{"id":3212434,"date":"2025-11-14T15:47:29","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T15:47:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/whiskey-guide\/whiskey-v-bourbon\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T17:45:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T17:45:27","slug":"whiskey-v-bourbon","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/whiskey-guide\/whiskey-v-bourbon\/","title":{"rendered":"Whiskey vs Bourbon: What Sets them Apart?"},"content":{"rendered":"<section id=\"block_891f94c21749018538215e78f6d66d51\" class=\"hero hero-halfscreen  lazy\" data-assetkey=\"hero-halfscreen\" data-colour_filter='none' data-colour_filter_opacity='51'>\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"hero-halfscreen__img_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-halfscreen__img_content-breadcrumbs\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t            \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<picture class=\"hero-halfscreen__picture\">\n\t\t\t<source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" class=\"hero-halfscreen__source hero-halfscreen__source--desktop\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-1024 1024w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-768 768w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-500 500w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-420 420w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-400 400w, 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https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-100 100w, \" sizes=\"(min-width: 1440px) 100vw, (min-width: 1024px) 1024px, (min-width: 768px) 768px\">\n\t\t\t<source class=\"hero-halfscreen__source hero-halfscreen__source--mobile\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-1024 1024w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-768 768w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-500 500w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-420 420w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-400 400w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-375 375w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-360 360w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-320 320w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-300 300w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-275 275w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-200 200w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-100 100w, \" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 768px, (min-width: 500px) 500px, 250px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"hero-halfscreen__image\" src=\"https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/PreviewMedium-JJ-0808-Caskmates-Lifestyle-Photography-028.png?tr=q-80,w-1024\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"\" role=\"presentation\">\n\t\t<\/picture>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"hero-halfscreen__content\" data-background=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t  <div class=\"subheading \">\n    <div class=\"subheading__line\"><\/div>\n    <h2 class=\"h6\">Separating The Grain From The Barrel<\/h2>\n  <\/div>\n\n\t\t<h1 class=\"h1\">Whiskey v Bourbon, What&#8217;s The Difference? <\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-halfscreen__content-intro wysiwyg\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, what\u2019s the difference between whiskey and bourbon? How does Irish whiskey stand apart? Are they both whiskeys? Short answer: yes, it is. Long answer\u2026 grab a glass, because we\u2019re about to take you through the grains, barrels, flavours, and traditions that separate these two icons of the whiskey world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether born in Ireland, Scotland, or Kentucky, whiskey always reflects its home. Irish whiskey and bourbon may share a family name, but their personalities couldn\u2019t be more distinct.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section id=\"block_625bb03e3a1e0b28e18fbb6c62f76e3f\"\n         class=\"content-one-column content-one-column--bg-light_cream full-width lazy\n        \n        \n        \" data-assetkey=\"content-one-column\">\n    <div class=\"content-one-column__content\">\n        \n                <div class=\"content-one-column__heading\">\n                            <h2 class=\"h1\">What is Whiskey?<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n\n        \n                                                            <div class=\"content-one-column__text wysiwyg align_left_on_desktop\">\n                    <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whiskey is a distilled spirit made from fermented grain mash and matured in wooden casks\u2014but the real story is in the details. Among global styles, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/whiskey-guide\/different-types-of-irish-whiskey\/\"><b>Irish whiskey<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is celebrated for its smooth, layered character, often crafted from a mix of malted and unmalted barley and <\/span><b>triple-distilled<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for exceptional purity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/our-story\/how-jameson-irish-whiskey-is-made\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">craft Jameson whiskey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, for example\u2014we blend pot still and grain whiskey, then mature the spirit in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and seasoned sherry casks, creating a whiskey that\u2019s as versatile as it is rich.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By law, for a spirit to be considered <\/span>Irish whiskey<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it must meet these key criteria:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Distilled and matured on the island of Ireland<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Made from a mash of cereal grains<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (commonly including both malted and unmalted barley)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Distilled to no more than 94.8% ABV<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Matured in wooden casks for at least three years<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">No additives allowed except water and plain caramel colouring<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more on whiskey basics, see our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/whiskey-guide\/whiskey-for-beginners\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">whiskey guide for beginners<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n                                                                <div class=\"content-one-column__text wysiwyg align_left_on_desktop\">\n                    <h2><b>What Is Bourbon?