Bourbon is most of the time considered as a brand of liquor, but that is not true. It is actually a type of American whiskey. Bourbon is basically a barrel-aged distilled liquor that is made out primarily from the corn, but there are also some other ingredients added to enhance the taste, aroma or colour of the bourbon.
Bourbon comes in multiple bottle shapes and sizes, but they are all clear and you will be enjoying a rich texture on bourbon overall. It is named after the French Bourbon dynasty.
Bourbon is particularly great to be enjoyed with most of the meal types and table settings that you could possibly be having. However, there are a few things that can make you think if your Bourbon is fit to be consumed. There are a number of factors involved, and at times you might be wondering why is your bourbon looking cloudy. If the bourbon is looking cloudy, here are a few possible reasons for it.
Why Is Bourbon Cloudy?
1. Dilution
One of the most common reasons for your bourbon to look cloudy is dilution. That is pretty easy to understand, and since bourbon has a thicker texture, it will not be getting hazy otherwise. But we all know that corn has a pretty good number of fibres in it, ad that could be the reason here.
If you have diluted the bourbon with water, it could cause the water to be mixed with thinner parts of the bourbon, while any richer parts or some particles that are high in density will be separated. That will cause a haze like a feel in the bottle, and you will think that the bourbon might be getting bad, as it looks cloudy. Shaking it a bit will get you rid of any such clouds that you could be seen in the bottle.
2. Time
Another thing that you will need to know about the bourbon is that it can turn out to be cloudy if you have placed the bottle at room temperature unstirred for a couple of days. Over 3-4 days, you can feel that the bourbon has started to develop some clouds on it and that could be unattractive to you if you like to place your bourbon in the clear sight. That problem could be easily resolved and you can get it fixed up too.
All you have to do is either, stir the bottle a bit properly and the cloudy haze is bound to go away. Otherwise, if you would like to store it for longer periods, it would be better for you to keep it in a temperature-controlled environment or some refrigerator. That should be the best thing for you to have the right clear sight of your bourbon without having to deal with any clouds on it at all.
3. Chill-filtration
Another reason for you to have your bourbon turned cloudy is that it might not be chill-filtered. Chill-filtration is the process where the temperature of any liquid is reduced to certain levels, to remove any unwanted proteins, acids or fats from it. That is why, if you are seeing haze or solid chunks in your bottles, the bourbon you have is not chill-filtered.
So, if you like to have a clear bourbon at all times, you will need to ensure that you are purchasing a bottle that is chill-filtered. Chill-filtered bourbon is easily available across most liquor stores. It might be a bit more expensive than the normal ones but is certainly worth it for all those who like to keep their bourbons for a considerable time.
Is it Safe?
Another question that you might have to deal with is if it would be safe for you to consume some bourbon that has some cloudy haze on it, or it might be having some solidified bits or chunks in the bottle.
It is not unsafe to be consumed, and you don’t have to worry about the health part if the bourbon is your bottle appears to be cloudy. It might affect the taste or texture a bit, but it should not be causing you to face any health-related problems and should be fully safe for you to consume.