Bourbon 101: A Complete Guide for Bourbon Beginners

Interested in diving into a glass of bourbon but not sure where to start? Bourbon doesn’t have to be intimidating once you discover the intricacies of the ever-evolving world of these delicious spirits! Using this simple guide, you can arm yourself with the basic knowledge of bourbon, and have the groundwork to go from confused to connoisseur.

What Makes Bourbon, Bourbon?

You’ve probably heard the basic, “All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.” What that means is bourbon is a subset of a wider category — whiskey. That wider category includes other types such as Scotch, Japanese Whisky, Irish Whisky, Canadian Whisky, and even other American whiskeys like rye whiskey. So what makes bourbon a category of its own? Five very important distinctions:

  • Only whiskey produced in the United States can be called bourbon.
  • Bourbon must be made of a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn.
  • Straight bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak barrels for a minimum of two years.
  • Bourbon must be distilled to no more than 160 proof, barreled at no higher than 125 proof, and bottled at no less than 80 proof.
  • Bourbon can have nothing added to it except water.

A Smith Bowman Distillery’s Bourbon Distilling Process:

A. Smith Bowman Distillery | Fermentation

Step 1 — Fermentation:

The first step in the distilling process is fermentation. We start by grinding corn and cooking it to draw out the natural sugar. Then we add our proprietary yeast strains, which convert the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide after a few days. At this stage, the liquid is called “wash.”

A. Smith Bowman Distillery | Distilling

Step 2 — Distilling:

Next, that wash is distilled. Once in the stills, the wash is heated and the vapor is condensed and collected as a liquid. This is known as “white dog.” Fun fact: Our bourbons are typically triple distilled.

A. Smith Bowman Distillery | Maturing

Step 3 — Maturing:

Depending on the bourbon, it can mature in our warehouse for many years. Our Master Distiller gets to take the first sips and decide when each barrel is ready to be bottled.

A. Smith Bowman Distillery | Bottling

Step 4 — Bottling:

The final step of distilling bourbon is to take the spirit from their barrels to new bottles. Our bottling line fills and labels our award-winning spirits.

How To Taste Bourbon:

Bourbon varies depending on each bottle, therefore it can have tones of different notes — from tobacco to peaches. Learning how to taste America’s native spirit doesn’t mean one “correct” way, but there are tips to discover those more subtle notes.

  • Pour and Observe the Color
    Generally speaking, the lighter the color of bourbon, the lighter it will taste. Darker bourbons will have a richer taste and higher proof. These will taste very different.
  • Nose the Glass
    Pick up your glass, tilt it, and place your nose near the rim. Breathe through your nose but with your lips parted (this will help you smell more than just the scents of strong alcohol).
  • Taste Test
    Take a sip and hold the bourbon in your mouth. Most A. Smith Bowman Distillery bourbons will have notes of oak, caramel, vanilla, or even a touch of spice. Take note of what you taste. Do not swallow immediately.
  • Note the Finish
    The taste that lingers is known as the finish. Some finishes are super short, some are super long and here you can discover even more flavor notes.
  • Repeat!
    If you want, you can try adding a few drops of water to your neat bourbon. This can unearth different flavors in the bottle.

Now that you’ve got all your basics covered, it’s time to try some bourbon for yourself! A. Smith Bowman has numerous award-winning bourbons, but our essential bourbon for neophytes, not just because of its crowd-pleasing and iconic flavors, but due to its approachable notes, is Bowman Brothers Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey. You can buy a bottle on our online store, in our Fredericksburg Distillery, or at your local ABC store.