When farmers later transported this unaged corn whiskey, or moonshine, across the Ohio River for commerce, the spirit would age in its oak barrel containers, becoming infused with dark colour and complex flavour.

BBC: On and off Kentucky��s beaten Bourbon Trail

Where bourbon is primarily made of corn, giving the whiskey a smooth and sweet flavor profile, rye is at least 51% of its namesake grain, lending it a spicier, fuller bodied, angular taste.

WSJ: Rye Whiskey: Do the Rye Thing | Half Full

The whiskey is a blend of malted barley and corn, matured in bourbon barrels for at least four years, then mellowed for four months in wine barrels that had been used for Concannon Petite Sirah before blending.

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Bourbon Whiskey is generally perceived as being sweeter than other whiskies due to the high percentage of corn used in the mash bill and the use of new oak barrels, which retain all of their original sugars.

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These settlers would have learned from the indigenous tribes how quickly and easily corn grew there, and then (since distillation was already a widespread practice) used any crop surpluses to make whiskey.

BBC: On and off Kentucky��s beaten Bourbon Trail