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:
Woodford Double Oaked
Old Forester 1910 or 1920
Maker’s 46
New Riff
Four Roses Single Barrel or Small Batch
Elijah Craig
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:
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to receive and try my first bourbon samples from a fellow bourbon lover (thanks again Jason)!
And imagine what I did. I shared with my friends.
I’ll be honest – I was surprised that this actually happened. I was in a Facebook group and they had a thread about trading bourbons. I put my name on the list and a week later I had some tracking information on my samples. I waited around until they showed up (because I was worried it wouldn’t come – I imagine this is a common fear) and then I packed up the samples for Jason and sent them back his way.
Things I Learned
Since it was my first time trading samples, I learned a few things:
You need some Boston Rounds to send samples. I realized this as I started thinking about what I was going to send. I quickly realized I needed some sort of vessel to ship my samples in. And I had to quickly order some. This was part of the reason my shipment was a little slower than normal.
You need to read the rules of the trade. I had never done this before, so I was just excited to receive a few samples. I didn’t realize (my bad) that this trade was a bottled-in-bond special. I sent over the four bottles from my house and none were bottled-in-bond. That was 100% my bad. Always read the rules if you are making a trade.
It’s not that hard. You have a some great people out there that are willing to trade and most people have no idea where to make that happen. I had some amazing samples and I sent some great pours along. And I made a friend.
And I’ll learn more the next time I trade bourbon. And I’ll learn more after that.
Want To Trade?
That all being said, I want to connect and trade some more bourbon samples!
If you are interested, send me an email at chriswilkey@gmail.com – I would love to send a few samples in return for a few samples. We can set the terms of the trade via email, but I would love to chat.
It’s a simple post, but one that I needed to get onto the blog. I want to start to build a network of bourbon lovers and I know that this is a great way to do it.
I look forward to your emails and our conversations.
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:
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
I still like them. A lot.
I don’t order these any more. Not because I don’t like them, but because I moved on to the other shiny objects.
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.
ST. LOUIS (March 3, 2023) – Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey – the newest full-time member of the Yellowstone brand family and the latest inspiration from Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Stephen Beam – is set to hit retail shelves in the coming months. Aged four years and bottled at 108 proof (54% ABV), Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey will be available nationwide starting in March at a suggested retail price of $54.99. Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey boasts a 100% barley malt mash bill, which yields tasting notes that are a unique departure from its sister-spirit, Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Consumers of Yellowstone American Single Malt can expect a nose of cereal malt and honey, with a hint of peach blossom; a sweet, medium body with notes of honey, pear, stone fruit and dates; and a finish that contains notes of oak, with hints of cinnamon and English Walnuts. “I’m proud of the success Yellowstone Select Bourbon has enjoyed since 2015 when I introduced my take on my family’s historic brand,” said Beam. “And I’m proud to once again continue my family’s tradition of innovation with the launch of Yellowstone American Single Malt. This is a brand-new category of American whiskey, and our offering is sure to become a favorite among Yellowstone Bourbon fans and fans of American Single Malt Whiskeys alike.” Packaging of Yellowstone American Single Malt includes a more design-forward label featuring the brand’s iconic Lower Falls artwork and a more prominent version of the Yellowstone brand name, as well as blue top-wrap to differentiate Yellowstone American Single Malt from other Yellowstone variants. The Yellowstone brand continues its tradition of supporting its namesake park through an ongoing partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), an independent organization working to strengthen and protect our national parks. To date, Yellowstone has donated nearly $370,000 to the organization, and the brand is committed to continuing the partnership. About Limestone Branch Distillery Stephen Beam opened Limestone Branch Distillery in 2011, with the goal of crafting the finest spirits in small batches. Stephen is a seventh-generation distiller with a history of distilling on both sides of his family – Beam and Dant. In 2015, he brought the Yellowstone brand back to the family. The distillery is now home to Yellowstone Select, Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey, Yellowstone Limited Edition, Minor Case Rye Whiskey and Bowling & Burch Gin. For more information on Limestone Branch Distillery and Yellowstone, please visit www.limestonebranch.com, www.yellowstonebourbon.com or https://www.instagram.com/yellowstonebourbon/.
I was sitting at our local Elks Lodge last Friday and I received an email from out of the blue. It was from one of my favorite restaurants FoxGardin Kitchen and Ale in Fortville, Indiana. I received a special invite from the bar manager to a private event hosted in the bourbon lounge featuring Old Forester. After a quick chat with my wife, I quickly emailed and accepted the invitation. We secured a babysitter and we had a wonderful date night planned.
I’ve been to a few tastings at FoxGardin in the past (scotch dinner, a Belle Meade tasting that I had to miss due to COVID, and a Noble Oak event). The scotch event was outstanding, I was very upset I had to send my brother to the Belle Meade event, and the Noble Oak tasting was not my favorite (half the bourbon itself and half it was too large). FoxGardin has always been one of my favorite stops and I’m always willing to give them another chance, especially with a brand I didn’t know much about. I knew Old Forester was used in the Foxy Old Fashioned, but I had only ever purchased one bottle of Old Forester 100 proof. I had nothing against Old Forester, but I just didn’t know much about the brand in general.
