If you haven’t already, make sure to check out my full rundown of the top 5 bourbon bars in Indianapolis here.
I took some time to expand upon my selections and add some additional insight about each location. I also know that some people prefer video instead of blog posts, so I thought this would be nice as well.
Enjoy!
I’m finally over my cold/sinus infection, so I’m back into the mode to do a few tastings.
Let’s start here: If you live in the East Central Indiana area, you need to be a part of the Delaware County Bourbon Society. You can join here. If you are the magical “WLBC land,” you know about trains, or if you know where Ball State is located, you are within the area where the group would be beneficial for you if you are a bourbon lover.
I joined this group after a bourbon tasting at my local Noble Wine and Spirits and I was lucky enough to get in on their two latest barrel picks from Old Hamer (aka West Fork Whiskey). They partnered with Pumpkin Pulp for the pick. What is Pumpkin Pulp? Pumpkin Pulp is a full service haunted attraction prop construction and F/X company located in Muncie, Indiana. They specialize in set design and construction, haunted house design and fabrication, haunted house consultation, special f/x for movies and music videos, costume design and construction, creepy exterior building facades, and anything else that creeps people out.
So essentially – I bought haunted bourbon. And I’m not mad about it. And no – These bourbons did not have pumpkin or pulp in them. Or anything else weird.
I stopped by the Anderson Noble Wine and Spirits last week and picked up both of my bottles and finally opened them both last night.
My video tasting will do most of the talking, but let me hit a few key points:
Now that you have heard my tasting on the Krampus pick, let’s move on to the Halloween pick. A few notes:
When looking at both of these barrel picks, I have a clear favorite.
I’m sold on the Krampus pick.
The Halloween pick is unique, but it’s not a bourbon I would go back and buy again (there was just too much apple). The Krampus pick on the other hand, I would go back and grab another bottle and enjoy it.
Will I try/buy another barrel pick from the Delaware County Bourbon Society? Yes I will, but I’m most likely not going to seek out the Hugh Hamer line as I just don’t think the secondary aged bourbons are my thing (well at least apple brandy barrels aren’t my thing).
Thanks to the crew that made this pick happen. I am happy to support a local group who is willing to provide their members with this awesome opportunity.
Editor’s note: As I am finishing this post, I’m drinking the Halloween pick and it might be growing on me. It’s still not taking the lead, but I think I’m appreciating it a little more as I continue to drink it. The apple brandy mellows out over the rocks and it actually provides a nice contrast to the bourbon.
When you think of bourbon destinations, I doubt Indianapolis is at the top of your list. You are likely thinking down in Kentucky on the Bourbon Trail or some major distillery you have your heart set on to visit. I’m willing to argue that Indianapolis is exactly where you need to go to have an amazing bourbon experience. You just need to know where to look.
And that’s why I’m taking you on a ride to Bourbon Town. Hop on in this……
Ok – That’s enough of me trying to do my best Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. That being said, take this local’s view of the trip he would take with his bourbon loving friends.
A few notes before we get started:
Now let’s get to it. You mayor of Bourbon Town is leading you on an oak soaked trip in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. So buckle up and let’s ride.
I wouldn’t have been doing all that funny business if I wasn’t going to start you off at a Triple D location. Trust me – I know there are higher rated places downtown, but come on. Don’t you want to say you have been to the Steer Inn that was featured on Triple D!?
In all honestly, the food here isn’t going to be some really fancy dish. It’s probably getting a 1 on presentation from most of the Chopped judges, but it’s going to taste amazing. I’ve been a few times and I haven’t had a bad meal.
Plus it’s not a bad thing to get a nice solid base on your stomach before we go off drinking bourbon all day. I recommend getting the corned beef hash (and seeing if they have a piece of coconut cream pie to go).
