Gear

Proud Drinker: Show Off Your Love for Bourbon

I am sure we have all seen those cars plastered with those seemingly cryptic numbers that actually extoll the running abilities of the person behind the wheel: 13.1, 26.2, 70.3 (!!!).

Banter

Today’s Bourbon Action Items

It’s Friday folks and I know everyone has visions of bourbon-filled glasses bouncing around in their heads but I wanted to quickly remind folks of a few things so they don’t miss out. It’s been a very busy whiskey November but where in the homestretch.

Banter

Four Roses Antique Bourbon Ad Circa 1959

Events

Whiskey in the Winter Preview Dinner

Whether you’re unable to attend St. Louis’ Whiskey in the Winter event on November 23rd or you simply can’t your fill of “whiskey” events, Bourbon & Banter is pleased to inform you that the organizers of Whiskey in the Winter will be holding a pre-event dinner at Gamlin Whiskey House.

Cocktails

The Suffering Bastard Cocktail Recipe

A Hangover Cure? The Suffering Bastard is a cocktail with a history. It was originally named The Suffering Bar Steward according to the legend and was created as a hangover cure. I think it’s more likely to cause one than to cure one, but you may find it has medicinal properties.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Cleveland Bourbon Review

It seems like a new micro-distillery is opening up every week recently and each and every one that aspires to make bourbon faces the same problem: how can you afford to pay your operating expenses for the years it takes your bourbon to age?

Events

Bourbon Academy Formal Training

Today’s the day. Time to head out to the Bourbon Academy and spend the day with Mike Veach and other fellow bourbon lovers. While I wish you could all be here please know that I’ll try to share some highlights and photos throughout the day on Twitter and Facebook.

Banter

The Science of Barrel Aging – A Primer

What is the science of barrel aging? For many of us, chemistry is not a topic of regular conversation or even something we think about while dozing under a hot shower in the morning.

Banter

Yellowstone Bourbon Ad Circa 1948

Celebrating Throwback Thursday with this great outdoors themed ad from Yellowstone Bourbon from 1948.

Drinking Accessory Reviews

Balls of Steel Review: The Hands on Edition

That’s the premise behind OriginalBOS’s newest product – Balls of Steel. Billed as “drink chillers with a cause”, Balls of Steel are a new twist on the concept of chilling your whiskey without having to use ice which can often dilute your whiskey’s flavor.

On The Road

Bourbon Across America Visits The Old Gold

The best way to learn about something is often to do it and to do it often. That’s certainly true when it comes to enjoying bourbon.

Banter

November Bourbon Wallpaper

This month’s bourbon wallpaper features a unique piece of equipment from the Willett Distillery. It’s a photo of a scale used to weigh barrels. When I first saw this during my visit to Willett Distillery I immediately knew was going to take some artistic shots of it for my collection.

Banter

Halloween, Michael Myers & Bourbon

If you were to find yourself visited by Michael Myers this evening what bourbon would you serve him?

Banter

Maker’s Mark Bourbon Ad for Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! I tried to locate a Halloween-themed vintage bourbon ad but came up short. This ad from Maker’s Mark bourbon is about as close as I could get to something creepy or Halloween-themed.

Events

Win Free Admission to the St. Louis Bourbon Academy

Would you like to attend the St. Louis Bourbon Academy for free? Head on over to our Facebook page and either click or comment on the post below (on Facebook) for your chance to win free admission. We’ll draw a winner on Saturday, November 2nd, after 5 pm.

Food Stuff Reviews

That Bourbon Ketchup: Spiked Ketchup For Grownups

I feel I should disclose the following: I’m not the biggest fan of ketchup. I don’t hate ketchup, but compared to many of my friends, who put ketchup on everything from eggs to hash browns and burgers to hot dogs, I’m rather simple. I dip my fries in ketchup, and that’s about it.

Cocktails

Baseball Sour Bourbon Cocktail

It’s World Series time! Maybe your team is in it, maybe they were plagued with injuries and never had a chance. Regardless, you need a drink. This variation on the whiskey sour adds Aperol for a bit of the bitter taste of defeat.

Vintage Advertising

Kentucky Tavern Bourbon Ad Circa 1947

What better bourbon ad to feature during the World Series than this gem from Kentucky Tavern Bourbon circa 1947. That’s the year that the New York Yankees won the title in 7 games against the Brooklyn Dodgers and the first time that a racially integrated team played in the World Series.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Rock Hill Farms Bourbon Review

This review might strike some people as odd because it’s for a bourbon that was first released over 20 years ago; 1990 to be exact – Rock Hill Farms Single Barrel Bourbon. I don’t know if it was due to a perceived lack of audience, or if it had to do with red tape.

Cocktails

Bourbon-Spiked Apple Cider: Because You Can’t Really Put It In Pumpkin Spice Lattes

I don’t understand the pumpkin spice tyranny that happens every fall. It’s not that pumpkin spice is bad, per se, it’s just that (starting as early as August!) it’s everywhere. Pumpkin chai, pumpkin latte, pumpkin beer, pumpkin vodka, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin milkshakes… By me-September, I’m over it.

Cocktails

A Cherry Chocolate Bourbon Cocktail for National Liqueur Day

Happy National Liqueur Day! Maybe you’re thinking, “I’m a bourbon drinker! Liqueur is not my style.” I’d ask you to give this cocktail a try. There is, after all, chocolate involved. And I promise it’s not too sweet. I used Old Weller Antique for the bourbon and I made my own Chocolate Liqueur.

Banter

Seagrams Whisky Ad Circa 1985

Bourbon & Banter reader Jim Thorpe sent me the Seagrams Whisky ad below and I just couldn’t pass it up. I know it’s not for a bourbon brand but how can you not love it?

Cocktails

Fall Fashion Issue: An Old Fashioned Cocktail Perfect for Autumn

The Old Fashioned is not so much a single cocktail as a style of cocktail. Originally, cocktail meant the drink consisted of a spirit, bitters, sugar and water.

Banter

Bourbon & Beer: Beyond Boilermakers

If you’re a regular reader, you know that bourbon makes bad things bearable and good things great—even when those things are beer, and therefore already awesome.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Belle Meade Bourbon Review

I was sitting in a bookstore several months ago reading Garden & Gun when I stumbled across a review for Belle Meade Bourbon. Anytime I see a review for a bourbon I’m not familiar with I take notice.