5 Best Bourbon Bars In (and Around) Indianapolis

As you can tell from this blog, I’m a fan of the Indianapolis area and it’s the “big city” when I go out with my wife or friends. And I did a search on Google for the “best bourbon bars in Indy” and I chuckled when I read the list. I think it’s one thing to have a list of the best and fanciest bourbon bars, but there should also be a list of the best bourbon bars in Indianapolis for normal everyday people. So here it is – My top picks for the Indianapolis and surrounding areas.

A few things to note about my selections:

  1. I had to have actually been to the bar. I don’t want to tell you something is awesome and never have been. If it’s on the list, I have personally walked in and ordered a drink.
  2. I’m not the “fancy” cocktail kind of guy. I want to have a good tasting pour of bourbon when I go to a bourbon bar. I might go for an old fashioned, but I’m going to want a good bourbon list with reasonable prices. I might pay extra for a barrel pick or something like that, but I’m not going to pay extra because you have a cool fountain in your bar and your mixologist uses ingredients they use at Hogwarts for potions.
  3. I’m drawn to the downtown and the north/northeast side of Indianapolis due to where I live. You’ll see my bias in the selections.
  4. I’m not one who loves huge crowds. I want a place I can sit and have a drink with some conversation. If it’s a trendy bar where I have to pay to get in, count me out. If it’s going to be super crowded always, count me out.

If that sounds like you, then you are going to love this list. If not, you might want to find another list of the top bourbon bars in Indianapolis.

1 – Joe’s Grille Fishers

Joe’s Grille wins my picks for best prices on bourbon. I stumbled on this place a few years back as I was looking for a quick stop to grab a drink and some food on my way to the airport. After we visited, I followed them on Facebook. I didn’t go for another few years and then all of a sudden, I saw a post that was talking about their new updated bourbon menu. So on my next trip to Indy, I made an effort to stop and grab a drink.

It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the bourbon list makes up for that. Dang. They have a great selection and even better prices. When I can get a pour of Noah’s Mill from Willett for $5, we are talking Elks Lodge prices. They also seem to have a pretty good selection of barrel picks and hard to find bourbons. I could go to HC Tavern and pay almost $30 for a pour of Booker’s Bourbon, but I can get the same pour here for $12 (and it’s literally just down the road a few miles).

I haven’t tried much of the food, but I’m all in for the bourbon. This is now a destination stop for me before I drop any money on a bottle of bourbon that is a little higher in cost. I stop here and try it (if they have it) and then go and make my purchasing decision. It’s way cheaper than most places in the area and the selection can’t be beat for the price point.

2 – Final Third Cigar and Whiskey Lounge

I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of cigars or cigar smoke, but I’ll make an exception for this great find in Ingalls, Indiana. Final Third Cigar and Whiskey Lounge is the place to be if you want an eclectic choice of bourbons, ryes, and whiskies. And it’s not as smokey as one might think a cigar bar might be.

It wins my pick as the best hidden gem bourbon bar in Indianapolis.

I saw a friend post something about this place on Facebook, so I did a little investigating. It seemed like my kind of place, but I needed a reason to head that way to stop in and check it out. When my father-in-law decided to drive the strangest way to a beer festival, we ended up driving through Ingalls and I yelled TURN RIGHT HERE AND LET’S HAVE A DRINK.

I was glad we did! As you can tell from my picture, they have one heck of a selection and the people in there are super nice. I know they partner with the Indiana Bourbon Club (not the one I run, but still a great one) for some barrel picks as well.

I now have this as a standard stop if I’m ever in the area.

3 – 1933 Lounge

This one wins my pick for best date night spot for a bourbon lover in Indianapolis. My wife is a sucker for a big steak and she loves the shrimp cocktail with the cocktail sauce. And honestly, I don’t want to have the fancy steakhouse experience. So I enjoy bypassing St Elmo’s and just walking up the stairs to the 1933 Lounge. You have access to a smaller menu and a full bar. It’s my kind of place.

The prices here are steep, but that’s what you should expect with this being one of the top steakhouses in Indiana. I recommend getting the sliders and a barrel select bourbon from their list. I personally like the barrel picks from Woodford, West Fork, and Journeyman Distillery.

