Heads & Tails

Heads & Tails: It’s About Time It’s Friday Edition

Welcome to this week’s installment of Heads & Tails – the It’s About Time It’s Friday Edition. We’ve had one hell of a week here at B&B HQ. So we’re pretty damn excited that it’s Friday and that the weekend is only a matter of hours away.

Distilleries

Visiting Jack Daniel’s with Fairmont Hotels

In November 2015 Fairmont Hotels did a global relaunch of their cocktail program called Classics. Perfected. The menus were curated by 5 of Fairmont’s top talents or “Tastemakers.”

Scotch Whisky Reviews

Celebrating National Scotch Day with Syndicate 58/6

For those of you active on social media, I’m sure you’ve come to notice that just about every other day is someone’s “Special Day.” Whatever your interest may be, there has likely been a day set aside to not only acknowledge your interest but to celebrate and share your joy with others.

Drink Reviews

Brenne Ten French Whisky Review

Here at Bourbon & Banter, we love our bourbon, but we also embrace whiskeys made all over the world. Today’s post should appeal to the single malt lovers among our readership.

Banter

A Private Barrel Selection in a Control State?!

I like private barrel bourbon selections. Some of the best bourbons I have tasted have been private barrel selections. I have found these in restaurants that we have been in during our travels.

Food

Bubba’s Honey Sting Wings with CC’s Honey Fire BBQ Sauce

The inspiration for this recipe came from my most recent trip to Kentucky where I attended this year’s Kentucky Bourbon Affair. One of this year’s evening events was a dinner with the Russell’s. What a fantastic evening where I was able to spend time with Jimmy, his wife Joretta.

Drink Reviews

Brenne Estate Cask Whisky Review

Sometimes it is ideal to take a break from the full-bodied, in-your-face awesomeness that is American whiskey, and take it easy with a nice single malt from across the seas.

Banter

Want Good Bourbon on the Cheap? Respect the Bottom Shelf.

Many whiskey enthusiasts, myself included, invest a lot of time, energy and, yes, money into finding that next, great whiskey on our Wish List.

Heads & Tails

Heads & Tails: Whiskey Collective Edition

Welcome to this week’s installment of Heads & Tails – The Whiskey Collective Edition. It’s been a busy week around the Bourbon & Banter HQ in St. Louis. We’ve been having a lot of fun hanging out with fellow bourbon and whiskey bloggers who came to town for a bourbon tasting lab hosted by Luxco.

Banter

American Gray Market Whiskey Trading: A User’s Guide #Merica

There is nothing more American than trading whiskey. We fought a little war with Britain for, among other things, the freedom to trade whiskey with whoever we want without unreasonable tax or tariff.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Union Horse Distilling Reunion Rye Whiskey Review

This is an excellent whiskey that, if you can find it, is delicious, easy drinking and full of rich flavor and a palate coating mouthfeel that extends the experience long after the sip is gone.

Food

People’s Choice Beef Jerky Review: Extra Protein Edition

When Brian Bianchetti from People’s Choice Beef Jerky reached out to us a few weeks ago, it didn’t take long for us to agree to try his family’s jerky a possible review.

Gear

Polar Ice Tray Review

In the world of whiskey, there are lots of arguments over ice: whether it should be used or not? How much to use? What type to use? I believe it is up to the drinker. I enjoy a bit of ice in my whiskey, but, in my opinion, nothing beats a good ice ball instead of cubes.

Heads & Tails

Heads & Tails: Wetter Is Better Than Dry Edition

Welcome to this week’s installment of Heads & Tails – The Wetter is Better Than Dry Edition. This is only the 2nd installment of this new feature but the feedback so far has been fantastic. We’re still working out the layout so don’t be shy in dropping us a note on what you do and don’t like.

Banter

Seagram’s ‘Men Who Play Beyond Tomorrow’ Vintage Ads

We at Bourbon and Banter love classic whisky advertising. A while ago, I stumbled across some pretty amazing Seagram’s ads from back in the 1940’s. These ads predict what the future may look like for the sophisticated Seagram’s drinker. Apparently they are men only…sorry, but it was the 1940’s.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Union Horse Distilling Bourbon Review

Founded in 2010, Lenexa, KS-based Union Horse Distilling Company (Formerly Dark Horse Distillery) is a family owned and operated, grain to bottle craft distillery featuring award winning small batch, artisanal spirits. From milling locally sourced grains to barreling and bottling, everything is done

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

The Angel’s Envy #BourbonJourney Is Under Way!!

Welcome back! I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally pop open my bottle of Angels Envy and get this journey started. I know several of you have already acquired bottles of your own and will be sharing your observations in the comment section at the end of this article.

Banter

Happy 4th of July!

Bourbon & Banter would like to wish everyone a very safe and Happy 4th of July.

Banter

Bourbon Flavor Wheel Tasting Mat

Just a quick post today to let everyone know that we’ve created a new page where you can download the Bourbon & Banter bourbon flavor wheel for free along with a variety of bourbon tasting mats for your personal use.

Heads & Tails

Heads & Tails: Why The Hell Not Edition

Testing out a new weekly feature on the blog today. Every week we receive a lot of press releases and updates from across the whiskey industry and beyond.

Banter

The Ultimate Blind Rye Tasting

If you’ve read any books on how the mind works, then you are well aware that we humans are excellent at being fooled and fooling ourselves. Case in point: many of you think you aren’t improperly influenced by a name, a catchy bottle design, or the story behind a whiskey.

Banter

Bourbon & Banter & BBQ Playlist

You’ve got your grill, your friends, and your bottles ready to go for the 4th of July. Now get your Bourbon & Banter & BBQ Playlist.

Events

Michael Veach Visits Indianapolis Bourbon Society

This past Monday evening I got to hear Michael Veach speak to the Bourbon Society of Indianapolis. Due to our proximity to Kentucky, we have had the opportunity to have some amazing guest speakers in our first year.

Cocktails

Burnt Peach and Sage Bourbon Infusion

Barbecue season is upon us, and if you’re looking for a cocktail recipe to accompany all that grilled meat, look no further than this burnt peach & sage bourbon infusion.

Cocktails

Stay Cool with a Kentucky Mule

Now that we are enveloped in the throws of summer and barbecue season is well underway, it is time to re-open discussions about what adult drinks of choice will complement the fare coming off the grill and keep you cool on the those hot, humid evenings on the back patio.