This is going to seem strange, but I’m going to tell you to download an app if you ever plan on being back in Indianapolis again (within the next year). You need to go check out Indiana On Tap. They are kind of like the biggest cheerleaders of the craft beer and distillery industry in Indiana. You might want to consider grabbing their app and their membership (I get nothing for this – I just love those guys). Here are a few of the offers you can use over the next few days. It’s your call on this one, but I highly recommend it.
There was a reason I started you out at the Steer Inn for breakfast and it was to get the major driving out of the way before we get drinking. The Rural Inn is right along the way back into downtown Indianapolis and it should be your next stop.
Now I’ve not been here personally, but my research and friends tell me that I am missing out.
Come in and find out what your friends have been keeping a secret from you! The Rural Inn has one of the absolute best selections of bourbon in Indianapolis and beyond. With hard to find favorites and over 25 hand picked barrels personally selected by our very own in house Bourbon expert Ray Vandivier, The Rural Inn is gaining a nationwide following.
Rural Inn Website
According to my friend Ryan, this is an essential stop for all bourbon lovers.
Ray is great and will offer sampling pours of allocated stuff. Not to mention the store picks they sell at the store is top notch
Ryan
I have this on my list to stop at in the next few weeks, so I’ll update the blog with a review once I do.
I would suggest grabbing a bottle for your home or something you can sip on once you get back to your hotel room for the evening. I would also suggest spending 30 minutes to 1 hour here – I’m one who loves to look, talk, and read, so it’s never hard for me to spend that much time.
Side note: If you happen to be there at the first of the month (the first Saturday that is), you might want to look on their Facebook page for information on their bourbon tasting.
Now that you are done at the Rural Inn, we still have a little time to wait until we can get into our first distillery (for some reason, everything opens up after 11AM – Might be that most people don’t sample bourbon all day long).
So I’m going to get you real close to our next location and have you stop for a cup of coffee. Calvin Fletcher’s Coffee Company is one of those coffee shops that are an Indy staple. You won’t be disappointed grabbing a cup of coffee. If it’s nice outside, make sure to check out their courtyard and enjoy the weather.
Hotel Tango is a veteran-owned distillery and I can remember when it first opened. My father-in-law and I were exploring downtown and we stopped in to visit. It was a pretty much a small bar with a backroom that had the still operating. The person distilling actually handed us a small pipette and we got to drink straight off the still (which was an experience I have never had before). Since there, this place has transformed into a rather large facility with a cocktail bar.
I recommend grabbing a cocktail and using your Indiana On Tap membership to get a discount (side note: If I use a discount, I usually end up grabbing something else like a shirt to make sure I support the small businesses).
I’ve always thought the cocktails might be a little to “crafty” for me, but you might think different. The price point for most drinks is also high, but I think it’s due to the artisan nature of the venue and the drinks. Their cocktail menu is seasonal, so make sure to check out their social media platforms for the most up-to-date menu.
I also wonder if their cat is still there. That was always a treat to it wondering around.
You might start thinking about lunch if you aren’t still full from the Steer Inn, so I wanted to put you in a place where you could enjoy bourbon and possibly lunch. If you are down for a “Muncie staple,” you might want to grab some Greek’s Pizza (I went to college and work in Muncie and I’ve always loved Greek’s). You might also want to make a detour and stop by Chilly Water Brewing across the street and grab a sandwich (pretty good).
If you do decided to get some pizza, you are in luck because it is located in the 1205 Distillery. The name 1205 should ring a bell because it is the date that prohibition ended (December 5th). This distillery used to be a full restaurant/bar and I spent a few hours talking with the bartender about the whole distillery. I was impressed with the story and I’m glad to see it has expanded a bit.
My wife also loves the names of the cocktails. They rotate on a seasonal basis, but if you are around during the holidays, I highly recommend ordering a ARE YOU SERIOUS CLARK?!?!
As a safe individual, we need to start thinking about getting your car back to the hotel and parked for the evening. It’s also getting close to check-in time, so you should be able to get into your room without a hassle.
Before we head to the hotel, we have one more stop to make and it’s at Storied Company.