You don’t have to have a reservation for the Lounge and I recommend getting there right when they open. You can go belly up right to the bar and watch the bartenders at work. If you head to the one in Fishers, I recommend getting the Elmo sushi roll (it’s the freaking best). If you are downtown, you can walk down to Ruth Chris or Spoke and Steele (not on the list, but both great places).

4 – Broken Barrel

I’m not 100% sure why I like this place that much, but I do. It wins my pick for vibe and smaller venue. I’ve been once and I was impressed enough to go again. The prices were mid-range and there selection was pretty good as well. I went to the Carmel location, but I see there is also one in the Geist area.

I went here with my wife and a good college friend to celebrate the end of another semester of a teaching. I got to try Old Rip Van Winkle and it was a fun time. It’s attached to Wolfie’s, so that’s a plus and it seems like it’s a little hole in the wall place. That hits two boxes for me. It also has a speakeasy feel without being overdone. I wasn’t mad either that the vodka was cheap for the wife. If I’m in the Carmel area and need a place to grab a drink before or after going to Vine and Table or Total Wine and More in Nora, this is my place. It’s also not far from Keystone or Westfield, so it’s a nice meeting spot if you have friends in either of those locations.

5 – FoxGardin Kitchen and Ale

Foxgardin wins my pick for the best place to grab a bourbon and have an amazing meal. Plus it wins my very prestigious prize of best old fashioned in Indianapolis. If you haven’t been to this amazing restaurant in Fortville, Indiana, you are missing out.

But when it comes to bourbon, you need to know about a little secret. There is a small bourbon bar upstairs once you get into the restaurant. If you ask, you can go grab a drink (and grab dinner) in a small intimate setting. They have quite the bourbon list and they have one of the best old fashioneds I have ever had (Foxy Old Fashioned). If you can’t get a seat upstairs, you can head to their patio (also upstairs) or the one downstairs.

And don’t sleep on the food. Some of the best meals I have had over the past 5 years have come from this place. I love the bone marrow fries, the Yucatan Shrimp, and the Jalapeño Beer Cheese Soup. And don’t forget about Jane’s Pies (ask for the selection of the day).

Conclusion

Indy has a good selection of bourbon bars and I think you won’t be disappointed with your selection. I have my personal preferences, but I think you will find that there are a lot of great options. If you are looking for a good selection at great prices, consider going to Joe’s. If you are looking for a unique little place, try Final Third. If you are taking a date, consider going to 1933. If you are looking for a laid back place, consider Broken Barrel. If you are looking for a great dinner, visit FoxGardin.

If you have a place I need to check out, leave a comment below and I’ll make it happen (and write about my experiences).

Where To Find Cheap Pours Of Bourbon

I’m going to tell you something that might surprise no one:

I’m cheap

If there is a deal to be had, I will find it. I have sat down at a restaurant, found a gift card promo online, and bought it to save a few bucks (or to get a free appetizer). I have a way to always find a deal (and my parents call it “pulling a Chris”).

That being said, I was sitting at my local Elks lodge last night and the bartender mentioned that I should try the new bourbon they got today. She said it was Four Roses Small Batch Select. A good friend next to me actually bought my drink I enjoyed a delightful pour. I asked the bartender for the bottle to take a picture and I chuckled just a bit.

What would you imagine the price to be of a pour of Four Roses Small Batch Select at a restaurant?

If I was in the Indy area, I would guess I would $10-$12 for an 1oz pour.

If I was in Chicago, it might be $15-$20 for a pour.

In lovely old New Castle, Indiana – It was $4 for a pour. Don’t believe me? Look at the very classy post-it note that was attached to the bottle.

That’s why I’m here to argue that there is a secret to finding cheap drinks (specifically bourbon) if you know where to look. And it’s not going to be at that weird liquor store in the middle of nowhere.

Where To Find Cheap Bourbon Pours

The answer is: Fraternal Organizations

Social clubs such as the Elks, Eagles, Masons, Moose, Knights of Columbus, etc are some of the best (and cheapest) places to get a drink.

