A high pH level can be a breeding place for bacteria, which, of course, is detrimental to any beverage- or food-making process. One of the most important steps when making sour mash bourbon is lowering the pH levels after crushing the grains. Once the crushing is complete, they add hot water to bring out the sugars. During the mashing process, the grains are crushed together and opened. The mixture of grain mash typically combines barley, rye, corn, and wheat. How Is Sour Mash Bourbon Distilled?īourbon is made with grain mash. This means that for every sour mash bourbon batch, one-third or one-quarter of the mash is made up of an old batch, and the rest is new. Typically, distilleries will use a one-to-three or one-to-four ratio with their sour mash. Sour mash refers to the grouping of grains used in the fermentation process. Using some of the mash from previous batches allows distilleries to remain consistent with their flavors. This helps the mixture block out other microorganisms that could interfere with the fermentation process. Souring can also refer to the process of adding more acid to the mixture when creating bourbon. A distiller adds acidity to help adjust the pH levels. Sour mash bourbon, much like sourdough bread, uses leftovers from previous batches. The sour mash, or fermented ingredients, gives the bourbon a sweeter and more robust flavor. Some say sour mash gets its name from sourdough bread for this reason. Why Is It Called Sour Mash Bourbon?Īny baker will tell you that the best way to make sourdough bread is to use what's referred to as 'starter.' In sourdough, the starter is fermented dough that naturally contains wild yeast and lactobacilli bacteria, which are the bacteria that make the bread rise. Another way of creating bourbon is using the sweet mash method. Tennessee and Kentucky is where they create most bourbons using the sour mash method, but only a few distilleries include the terminology in their marketing. The ingredients generally included in sour mash bourbon are grains such as barley, rye, or corn. The term 'mash' isn't referring to the physical mixing of the ingredients, but a grouping of ingredients that are used to create the next batch. Sour mash refers to the way bourbon is produced. Bourbon is only made in the United States and has to be made of at least 51% corn and aged in charred oak barrels to be labeled as such. The same can be true for sour mash: all sour mash is bourbon, but not all bourbon is sour mash. What's the Difference Between Bourbon Whiskey and Sour Mash Bourbon?Īs the saying goes, all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Before purchasing your next bottle of whiskey and giving sour mash bourbon a try, it's important to understand what it is and what makes it different from a regular bourbon. This term refers to how bourbon is made, not how it tastes. WHAT IS SOUR MASH BOURBON? While browsing through bourbon whiskey bottles, you may have come across the term 'sour mash' on some labels.

Sour mash whiskey brands