If we have our way, we want that all bourbons have the same great taste. This will surely give us so much convenience when trying to figure out what bourbon to purchase every time our favorite brand is out of stock in the nearest local booze store. With more booze lovers going for bourbons nowadays, not getting the brand that we prefer can always happen.
The prevalence of online liquor stores, however, is making things easier. With many of them selling several kinds of alcoholic drinks, there is no doubt that you cannot find the bourbon that you wanted. But not all online liquor stores are the same. If they don’t have the brand of your choice, you won’t regret trying on the others as they have premium quality just the same. You can also avail of big discounts and free gift notes.
But what really affects a bourbon’s taste that makes you love a particular brand more than the other? Here are some of the factors that make the difference in taste among bourbon brands.
Duration of Aging
A bourbon that is aged for several months only will surely taste differently than the one that took several years. As a legal standard, all bourbons that are aged for less than four years are required to state it on their labels. Generally, bourbons that took more time to age have richer flavor and mellower alcohol aftertaste. But be careful not to buy bourbons that exceeded 15 years to age. They may have lost the unique and complex flavor of bourbon with more bitter taste.
Location of Aging
The exact place where aging of bourbon is done can also affect the taste. Bourbons that are aged in the cellar definitely taste differently than those aged in the attic. The same difference in taste goes when bourbons are prepared in Hawaii or in Alaska.
Ingredients
The ingredients put in to make a bourbon vary in many brands. However, to be legally called a bourbon, a brand must have at least 51% of corn. For the other ingredients, they may include rye, barley, wheat, and more. The percentages of these ingredients is one factor that affects the flavor of bourbon.
Distillation
Commercial makers of bourbon differ on how they distill their brands. However, when bourbons are ready for bottling, they should not be less than 80 proof or 40% alcohol. Other factors that affect the taste of bourbons can be the quality and amount of yeast, filtering process, barrel entry proof, among others.
When buying online, you can know all the information about a bourbon brand by checking the manufacturer’s website.