Kentucky Bourbon is America's only native spirit. By law Bourbon must be made in NEW American white oak barrels. The many years spent aging in new barrels is one of the reasons Kentucky Bourbon is the best whiskey in the world today.  After the golden liquid is removed, the barrels are exported where they are REUSED to make Scotch and Irish Whiskey, Rum, and Tequila.  It is our pleasure to share this valuable part of our Kentucky heritage with you.

It all began here generations ago, in what was then the frontier wilderness of America.  The Governor of Virginia at that time was Thomas Jefferson, he offered pioneers sixty acres of land in Kentucky (then called Bourbon County) if they would build a permanent structure and raise "native corn".  No family could eat that much corn, it was too perishable and bulky to transport for sale; so it was turned into whiskey.  The perfect combinations of water, climate, corn, white oak forests, and rugged pioneers came together to make what would become a World-Renowned Product.  Kentucky Bourbon is different from other types of whiskeys because of ingredients, aging, the pure, limestone-rich water of Kentucky, and our Kentucky crafted American white oak barrels.  While technology has allowed improvements and standardization in the production of Bourbon today, its unique flavor is forged from long-standing traditions of distilling here in Kentucky.

Uniquely recognized as "America's Native Spirit," by an act of Congress in 1964, no whiskey can call itself Bourbon unless it is manufactured within the United States according to the Bourbon formula.  That is, a whiskey distilled at not higher than 160° from a fermented mash of grain containing at least 51 percent corn and stored at not more than 125 proof, in NEW, charred, white oak barrels.  Nothing may be added to Bourbon except distilled water to adjust the proof.  Bourbon must not be bottled below 80 proof unless otherwise noted on the label that it is diluted.  Bourbon is not Bourbon unless the label says so.  Kentucky Bourbon has been the preferred drink of Americans since it was first brought to market in the foothills of Kentucky over 200 years ago.

Bourbon is aged in NEW white oak barrels, unlike the used barrels of other whiskey types. This new wood means that the Bourbon draws a great deal of color and flavor from the barrel, with vanilla and caramel predominant characteristics.  Think of the new barrels as big sugar cubes that impart that sweet woody flavor and aroma to the Bourbon. To make a Bourbon barrel, wood is cut into staves which are super heated and bent into ovular form. The barrel is then "toasted" by sending it through a small fire for about 12 minutes to caramelize the sugar in the wood.  Next, it is applied to a larger fire for 6 to 12 seconds to burn out the inside and produce a charcoal layer.  The charring must cover the barrel evenly so the whiskey has a consistent flavor.  The new, white oak barrels are filled to capacity with the high wine, ready for several years of aging.

The wood used in our Kentucky Bourbon whiskey barrels is American grown white oak. Helping to support American families. The stave mills that make these sturdy barrels employ Kentucky workers.  When you buy Kentucky Bourbon besides getting the best quality product you also help support American farmers and workers.  If you like Scotch or Irish whisky you have to give thanks to Kentucky Bourbon and our Kentucky crafted American white oak barrels.  After the barrels have been used ONCE to make World Renowned Kentucky Bourbon, they are shipped overseas where they are reused over and over again to make European whisky.  It's the Kentucky oak barrels that help give their whisky it's flavor and color.  The FIRST USE of the barrel produces the BEST whiskey, that's why Bourbon is made in only a NEW white oak barrel.

Scottish and Irish coopers don't make the barrels; they just maintain the Kentucky Crafted barrels.  Our Kentucky Crafted white oak Barrels are used and reused many times by the Scottish and Irish distilleries attesting to their quality construction and strength.  It cost a lot of money for the European companies to ship our Kentucky crafted barrels to Scotland and Ireland but you can have one delivered to your home for a fraction of the cost.

By law Kentucky Bourbon must be made in NEW white oak barrels. The best characteristics of the barrel, the color, the vanilla, and caramel (natural sugars in the oak), are absorbed by the whiskey in the first use. Because European whisky is made with SPENT USED barrels it takes many more years in the barrel to even come close to the quality of Kentucky Bourbon. With each year in the barrel 3% of the whisky is lost to evaporation.  With each reuse of the spent barrel the European whisky must be aged longer. No wonder Kentucky Bourbon is the best selling whiskey in the world today.  Good News! For all you Scotch lovers, there is a distillery being built in the USA that will make Scotch in NEW Kentucky white oak barrels.  Soon you will be able to enjoy an even better Scotch made right here in the USA in NEW barrels. That will mean a better quality “American Made” product.  I can't wait!!