Bourbon

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)

Sloe Gin

Sloe Gin is not a Gin, it's a British liqueur made with gin and sloes. Sloes are Plum like fruits which are traditionally picked after the first frost of winter in late October, pricked traditionally with a thorn from the blackthorn bush on which sloes grow, then put in a jar with sugar and gin and steeped for at least three months while turning the jar every day initially, then every week until ready.

The liqueur is then decanted carefully to eliminate all sediments and a clear red liqueur is left. Sloe Gin is 15% to 30% ABV. EU established standard requires a minimum of 25% ABV for the liqueur to be recognised as a Sloe Gin.

Sloe Gin is the only non-Gin product that is still legally allowed to be called a Gin, despite the fact that it is a Gin based liqueur and is often even made with neutral grain spirits in place of Gin.