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In contrast, <\/span><b>bourbon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is America\u2019s sweeter cousin\u2014made primarily from corn and aged in brand-new, charred oak barrels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bourbon also comes with strict rules. To carry the name, it must:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be made from at least <\/span><b>51% corn<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be <\/span><b>distilled without additives<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Age in <\/span><b>brand-new, charred oak barrels<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mature <\/span><b>at least two years<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be called \u201cstraight bourbon\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thanks to the high corn content, bourbon tends to be <\/span><b>sweet and bold<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with dominant notes of <\/span><b>vanilla, caramel, and spice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Grains of Distinction: Irish Whiskey vs Bourbon<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Irish Whiskey<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2192 Barley is the hero, often a mix of malted and unmalted barley, giving a spicy, creamy character.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bourbon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2192 Corn-heavy mash bill (minimum 51%), balanced with rye, wheat, or malted barley.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/our-whiskey\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jameson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, our triple-distilled blended Irish whiskey uses both pot still and grain whiskey, matured in a mix of ex-bourbon barrels and seasoned sherry butts. That\u2019s how we achieve our signature smoothness, a true grain-to-glass handshake between Ireland and America.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re curious how Irish whiskey compares to other spirits, check out our guides that compare <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/whiskey-guide\/whiskey-brandy-rum-difference\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">whiskey vs brandy and rum<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or our one that covers all the main <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/whiskey-guide\/types-of-whiskey-guide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">whiskey types and flavours<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n                <\/div>\n                                                                                                                <picture class=\"content-one-column__picture\">\n                    <source class=\"content-one-column__source\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-PRODUCT-BRAND-HOMES-Barrels-B25-Q2-4x5-1-scaled-e1763401075104.jpg?tr=q-80,w-500 500w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-PRODUCT-BRAND-HOMES-Barrels-B25-Q2-4x5-1-scaled-e1763401075104.jpg?tr=q-80,w-420 420w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-PRODUCT-BRAND-HOMES-Barrels-B25-Q2-4x5-1-scaled-e1763401075104.jpg?tr=q-80,w-400 400w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-PRODUCT-BRAND-HOMES-Barrels-B25-Q2-4x5-1-scaled-e1763401075104.jpg?tr=q-80,w-375 375w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-PRODUCT-BRAND-HOMES-Barrels-B25-Q2-4x5-1-scaled-e1763401075104.jpg?tr=q-80,w-360 360w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-PRODUCT-BRAND-HOMES-Barrels-B25-Q2-4x5-1-scaled-e1763401075104.jpg?tr=q-80,w-320 320w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-PRODUCT-BRAND-HOMES-Barrels-B25-Q2-4x5-1-scaled-e1763401075104.jpg?tr=q-80,w-300 300w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-PRODUCT-BRAND-HOMES-Barrels-B25-Q2-4x5-1-scaled-e1763401075104.jpg?tr=q-80,w-275 275w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-PRODUCT-BRAND-HOMES-Barrels-B25-Q2-4x5-1-scaled-e1763401075104.jpg?tr=q-80,w-200 200w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-PRODUCT-BRAND-HOMES-Barrels-B25-Q2-4x5-1-scaled-e1763401075104.jpg?tr=q-80,w-100 100w, \" sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 768px, (min-width: 414px) 500px, 250px\">\n                    <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"content-one-column__image\" src=\"https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-PRODUCT-BRAND-HOMES-Barrels-B25-Q2-4x5-1-scaled-e1763401075104.jpg?tr=q-80,w-750\"\n                         width=\"750\" height=\"1000\" alt=\"Row of Jameson Irish Whiskey barrels for \"Battle of the Barrels\" section of blog\">\n                <\/picture>\n                                                                <div class=\"content-one-column__text wysiwyg align_left_on_desktop\">\n                    <h2><b>Battle of the Barrels: Ageing Matters<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oak is the backbone of both whiskey and\u00a0 bourbon maturation. But here\u2019s the catch:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Irish Whiskey<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: We happily give those bourbon barrels a second life, alongside seasoned sherry butts. Together, they impart toasted wood, vanilla, and sweet dried fruit notes into Jameson.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bourbon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: By law, aged only in new, charred oak barrels. Those casks can be used once, then often shipped abroad.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fun fact: There are more bourbon barrels in Kentucky than there are people. In Midleton, we\u2019ve got nearly four times as many barrels maturing as there are people in all of County Cork.