Most people assume that fraternal organizations are typically reserved for older folks. I imagine your grandpa or great grandpa might have been a member of at least one of these organizations if you grew up in the midwest. And most people have no idea what these fraternal organizations even do. They just know they sponsor their kid’s baseball teams and possibly run a bingo hall or golf course.

What people don’t know is that these clubs often have some of the best deals on food, drinks, and events around.

How Can Their Prices Be That Low?

I think it really comes down to a few different things:

  1. Membership fees – These are social clubs and all of these places have yearly dues. These dues go to the operation of the facilities and to help the community. As a member of an organization, you get special perks like access to the facilities and event, specific nights where dinner is for members only, access to other lodges across the nation, etc. These fees help to offset the cost of operating a bar or a kitchen.
  2. Lower markups – When you have a little bit of wiggle room in your operating expenses from the membership dollars, you don’t have to charge a 3 times markup on everything to break even and make a profit. Heck, these are non-profit organizations who are going to give any profit away to causes in their community. So you can take a $55 bottle of bourbon and charge $4 a pour for it. When you do the math, the lodge is still making money (roughly $30-$40) on selling 1oz pours. Money is being made, but not as much as a restaurant needs to make.
  3. Repeat business – If you walk into any fraternal organization, my guess is you will see a group of people that know everyone there. The bartender knows exactly the drink they are going to order and they might even have a typical “spot” at the bar. You might also find a daily and a weekly drawing somewhere if you look hard enough. The fact that these people are in the bar each day bring a steady stream of revenue into the fraternal organization. Most restaurants have regulars who stop 1 time a week. These bars have people who stop by 5-6 days a week. You make more on the volume of drinks sold instead of the mark-up.

What Do They Usually Have?

This all depends on the lodge, club, and the members. These types of organizations tend to carry what the regulars enjoy to drink (since they are their main customer base). At our Elks Lodge in New Castle, I’m one of a few people that help make suggestions on what to carry when it comes to craft beer or bourbon.

For example: I went to Moon Drops Distillery and did a tasting. I enjoyed the tasting, so I asked for a card to take back to my local Elks Lodge. The nice lady wrote down the information and I took the card back to the lady who does the liquor purchasing and asked if they could grab a bottle of bourbon, a bottle of lemon drop moonshine, and a bottle of apple pie moonshine. Less than a week later, these three items were sitting at the bar. The Four Roses Small Batch was a request by another regular. If you ask for it and will drink it, they’ll carry it.

On my trips to other Lodges and states, I have noticed this same thing holds true. If I head to the Muncie Elks Lodge, I’ll be able to find Blade and Bow on the shelf for a $5.50 pour. If you head down to the Franklin Elks, you’ll find some great bourbons for no more than $6 a pour. If you head to the Greenfield Elks, you’ll be delightfully surprised by their selection and their prices as well. I’ve had Jefferson’s Ocean at a K of C in Ohio for $6 a pour. An Eagles Lodge close by has Woodford Double Oaked for $5.50. It holds true in Wisconsin and other states as well. If there is a bourbon drinker, odds are there is a good priced pour waiting for you.

How Can I Get In?

This is a great question – Some of these organizations have special cards, fobs, or other methods to allow their members in. Guest are a little more difficult. Sometimes there are “open to the public” nights, sometimes you can walk in and ask for an application to get a look around, and sometimes you can find a member and have them take you as a guest.

Regardless – If you are wanting to make this your new favorite bar, you are going to need to get a membership. Memberships run between $30-$100+ depending on the organization, the location, and the amenities. This is typically charged on an annual basis.

Once you are a member of one lodge or spot, you can take that membership with you across the nation. I have a Moose membership in a town I’m not even in so I can stop at the Green Bay Moose for breakfast before a game (cheapest and most delicious in town). I use my Elks membership to visit Lodge in Florida so I can avoid paying tourist prices. I use these membership for more than just my weekly dinners. I use it as a special “low price” club I can visit anywhere and everywhere I go!

Conclusion

As I sat there last night at my local Elks Lodge, I was wondering if I would have had more fun taking a trip to Indy to grab a drink and dinner. Most likely, the answer would have been no and it would have cost about 3 times more than my night last night. I had fun playing pool, talking with familiar faces, and drinking cheap drinks for the entire evening. And I’ll be back up there in just a few days to do it all over again. The cheap pours of bourbon are just one of the many perks.

