Bourbon has been the No. 1 spirit of the South for centuries, but its popularity has exploded nationwide in recent years.
From a technical standpoint, bourbon is whiskey that’s been distilled in the United States, using at least 51% corn mash, and aged in new, charred oak barrels.
Beyond that deceptively simple recipe there is a near infinite number of variations for distillers to experiment with — and this creative tinkering has fueled the current bourbon boom sweeping the United States.
But which state loves bourbon the most? And where does Ohio rank on that list?
To find out, BetOhio – your source for Ohio sportsbook apps - took a break from covering legal sports betting to rank the top bourbon-loving states in America.
To order our rankings, we used Google Trends to find out which states have been googling “bourbon” the most since 2021. And using Statista.com, we looked at weekly consumption of straight bourbon per capita in each state. Using both data sets, we assigned a point system between 1 and 50 — with 1 being the least searched/consumed, and 50 being the most.
Here are the results:
While it’s certainly not a surprise to find Kentucky at No. 1 on this list, Buckeye bourbon lovers will surely be pleased to see Ohio ranked all the way up at No. 6.
It’s far from the interest on Buckeyes football in Ohio sports betting, but it is very clear across the state: Bourbon-mania is spreading rapidly.
As of 2020, Ohio totaled more than 75 distilleries, with almost all of them offering some variety of bourbon. Middle West Spirits in Columbus is aiming to be the state’s largest distillery. They’re in the midst a massive expansion, building a new 75,000 square-foot production plant with a $38.7 million price tag.
Even Arby’s is looking to cash in on the bourbon craze. The Ohio-founded fast food franchise recently teamed up with Brain Brew Distillery to produce an Arby’s branded Smoked Bourbon.
Of course, no one is more aware of bourbon’s popularity than the state liquor commission. Ohio Liquor has begun running Bottle Lotteries several times a year, in which entrants win the opportunity to purchase rare bourbons, as well as other hard-to-find spirits.
When it comes to bourbon admiration, Ohio might never top its neighbor to the south. Nevertheless, Ohio’s modern bourbon era has only just begun.
Stick close to BetOhio.com for stories of interest such as this, as well as for Ohio sportsbook promo codes.
Author
Jeff Parker is an Entertainment Writer for BetOhio.com. A writer for film, television and the internet, Jeff is a life long movie buff, with an actual Masters Degree in Popular Culture. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he works full time as documentary filmmaker and producer.
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