June 14, 2022 - National New Mexico Day | National Bourbon Day

Welcome to June 14th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate inspirational bears and distinctly American tastes. In 1950, a large and destructive wildfire tore through the mountains of south-central New Mexico. After firefighters extinguished the blaze, they found a tiny bear cub hanging on to the top of a charred tree. Rangers took him in and nursed him back to health and gave him a name—Smokey Bear. This little guy became a mascot for the United States Forest Service as well as the face of fire prevention and forest conservation. When he passed away in 1976, his remains were returned to the mountains where he’d been rescued so many years before. There’s even Smokey Bear Historical Park built in his honor. On National New Mexico Day, we celebrate the Land of Enchantment and all its citizens, even the four-legged ones. Countries around the world have their own distinct take on alcohol. Russia has vodka. Japan has sake. And here in the United States, we have bourbon. It’s widely believed that whiskey can only be considered bourbon if it comes from Kentucky. That’s not true, but there are some specific legal requirements for every alcohol that wants to be labeled bourbon. First, the grains used to produce it must be at least 51% corn. And it must also be aged in charred oak barrels. The aging process is what gives bourbon its distinctive taste. If you’re an aficionado, you already know this makes all the difference in the world. On National Bourbon Day, enjoy a glass of this distinctly American drink. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices