You have been invited to a party and you are going to take a bottle of bourbon for the host, but you have no idea what bottle of bourbon to take. Instead of just randomly walking into a liquor store and grabbing a bottle, use this guide to help you figure out what bottle to take. It’s nothing crazy in-depth, but it should get you on the right path pretty quickly.

Pick 1 – The Host’s Favorite

This should be a no-brainer, but if you know your host has a favorite bourbon, go grab a bottle of that. It shows that you put some thought into the selection and you know it’s going to be consumed. If you don’t know the host’s favorite, ask their family and friends. They might be able to give you a few ideas based upon their experiences.

Pick 2 – Your Favorite

When it doubt, take something you know you can drink and enjoy. Odds are, the host will open the bottle and share it with the people at the party. So if you know you like it, you know there is a chance others will like it as well.

If the host doesn’t open the bottle, then you know they’ll try it at a later date. Taking your favorite will leave them with a memory of you and you’ll get a call/text once the bottle is opened.

Pick 3 – A Solid Standby

If you don’t know what your host will like or if you aren’t a bourbon drinker yourself, you might not know what bottle to grab. That’s ok! Let’s go with a few old standbys:

1. Woodford Double Oaked
2. Old Forester 1910 or 1920
3. Maker’s 46
4. New Riff
5. Four Roses Single Barrel or Small Batch
6. Elijah Craig
7. Larceney

This list isn’t all inclusive, but it should get you a decent bottle at a decent price point. It all depends on what you want to spend and what’s available in your local area.

Pick 4 – Something Special

If you are looking for to really wow your host, then you might want to consider picking up something special. I like to define special in a few different ways:

1. Something that is hard to get – This would be a bottle of an allocated bourbon such as Eagle Rare, EH Taylor, Blantons, Bookers, etc. These are hard to find and usually sought after by bourbon drinkers.
2. Something that is unique – You’ve heard me say this again and again. I’m a huge fan of store picks. When you are looking for a cool bottle to take to a party, stop by your local liquor store and grab a store pick.
3. Something that means something to you – There will be some bottles in your life that you have a special connection to. It might be from an experience you shared with a friend, it might be from a distillery you loved when you visited Kentucky, or it might be something else that holds a special place in your heart. This is a great opportunity to share that experience with someone new.

Pick 5 – A Bottle From Your Collection That Isn’t Your Favorite

Have you ever gone into a liquor store and purchased a bottle of bourbon, get home, open it, and realize that you made a mistake.

Let your mistake be someone else’s opportunity to try a new bottle.

This might be a jerk move, but it’s a great way to get rid of a bottle of bourbon that isn’t your favorite. And who knows, they might 100% love the bottle. Each person has a different palate and what you dislike might be right up their alley.

Conclusion

I hope this guide gives you a few ideas on what bottle of bourbon to take to a party. I hope you have a great time and I hope your host enjoys the bottle you have selected. Remember, this guide is just a starting point and you can make your own choice when it comes to a bourbon to take.

Cheers!

Since today is St. Patrick’s Day, I decided to write a post about irish whiskey (or whisky).

I saw a question posted in bourbon Facebook group and it struck me as strange:

Can a bourbon lover like scotch or Irish whiskey?

I’m not sure that this has ever been a question that crossed my mind. I’m an equal opportunity drinker. I enjoy different types of drinks depending on the situation. I love myself some craft beer and I’ll most likely have some with a yummy pizza from the Heorot today. I’ll have a glass of wine when I’m at a nice restaurant. And I’ll sip on some irish whiskey if there is some around.

But I know that I’m a rare case.

Bourbon lovers are a passionate bunch and they can be very particular about their drink of choice. While some might be willing to try other types of whiskey, others might not be so adventurous.

So, can a bourbon lover like scotch or Irish whiskey?

It really depends on the person.

There are many different types of whiskey out there, and each has its own distinct flavor profile. Some people prefer the sweeter, more robust flavor of bourbon, while others prefer the smoky, peaty flavor of scotch.

While the answer may be yes for some people, it’s probably not going to be a unanimous decision.

Bourbon is made with corn, which gives it a sweeter taste, while scotch is made with barley and often has smoky notes from being distilled over peat fires. Irish whiskey is somewhere in between, usually made with barley but sometimes with other grains like wheat or rye.

So if you’re used to the sweetness of bourbon, scotch and Irish whiskey might seem a bit too intense.

But that’s not to say that you can’t enjoy both bourbon and other types of whiskey. Many people find that they enjoy exploring different types of whiskey and discovering new favorites. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. So if you’re a bourbon lover, don’t be afraid to branch out and try something new – you just might find that you like it!

There are some great Scotch and Irish whiskeys out there, so it’s definitely worth giving them a try. Who knows, you might just find your new favorite spirit! Some bourbon lovers will find that they enjoy scotch or Irish whiskey just as much as their go-to drink, while others may stick to bourbon exclusively. There’s no right or wrong answer. It’s all about what you enjoy!

Cheers!

If you have stopped by this blog, odds are you have read my top performing post.

21 Years of Bourbon – My Quest To Build My Son’s Bourbon Collection

In this post, I walk through my quest to collect 21 bottles of bourbon for my son by his 21st birthday. Readers have given their two cents – Some think this is amazing idea. Some gave me some suggestions on which bourbons to pick up for my son’s 3rd birthday. Some people told me that I was making my son an alcoholic and that I was being selfish for buying my son these bottles. I had to take a laugh when I read that comment:

This is very selfish on the father’s behalf. What if your son doesn’t want to drink? Isn’t there a better way to invest that time and money into something that isn’t booze? Setting the kid up to be an alcoholic.

PETER

Yes. Unopened bottles of bourbon that a dad buys for his child is going to cause him to become an alcoholic. My response was:

If my son doesn’t want to drink it, I’m going to have a great time enjoying it myself. And he will have a very nice college fund covered as well. This is just one of the investments we have for our amazing child.

Chris

Joking aside, it’s been entertaining to read the comments and I figured I would update the blog on what I decided to purchase for my son’s 3rd birthday bottle.

The Motivation

I posted my article in a few different Facebook groups and I had one comment that stood out to me:

When you see the right bottle, you will know.

A Random Guy on Facebook

I have been struggling since my son’s birthday to choose the bourbon I wanted to add to the collection. I wanted something special and meaningful. I wanted something that wasn’t going to break the bank. I want something that wouldn’t be around in 18 years.

And yet, I had no idea what I really wanted.

Finally on last Friday, I walked into my in-laws house and my father-in-law said: Do you want your birthday present?

Since my birthday was multiple months away, I was curious and I said heck yes. And he pulled out a bottle of OCD #5. One of my top 5 bourbons of all time. He had taken a trip down to Kentucky and stopped and picked me up a bottle. He was so excited to give it to me and I was beyond excited to receive it. I cracked it open that night and I look forward to having a put of it tomorrow.

So it got me thinking. If I got that excited receiving a bottle of Glenn’s Creek OCD #5, wouldn’t that be an awesome bottle for my son’s collection?

The Email

And like someone was reading my mind, I received the following email from Glenn’s Creek the next day (I had never received an email from them before in my life that I remember):

A few unique, LIMITED products in the GCD Vault/Premium OCD #5 update

A little update on a few unique products available in the GCD Vault.

Cafe Ole Bourbon 115 Proof ONLY 6 Bottles Ever

Hand Filtered Cafe Ole Bourbon 115 Proof ONLY 18 Bottles

A few bottles remain of the FIRST barrel of R.W. Robinson Infinity Whiskey

Possibly the last barrel of Single Malt Whiskey from GCD, not because it’s not delicious, but fermenting Single Malt is a completely different process than fermenting Bourbons. We currently do not have the space to process both products. So, the third barrel of Millville Malt has a few Hand Filtered and a few regular filtered bottles remaining.

Millville Malt

Hand Filtered Millville Malt

Check out the full line up in the GCD Vault!

News update on OCD #5 PREMIUM – Looks like Mid to Late Summer 2023 on the next delicious barrel of OCD #5 PREMIUM. It is tasting good but, not yet to PREMIUM standards. 

You will be the first to know it is in the bottle.

Thank you for supporting our passion! Thanks for reading.

John T. Kemper, III

Obsessive Compulsive Distiller/Engineering Manager

Glenns Creek Distilling, LLC.

“A little different. A lot better.”

The Pick

If you just read that email, you might have seen a few possibilities of items to add to my son’s collection. The Cafe Ole has only 6 bottles ever. The single malt is never coming back. The OCD #5 Premium is coming soon and I could wait and pick him up the high class version of my favorite.

But one thing caught my eye more than the rest.

A few bottles remain of the FIRST barrel of R.W. Robinson Infinity Whiskey

I clicked on the list and read this description:

R. W. Robinson’s Legacy – Infinity Whiskey

I first met R.W. Robinson (he introduced himself as Bob) in 2014 at the old distillery. When he told me he had been the Superintendent I was excited to be able to ask questions of someone who actually worked here. At the end of our conversation, I thought it was a great experience, and that I would not see Bob again. Thankfully, I was wrong, and Bob comes to visit us on a regular basis.

It has been a privilege to learn from Bob’s 40 years of experience in the world of bourbon. Things in the industry have certainly changed since Bob’s tenure. We owe a debt of gratitude to R. W. Robinson and with every sip his Legacy will continue.

David Meier Owner/Head Distiller Glenns Creek Distilling

R. W. Robinson’s Legacy Infinity Whiskey is created by comingling the various bourbon mash bills in single ONCE in a lifetime combination. Each once used bourbon barrel’s mash bill is unique, never to be duplicated.

750ml bottles available through the GCD Vault.

Distilled, Aged and Bottled by Glenns Creek Distillery.

I was looking for something special to me. I was looking for something that wouldn’t be around 18 years from now. I was looking for something that I could share with my son.

And then it literally landed in my pocket.

I’ve never had the R. W. Robinson’s Legacy – Infinity Whiskey and not many people will ever have the opportunity. And this is exactly what I was looking for to add to my son’s collection.

The Why

When picking the bottles to add to my son’s collection, I want the following:

1. Something with a story – Just buying a bottle of bourbon isn’t enough. I want to have a story to tell about purchasing the bottle.
2. Something that isn’t normal – Sure, I could drive down to Buffalo Trace and grab a bottle of the stuff they have on the shelf that day. But that’s what all bourbon hunters want. And I want my son to know that you don’t have to be the typical person. It’s ok to be different and to stand out. And that’s what I want my picks to be. This is different than when I started and I imagine my perspective will change many times, but I don’t want the stuff everyone wants.
3. Something personal – I want to leave a part of me in the collection. I am planning on being there when my son turns 21, but I can’t predict life. I want the collection to be a gift that is a part of me for my son, so it only makes sense to pick one of my favorite distilleries. And it gives me something amazing to look forward to in 18 years. Worst case, I have a great bottle for me to drink (here’s looking at you PETER).
4. The whole idea of an infinity bottle really made me think deep (or meta as the kids now say – and I imagine I used that in the wrong context). The barrel never ends, but nothing is ever the same. Just like life. Life is always going and yet nothing is ever the same.
5. The legacy of R.W. Robinson lives on. I’ve never personally met Bob, but I imagine it would be a great conversation (if the guys from Glenn’s Creek like him, he must be a good time). It’s kinda cool to think that I’m going to introduce my son to R.W. Robinson who had 40 years of experience in the bourbon world. And by the time my son drinks this bottle, it might be 60 years since Bob helped created bourbon for the world, but his legacy remains. And that is something that all of us can hope we can do one day.

Conclusion

It was quite the challenge this year to pick my son’s next bottle, but it’s a challenge I enjoy and look forward to each year. And I think it’s a nice time to reflect on myself and my son each year. And I landed with a bottle that should be a perfect fit into my collection and my story.

Side note: I’m also excited to have an excuse to drive down to Frankfort, Kentucky to pick up this bottle. I’m never mad to travel to Bourbon Country.

