Is this not the dorkiest, most "totally a real brand, not a prop" label you have ever seen?
Because I love to share information I'm going to break down every bit of information that can be gleaned from this label, starting at the top and working down:
"Bottled in Bond" - In the US a bonded whiskey is one that is aged in a federally supervised warehouse to ensure no cheating, it means that the contents of that bottle are the product of one distilling season from one distillery, at least four years old, bottled at 50%alc (100° proof), and bottled by the distiller.
"Mellow Corn" - The brand name, very important to know so you can find it.
"50% ALC/VOL (100 proof)" - this one pretty simple, by volume this product is 50% alcohol, proof in the us is simply the percentage of alcohol by volume multiplied by two.
"Kentucky Straight Corn Whiskey" - Okay, here is where I admit I had to look up the difference between "corn whiskey" and "bourbon", because rye whiskey must be at least 51% rye, wheat whiskey must be at least 51% wheat, and bourbon must be at least 51% corn. And here is the answer: Corn whiskey must be at least 80% corn and can be aged in used and uncharred barrels as well as charred barrels. And because it is "Kentucky Straight Corn Whiskey" we know it was distilled in Kentucky, aged for no less than two years (we already know that its at least 4 years old because its bonded), and that it is made from a massh of at least 80% corn.
"Distilled and bottled by Heaven Hill Distilleries INC" - Heaven Hill is the parent company that produces Mellow Corn, as well as others you may have heard of such as Bernheim Wheat Whiskey, Blackheart Spiced Rum, Burnett's Gins and Vodkas,Deep Eddy, Elijah Craig Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Fighting Cock Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse bonded Rye, and Henry McKenna Bourbon among many others.
I hope that I have been of service to anyone who would have liked any of that information, let me know if you have any other alcohol related questions!
