North American Whiskey: The Basics

The Basics | The Full Story | Reviews | Brands | Spirits Home

American Blended

For the most part, this is very uninspiring category. The rules are quite liberal allowing for almost any combination of Whiskies (Bourbon or Rye primarily) with varying amounts of neutral spirit bolstered by added flavors and color. You can avoid these products by simply reading the label. If it does not claim to be Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey, or Rye then it’s not! Price is no consideration as very fine Bourbon can be had for less than the price for a large pizza.

Canadian Whisky

Canadian Whisky is a rather broad subject these days as a handful of producers are attempting make serious Whiskies including “Single Malt” versions. Most Canadian Whiskies differ little from American Blended Whiskies relying heavily upon neutral spirits and little on actual flavor. Corn, wheat and rye are the typical grains used in the production of these whiskies. Crown Royal (which for some unknown reason is often considered a Bourbon by many consumers) is one of the most popular brands.

Rye

It is believed that Rye Whiskies were the first Whiskies produced and sold in the colonies. Rye was a familiar material to European immigrants as it was used in everything from the production of Whisk(e)y to Vodka and Schnapps. Sadly, Rye Whiskey is getting harder and harder to find these days. It seems as though the demand for the robust and full-bodied Whiskey has waned. Some have suggested that its popularity has diminished since Prohibition when brown spirits were rare and the public got a taste for lighter, white spirits. Regardless of the cause the present result is undeniable as just a handful of distillers offer a pure Rye Whiskey. Rye Whiskey can be described as Bourbon on steroids. Assertive while lush filled with a mélange of deep spice flavors accented by an omnipresent impression of grain. Despite the lack of wide spread commercial success, Rye does enjoy a “cult” like following among Whiskey aficionados.

Tennessee

You would certainly be forgiven for not immediately understanding the differences between Tennessee Whiskey and Bourbon. Essentially, they are the same through their respective evolution differing only at the final stage. Tennessee Whiskey producers, for reasons known only to them, choose to filter their Whiskey through a thick bed (ten feet) of sugar maple charcoal. This unusual process strips the Whiskey of many congeners, that I feel add great interest (chiefly flavor and aroma), resulting in a smoother, and cleaner Whiskey. It also takes away color that must be returned via caramel coloring added prior to bottling.