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thebourbontruth · 4 years

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Here are my 2021 favorite Whiskey options you can find for every budget. You can’t go wrong with these. They’re reliable, won’t ever let you down mixing or neat. Gifts or not. You should be able to get these in most of the US or acquired from other areas easily if not. They should also be on shelves at normal msrp or lower.

Barrell Bourbon/Whiskey

Many options and variations but I love the Bourbon Batches most. Expect $80-$100 for regular releases, more for extra special things. Keep an eye out for the private selections done by stores with great private barrel reputations. Stock up because it’s inevitable consumers will catch on that the brand keeps getting major awards and big ratings. I love the no BS transparent presentation too.

Makers Mark

A classic. Very nice Wheated Bourbon doing things right for more than 50 years. Put it in an empty Van Winkle 10 bottle, no one will know the difference. Great price with legendary consistency.

Woodford Reserve

So solid, so consistent and good. Super job blending this. It doesn’t get the credit it deserves amoung whiskey geeks. Gift or an everyday drinker, it’s every versatile. One of my top go to’s at bars without many whiskeys or for a nice value. If you’re a fan of fruity, sweet, caramel profile this is it.

Elijah Craig

A long time favorite. My everyday drinker that can easily fool most whiskey snobs at costing twice the typical $30ish price.

Angels Envy Bourbon

Great for gifting, newer Whiskey people that want a more approachable sweater profile. Created by Lincoln Henderson, one of the greatest whiskey minds we’ve had.

Basil Hayden 80 Proof

Best Bourbon for the new Bourbon fan. At 80 proof it’s very friendly and smooth. I personally prefer this regular original version over the new or older versions. Don’t add water, ice or dilute in cocktails. Makes a nice gift for the non snob or pouring an 80 proof blind to one.

Old Forester 1920

Not a Bourbon fan secret any longer. Very solid great high proofer for all uses. Has become a store shelf favorite to so many.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon and Rye

The WT brand rarely gets anything wrong. You’ll never go wrong with these higher proof bargains that should cost 2x.

Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit

Nice for gifting and a very nice 101 proof hiding in plain sight.

Wild Turkey Russels Reserve 10 Year Bourbon

An awesome 10 year Bourbon for $30-$40, who can’t love that!

Wild Turkey Russels Reserve Single Barrel Rye

Best Single Barrel Rye you’ll ever find sitting on most store shelves waiting for smart people to buy them.

Four Roses Small Batch

90 proof. 6-7 year great everyday for everything at $30-$35. It will hold up to just about anything blind.

Four Roses Small Batch Select-see above, just add non-chill filtering and 7% more abv. Limited Distribution States are expanding.

Lot 40 Rye

If you find an old 2012 bottling grab it. Even the current release is solid for $35-$40. A rare Canadian Rye that’s 100% rye. This one is often in the store’s Canadian Whisky section rather than with the Rye’s.

Wilderness Trail-all types

The more I learn about them and their plans, I get more giddy over what’s coming. They have a million+++ dollar lab testing to make sure everything is as close to perfect as possible —it shows. Shane, Pat and staff are fanatics to make the best. Tomorrow’s Van Winkle and Willett. Get it until you can’t. In about half the states but expanding.

Hillrock-all types

Small true craft place on a New York farm growing grain and making Bourbon, Rye and Single Malt. Quality and tasty. Makes very nice gifts especially for those seeking something different with a rich look. Around $100.

Willett Noah’s Mill

Defies logic. The world is going crazy for Willett, especially Willett Family Estate (WFE) bottlings. January 2021 Willitt’s 100% own house made Whiskey turns 9 years old. Noah’s is currently pulled from Willett’s own best 7-8 year old barrels- soon to be a year older (written 12/20). When WFE rarely drops at retail or the Visitor Center, they are $200-$300 and sell out in minutes, not hours. At near barrel proof of 114.3 and around $45-$55 a bottle, how is Noah’s Mill on the shelves at all? Like I said, “Defies logic” and should. One of the best, most accessible bottles you can find today. Near barrel proof is a bonus. Half the cost of the similarly age/proof Bookers. Noah’s is allocated and if the label simply said “WILLETT Noah’s Mill” stores would be charging $300 per bottle for it. It won’t take much for this to be the next one you wished you bunkered a few cases of while you could.

Charbay R5 Whiskey

This one is the most interesting and unique whiskey you’ll ever have. US Regs require them to call this “Hop Flavored” but there is no flavoring added. Double distilled from bottle ready Bear Republic’s Racer 5 IPA. There is no way to accurately describe it. People tend to love it or not. Read up on it but having or gifting it will show your depth and appreciation for different styles of Whiskey. If you’re a hop head get it. Well stocked stores are likely to have it in distribution states. Ask a manager if they have it as I’ve tended to see it in many sections other than whiskey. Charbay’s one of the oldest craft distilleries in the US. Doing Brandy since 1983 and hop whiskey since 1999.

Larceny

A nice Wheated Bourbon from the legacy of the Weller brand and Stitzel Weller distillery. Made by Heavanhill in Louisville at the distillery built to replace the aging Stitzel Weller plant. Larceny was rebranded from Old Fitzgerald, this $25-$30 Bourbon is a great bargain. If your searching for Wheated Bourbon, Weller, and your good with 92 Proof, 6-9 years old, this is it. Every bit as good or better than Weller. Note-They have a full proof version that is much less likely to be on the shelf at MSRP.

Buffalo Trace

Good solid everyday Bourbon with the same mashbill and recipe of it’s sister brands at higher proof like the Stagg’s people are nuts for right now. One of the few Buffalo Trace made Bourbons that you can find and is good in taste and price.

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream

Another weird one to be one of my favorite Whiskies. Many people don’t know it exists. It’s got loads of uses for desert, in coffee, baking and just something different to the Bourbon lover. A great nightcap to decompress or to have “one more” especially before driving. Cheaper and much better than Bailey’s, a nice substitute to stick to Bourbon but a variation. Great gateway to the non-bourbon drinker also.

Old Forester 100 proof

Tasty $20-$25 choice with a good proof kick. Very solid and hiding in plain sight. Here’s the thing— truly authentic Whiskey aficionados don’t judge each other on the expensive over the top cult booze that they have/drink. They judge on their depth, choice and guts to drink something great that’s not cool or pretentious like this one. Well known to good bartenders as their secret weapon for an inexpensive Bourbon.

Rittenhouse Rye 100 Proof Bottled in Bond-

Everything I just said about Old Forester 100 is true for this one but in a Rye. If it were ever discontinued, American Bartenders would start crying. You won’t find a better $20-25 rye or whiskey. Super versatile.

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greatdrams · 6 years

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The GreatDrams Bourbon Lover’s Guide to Whiskey Tourism in Kentucky

Here at GreatDrams we'll be focusing on Bourbon over the next two weeks. What better way to get started than with a whiskey holiday!

Now, I don’t know about you but I’ve wanted to visit Kentucky for years. To make the pilgrimage, to visit the distilleries, to meet the people and to enjoy fantastic bourbon… and finally this happened in September 2018. Here is The GreatDrams Bourbon Lover's Guide to Whiskey Tourism in Kentucky.

GETTING THERE

If you’re travelling from the UK, I found flying from Manchester to Heathrow to Chicago and on to Lexington the easiest way, although choosing to fly with British Airways was definitely not the best as they failed in pretty much every way both ways, across all five flights but the rant about that will stay to Facebook and their complaints email address.

There are other travel options when visiting Kentucky from the UK;

London Heathrow to Atlanta and on to Lexington

London Heathrow to Chicago and on to Cincinnati and getting a $110 cab to Lexington

London Heathrow to New York JFK and on to Lexington

And many more.

It will take time to get there, but like all good pilgrimages, you get out what effort you put in and I was truly rewarded with brilliance during my time whilst visiting Kentucky.

WHERE TO STAY

I stayed at the 21c Hotel in Downtown Lexington, a museum hotel that was somewhere between inspiring and mightily random - for example there were big, 4ft blue plastic penguins everywhere and in all the corridors, and the maid (I assume) even put one in my room one morning - but incredibly comfortable and with a great local beer and whiskey menu… and the food was fantastic, so well worth a stay if you’re in the area.

GETTING AROUND

Distilleries in Kentucky are, like Scotland and Ireland, relatively well spread out so you will need a car to get around and I would highly recommend hiring a driver or asking who you are with REALLY nicely to be the designated driver as, whilst not all distilleries let you sample their whiskeys, you might pick up a sample or pass a bar along the way you want to try some wonderful Bourbon, Rye, Wheated Bourbon or concept whiskeys in.

Two of the days I was in Kentucky I had meetings so was very fortunate that one of the people I was seeing, Brian, was awesome enough to drive me around to various distilleries, he then arranged a private tour for my final day with a company called Bottled in Bond Tours.

Bottled in Bond Tours is owned by a well-travelled chap named Nate who is one of the most fantastically enthusiastic people about all things Kentucky, Bourbon and whiskey that I’ve met. A really nice guy who tailors your time with him to exactly what you want to do, see and experience. Nate also has connections in most of the distilleries so can get you to access things you probably would not otherwise be able to on your own.

