Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Shop these single barrel buys at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Sept. 13-15

I was asked to pick a few favorites for Bourbon & Banter readers who will be attending this sold-out event. The list below is not in order of picks liked best, rather it partially reflects the order in which we visited distilleries to taste them.

Bottle

Maker's Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon 2024 Release Review

This bourbon just never runs out of gas. Every sip is a revelation, a new view into a complex whiskey providing countless vistas.

Bottle of the Day

BOTD Spotlight: 10th Mountain Bourbon

10th Mountain Bourbon is more than just a bottle of whiskey—it's inspired by the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division, a legendary alpine military unit.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Bulleit Barrel Strength Bourbon Review

Loads of baking spice, blackberries and cooked stone fruit cruise in on a wave of honey and an undercurrent of oak. It's sturdy but not fire-breathing hot as the nose suggested it would be.

Bottle of the Day

BOTD Spotlight: Breckenridge Rum Cask Finish Bourbon

Breckenridge Distillery is known for pushing boundaries and creating distinctive spirits, and their Rum Cask Finish Bourbon is a perfect example of that spirit of innovation.

Art Eatables

Chocolate & Bourbon: A Match Made in Heaven During Bourbon Heritage Month

Chocolate and bourbon are like old friends who bring out the best in each other. The rich, creamy texture of chocolate melds beautifully with the bold, spicy, and sometimes sweet bourbon notes. When you pair them just right, it's like a symphony of flavors playing on your palate.

New Brand Releases

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Introduces Silver Oak Finish, Discovery 12 In Time for Bourbon Heritage Month

Bardstown Bourbon’s Silver Oak finish is an expert blend of six 9- to 15-year-old bourbons, finished in Silver Oak Cabernet barrels for 17 months. The resulting bourbon offers an exquisite balance of ripe fruit, caramel and roasted nuts.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Mary Dowling Tequila Barrel Finished Bourbon Review

This feather-light whiskey is a malt drinker's bourbon, which, based on conversations I've had with Zamanian, who is a Scotch lover, may well be what he was after.

Bourbon Heritage Month

WELCOME TO BOURBON HERITAGE MONTH

Whether this is your first year celebrating Bourbon Heritage Month or you're a seasoned pro, we're glad to have you drinking with us for the next 30 days. Pour yourself a drink and scroll down to explore what we've got in store for this year's celebration and how you can be a part of it all.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Michter's 2024 10 Year Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey Review

But that's not as fun as pointing to that classic nose of bubble gum, dried flowers and fruit pastries. The barrel has a say, of course, introducing spice and tannin sotto voce, while letting tropical fruit and bruleed sugar speak a bit louder.

Get To Know

The Happy, Hellish Journey of Starting a Distillery

We have zero plans to build and sell the distillery. We want to own and be a part of it for a very long time.

Tequila Reviews

Suavecito Anejo Tequila Review

Suavecito was created for tequila-curious drinkers who want spirits that are "smooth" and without "the burn."

New Brand Releases

Little Book Announces Inaugural Series: The Infinite

Little Book ‘The Infinite: Edition 1’ will serve as the foundation of the line extension utilizing liquid from generations of the Noe Family through every future release.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Old Forester 117 Series, Rum Finish Review

Outside a faint tropical fruit note, the nose isn't recognizable as Old Forester. I'll be fair: Its aromas are solid: light and floral and slightly candied. Then, it moves to sherried notes like golden raisins, honey and baking spices.

New Brand Releases

Pursuit Spirits Releases New Double Oaked Rye Whiskey

Over 40 different oak experiments were conducted to find a profile that worked in perfect harmony with their Pursuit United Rye.

This Round's Mine

Is Wood All You Got for Uniqueness?

In the past decade, American distillers have turned to unique cooperage to differentiate their whiskeys. In some cases, it’s worked wonderfully, especially when real experts in the management of maturate and blending are pulling the levers.

Cocktails

Happy Whiskey Sour Day!

The foundation of a sour is simple: spirit, sweet, and citrus. A delightful quaff that delivers a little punch from the booze, a little sweet from sugar, and a heavy dose of zest from citrus.

Tequila Reviews

Fortaleza 2024 Winter Blend Tequila Review

It's incredibly rich on the palate, coating, deeply honeyed and full of golden raisins. The second sip is slightly mineral with a dash of white pepper and miles dulces, the “sweet honeys” dripping from the agave when roasting.

Industry News

Casey Jones Distillery Launches First-Ever Mash Maker's Experience in Time for Bourbon Heritage Month

Designed for everyone from enthusiasts to those out for a fun day of sightseeing and bourbon tasting, the Mash Maker’s Experience focuses on the primary bourbon grains and how they affect the taste profile of the bourbon from grain to glass.

Get To Know

Get to Know: Heather Greene, CEO, Milam & Greene Whiskey

Really, I guess, whiskey chose me. I found it interesting, and when you follow your curiosity, it takes you places.

American Whiskey Reviews

Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Review

Since I prefer rye bourbon to wheat bourbon, I was excited to taste a high dose of rye in a single pour. On the nose, it's all classic KB bourbon: deep caramel, cooked stone fruits, citrus, oak and spice.

New Brand Releases

Lux Row Distillers Releases the 3rd Edition of its Blood Oath Trilogy Featuring Pacts 7, 8 and 9

The third edition of the Blood Oath Trilogy contains Pacts 7, 8 and 9 – reserved since 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively – and is packaged in a custom black wooden display box designed to highlight each Pact’s distinctive label.

This Round's Mine

Hobby Distilling Should Be Legal in the U.S.

On a small, hobbyist scale, the practice is simple, safe, and rewarding for those who have the patience to do it. A common statement made was, “It’s just fun to sit around with friends and make whiskey, sip what you made last time and look forward to what’s in the still.”

New Brand Releases

Old Elk Announces its First Straight Wheat Whiskey Finished in French Limousine Cognac Casks

Old Elk Cognac Cask Finish Straight Wheat Whiskey begins after six years of aging the Straight Wheat Whiskey, with an additional 6 months to a year of finishing in carefully selected French Limousine Cognac Casks.

American Whiskey Reviews

Chattanooga Whiskey Founder's 12th Anniversary Blend Whiskey Review

The texture is velvety soft and slightly drying, an elegant blend that would go well with any course of a meal or just on its own and served neat. The finish is light, lingering and warm. The whole left me reaching for another splash before heading off to bed.