The Color of Bourbon: Everything You Need to Know

Ever wonder how bourbon gets its color?

You aren’t alone.

The color of bourbon is a source of major confusion for many. 

There are so many different ingredients, aging methods, and distillation techniques that it’s hard to tell what makes the biggest impact on whether a bourbon has shades of amber, caramel, or mahogany.

And to make matters even more confusing, bourbon actually starts clear…

Mind = Blown, right?

So to help you, we put together this straightforward guide that’ll tell you everything you need to know about how bourbon gets its color.

Get ready to become the Bob Ross of bourbon colors.

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Why Is Bourbon Brown? The 3 Main Things That Influence the Color of Bourbon

1. The Barrel
2. Storing Conditions
3. Age

1. The Barrel

Bourbon actually starts as a clear liquid called “white dog” and gets most of its brownish color from aging several years in charred new oak barrels.

Why do barrels have to be new?

One of the main reasons is because bourbon can only legally be called bourbon if it’s aged in a new oak barrel.

Why are the barrels charred?

Because it makes it easier for the bourbon to extract flavors from the barrel while it’s aging.

Understanding these requirements will provide much-needed context for the three main ways the barrel impacts the color of bourbon:

1. The Type of Oak (Quercus genus)

White oak (Quercus alba) is the most commonly used wood for bourbon barrels since its availability, but some distilleries use other kinds like:

• European oak (Quercus robur)
• Oregon oak (Quercus garryana)
• Sessile oak (Quercus petraea)
• Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica)

Oak gives bourbon its vanilla, caramel, and nutty notes.

2. The Level of Char 

According to Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, there are four main levels of char for bourbon barrels:

• Level 1 (15-second burn) 
• Level 2 (30-second burn)
• Level 3 (35-second burn)
• Level 4 (55-second burn)

The higher the level, the darker the bourbon, and the woodier the flavor. Most distilleries use Levels 3 and 4.

3. Use of a Second Barrel

If bourbon is put into a second charred or toasted barrel it will get even darker.

This isn’t very common, but several popular companies like Woodford Reserve make a double-barreled expression of their bourbon (Woodford Reserve Double Oaked).

2. Storing Conditions

Several seemingly insignificant elements about where and how bourbon is stored have a significant impact on its color, including:

1. Barrel Entry Proof

The higher the barrel entry proof, the lighter bourbon will be.

Why?

Because more alcohol in the barrel means there’s less water. 

And since water dissolves natural sugars from the oak barrel better than alcohol, higher barrel proof leads to less color and lighter flavor.

Higher barrel entry proof has become the standard since the limit increased from 110 to 125 in 1962.

2. Horizontal or Vertical

Barrels stored on their sides in rickhouses get plenty of air circulation around their sides and ends—which leads to faster and more flavorful aging. This also allows the bourbon to have more access to the thickest parts of the barrel (the staves), which can lead to a darker color.

Barrels stored vertically on pallets age slower because of decreased airflow (with so many barrels packed onto a pallet). They also have more access to the barrel heads which are much thinner and have less impact on color.

3. Geography

95% of the world’s bourbon comes from Kentucky (Kentucky Distillers Association) for many reasons, but one of the most notable is the weather.

The extremes in temperature in the summer and winter cause bourbon barrels to expand and contract—causing the bourbon to soak in the wood when it’s hot, then flow back into the barrel when it’s cold.

This gives bourbon its flavor and color.

3. Age

The longer bourbon ages, the more time it has in the charred oak barrel, and therefore the darker it usually becomes.

There generally isn’t a minimum age requirement for bourbon as long as it’s barreled properly (with the exception of a minimum of 2 years for straight bourbon whiskey and 4 years for bottled-in-bond).

Is Bourbon Artificially Colored?

True bourbon and straight whiskey cannot be artificially colored or contain any additives. So, you don’t have to worry about spirit caramel or other kinds of caramel coloring. 

The color you see comes straight from the natural factors listed above.

Wrapping It Up: Are Dark or Light Whiskeys Better?

Many argue that darker whiskeys are of higher quality but that isn’t necessarily the case.

The real thing that matters are the natural variables that influence the color of whiskey—the type of oak the barrel is made from, the level of char, and how long it’s aged (amongst other things) are much better indicators of whether one bourbon is better than another.

Don’t pass up on a lighter whiskey just because of the common association of darker color with higher quality!