THE BARS

I did not have a lot of time to explore the bar scene due to my schedule but did enjoy a couple of fantastic bars in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Bluegrass Tavern

Address: 1303, 115 Cheapside, Lexington, KY 40507, United States

Website: http://www.thebluegrasstavern.com

Opening Time: 5:00 pm

What a bar! Owned by a great guy named Sean who, along with the previous owners of the bar, have amassed an 800+ bottle strong collection of Bourbon ranging from the classics to the rarest and the obscure.

Make sure you go to this bar, it is affectionately described by their bartenders as a 'bourbon-centric dive bar’ and man did it deliver not only the American bar experience I love, with good local beers and superb Bourbon, but the guys there are awesome. Bartender Austin in particular was great at showing me superb whiskeys they have in that I would not be able to try anywhere else and it was great just to spend hours chatting about Bourbon and Kentucky with him. Whilst there I tried some belters including:

Chicken Cock Bourbon (chosen for the name, chosen again for how great it tasted)

Weller 12 Year Old

Wild Turkey Decades

Wilderness Trail Single Barrel

Wilderness Trail 4 Year Old Rye

Russell’s Reserve Bluegrass Tavern Barrel Select ‘Gobble Gobble Gulp’ exclusive to the bar

Cathop

Not a Bourbon bar at all, in fact I’m not sure I saw a Bourbon on the bar whilst there, but they had around a hundred, maybe more craft beers on tap ranging from all different styles and flavours.

The food here was great too, I had the Vladimir Poutine - essentially chips, gravy and cheese curd with a bit of brisket on top… a Canadian delicacy that I had not had in a couple of years so fancied tucking in again.

Bourbon on Rye

Address: 115 W Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, USA

Website: https://www.facebook.com/bourbononrye/

Opening Time: 4:00 pm

Simply put; this is where great Bourbon lives. A must visit.

THE DISTILLERIES

In the three days I was in Kentucky I managed to visit nine distilleries in total, each and every one I would recommend that you all visit too. One thing that did annoy me about a bunch of them was how little you are able to sample and to try at the distilleries, apparently a few of them pulled back on samples as people turned up and drank loads then went away again - personally I think that is a bit of a smokescreen as you should want people to try your stuff as they are more than likely to then buy something from the store. Here they are, in the order I visited them as it would be rude to rank them:

Castle & Key

Address: 4445 McCracken Pike, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA

Website: https://castleandkey.com/

When I visited this distillery was not open to the public, fortunately I was able to walk around it for an hour and a half or so with one of their top dogs, Brett, who took me through the whole story, the history and the vision for the place. When open this will be one of the nicest distilleries on the planet. Make sure you also try, and buy, their gin - phenomenal.

Maker’s Mark

Address: 3350 Burks Spring Rd, Loretto, KY 40037, USA

Website: https://www.makersmark.com/

Opening Time: 9:30 am

An icon of the Bourbon world, this distillery was great to see in person and I loved the small design touches around the place including the bottle outline being built into the window shutters, the red accent detail from the wax being included tastefully throughout the site and ability to wax dip your own bottle… which I dutifully did.

Heaven Hill

Address: 528 West Main St. Louisville, KY 40202

Website: https://www.heavenhill.com

Opening Time: 9:00 am

I only popped into the ship at this one as my time was pressed, but managed to pick up a single barrel Old Fitzgerald 14 Year Old and a McKenna (won best American single barrel whiskey this year).

Willett

Address: 1869 Loretto Road Bardstown, Kentucky 40004

Website: https://www.kentuckybourbonwhiskey.com/

Opening Time: 9:30 am

Did the full tour here and it was great, a really small distillery given the amount of brands and product they churn out but the tasting here was lovely as was the walk around the site… their distillery cat was cute too, and enjoyed a little tickle between stops on the tour.

Wilderness Trail

Address: 4095 Lebanon Rd, Danville, KY 40422, USA

Website: http://wildernesstraildistillery.com/

Opening Time: 10:00 am

These guys are incredible, distillers Pat and Shane have created something special here - their background in yeast cultivation and process efficiency for others has set them and their distillery up to be über successful as they have done from filling just one barrel of spirit a day in 2013 using a single pot still to 220 barrels being filled a day in 2018 to become the 14th biggest Bourbon producer in the United States. Incredible how these guys have done it and what they are on the cusp of achieving. Definitely check them out - they sell a single barrel exclusive in the distillery shop too which is fantastic.

Buffalo Trace

Address: 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA

Website: https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/

Opening Time: 9:00 am

Like Maker’s, an icon of the Bourbon industry and one you just have to visit even if it is just for the photo in front of the iconic water tower. One of the best and most historic distilleries I visited, and the tour guide Lee had great stories and fascinating tales. A good guy too. The tasting at the end of the tour was basic but good. One let down here was that there were no distillery exclusive whiskies to buy - a HUGE missed opportunity in my opinion, as always - and no premium whiskies either. There was a bottle of Blanton’s, but I had seen it elsewhere too.

Wild Turkey

Address: 1417 Versailles Rd, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342, USA

Website: https://wildturkeybourbon.com

Opening Time: 9:00 am

Great distillery, a nice - and reasonably priced - tasting bar downstairs and lots of random things to buy in the store including a gobbler - see my instagram. Their main corridor includes a nice way of explaining their history too.

Woodford Reserve

Address: 7855 McCracken Pike, Versailles, KY 40383-9781

Website: https://www.woodfordreserve.com

Opening Time: 9:00 am

Like Buffalo Trace and Maker’s, an icon of the Bourbon industry and one of the quaintest and truly American-designed distilleries I’ve visited. A great tour too, albeit quite stage-managed and overly scripted, that finishes with a basic tasting.

Bluegrass Distillers

Address: 501 W 6th St #165, Lexington, KY 40508, USA

Website: https://www.bluegrassdistillers.com/

Opening Time: 10:00 am

An unexpected one this, and one that is within walking distance from the hotel I stayed in (roughly 25 minutes each way). This was the smallest distillery of all I visited, but one of the coolest as you get to bottle your own Bourbon (or rye) right there in the distillery shop - something none of the others offered at all, and was an instant sale. Well worth checking them out. They produce Wheated Bourbon too, which you can bottle, and is akin to Pappy and Weller in base flavour profile and character.

The post The GreatDrams Bourbon Lover’s Guide to Whiskey Tourism in Kentucky appeared first on GreatDrams.

from GreatDrams http://bit.ly/2UQAM7Z Greg

#whisky #GreatDrams

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annadominguez6-blog · 6 years

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Famous Citizens Of Carmel

Right here is a listing of the best 7 cities you will certainly find in Europe honeymoon excursion deals These are a must-visit as well as they would certainly make your honeymoon a memorable gathering. The provider is actually a shared venture along with the Buffalo grass Trace whiskey which makes considerably of their Bourbon and rye bourbon, but a number of their much older bottlings feature old assets coming from Stitzel-Weller and the Bernheim Distillery (now had by Paradise Hillside). The provider reports that many of the infections there result from communal needles, everydaygym-Lucasblog.info considering that the city is actually the facility of a huge opiate dependence trouble." The CDC delivers a list of actions you can take to protect yourself as well as your loved ones coming from HIV. Distilled Moods Center, Louisville, KY. This company is actually marketing Clarion combined bourbon as well as whiskey, distilled through MGP, Arbor Hillside Singular Gun Barrel, a Kentucky whiskey, Stillhouse Moonshine, a corn scotch, Reilly's Mama's Milk (currently canned somewhere else), an Irish type bourbon, E.G. Booz Whiskey, Eco-Oak Scotch, D.B. Cooper scotch, Rabbit Hole Whiskey and also Rye, distilled in Kentucky, Team Automobile Moonshine Whiskey and Seaside Diehard. You stand for and warrant that (i) your use of the Site will definitely be in strict conformity with the Free Site Directory Privacy Plan, using this Deal and also with all appropriate regulations and also regulations (including without constraint any sort of neighborhood laws or regulations in your country, condition, city, or even other governmental place, concerning internet conduct as well as acceptable material, and also consisting of all relevant laws pertaining to the gear box of technical data exported from the United States or even the nation through which you stay) and (ii) your use of the Internet site will not borrow or misuse the copyright civil rights of any kind of third party. Even so, health and wellness officials are still trying to engage social media babble in a way that maintains citizens updated regarding health intimidates directly and tamps down misinformation, all without seeming to muteness critics in a heavy-handed method or even dropping everyone's count on. This riches of organic charm ought to be actually shielded, and also the metropolitan area's active Metropolitan Planning Company is taking great steps to clarify in the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega region of Alabama by intending to improve mass transit, maintain rigorous exhausts specifications and promote rideshares.

