Was watching a show on Modern Marvels on the History Channel tonight.  The program dealt with the creation of various spirits – vodka, tequila, scotch, rum, etc.  As we know, Bourbon is a truly American spirit, just as scotch is a truly Scottish spirit and tequila is a truly Mexican spirit.  What I did not know was about why Kentucky became a center for bourbon production many years ago. According to the program I watched, citizens began the Whisky Rebellion of 1792 after the government decided to tax whisky distilleries in the new nation.  Although the rebellion was put down, many people decided to move West to a place where government reach was not as great.  They ended up settling in Kentucky.  This might not have been a coincidence, though, since corn (the main ingredient in bourbon) apparently grows there, and some of the only natural water that can be used to make good bourbon flows in the state.  This water flows on limestone rock and has a very low iron content, a mineral which can spoil bourbon.  To this day, we find bourbon distilleries (such as Jim Beam) operating in the Kentucky area.