Eighty percent of the nations' bourbon is produced in Kentucky, where limestone filtered groundwater supposedly accounts for the unique flavor of the whisky, as well as the strength of it's thoroughbred horses. Bourbon County, Kentucky, where Bourbon gets it's name, is a dry county. It's neighbor, Christian County is wet.
Unlike other American whiskies, bourbon "Whisky" is spelled with out a "e".
Bourbon Making is a major industry in Kentucky where there was as many as 2,000 bourbon distilleries located throughout the commonwealth. Only a select few remain today.
The first bourbon - and the first American whisky - to be sold in sealed bottles was Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky. George Garvin Brown, Founder of the Brown and Forman Beverage Company began producing Old Forester in 1870 and became the first distiller to sell his bourbon in sealed glass bottles. Prior to that time whisky was sold at retail from unsealed barrels. George Garvin Brown's grandfather was a scout for Daniel Boone and settled in Kentucky in the1870's, a time when bourbon whisky was increasing in popularity.
During prohibition, Brown and Forman was one of only ten distillers licensed to sell it's whisky to use for medicinal purposes.Old Forester, the company's flagship brand, was given the license, in part, because it's high quality met medicinal standards; it was the first bourbon to be bottled and sealed when George Garvin Brown began selling it in 1870.
Demand for medicinal alcohol such as Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky soared during prohibition. During each of the thirteen years the amendment was enforced, 10 million prescriptions for more than one million gallons of alcohol were issued.
All bourbon must be aged in newly charred white oak barrels for a minimum of two years.
