The weather has shifted here in North Texas, and it’s cold!
When you want something to warm you up from the inside, bourbon never fails. On a cold day, we love pairing a glass on the rocks with our Kitchen Sink Gumbo, Crawfish Etouffee, or Tillamook Mac & Cheese to warm you right up! It’s the good stuff, yall.
Whether you’ve been sippin’ bourbon whiskey for years or are new to it, Tricky Fish – one of the best restaurants in Richardson Texas - loves educating our guests on the “ins and outs” of this delicious spirit. That being said, here are 4 interesting bourbon facts you may not know:
Only Native Spirit – Declared by Congress in 1964.
Can you believe bourbon production is actually dictated by law? There are 5 principles that must apply to a spirit before it can be officially designated a bourbon. They are:
· Must be made in America.
· Aging process must take place in a new, charred barrel.
· Must include at least 51% corn mash.
· Stored at no more than 62.5% ABV.
· When bottled, must be no less than 40% ABV.
For this reason, all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. If the whiskey does not meet the qualifications above, then it’s just whiskey – not bourbon whiskey.
95% of Bourbon Comes from Kentucky.
Kentucky is at the heart of bourbon production, and yes, 95% of it comes from this state. This tradition of bourbon production began back in the 1780s when Thomas Jefferson gave 60 acres of beautiful Kentucky land to be farmed for “native crops.” He then began referring to this land allotment as “Bourbon Country,” in honor of French royalty and the French contribution to helping the Americans with the Revolutionary War.
Not All Bourbon is Straight Bourbon.
The designation “straight bourbon” only applies if the bourbon has been aging for at least 2 years and anything under 4 years of aging, must say the age on the bottle per U.S. law. If you don’t see an age on your straight bourbon bottle, then you know it’s been aged more than 4 years. As one of the best restaurants in Richardson Texas, we have many varieties of straight bourbon on hand.
Bourbon Barrels Lose about 4% a Year Due to Evaporation
This evaporated bourbon is called the “Angel’s Share” of bourbon because it’s gone and never to be seen again. Through the aging process, you will see the barrels shrink and expand, letting the liquid bourbon work its way in and out of the wood. As it does, it infuses the flavorful wood undertones into the bourbon for the rich taste we all love. We’d say the loss is worth it for the tasty results!
It’s Bourbon Time at Tricky Fish!
Thirsty yet? Tricky Fish has an extensive menu of spirits, cocktails, wine, and beer available to be enjoyed, including bourbon! Enjoy it on the rocks or in an Old Fashioned. You can even request it “maple smoked!” Just ask the bartender to make it happen.
See you this week at Tricky Fish, one of the best restaurants in Richardson Texas!