Before The Event
It was a rainy Thursday and my wife and I decided we would head towards Fortville a little early for a cocktail before dinner. I’ve already mentioned that the Foxy Old Fashioned is one of my favorite drinks in Indiana, so I had to start my evening with one of those. The wife decided to have a highball and we sat there and debated having the Yucatan Shrimp before heading up for the dinner. We decided against it and sat there and watched a little SportsCenter and Happy.tv.
As we sat there enjoying our cocktails, I realized I had stumbled upon a very special event. I started noticing all of the people invited to the tasting had strong connections with FoxGardin. Honestly, I felt a little out of place. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been a customer of FoxGardin of years, but I’m not what you would call a regular. We try to get there once every month, but sometime it just doesn’t happen. I felt a little out of place as everyone that was heading to the tasting knew the staff by name. I felt special and I was excited to head to the event.
The Event
In my email, I was told the following:
I got a call this week from one of my reps with an opportunity to host Old Foresters new brand ambassador/master taster, Melissa Rift. She is doing a tour of the country and we are her second stop. She will be here talking about Old Forester 1870, 1897, 1910, 1920, and Statesman. This event will be a ticketed affair, limited to about 25-30 guests. The tickets will be $50, and for that price, you will receive a sample of all the aforementioned bourbons, a couple cocktails, a few small plates of food paired with Old Forester, and a chance to win a bottle of Old Forester Single Barrel Rye that will be raffled off at the end of the night.
FoxGardin
Outside of that email, I didn’t have much information about the event. I received the invite 6 days before the event and figured we would give it a try. I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed with the food from FoxGardin and I knew I also love to try some bourbon.
When we walked upstairs to the bourbon lounge and were greeted with a Foxy Old Fashioned. This made a lot of sense because FoxGardin used Old Forester for their Foxy Old Fashioned. The tables had nameplates for our seats and it was decked out with Old Forester items. There was a flight sheet with 4 samples poured, a sample set to the side of the tasting sheet, a gift bag (that had a lowball and a square ice cube silicone tray), and a nice little menu to show what was for dinner. It was a smaller event with around 26 people in attendance, but it was the perfect size for the style of event.
The rep from Brown-Forman was in attendance and was greeting people with the brand ambassador/master taster Melissa Rift. We were informed this was going to be an evening where we would try the Timeline Series of Old Forester, Old Forester Statesmen, and there would be a few other surprises. We also knew they would be raffling off a bottle of rye at the end of the night.
The Bourbon
To be honest, I had only had Old Forester two ways before this event. I drank it in a Foxy Old Fashioned and I purchased a bottle of the 100 proof from my local liquor store. If you asked me the difference between Old Forester 1870 and 1920, I would have looked at you with a blank stare and no answer. I had nothing against the company, but I didn’t know much about them.
Little did I know I was going to be getting a history lesson during the event. I didn’t realize how steeped in history Old Forester was and I didn’t know they used the Timeline Series to show the different expressions through the years. Here are my takes on the tasting:
1870 “The Original Batch”
This one is modeled after the original batch of bourbon that Garvin sold. He sourced it from 3 different distilleries at first and they now source from 3 different warehouses. This was my least favorite of the night, but it still had some really subtle flavors as you went through the tasting. You really got the baking spices and also some citrus. I wouldn’t go buy a bottle of this, but I wouldn’t mind having a pour if someone offered.
1897 “Bottled In Bond”
This one was modeled after the law that brought about bottled in bond. Since it bears that name, it has to be bottled at 100 proof, made in one distilling season from one distiller, and aged in a federally bonded warehouse for 4 year. This one had way more of the vanilla and caramel notes compared to the 1870 and was a step up in my opinion.
1910 “Old Fine Whisky”
This bourbon had an interesting story. The tale goes: There was a fire down on Whiskey Row and there was bourbon in the bottling line at Old Forester. Instead of letting it burn up, they moved that into a new oak barrel and rolled it into the street. Then they left it there for 24 months before they broke into it and gave it a try. So it’s a doubled barreled version of their bourbon.
This one had great flavors of chocolate, toffee, and oak. It was one of my favorites of the evening. I actually liked it so much that I went and grabbed a bottle from the store the next day (Old Forester – I guess this brand ambassador thing actually did its job).
1920 “Prohibition Style”
I also really liked this pour of bourbon, but the story wasn’t as cool as the 1910 story. This is modeled after the recipe that would have been used as “medicine” during prohibition. I guess you could get up to 1 pint of bourbon a week (per family member) and they ended up actually running low on bourbon because it was prescribed so much. This one had some amazing flavors, but it really smelled in the ballpark of a smore. I got a lot of graham cracker, toasted marshmallow, and a little bit of spice. Out of the 4 in the timeline series, this and 1910 were my favorites (guess I’m a 1900’s guy)
Old Forester Statesmen
The fifth sample we had on the table was a pour of Old Forester Statesmen. It was made for the movie Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and it was such a hit with fans that it because a regular staple in their lineup. In regards to the bourbon, it is sourced from the hottest areas of the warehouse (also learned a little about their steam heated warehouses and the temperature bourbon goes dormant – around 54-56 degrees). The best way I could describe it is an amped up version of 1870 with some more spice. It wasn’t as desserty as the 1910 or 1920, but still a good pour.
