corn whiskey
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of American whiskey: Corn whiskey is a distilled spirit produced primarily in the United States. It is legally defined by its mash bill—the mixture of grains from which it is fermented. For a spirit to be labeled "corn whiskey," the mash must consist of at least 80 percent corn. It is often unaged or aged in used or uncharred oak barrels, which gives it a distinct, often robust, corn-forward flavor profile compared to other whiskeys like bourbon or rye.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The distillery specializes in producing a smooth, clear corn whiskey.
- For the recipe, you can substitute bourbon with a good-quality corn whiskey.
- Traditional corn whiskey was a staple in many early American communities.
Advanced Usage
- "legal definition": The term "corn whiskey" is not just descriptive but has a specific legal definition in U.S. regulations, distinguishing it from other whiskey categories based on grain content and aging.
- To be sold as corn whiskey, the spirit must meet the federal standard of 80% corn mash.
Variants and Related Words
- Corn whisky: An alternative spelling, though "whiskey" is more common in American English.
- Moonshine: Often used colloquially to refer to illegally produced, unaged corn whiskey, though not all moonshine is strictly corn whiskey, and not all legal corn whiskey is moonshine.
- Bourbon whiskey: A related but distinct category; bourbon must be made from at least 51% corn and aged in new, charred oak barrels.
Synonyms
- Corn liquor: A more general, informal term for whiskey made primarily from corn.
- White whiskey: A term sometimes used for unaged corn whiskey (or other unaged grain spirits), referring to its clear color.
Related Phrases
- Sour mash corn whiskey: A production method where a portion of a previous fermentation (the "sour mash") is used to start the next, promoting consistency and flavor.
- This distiller's sour mash corn whiskey has a remarkably consistent character year after year.
Noun
- whiskey distilled from a mash of not less than 80 percent corn