I went to Kentucky and Tennessee to check out how American whiskies are made. Woodford Reserve Bourbon and Jack Daniels are some of the finest and they took me through not just their production process but also through beautiful bluegrass country.

This is an area that is famous for 2 things; its bourbon and its racehorse’s. Ok and baseball bats and Mohammed Ali and lots of other stuff…. But bourbon is big business here and while the calm, rustic nature of this part of Southern USA and the green lush countryside might seem to contradict the extent of how much is made (5.2 million barrels last year), it’s this aura of patience and relaxation that makes these whiskies what they are.

The whiskey is made from predominantly corn, which is then fermented and distilled. It comes out clear and they call it white dog (pronounced whaaat dawg) and then it’s aged for at least a few years in an oak barrel. The hot days and cooling nights force the booze to interact with the barrel and once time does its thing the bourbon’s ready to go.
Jason Williams - Group Cocktail Manager

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