The days where the mention of American distilling conjured up images of Jack Daniels and Jim Beam are long since passed. The USA is now a country with a rich modern distilling culture and an attitude towards micro-distilling that is more in line with the boutique beer market that already exists over there. There is more to US spirits than Jack 'N' Coke.

The most famous style of American Whiskey is Bourbon. Bourbon can legally be made anywhere in the USA but is most closely historically associated with the state of Kentucky, where 95% of the world's bourbon is produced.

Until recently, Kentucky had only around a dozen distilleries in operation, including the classic names such as Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace, Jim Beam and Wild Turkey. Following the explosion of micro-distilling in America and amidst the growing cachet of classic bourbons such as Van Winkle, as of 2025 there were around 100 distilleries making spirits in Kentucky. Many of these distilleries are responsible for a multitude of different brands, a fact which explains the presence of so many different names and bottlings on the market.