To be legally named 'Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey', it must meet the following:
- It must be made in the United States (specifically Bourbon County, Kentucky)
- It must contain 51% corn
- It must be aged at least two years in new, charred oak barrels
Scots Whisky (it's 'whiskey' everywhere else but Scotland and Canada, where it's 'whisky')
Only after a minimum of three years maturation can the new make spirit be legally defined as Scotch whisky. In practice, most Scotch whisky matures for much longer - from five to fifteen, twenty, or twenty-five years and sometimes longer. It is this lingering period during which Scotland’s cool, clean air steals through the porous oak of the casks and charms their contents, contributing further to the smooth and golden character of each distillery’s unique creation. (source:
www.whiskyweb.com)