The Bourbon Experience In Westfield, Indiana – West Fork Whiskey

Note: If you are reading this from West Fork, I would love to come visit. This post is from my research online and I would love to write a post about my actual experience.

I’ve been a fan of West Fork Whiskey for quite some time. Their downtown location was a frequent stop when the wife and I were looking for a good cocktail. I think their bourbon and other spirits have really grown over the years, especially the Old Hamer line, but I think I’m not the only one who feels that way.

My wife and a close friend sharing a cocktail before a wedding in 2018

This past year, West Fork Whiskey (or how they spell it West Fork Whsky) opened a new location in Westfield. Although I haven’t had a chance to actually make it up to the new location yet, it’s on my list and I wanted to give a rundown on what to expect.

Located in booming Westfield, Indiana, our 35,000 sq. ft. facility is home to The Mash House Restaurant, Stave Cocktail Lounge, and 5,000 sq. ft. Event Center. Our whiskey distilling operations are expected to be fully operational at the beginning of 2023, at which point distillery tours will begin. In the meantime, we offer whiskey education and tastings 5 days a week with private dining and seasonal events.

West Fork Whsky Website

The Location

The new location is up in the Westfield area about 30 minutes north of Indianapolis. It’s a easy drive from Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers, and Zionsville. I haven’t been up to the location, but I was able to pull a blueprint from the website. Looks like it’s a blended version of a distillery, barrel storage, a restaurant, and a cocktail lounge. It also includes event space and outdoor space (plus plenty of parking – way better than their downtown location).

The Tours

This might be the part I’m most excited for. The Barrel Thieving Experience!

What could be better than trying bourbon straight from the barrel!?!

I’ve only ever done this at Three Boys (aka Whiskey Thief Distilling) in Kentucky and it was one of the best tours ever.

It looks like West Fork has these tours Thursday – Sunday and the cost is reasonable as well (only $25).

You can schedule a barrel thieving tour here.

The Mash House Restaurant

The distillery has a restaurant called the Mash House. If they put as much work into their food as they do their bourbon and spirits, I imagine this restaurant will be amazing as well. I’ll report back once I have a chance to give it a try.

From the West Fork website:

An Indiana-focused, family-friendly restaurant led by Chef Carlos Salazar, bringing new interpretations of the food you know and love. Visit us in Westfield for a meal, a cocktail, or bourbon tasting! Our restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and something on the menu for everyone!

The Menu

Here is a link to the menu.

A few things that jumped out to me:

I’m a sucker for tenderloins, so I’m going to be getting one of these two sandwiches (I tend to love spicy food, so I’m most likely going to get the Westfield Hot).

If I don’t end up picking the Westfield Hot Tenderloin, I’ll go with the nachos or the Smoke & Fire burger.

There is also a brunch menu that looks killer. I might have to rearrange the plan to make it up on there on a Sunday instead of a week night.

Weekly Specials

I’m always looking for a deal, so here are their weekly specials for your reference.

Tuesdays – $6 West Fork American Lagers

Wednesdays – $8 Old Fashioneds and $5 Off To-Go Bottles

Thursdays – $8 Beer & Shot (The Dave) and 1/2 off bottles of wine

The Stave Cocktail Bar

I always felt like the downtown West Fork Whsky location felt like a small cocktail lounge and I loved it. I could sit there and enjoy a cocktail and a conversation. When I saw the new Westfield location, I was worried it was going to be bigger and it would lose the feel for the small intimate feel. I haven’t been to the location yet, but I’m hoping this isn’t the case.

From the Wesk Fork Website:

Stave offers warm hospitality, attentive, full-table service, knowledgeable staff, and uncompromising quality in all offerings. This intimate cocktail lounge showcases the elegance and versatility of whiskey in its simplest and most complex expressions. Stave’s cocktail menu is exclusively available within its space. 

This speakeasy-inspired lounge is cozy, intimate, and can be on a wait during peak hours.

A few things jump out to me right away. I know my wife will want to try the Espresso Martini and I know I’ll have to grab a smoked old fashioned (I don’t know why, but I love these things). I also learned that I would be labeled as rugged (imagining me as a rugged mountain man is hysterical).

