What are the different Bourbon Categories?

Bourbon is a type of American whiskey that must have been aged for at least two years. However, we can break down bourbon even further than that, looking at the distillation, ingredients, and barrel process. So, what are the different types of bourbon? Here’s a breakdown of the key variations.

Straight bourbon

Aside from the criteria that all bourbon has to meet to earn the title, for a bourbon to be ‘straight’ there must be no additives, flavorings, or colorings to the spirit. Straight bourbon is bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV, aged for a minimum of two years in new charred oak barrels, and cannot exceed 62.5% ABV at the start of the aging process. 

Sounds like something you want to try? Check out our 12th Annual Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels.

High-rye bourbon

As the name suggests, this type of bourbon has a higher rye content in the mash bill than the standard. All bourbon has to have at least 51% corn, but the levels for the rest of the grains can differ. The more rye the spicier and drier the finish. If you have less of a sweet tooth and want something with a kick, try our Cask Strength Rye Whiskey Finished in Sauternes and Toasted Oak Barrels.

High-wheat bourbon

You guessed it – this type of bourbon features higher levels of wheat in the mash bill. High-wheat bourbon is often sweeter and smoother, there is no set level of wheat for a bourbon to be classed as ‘high-wheat’ but there needs to be more than is featured in a standard bourbon recipe.

Single barrel bourbon

Coming from just one, individual barrel, single-barrel bourbon is used to create a unique flavor profile, compared to blended bourbons that are mixed from a variety of barrels. As only one barrel is used each bottle may have slight variations in taste, aroma, and color due to the location, char level, and aging conditions of the barrel.

Flavored bourbon

The traditional ingredients for bourbon are corn, rye, barley, and wheat, however, flavored bourbon has additional fruits or spices to create specific flavors. To be officially classified as a bourbon there must be no artificial flavors added to the spirit, if there are the bottle should be referred to as ‘flavored whiskey’. 

A bourbon can belong to one or more groups as the characteristics are not mutually exclusive. Discover our whiskey and bourbons today and find out which type of bourbon is your new favorite.