If you are following this journey, I hope this was enlightening with my next choice and the rationale behind it.

If you are PETER, I hope this post makes your realize I’m not making my son an alcoholic. I’m building a collection (that I will drink no matter what) that I can share with my son. And you should not be reading a bourbon blog if you are going to be a Debbie Downer.

Cheers!

If you were to walk into my house right now, you would not find much bourbon at all.

I’m not kidding. My liquor shelf has one bottle of bourbon on it at the moment. It’s a bottle of Old Forester 100. And that’s it. There are a few bottles back in my closet for my kid 18 years from now, but I’m down to my last bottle of bourbon at the house.

As the “bourbon master,” you might be wondering why I have such a small collection of bourbon….

It’s simple really. I like to drink it and share it. Having a shelf full of full bottles is just not something I’m interested in having.

Let me explain.

The Reason I Dislike Collecting Bourbon

If you look in my house, the only thing I collect is dust and a drawer full of t-shirts. I’m no crazy Kondo lady, but I just don’t have a strong tie to things (except that junk drawer that all midwest households have).

I could care less about the things in my life. I enjoy the experiences.

I guess this goes back to hearing all of the old people talk over the years. I have never heard a single old man (or woman) talk about the really nice bourbon collection they had when they were younger. I rarely hear anyone talking about the high end shirt or pants they had when they are reminiscing with friends.

What you hear about are the experiences. The crazy, the stupid, and the fun experiences. No one cares about the “things” in the end, what they care about are the people they were able to share them with.

Bourbon is the same way. No one cares if you have a collection of Pappy that has never been open. No one cares if you have the best collection in the world. Because at the end of the day, it’s just that. It’s a collection. And at some point, you will either consume, gift, or sell the collection away.

Don’t get me wrong. There could be some serious money made by bourbon collectors. And I can’t blame people for doing that. As a business professor, I encourage the pursuit of a profit, but I value things a bit differently.

Let’s Go Deeper

There are a few things you need to know about me that will make my stance of collecting bourbon a little clearer:

1. I don’t go hunting for bourbon. I have stumbled onto a few allocated products by accident, but I don’t go hopping from liquor store to liquor store. Nothing against it, but it’s just not for me. I would rather pick up a few store picks and enjoy a bottle of something I will never have again.
2. I’m friends with a handful of bourbon drinkers that I see multiple times per week. I’m lucky in the fact that I have people to share my bourbon with, but it does disappear quicker when you have multiple people drinking it. But it’s nice to head to their place and have a great bottle waiting on me at their house as well.
3. I have a family history of a few close medical calls with strokes – I have taken all of the preventive steps, but I can’t control my health. I believe tomorrow is never promised and I take that to heart. Why keep something that you might never get to drink?
4. I like to go out and find new places. This leads me to having a few drinks out more frequently than having a bottle at my house. I would rather try something I’ve never had then just buy a full bottle of it. How do I know if I like it or not? I’ll take my chances with one pour instead of one bottle.
5. I like bourbon. So I love to drink it. Saving it just makes me have to buy something else to drink. I would like to eat my cake instead of have it too.

None of this makes my stance right, but it at least gives you a background on why I am the way I am. In academics, it’s called researching positionally and it’s the process of explaining the person behind the work and their view and influences on the subject on which they are writing. This gives you the perspective in which to view my comments through my lens and understand why I say the things I say.

It doesn’t make me right or wrong. It makes me. And now you understand why I’m me.

A Quote To Leave You With

If you haven’t watched the bourbon puff piece Neat on Netflix, you might want to go and watch it some evening. It’s filled with a lot of marketing shots and pieces, but it does tell a decent story. And there is one scene that has stuck with me more than anything I have watched in a very long time.

Here’s the scene and quote:

Freddie Johnson tells the story of when Julian Van Winkle Jr. gave him a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 20 year old. That night, after pouring his dad and his brother a glass, Freddie went to put the cork back in the bottle and his dad stopped him. His dad said:

“Never save bourbon when sharing with friends and family.” “There will always be more bourbon. We are the fragile part of this equation.” Freddie went on to say, “It’s not about the whiskey, it’s about the lives you touch and the people you meet and the whiskey is a by-product of a good relationship.”

