Bourbon is American whiskey made from at least 51 percent corn and aged in new charred oak, and the easiest way to choose one is to decide whether you want it for sipping or for mixing. CBC Liquors on Littleton Rd in Westford keeps a full bourbon section, and this guide shows you how to read a label and match a bottle to the way you will drink it.
What makes a whiskey a bourbon?
A whiskey can only be called bourbon if it is made in the United States from a grain mixture that is at least 51 percent corn. It has to be aged in new, charred oak containers, and nothing can be added afterward for coloring or flavor. Those rules explain the taste: the corn brings sweetness, and the fresh charred oak brings vanilla, caramel and toasted notes.
Two things people often assume are not required. Bourbon does not have to come from Kentucky, although most of it does, and it does not have to sit in a barrel for a set number of years unless the label says straight.
That word matters. Straight bourbon has been aged at least two years, and if it is younger than four years the label has to say how old it is. Bourbon that carries an age statement is giving you the age of the youngest whiskey in the bottle.
How do you read a bourbon label?
Start with the proof. Bourbon is bottled at 80 proof (40 percent alcohol) or higher, and a higher number usually means a bigger, hotter, more concentrated taste. Lower-proof bottles are easier to sip neat, while higher-proof bottles hold up better when ice melts or when you mix them.
Next, look for the words small batch, single barrel or bottled in bond. Bottled in bond has a legal meaning: the whiskey comes from a single distillery and a single season, is aged at least four years, and is bottled at 100 proof. Small batch and single barrel have no legal definition, so they tell you about the maker's approach rather than a guaranteed standard.
If you want to read more about one small-batch label, we have written about 1792 small batch bourbon separately.
Bourbon we stock
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What is the difference between a wheated bourbon and a high-rye bourbon?
Every bourbon has corn as its main grain, then a second grain for flavor and a little malted barley to help fermentation. The second grain is usually rye or wheat, and it changes the character more than most people expect.
Rye gives a spicier, drier, peppery edge. A high-rye bourbon tends to taste bolder and cuts through citrus and sugar in a cocktail. Wheat replaces the rye in a wheated bourbon, which comes across softer and rounder, with more of the sweetness and bread-like notes.
Neither style is better. If you like a smooth, gentle pour, start with a wheated bottle. If you like a bit of bite, start with a high-rye one.
Which bourbons can you pick up at CBC Liquors?
Stock changes, so the bourbon category page is always the most current list. These are bottles we carry for this search, and each fits a different kind of drinker.
Jim Beam Original is the straightforward, everyday bourbon that bartenders and home cooks reach for when a recipe just says bourbon. Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon is another dependable bottle for mixing, with the classic vanilla and oak profile.
Bulleit Bourbon is known for a high-rye mash bill, so it has the spicier edge described above. MAKERS MARK Bourbon is a well-known wheated bourbon and a good place to start if you want something softer.
Knob Creek Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon are the two to look at if you want something to sip slowly. Both are straight bourbons, which gives you an age floor and a fuller, more layered taste than a basic mixing bottle.
How do you drink bourbon?
Neat is the way to learn what a bottle actually tastes like. Pour a small amount into a glass, let it sit for a minute, and take a small sip before you decide anything. The first smell is mostly alcohol, and the vanilla and caramel come through after a moment.
If the pour feels hot, add a few drops of water or one large ice cube. Water opens up the flavor rather than diluting it, and a single large cube melts slowly so the drink stays balanced.
Sip it slowly. Bourbon is made to be enjoyed over a conversation, not finished quickly.
Which bourbon works best in cocktails?
You do not need your best bottle for a mixed drink. A sturdy, mid-proof bourbon with clear vanilla and oak notes is what you want, because the sugar, bitters and citrus will take over the subtle details anyway.
The old fashioned is the simplest place to start: bourbon, a sugar cube or syrup, bitters and an orange peel. A whiskey sour pairs bourbon with lemon juice and a little sugar, and a high-rye bottle keeps it from tasting flat. The mint julep and the Manhattan both work with bourbon too, though a Manhattan is traditionally made with rye.
If you are building a mixed drink at home, the mixers page shows what is in stock for mixed drinks. For a spicier rye-based alternative, see our rye whiskey section, and for the wider range, the whiskey page covers scotch, Irish and more.
How should you store an opened bottle of bourbon?
Keep the bottle upright, with the cap tightly closed, away from sunlight and heat. A cupboard or a shelf in a cool room is fine. Standing it upright keeps the whiskey from sitting against the cork or cap, which can break down over time.
An unopened bottle will keep for years. Once it is open, the whiskey slowly changes as air gets in, and a bottle that is nearly empty will change faster than a full one. If you have only a small pour left and want to keep it, move it to a smaller bottle.
Bourbon does not continue to age in the bottle, so a bottle from last year tastes the same as a bottle opened today.
Can you pick up or have bourbon delivered from Westford?
Yes, CBC Liquors offers pickup, delivery and shipping as well as walking in at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford. The store is open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Pickup runs the same hours.
Delivery hours are Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. The delivery areas page lists where it goes, including Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton and Lowell.
The store holds a 4.7 out of 5 rating from 339 Google reviews, and with 4,586 products in stock across 1,882 brands, the bourbon shelf sits alongside a much wider range. If you are picking a bottle as a present, there are also gift cards.
Common questions
Does bourbon have to be made in Kentucky?
No. Bourbon has to be made in the United States, from at least 51 percent corn, and aged in new charred oak. Most of it is made in Kentucky, but the name does not require it.
What does straight bourbon mean?
Straight bourbon has been aged at least two years in new charred oak. If it is younger than four years, the label has to state its age.
What is the difference between bourbon and rye?
Bourbon is at least 51 percent corn and tends to taste sweeter. Rye whiskey is at least 51 percent rye grain and tends to taste spicier and drier.
Can you order bourbon for pickup at CBC Liquors?
Yes. CBC Liquors offers pickup at 142 Littleton Rd in Westford, with pickup hours matching the store's opening hours.
Does bourbon go bad once it is opened?
It does not spoil, but the flavor slowly changes as air reaches it. Keep the bottle upright, sealed and away from heat and light.
