Bourbon whiskey is a type of American whiskey, a barrel-aged, distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name ultimately derives from the French Bourbon dynasty, although the precise inspiration for the whiskey’s name is uncertain; contenders include Bourbon County in Kentucky and Bourbon Street in New Orleans, both of which are named after the dynasty.

Bourbon has been distilled since the 18th century. The name “Bourbon” was not applied until the 1850s, and the Kentucky etymology was not advanced until the 1870s.