If you haven’t read my entire write-up about this stop, you’ll want to do that here.
Once you walk in, Denis and Simon will take you on an adventure with their stories and the tastings. You can do up to 4 tastings (.5 oz each) and you can also purchase any bottle to go (to consume later or to add to your collection).
I had to make sure to stop you by here because they close at 4:30PM and it isn’t likely that you will be back in this area before then.
It’s time to drop off your car and to have a great time! We have already visited 2 liquor stores (Rural Inn and Storied Company) and 2 distilleries (Hotel Tango and 1205 Distillery). You are probably in need to a short break before we hit our final few stops for the day.
I chose the Bottleworks Hotel because of a few reasons:
I suggest checking into your room and relaxing for two hours or so. I know my wife would tell me she needs a break. It’s been a busy morning and I’m not going to stop now. If you can’t wait that long, you might want to check out the Garage Food Hall next door or take a look at some of the shops down on Mass Ave. We’ll be back at it at 4PM.
It’s time to request an Uber or a Lyft and make a short trip to West Fork Whiskey. It’s only about a 2 mile drive, so it shouldn’t take long once your ride arrives.
You might have read my rundown of the Westfield West Fork, but I’m taking you to the original location. It’s a small venue and you’ll feel right at home.
I recommend getting a flight to spilt to be able to taste all of their spirits, but you can’t go wrong with a cocktail as well.
I’ve always loved this place and I think it’s a staple in the Indianapolis bourbon scene. You see a lot of the liquor stores grabbing an Old Hamer or Hugh Hamer barrel pick (and that comes from West Fork). Spend some time talking with the bartender and learning more about the distillery itself.
After your stop at West Fork, you’ll need to request another ride and I’m going to take you to Wiseguys Lounge.
When you get out of the car, you might think you put in the wrong address. You’ll be dropped off at a pizza joint called Goodfellas. Trust me, you have made it to the right place. The Wiseguys Lounge is a speakeasy located in the pizza joint.
I haven’t personally been, but it’s on my list to go to ASAP. I got a message from someone associated with the bar and I’m very excited to make a stop.
Stop by Wiseguy Lounge on Mass Ave. If you think these bars have a good selection, I think you’ll consider our spot for one of the best on the state. Our private selection is like none of that I’ve seen: Stagg, Blantons, Eagle Rare, Weller Full Proof, Elijah Craig barrel proof, Russell’s Reserve, Wilderness Trail, multiple Knob Creek and Knob Creek ryes, among many others. Then our overall selections is growing to almost over 500 with everything from the allocated items such as the full Weller lineup to smaller craft distilleries.
Wiseguys Lounge
I’m probably going to try a few of the barrel picks, but enjoy the bourbon of your choice!
After the nice little walk down Mass Ave, you are back across the street from your hotel and it’s time for dinner. Lucky for you, you have a ton of options in the Garage Food Hall. Everything from burgers to seafood, the food hall is a happening place with a lot of different food options. I personally recommend trying a few items from different vendors. My wife loves the burgers and I love the odds and ends.
Even better, you have one more bourbon stop while you are there! Hard Truth Distillery has a bar located in the Garage Food Hall. Once you grab your food, stop and grab a drink from Hard Truth. At this point, I’m most likely craving an old fashioned, but I’ll leave the selection up to you!
I’ve taken you on 10 stops of some of the best bourbon bars and distilleries in Indianapolis. Some of you might be exhausted and others might want to still go explore. I’m leaving you on your own here and I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening. There is a great bar in the Bottleworks hotel you might want to try. You might want to go duckpin bowling across the street. You might want to catch a ride and go visit the 1933 Lounge above St. Elmo’s. If you were like me, you might want to go back to the room, put on your pajamas, and crack open one of the bottles you purchased at the Rural Inn or Storied Company (then the wife asking if we could get Taco Bell delivered or possibly a dessert).
Whatever you choice might be, I hope you enjoy a perfect end to an incredible day on the Indianapolis bourbon trail.
