Re: Drinking Thread: Beer, Whiskey, Rum, Vodka, Wine - Raise a Glass, All Are Welcome
Corn must make up 51% for it to be bourbon.
And for the record, the mash bill has a massive effect on taste. I don't buy for a second that the distillates will taste similar.
You alter the mash bill even a few percentage points with say the rye content, you'll get a vastly different bourbon than one with a low rye content.
Take a sip of a high barley bourbon and then compare it to a rye from the same distillery, same char number, and same age, it will be significantly less "spicy" than a high rye bourbon.
Water is another primary taste component. The various trace minerals in your water can have a moderate impact on taste.
Another component CAN be whether you use a sour mash or sweet mash. I don't think this one will impact the taste nearly as much as mash bill, oak source, char, water, size of barrel, or age, but there can be differences.