Who is credited with inventing bourbon by aging corn whiskey?

Elijah Craig is credited with inventing bourbon by aging corn whiskey. The story goes that Craig, a Baptist minister and distiller from Kentucky in the late 18th century, was one of the first to put corn whiskey in charred oak barrels for aging. This practice led to the distinctive flavor characteristics associated with bourbon today.

The charred barrels not only imparted flavors to the spirit but also helped to clarify it, lending to its golden color. Craig's method of aging, combined with the use of at least 51% corn in the mash bill, aligns with the legal definition of bourbon established later. This innovation is crucial to bourbon's identity as a uniquely American spirit.

Others mentioned, such as Jacob Spears, Jack Daniel, and Jim Beam, have made significant contributions to the whiskey industry as well, but it is Elijah Craig who is specifically linked to the early innovations that defined bourbon.