American Whiskey Regions

[cowdery]

You often see maps identifying the different whiskey-making regions of Scotland and applying stylistic characteristics to each which, with a few exceptions, are pretty accurate. This is my attempt at something similar for the USA. This was the result of a little screwing around with Google Maps this afternoon, but it's a place to start.

I tried to be mindful of history but it's mostly based on where the major distilleries are now. The boundaries aren't entirely arbitrary. For example, I made sure the Owensboro map went far enough east to include Tell City and made sure the Bardstown map included Loretto and Lebanon. I included Owensboro and Cincinnati for their historic importance and because each has at least one major, active facility. (Though the one in Owensboro is bottling and maturation, not a distillery.)

I only grazed micros and didn't include any regions outside the Kentucky-Tennessee nexis although cases could be made for parts of the Pacific Northwest, Texas, Colorado, and Michigan based on the profusion of micros in those areas, and historic cases can be made for parts of Illinois, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New England.

I made no attempt to ascribe stylistic characteristics to any of these regions.

Suggestions appreciated, probably.

Edited May 11, 2014 by cowdery

[sutton]

Nice - I like the idea. Issue might be how to draw similarities between whiskies in each region, similar to "appellations" with wine? Are there any general similarities that can be made about the whiskies in each region?

[cowdery]

Sazerac President Mark Brown once said that he thinks the terroir at BT (Frankfort) is different from Barton 1792 (Bardstown), but I've never heard it developed beyond that. I am hoping some of the folks who visit here will offer some suggestions.

[GaryT]

I know on the Willett tour they talk about how HH whiskey ages differently in their rickhouses (which are only a stone's throw away from HH's own) because of how they sit amongst the hills, etc. It would be really interesting to understand how the same distillate matures differently in different areas, assuming the rickhouses are of the same construction (and barrels aged in the same area of the rickhouse, etc). Maybe Mark Brown has tried some BT aged at Barton before batched? Now that would be an interesting side-by-side comparison (some BT single barrels distilled at the same time, but aged at Barton vs BT). I wonder if you could request that type of a selection specifically? Are there other producers who age products in different areas? That would be an interesting list.

[Harry in WashDC]

. . . Are there other producers who age products in different areas? That would be an interesting list.

[mbroo5880i]

When I think of whiskey styles and regions, location seems to be most recognized with scotch. In the case of American Whiskey, I realize location plays a role, but I am not certain there is much difference between the climate in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Kentucky and Lynchburg, Tennessee. I am sure how and where bourbon is aged in this area influences the flavor and quality. However, I am not sure that just because it is aged in Kentucky makes bourbon any better than if it is aged in Indiana. I think what makes Kentucky bourbon better, in most cases, is the quality of the distillate and the manufacturing techniques of each distillery. For example, I am not sure if aging MGPI bourbon in Kentucky will make it better.

When I think of American Whiskey regions, I think of not only where it is made but also the style of whiskey. Kentucky bourbon is easy. I am not certain the difference in the product if it is produced in Louisville or Bardstown. Tennessee whiskey makes me think of how it is made. Pennsylvania rye or Maryland rye makes me think of a type of rye based on a style manufactured years ago.

I think part of our perception of whiskey and regions is shaped by marketing strategies. I am sure those with more extensive experience than me can identify specific taste differences by region.

[kwshannon]

Thanks for sharing that. This map and the KY distilleries are very helpful learning the history.