The Real Difference Between Tennessee Whiskey and Bourbon

These two whiskeys share almost the same legal requirements, with one meaningful exception.

Nearly identical rules

Tennessee whiskey has to meet the same standards as bourbon: at least 51% corn, distilled to no more than 160 proof, entered into new charred oak at no more than 125 proof, bottled at 80 proof or higher.

One extra step

Before the spirit ever touches a barrel, it has to be filtered through sugar maple charcoal, a process called the Lincoln County Process. This mellows some of the harsher compounds in the fresh spirit before aging begins.

A fairly recent legal requirement

This step was tradition for most of Tennessee whiskey's history, but it only became an actual legal requirement in 2013, driven largely by Jack Daniel's, whose charcoal-mellowed reputation had become central to its brand.

An exception in the law

One distillery is specifically exempted from the requirement under the 2013 legislation and still legally labels its whiskey Tennessee whiskey without using the process at all.

Ask us next time you're in whether a bottle is bourbon or Tennessee whiskey, and we can walk through exactly what that one extra step means for the flavor.