Not soon after that, Freddie Johnson’s father passed away. It was one of the last chances Freddie had to share a drink with his dad.

If that doesn’t make you want to call your friends over and open your best bottle, I’m not sure what would.

So don’t wait. Tomorrow isn’t promised, so enjoy the bourbon now and make memories that will last forever.

Cheers.

CW

If you have hopped into any Bourbon Facebook group or Reddit thread, you might have thought you were reading another language. I felt the same way. There is a series of codes, acronyms, and abbreviations that have been developed to use in these groups to speed up the posting process. If you don’t know what they are, it will look like gibberish. Once you start to figure it out, you can quickly scan posts and understand what is being talked about.

Here is a list of the common abbreviations and shorthand below. It’s not complete by any means, but it’s a good starting place for anyone just getting started in the bourbon communities online.

Bourbon Acronyms and Abbreviations

1B = Single Barrel

4R = Four Roses (sometimes FR)

4RYL = Four Roses Yellow Label

AA = Ancient Age (also AAA, Ancient Ancient Age)

ABV = Alcohol By Volume

AE = Angel’s Envy

AECS = Angel’s Envy Cask Strength

AS = Age Stated

🦌 = Bucks – This is a way to get around Facebook policies and post prices

BF = Brown Forman

BIB = Bottled In Bond

Bones = This is a substitute for dollars – Another way to skirt Facebook rules.

BMH = Black Maple Hill

BP = Barrel Proof

BT = Buffalo Trace

BUMP= This is a Facebook hack where you can put your post back at the top of the group. You put this in the comments and it will “bump” the post back to the top.

CEHT = Colonel E.H. Taylor (also EHT)

CONUS = Shipping included in price inside continental US 

CS = Cask Strength

EC = Elijah Craig

ECBP = Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

EHT = E.H. Taylor

ER = Eagle Rare

ET = Early Times

ETL = Elmer T. Lee

EW = Evan Williams

F’Fort = Frankfort

FR = Four Roses

GD = George Dickel

GNS = Grain Neutral Spirits

GTS = George T. Stagg

H21 = Hirsch 21; H22 = Hirsch 22, etc.

Hazmat = Any whiskey over 140 proof (not allowed to go on a plane)

HH = Heaven Hill

HW = High West

JB = Jim Beam

JD = Jack Daniels

KBD = Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (aka Willett)

KO= Kentucky Owl

KOR= Kentucky Owl Rye

L’Burg = Lawrenceburg, KY

LB= Little Book

LDI = Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana, former Seagrams Distillery

LE = Limited Edition

L’Ville = Louisville

Lot B = Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 yr, Lot B

M10, M20 = Michter’s 10, 20 yr single barrel

MGP = MGP of Indiana, former Seagrams Distillery

MM = Maker’s Mark

MWND = Mid Winter Night’s Dram

NAS = Non Age Stated

NCF= Non Chill Filltered

NDP = Non Distilling Producer, i.e. a rectifier like Jefferson’s, Dickel etc.

OC = Old Charter

OESO, OESF, OESV, OESK, OBSO, OBSF, OBSV, OBSK = Four Roses bourbon recipes

OF = Old Fitzgerald

OFBB = Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

OGD = Old Grand Dad

OO = Old Overholt

ORVW = Old Rip Van Winkle

OS = Old Scout

OT = Old Taylor

OWA = Old Weller Antique

OWO = Old Weller Original

Pf = Proof

PVW = Pappy Van Winkle

RHF = Rock Hill Farms

Ritt = Rittenhouse Rye

RR = Russell’s Reserve

RRR = Russell’s Reserve Rye

RTR = Right To Refuse

RY = Rebel Yell

SA = Smooth Ambler

SAOS = Smooth Ambler Old Scout

Saz = Sazerac

SB = Small Batch

SiB = Single Barrel

SBS = Small Batch Select

SiBS = Single Barrel Select

SFTB = Straight From The Barrel

SmB = Small Batch

SW = Stitzel Weller (also S-W)

THH = Thomas H. Handy

TPS = The Party Source, store in Bellevue KY that does many private barrels

V17 / V21 / V23 = Vintage 17 etc.

