This bill actually reinforces a 1964 Act of Congress, which declared that bourbon is "America's Native Spirit," and by also celebrating the family heritage, the wonderful tradition, and the deep-rooted legacy that the bourbon industry contributes to our beloved country, of these United States!
The city of Bardstown, in Kentucky, which is called the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” has been hosting a Kentucky Bourbon Festival each September, since they started doing so, back in 1991. This delightful festival is dedicated to “celebrating the history and art of distilling bourbon whiskey.” It’s a wonderful celebration, and it’s part of our American heritage. Check out this video from last year's festival, documented by Nik and Dusty of Two for the Road fame:
Bourbon is only made in the United States, and is sometimes called Kentucky Whiskey, just as Scotch is only made in Scotland. Although Bourbon is also made in other states outside of Kentucky. They would not be able to call it Kentucky Whiskey, but they can call it Bourbon.
There are very specific rules and laws that govern the making of this popular drink, and the consistency of bourbon is the pride of several distilleries in the deep south. Many of them are in Kentucky or Tennessee, such as Jim Beam, Barton 1792, Heaven Hill, Maker’s Mark, and Jack Daniels, to name just a few.
Bourbon whiskey is one type of American whiskey, and it’s a barrel-aged, distilled spirit, which is made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit is derived from an area known as Old Bourbon, located in what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky. This is the place from where Bourbon first originated back in 1776! To this day, there are still several Bourbon Whiskey distilleries in that area.
You can find a lot more information about the Kentucky Bourbon Festival at www.kybourbonfestival.com and these are the participating Bourbons:
- Barton Brands of Kentucky
- Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
- Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Bulleit Distilling Company
- Four Roses Distillery, LLC
- Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc.
- Jim Beam
- Maker’s Mark Distillery
- Michter’s
- Wild Turkey Distillery
- Woodford Reserve Distillery