A bourbon mash bill is the recipe for the grain mixture used to make bourbon whiskey. It must contain at least 51% corn, and the rest of the grain can be rye, wheat, or malted barley. The mash bill will determine the flavor and aroma of the bourbon.
The importance of a bourbon mash bill cannot be overstated. It is the foundation of the whiskey’s flavor profile and can greatly impact its overall quality. Different mash bills will produce bourbons with different characteristics, so it is essential for distillers to carefully consider the grain mixture they use.