There are many theories as to where Bourbon Whiskey got the name “Bourbon”. Bourbon comes about because Kentucky whiskey was not selling for a profit in New Orleans, the main market for Kentucky goods in the 18th and early 19th century. Someone decided to make Kentucky whiskey more appealing to the people in New Orleans by making it taste like French brandy, which requires aging in charred barrels. The popular legend has it getting its name from Bourbon County, Kentucky. This legend starts in the 1870s and states that Bourbon got its name from distillers sending Kentucky whiskey to New Orleans and people started asking for the whiskey invoiced from Maysville, Kentucky—Bourbon County in the 18th century. But Maysville was only briefly part of Bourbon County in the 18th century. There are several problems with this theory, besides it being a century after the event that the story emerges. In the 18th century, Spain controlled New Orleans and did not allow goods from America to be shipped to New Orleans. Yes, goods were still shipped to New Orleans, but they were smuggled and good smugglers do not write invoices. After 1803, New Orleans became part of the United States and goods could be shipped to New Orleans. However, Bourbon’s first written mention is in the early 1820’s in an advertisement for Bourbon for sale in a newspaper, long after the 18th century.
This is where I think Bourbon Street comes into play. In the 1820’s steamboats were making the trip to New Orleans a much faster and safer trip than by the traditional flatboat. A Kentuckian could get on board a steamboat and travel to New Orleans in a few weeks instead of the months it would take by flatboat. People would have their goods loaded on the steamboat and travel with their goods to New Orleans and sell their goods. These people were doing business of all kinds, not just selling whiskey. Tobacco was a big business in New Orleans as tobacco would be shipped to England and France from the port. Business people would stay in New Orleans for a while and then return home by steamboat. On the boat, travelers would request the whiskey they drank on Bourbon Street, where they had stayed and “Bourbon Street Whiskey” was eventually shortened to “Bourbon whiskey”. This is my theory of how Bourbon came to be called “Bourbon”.
People have found fault with this theory by saying that Bourbon Street was not the Bourbon Street of today. It was not a place of bars and entertainment back then and instead, it was a place where the people of New Orleans lived. I agree with this complaint, but it does not make my theory invalid. People traveling to New Orleans did not always stay in hotels. They often stayed in boarding houses or with friends who lived in New Orleans. In fact, I believe that a regular traveler to the city would most likely stay in a boarding house or with friends as this would be less expensive. Eventually, these business men would form a relationship with someone in New Orleans and stay with them when traveling to the city.
My main argument for this theory is that if Bourbon got its name in the 18th century, why did it take over 20 years for someone to advertise it for sale in a newspaper. I think Bourbon Street is the more likely source of the name than Bourbon County, Kentucky.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller and Library of Congress
September 8, 2025 at 12:23 pm
“In the 18th century, Spain controlled New Orleans and did not allow goods from America to be shipped to New Orleans.”
That statement is not entirely accurate. Spain declared war on Britain in 1779. New Orleans was an important supply line for the Americans during the Revolutionary War. Trade was allowed during this time. After the war, it swung back and forth. The Spanish would impose duties on Americans as a way to encourage them to settle in their territory (sounds familiar). Pinckney’s Treaty of 1795 formally gave Americans unfettered access to the New Orleans market.
September 8, 2025 at 12:27 pm
“In the 18th century, Spain controlled New Orleans and did not allow goods from America to be shipped to New Orleans.”
That statement is not entirely accurate. Spain declared war on Britain in 1779. New Orleans was an important supply line for the Americans during the Revolutionary War. Trade was allowed during this time. After the war, it swung back and forth. The Spanish would impose duties on Americans as a way to encourage them to settle in their territory (sounds familiar). Pinckney’s Treaty of 1795 formally gave Americans unfettered access to the New Orleans market.
September 8, 2025 at 8:19 pm
Awesome post by the way. I love reading your work!
September 8, 2025 at 9:06 pm
Thank you. My point was that trading was not legal during the time that Limestone (Maysville) was part of Bourbon County.
September 8, 2025 at 9:54 pm
That’s a great point. However, as you well know, the frontiersmen of that era were more interested in survival than abiding by the law.
For example, most Kentuckians (Virginians) ignored the federal whiskey excise tax of 1791.
Spanish governors in New Orleans would frequently “bend” the rules. They’d grant permits or look the other way in exchange for bribes or promises of allegiance.