If I haven’t convinced you that Indianapolis is a bourbon destination, I’m not sure I ever will!
The trip above is a perfect way to see the best stops downtown for the bourbon lover. You get your pick of liquor stores, distilleries, and bourbon bars in the downtown Indianapolis area.
Enjoy the trip and make sure to share how you enjoyed it so others can know about Indy’s bourbon scene.
If you haven’t been to Indy, you might want to make it your next trip. If you have been downtown, what else would you suggest adding to the trip?
I am lucky guy. After two miscarriages, my wife and I were lucky enough to have a wonderful little man who keeps me on my toes. Literally.
When he was born, I decided to start him a collection. A collection of bourbon that is. It all started a when I read an article about how a guy sold his collection of scotch to buy his first house and each bottle was a gift for his dad for each year he was alive. It sounded like a pretty good idea, but I wanted to do it with a little bit different twist.
Instead of a bottle of scotch for each birthday, I decided to buy my son a bottle of bourbon for each of his birthdays and saving them until he turned 21 years old. Once he turned 21, I will turn over the collection to him with the following recommendation:
Each year on your birthday, I would like to buy you a new bottle and we drink the oldest bottle you have. So we always have something to look forward to for your birthday.
Since his birthday is coming up soon, I figured I would put together an update of the collection thus far and use this as a running journal that I can share with my son once he turns 21 years old.
So here it goes. The start of the 21 year bourbon collection:
This was an interesting pick because I haven’t tried this bourbon. I wouldn’t have done this, but the story is just too good. I made sure to tell it in the card I taped to the back of the bottle.
Here’s what happened:
I walked into a local liquor store on a Monday afternoon and I was staring at the bourbon aisle trying to decide how in the world to start this collection. I was bouncing back and forth between a few selections when the guy behind the counter asked me if he could help. I said:
Yes. I need to buy a bottle of bourbon for my 1 year old.
Me
After a strange look, I explained what I was doing and he got a big smile on his face. He walked back into the back room and said:
I shouldn’t do this, but that story is too amazing. Here you go.
Nice Liquor Store Guy
I have no idea if this will be good, but I think it has a fighting chance. A bottled-in-bond barrel pick can’t be bad. Right!?! At least that’s what I’m going to tell myself.
So that’s pick #1 – A blind pick of Henry McKenna Single Barrel – Bottled-In-Bond from a nice man at the liquor store.
When it came to year #2, I had to try to top year #1’s story if possible. And I realized the only way to do that was to share a story of my own.
If you have read my story about the origin of the Bourbon Master, you know that my love for bourbon really drills down to the story. I want to be able to know the people, the distillery, etc and that helps me understand the craft I’m about to drink in a glass.
When I think back to the first barrel pick that really made me go “whoa,” I think back to the Spiced Cherry Cobbler pick of Old Hamer from Indiana Liquor Group. I tasted a few barrel picks before, but I never fell in love with one like I did with this one. I drank two bottles of this (with friends) and I would have drank this one if I didn’t put it on his shelf.
So when thinking about what bottle to get my son, I decided to get him a bottle of this pick. It was the last one on the shelf and I couldn’t pass it up.
As his birthday rolls around this year, I am stumped once again on which bourbon to select to add to my son’s collection.
If you were given the option, what would be your selection to add to my son’s collection? Would you go with a barrel select? Would you go with an allocated bottle? Would you go with something 100% off the wall?
If you are a distillery, why should I pick your bottle? What would make your bourbon special enough to be consumed 21 years from now with the best thing that has ever happened to me?
Let me know your thoughts below.
I’m standing at a tasting at my local Noble Wine and Spirits and having a few samples of the different products that evening. If you know anything about me, I’m constantly listen and observing the room (I try to understand all around me if possible). I heard something that perked my ears up.
When is the Pumpkin Pulp Barrel Pick coming in Jeff?