Without restricting the foregoing, to the maximum extent enabled by applicable law, Business, its subsidiaries, and its licensors do certainly not necessitate that the content is correct, appropriate or even trustworthy; that the service will definitely meet your needs; that the company will certainly be actually readily available at any kind of certain opportunity or even place, continuous or even protected; that any errors or even problems will certainly be corrected; or even that the solution is devoid of infections or even various other hazardous elements.If you upload, publish or otherwise transmit any sort of Material to the Website, you instantly: (a) give various other individuals of the Site and also the Site Solution the right to access the very same and also make use of, edit, modify, publish it according to these Terms; as well as (b) approve our company a non-exclusive, nobility free of charge, sub-licensable, continuous, worldwide driver's licence to use, tweak, post, openly do, publicly display screen and circulate such Web content on as well as by means of the Website and the Web Site Solution as well as in every other form or even tool.Hiroshima reminds images of nuclear war and also the destruction of World War II. In the years given that, this Eastern area has actually helped make an amazing recuperation, as well as today is a mid-sized area that stands as one of the much better locations to live in Japan.Nonetheless, whilst urban area residing may be harmful as well as there are actually loads of people who do live an unnecessarily harmful lifestyle, the truth is actually that if you reside in one of the significant areas around the world, you can really lead a more healthy way of life easier than individuals who live in other places.( 163.) View Hillsides & Schleicher, supra note 21, at 83-86 (covering just how downzonings in The big apple City have made up for increases in casing stock because of brand-new jobs, in spite of the mayor's open announcement that housing inventory needs to expand).

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bike42 · 3 years

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Kentucky Derby Weekend April 29 – May 2, 2021

Wednesday evening, we took Sox the cat downtown to Bailey’s condo, then came home to pack (the cat hates to see suitcases). I can pack for a hiking trip with my eyes practically closed, but this kind of trip took some thinking! I had to match shoes, purses and jewelry to all of my outfits, and then of course there was my hat. Since we’d decided to drive the 6+ hours to Louisville, space wasn’t an issue and we were able to load our car with hat boxes, a large bag of snacks, yoga mat, pillows and suitcases!

We were up at 6am on Thursday, anxious to get going, and we were on the road just after 7am. As we were packing last night, Jeff wondered if our iPass was in the new Audi – I thought it was, but we didn’t check. We had decided to travel straight down through Illinois and skip the Chicago madness so I was thinking tolls wouldn’t be an issue anyway. But as we got to Janesville, we recalled we still had the one toll near Rockford, so I checked the glove box – the iPass was not there. It had been in our old Audi, so I thought it was odd that we’d have moved it to the other car – we haven’t travelled to Illinois since February 2020. Then Jeff said he thought he remembered that our new Audi has a built-in toll pass?! I got out the manual and sure enough! It led me through the steps to get it activated, and I was able to get it set up just moments before we hit the Illinois border.

We had rain through most of Illinois, but decent traffic and no major slowdowns even though there was a lot of road construction. We turned east at Bloomington toward Danville, IL which started us reminiscing about our 2013 cycling trip down the length of the state.

The trees were more leafed out than ours and it seemed to get greener with every mile we traveled. As we got south of Indianapolis, we saw our first Waffle House, so we stopped the Waffle House in Taylorsville for our favorite breakfast (regardless of the time of day) when we’re in the south (waffles, eggs over easy, split a side of bacon).

We arrived in Louisville and checked into the downtown Hilton Garden Inn just before 3pm. That left us ample downtime for yoga, naps, catching up email from the day, and showers before our 7pm dinner reservation at Vincenzo’s.

So many experiences already on the trip feel novel, packing last night, a six-hour road trip, and now checking into the nicest hotel we’ve stayed in since February 2020. Once upside to the pandemic and its quarantine is the pure appreciation I have for the ability to travel again!

The restaurant was an easy walk from the hotel, and even though we’d checked the weather app before we headed down from our room, we were surprised to have sprinkles on our faces when we stepped out onto the sidewalk. No worries, Jeff had his rain coat and I had my beautiful poncho that I’d bought in Paris two years ago on a rainy April day.

We had a great leisurely dinner, four courses and a bottle of wine. It was nice to be dressed up and out together again. The staff and service were amazing, and we tried to chat a bit with the gentleman we thought was the proprietor (Vincenzo?), but he seemed to have limited English (or hearing). We’d heard on the local news before going out that that town of Louisville was so excited about this week-end – several hotels and restaurants were booked full – and that’s news!

After dinner, we walked through the Fourth street party area, which was fairly subdued at 6:30pm but we expected it’d be hopping later. There was a friendly guy on the street having a cigarette, he was a beer salesman named Scott from Appleton, WI. He was excited to tell us all about what to expect at the derby, how crowded this area should be right now (in a normal year), all the famous people he’d previously partied with here, etc. He’d have gone on all night, but his wife was calling him from a nearby table telling him his dinner was getting cold!

We had a lazy Friday morning, then we were out on the street at 9am to walk to waterfront park. Our hotel was a great location, and we found it was a beautiful day. It wasn’t long before we were peeling off layers. We walked along the Ohio river, east to the converted railroad bridge called the Big Four Bridge, the headed back. The river itself is muddy and filled with debris, but the Waterfront Park was fabulous. All of the people we encountered were so friendly – many greeting us with “Happy Derby!”

We had tickets to tour the Louisville Slugger factory and museum at 11am, so we walked back along the waterfront and found it in a funky part of old town (Main Street) – the area that had been known as Whiskey Row at the turn of the century. We really enjoyed the tour. Since I’d booked it last week, I had this song lyric with “Louisville Slugger” trying to work its was to the front of my brain. I took to google when we were having lunch later and figured out its from Mary Chapin Carpenter’s song “The Bug.” It goes: “sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug … sometimes you’re the Louisville Slugger, baby, sometimes you the ball … “

After lunch we wandered into the Evan Williams Experience, where we sampled Peach Mint Juleps – yum. Back to the hotel, we had a nap, then showers – ready for our next event at 3:30pm. This was an event booked by the group where we got our tickets: Princeton Sports Group. It was billed as “Derby Eve at Buffalo Trace,” but we weren’t sure what to expect. We got to the lobby and found we were a busload of people, and we were headed to the Buffalo Trace Distillery, about an hour away in Frankfort! Our guide and driver were great, they plied us with cocktails and information about bourbon and the trip went fast.

When we arrived at the distillery, there were three other packed busses, so we had a wait a bit to get through the temperature screening and get assigned to a guide. The distillery had a policy that everyone wear masks (except when seated in the tasting room), even outside, and some in our group were pretty vocal about thinking that requirement was ridiculous (especially the group from Texas!).

While I enjoyed the tour of the rickhouses (3-4 floor buildings where whiskey is aged after its barreled), and the room where the empty barrels were stored, I was disappointed that we didn’t get to tour the actual distillery – I wanted to see the chemistry! None-the-less, we had an enthusiastic tour guide and it continued to be a beautiful day and we enjoyed the beauty and the history of the property while we waited our turn to enter the tasting room. There we were socially distanced at spots with 5 shots laid out for each of us – a vodka (too strong for me just straight), and three bourbons with progressively better quality: Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, and Blanton’s Single Barrel (we’d been introduced to that last month by our nephew Calvin, a far superior bourbon). We thought the tasting finished with their Bourbon Cream (like a Bailey’s) which was yummy on its own, but they served it with a shot glass of root beer and when we combined the two – we found heaven! Since it was Derby time, they finished the tasting with a demonstration of making Mint Juleps, and we each were served a large portion of that!

After the tasting, we had some time to shop, so we headed to the store and bought a bottle of their Bourbon Cream (they sell out of Blanton’s as soon as its bottled, or we’d have bought that too). By then we were mildly buzzed and in need of food.

Back on the bus, we travelled about 20 minutes before stopping at Jeptha Creek – an event center where we had dinner, more drinks, dancing to a bluegrass band and playing a little corn-hole in the yard. During dinner, we sat with two couples that had arrived on another bus – also their first Derby experience and we enjoyed trading stories with them.

On our bus back to Louisville, our guide decided it was time for bus Karaoke (using the music on his phone and holding it up to the microphone). One guy, who didn’t seem particularly gregarious, got up to sing, and sang very well as the bus lurched along the interstate. We sang all the way to the hotel, a fun night.

We awoke Saturday morning to another beautiful day, and had a leisurely morning with a hotel room workout and breakfast. We had the local NBC affiliate that had full time coverage from Churchill Downs and we watched the first two races on TV before heading out. The gates opened at 10am, but that felt too early to go, yet there were plenty of partiers already there.

We headed out of the hotel about noon. It was a bright sunny day and neither of us were prepared with sunscreen, so we walked around the corner to the CVS drugstore. As we walked down the street, we were greeted with shouts of “Happy Derby Day,” and nearly every vehicle driving by stopped as asked if we wanted a “shuttle” to the track. Our hotel offered a shuttle for $40 per person (which I thought was excessive), we could have driven our car and parked at the University lot and walked from there, but we’d decided we were going to take an Uber (I really want to think the best of people, but it seemed like a bad idea to jump into a car with someone who’s just taped a “Derby Shuttle” sign to his car for the day).

As we walked into CVS, a confrontation broke out between a store employee and a young black man who was accused of having stashed something inside his coat. You could feel the tension in the store, and it put me on edge too. Other employees were suggesting the manager hold the guy until the police arrived. We grabbed a bottle of sunscreen and went to the checkout, where the clerk was almost too distracted to check us out.