Once we were done with the first 5 tastings, we were told we had a few “special tastings” that would end the evening. And dang. The night ended with a bang.
Old Forester The 117 Series 1910 Extra Extra Old
They started bringing in a tray of more samples and I didn’t really know what we were going to try. Then Melissa explained their 117 Series of bourbons that are distillery-only releases. So unless you head to Louisville, you will never get to get a bottle unless you have an awesome friend.
As for tasting notes, this was a more aged version of the 1910 and it showed. This one had more coffee flavor and even some toasted coconut. It was like a very yummy dessert and I wish I could find myself a bottle of this. It was my favorite of the night.
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon
As I saw the last tray of samples being brought into the room, I knew we were in for a treat. I started going through the bourbons I had looked up online and there was one that it was most likely going to be. And I wasn’t wrong.
I honestly wish we would have started with this one, because my mouth was wrecked by this point. I had 3 different courses of food, 2 old fashioneds, and 6 samples of bourbon. I can’t say that I was in the peak form to be sampling a highly sought after bourbon like this.
When I tasted it, it tasted great. It didn’t blow my socks off, but it was tasty. It reminded me a lot of a really good version of 1920. The story of the birthday release and the way they proof the bourbon was really interesting, but I would argue this should have been our first taste of the night.
Melissa Rift
Before I say anything about the amazing job Melissa did with the tasting, I have to make one thing known to the world.
The name of one of her cats is Missy Elliott.
How can you not love a person who names a cat Missy Elliott?!?!
Cats aside, Melissa did an incredible job. She said she started her job as Master Taster and Brand Ambassador in November, but I would have guessed she had been doing this for longer than just a few months. She knew her stuff and did a great job interacting with the room. You could tell she knew her bourbon and was really into telling the story of the company.
I asked her about how she learned to taste bourbon and identify flavors. She went through the process of using bourbon wheels and starting with a broad category and working your way down to a more specific flavor. She also gave me some insight (not much, but still some) on the future of what Old Forester would be releasing down the road. I have a feeling there will be a focus on expanding the 117 selections and possibly adding in a few more dates/bottles on the Timeline Series (she never said this, but I’m taking context clues and an educated guess).
I think Old Forester made a great call adding Melissa to the team. I know she changed my perspective on the Old Forester brand (I did go out and buy a bottle of 1910 the next day). If she is doing an event in your area, I would go out of my way to attend.
The Food
During my visits to FoxGardin, I have only been disappointed one time (out of like 100). And that was because I really didn’t order the right thing (I wasn’t in the mood for what I ordered). Every other time, I am always extremely happy with my food. The food wasn’t a concern when it came to this dinner at all. My wife and I were more concerned with the portions when we read “small plates” and we considered ordering an appetizer downstairs before the dinner. I’m am so glad we didn’t because we were stuffed by the time we were done. Here is the rundown of the food and my thoughts (I won’t go into too much detail because this is more of a bourbon blog):
Braised Pork Belly on a Bao Bun
This was a delight. I have never had a bao bun before and my wife was convinced it looked like fresh mozzarella. The pork belly melted in my mouth and I loved the little kick from the wasabi mayo.
Pineapple Chicken Skewers
Probably my least favorite of the night, but still good. The chicken had a great seasoning on it and I kept getting a little surprise every time I would get a bite of the pineapple.
Filet Medallion
If I could go and order the demi and the truffled smashed potatoes by the gallon, I would be in a food coma on my couch right now. Dang this was good. I actually kept stealing bites from my wife’s plate when she wasn’t looking.
Drunken Cherry Bread Pudding
I’m never a huge dessert guy, but this was a pleasant surprise. The cherries were really tart and you could taste just a hint of bourbon as well. I could also eat that ice cream off a muddy shoe and be happy.
The Raffle
Just a quick side note here about something else they did during the tasting. They raffled off two different bottles. The first was a single barrel rye at barrel strength and the other was a small bottle of the 117 Series with the 1910 Extra Extra Old. The two guys at the end of our table ended up winning both of them. I’m half convinced they showed up early and switched our tickets…..Just kidding! They were great guys and they also went to the same college as me and my wife. I hope they enjoy their winnings.
Final Thoughts
I walked up to the bar manager and told him the following:
I better be on the list for every future bourbon tasting you have. This was amazing and I don’t want to miss any of these events. Thank you for inviting me.
This was event was incredible. The bourbon was amazing, the food blew my socks off, and I actually learned something. If you are able to do that in one event, you deserve like 40 gold doubloons. And my wife agreed. It might be one of the best date nights we have had in a very long time. My only complaint is I didn’t get to sit on the other side of the table where all of the winning of the raffles happened 🙂
I want to thank FoxGardin for the invite. And I want you to know that you will forever hold a place as one of best bourbon bars in Indianapolis in my book. Keep doing events like this and you will have to fend off crowds who want to buy tickets.
