Bourbon vs Scotch
Both are oak-aged grain whiskies. Bourbon uses new charred American oak (aggressive extraction); Scotch uses used oak (slower extraction) and sometimes peat smoke. Bourbon is more legally constrained (no additives allowed) but the new oak does more chemical damage per year.
Bourbon vs Scotch: the differences
| Attribute | Bourbon | Scotch |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Corn + rye/wheat/malt mashbill | Malted barley (single malt) or grain blend |
| How it is made | Column + doubler, typically | Pot (single malt) or column (grain) |
| Aging | New charred American oak, minimum 2 years for "straight" | Used oak (ex-bourbon, ex-sherry), 3+ years |
| Typical strength | 40 to 65% ABV (80 to 130 proof) | 40 to 60% ABV (80 to 120 proof) |
| Calories | 98 to 153 kcal per 1.5oz | About 98 kcal per 1.5oz at 40% |
| Gluten | Naturally gluten-free | Some bottlings from gluten grains |
| Hangover Index | 7/10 | 7/10 |
Bourbon
American oak, corn-led, congener-rich
- Congeners
- High
- Histamines
- Moderate
- Polyphenols
- Moderate
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Moderate
- Sugar
- Low
- Additives
- Very Low
Scotch
Aged, peated, complex chemistry
- Congeners
- High
- Histamines
- Moderate
- Polyphenols
- Moderate
- Sulfites
- Low
- Tannins
- Moderate
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Low
Scotch wins narrowly, in the form of unpeated Speyside or grain-heavy blends. Peated Islay malts and sherry-cask styles lose to bourbon. The "right" Scotch is lighter than the "right" bourbon; the "wrong" Scotch is heavier.
Which one for which situation
FAQ
Is Scotch healthier than bourbon? ▾
Marginally, when you pick unpeated, non-sherry-finished Scotch. Bourbon's new oak extracts more heavily than Scotch's used oak. But peated Scotch can be heavier than bourbon for sensitive drinkers.
Which has more calories, bourbon or Scotch? ▾
Effectively identical at the same ABV. Calorie differences between brown spirits are not meaningful.
Does bourbon give worse hangovers than Scotch? ▾
Usually slightly worse. Bourbon's aggressive new-oak congener extraction outweighs Scotch's typical chemistry, with the exception of heavily peated or sherry-cask Scotches.