VOB = Very Old Barton

VOF / VXOF / VVOF = Very Old, Very Xtra Old, Very Very Old Fitzgerald

VOSN = Very Olde St Nick

VSOF = Very Special Old Fitzgerald

VWFRR = Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye

W12 = Weller 12 yr

WFE = Willett Family Estate

WJ = Widow Jane

WR = Woodford Reserve

WSR = Weller Special Reserve

WT = Wild Turkey

WTR = Wild Turkey Rye

WTRB = Wild Turkey Rare Breed

YO = Years old, as in 12YO

My dad is an amazing person.

He has dealt with me for years and hasn’t lost his shit yet, so he is pretty close to sainthood.

He might fall into potholes in Green Bay (see the picture below), but I’d take him anywhere he wanted to go. Except the waterfront in Sheboygan, but that is a story for another day.

I will forever hold this picture against my dad because he passed on “medical advice” and we missed the Packers game. Sure the medical advice was to take two pain pills and drink some beers, but it seems like the very Wisconsin thing to do (note: follow all medical advice – I’m not a doctor).

I can only hope my son will think of me the same way. Sure. I give my dad some shit, but he is a major part of who I am today. And I will be forever thankful. I would go to the ends of the earth (or miss an overtime Packers game for you).

That being said. He doesn’t like bourbon.

And that’s ok.

Let me explain why and give you a few reasons you shouldn’t care what people decide to drink. Partly because it’s my job to write about things like this and partly because why the heck do you care in the first place.

That being said, let me explain what I’m doing to explain bourbon to my dad.

I was going to write an article about explaining bourbon to my dad, but I think I could provide some more insight on a few different lessons. I think bourbon and life is more than just an article online, so I hope this hits a few different areas while still providing some value.

Lesson 1 – Bourbon Is Good and So Is Everything Else

Well duh.

My dad doesn’t like bourbon and that’s ok. He’s more of an Irish Whiskey guy (because he’s Irish).

But I have learned that it doesn’t matter.

My experiences in bourbon have taught me you can take a non-bourbon drinker and enjoy an evening with them. Regardless of if they enjoy it at all. I have sat by my dad and tried some amazing bourbons and scotch. And we have different opinions. And it’s great to disagree on something that doesn’t matter. He has learned about single barrel bourbons and has been to a few tastings. He still not a fan, but he is trying. And I appreciate it. The Evan Williams bottle at is great when I don’t have a beer in the fridge to drink (plus it was a nice tasting). And we go to bourbon tasting together. we don’t agree on most, but we enjoy trying it together.

And I’ll try it all again. And I hope we don’t agree. Because it’s great discussion when we don’t.

That’s the magic of bourbon. You don’t need the same tastes to enjoy a great evening.

Lesson 2 – Bourbon Isn’t What It Used To Be

From my experiences, I have learned that bourbon wasn’t great a few years ago.

Actually, it sucked.

I can remember a tasting at Four Roses where the nice ladies explained the history of Four Roses and their rise from ashes. And it sold me on the idea of better bourbon.

And I had to realize that some people had the idea that bourbon sucked.

And that’s ok.

Bourbon has evolved over the last 5 years and it continues to evolve. And those who haven’t enjoyed it might be surprised with the evolution over the years. And if they aren’t, that’s ok too. I just hope people give it a chance.

Lesson 3 – The Story Makes The Bourbon and So Does The Experience

When you really look at bourbon, it’s all about the story.

I’m one with a really good memory. I can remember what you ordered at a resturant if we only have met once. I remember what my students are interested in and how I can help them in the future.

And I remember the stories.

When it comes to drinking bourbon (or anything for that matter), I remember the experience. And 99% of the time, I remember the great time we’ve had. I remember the burning of a couch and I remember the riding in the back of a Jeep. I remember our trip to Green Bay and I remember our trip to DC. I remember the experience and I could care less on everything else.

