bourbon

noun

bour·​bon ˈbu̇r-bən 

ˈbȯr-;

usually in sense 3

ˈbər- 

1

capitalized : a member of a French family founded in 1272 to which belong the rulers of France from 1589 to 1793 and from 1814 to 1830, of Spain from 1700 to 1808, from 1814 to 1868, from 1875 to 1931, and from 1975, of Naples from 1735 to 1805, and of the Two Sicilies from 1815 to 1860

2

: a rose (Rosa borboniana) of upright growth with shining leaves, prickly branches, and clustered large flowers

3

: a whiskey distilled from a mash made up of not less than 51 percent corn plus malt and rye compare corn whiskey

4

often capitalized : a person who clings obstinately to old social and political ideas

specifically : an extremely conservative member of the U.S. Democratic party usually from the South

bourbonism

ˈbu̇r-bə-ˌni-zəm 

ˈbȯr-

noun often capitalized

Examples of bourbon in a Sentence

I prefer bourbon to Scotch.

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to a selection of bourbon that Combs hand-picked for the bar, Category 10 will serve up a full menu of food inspired by Combs' North Carolina roots, including blue crab cakes, the Smoky Mountain Chicken Sandwich, a barbecue burger and venison meatloaf. —Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

The composition of Fraley's mother blend typically consists of a combination of different aged bourbons: 9 YO MGP 36% rye bourbon, a 16 YO Kentucky rye bourbon, 20 YO MGP 36% rye bourbon, and small amounts, 1-3%, of Joseph A. Magnus Triple Blend bourbon. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Rich's Proper, a Covington bistro known for its southern fare and rare bourbons, and its sister restaurant Hangry Omar's closed their doors on Dec. 15. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 19 Dec. 2024

Four Roses Small Batch: For fans of the sweeter side of whiskey, Four Roses Small Batch bourbon should be the first choice. —Paul Feinstein, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

(sense 1) after the lordship of Bourbon in central France, where the family originated; (sense 2) after French rose de Bourbon, after the Île Bourbon (now réunion), where the rose likely originated; (sense 3) probably after Bourbon County, Kentucky, or its pre-statehood predecessor, a county of Virginia that included much of northeastern Kentucky; (sense 4) after the association of the Bourbon dynasty with conservative royalist politics in France

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Biographical Definition

Bourbon

biographical name

Bour·​bon ˈbu̇r-bən 

bu̇r-ˈbōⁿ

Charles de 1490–1527 Duc de Bourbon French general; constable of France