🥃 Kentucky Bourbon
Bourbon distilled in the US state of Kentucky: TTB rules allow the state name on the label; according to the distillers’ association, about 95% of bourbon is made there.
Kentucky bourbon is bourbon distilled in the US state of Kentucky. Under TTB rules, the state name may appear on a whiskey label only if the whiskey was distilled there and, where required, also aged there. Kentucky is the main centre of bourbon: the Kentucky Distillers’ Association states that about 95% of the world’s bourbon is made here.
What the law requires. Under 27 CFR 5.143, bourbon is whiskey made from a mash of at least 51% corn, distilled to no more than 80% ABV and put into new charred oak barrels at no more than 62.5% ABV. Colourings and flavourings are prohibited. The “straight” designation means at least 2 years of ageing.
Figures. The Kentucky Distillers’ Association has existed since 1880. Its 2025 report says that on 1 January the state’s warehouses held a record 16.1 million barrels of bourbon and about another million barrels of other spirits. VinePair notes that the 95% share has not changed for years and has no named source.
Brands. Jim Beam (Clermont), Maker’s Mark (Loretto), Woodford Reserve (Versailles), Buffalo Trace (Frankfort), Four Roses (Lawrenceburg) and the products of Heaven Hill from Bardstown all come from Kentucky. Many of them label their bottles Kentucky Straight Bourbon, meaning straight bourbon distilled in the state.
Why this matters to you. “Kentucky” on a bottle shows where it was distilled, not its quality or age: bourbon can be made in any US state. Look for age and composition in the “straight” designation and the age statement on the label. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe dose of alcohol.
Facts
| Legal basis | 27 CFR 5.143 (TTB, USA): bourbon and the state name on a whiskey label |
|---|---|
| Raw material | mash of at least 51% corn; rye or wheat, malted barley |
| Distillation method | up to 80% ABV (160 proof); into the barrel no higher than 62.5% ABV (125 proof) |
| Cask type | new charred oak barrels |
| Minimum maturation | for straight — at least 2 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV at bottling |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Kentucky Bourbon → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Americans
- Part of
- 🥃 Bourbon whiskey
- Related to
- 🌍 North America
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Straight bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Jim Beam, 🥃 Maker's Mark, 🥃 Woodford Reserve, 🥃 Buffalo Trace, 🥃 Four Roses, 🥃 Heaven Hill Brands
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that bourbon can only be made in Kentucky?
No. Bourbon is an American whiskey and can be made in any US state; “Kentucky” in the name means that the whiskey was distilled in that state.
What does Kentucky Straight Bourbon mean?
Straight bourbon (aged at least 2 years in new charred oak barrels), distilled in Kentucky.
How much bourbon is made in Kentucky?
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association gives 95% of the world’s bourbon; independent publications note that the figure has not changed for years and has no named source. On 1 January 2025 the state held 16.1 million barrels of bourbon.
Which well-known brands come from Kentucky?
They include Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Four Roses and the Heaven Hill brands.
What is Kentucky bourbon made from?
As with any bourbon: a mash of at least 51% corn, with the rest rye or wheat and malted barley.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky — Grain in the name of American whiskey: bourbon is at least 51% corn, rye at least 51% rye, corn whiskey at least 80% corn.
- 🌍 North America — US and Canada: 9.5 million US cows gave 232 billion lb of milk (2025); Wisconsin makes a quarter of US cheese; Canada runs on dairy quotas.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Americans — The people of the United States in North America, descendants of settlers and Native peoples; their home-grown cheese is California's Monterey Jack.
- 🥃 Straight bourbon whiskey — Bourbon aged at least 2 years in new charred oak barrels, with no colouring, flavouring or neutral spirits added.
Similar
🥃 American Malt Whisky · 🥃 Applejack · 🥃 Corn whiskey · 🥃 Straight bourbon whiskey · 🥃 American single malt whisky · 🥃 Straight rye whiskey
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- 27 CFR § 5.143 — Whisky (US TTB): bourbon from ≥51 % corn, distilled ≤160 proof, new charred oak containers, entry ≤125 proof; straight — ≥2 years; state name only if distilled (and aged where required) in that state
- Kentucky Distillers' Association: Industry (non-profit trade association since 1880; "Kentucky is where 95% of the world's Bourbon supply is made")
- Kentucky Distillers' Association (08.10.2025): The Bourbon State — record barrel inventory (16.1 million aging Bourbon barrels as of 1 Jan 2025; 17.1 million in total)
- The Spirits Business (09.10.2025): Ageing Bourbon barrel numbers hit all-time high (16.1 million barrels; inventories reported to the Kentucky Department of Revenue)
- VinePair (03.09.2021), Tim McKirdy: How Much of the World's Bourbon Is Actually Made in Kentucky? (KDA 95 % figure unchanged since 2009, no data source named)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)