As we walked out the door, the managers had wrestled the man outside and the police had arrived. The scene quickly was surrounded by others that were taking videos on their cell phones. We moved around the corner, and didn’t see how it resolved, but it went quietly. Perhaps the manager was wrong?

Last month, we both got new iPhones, and are still struggling with having to sign into apps we haven’t used!? Ugh. We both really struggle trying to recall passwords that our phones have been so diligent about remembering, or allowing us to use face recognition. After a bit, Jeff succeeded in getting into his Uber app, but then his credit card had changed since we last used Uber, probably in NYC in 2019. My nerves were still on edge, and I was a bit panicked about standing here outside CVS with both of us focused on the phone, Jeff with his wallet in his hand and his credit card out. I pulled out my phone and was able to log into my Uber and my credit card was still active, so I said “I’ll order the Uber and you can work on your account another time!”

We had a great Uber driver, Onfraus. He had a Green Bay Packer emblem on the front of his Jeep. His girlfriend is from Wausau and he knew a lot about Madison. He asked if State Street was still the place to be, and was shocked when we told him of the devastation after “protests” turned violent last year when windows were smashed and businesses looted after the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis. We all agreed it didn’t make sense - the wrong people in the wrong place, with a demonstration of anti-police effort. His calm wonderful manner helped calm my frayed nerves. A lifelong Louisville resident, he was helpful in explaining where he had to drop us, and how to walk to the track from where he dropped us, and also where to find the Uber pickup lot to get our ride back to the hotel after the Derby. It was just over three miles - $45 with tip (surge pricing).

It was easy to figure out the way to the track, we followed the colorful crowd. Lots of young adults - many of them quite drunk already. I was surprised that many people had chairs, headed for the infield lawn which is where the party really happens, we’d heard. We followed the crowd to the gates, went through security, but our tickets wouldn’t read in the scanner - oh no. Our panic was relieved when a supervisor told us we had Clubhouse tickets, and we were at the infield gate, the wrong gate. They led us out and we worked our way against the crowd for a bit, and felt like was walked all the way around the outside of the track until we found our gate. I’d worn shoes for comfort and was glad to be walking before sitting for the next six hours or so.

At the Clubhouse entrance, things were more civilized and the crowd was scarce. In fact, due to COVID, they’re operating at about 40% capacity - so for someone like me that likes my personal space, this was perfect!

We found our seats - the first two seats in a box that was set up for just four, but could accommodate six. Every other box was blocked out with a tarp to maintain physical distance, so we had perfect sight lines to the finish like right in front of us. We were in the covered section, so no need for that sunscreen after all (but we saw quite a few people who could have used it).

There was a race roughly every hour, so we fell into an easy pattern of watching a race, then exploring the grounds in between races. This year for the first time, all food and drink were included in the ticket price, so we grazed on food and I sampled most of the specialty cocktails: Mint Julep, Whiskey Spire (cranberry) and the Lily (vodka and grapefruit).

For me, the neatest part about being onsite was standing at the edge of the paddock. Not only was the people watching amazing, but it gave us a close look at the horses. They’d be led around the circle, some seemed proud to be on display, some were fighting being led around, then they’d pull them into a cubicle where magically the tiny saddle would be strapped to the horse, then another lap or two, photos with the owners / VIP and one last parade past with the jockey onboard. How cool it was to see that up close. I’d never noticed their lightweight boots, and the small stirrups that seemed strung up too high. From the paddock, the procession would move under the grandstand and out onto the track where they’d parade by, before heading around the track to the starting gate (which was out of our view, but we could see it on the large video screen). The only downside to being there in person is the race happens so fast and with the crown noise and the garbled speakers, we couldn’t really tell how the horses we’d selected we’re doing!

We were joined in our box by a dapper young man, Jackson and his girlfriend, Danni, from Miami. Jackson split his time growing up between Middleton WI with his dad (attended Edgewood High School), and Louisville with his mom. He’d been to the derby many times before, but this could have been his first time trying to impress a girl with his knowledge. They were cute.

In the box kitty-corner to our front right, there were Louisville police officers. They primarily spent their time scrolling through their social media feeds on their phones. Later in the evening, two started smoking cigars and snapping photos of themselves. It seemed inappropriate and was noxious to be around, but the smell of cigar smoke was pervasive throughout the day regardless. As we were heading out to explore between races, we stopped to ask them if it’d be safe to walk the three miles back to our hotel after the race. They looked at us like we had two heads!

The actual “Derby” the twelfth of fourteen races during the day. It was the only race we actually bet us, choosing Hot Road Charlie (Jeff pick which finished third), and my pick, Rock Your World, finished in seventeenth place. We’d added the favorite pick of the day, Essential Quality to our trifecta bet (it came in fourth). Almost, but that doesn’t count in horse racing, so we lost our $200 but had fun doing so!

We hung around for a bit, enjoying some last-minute people watching, then joined the stream of people heading out of the main gate. We turned right, towards the Uber lot, which meant we were once again walking against the crowd leaving the infield – many were now very drunk, most were sunburned, and some were being carried. It seemed to be a zoo at the Uber lot, and the app showed our same driver, but it’d oscillate between 20-30 minutes away. The crowd and the noise of the Jesus Freaks yelling at the crowd through bad speakers was making me crazy, so I lobbied to start walking.

We walked with a smaller crowd, but many of them pealed off as we strolled through the U of L campus. We walked past large house parties, still going strong. After a mile, there were only a handful of us still walking towards downtown, but it felt good to move and the neighborhood felt ok. Several people that we’d pass would shout out friendly greetings, and we just kept moving, only slightly creeped out by the recommendation from the police that we don’t try to walk back to the hotel.

It started getting dark as we got close, but by then, it felt like a normal evening stroll. It felt great to get to the room though and jump into the shower to wash away the dirt and cigar smoke from the day! We were probably both sleeping by 9pm!

On Sunday, we were up before our alarm, so we got dressed and finished packing up and we were crossing the Ohio back into Indiana before 7am. An uneventful drive, and great to be home in the early afternoon and still enjoy the day.

#KentuckyDerby

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delfinamaggiousa · 4 years

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10 Things You Should Know About W.L. Weller

Bourbon has one of the most famous recipes in the world: It must be made with at least 51 percent corn in its mash. Beyond this, bourbon distillers often use rye and malted barley to finish the grist. William Larue Weller did things a little differently.

Where many other bourbons use rye, W.L. Weller uses wheat. Weller himself developed this recipe, believing wheat produced a softer, sweeter flavor profile than rye’s typically spicy one. Though brands such as Maker’s Mark and Larceny also produce wheated bourbons, Weller’s is widely known as the pioneer of the practice. Read on for 10 more things you should know about W.L. Weller.

W.L. Weller has seven signature expressions.

Weller’s original wheated bourbon, and perhaps the brand’s most notable expression, is Weller Special Reserve. Weller 12 Year is another unique offering, as it is aged far longer than most wheated bourbons, making it especially smooth. Weller’s other expressions include Weller Antique 107, and Weller Full Proof, which has a proof of 114, and is distilled without chill filtration. Also significant is William Larue Weller, the brand’s unfiltered, hand-bottled, barrel-proof expression. Finally, as of summer 2020, Weller Single Barrel is slated to be an annual release.

W.L. Weller 12 year and Pappy Van Winkle 12 year are basically twins.

W.L. Weller 12 Year and Pappy Van Winkle 12 Year are both made at Buffalo Trace Distillery, using the same recipe. The difference is in the aging of the barrels — which can be very slight, if even noticeable. Yet despite their almost identical recipes and flavors, W.L. Weller is easier to find, and, at about $25, it offers a better bang for your buck than Pappy, which is about $945 via Caskers.

Bartenders and critics agree Weller is special.

W.L. Weller Special Reserve is repeatedly praised by bartenders and spirits professionals — including VinePair staff writer Tim McKirdy, who summed up the expression as “lean and fruity, with great complexity.” The once-affordable bourbon will set buyers back about $60 these days, but when compared to its peers, it’s a steal. In fact, when VinePair asked bartenders to reveal their go-to bottles, professionals from NYC to Houston listed Weller Special Reserve among their favorites — noting its more reasonable price compared to Pappy Van Winkle, as well as its “smoother and softer finish.” Can’t beat that.

There was, and is, only one William Larue Weller.

There’s only one expression of wheated bourbon under Weller’s full name (the brand’s other expressions are labeled as W.L. Weller). William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is uncut, unfiltered, and hand-bottled at barrel proof.

W.L. Weller is made in America’s oldest distillery.

The W.L. Weller brand is produced and owned by Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Ky., which acquired the brand in 1999. The Frankfort facility is the oldest continuously operating distillery in America, and even became a National Historic Landmark in 2013.

Pappy Van Winkle was Weller’s first hire.

W.L. Weller hired its first salesman, Julian Van Winkle, in 1893. It was Van Winkle’s first job in whiskey. Eventually, Van Winkle purchased the A. Ph. Stitzel Distillery, which, in 1935, merged with Weller’s namesake company to form the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. The distillery became famous for both brands, and the wheated bourbons they produced. W.L. Weller and Pappy Van Winkle are now produced and owned by Buffalo Trace.

