Since there seems to be a little confusion about the difference between whiskey and bourbon, let me explain it to you. Straight whiskey is made from a grain mash and when distilled must be no higher than 80% alcohol. Then is aged in new charred barrels for a two year minimum. At bottling the alcohol content must be at least 40%. The mash used in making bourbon must be at least 51% corn, although most are 75% corn. So basically the only difference is the ratio of corn used in the mash. This makes a very big difference in the taste, the added corn makes bourbon much sweeter than whiskey and gives bourbon a little different body. In the case of Jim Beam the mash is made with 75% corn, 13% rye with the remainder being barley. They then use water from the limestone springs near the distillery in Clermont, Kentucky to complete this mash. Before fermenting Beam adds fresh private stock yeast, which does take a little longer, but they claim the extra effort is worth the taste. After fermenting and distilling the "white dog" is then barreled in #4 charred barrels for a minimum of four years. They claim that this makes the color much deeper than other bourbons.
