On Friday, India made bourbon whiskey cheaper by slashing the tax from 150% to 100%. This change happened after former US President Donald Trump complained about high taxes on American products being unfair. The new tax was announced just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Trump. Now, the total tax on bourbon is 100%, made up of a 50% basic tax and an additional 50% tax.
The US is the biggest seller of bourbon whiskey to India, providing about 25% of the bourbon imported. In the year 2023-24, India bought bourbon whiskey worth $2.5 million. The US and India want to increase their trade to $500 billion by 2030 and are working on a trade deal to lower taxes.
5 Fun Facts About Bourbon Whiskey
1. What is Bourbon? Bourbon whiskey is America’s only spirit made mainly from corn, with at least 51% of the mixture being corn. In 1964, the US Congress officially called it a special American product.
2. Barrel Aging: For bourbon to be called bourbon, it must be aged in a brand-new white oak barrel that has never been used before. The inside of the barrel is burned to give it flavor before the whiskey is added.
3. Where it Comes From: Bourbon was first created in the 1800s in Kentucky, specifically Bourbon County. Many people think bourbon can only be made in that county, but that’s not true! As long as it follows the rules, bourbon can be made anywhere in the US.
4. Reusable Barrels: After bourbon is made, the barrels can be used to age other types of whiskey. The charred barrels can be used to flavor other drinks, like single malt scotch.
5. Mixing Bourbon: Bourbon whiskey is very versatile and can be used in popular cocktails like an ‘Old Fashioned,’ the ‘Mint Julep’ (the official drink of the Kentucky Derby), and a ‘Manhattan.’ It has yummy flavors like vanilla, oak, and caramel that blend well in many drinks.
Leave a Reply