Linn's contest has me thinking about "Modern" bourbon, as we know it and how it came about. This product is very different from what was made in the 1820's. I think the most important changes are as follows:
1830's and 40's: James Crow applies modern methods of testing in an attempt to produce a product that did not change.
1840's and 50's: The growth of the use of the column still in production.
1860's: Whiskey tax leading to a bonding period of first 1 year, then 2 years, then 4 years and finally 8 years by the late 1880's.
1870: George Garvin Brown starts selling Old Forester only in the bottle to insure quality of the product.
1897: Bottled in Bond Act is passed and signed into law by President Cleveland. The law was supported by Treasury Secretary Carlisle, and E H Taylor and other distillers in Kentucky. This added a level of quality control to the product and encouraged bottle sales.
1903: The Pure Food and Drug Act: Whiskey became the center of debate as to what is "pure" whiskey.
1910: The Taft Decision: President Taft makes a decision helping to define "straight" and "blended" whiskey.
1920-1933: Prohibition changes the taste of the American consumer as Scotch, Canadian and Irish whiskey became more popular in this period because they were less likely to be adulterated by the supplier.
1933 to 1945: Short supplies of aged products do to prohibition, depression and the war increase sales of blended whiskey as supplies are stretched to meet demand.
March 1, 1938: The date it became manditory to put straight bourbon in a NEW charred barrel.
1950's: Over production leads to the extention of the bonding period to 20 years.
1970's: Bourbon sales plument as other spirits sales increase. Over stock of bourbon causes many distilleries to close down. Those that remain cut cost by increasing barrel proof and other quality versus quantity measures.
1980's: The growth of Single Malt Scotch cause American distillers to in answer in kind with extra aged, single barrel and small batch bourbons.
This leads us to the "modern" bourbon we know today.
Any comments?
Mike Veach