Rewind – If you haven’t met Jeff Clark, you might be missing out on one of the nicest guys in bourbon I know. He kinda works for the Indiana Liquor Group, but he has a full time job doing IT. And I’m pretty sure he is the mastermind behind the Delaware County Bourbon Society group on Facebook. I’ve done numerous tastings with him and he knows his stuff and his bourbon. I’ve even had him come do a bourbon dinner at Primo (in New Castle) and he rocked it with the food and bourbon pairings.
Fast forward – I find out there is this barrel pick from West Fork Whiskey and it’s going to the Delaware County Bourbon Society Facebook Group. Within minutes, I’m added to the Facebook group and I’m putting my name in for a bottle of this Pumpkin Pulp pick. I trust Jeff enough to know it’s going to be good and I’m not even worried.
A few days later, the Krampus pick was posted and I didn’t hesitate to jump in once again. Do I have any idea what in the world I actually purchased? No. Do I know that it will be awesome? Most likely.
I believe I have ordered a single barrel pick (Old Hamer) and an apple brandy barrel finished bourbon (Hugh Hamer).
I’m supposed to go up in the morning and pick both of the bottles up from Anderson. And I can’t wait to crack them both open tomorrow for a tasting. And I’ll officially report back with my findings (preliminary hypothesis is that I’ll be in for a treat).
So what’s the moral to this whole story?
To start: I’m not a doctor nor would I ever claim to be. The advice below is not medical advice and should not be taken as such.
I’ve been fighting a cold this week and I just can’t seem to shake it. I’ve had the headache, stuffy nose, cough, etc. It’s not fun and it’s even less fun because I don’t have the energy to do my normal activities.
Last night before bed, my wife asked me if she could make me hot toddy to see if that helped. Being at the point of complete miserableness, I said “sure – it might help.” She went off into the kitchen and bring me a hot toddy in a lovely Aristocats mug (only the best for me).
The recipe she uses is:
Is this the tastiest thing ever? No. It is a bit tart and sweet. It shouldn’t be surprise because of the lemon and honey, but it always takes me by surprise. And I’m also not use to drinking any type of bourbon warm. It’s just a bit weird.
Does it help my cough? Yes. I swear I feel better if I drink 1 hot toddy before bed than if I took Nyquil (note – don’t drink and take anything with acetaminophen in it – that’s a big liver no no). I am not sure why this is the case, but I think a hot toddy does actually help out a bit.
There is actually some science to this and it has to do with the honey. Again, I’m not a doctor, so I won’t go into science or anything I don’t understand, but the general idea is that honey is a good treatment for a cough (and lemon for a sore throat). So it makes since that a drink with hot water, honey, lemon, and whiskey might be good when you are sick.
I hope you don’t get sick, but if you do, consider making yourself a hot toddy and let me know how you feel. I know it helps me from time to time and I would be interested to hear if it helps you as well.
When it comes to bourbon whiskey, there are a lot of terms out there that can confuse drinkers as they start drinking. A few that come to mind right away are: allocated, bottled-in-bond, barrel proof, and single barrel bourbon. If you don’t know the basic definitions of these terms, you might feel overwhelmed and confused when standing in a bourbon aisle at your local liquor store. So let’s answer the question: What is single barrel bourbon and what makes it different than other bourbons?
In short, a single barrel bourbon is just how it sounds. It is a bourbon that is taken directly from one barrel and is not blended with other barrels.
Easy right?
If you are new to the world of bourbon, you might need a little more information than that. Let me expand just a bit.
Most bourbon that you see on a store shelf is blended. This means a distillery takes a bunch of barrels and mixes them together to provide a consistent taste. It’s how you know a bottle of Maker’s Mark is going to taste the same if you buy it in Indiana or if you buy a bottle in Florida. The blending of bourbon is essentially an art that is performed by master distillers at each distillery.
If you are wondering why bourbon needs to be blended, think about this. The whole world of distilling is science at its core, but when it enters the real world, there are outside variables that can impact the flavor of a barrel of bourbon.