Conclusion

I look forward to making a trip up to Westfield and trying out the new West Fork Distillery. I plan on taking my wife for a nice dinner followed by a drink or two in the cocktail lounge. I then plan on taking a group of my bourbon drinking friends to the do the Barrel Thieving Tour. I’m hoping I might be a short drive away from an amazing distillery and restaurant. Once I do, I’ll give an actual review of my trip.

Stay tuned!

Watching Out For Fraud and Counterfeit Bourbon

As I woke up this morning, I received an email from Buffalo Trace that included some updates on their expansion, some new expressions, a fundraiser, a 5k, and something I didn’t expect:

A section on Counterfeiting and Fraud.

I’ve always known that there is shady business going on out there, but I guess I didn’t understand the extent to which it was occurring. I remember reading and article about this topic a last year from the Wall Street Journal, but this email made me think about it all over again.

Here is what they sent:

During this holiday shopping season, we are once again warning whiskey fans to be on the lookout for fraudulent activities, as “bad actors” are getting more sophisticated. We have seen an uptick in some of our more popular brands being counterfeited in the past few years, sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between legitimate whiskey and “fake.” We encourage shoppers to only buy from licensed retailers, not online groups such as those found on Facebook or Craigslist.

In the last year, we have seen consumers duped by online sellers of Blanton’s and Double Eagle Very Rare, with buyers receiving no bottles after payment, or sometimes empty bottles, or in the case of Blanton’s, fake empty bottles with plastic horses on top instead of the signature metal horse stopper collectors know and love.

This past summer, an astute label printer in Ohio contacted us after being contacted by a new client to produce Weller Bourbon labels. Sensing something was amiss, the printer contacted us to verify, which led to us taking legal action against the third party wanting the labels printed.

We have also been made aware of unscrupulous characters setting up fake domains and purchasing credit card machines to make it seem as if Buffalo Trace Distillery is conducting bottle sale transactions online. For the record – Buffalo Trace Distillery does not sell its alcohol products online

Our whiskies have not been the only targets of scam artists. When we opened our October tour bookings, all tours for the month were booked within seconds, with one group claiming nearly 500 tour spots under various email addresses. Through our online tour reservation system, the bad actor was found out quickly and the tours were freed up for other fans. Our understanding was that the tours were going to be sold by the third party, even though all tours and tastings at Buffalo Trace remain complimentary.

We work with the FBI, Secret Service, Customs, and Border Patrol on tracking down counterfeit whiskey importers, buyers, and sellers so that they can be caught and punished. We have also invested nearly $3 million in legal fees in the past five years to have fraudulent online whiskey sellers shut down, and bad actors charged.

The biggest concern for the whiskey purchased outside the retail system is the health and safety of the unsuspecting consumer. Having seen cases in other countries where the recipient falls ill after consuming the product, and in some instances dies, we warn fans not to consume anything that looks suspicious, and not to purchase any spirits from anyone other than licensed retailers. If you feel you have been duped, you can report the site to the Better Business Bureau, your State Attorneys General office and contact your credit card company about its fraud protection policies.

Buffalo Trace Distillery – Email (12/27/22)

The professor in me wants to take a few moments and let you process that blurb from the email. There are people setting up fake liquor sites, printing Weller labels, and sending empty bottles on the secondary market.

This is just nuts.

So how do you protect yourself from these kinds of issues? I’m going to provide a few tips that could save you from doing something that is going to cost you money in the long term.

