Bourbon Whiskey

American's don't need to be lectured on Bourbon, but still, let's put it in record like all other spirits. A Bourbon in American spirit is a barrel-aged distilled liquor made primarily from corn. The name might have been derived from the French Bourbon dynasty, or from Bourbon County in Kentucky, or Bourbon Street in New Orleans, both named after the French Dynasty.

Technically, most whiskey made in America are legally classified as Bourbon, although Bourbon is in spirit a Southern Whiskey with special connection to Kentucky. Note than although Tennessee Whiskey is classified as Bourbon, Tennessee distilleries do not prefer their whiskey to be unique and referred to as Tennessee Whiskey only.

Distilling came to Kentucky in the late 18rth Century with the Scots, Scot-Irish and other settlers including English, Welsh, German and French, and they brought with them their distilling techniques and ageing processes in charred oak barrels. The charring is what gives the Bourbon the brownish colour and distinctive taste.

To be a legal Bourbon, a whiskey has to meet the following criteria

Produced in the United States and Territories (Puerto Rico) and the District of Columbia
Made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn
Aged in new, charred oak containers
Distilled to no more than 160 (U.S.) proof (80% alcohol by volume)
Entered into the container for aging at no more than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume)
Bottled (like other whiskeys) at 80 proof or more (40% alcohol by volume)

Creme De Noyaux

Crème de Noyaux is an almond flavoured crème liqueur, made not from Almonds but Apricot Kernels or Peach Kernels and Cherry Pits macerated or distilled in superfine alcohol, which provide an almond like flavour. The colour of the liqueur is Pink or clear and is 20% ABV in US, 40% in original and French. It is 40 Proof in USA.

Cherry Liqueur

Cherry Liqueur is a sweetened liqueur made from different spirit bases of which Brandy is the most common base for macerating and infusing cherry and making the liqueur, and that is why cherry liqueur is often called Cherry Brandy.

Note that there's Kirsch or Kirschwasser, an unsweetened eau de vie distilled from cherries, and it is often called cherry brandy too. But you can't use Kirsch and Cherry Liqueur interchangeably since the liqueur is sweet and the other is not.

One of the most known Cherry Liqueur is Maraschino Cherry Liqueur, made from Marasca cherries.

Southern Comfort Peach Liqueur

Southern Comfort is now branded as a Whiskey Liqueur and is associated with bourbon , but originally the brand produced peach liqueurand was one of the few peach liqueurs in the market. Produced using neutral spirit and over 100 ingredients, the final liqueur matured for eight months before bottling.