W.L. Weller was a neutral spirit in the Civil War.

Although two Weller brothers fought in the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy, William and Charles stayed neutral. Why? To sell whiskey, of course. Both stayed behind in Louisville selling whiskey — to both the Union and Confederacy.

Weller had a green thumb.

Weller was so committed to showcasing the quality of his bourbon, that he was compelled to leave his mark on every barrel to ensure its authenticity. He did so by pressing a green thumbprint on barrels to ensure that customers were receiving the real stuff. He also reportedly coined the slogan, “honest whiskey at an honest price.”

Like grandfather, like grandson.

W.L. Weller is named for its founder and distiller, William Larue Weller, who learned the craft from his grandfather. Keeping whiskey in the family, William Larue, a.k.a. “W.L.,” and his younger brother Charles Weller opened a trading company in Louisville, selling their own bourbon brand, William Larue Weller & Brother. (Charles got the short end of that oak stave.) In 1849, W.L. Weller replaced the rye generally found in bourbon’s mash bill with wheat. And voila: Weller’s wheated bourbon was born.

You can customize your own Weller expression online.

In November 2015, Buffalo Trace launched its W.L. Weller Craft Your Perfect Bourbon (C.Y.P.B.) website, an interactive experience that allows fans to learn about and create their own perfect bourbon. The process entails the choice of a bourbon recipe, placement in the warehouse for aging, number of years to age the bourbon, and final proof for bottling. The site then matches imbibers with a Weller expression that best fits their preferences.

The article 10 Things You Should Know About W.L. Weller appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/wl-weller-bourbon-guide/

source https://vinology1.wordpress.com/2020/09/18/10-things-you-should-know-about-w-l-weller/

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horsesnbourbon · 2 months

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Top Must-Visit Bourbon Distilleries in Louisville & Lexington, KY

A visit to Kentucky's bourbon distilleries is a must if you're a whiskey enthusiast or are just interested in learning more about the complex manufacturing process and lengthy history of this famous American spirit. Kentucky is home to some of the most well-known bourbon distilleries in the world and is well suited for your bourbon distillery tours in Louisville KY and Lexington.

Why Visit Bourbon Distilleries in Kentucky? Kentucky is the origin of bourbon, not just any old spot to enjoy it. Rich soil, clear limestone water, and a state with a particular climate all contribute to Kentucky bourbon's distinctive flavor profiles. Exploring these distilleries provides an in-depth look at the passion, tradition, and skill that go into each bottle.

Top Bourbon Distilleries in Louisville

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, situated on Louisville's famed Whiskey Row, is a must-see when it comes to bourbon distillery tours in Louisville KY. It provides guests with an intimate look into the life of Kentucky's first commercial distiller by fusing an interactive bourbon taste with a guided tour.

Angel's Envy Distillery Angel's Envy, a company renowned for its creative finishing technique, provides a special tour showcasing its handcrafted methodology. Not only is the distillery's finishing room visually stunning, but the tasting experience is also quite noteworthy.

Michter's Fort Nelson Distillery The Fort Nelson Distillery by Michter offers a fusion of traditional and contemporary bourbon-making methods. The tour includes a sample of some of Michter's best spirits in addition to an examination of the original pot stills and cypress wood fermenters.

Top Bourbon Distilleries in Lexington

Woodford Reserve Distillery The ancient and gorgeous Woodford Reserve Distillery is tucked away in the undulating hills of Woodford County. After a thorough examination of their small-batch bourbon production process, your bourbon distillery tours in Lexington KY concludes with a taste of a stunning location.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Buffalo Trace, one of the oldest distilleries in the US still in operation, is known for its bourbons and has a rich history. Everything from fermentation to aging is covered in this extensive tour.

Town Branch Distillery The Town Branch Distillery is one of the unique spots for your bourbon distillery tours in Lexington KY it makes both craft beer and bourbon. They offer tours that give visitors a distinctive look at the distillation process and include a sampling of their beer and bourbon.

Conclusion Bourbon enthusiasts and novices alike may have an unmatched experience at Kentucky's distilleries when it comes to bourbon distillery tours in Louisville KY or Lexington. These excursions, featuring distinctive production methods, fascinating history, and delectable tastes, are the highlights of any visit to the Bluegrass State.

#bourbon distillery tours louisville ky #Kentucky bourbon trail transportation #best bourbon tours in bardstown ky #bourbon trail tours louisville

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themusicenthusiast · 6 years

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Hometown Rising Country Music & Bourbon Festival to Make its Anticipated Debut In Louisville, Kentucky on September 14 & 15, 2019 at Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center; Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Dwight Yoakam, & Many More to Perform

Premier independent festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents continues to show its love for Louisville with a third addition to a massive fall festival series in the one-of-a-kind city. Hometown Rising, the first-ever Country Music & Bourbon Festival, will make its debut Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15 at Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center, combining two of Louisville's cultural cornerstones—great music and incredible bourbon. Hometown Rising's incredible music lineup will be led by country heavyweights including Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, and Little Big Town, with additional appearances from Dwight Yoakam, Brett Young, Jake Owen, Bret Michaels, Frankie Ballard, and many more. In total, more than 30 artists will play on three stages, including two side-by-side main stages, over the course of the weekend.

Hometown Rising exclusive VIP packages, General Admission tickets, camping and hotel packages, as well as special event tickets go on sale Friday, February 15 at 12:00 PM EDT. With three back-to-back festival weekends in Louisville in 2019, Danny Wimmer Presents wants to ensure all fans have the chance to enjoy multiple events with an affordable and convenient ticketing option. New this year, fans can purchase a special "Trifesta" Pass for the discounted rate of only $229.00 plus fees. The pass allows General Admission weekend access to all three DWP fall festivals in Louisville—Hometown Rising (September 14 & 15), Bourbon & Beyond (September 20-22) and Louder Than Life (September 27-29). "I am beyond thrilled to be playing the very first year of Hometown Rising, and to have the opportunity to be part of such a prestigious and eclectic lineup of modern country artists," says performer Alice Wallace. Adds festival producer Danny Wimmer, "Hometown Rising is a blend of the music and culture I grew up around, in a place I now consider a second home. While DWP is best known for our rock festivals, I was surrounded by country music growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, and I'm excited to be expanding our portfolio with a genre and a place that are both close to my heart. I can't think of a better location to launch a country music festival than right here in bourbon country. Mayor Fischer and the Louisville community continue to be great partners as we take this next step in the marriage of great music, food and bourbon." Bourbon authority and best-selling author Fred Minnick is the festival's official spirits curator and has helped assemble incredible onsite experiences, including bourbon tastings and workshops for fans 21+ during Bourbon Heritage Month. The centerpiece, the legendary Big Bourbon Bar presented by Louisville Courier Journal, will feature more than two dozen hand-selected bourbons from top distilleries, and a unique opportunity to enjoy bourbons and exclusive one-time specialty cocktails. Fred Minnick's Mini Bar presented by The Bourbon Women Association will showcase craft selections. Acclaimed Louisville whiskey bar The Silver Dollar will operate The Hunter's Club, where attendees can find vintage bourbons dating as far back as the 1930s, as well as contemporary collectibles. The initial list of participating bourbon brands at Hometown Rising includes Angel's Envy, Barrell Bourbon, Boone County, Coopers' Craft, Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Jim Beam, Knob Creek, Larceny, Maker's Mark, Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses Bourbon and Kentucky Peerless, with many more to be announced. Hometown Rising will be followed by two consecutive weekends of festivals including Bourbon & Beyond (September 20-22) and Louder Than Life (September 27-29). The creation and success of these events recently garnered Danny Wimmer Presents the Greater Louisville Inc. 2018 Silver Fleur-De-Lis Award, recognizing DWP for its outstanding commitment and achievement in making the Louisville community a better place in which to live and work. In addition, further strengthening DWP's commitment to the community, Founder Danny Wimmer and CEO Danny Hayes were recently named Kentucky Colonels by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin. The Kentucky Colonels is an independent, nonprofit organization with the purpose of aiding and promoting the Commonwealth and its citizens. The current music lineup for Hometown Rising is as follows (subject to change): Saturday, September 14: Tim McGraw, Little Big Town, Dwight Yoakam, [artist TBA], Frankie Ballard, The Cadillac Three, Jimmie Allen, Lindsay Ell, The Steel Woods, Clare Dunn, Gabby Barrett, Kassi Ashton, J.D. Shelburne, Raelyn Nelson Band, Alice Wallace, Imaj Sunday, September 15: Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Brett Young, Jake Owen, Bret Michaels, Lauren Alaina, LoCash, Drake White and The Big Fire, The Wild Feathers, Mason Ramsey, Noah Guthrie, Everette, Lauren Jenkins, Jeffrey East, Hannah Ellis, Kendall Shaffer Festival doors open at 11:00 AM daily. Additional Bourbon, Food & Beverage Experiences available onsite include: Craft Beer Bar Jack Daniel's No. 7 Sports Bar Tiki Barrel Bar presented by Jim Beam Boone County Distilling Back Porch Inside The Char House featuring Coopers' Craft, Jack Daniel's, Old Forester and Woodford Reserve Jailhouse BBQ Presented by Larceny Bourbon The Speakeasy Buffalo Club presented by Buffalo Trace Mash Stage bourbon and food demos In addition to performances from top music artists, and various onsite attractions, attendees can enjoy a variety of local and regional food and beverage offerings provided by DWP's affiliate concessionaire, Southern Hospitality Concessions LLC. Festival attendees will be able to experience a taste of Louisville with selections from the following local and regional restaurants: Boss Hog BBQ, Couvillion, Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar, Eli's BBQ, Heine Brothers Coffee, Hull And Highwater, Joella's Hot Chicken, Merle's Whiskey Kitchen, Seviche, and more. Initial ticket prices for Hometown Rising will be as follows: 2-Day Weekend General Admission: starting at $99.50 + fees 2-Day Weekend VIP: starting at $399.50 + fees 2-Day Top Shelf Weekend VIP: $999.50 + fees Single Day General Admission: starting at $69.50 + fees Single Day VIP: starting at $229.50 + fees VIP tickets include entry to a VIP hang area featuring a shaded space with dedicated bars, comfortable furniture, and live audio/video streams of the both main stages, front-of-stage viewing of the main stages, dedicated merchandise stand, premium, dedicated food offerings (for purchase), air-conditioned and flushable restrooms, dedicated entrance lanes into the festival and a commemorative laminate and RFID wristband. Top Shelf VIP tickets include access to all VIP experience amenities PLUS a shaded viewing deck, front-of-stage viewing area of main/closing stage, air-conditioned lounge/tent with live audio/video streams of both main stages, all-inclusive premium drinks at two private bars within the hang area, complimentary hors d'oeuvres during lunch and dinner hours, dedicated air-conditioned and flushable restrooms, massage station, complimentary lockers with cell-phone chargers, complimentary Wi-Fi access, Top Shelf VIP concierge staff and commemorative Top Shelf VIP laminate and RFID wristband. Hometown Rising sponsors include: Kentucky Department of Tourism, Louisville Tourism, Fxck Cancer x Dyin 2 Live Dreams Program, Jack Daniel's, Tito's Handmade Vodka, The Music Experience, Zyn, Take Me Home, and more. The Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center are located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky. Hometown Rising is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination rock music festivals in America. DWP events include Aftershock Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, Chicago Open Air, Epicenter Festival, Hometown Rising, Louder Than Life, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, and Welcome To Rockville.