Tips to Prevent Fraud and Counterfeit Bottles of Bourbon

  1. Don’t buy bourbon from an unlicensed vendor – This might seem like common sense, but people will do some crazy things to make a quick buck. If you are buying bourbon off a secondary market, you are exposing yourself to some risk that the bottle might be a fake. People who actually receive bottles straight from the distillery (aka restaurants and liquor stores) have a more secure supply chain than someone from craigslist.
  2. Inspect each bottle before you buy – As much as I want to say that everyone is honest, sometime that isn’t the case. If you are buying a bottle from ANYWHERE, always stop and inspect each bottle before you purchase it. Bottles from distilleries are going to have specific labels and seals, along with some sort of seal on the lid. If you are spending a lot of money on a bottle, also make sure you have done your research on the color, the labels, etc so you can detect if there is a glaring issue before you buy.
  3. Don’t buy allocated bourbon online – Anyone with a computer and about $20 can setup a domain and put together a credit card processor. Just as Buffalo Trace says in the email: They don’t sell their bourbon online. If you magically can find a hard to get bottle, send up a red flag. It shouldn’t be that easy. If you have to second guess before you put in your credit card number, that’s a sign you shouldn’t do it in the first place.
  4. Don’t worry about “rare” bottles – I have had the privilege of trying some of the “rare” bottles out there and they are tasty. But I’m never going to pay out the wazoo to get my hands on a rare bottle just to have a rare bottle. There are plenty of amazing bourbons on the market (and on the shelves) that can be purchased without risking that chance of buying a fake. I recommend looking at store barrel picks and other unique offerings at your local liquor stores.
  5. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is – This should be the tag line of the entire internet. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Use your brain and your gut before dropping hundreds or thousands of dollars on a bottle of bourbon. You would do it if you were buying a car or a house, so make sure to do your due diligence if you are buying bourbon or scotch.

Conclusion

Don’t be one of those people who gets scammed trying to buy a rare bottle of bourbon. Use the tips above, plus your common sense before you buy any bottle of bourbon that has a high price tag. Know who you are buying from, know the bottle and inspect it, don’t use a scammy website to purchase it, consider buying other bottles, and use your brain and gut.

The Best Bourbon Might Be Next Door

In my life, I’ve always been one who likes to stand up for the small guy. As a former small business owner (and current), I know the value of one customer and the power of a positive referral.

I take this attitude for this post. I am a firm believer that most of the best bourbon you will ever taste is located within 20 miles of your house.

Don’t get me wrong. There are some amazing allocated bourbons that I would love to get my hands on, but that’s not going to happen. I could spend the time searching, or I can spend the time enjoying great bourbon with a great community near home.

I want to highlight a few of my favorite things in the bourbon industry that aren’t a line outside of liquor store. These are real people, making real connections, and having a good time doing it. I’m talking about the bourbon scene behind the bourbon scene.

So here we go:

  1. A Taste For Whiskey – If I could give you one tip, it would be to subscribe to this channel. Jeff is a freaking whiskey savant and his tasting ability is unmatched. He’ll tell you straight up that you should buy a bottle of vanilla extract instead of buying Pappy 23 year. And then he’ll lead your taste buds on a journey to flavor town with a barrel pick from Indiana Liquor Group. In this YouTube Channel, you’ll find him with the guy that catered my wedding (Chef Jason Reynolds). Chef and I go way back and I have literally eaten his food for 4 straight years. He knows his stuff. In this YouTube channel, these two come together and pair bourbon with food. It might sound too good to be true, but it’s killer content. I will always trust the two of them with my taste buds. No questions asked.

  2. Local Barrel Selects – If you visit any liquor store, the odds are you going to find a few Barrel Selects or Store Picks in house. That’s my bread and butter. How can it get better than trying something no one else will ever try again.

    Well – It’s even better if you know the person (or the taste profile) of the person (or people) choosing a barrel. I can stand in a liquor store and have no idea what to grab. If I walk into an ILG store, I know that a store pick is going to rock my world. I know that Jimmy’s Pick of Woodford is amazing. I know the Old Hamer picks are going to be killer. And I know Chocolate Persuasion and Fig & Honey from Yellowstone are going to be a pick that I’ll come back to time and time again. And don’t get me started on New Riff #2551 (a literal platinum level pick in a competition I wish I could judge).

    Short and sweet – If you know the people and you know their tastes, you know the person behind the barrel. I’ll subject that my taste buds aren’t as trained, but I can align in their ballpark.

    I think Indiana Liquor Group (aka every store in Muncie, Anderson, New Castle, and Marion, Indiana) and the Batesville Liquor Store are my stores that I “align” with. And I’ll trust their tasters as my own mouth (that sounds weird as hell). I hope one day I can get invited to go on a tasting with them.

