Whiskey Vs. Bourbon

Bourbon and Whiskey. Two highly recognizable names on the shelf, but what, exactly, is the difference? What makes something bourbon and what makes it whiskey? Here's a short list of designations to clear it up:

Bourbon
- must be made in the US
- must be at least 51% corn
- must age a minimum of 2 years
- must age in new, charred American white oak barrels
- no artificial color may be added

Whiskey
- made anywhere in the world
- might contain any combination of wheat, corn, or barley
- aged, with no minimum
- aged in wooden barrels, but doesn't have to be charred barrels or new
- may be artificially colored

Kentucky vs Tennessee:

Kentucky Bourbon
Bourbon was named for Bourbon County, Kentucky, which is why we associate bourbon with Kentucky when it can be made anywhere in the US. Kentucky has the perfect environmental conditions for growing grain for the spirit, so there really is not one without the other.

Tennessee Whiskey
What truly sets Tennessee Whiskey apart from bourbon or rye is the filtering process. All Tennessee whiskey must use the Lincoln County Process, or charcoal mellowing, where the whiskey is filtered through sugar maple charcoal, imparting a much different flavor.