The Impact Of Bourbon Production On Kentucky’s Economy

Tourism is an important part of the state’s economy. Kentucky jokes, “Bourbon, horses, and cigars are what draws tourists to the “bluegrass state” (though, of course, besides bourbon and horse racing, Kentucky is also interesting for its unique natural sites, such as Mammoth Cave), as well as numerous historical sites.)

Kentucky is the birthplace of bourbon, the traditional American whiskey and one of the symbols of the United States. It even gets its name from Bourbon County, Kentucky. Although bourbon is produced in several states, the “real” American whiskey is Kentucky bourbon (Tennessee residents might not agree with that .

To promote its drinks and attract tourists, the Kentucky Whiskey Association has created a special tour program – the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which offers tourists not only tours of bourbon distilleries and stories about their history, but also tastings of different whiskeys.

The history of bourbon goes back to the 18th century, when it was first produced in Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA. The first commercial distillery dates back to 1783, when Evan Williams opened his plant in Louisville, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio River.

According to one version, bourbon owes its appearance to Pastor Elijah Craig, who in 1789 in Georgetown, Kentucky, began distilling the drink for parishioners. He is believed to have been the one who came up with the idea of incubating the fermented corn gruel in fish barrels, which he burned on the inside to get rid of the peculiar odor. Over time, the pastor noticed that the drink, when aged in such a barrel, acquired a rich and unusual flavor.

According to another version, the creator of bourbon could be a scientist from Kentucky, Dr. James Crowe, who in the early XIX century was the first to use corn as the main raw material for whiskey, recommended roasting barrels from inside and invented the popular today method of “sour mash”.

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