Born in the USA

WITH TARIFFS ON AMERICAN WHISKEY IMPORTS LIFTED, WHY NOT DISCOVER THE COUNTRY’S FINEST? WORDS: THE THINKING DRINKERS

So, what are we drinking?

American whiskey — the ultimate frontier spirit and one of the very few things in life that’s just got cheaper. This is because, in June, the UK removed the 25% duty it slapped on US whiskey imports in 2018 as a response to Donald Trump’s steel tariffs.

Fabulous news. So, what is it?

There are several styles, nearly all distinguished by the ‘mash’ (the combination of grains used in the distillers’ recipe). While malted barley helps fuel fermentation, rye (dry and spicy) and wheat (nutty yet nuanced) are flavour grains that keep their characteristics throughout the production process. Distilleries also have their own type of guarded propriety yeast that hugely influences the flavour of the final spirit. Maturation is a major factor, too — the spirit develops according to the strength it enters the oak barrels, the length of time it stays in there and the temperature and location of the warehouse where it’s stored.

What are the different styles?

Bourbon can be made anywhere in the US, but its mash must contain at least 51% corn — which, along with the ageing process, delivers sweetness. Distilled to a maximum of 80% abv and aged in fresh, charred oak barrels at no more than 62.5% abv, bourbon can comprise whiskeys of different ages, but the age statement refers to the youngest in the bottle. Rye whiskey has experienced a recent resurgence. With a mash bill consisting of at least 51% rye, it’s traditionally bolder and spicier than bourbon. Meanwhile, corn whiskey (with a mash containing at least 80% corn) harks back to the hooch enjoyed by cowboys. Chewy and sweet, modern versions are more than mere moonshine.

Got it. So, what’s Jack Daniel’s?

It’s a Tennessee whiskey, which distinguishes itself from bourbon by being filtered through charcoal, plus it must be made in Tennessee. ‘Jack’ is the world’s biggest-selling US whiskey by far.