Glass of Whisky on a whisky barrel with copy space at the top
Food - Drink
What A Bourbon's Mash Bill Actually Means
By MICHELLE WELSCH
Pouring a glass of whisky with ice from a decanter, in a dark background.
A mash bill is a list of grains that distillers use to make a batch of bourbon. The bill is an integral part of official guidelines that categorize and define types of bourbon.
Thick Bourbon Mash in Open Vat in the fermenting stage
A "mash" refers to the grains used to ferment and distill the alcohol. By law, a mash for bourbon must contain at least 51% corn; the other 49% is at the distiller's discretion.
Cereals, grain, oats, wheat, rye, barley, cereal
The mash bill lists the grains used in the bourbon and the percentages at which they are included. Rye, barley, and wheat are common choices, all providing different flavors.
Pouring bourbon into a rocks glass with ice
While some labels are clear about their grain choices and ingredient proportions, other brands like Buffalo Trace keep the non-corn portion of their mash bills a secret.
Four glasses of bourbon in a flight for sampling
A bartender pours bourbon into a glass with ice
A bartender pours bourbon into a glass over a large block of ice
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