  3. Local Tastings and Events – I’m mentioning Indiana Liquor Group again, but it’s because they are my hometown liquor store. They are my first stop unless I want to drive to Indy to go to Storied Company. And if you look up at the picture up top, you’ll see an amazing tasting done with some great people.

    If you are lucky enough to attend a tasting like this, I’ll give you some tips. Come for the entire time and bring a bottle or two to share at the tasting. And you won’t be disappointed. I went to a scotch tasting and my dad and I got to try some crazy awesome scotches. I shouldn’t have had that opportunity, but it was something I will talk about for years to come.

    This picture above is from a tasting of barrel selects from Indiana Liquor Group. We had a chance at a bottle of Weller, but we had a great time tasting some amazing whiskey.

  4. Bourbon Fantasy Leagues – This is a silly one, but it’s still all about the community. I joined the Indiana Bourbon Club after visiting Final Third Cigar Bar (a must stop). And then I saw an amazing opportunity for a fantasy football league. I won’t share the exact details of the league (I’m not sure of the legal standing of league like that), but I’ll share that I am mad I didn’t get in the top three.

Again – I’m not arguing there isn’t great bourbon out there. Instead, I’m saying there is a bigger value in the community than there is in the bourbon itself. I think most bourbon lovers would agree. That’s why I’ve started a Facebook Group for the lovers of this blog (Bourbon Master). I think the community is 75% of the bourbon world. The rest is just a great drink on the rock (or neat).

Kentucky Tea – A Bourbon Cocktail From A Booker’s Bourbon Bottle

A close family friend scored a bottle of Booker’s bourbon and was talking about it at dinner on a Wednesday night. By Friday, we ended up at his house and were able to do a tasting of it. Although I could spend the whole blog post walking through the bourbon, I felt like there needed to be a focus on a little detail I noticed while opening the bottle.

My friend handed me the insert inside of the box that gave the rundown of the Booker’s Batch. He asked if I could read it without my readers (perks of being young) and I took a few moments to read it outloud. It said the following:

“This batch was pulled on a hot and humid day in July. The color of this liquid is golden amber, and you embrace the dark, sweet vanilla aroma right away. With just one taste, your mouth is filled with rich and sweet flavors of vanilla. The lingering finish isn’t overpowering, so soon after you’ll want another sip. I made myself a Kentucky Tea with Kentucky Tea Batch, and it brought back memories of my dad sitting at his own kitchen table enjoying his Kentucky Tea with supper.

As you can imagine, Dad loved the flavor of bourbon, especially his Booker’s Bourbon. Since Booker’s is over 100 proof, the flavor still pulls through when added to water. So, he’d take one part bourbon and four parts water and enjoy his drink. One night, when a reporter was at Dad’s house for supper, he asked why Dad drank Kentucky Tea. Dad quickly replied, “Why would I flavor my water with tea leaves when I can flavor my water with bourbon?” It was that simple – Kentucky Tea was Dad’s drink. He would drink it with a country ham or fish dinner and would say you need to sip the right proportion of Kentucky Tea to really appreciate the food.

As you sip this batch, add a taste of it to your water so you can try Dad’s Kentucky Tea with “Kentucky Tea Batch.” I know that’s how he would’ve liked it. Cheers!”

-Booker’s Bottle – Kentucky Tea Batch

I was excited to try the bourbon (which was great by the way), but the story sparked my interest. I’m a sucker for a good story and I always like to try new cocktails.

So I decided to try to make “Kentucky Tea” at home the next night. I didn’t use Booker’s, but I did use some Knob Creek.

And here is my review:

  1. It’s not horrible. It’s not drinking bourbon on the rocks or neat, but it also isn’t a sugar bomb like a lot of cocktails. I feel like I’m drinking a strong version of New Holland’s Dragons Share seltzers. I can’t say I’m mad about it. I have actually decided to have another one tonight.
  2. This might be my new summer drink. When I’m out at the golf course, sometimes I want a mixed drink, but I also don’t want to drink a bunch of bourbon and ginger ales. I might switch over to this and go with it. It’s easy to drink, has some good flavor, and would be good for the heat.
  3. I think a higher ABV bourbon might make this even better. I think that would make life better in general, but the higher ABV bourbon might stand up a little better to the water.
  4. I’ve tried this with seltzer water, so it works with that as well. I have found a way to use up that half can of seltzer water my wife leaves by the sink after making her vodka soda.
  5. I’m rethinking the idea of a Wisconsin Old Fashioned. This reminds me of the Wisconsin Old Fashioned (usually made with brandy and sprite – or “sweet”), but I think you could take a spin with just seltzer water, bourbon, and bitters (plus that bright red cherry and a little orange). This might be the next thing on my list to give a whirl.

