Cocktails

Bourbon Cocktails to Keep You Warm During Fall

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for an excuse to pop open a bottle of Woodford Reserve and enjoy a smooth glass. While I personally believe my beloved Kentucky bourbon tastes best neat, I’m also the kind of person that loves to experiment in the kitchen.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Jefferson’s Presidential Select 16 Year Old Review

With a Straight Kentucky Bourbon label and a 16 year age statement, the latest release from Jefferson’s is sourced from one of Kentucky’s bigger, established distilleries.

American Whiskey Reviews

StilL 630 Experimental Collection Release #4

StilL 630’s Experimental Collection Release #4 gets the video review treatment today. The X-4 is a departure from the previous releases which were all single malts.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Collabor&tion Bourbon Review

This is not as egregious a marketing scam as Diageo’s Whoop & Holler but it’s in the same over-priced and under-performing class.

Cocktails

Starry Wisdom: The Bourbon Lover’s Halloween Cocktail

While visiting Lexington, KY recently, I had the pleasure of stopping into the West Main Crafting Co., a fresh new addition to the Bluegrass cocktail scene. The drink menu is gorgeous and is presented in a beautiful, bound book with vivid photos of each creation.

Banter

Up the Ante of Your Next Card Party

Card parties are still a thing and are as popular as ever. Whether you’re hosting one to visit with friends, eat great food and enjoy great drinks in the comfort of your own home, themed card parties are all the rage right now, so power up your typical night of playing cards with a little bourbon.

On The Road

Bourbon & Banter 5th Anniversary Bourbon Pilgrimage

Today is the day. I’m hitting the road early this morning, along with half of the Bourbon & Banter team, on my way to Louisville to celebrate Bourbon & Banter’s 5th anniversary.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Ragged Branch Distillery – Part 2

Ragged Branch Distillery presently produces two types of bourbon. One is a wheat mash bill, and the other is a rye mash bill. The Master Distiller at Ragged Branch is Dave Pickerell, the former Master Distiller at Makers Mark.

Distilleries

Ragged Branch Distillery – Part 1

“Ready to taste some bourbon?” This is the greeting we received from Alex Toomy, Founder and Managing Partner of Ragged Branch Distillery as we entered the tasting room at the distillery. And never one to turn down a bourbon tasting, I said yes.

Scotch Whisky Reviews

Johnnie Walker Blenders’ Batch Wine Cask Blend Review

Before even opening the bottle, based on visuals alone, I was anticipating a much sweeter profile. Maybe it was the pink coloring of the label, or the prominent “Wine Cask Blend” (also written in red lettering) that threw me off.

Banter

You Need to Meet…The Smooth Draws Radio Show

It was a particularly enjoyable time for me a few weeks back when two of my worlds collided during a Saturday afternoon live broadcast of the Smooth Draws Radio show.

Events

The Whiskey Affair London

“It’s like a beer festival…but with whiskey, and cocktails!” We’re heading to The Brewhouse for the first time with over 75 brands of scotch, bourbon and whiskey for you to fall in love with.

Banter

Reimagining Wild Turkey’s Ad Campaign

A few weeks ago, Wild Turkey/Campari released the second installment in the tenure of Matthew McConaughey’s Creative Directorship.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2017 Review

While I don’t find this to be a bourbon that holds a lot of surprises, it delivers on all that it promises. The sugar on the nose sets you up nicely for the taste, and the sweetness on the finish that reminds me Bazooka bubble gum.

Banter

Bourbon Women

The phrase “women in x” is everywhere these days. Even though we’ve been around for, well, as long as men have, it seems that only recently people are taking notice of highlighting women in various industries.

American Whiskey Reviews

Old Baldy Batch 1 Review

Dave Perkins from High West once told me that whiskey drinkers want two things: (1) Something they’ve never had, and (2) Something they can’t get.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Kentucky Owl Rye Batch #1 Review

“This unique offering is produced from a collection of barrels blended and brought to proof to accentuate both the delicate profile and the full-flavored body of the whiskey.

Banter

#30DaysofBourbon In Review

September sure flew by fast. We’re at the end of Bourbon Heritage Month and my #30DaysofBourbon challenge. Honestly, when I invited folks to join in on the fun, I was completely unprepared for the participation rate.

Events

Whiskey In The Winter 2017 – Win Free VIP Tickets

Now that you’ve survived National Bourbon Heritage Month it’s time to let your liver rest for a bit before heading into our second favorite month of the year – November. November has the honor of being the month when our favorite whiskey festival is held each year – Whiskey In The Winter.

Banter

Best Bang For Your Bourbon Buck

With the myriad of options available on the shelf for the bourbon drinker, the possibilities are seemingly endless. Particularly with the constant flow of “new” brands that seem to keep appearing on shelves.

Gear

Outlaw Soaps Review

If you’ve been reading Bourbon & Banter for a while, you’re aware that I love products that try to capture the essence of the bourbon lifestyle.

Banter

The Ultimate Guide To The 2017 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

It’s Buffalo Trace Antique Collection season! With this year’s release just announced, we know many of you will be moving heaven and earth to get your hands on a few bottles. Sadly, we know that most of you will fail (don’t let the bottles released numbers get your hopes up too much.)

Banter

You Need To Meet…Christopher Mize – Virginia’s Bourbon Artist

A few months ago, I stopped by the Christopher Mize booth while attending the Food and Wine Festival at National Harbor, Maryland. As I came around the side of the both, I stopped as I noticed a painting containing my favorite bourbon, Buffalo Trace.

American Whiskey Reviews

StiLl 630 Experimental Collection Release #3 Review

Our 5-year, 60 spirits journey continues with StiLl 630 Experimental Collection Release #3. If you’re new to our journey we encourage to read our kick-off post about the Experimental Collection and Release #1 and #2.

American Whiskey Reviews

High West Bourye “Limited Sighting” Review

Bourye is a beautiful whiskey with a great dark amber color. With a slight twirl of the glass, it gives off some nice thick legs. Past renditions of this blend I have not enjoyed, however, I have been very happy with this “Limited Sighting,” as High West is calling it.