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thebourbontruth · 7 years

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Doing the Bourbon Trail 2017

A lot has changed since my last Bourbon Trail post so it’s time. http://kybourbontrail.com What I’ve noticed is people tour under very different time constraints and whom your accompanied by. Solo vs a family trip with the kids and grandparents has much different needs and results. First off do the trail sober. The Kentucky Bourbon Distillers has been enlisting the help of Uber and Lyft. There are taxis and private and public tour groups. Plan ahead for not driving when you shouldn’t be or have a DD.

Logistics As of 2016 there are over a million visits a year visiting Kentucky for “ bourbon tourism” and growing. In 10 years the number has tripled to where it is. That’s a lot. During peak days or times you will NOT be able to get a tour unless you preplan and reserve well in advance. http://kybourbontrail.com/kentucky-bourbon-trail-barrels-past-1-million-visits-2016/

The unofficial and official trail extends well north starting in Newport Kentucky (outside Cincinnati) where New Riff (craft) is to Bowling Green (almost the Tennessee boarder) where Corsair (craft) is over a 3 hour drive so limits are usually present. Most other Distilleries average a 45-60 minute drive apart but Buffalo Trace, Woodford, Wild Turkey, and Four Roses are within half an hour of each other. Regardless of the distance your not getting to them all, possibly not even all the major ones. Secondly, (I’ll say it again) during peak days and times you might not be able to tour at all or need to wait without reservations so make reservations. Another General recommendation is that you and certainly kids have a three distillery attention limit. Things will start blending in and looking the same after that. Pick carefully because if Beam is at the top of your list, do it first. If you put favorite or must see’s at the end you may never make it. If you do more than 3, make that a daily limit. If you don’t want to drive, Mint Julep Tours has some great private and public options http://mintjuleptours.com https://mintjuleptours.com/public-bourbon-tours/

Weather The summer is hot and steamy, sometimes too hot. Bring lots of water in a cooler if you can. The summer may also have distilleries that are closed or not distilling so if you really want to see a special distillery make sure they are operating the days your planning to be there. Winter has ice and when roads are icy the distilleries have been known to close completely. Pets in the car don’t mix well if hot or cold.

Where to sleep? The nicest national hotel chain in Bardstown is the Hampton Inn. There are a few bed and breakfasts but if you want central location, choice and some luxury, Louisville is your best bet (about an hour from most things). Use this as your central hub. Places like the Marriott East (Eastern suburb to downtown Louisville) are a bit cheaper than the regular high end places in downtown and a bit closer to Frankfort area Buffalo Trace, Woodford and Lawrenceburg for Wild Turkey and Four Roses. If your going to be further South, besides Bardstown, Elizabethtown is another option.

If you’re a couple or buddies or a couple touring, I’d recommend Louisville for the bars, Resturant’s and Whiskey Row attractions. Night life is practically non existent other than Louisville. I have regretted Lexington stays as its too far from most places. If your willing to switch hotels in/from other cities/towns that’s a different matter. I personally stay at the Marriott Residence Inn in downtown Louisville when staying downtown. It’s a 50 foot walk/stumble to the best Whiskey bar in Kentucky (Haymarket, a fun dive bar open late). Wandering the streets of Louisville at night, potentially drunk, when not in a group isn’t recommended.

Family trips You better pick just Three-Four distilleries or your going to hear whining. Mix things in like Mammoth Caves, Underground Zip lines, Lincoln Boyhood home, museums, rides on the river in Louisville etc.. The Beam Urban Stillhouse and Evan Williams Experience http://evanwilliams.com/visit.php in Louisville are good for kids so I don’t count those as part of your 3. If you only have two days stick to those close to the Bluegrass Parkway. Buffalo Trace to Bardstown.

Solo or Couples Pick 5 places unless you have more than two days. At five you’ll also start to get the “distillery burnout” and a potentially unhappy spouse. If your going to do more than 5 anyway try to split it up maybe with Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Nashville touring. Visit the races, horse farm etc. you’ll need a break.

Smaller Distilleries Craft and lesser known names I wouldn’t try too hard to get to unless its Willett or on the way with burnout considered.

Cost Plan on about $5-20 per adult per Distillery. Buffalo Trace has the only free tours that I recall. I’ve even heard that Makers Mark is currently charging to get in even with no tour. Don’t know if this is temporary. Other Visitor Centers/Gift Shops at this point are still free to get in but tours are the extra charge. Some might offer Discounts for DD’s, Military, Seniors, Law Enforcement and First responders so ask. Children are usually free to a certain age.

The Distilleries By rough geography. If I miss or skip a distillery it’s not necessarily a skip, I personally haven’t been or not enough there to warrant the extra time to get there. Some distilleries may have a distillery exclusive bottle. I’ll try to note these. Keep in mind that by law any Kentucky retailer can carry these also but they rarely do or can get them before the gift shop gets them all from distribution. They are part of the three tier system so even the distillery exclusives technically need to go through a third party distributer.

Louisville Angels Envy The newest tour in Downtown Louisville across from Slugger Baseball Stadium. A beautiful great tour. If you can’t see the rest of the Bourbon Trail this is a great option. Nothing I could see in the Gift shop different than what you can get at home but I’d go back again. They did have their Rye which is often sold out back home. Note that tours do get sold out on weekdays off peak as they were when I was there.

Bulleit Experience If your not a Stitzel Weller geek skip it. If you don’t know what Stitzel Weller is, again, skip it. More or less a Diageo ad for Bulleit that has never had or has a current real Distillery there although one is due to open soon in Shelbyville that might have public tours.

Copper and Kings is a Brandy distillery in Louisville if your into that and have time.

Evan Williams Experience A mini distillery and showcase of distilling and history. A fun time. They have a few exclusives like a 12 year and 23 year Evan Williams.

Frankfort area

Buffalo Trace http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/visit-us/our-tours Not an official part of or member of the Bourbon Trail. Free tours and you should reserve Hard Hat Tours as opposed to the regular hourly tours. They split production and maturation into roughly two tours so you could end up there most of the day to get tour bookend Hard Hat type tours in. This is a whiskey factory. Not much for kids but a not to be missed option. Don’t expect any bottles you can’t get at home of Whiskey, nothing special.

Woodford Reserve https://www.woodfordreserve.com/distillery/tours/ Very pretty and fairly quick tours. Drive through horse county to the nicest Distillery in Ky. A couple releases you can only find at the distillery. Real nice gift shop packed full. Usually two unique Whiskeys in .375 size avail each only there. A must stop.

Castle and Key Beginning tours soon. Read up on Old Taylor History (what used to be here) and check it out. Down the street from Woodford. If and when tastings are offered in the near future it will be new booze and young aka not too good. Keep this in mind for any newer distillery only bottling their own make.

