So despite 2 feet of snow that piled on us from Sunday into yesterday, the roads are amazingly clear, the airports are operating again and I must attend my meeting in Nashville. So what am I to do? Drink what the locals do, of course!
But in Nashville, TN, are the locals drinking bourbon or Tennessee whiskey? I had to do a little research myself as to the distinction. Here is what our AI buddy, ChatGPT came up with for us:
All Tennessee whiskey can legally be bourbon, but not all bourbon is Tennessee whiskey. The big difference is an extra step and where it’s made.
Here’s the breakdown 👇
🥃 Bourbon
Legal requirements (U.S.):
Must be made in the United States
Mash bill must be at least 51% corn
Aged in new, charred oak barrels
Distilled to no more than 160 proof
Entered into barrel at no more than 125 proof
No additives (except water to proof down)
Despite the myth, bourbon does not have to be made in Kentucky — it can be made anywhere in the U.S.
Examples:
Maker’s Mark
Buffalo Trace
Wild Turkey
🥃 Tennessee Whiskey
Tennessee whiskey follows all the rules of bourbon, plus one extra requirement:
✅ The Lincoln County Process
Before aging, the whiskey is filtered through sugar maple charcoal. This step smooths the spirit and slightly mellows the flavor.
It must also be made in the state of Tennessee.
Famous examples:
Jack Daniel’s
George Dickel
🔥 Flavor Differences
Bourbon → Often sweeter, richer, more caramel & vanilla forward
Tennessee whiskey → Usually smoother, slightly lighter, mellowed by charcoal filtering
That said, flavor overlap is huge — some bourbons drink smoother than some Tennessee whiskeys.
Simple analogy:
Think of it like this:
Tennessee whiskey = bourbon + charcoal filtering + made in Tennessee
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