Let me give you an example:
Say I’m working at Buffalo Trace and I am making hundreds or thousands barrels a day. All of these barrels have the exact same white dog (aka distillate) with the exact same mash bill in a barrel with the exact same specifications. Shouldn’t everything taste the same? In theory, yes, but that’s not actually the case.
Once the barrel enters the warehouse, it is introduced to the most variable of variables out there. Mother nature.
Once you add mother nature into the mix, all bets are off in terms of consistency. If we have a hot summer and a really cold winter, some barrels might taste different than others. And depending on their location in the rick house, the taste can dramatically change. A barrel on the outside of the top floor has a higher average temperature than a barrel on the bottom floor in the middle of the warehouse. Location, time, and mother nature create the differences between each and every barrel.
The guys and gals in the business started to realize there were some barrels that were hands down better than other barrels. And they saw an opportunity to make some additional money by selling these under a different marketing tactic.
Side note: If I was a master distiller and I noticed there were some amazing barrels, I would have said nothing and just kept them for myself. Don’t get me wrong, I love to make money, but I wouldn’t give up an amazing barrel. Just my two cents.
With that, I introduce single barrel bourbon. Like I mentioned before, it’s a pretty simple definition. Bourbon taken from a single barrel and sold. It’s a once in a lifetime experience you will get that truly shows you the skill of the distiller (ok – that sounded really marketing lingo-y, but I really wanted to write it).
I have to imagine the process looks something like this:
The master distiller start the day by sampling 4 different barrels of bourbon. The 1st barrel tastes good, but it could use a little more spice. The 2nd barrel is a bit sweet, but close to what the distiller is looking for. The 3rd barrel – oh my. This might be the best barrel I’ve tasted this week. Send this one off to be bottled by itself. The 4th barrel sucks compared to that 3rd barrel.
I’m sure there is a more “official” process than this, but you get the idea.
In general, single barrel bourbons tend to be at a higher price point, but bring a large depth of flavor to each bottle. They are generally hand-selected and have the barrel number located on the bottle. Most people would argue that single barrel bourbons are more rich and robust in flavor. And since the average barrel only holds 180-220 bottles of bourbon, it’s likely that you will be one of just a handful of people to ever get to try that exact bourbon. Ever. In the history of the world.
If you ever see the phrase “single barrel select” or “store pick,” you might want to know the difference between a single barrel and a barrel select bourbon.
As mentioned before, a single barrel bourbon is selected by a distiller and comes from one barrel of bourbon. A single barrel select is essentially the same thing, but someone other than the master distiller ends up picking the exact barrel.
Liquor stores, clubs, restaurants, etc sometimes coordinate with distilleries to purchase an entire barrel of bourbon (that they can choose). They usually send a group of people (or a really good individual) down and they get to sample selected barrels. Once a barrel is picked, it is labeled and bottled specifically for that customer.
These bottles can be some of the best bottles you’ll ever have (if you find a great team that is picking the barrel). I hope to some day do this with my online community (and I’d love for you to be a part of it)!
In theory, yes. A single barrel bourbon should be better than a standard bourbon from a company.
I like to think of it this way: If I have an amazing barrel and I can sell it at a premium, why would I mix that with any other barrel?
I said in theory because it all comes down to the person doing the tasting and selecting the barrel. If you have someone with an amazing palate that lines up with yours, you might think the single barrel bourbon is the best thing since sliced bread. If you have someone with a completely different palate, you might think this was a waste of your time and money.
That’s why it’s important to do your research instead of just picking up a bottle and hoping for the best. I always try to look for tasting notes from people I trust, try to understand the barrel selection process from a given distillery, and focus on barrel selects from local liquor stores.