And that’s the point. As I “teach” you about bourbon, I think the main point is that it’s the time spent with others enjoying something together. It’s the shared experience that I remember. I don’t need a crazy awesome bottle of bourbon, because who cares!? I want an evening tasting scotch (that I’m not sold on) that we can talk about forever. And that’s why. I enjoy the time spent and I enjoy remembering it.

Conclusion

When I look at all of this, I can say I’m blessed.

I have an amazing dad who might not get the credit he deserves. I know the sacrifices you have made over the years and I appreciate it. I’m a guy of a lot of words, but sometimes I don’t have the words for everything.

I hope my son realizes how much his dad loves him and I hope it’s as much as you love me. It’s sappy, but I have a great dad who worked his ass off to make my life awesome. And he should probably stop being such a cheap ass.

If you are reading this far, I hope you learn that bourbon is more than a spirit. It’s an experience that should be shared with everyone you love. And it’s ok to overshare.

CW

In the lovely city of Muncie, Indiana, there is a dark craft beer bar named the Heorot. Owned by the guys over at the Guardian Brewery, the Heorot has been a staple in the craft beer community for decades. With a ton of beers on tap and in their coolers, you can literally drink hundreds of beers and never duplicate the same beer.

Actually – That’s exactly what I did. It’s their 100 beer club and once you complete it, you get a plaque on the bar that will stay forever. I will forever be enshrined at the mecca for craft beer in Indiana. And it’s something I can tell my kid about when he gets older (not that he will care, but oh well).

My 100 Beers

During my quest to 100 beers, I learned a few things. Surprisingly, I learned a lot about myself, craft beer, and even bourbon.

You read that right. Drinking 100 different craft beers taught me something about bourbon.

It might seem silly, but let me explain. I’m keen on the idea of reflecting and learning from my experiences. And this journey taught me a few things.

Lesson 1 – The Classics Are Classics For A Reason

The first 20 beers I drank on my journey were ones that I wanted to try and ones in my favorite style. It just makes sense to start with what you know and explore in that area. I drank a lot of hazy IPAs and then a lot of dark German lagers. If you met me for a beer tonight, my guess is I would default to one of these styles right away.

After I got through that part of the list, I was faced with a dilemma. What do I drink next?

I decided that I was going to just start at the top of the menu and order down the list. This led me to a few of the OGs in the craft beer space. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Bell’s Two Hearted, Arrogant Bastard, etc. As I drank these beers, I realized a few things:

1. I still like them. A lot.
2. I don’t order these any more. Not because I don’t like them, but because I moved on to the other shiny objects.
3. These are the beers that made me enjoy craft beer.

The same can be said about bourbon. If you poured me a finger of Woodford Reserve, I would enjoy the pour. If I had a glass of Old Forester, I wouldn’t be mad. I still like these classic pours and I should make sure to remember this when ordering my drinks.

These bourbons are the reason I enjoy bourbon. And you should remember why you enjoy bourbon as well. Go back to these and see why they are a classic and why they deserve that title.

Lesson 2 – Your Tastes Will Change Over Time

If I did this challenge at 21 years old, my card would look way different than the card I just completed. And I imagine that my card 10 years from now will look at a lot different as well. When I started drinking craft beer, I was a milk stout and Belgian wheat beer kind of guy. Now I love almost any craft beer, but have a leaning towards IPAs and dark lagers.

My tastes have changed tremendously over the last 10 years. And they will continue to change.

The same could be said about bourbon or spirits in general. I’m not afraid to admit my first liquor of choice would have been Southern Comfort (which led to some very stupid choices). From there, I went into the rum side of things. And now I love bourbon. I partly credit this to becoming an old man professor, but I also would like to think my palate has evolved over time. As I have tried more and more things, I have started to find where my tastebuds like to hang out.

What I like today, won’t be what I like a year from now. And that’s ok.

Lesson 3 – Drink The Specials

When you drink 100 beers, the cost starts to add up. And you start looking for deals.

