in September 2007, the U.S. Senate passed a Simple Resolution that named “September 2007” National Bourbon Heritage Month. Specifically, the language stated:
(1) designates September 2007 as “National Bourbon Heritage Month;”
(2) recognizes bourbon as “America’s Native Spirit” and reinforces its heritage and tradition and its place in the history of the United States; and
(3) recognizes the contributions of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to the culture of the United States.
So, for all of September it was National Bourbon Heritage Month, but only for the year 2007. In all years after that, only in Kentucky was it Bourbon Heritage Month.
This Resolution did a couple of things. It advanced the agenda that September is truly Bourbon’s and it made common the phrase: “America’s Native Spirit.”
In September 1991, the Kentucky Bourbon Festival began and most bourbon activities started taking place in this month, which is why it has been coined Bourbon’s month. In addition, while “Native Spirit” had been used in previous Congressional discussions, America’s Native Spirit had not been used in a proper government parlance until this. That gave the Bourbon industry the marketing fuel, as it allowed them to officially call Bourbon “America’s Native Spirit.”
Regardless of whether it is a Congressional recognized National Month of Celebration or not, the people who appreciate Bourbon will always consider September to be the month to celebrate Bourbon (and also most days before and after the month).