Single Barrel vs. Batch

Most bourbons are "small-batch," which means that the bourbon was mixed together from all of the aging barrels right before bottling, according to Straight Bourbon.com. This provides a more consistent flavor. Single barrel bourbon, on the other hand, is called such because it is bottled from one barrel.

Char Rating

Bourbon whiskey is also classified by the amount of char on the barrel in which it ages. Charred barrels are rated on a scale of one to four, with four being the most deeply burned wood. The more a barrel is charred, the more its colors sweet flavors are brought out and transferred to the bourbon during the aging process.

Straight vs. Blended

Straight bourbons are made of only grain distillates, using the sour-mash method in which makers take some of the liquid from a previous batch to get the yeast for a new batch started. Blended bourbons are made similarly, but upon completion, they're mixed with neutral grain alcohol before bottling.

Makers/Brand

Bourbon can be classified by the producer who makes the liquor. Jim Beam is the most widely recognized, but other commercial bourbon producers are Barton Distilling, The Wild Turkey Distillery, Four Roses Distillery, Buffalotrace Distillery, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, Maker's Mark Distillery, Mclain and Kyne Distillery Limited, The Old Pogue Distillery, Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, Ltd., A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Inc., and Labrot and Graham Distillery.