Most bars will have a weekly specials that help you choose your pour of the day. If you aren’t picky, these are great opportunities to save little money and try something you don’t usually drink.

During my time trying the different craft beers, I ordered a lot of different specials. On Tuesdays, I could drink any beer on tap for $4, so I ordered a lot of high priced beers I wouldn’t typically try. On Wednesdays, it was seasonal specials for $3 a pour, so I ordered the seasonal each week to help them clear out kegs. It might have been cheaper, but I was drinking for the good of the bar.

It’s something to remember when you visit your local establishment. A regular is a the best asset to a restaurant and bar and if you help the bar out, they’ll help you out.

Lesson 4 – Respect The Craft

If I learned anything from my beer drinking journey, it is that the craft of alcohol making is just that. A craft.

I’ve tried beers from the biggest breweries in the world. I’ve tried beers from monks. I’ve tried beers from a greenhouse on the southside of Muncie (shoutout to Northern Tropics – Love you Ted). All of the beers have something in common.

It’s someone’s masterpiece.

If you do anything as you drink beer (or bourbon), you need to understand that brewing and distilling is craft. And you need to respect that.

You might not love a bourbon, but others might flock to a distillery for it. You can’t be the judge of beauty (thanks Jason Powell for that humanities lesson from college) and beauty is rooted in your own perception.

When you judge your tastes, realize they are yours and yours alone. I could love something you hate and that’s ok. The beauty of all of it is in the journey. So enjoy each time you try something (rather you like it or not).

Lesson 5 – Tracking Your Experiences Is Key

I was sitting on a plane in Atlanta talking to a guy about bourbon and he pulled out a notebook. It was filled an alphabetical list of the different bourbons he had at his home bar. I spent about 30 minutes flipping through it and had a great conversation with the gentlemen (also referred him to Wiseguys Lounge). And I sat there before takeoff and realized, the journey is worth sharing.

This guy shared his bourbon journey with me because he tracked it. I did the same with my beer journey. I can look back at my list of beers and remember the day, my mood, etc about trying that beer. It’s a historical moment that can be relived if I read it in the future. I wish I would have done that with my bourbon journey.

And it all comes down to the story. Drinking bourbon for me is about making memories with my friends and family. And each time I do it, I have a story I can tell. And it makes the memory of the day last forever.

My beer card made me track my drinks and I think this should be a standard in the world of a bourbon drinker. Remember the day. Remember the people. Remember the occasion. Remember the memories.

You can’t recreate these moments. And these are the things you will talk about the rest of your life.

Lesson 6 – Understanding Tastes Take Time

As I taste more bourbon (or craft beer), I realize building your palate takes time and practice. And it is a form of art.

Once you start tasting bourbon, you will never look at bourbon the same. The same could be said about craft beer. Every time I taste a new beer, I file it back in my brain and take that taste with me moving forward. And I’ve built up my repository of tastes over the years. And it takes some serious time.

Your tastes will take time to develop and that is a ok. You need to develop your tastes and building your tasting profile. When I was younger, I liked one thing. When I started drinking bourbon, I liked another. Now I like something in a different ballpark. And tomorrow I’ll love something else.

Your tastes take time to build and they’ll continue to grow. This has happened to me in the craft beer world and it’s true in the bourbon world as well. Continue to taste. Continue to grow. And continue to explore.

Conclusion

If you would have told me that I would learn about drinking bourbon during my quest to 100 beers, I would have told you that you’re crazy. Through reflecting, I think that I actually did learn a few things. I learned the bourbon is an art, tastes are grown, the classics are classics for a reason, and a few other things you have read above. And I’m willing to stand by my comments because I know most of your experiences are the same. You have learned and grown from drinking and trying new things. You have learned to respect the craft and be a good steward of the profession. You have learned to drink the specials and understand your tastes will continue to change.

You have learned and you need to educated others.

That’s my charge. Examine yourself and spend your time promoting bourbon and the experience to others. As you grow, the field grows and we can all enjoy the end result.

Cheers!