Iowa Spring-Summer 21 - 30

Cedar Ridge, the first
distillery in Iowa,
makes its whiskey with
74% family-farm corn.

CEDAR RIDGE DISTILLERY

3-OAKS DISTILLERY

3 Oaks Distilling is a family
operation in that uses
apple wood for distinctive
flavor.

30 IOWA SPIRITS

ourbon, as " America's spirit, " is certainly
worthy of its very own day, and National
Bourbon Day is June 14.
Americans began producing bourbon near the
end of the 18th century. It was first distilled by
immigrant farmers-mostly from Scotland, England
and Ireland-who were pioneers traveling west-

ward. Many of these early Americans had settled
in present-day Kentucky or Tennessee, and by the
19th century more than 2,000 farmers, along with
their families, were making bourbon.
Bourbon has played a substantial role in
American culture and history. George Washington
himself, the father of our country, distilled the spirit
on his farm in Mt. Vernon, Virginia. Bourbon has
also been used as currency in America, and for the
past 200-plus years distillers have used the same
basic ingredients and techniques as their
ancestors.
In 1964, Congress characterized bourbon whiskey as " America's Native Spirit, " the only liquor
" distinctive to the United States. " Through an act
of Congress in 2007, September was named
National Bourbon Heritage Month after a unanimous Senate vote. So, in addition to having a
national day, bourbon has its very own month.
Today, bourbon is more popular than ever,
making it a nearly $6 billion industry in America
alone-global sales of course place the total figure
much higher. One reason for this is the craft bour-

Iowa Spring-Summer 21

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