Feds Finally Define Tennessee Whiskey, Sort Of.

[cowdery]

Maybe this was always in NAFTA, but I never saw it before it was pointed out to me today.

"Tennessee Whiskey...is a straight Bourbon Whiskey authorized to be produced only in the State of Tennessee."

In order to enact the terms of the treaty in its own laws, Canada's Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870) now include this definition of Tennessee whiskey.

"Tennessee whisky...is a straight Bourbon whisky produced in the State of Tennessee and manufactured in the United States as Tennessee whisky in accordance with the laws of the United States applicable in respect of Tennessee whisky for consumption in the United States."

Notice that it does not define Tennessee whiskey as "straight bourbon whiskey that has been filtered through charcoal prior to barrel entry."

The Canadian rule, of course, only applies in Canada, which means Canada has a stricter law defining Tennessee whiskey for sale in Canada than the U.S. has for its sale in the U.S. As far as U.S. law is concerned, Tennessee whiskey is just whiskey, of any sort, that originates in Tennessee, and as vague as "originates" is, that's all the present law requires. Of course, I'm not sure if Canada really defines what it means by "produced."

It's also a bit circular in that it makes reference to U.S. law controlling, but there's nothing in U.S. law that defines Tennessee whiskey as straight bourbon whiskey.

That, I think, is kind of funny.

[BigRich]

Chuck, do you have a link for that online. I'm trying to track it down but I haven't found it yet.

I've got a three year old bar bet to settle.:grin:

[cowdery]

Chuck, do you have a link for that online. I'm trying to track it down but I haven't found it yet.

I've got a three year old bar bet to settle.:grin:

[BigRich]

Thank you for the direction sir!