Banter I Have A Problem – But It’s Not What You Think I have a problem. I know what you’re thinking, but no, it isn’t a drinking problem. In fact, it might be just the opposite. I have “invested” a lot of effort over the years building my whiskey library. As of this writing, I have 57 Bourbons to enjoy.
Bourbon News Maker’s Mark Private Select Reimagines Barrel Selection Maker’s Mark is one of the most iconic bourbon brands of the modern age. Bill and Margie Samuels lead the way, post-prohibition, in bourbon marketing, tourism, and helping people outside of Kentucky rediscover quality bourbon.
Banter Are you celebrating National Bourbon Flag Day? Today is a pretty special day for all of us here at Bourbon & Banter. Not only is it Flag Day, but it’s National Bourbon Day. Yep, two holidays for the price of one you might say. And we think this special day calls for us to do something special for all of our loyal readers.
Banter Red, White and Gray: Realities of the Bourbon Market Jim Beam recently released its 13-year Booker’s limited rye with a suggested retail price of $300. For many long-term whiskey enthusiasts, this flashpoint was tantamount to a declaration of war. Who do they think they are? How dare they?
Distilleries Visiting the A. Smith Bowman Distillery “A. Smith Bowman Distillery Old Reston Avenue.” That is the title of this painting by Doris Kidder that has hung all winter, in the hall outside of our company office in Leesburg, VA.
Banter Freddie Johnson: Bourbon Superhero Buffalo Trace Distillery, run by the Sazerac company, is a distillery known around the world for their amazing bourbon portfolio, including Blanton’s, Eagle Rare, Pappy van Winkle, and many other fantastic labels.
Banter Meet Our Newest Bourbon & Banter Team Members As you may recall, several months ago we put out a Help Wanted post to recruit new writers for Bourbon & Banter and from that post, we welcomed a group of eight new writers. Almost three months later we’re excited to introduce another round of bourbon loving folks who will be regular contributors.
Banter Pack Your Bags!! We’re Going On A #Bourbonjourney Let me be the first to welcome you aboard the Bourbon Express!! Please step forward with your ticket and prepare yourselves for a fun, interactive experience as we explore one of America’s greatest treasures – BOURBON!
Distilleries Striped Pig Distillery Visit As many of us know, a few things are required to make a bourbon a bourbon: 51% corn, new charred oak barrels, minimum and maximum proofs, and time. For a new, fledgling distillery, time is not always on your side.
Gear News Whiskey Speech T-Shirt Today we’re introducing our newest t-shirt – Whiskey Speech. In 1952, Mississippi state representative, Noah S. “Soggy” Sweat, Jr., gave his infamous “Whiskey Speech” on the floor of the Mississippi state legislature concerning whiskey.
Banter Off the Roost with Wild Turkey A few weeks ago I received a message via our Facebook page from Jim Turlington. Jim’s a wildlife artist, photographer, researcher and commercial art designer who lives in Central Florida where he’s been creating art professionally since 1980.
Scotch Whisky Reviews Ardbeg Dark Cove Review May 28th 2016, better known as Ardbeg Day, or ‘Ardbeg Night’ as it will be called this year, is nearly upon us and whisky enthusiasts the world over are anxiously awaiting the official release of this year’s special commemorative bottling… Dark Cove.
Banter Marriott Bourbon Battles – The Fight Goes On On May 12, 2016, the second of five Bourbon Battles was waged Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront. While the first battle in Lexington was centered around Maker’s Mark, the Portland battle featured Brown-Forman’s higher end products.
Banter When It Comes To Bourbon: You Can’t Always Get What You Want You know the feeling. You hear from a buddy that ABC Liquor store got a case of Elmer T Lee. You drop what you are doing and rush to the store. Walking in you notice someone walking out with a square bottle in a brown paper bag.
Banter Why Ken Griffey Jr. May Be The Future of the Bourbon Industry Baseball season is back in full force, and my Chicago Cubs are looking pretty good. I have been a baseball fan for about three decades.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Blood Oath Pact 2 Review A little over a year ago, St. Louis-based Luxco debuted their first foray into the fast-growing premium bourbon category – Blood Oath Pact 1. As further evidence of their whiskey-fueled momentum, Luxco is releasing Blood Oath Pact 2, the sequel to last year’s Blood Oath Pact 1.
Cocktails Whiskey: A Spirited Story with 75 Classic and Original Cocktails Whiskey: A Spirited Story with 75 Classic and Original Cocktails by Michael Dietsch is, for me, that great book. It begins by defining whiskey in its myriad forms and includes the requisite “whiskey vs. whisky“ explanation.
Food Bourbon Inspired Foods: Great Ways To Eat Your Bourbon Since the bourbon trend has been popular over the last several years, increasingly, bourbon is being infused into food culture as an ingredient. Living in Portland, Oregon, eating and drinking is serious business and taken to the highest art form.
Food How to Throw an Authentic Last Minute Kentucky Derby Party Derby time in the Commonwealth of Kentucky is a big deal. Partying begins weeks before the festivities at Churchill Downs with fireworks, festivals, concerts, and, of course, lavish gatherings.
Tequila Reviews Corralejo Tequila Reposado Review Although my experience with tequila is mostly limited to cocktails and a few tasting lessons on my honeymoon in Cancun, I am never one to shy away from a challenge.
Industry News Master Distiller Ken Pierce to Retire from 1792 Distillery After more than 30 years in the beverage industry, Master Distiller Ken Pierce is retiring from Barton 1792 Distillery. Pierce’s early days in the distilled spirits industry started with Barton Brands of Georgia (now defunct) where he was Plant Chemist and later Quality Control Manager.
Banter Out of Control: Seeking E.H. Taylor Seasoned Wood “E.H. Taylor Seasoned Wood Coming Soon” was the title of the email I received on March 29th from the Virginia ABC. Yes, Virginia is a control state. It’s not that bad, although they seem to have a tough time getting a good supply of Buffalo Trace or Blanton’s.
Tequila News How Tequila Compares to Bourbon For many of us, tequila is more associated with slamming back shots and decisions we regret the next morning than with enjoying the flavor of a fine barrel-aged spirit. But Cinco de Mayo is a great opportunity to learn more about this surprisingly complex spirit.
Cocktails Creative Juleps For Your Kentucky Derby Party The julep is an old mixture, which like many began as medicine. Not old like early 20th century. Old like over a thousand years old. And not “medicine” like a morning pick-me-up, anti-fogmatic, corpse reviver, etc. Actual medicine made from macerated flowers.
Cocktails A Barrel Aged Cocktail for the Creative Imagine with me the vision of a full barrel of your favorite cocktail, mixed to your personal taste and quietly aging, absorbing rich flavors and smoothing out the combination of ingredients to create the ultimate flavor combination. It’s sitting there waiting for you, does it make you thirsty? Can
