Bourbon vs Whiskey: What's the Difference, and Is All American Whiskey Bourbon?

Is bourbon the same as whiskey?

Bourbon is a type of whiskey. All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.

Whiskey is the whole family: Scotch, Irish, Japanese, Canadian and American. Bourbon is one American style within it, defined by US law. A bottle labelled bourbon tells you where it was made, what grain it is mostly made from and what kind of barrel it was aged in. A bottle that only says whiskey tells you none of that.

The comparison that confuses most people is a narrower one: bourbon against the rest of American whiskey. That is what most of this guide covers.

What makes a whiskey bourbon

Under US federal rules, bourbon must be:

• made in the United States
• made from a mash of at least 51% corn
• distilled to no more than 80% ABV (160 proof)
• aged in new charred oak containers, filled at no more than 62.5% ABV (125 proof)
• free of anything added except water, so no colouring and no flavouring
• bottled at no less than 40% ABV (80 proof)

There is no minimum age for bourbon. Straight bourbon must be aged for at least two years, and if it is under four years old the label must say how old it is.

Two of these rules explain most of what you taste. A new charred barrel gives vanilla, caramel and toasted wood quickly, and because nothing can be added, that sweetness comes from the corn and the oak, not from sugar. A barrel can only be used once for bourbon, so the used barrels are shipped abroad, mostly to Scotland and Ireland, where most whisky is aged in second-hand casks.

American whiskey vs bourbon

All bourbon is American whiskey, but American whiskey covers several types with different rules. Here is each type set against bourbon.

Two points catch people out. Maker's Mark uses wheat rather than rye as its second grain, but it is still bourbon because corn is the majority. And "American whiskey" on its own, with no type named, makes no promise about grain, barrel or additives.

Is Jack Daniel's bourbon?

Not by name. On paper, Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 meets the federal rules for bourbon: a corn-heavy mash, new charred oak and the same proof limits. The difference is the maple charcoal filtering before the spirit goes into the barrel, known as the Lincoln County Process. Since 2013 Tennessee law has required it for anything sold as Tennessee whiskey. Jack Daniel's calls itself Tennessee whiskey, not bourbon, and that is the name on the label.

How to read an American whiskey label

Three words tell you most of what you need:

• Bourbon, rye or wheat names the main grain, at 51% or more, and means new charred oak.
• Straight means at least two years in new charred oak and nothing added.
• Bottled in bond means one distillery, one distilling season, at least four years old and bottled at exactly 50% ABV (100 proof). Jack Daniel's Bonded is an example.

If none of these appear, the label is giving you less information.

Bourbon vs Scotch and Irish whiskey

Outside America the rules change. Scotch must be aged for at least three years in Scotland, usually in used casks (often ex-bourbon), and caramel colouring is allowed. Irish whiskey must also be aged for at least three years, and much of it is triple distilled, which is covered in what is Irish whiskey.

The result is that bourbon tends to be sweeter and oakier at a younger age, while Scotch covers a wider range, from malty and fruity to heavily smoked. The spelling difference, whisky or whiskey, has nothing to do with taste. Our guide to whisky vs whiskey explains it.

Which should you buy?

• You like vanilla, caramel and sweetness: start with bourbon.
• You want more spice and a drier finish: try rye.
• You like Jack Daniel's: Tennessee whiskey, or a mellow bourbon, will feel familiar.
• You prefer malt, fruit or smoke: Scotch is the better fit, and our best single malt whisky guide is a good starting point.

To browse the category, see bourbon at The Whisky Exchange. If you are buying for someone else, our bourbon gifts for men guide covers bottles and accessories, and a bourbon tasting glass set suits anyone starting to compare pours. Not sure which style suits you? The whisky finder quiz matches bottles to taste and budget.

FAQ

Is bourbon a whiskey?

Yes. Bourbon is a type of American whiskey made from at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak.

Is bourbon the same as whiskey?

No. Whiskey is the wider category, and bourbon is one style within it. All bourbon is whiskey, but Scotch, Irish, rye and most other whiskeys are not bourbon.

What is the difference between American whiskey and bourbon?

Bourbon is one kind of American whiskey. Rye, Tennessee, wheat, corn, American single malt and blended whiskey are the other main types, each with its own rules on grain and barrels.

Does bourbon have to be made in Kentucky?

No. Bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States. Most of it comes from Kentucky, but that is tradition, not law.

Is Jack Daniel's a bourbon?

It meets the federal rules for bourbon, but it is labelled Tennessee whiskey because it is filtered through maple charcoal before ageing, as Tennessee law requires.

Why does bourbon taste sweeter than Scotch?

Bourbon is mostly corn and must be aged in new charred oak, which gives vanilla and caramel quickly. Nothing can be added, so the sweetness comes from the grain and the barrel.