Mark Izydore is a consultant and executive in Jupiter, Florida, who provides a range of financial solutions. Knowledgeable about wine, Mark Izydore also has a passion for fine cigars and bourbon.

An oaky whisky specific to Kentucky, bourbon is made from corn mash. Law mandates a minimum of 51 percent corn, to which barley and rye are often added. Ground together, these grains produce a thick, sour mash, which is combined with water in a large tank. The subsequent process of fermentation occurs over a period of 3 days. The sour mash and yeast are then combined in a tank made of cypress.

The mixture bubbles and releases a carbon dioxide gas, which indicates that it is forming into what is known as distiller’s beer. This alcohol is boiled within a tank, which turns it into vapor and separates it from the liquid yeast. After another distilling process, the resulting colorless, 130 proof alcohol is checked for quality before being aged for between 5 and 12 years in charred barrels of white oak.