What is a bourbon mashbill?

Mashbill is a term that is thrown around very frequently in the bourbon community and it can be a little confusing at first, but it is so important when narrowing down what types of bourbons you like, and even what ones may be worth splurging a bit on. So let's get into it. Mashbill is a "recipe" of the spirit. It is all the grains that go into making the actual liquid of the spirit.

Bourbon requires its mashbill to be at least 51% corn; however, the remaining 49% is where things can get interesting. If the next biggest ingredient is wheat, the spirit will be known as a high-wheat bourbon, and for rye it would be known as a high-rye bourbon. This is really where the power of knowing what the mashbill comes into play. For example, when I first got into bourbons, I loved Makers Mark. I looked into the mashbill and learned that it was a high-wheat bourbon, so then I could look into other high-wheat offerings and know that it was very probable that I would enjoy the bourbon. I do however recommend that people every once in a while step outside of their comfort zone because not only do people's tastes change, but sometimes there are hidden gems that catch you off guard. For example, I really enjoy Bardstown Origin Series Bourbon which is a high-rye bourbon when I typically do not enjoy high-rye offerings.

Do you prefer high-wheat or high-rye bourbons? Let me know by rating your favorite pours in the best whiskey app in the world, NEAT: Whiskey Finder!!