Follow the grain, mash, yeast, still, wood, warehouse and bottle. See the federal limits, then find tours that describe these steps.
A mash bill is a grain recipe. Bourbon’s fermented mash must contain at least 51 percent corn. The rest of the recipe can vary from distiller to distiller.
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Grain is mixed with water and cooked, then cooled before fermentation. This cooked mixture is the mash.
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Yeast feeds on the mash’s sugars, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide. The fermented liquid is often called distiller’s beer.
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Heating the fermented mash produces alcohol-rich vapor, which is cooled back into liquid. Distilleries use different still designs. Bourbon cannot come off the still above 160 proof.
KDA: sources of flavor, checked . Federal whisky standard, checked .
Proof is twice alcohol by volume in the United States. Details and sources are below.
Federal whisky standard, checked . U.S. proof definition, checked .
Bourbon enters new charred oak barrels at no more than 125 proof. New wood and char become part of the maturation story.
Federal whisky standard, checked . KDA: sources of flavor, checked .
In a rickhouse, spirit matures with oak as time passes. Wood contributes color and flavor. Straight bourbon requires at least 2 years in storage.
KDA: sources of flavor, checked . Federal whisky standard, checked .
Bourbon is bottled at 80 proof or higher, at least 40 percent alcohol by volume. In the United States, proof is twice alcohol by volume. Individual bottlings can be stronger.
Federal whisky standard, checked . U.S. proof definition, checked .
These operator descriptions name the steps shown above. Check the current route, requirements and tickets before booking. A warehouse or bottling-hall visit does not promise a working production line.
The operator names grain delivery, mashing, fermentation and distillation. Its page lists ages 12 and older and says the route is not ADA accessible.
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The description names barrel paths and aging warehouses.
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This maturation experience includes a barrel tasting in Warehouse C.
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The description includes the barrel warehouse and bottling-hall architecture at West Newport. This tour page lists a 21-and-older age rule.
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