All bourbon is whiskey but not all whiskey is bourbon. Tennessee whiskey? Not bourbon. Canadian whiskey? Nope. Scotch? Definitely not bourbon... you get the idea.
http://www.jimbeam.com/about-bourbon/bourbon-ingredients
Bourbon may be produced anywhere in the USA, provided it meets the criteria for ingredients, barrels, and aging.
I don’t consider Jim Beam to be very good bourbon, but that criticism also applies to Jack Daniels who have watered down their product without improving quality, although it is real bourbon whiskey though it be distilled in Tennessee. They have been surpassed by many distillers.
Breckenridge is distilled in Breckengridge, Colorado and is one of the finest bourbon whiskeys out there, which is particularly surprising given that it is currently only aged for the minimum time allowed. My personal favorite right now is Eagle Rare distilled by Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky who make many fine bourbon and rye whiskeys.
A number of craft distillers have emerged who are having their whiskey distilled to their specification by companies operating in Indiana and elsewhere. Some of their stuff is really, really good. Of course, to discover these quality craft products, you need to have a rigorous tasting program. It’s hard work, but the rewards are great.
Well I’m a Jim Beam man anyway and I knew the criteria but I thought Jack Daniels was also a bourbon.
Myu understanding is that under NAFTA Jack Daniels is now a Bourbon. The swill certainly doesn’t meet the traditional definition of Bourbon, but, by fiat, NAFTA declared Jack Daniels and its ilk to be Bourbons. I was a free-trader until I learned of this re-redefinition.