Think You Know Bourbon? Let's Take a Quiz and Find Out!
- Carey Fieldhouse
- Jun 27
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 22
Even though bourbon is easy to drink, it turns out it is a little bit more complicated to understand then we thought. Terms like "Bottled in Bond" and laws of where bourbon must be made to be called bourbon, etc. make this spirit an interesting study.
Think you know all there is to know about this American spirit? Let's test your knowledge and find out how "in the know" you are!
1. Who is credited with inventing bourbon?
A. William Larue Weller
B. Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle
C. Elijah Craig
D. George Washington
E. George T. Stagg
2. By law, where must bourbon be made?
A. Kentucky
B. Within the continental United States
C. Anywhere in the United States
D. Anywhere in North America
3. What must make up the majority of bourbon’s mashbill?
A. Barley
B. Corn
C. Rye
D. Wheat
4. What must bourbon be aged in?
A. Oak containers
B. New, charred oak containers
C. New, charred, white American oak containers
D. American oak barrels
E. White American oak barrels
F. New, charred American oak barrels
G. New, charred, white American oak barrels
5. By law, how long must bourbon be aged?
A. 2 years
B. 4 years
C. There is no minimum time requirement
6. Does a bourbon’s label need to specify how long it’s been aged?
A. No
B. Yes, always
C. Yes, but only if it’s been aged for less than 2 years
D. Yes, but only if it’s been aged for less than 4 years
E. Yes, but only if it’s straight bourbon and it’s been aged for at least 2 years but less than 4 years
7. What is “straight bourbon”?
A. The act of drinking bourbon without adding any ice or water to it
B. Bourbon that was made by one of Kentucky’s major distilleries
C. Bourbon that has been aged a minimum of 2 years and the product of a single distiller
D. Bourbon that has been aged a minimum of 2 years and the product of a single state
E. Bourbon that has been aged a minimum of 2 years, the product of a single state, and with an age statement on the label
F. Bourbon that has been aged a minimum of 4 years, the product of a single state, and bottled at exactly 100 proof
8. What does “bottled-in-bond” mean?
A. The bourbon’s producers used funds raised from issuing bonds to investors to cover the costs of making the bourbon
B. When bottled, the bourbon’s producer applied a tamper evident seal so that the consumer has assurance it’s real and not counterfeit
C. Bourbon that has been aged for at least 4 years in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision, is the product of one distillation season at one distillery in the state of Kentucky, and is bottled at least 100 proof
D. Bourbon that has been aged for at least 4 years in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision, is the product of one distillation season and one distiller at a single distillery, and is bottled at exactly 100 proof
9. What is the best way to drink bourbon?
A. Straight
B. On the rocks
C. With a mixer
D. On a tour with Pegasus
Let's see how you did!
1. Who is credited with inventing bourbon?
ANSWER: C
Elijah Craig
This question is tricky because each person mentioned has influenced American whiskey. Elijah Craig is often credited with inventing bourbon and aging it in new charred oak casks. However, distilling was common, so bourbon likely had no single inventor and didn't take its current form until the late 1800s. If you said Elijah Craig, that's acceptable, but the true inventor of bourbon is unknown.
2. By law, where must bourbon be made?
ANSWER: B
Within the continental United States
Despite the popular belief, bourbon does not need to be made in Kentucky; it just has to be produced in the United States. Kentucky is famous for its bourbon, and it produces about 95% of it by volume. However, with the rise in bourbon's popularity, nearly 800 distilleries across the country are now making bourbon as of 2016.
3. What must make up the majority of bourbon’s mashbill?
ANSWER: B
Corn
Corn must constitute at least 51% of the mashbill to qualify as the majority grain. Although many distillers use more than 51% corn in their mashbills, it is not a legal requirement. It must be aged in new charred oak containers, which contributes significantly to its color and flavor profile. Therefore, bourbon's mashbill can be 80%, 90%, or even 100% corn, provided it is aged in a new charred oak container and meets other criteria to be designated as bourbon.
4. What must bourbon be aged in?
ANSWER: B
New, charred oak containers.
Many marketing strategies highlight the use of "American" and "white" oak, but these are not legal requirements. The law simply states that bourbon must be aged in charred new oak containers. While barrels are commonly used due to their engineering advantages, bourbon technically does not need to be aged in a barrel. It could be aged in any new charred oak container, such as a box or a sphere. However, barrels remain the preferred container because they are practical for preventing leaks and for ease of movement.
5. By law, how long must bourbon be aged?
ANSWER: C
There is no minimum time requirement.
While straight bourbon must be aged for at least 2 years, bourbon itself does not have a minimum age requirement. The law only requires that bourbon be stored in new charred oak containers, without specifying a duration. Standard 53-gallon barrels are common in bourbon making, leading to an average aging period of around 4 years for optimal taste, although this can vary. Some distillers use smaller barrels to increase the wood-to-bourbon ratio, which may accelerate the aging process and result in a deeper color due to more extensive contact with the charred oak.
6. Does a bourbon’s label need to specify how long it’s been aged?
ANSWER: D
Yes, but only if it’s been aged for less than 4 years.
U.S. law requires whiskey (including bourbon) to state the age of the youngest whiskey if any is less than 4 years old. If it is 4 years or older, the age statement is optional. However, many consumers incorrectly think that only straight bourbon needs an age statement.
7. What is “straight bourbon”?
ANSWER: D
Bourbon that has been aged a minimum of 2 years and the product of a single state.
Straight bourbon is defined as bourbon that has been aged for at least 2 years and can only include mixtures of two or more straight bourbons if they are produced in the same state. Consequently, a label indicating “straight bourbon” means the bourbon was produced within a single state. If the label says “a blend of straight bourbons” or “blended straight bourbons,” it means all the bourbons in the blend are straight but likely from different states. It is important to note that while straight bourbon does not permit the addition of coloring or flavoring materials, a blend of straight bourbons does.
8. What does “bottled-in-bond” mean?
ANSWER: D.
Bourbon that has been aged for at least 4 years in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision, is the product of one distillation season and one distiller at a single distillery and is bottled at exactly 100 proof.
Bottled-in-bond (BiB) whiskey must come from one distillation season, one distiller, and one distillery. It ages in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years and is bottled at 100 proof. The label must identify the distillery where it was distilled and bottled. Although limited availability doesn’t always indicate quality, many affordable American whiskeys are BiB. This designation highlights a distiller’s skill during a single distillation season.
9. What is the best way to drink bourbon?
ANSWER: All of the answers are correct!
There is no “accepted” way to drink bourbon. But drinking it on a Bourbon Adventure Tour with Pegasus is always the best choice!
Note: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not represent any endorsement by Pegasus.
Looking to go on a bourbon adventure? Contact Pegasus today!
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