I’m a little surprised at my reaction to this Kentucky Tea. I thought it would be a waste of bourbon, but I guess the people who make bourbon actually were on to something. I don’t think this will be my every day drink, but this might become a drink that is in my top 5 during the warmer months. I’m never giving up bourbon neat, on the rocks, or my old fashioned, but if I’m looking for an easy sipper while I’m mowing or golfing, I might turn this way. Nice job Booker. You might have made me consider something I would have never considered.

What are your thoughts on Kentucky Tea? Will you try it?

Yeti Whiskey Glass – My Go To Bourbon Cup

After I give my kid a bath, I walk into the kitchen and grab one of my favorite tumblers to pour myself some bourbon. I have tried a bunch of different glassware over the years, but I find myself grabbing for one specific glass time and time again.

It’s the Yeti Lowball Tumbler.

I’m not one of those people who like a brand “just for the hell of it” – I’m someone who tries different products until I find the perfect one for the job.

Wondering why I love this glass so much? Let me give you just a few reasons!

Reason 1 – It Keeps Things Cold

I’m a person who likes to drink my bourbon on the rocks, so the Yeti Tumbler is my perfect bourbon cup. I find the ice doesn’t melt as fast and I can enjoy my bourbon over a few hours instead of 30 minutes. And it doesn’t get watered down.

If you leave it overnight (by accident of falling asleep in my chair), it will actually still have ice in the morning.

Reason 2 – No Sweating and Water On My Side Table

I always hate when I have a tumbler made of glass and it leaves a puddle on my side table. I always use a coaster, but my shirt ends up all wet as the glass drips with condensation.

That’s another reason I love the Yeti Tumbler. It doesn’t sweat and there isn’t a puddle when I’m all said and done.

Reason 3 – It Has A Lid

I’m pretty sure the bugs in my house and outside have really good taste in bourbon. They always seem to find their way into my drink.

The lid takes care of this problem.

It also makes it nice just in case my kid knocks over my glass or if I am wanting to take the tumbler on a walk.

Reason 4 – Color Coding Has Perks

I’m a person who likes to share my bourbon and that means you have a lot of glasses full of yumminess at one time. When I had a matching set of glasses, this meant that you had to keep your glass in your hand at all times.

Not with my Yeti Tumblers.

I have 5 different colors of tumblers and I make sure to use the different colors when I have people over to share. The last time this happened is pictured below and we had all 5 glasses in use.

Reason 5 – No Weird Flavoring

I was a little skeptical at first when I bought my tumbler. I was worried it would have a weird metallic taste when I put my bourbon into it. I have found this isn’t the case.

I have used my cups for years and I have never found a metallic taste while I was drinking.

Reason 6 – Covert Drinking

There may have been times in my life where I have decided to take a drink on a walk around my neighborhood. Instead of carrying a glass around the neighborhood, I can throw a lid on my cup and no one is the wiser.

Reason 7 – It Doesn’t Break

Drinking bourbon might lead to an accidental slight of hand and a glass might be headed to the ground for a shattering ending.

That doesn’t happen with a Yeti Tumbler.

Drop it on the floor and you might get a new dent, but that’s about it. It might be a party foul, but at least you won’t cut your foot on glass.

Conclusion

When it comes to the perfect glass for your bourbon, it’s going to come down to your personal preferences and budget range. In my opinion, there is a clear winner and that’s the Yeti 10oz Lowball Tumbler. It won’t break, keeps my bourbon ice cold, has a lid, and helps me keep my bourbon straight when I have a crowd.

If you haven’t considered getting one, you might want to do it.

What’s your favorite glass? I would love to hear and possibly try something new.