Sure. You could celebrate the 4th of July with domestic beer, or mixed drinks that layer in the colors of the flag (it's a fine excuse to use the remainder of that Blue Curacao that's been gathering dust). Or, you could break out America's true native spirit: Bourbon.
Though Congress gave it that title in 1964 in an official decree, bourbon earned its bragging rights long before the government stepped in. The American whiskey-distilling tradition in which bourbon has its roots -- introduced on these shores by Irish and Scottish immigrants -- stretches back over two centuries, with no less a practitioner than George Washington (whose distillery, established in 1799, has recently been reconstructed and reopened).
Though Congress gave it that title in 1964 in an official decree, bourbon earned its bragging rights long before the government stepped in. The American whiskey-distilling tradition in which bourbon has its roots -- introduced on these shores by Irish and Scottish immigrants -- stretches back over two centuries, with no less a practitioner than George Washington (whose distillery, established in 1799, has recently been reconstructed and reopened).
Cocktail
But while all bourbons are whiskey, not all whiskeys are bourbon; to get the prized, strictly-regulated moniker, you've got to follow a few key rules. A distiller cannot call his whiskey "bourbon" unless it's:
- Made of at least 51% corn
- Distilled to no more than 160 proof (80 % ABV)
- Aged in charred new oak containers
- Untouched by artificial colors or flavor
Bourbon can techinically come from anywhere in the United States, though its heart will always belong in Kentucky, the only state allowed to indicate its name on the label. If you're looking to doubly honor the spirit's roots come the 4th of July, skip the the urge to drink it straight, and proceed directly to the Mint Julep.
- Made of at least 51% corn
- Distilled to no more than 160 proof (80 % ABV)
- Aged in charred new oak containers
- Untouched by artificial colors or flavor
Bourbon can techinically come from anywhere in the United States, though its heart will always belong in Kentucky, the only state allowed to indicate its name on the label. If you're looking to doubly honor the spirit's roots come the 4th of July, skip the the urge to drink it straight, and proceed directly to the Mint Julep.
Comments
THE SUBLIME AND REFINED TASTE OF A JULEP ON A HOT SUMMER DAY SHOULD BE ENJOYED BEST IN A PEWTER , SILVER OR ALUMINUM CUP IN ORDER TO GET THAT MISTY COLD FROST ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE GLASS LATER TO BE USED TO COOL ONE'S FOREHEAD!
Oct 02, 2010 at 7:04 AM
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