GR Grain & Stave Notebook
What Is Bourbon? The Rules Behind the Name
Whiskey Basics

What Is Bourbon? The Rules Behind the Name

Bourbon is American whiskey made from at least 51% corn, distilled at no more than 160 proof, entered into charred new oak barrels at no more than 125…

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Tasting & Serving

Adding Water to Whiskey: A Practical Test

Add water to whiskey gradually: taste it neat, add three to five drops of clean still water, wait briefly, and compare aroma, heat, texture, and finish.

4 min read · 2026-07-19
Tasting & Serving

Best Whiskey Glass Shape for Tasting

A tulip-shaped glass with a rounded bowl and narrower opening is the best general shape for focused whiskey tasting because it concentrates aroma near the…

4 min read · 2026-07-19
Whiskey Basics

Bottled in Bond Whiskey: What the Label Means

Bottled-in-bond whiskey comes from one distiller at one distillery during one distilling season, uses the same kind of spirit and class of materials,…

4 min read · 2026-07-19
Whiskey Basics

Corn Whiskey vs Bourbon: What Changes?

Corn whiskey uses a mash containing at least 80% corn and does not have to be aged. If it is stored under the U.S.

4 min read · 2026-07-19

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