The origins of the drink bourbon date back to the late 1700s, but it wasn’t until the 1840s that it acquired its name. Etymologists are still uncertain about the exact reason behind the name. The most plausible theory suggests that it is named after Bourbon County in Kentucky, where some believe the drink was first crafted. However, the stories surrounding the creation of bourbon are mostly speculative, and the historical timeline doesn’t quite align. Another theory proposes that it could be named after the former region of Virginia known as Old Bourbon, which included parts of Kentucky before Kentucky became a separate state in 1792. Alternatively, it may have been inspired by the renowned Bourbon Street in New Orleans, a bustling port where Kentucky whiskey was frequently traded. Interestingly, all three of these locations are named after the House of Bourbon, a French royal family that reigned from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century. The family’s name originates from a town in France, itself named after the Celtic god of hot springs, Borvo.
