As I was sitting out in my garage bar this weekend, a FedEx truck came rumbling up, a noticeable departure from the humming of the electric Amazon van whizzing around hitting what seemed to be every door on the block. I knew this delivery was going to be a good one. Greeting the gentleman at the end of the drive, he handed me a box that looked about the same shape as a whiskey bottle…a store pick I’d nabbed online of Penelope’s new 17 Year American Light Whiskey. Either I’d not paid attention, or just have too much whiskey in my life, but upon closer examination, this bottle was a hazmat – meaning it was above 140 proof – coming in at 144 proof and with a story suggesting that it was actually an 18-year whiskey but the hassle of getting the label change wasn’t worth it. Eighteen, seventeen, whatever. It is however, a great subject for this weeks post, as we seek to understand is American Light Whiskey bourbon? The simple answer is no, but to understand why let’s explore the key differences between the two, their production processes, some popular American Light Whiskey’s on the market today, and more.
To start our comparison off to make sure we don’t leave any stone unturned, let’s unpackage what makes bourbon, well, bourbon. As laid out in law here in the U.S., bourbon must prescribe to very strict regulations as follows:
1. Grain Composition: The mash bill or recipe for bourbon must contain at least 51% corn.
2. Distillation Proof: Coming off the stills, bourbon cannot be distilled to more than 160 proof.
3. Barrel Aging: Bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak barrels.
4. Entry Proof: Going into the barrel, the distillate can be no higher than 125 proof.
5. Additives: Absolutely nothing else can be added to the bourbon that would change its color or flavor, its character is imparted from the barrel and nothing more.
6. Geography: It must be produced in the United States. Many people think bourbon must be made in Kentucky, but it can be produced anywhere, even in Alaska, as long as it follows the required rules.
American Light Whiskey got its start in the late 1960’s when producers were attempting to compete with the likes of lighter spirits such as vodka and gin. American Light Whiskey was designed specifically to offer a milder flavor while retaining many of the desirable attributes of whiskey.
American Light Whiskey differs rather significantly from its kissing cousin bourbon in the following ways:
1. Distillation Proof: Whereas bourbon by law can only be distilled as high as 160 proof, American Light Whiskey is often distilled in a range between 160 and 190 proof. Higher distillation allows for the removal of heavier congeners and flavors which results in a lighter tasting spirit.
2. Barrel Aging: Whereas bourbon by law is required to be aged in charred oak barrels, light whiskey is typically aged in used or uncharred oak barrels. Without the char, this further adds to the lighter, softer profile.
3. Mash Bill: No requirement here to hit the 51% corn mark, so light whiskey has a lot more flexibility. That said, American Light Whiskey often has a mash bill that includes a high percentage of corn – often 80% or more. The higher corn content again, contributes to a lighter body and sweeter flavor profile.
Although, it’s certainly akin to bourbon it differs rather markedly and is in a category all its own.
So, you’re now well versed on the technical specifications that separate bourbon from American Light Whiskey, but in practice what’s the main differences?
1. Flavor Profile: It should hopefully be obvious at this point, but if you’ve ever had a bourbon, you know it’s best characterized as being bold, sweet and rich, drawing notes of caramel, vanilla and oak. American Light Whiskey on the other hand is a gentler beast, engineered to be more approachable with a cleaner and more subtle flavor profile.
2. Aging Process: Surprisingly for using uncharred barrels, there’s still a good bit of color that is imparted to these whiskeys, but as you can imagine they’re lighter in color and flavor given such.
3. Market Appeal: Rather surprisingly, despite the appetite for older age stated bourbons, these American Light Whiskey’s have piqued the interest of many bourbon lovers likely attributed to some of their older age statement primarily.
4. Cultural Identity: Whereas bourbon has deep roots in America as our only native spirit, American Light Whiskey lacks the appeal in that regard, it’s certainly innovative, but it lacks the gravitas that bourbon has.
With so much alike it’s easy to see why some people would be confused, however, the higher distillation proof and different aging requirements set light whiskey apart.
As mentioned earlier, this category of whiskey got it start nearly fifty years ago, and in recent years has seen a resurgence – mainly in part due to the interest in niche spirits. Although for the average bourbon lover, it’s not likely to have the same something-something going on, it does serve as a great bridge for those transitioning from those clear liquids like vodka and gin into the world of whiskey.
The following American Light Whiskeys are gaining attention on the bourbon secondary market, reflecting growing interest in this category among bourbon enthusiasts.
King’s Family Distillery was established in 2018 by the husband-and-wife team Justin and Cara King. Bottled right at the hazmat line, this 140-proof whiskey is aged for 16 years. According to the Bourbon Blue Book® at the time of writing, you can expect to pay approximately $140 for this bottle.
All over the secondary market these days is Penelope’s most recent release, their 17 Year American Light Whiskey. Originally distilled at 189 proof. This follows a wave of other releases, with a 13-year-old American Light Whiskey in 2021 and a 15-year-old in 2024. Also unique about this bottling is the mash bill which is 99% corn and 1% malted barley. The current asking price on the secondary market according to the Bourbon Blue Book® is $229.
Obtanium Light Whiskey made its entrance to the world of light whiskies in early 2021from Cats Eye Distillery (and sourced from MGP in Indiana). This particular whiskey has the distinction of being one of the first to be released at cask strength. There’s a number of different age stated light whiskey’s under the Obtanium brand, but this particular 14-Year Light Whiskey fetches $110 on average according to the Bourbon Blue Book®.
Sourced from MGP in Indiana (notice a theme here?), High West’s 14-Year Light Whiskey also has a 99% corn, 1% malted barley mash bill. With some much greater collector appeal, this particular offering average between $450-$560 depending on whether you have batch 1 or batch 2 according to the Bourbon Blue Book®.
Data matters and having up-to-date and reliable information to make informed decisions about buying, selling or trading coveted bottles of brownwater is critical. The secondary market doesn’t stand still and neither do we in cataloguing and providing the web’s most accurate, reliable and up-to-date pricing around. As new bottles hit the market, their pricing changes daily…finding a ceiling, and eventually a floor. The market shifts up and down, commensurate with the economy – with the bourbon secondary market down just over eleven percent over the past fourteen months. If you’re looking for a resource that’s based on real data, grounded in actual verified sales on the secondary market, is updated regularly, and has values for over 6,000 bottles and growing at your fingertips, you need to look no further than the Bourboneur App for iOS and Android. The app does require a paid subscription, only $3 per month or $25 a year, which easily pays for itself!
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