Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Colonel E.H. Taylor: Cured Oak vs. Seasoned Wood

As I type this, Buffalo Trace is filling bottles of its latest limited edition Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. which should hit stores this April. The new release is called “Four Grain,” a departure from the previous two releases that featured treated barrel staves, called “Cured Oak” and “Seasoned Wood.”

Banter

Bourbon In Aruba

Most people, traveling in the Caribbean, would expect that rum is the go to spirit when looking for an adult beverage. For those of us that prefer bourbon and are used to a diverse selection, this can make for a somewhat trying vacation in the islands.Things may be changing, however.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Blade and Bow Bourbon Review

One of the qualities I like to observe with my whiskeys is the appearance. The bright amber is pleasant to look at, but an even more attractive quality is what kind of legs get left on the glass after a good swirl.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Whiskey Acres Bourbon Review

This is still a pretty young product but it’s just not in my personal strike zone as far as bourbon goes. They have a great story and what they are doing is extremely unique in the bourbon world by growing, harvesting, mashing, distilling, and aging all on their family farm in Dekalb, IL.

Banter

Goodbye My Old Friend

I said good bye to an old friend last night, George T Stagg. It was the 2011 edition, 142.6 proof, 18 years and 5 months old. Put in the barrel about 24 years ago. It was my first “special” bourbon.

Scotch Whisky Reviews

The Balvenie Single Barrel First Fill 12 Year Review

Maybe it was said and maybe it wasn’t, but either way, the statement remains incredibly righteous. “Only the white man’s leaders,” the old Indian chief observed, “would cut from the top of the blanket and sew it to the bottom and believe he’s made it longer.”

Banter

The War of the Roses, Part 1

One of the aspects that makes tasting bourbon so exciting is the variation that occurs from one release to the next. A bourbon that is “batched” is a blend of several barrels that tastes uniform across every bottle.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Widow Jane Baby Jane Bourbon Review

More than four years of careful growing and hand-harvesting to develop our very own hybrid of two non-GMO heirloom varietals of corn. The child of Bloody Butcher and Wapsie Valley corns, Baby Jane was cultivated to reflect specific characteristics we love in whiskey.

Food

Smoked Tri Tip With Bourbon And Peach Glaze

Ah…bourbon. A great icebreaker in social situations, we can just break out the bottle, give everyone a pour, and sit back relaxing, telling stories, and just having a good time. But bourbon is not satisfied with that single responsibility.

Distilleries

Leiper’s Fork Distillery

Leiper’s Fork has long been a tourist destination for residents and visitors to Nashville with its laid back country vibe, idyllic setting, and celebrity draw.

Banter

What I’ve Learned From Bourbon

I wrote my first guest column for Bourbon & Banter in 2013. At that time I was an avid follower of the site and a special education teacher who loved bourbon. I had done a lot of reading and even more drinking on the subject.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Widow Jane 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon Review

Long but not hot. Especially with a KY chew, this leaves a flavor on the palate but not in a good way. The only thing I can compare it to is the old-timey original flavor Listerine mouthwash, like the back of your palate, has been coated with it.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

1955 Old Fitzgerald Bourbon Review

I wrote this review because I wanted to share this experience with the Bourbon & Banter readers. This was a bottle that most people will never see in their life. I know that it was an extremely rare treat.

Banter

Bourbon & Banter 5th Anniversary

Today marks the 5th anniversary of Bourbon & Banter. It’s hard to believe that 1,825 days have gone by since pushing publish on our first blog post. The site has come a long way since then, as has the bourbon industry that we’re proud involved with on a daily basis.

Flavored Whiskey Reviews

CALI Sipping Whiskey Review

CALI is a unique California twist on a classic sipping whiskey. We are shooting for a spirit smoother than a frontier rye, but more complex and flavorful than a traditional Kentucky bourbon.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

2016 George T. Stagg Bourbon Review

This extremely hearty whiskey ages in new charred oak barrels for no less than 15 years. Straight out of the barrel, uncut and unfiltered, the taste is powerful, flavorful and intense.

Food

Chicken with Bourbon Mustard Sauce

Love is in the air and I don’t just mean our love of bourbon, I’m talking about Valentine’s day. So, what are your plans for the big day? What’s the best gift you can give your whisky loving Valentine? I mean, I think the obvious answer here is bourbon.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Wild Turkey Decades Bourbon Review

The sustained finish is unmistakably Wild Turkey with a balanced mix of vanilla, caramel, spices and charred oak. There’s even a hint of leather on edge to soften the lingering tannic oak.

Events

Inaugural New Orleans Bourbon Festival

If you’re scratching your head wondering why you’ve never heard of the New Orleans Bourbon Festival before, don’t worry, you’re not alone because 2017 is the inaugural year. If you’re wondering how good it could be for its initial year, again, don’t worry, it is going to be fantastic.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Smooth Amber Wheated Bourbon Review

Like many new craft distilleries, West Virginia’s Smooth Ambler Spirits began sourcing whiskey while developing its production facilities. They have been wildly successful in building a cult-like following for their Old Scout label (SAOS).

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Old Ripy Bourbon Review

Old Ripy is a combination of 8-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon with 12-year-old and younger whiskies for added complexity and oak. It is distilled at the Wild Turkey Distillery in Anderson County, aged in timber warehouses and non-chill filtered.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Bond & Lillard Bourbon Review

Distilled and bottled and at the Wild Turkey distillery in Lawrenceburg, KY, this Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged a minimum of seven years in timber warehouses and is charcoal filtered.

Banter

The Magic of C+S (Caring + Sharing)

I’ve written about the bourbon secondary market before, but there is a unique subsection that gets little attention and is widely unknown. They are known as C+S groups (“cost-plus-ship”), and their members agree to trade with each other at retail (or below) pricing only.

Banter

Thanksgiving Bourbon Hunt

Just about every year on Thanksgiving after the family gatherings had all but died down, the football is about over, and the kids are fast asleep, I load up in a pick-up truck with my bourbon hunting brother to camp out in front of Midtown Corkdorks in Nashville.

Book Reviews

The Big Man of Jim Beam: Booker Noe and the Number One Bourbon In the World

My deep dive into bourbon began in earnest with Knob Creek and Basil Hayden’s. They were the first premium small batch bourbons released, and their mastermind was Booker Noe.