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n                                                                                                                <picture class=\"content-one-column__picture\">\n                    <source class=\"content-one-column__source\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Product-Barley-Field-B25-Q2-4X5-scaled-e1763401274295.jpg?tr=q-80,w-500 500w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Product-Barley-Field-B25-Q2-4X5-scaled-e1763401274295.jpg?tr=q-80,w-420 420w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Product-Barley-Field-B25-Q2-4X5-scaled-e1763401274295.jpg?tr=q-80,w-400 400w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Product-Barley-Field-B25-Q2-4X5-scaled-e1763401274295.jpg?tr=q-80,w-375 375w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Product-Barley-Field-B25-Q2-4X5-scaled-e1763401274295.jpg?tr=q-80,w-360 360w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Product-Barley-Field-B25-Q2-4X5-scaled-e1763401274295.jpg?tr=q-80,w-320 320w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Product-Barley-Field-B25-Q2-4X5-scaled-e1763401274295.jpg?tr=q-80,w-300 300w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Product-Barley-Field-B25-Q2-4X5-scaled-e1763401274295.jpg?tr=q-80,w-275 275w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Product-Barley-Field-B25-Q2-4X5-scaled-e1763401274295.jpg?tr=q-80,w-200 200w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Product-Barley-Field-B25-Q2-4X5-scaled-e1763401274295.jpg?tr=q-80,w-100 100w, \" sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 768px, (min-width: 414px) 500px, 250px\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"content-one-column__image\" src=\"https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Product-Barley-Field-B25-Q2-4X5-scaled-e1763401274295.jpg?tr=q-80,w-640\"\n                         width=\"640\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Photo of Jameson bottle lifted out of barley field, referencing where different whiskeys are made from\">\n                <\/picture>\n                                                                <div class=\"content-one-column__text wysiwyg align_left_on_desktop\">\n                    <h2><b>Where They\u2019re Made: Ireland vs Kentucky<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Irish Whiskey<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To carry the \u201cIrish\u201d name, whiskey must be matured for at least three years on the island of Ireland (no matter the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/whiskey-guide\/different-types-of-irish-whiskey\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">type of Irish whiskey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bourbon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Must be made in the U.S. Congress even crowned it \u201cAmerica\u2019s Native Spirit\u201d in 1964. Kentucky remains the bourbon capital, producing about 95% of the world\u2019s supply.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irish whiskey may be a globetrotter, but bourbon is proudly American at heart. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To see how Irish whiskey compares with its Scottish cousin, visit our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/whiskey-guide\/irish-whiskey-vs-scotch\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irish whiskey vs Scotch guide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n                                                                <div class=\"content-one-column__text wysiwyg align_left_on_desktop\">\n                    <h2><b>Whiskey vs Bourbon: Flavour Profiles<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Irish Whiskey<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Known for smoothness, subtlety, and versatility. Jameson is approachable neat, over ice, or in cocktails \u2013 mellow yet complex.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bourbon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Sweet and bold, with notes of vanilla, oak, caramel, and spice. Rich, but less subtle than Irish whiskey\u2019s delicate balance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think of Irish whiskey as the smooth operator, and bourbon as the sweet charmer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n\n    <\/section>\n\n\n\n<section id=\"block_af4af15c633a1e05a4e51a011e047205\"\n         class=\"content-one-column content-one-column--bg-dark full-width lazy\n        \n        \n        \" data-assetkey=\"content-one-column\">\n    <div class=\"content-one-column__content\">\n        \n                <div class=\"content-one-column__heading\">\n                            <h2 class=\"h1\">Classic Cocktails: Irish Whiskey vs Bourbon<\/h2>\n                    <\/div>\n\n        \n                                                                                                            <picture class=\"content-one-column__picture\">\n                    <source class=\"content-one-column__source\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-2560 2560w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-1920 1920w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-1650 1650w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-1440 1440w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-1280 1280w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-1024 1024w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-768 768w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-500 500w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-420 420w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-400 400w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-375 375w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-360 360w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-320 320w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-300 300w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-275 275w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-200 200w, https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-100 100w, \" sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 100vw, (min-width: 768px) 768px, (min-width: 414px) 500px, 250px\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"content-one-column__image\" src=\"https:\/\/ik.imagekit.io\/cvygf2xse\/jamesonwhiskey\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/JAMESON-Cocktail-Asset-01-scaled.jpg?tr=q-80,w-2560\"\n                         width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" alt=\"Mix of whiskey cocktails with Jameson (whiskey sour, old fashioned, jameson ginger lime)\">\n                <\/picture>\n                                                                <div class=\"content-one-column__text wysiwyg align_left_on_desktop\">\n                    <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both spirits shine in cocktails, but with different twists.