings plenty of vanilla, caramel, coconut and toasted oak, which is why American whiskey is sweeter and spicier than a Scotch of the same age. Corn gives sweetness and body; rye, spice and pepper; and wheat, when it replaces rye, smoothness, as in Maker’s Mark. Strengths tend to be high, and single barrel or barrel-proof versions are common.

Average flavour profile of American whisky in the catalogue (104 whiskies)

Sweet
3.3
Fresh fruit
2.0
Ripe and dried fruit
1.0
Floral and herbal
0.8
Cereal and malt
1.6
Vanilla and creamy
2.7
Oak
2.5
Spicy
2.6
Toasted
2.0
Smoky
0.2
Maritime
0.0
Body and intensity
3.0

Where to start

Buffalo Trace is a balanced, easy-to-understand bourbon: vanilla, caramel and a touch of spice. Maker’s Mark, made with wheat, is smoother and rounder, and Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 shows the Tennessee style. If you like spice, try a rye such as Rittenhouse. The Kentucky and Tennessee pages help you keep exploring.

This text was generated and translated by AI and may contain errors.

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