You’ve probably heard it before: all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. If you’re a whiskey (and especially bourbon) drinker, you need to know what that means.
By definition, whiskey (or whisky, in Scotland) is a spirit distilled from fermented grain mash — grain varieties include wheat, rye, barley, and corn — and then aged in wooden barrels. Whiskey is made all over the world and there are many popular styles including Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, and American whiskey. The most popular form of American whiskey is bourbon, which has its own specific definition.