<\/span><\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n                                                                <div class=\"content-one-column__text wysiwyg align_left_on_desktop\">\n                    <h3><b>Classic Irish Whiskey Cocktails:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/cocktail-recipes\/classic-whiskey-sour\/\"><b>Whiskey Sour<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Sweet, sour, and Jameson smooth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/cocktail-recipes\/old-fashioned\/\"><b>Old Fashioned<\/b><\/a> (with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/our-whiskey\/jameson-black-barrel\/\">Jameson Black Barrel<\/a>)<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Bold, complex, and the world\u2019s most popular cocktail.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/cocktail-recipes\/the-midleton-mule\/\"><b>Irish Mule<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Jameson, ginger, lime, fresh and spicy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n                <\/div>\n                                                                <div class=\"content-one-column__text wysiwyg align_left_on_desktop\">\n                    <h3><b>Classic Bourbon Cocktails:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Manhattan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Bourbon, vermouth, bitters. Timeless sophistication.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/cocktail-recipes\/the-honey-julep\/\"><b>Mint Julep<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 A Southern summer favourite with bourbon, mint, and sugar<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Brown Derby<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Bourbon, grapefruit juice, honey syrup. Old Hollywood glamour.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n                <\/div>\n                                                                <div class=\"content-one-column__text wysiwyg align_left_on_desktop\">\n                    <h2><b>Key Takeaways: Irish Whiskey vs Bourbon<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irish whiskey = barley, ex-bourbon &amp; sherry casks, Ireland.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bourbon = corn, new charred oak, America.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irish whiskey is more versatile (while bourbon is best for sweet occasions).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bourbon is a whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irish whiskey is smooth and subtle; Bourbon is bold and sweet.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n                <\/div>\n                                                                <div class=\"content-one-column__text wysiwyg align_left_on_desktop\">\n                    <p><strong>When in doubt? Raise a glass of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/our-whiskey\/\">Jameson<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n                                                                <div class=\"content-one-column__text wysiwyg align_left_on_desktop\">\n                    <h2><b>Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"260\" data-end=\"302\">Which whiskey is best for cocktails?<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"303\" data-end=\"447\">Irish whiskey\u2019s smooth, balanced flavour makes it perfect for classics like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/cocktail-recipes\/classic-whiskey-sour\/\">Whiskey Sour<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/cocktail-recipes\/the-midleton-mule\/\">Irish Mule<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"303\" data-end=\"447\">\n<h3 data-start=\"454\" data-end=\"507\">What cocktails can you make with Irish whiskey?<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"508\" data-end=\"642\">Try an Irish Mule, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/cocktail-recipes\/classic-whiskey-sour\/\">Whiskey Sour<\/a>, or an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/cocktail-recipes\/old-fashioned\/\">Old Fashioned<\/a> with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/our-whiskey\/jameson-black-barrel\/\">Jameson Black Barrel<\/a> for extra depth.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"508\" data-end=\"642\">\n<h3><b>Is bourbon a whiskey?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes. Bourbon is a type of whiskey made primarily from corn and aged in new charred oak barrels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>What is the difference between bourbon and Irish whiskey?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irish whiskey uses barley, is often triple distilled, and aged in ex-bourbon and sherry casks for a smoother taste. Bourbon relies on corn and new oak, giving it a sweet, bold profile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Is bourbon sweeter than Irish whiskey?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally, yes. Corn adds natural sweetness, while Irish whiskey leans into subtle, smooth, and sometimes spicy notes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Which is smoother, bourbon or Irish whiskey?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irish whiskey, especially Jameson, is known for its signature smoothness thanks to triple distillation and careful cask selection.<\/span><\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n\n    <\/section>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":3212539,"parent":485849,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Whiskey vs Bourbon: What\u2019s the Difference?","_seopress_titles_desc":"Discover the difference between Irish whiskey and bourbon. Learn differences in flavour and production style, and how Irish whiskey is known for smoothness.","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"our-world-category":[],"class_list":["post-3212434","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3212434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3212434"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3212434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3219577,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3212434\/revisions\/3219577"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/485849"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3212539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3212434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3212434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3212434"},{"taxonomy":"our-world-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jamesonwhiskey.com\/en-ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/our-world-category?post=3212434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}