Four Roses http://fourrosesbourbon.com Another great stop but no bottling or maturation is done here (see below). That is a separate facility near Beam that you can tour. A whiskey factory that’s a great stop for a Four Roses lover. Bottles selected by Brent Elliott the Master Distiller in the nice large gift shop usually.

Wild Turkey http://wildturkeybourbon.com/visit-us/ New distillery, visitor center and bottling. Feels a bit sterile. Tours stop at lots of windows you can only look through like the distillery. A nice stop and Master Distillers Eddie or Jimmy Russell are often hanging out signing things. Usually no special bottlings are for sale there but a good fun stop.

Bardstown They are adding lots of distilleries but the ones there are Willett and Barton. Don’t stop at Barton if you’ve been/going to one of the whisky factories. Ugly, nothing you’ll want in the giftshop.

Willett https://www.kentuckybourbonwhiskey.com/visit-willett-distillery/# You MUST get a reservation early at Willett to be safe. Its small and very very popular. A recent Saturday out of season had 500 people and they stopped counting. Willett often has private bottling you can’t get elsewhere of advanced age. They are fleeting though. A 14 year old bottling could show up without notice then be sold out within an hour. Don’t expect it will be while you are there but and a big but- If you are on the tour and ask nice you never know. Willett Family Reserve is one of the hardest to get due to the value on the secondary market. They do have their other retail brands and sometimes Rye there regularly. Great people. Expanding Giftshop about to have a bed and breakfast onsite summer/fall 2017 most likely. Periodically will have things you can’t get elsewhere at random. Still have bottles of allocated things from back home you might not see.

Makers Mark If you want to make the trip on Loretto Rd that passes Willett, Makers Mark is ½ hour each way. A cool nice Distillery if you have time. Pretty and complete tours. Can get real busy. Usually one or two things in a large gift shop you can’t get back home.

There is practically nothing but windy roads and little or no cellular coverage. It’s worth the trip but consider it’s a half day excursion. Great Giftshop. The most educational tasting of different stages of maturation, big Giftshop with some private things you can’t get elsewhere and chance to wax dip your own bottle.

If your out this way consider stopping at Independent Stave in Lebanon where they make new Whiskey barrels. Two tours a day, reservations a must. Worth a stop if you have time. http://www.iscbarrels.com/tours/

Wilderness Trace also (see below)

Heaven Hill’s maturation and bottling are here in Bardstown. If you’ve seen or will be seeing these at other places no real draw for me to recommend the tour. The Louisville distillery is not open to the public but the Evan Williams Experience fills in with a mini distillery and nice facility. http://heavenhilldistillery.com/bourbon-heritage-center.php?utm_source=BHC&utm_medium=Redirect&utm_campaign=BHCRedirect&bhc=1

The Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center and Giftshop is a great stop however with frequently special bottlings you can’t get at home or tightly allocated.

Four Roses Maturation and Bottling is near Beam and Bardstown. If you’re a fan of Four Roses or want to see these production pieces in depth, stop. It’s 5 minutes from Beam but hours are a bit more limited. Navigation will often send you to the wrong Four Roses address so make sure you enter the address so don’t trust your navigation to suggest an address. Tour cost are Interchangeable so a receipt for the distillery gets you into the other. The last tour of the day departs the Visitor Center at 3:00 p.m. 624 Lotus Road Cox’s Creek, KY 40013

Beam http://www.jimbeam.com/en-us/visit-us/book-a-tour They did a good job here setting up a complete experience. Maybe one of the best. I will say this is the tour from the Barrel picking experience so the regular tour may include other parts of the real distillery operation. You should check. Good for kids and has micro tastes of products and a couple whiskeys unique to the huge American Still House gift shop.

Wilderness Trail This is another extreme distance but worth the trip if you have lots of time and want to see a nice craft place.

Craft distilleries Remember burnout. If you want to indulge check out http://kybourbontrail.com/craft-tour/

I want more If you want even more or more on-depth experience Moonshine University runs courses from a day to 5 day Distiller classes. Also a Stave and Thief Whisky Society Certification. They are in Louisville. If you arrange your trips around their schedules it gives you this extra option. https://moonshineuniversity.com/courses/

Lastly, in the next couple years many new attractions and distilleries will be opening in downtown Louisville and it’s Whiskey Row so check to see what they have opened. Here are some suggested driving times and map http://kybourbontrail.com/map/

Enjoy your trip and be safe.

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gilwarner-blog · 5 years

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Kentucky’s Top 12 Distilleries along the Bourbon Trail

If you are considering touring the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky, let me encourage you to do so, it's worth the trip, and it might be beneficial for you to understand just a little bit about each of the distilleries along the trail, the following is my overview of each of the main distilleries.

Each distillery offers different tours at different times and cost, you need to know what your choices are and what a specific distillery offers before you make a choice so it is always a good idea to visit each distillery web site for current tour times and cost. Some tours you will need a reservation so check before hand. For instance, most distillery tours last about an hour cost around ten bucks and end with a bourbon tasting.

If you are looking for a tour that offers more information about the distilling process or if you are looking for the perfect bourbon gift for that someone, or you just want to taste some good bourbon, Kentucky's Bourbon Trail won't disappoint and don't forget your camera you'r going to want to take lots of pictures.

You should plan on 3 to 4 days in order to take in everything along the trail. Here are the most popular distilleries that you will find along the Bourbon Trail between Louisville and Lexington, this is the suggested order if you start in Louisville.

Day One: Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience, Titzel-Weller Distillery. 3860 Fitzgerald Road, Louisville. 502-810-3800 www.bulleitexperience.com

First opened on Derby Day in 1935 then reopened to the public in 2014, the Stitzel-Weller Distillery is one of the true icons of the American whiskey industry. Located just five miles from downtown Louisville, the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience is convenient and a most impressive stop along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Tours and whiskey tastings are $14 for adults over 21. Free for those under 21.

Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse. 404 South 4th Street, Louisville. 502-855-8392 www.jimbeam.com

Located in downtown Louisville, the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse is not their main working distillery but it is complete with a small working distillery and bottling line, it's a good place to learn about bourbon, grab a handcrafted cocktail or a pick up a nice gift or two. They welcome all bourbon fans (aged 21+) to stop by for a taste of the Jim Beam distillery experience. If you are just beginning your whiskey journey or are a more seasoned bourbon drinker, this educational experience will enable you to explore the rich history of the Beam family through a guided tasting flight. Each tasting features four ¼ oz pours of whiskey or bourbon, three of their selects and one of your choosing. Plus, while you taste, you will hear the history behind Jim Beam, the differences between bourbon and whiskey and how to taste bourbon using their signature Kentucky Chew.

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. 528 West Main Street, Louisville. 502-272-2611 www.evanwilliamsbourbonexperience.com

Touring this distillery is inexpensive and you can do it from Monday to Sunday. The tours are usually one hour and they include a bourbon tasting. The distillery also allows you to bring your kids at a cost less than 10 bucks.

Day Two: Maker's Mark Distillery. 3350 Burkes Spring road, Loretto. 270-865-2099 www.makersmark.com

This is among the best distillerys along the Kentucky trail because you can take a one-hour tour for just nine bucks. In addition, it's a great tour. You get to watch the bottling process and see them hand dip each bottle in their signature red wax. And, if you are looking to buy merchandise, they have a very nice gift shop and the prices are reasonable.

Heaven Hill Distillery Bourbon Heritage Center. 1311 Gilkey Run Road, Bardstown. 502-337-1000 www.bourbonheritagecenter.com

Heaven Hill is the maker of Evan Williams and Elijah Craig. They dedicated their Bourbon Heritage center in 2004 and it has since become a destination to many people. The tours are quite affordable and they include a bourbon tasting. If you are looking to get more bourbon when you visit, Whiskey Connoisseur Experience is the ideal choice.

Jim Beam Distillery. 526 Happy Hollow Road, Clermont. 502-543-9877 www.jimbeam.com

Get an up close look at Jim Beam Bourbon and how it's made. On this tour, you'll walk in the shadow of seven generations of Beam Family Master Distillers as they walk you through the entire process of their bourbon, from its pure beginning in their own natural limestone water well, then through the mashing, distilling, barreling, aging and bottling processes. This distillery offers one-hour tours from 9:30 to 3:30 Monday to Saturday and 12:30 to 3:00 on Sunday. Tours are $14.00

Four Roses Warehouse & Bottling. 624 Lotus Road, Cox's Creek, 502-543-2264 www.fourrosesbourbon.com

Take a trip to this historic distillery on the scenic Salt River in Lawrenceburg, or visit their single-story rack warehouse and bottling facility located in the quiet Kentucky countryside at Cox's Creek, and you'll start to understand how our Bourbon has come to be so smooth and mellow. Of course, sampling a taste of their award-winning Bourbons at either location makes this trip to these relaxing places all that more rewarding. Reservations are recommended, but guests are welcome to drop by for first come, first serve availability. Tours available on the hour, every hour. The last tour of the day departs at 3:00 p.m. A tour is offered every half an hour until 3:30 p.m.