In conclusion, single barrel bourbon is a unique and highly sought-after type of whiskey that is known for its distinct flavor and depth of character. It is made from a single barrel of aged bourbon, which allows each bottle to offer a one-of-a-kind taste experience. While it may be more expensive than other types of bourbon, its unique qualities make it well worth the investment for many whiskey lovers. Whether enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in a classic cocktail, single barrel bourbon is sure to impress with its rich and complex flavor profile. Plus you might never drink the same bottle again, which adds to the lore of great barrels and great bourbons.
I think the best bourbon bar in Muncie, Indiana is Trust Your Butcher Steakhouse. And let me explain why I think that is the case.
When you think of Muncie, Indiana, you most likely think of David Letterman and the lovely Ball State University (also known as the Harvard of Muncie). Some of you might wonder where the heck is Muncie in the first place. Other might think of the lovely trains and pot holes that make the city feel like home.
When I think of Muncie, Indiana, I think of my favorite places to go for dinner and a drink. Growing up in the New Castle area, Muncie was (and still is) our big town. Having gone to college at Ball State, I have grown to love the city of Muncie and the restaurants and bars that make it feel like home. I’ve been going to Savage’s Ale House since I turned 21 years old. I’m probably the biggest cheerleader for The Guardian Brewing Company (keep it up Bill and Jason). And I’ll soon have my name on the bar of the Heorot, one of the best craft beer bars in the world.
When it comes to bourbon, Muncie isn’t the most exciting city for those who don’t know where to look. As a quasi-local, I have tried about every place in town and I know where you need to go to get some good food and have a pretty awesome bourbon selection.
My all-time favorite place to grab a bourbon was at the Neely House until it closed out of the blue about a year ago. Cam (the mixologist) was curating an amazing bourbon list and always had new things for me to try. Once the Neely House closed, I had to take my bourbon hunting somewhere else. And it led me to my local butcher shop…
You read that right. My hunt for the best bourbon bar in Muncie has its origins in a meat market. Lahody’s Meats to be exact. I’ve been getting my steaks, smoked pork chops, and everything else from Lahody’s since 2011. I’ve masted the art of grilling the perfect medium rare filet and I know you always ask for the dry aged cuts (the ones that look brown) when you get to choose your own steak. The white paper signs with red marker will never leave my mind and my wife still sends me to pick up meat at least once a week.
When Ron Lahody decided he was going to open a steakhouse, I had some mixed feelings. I was excited because it was going to be another place to go to dinner. I was worried because I know exactly where he is getting his steaks and I knew I could buy them myself and grill them at home (and pay half the price).
After a few months of protest (my own personal cheapness coming out), I finally took my wife for dinner. And I was blown away by something I wasn’t expecting. Don’t get me wrong, the steak was tasty and the salad was too large for a family of four to eat, but the real surprise was the bourbon selection.
I guess I didn’t know Ron Lahody was a bourbon guy. I remember reading his emails from the meat market and him talking about martinis and other drinks like that. I don’t remember a lot about a crazy love for bourbon.
Once you walk into Trust Your Butcher Steakhouse, you’ll see that you have landed at a great place to get a pour of bourbon. The list has a ton of different selections and they aren’t priced as high as you would find in Indianapolis (still high for the Muncie area though). If you set the price aside, you’ll find that you are in the best bourbon bar in Muncie. I don’t think there is a lot of competition, but it still makes Muncie no longer a bourbon desert.
Outside of Trust Your Butcher, you might be able to find some bourbon at the Clubhouse @ Accutech, Vera Mae’s, 1925 Pub House, and Elm Street Brewing. I don’t know of many other places with a large bourbon selection. One of my hidden gem picks is the Heorot Bar as they sometimes have some killer deals on bourbon and scotch (check out the menu here).
So the next time you are in Muncie and looking for a pour of bourbon, you might want to check out Trust Your Butcher Steakhouse. It’s the best selection of bourbon that Muncie has to offer. I recommend going on a Thursday and picking up their $5 burger special). Once you are done there, make sure to drive out to the Friendly Package in Yorktown to find a few good barrel picks. And if you want to grab a drink, reach out to me and I’ll make it happen!