Stepping behind a bar can be intimidating for those who have never worked in the service industry, but the desire to make, muddle, stir and shake up your very own cocktail is a common one. To a mixology novice, a bartender can seem like a magician — whipping up potent potions with a little shake here and a big stir there.

In 1964, the US government acknowledged that bourbon whiskey was a distinctive product of the United States, and laid out specific ways to produce and label the brown elixir. And though this resolution made it official, bourbon has always had a place in American history, and in the pride we have for the nation.

The mecca of bourbon is firmly established on Kentucky soil, but rarely is the soil itself recognized. Bluegrass distilleries have been funneling barrel-aged goodness worldwide for over a century. In that time, the native U.S. spirit has remained beloved, and a recent spike in interest ensures that barrels will continue rolling across the state for years to come.