Artificial coloring. Which bourbons do this? I have my suspicions ....

[PcolaDawg]

but I'm too much of a bourbon noob to really have a good clue as to whether or not the color of a particular bourbon has been artificially played with, so I will keep my mouth shut.

Any of you more experienced types have any info on this?

[sutton]

Straight bourbon can't have any artificial coloring added (unlike Scotch). What specifically are you wondering about (brand)?

Edited October 31, 2013 by sutton
corrected for "straight"

[smknjoe]

...it can't be labeled straight bourbon if there are any additives at all...water, corn, rye/wheat, barley, and new charred American White Oak barrels and that's all that allowed for it to begin life as a straight bourbon. Then, it must age a minimum of 2 years. If less than 4 years old it must have an age statement.

Edited October 31, 2013 by smknjoe

[sutton]

...it can't be labeled straight bourbon if there are any additives at all...water, corn, rye/wheat, barley, and new charred American White Oak barrels and that's all that allowed for it to begin life as a straight bourbon. Then, it must age a minimum of 4 years.

[squire]

No, Straight Bourbon is not artificially colored though generally speaking the longer it stays in the barrel the darker it gets.

[Lazer]

If they bottle it for the export market they can add coloring but they can't sell it in the US if it's labeled Straight Bourbon Whiskey. I suppose they would call it colour not color.

[smknjoe]

If they bottle it for the export market they can add coloring but they can't sell it in the US if it's labeled Straight Bourbon Whiskey. I suppose they would call it colour not color.

[PcolaDawg]

Straight bourbon can't have any artificial coloring added (unlike Scotch). What specifically are you wondering about (brand)?

Great, that answers my question. I despise the thought of coloring being added. :skep: So I will check and make sure that I'm only drinking straight bourbon, and I think I am. I might've been confusing the rules for scotch with the rules for bourbon, which made me think some of what is in my bourbon stash had some coloring added. And I will check the labels when I get home tonight to confirm all of my bourbon is of the straight variety. :cool:

[Lazer]

I didn't know that. Why even bother since bourbon is typically darker than Scotch (for example)? And to be clear - it can be labeled straight if colored and for export only?

Yes. This is the way the cookie crumbles.

[MyOldKyDram]

I wanna know what your suspicions were!

[p_elliott]

Bourbon is darker than scotch because bourbon uses new charred oak barrels as scotch uses used barrels.

[squire]

If they bottle it for the export market they can add coloring but they can't sell it in the US if it's labeled Straight Bourbon Whiskey. I suppose they would call it colour not color.

Lazer do you have any examples of that? It seems an odd, unnecessary step. Scotch is colored for cosmetic reasons but Bourbon is already dark enough.

[smknjoe]

Bourbon is darker than scotch because bourbon uses new charred oak barrels as scotch uses used barrels.

Yes, so why bother coloring it for foreign markets? Unless, they are sending 1 year old flavored, and colored swill to other markets. Scotch is colored to give the impression it's aged well. Even a 4 year old bourbon looks darker than many 10 year old Scotches.

[PcolaDawg]

I wanna know what your suspicions were!

I know you do. But I don't want to say so as not to embarrass myself (more than normal).

So I will not tell you the two bourbons currently in my liquor cabinet that I thought might have some color added. So as not to be a complete tool, however, I will state that their initials are Maker's Mark and Jim Beam Black.

Actually, I like both of those bourbons so I am glad they are not artificially colored. But the color did seem a little different than most of the other bourbons on my shelf, so I was curious.

[Yeti]

Maker's Mark ... color did seem a little different than most of the other bourbons on my shelf

"Well, you see, that's because Maker's Mark is a little different. Bill Samuels had a vision, a vision where the robust spice and deliciousness of traditional bourbons could be completely removed in favor of the smooth sipping 5 year old whiskey we wish we could bottle at 42%." [/satiricalmakersmarktourguide]

I kid the MM folks, but a few cynical members who've taken the MM tour know what I'm talking about.

[squire]

I can just see the new fancy bottle of the limited edition Makers Mark Vision.

[Yeti]

I can just see the new fancy bottle of the limited edition Makers Mark Vision.

"Introducing Maker's Vision 46. At 12 months old, and an easy drinking 46 proof, you can practically see right through it."

[squire]

As light as rain water and just as sweet.

[jwacky]

"Introducing Maker's Vision 46. At 12 months old, and an easy drinking 46 proof, you can practically see right through it."

This has me cracking up in the office... nicely done! :slappin:

[squire]

With visions of profits dancing in their heads.

[Lazer]

Lazer do you have any examples of that? It seems an odd, unnecessary step. Scotch is colored for cosmetic reasons but Bourbon is already dark enough.

I'm not a european consumer so I don't have specific examples, and I don't think they would put it on a label however, I have Ralfy!

skip to 7:06 and he'll tell you himself.

[VT Mike]

Most of the Scotch producers that add caramel coloring claim that they only use a minimal amount to ensure consistent color from batch to batch. I'd be shocked if none of them ever added a healthy dose just to make it darker though.

[squire]

Ralfy's an entertaining guy but detail is not his strong suit, in that same review he also says NAS means the Bourbon is two years old. By example I meant do you have any quotes from someone in the Bourbon industry that said export Bourbon has added color or a cite to the Federal Code that allows exported Bourbon to have added coloring.

[Lazer]

Ralfy's an entertaining guy but detail is not his strong suit, in that same review he also says NAS means the Bourbon is two years old. By example I meant do you have any quotes from someone in the Bourbon industry that said export Bourbon has added color or a cite to the Federal Code that allows exported Bourbon to have added coloring.

Here you go http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?14798-EU-Regs-on-Bourbon-and-Ralfy-s-Western-Gold-quot-Straight-quot-Bourbon

[squire]

Ah, those clever Europeans, figuring out a way to import young bulk Bourbon, water it down, color it up, put it in smaller bottles and call it straight.