Day Three: Four Roses Distillery. 1224 Bonds Mill Road, Lawrenceburg, 502-839-2655 www.fourrosesbourbon.com

According to the National Register, this distillery is a historic place. It has a Spanish Mission Style architecture that makes it unique and very beautiful. When you visit, you can tour either the distillery or the warehouse that is located in Cox's Creek. Nevertheless, you will get a taste of bourbon regardless of the tour you choose or, do both.

Wild Turkey Distillery. 1417 Versailles Road, Lawrenceburg, 502-839-2182 www.wildturkeybourbon.com

A tour costs ten dollars and you get to visit a number of places in the distillery. You will start the tour from the visitor's center to a tasting center. The distillery has a modern looking visitor's center making it appealing and quite attractive.

WoodFord Reserve. 7855 McCracken Pike, Versailles, 859-879-1812 www.woodfordreserve.com

The prettiest distillery of them all offers a number of tours from the basic bourbon tour to 'Corn to Cork' tour that outlays the entire process. Therefore, when you visit WoodFord Reserve, you will have several choices of tours you can take. In addition, there is a National Landmark tour that makes WoodFord Reserve a historic landmark.

Town Branch Distillery. 401 Cross Street, Lexington, 859-255-2337 www.townbranchdistillery.com

Named after the river that runs through Lexington, Town Branch has a combination of a distillery and a brewery. The hourly tours are from Monday to Saturday only so it's easy to choose a convenient time to visit.

Day Four: Buffalo Trace. 113 Great Buffalo Trce, Frankfort, 502-696-5926

I saved my favorite for last and you may want to spend all day here, this distillery is amazing, home of Blantons, Willit, Eagle Rare and yes, Pappy Van Winkle. There are 7 different tours available here and reservations are recommended for all but The Trace Tour. The Trace Tour begins with an engaging video of the history of Buffalo Trace Distillery. You will then walk along the path of aging bourbon barrels. You will be spellbound by the alluring smell and atmosphere of bourbon sleeping inside the aging warehouses. Then you will enter the Blanton's Bottling Hall where you will see signature bourbons being filled, sealed, labeled, and packaged, all by hand. All tours are complimentary and include a tasting of some of their award-winning products. All visitors are welcome to walk in as there is no need for a reservation. Groups of 8 or more are encouraged to contact the Visitor Center, [email protected], to let us know you are coming so that we can better plan our Trace Tour schedule.

Gil Warner is a bourbon connoisseur that loves sharing his passion for all things bourbon. Gil owns a website that specializes in Fine Bourbon Gifts

<p>Gil Warner is a bourbon connoisseur that loves sharing his passion for all things bourbon. Gil owns a website that specializes in <a href="https://finebourbongifts.com/">Fine Bourbon Gifts</a></p>

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wineanddinosaur · 4 years

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10 Things You Should Know About W.L. Weller

W.L. Weller has seven signature expressions.

W.L. Weller 12 year and Pappy Van Winkle 12 year are basically twins.

Bartenders and critics agree Weller is special.

There was, and is, only one William Larue Weller.

W.L. Weller is made in America’s oldest distillery.

Pappy Van Winkle was Weller’s first hire.

W.L. Weller was a neutral spirit in the Civil War.

Weller had a green thumb.

Like grandfather, like grandson.

You can customize your own Weller expression online.

The article 10 Things You Should Know About W.L. Weller appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/wl-weller-bourbon-guide/

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gailmalooft · 6 years

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Distiller’s Friday Roundup – January, 25th 2019

We have arrived at the last Friday in January…which also happens to be Robert Burns’ birthday. With a weekend free from the NFL playoffs, you’ll have plenty of time to recite poetry whilst drinking drams of scotch. But perhaps you don’t like the taste of whisky—we don’t understand that feeling, but it could happen. Scotland also makes some fine gins, including some classic brands and plenty of newcomers. If gin isn’t your cup of tea, then Scottish vodka may be more up your alley. Or have a glass of Drambuie and be done with it.

Moving onto the whiskey news for the week, Michter’s new distillery in Kentucky is opening up right across the street from Louisville Slugger Museum. Also, Buffalo Trace is bringing a 136-year-old fermenter back to life. While you’re visiting Kentucky, swing by Woodford Reserve for the latest Distillery Series release. And if you’re in the ultra-old and rare market, Gordon & Macphail has a little something for you from the Speyside.

One more thing to note: word on the street is that a certain Highland scotch distillery has a new product in the works. Keep posted to our social media channels as we make the announcement next week with a review to follow shortly thereafter.

Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery Opening Next Week

A grand celebration is planned next week as Michter’s opens up the newly renovated Fort Nelson Distillery in Louisville. First built in 1890, Michter’s purchased the building in 2012 and saved the historic site through extensive work.

Inside Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery / Photo Credit: Michter’s

“It’s only fitting that a once abandoned, great American brand found its home in a once abandoned, great American building,” says Michter’s President Joseph J. Magliocco. “The Fort Nelson Building is an architectural gem, and our team is so fortunate to have had the opportunity to bring it back to life and make it a special place for everyone to visit.”

Fort Nelson Distillery will include tours, tastings and a gift shop. Whiskey production will take place on a pot still and cypress wood fermenter system, brought in from Michter’s historic Pennsylvania Distillery. Additionally, the distillery will house a bar on the second floor. Tours begin on February 2, 2019. The Fort Nelson Distillery joins Michter’s Shively distillery, the brand’s 78,000 square foot production and bottling facility also in Louisville.

1883 FERMENTER FILLED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 100 YEARS AT BUFFALO TRACE

Back in 2016, Buffalo Trace began work on the O.F.C. Building with plans to turn it into an event space. Instead, Col. E.H. Taylor, Jr.’s intact fermenting vats, dating to 1883, were uncovered. As a result, Buffalo Trace stopped its plans and now the space is famously referred to by the nickname “Bourbon Pompeii”.

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The discovered fermenter was recently lined with bricks that were uncovered in the excavation (cleaned, of course). Additionally, it has been relined with copper. On January 10, 2019 it was filled with mash for the first time in 100 years. Buffalo Trace plans to make Old Fashioned Sour Mash just as Taylor did 150 years ago.

This fermenter can be seen as part of the E.H. Taylor tour, which we told you about back in 2017.

FIRST WOODFORD RESERVE DISTILLERY SERIES BOTTLING FOR 2019 ANNOUNCED

Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked (2019 Edition)

This Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked is the first Distillery Series bottling for 2019. The original bottling debuted in 2015 and has since inspired re-releases. The bottling begins with standard Woodford Reserve Bourbon, which itself is aged in new, charred oak barrels. Then the bourbon is finished in heavily-toasted and lightly charred barrels for two years. In comparison, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked ages for just one year in the finishing barrels.

Bottled in late 2018 in 375ml sized bottles, this comes in at 90.4 proof and is sold exclusively at Woodford Reserve Distillery. ($49.99)

Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked (2019 Edition) / Photo Credit: Woodford Reserve

Oldest Glen Elgin Bottling Released to Date

Gordon & MacPhail 1948 from Glen Grant Distillery (Private Collection)

This bottling of Glen Elgin was distilled in 1948. It was placed into a first-fill sherry butt on the 11th of June that year. After aging for 70 years, it was bottled in 2018 at a cask strength of 48.6% ABV. This marks the oldest expression ever bottled for Glen Elgin Distillery to date.

The Private Collection from independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail is a series of greatly aged single malts from celebrated, little known or closed distilleries selected by members of the Urquhart family. This Glen Elgin has had four generations of the family overseeing the cask. Only 210 decanters were produced with worldwide availability. (£17500/~$23000)

Gordon & MacPhail 1948 from Glen Grant Distillery (Private Collection) / Photo Credit: Gordon & MacPhail

With Distiller, you’ll always know what’s in the bottle before you spend a cent. Rate, Review and Discover spirits! Head on over to Distiller, or download the app for iOS and Android today!

The post Distiller’s Friday Roundup – January, 25th 2019 appeared first on The Distiller Blog.

The post Distiller’s Friday Roundup – January, 25th 2019 appeared first on Liquor Gift Baskets.

from http://liquorgiftbaskets.net/2019/01/26/distillers-friday-roundup-january-25th-2019/

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ellismorris0 · 6 years

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Distiller’s Friday Roundup – January, 25th 2019

Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery Opening Next Week

Inside Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery / Photo Credit: Michter’s

1883 FERMENTER FILLED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 100 YEARS AT BUFFALO TRACE

youtube

This fermenter can be seen as part of the E.H. Taylor tour, which we told you about back in 2017.

FIRST WOODFORD RESERVE DISTILLERY SERIES BOTTLING FOR 2019 ANNOUNCED

Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked (2019 Edition)

Bottled in late 2018 in 375ml sized bottles, this comes in at 90.4 proof and is sold exclusively at Woodford Reserve Distillery. ($49.99)

Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked (2019 Edition) / Photo Credit: Woodford Reserve

Oldest Glen Elgin Bottling Released to Date

Gordon & MacPhail 1948 from Glen Grant Distillery (Private Collection)

Gordon & MacPhail 1948 from Glen Grant Distillery (Private Collection) / Photo Credit: Gordon & MacPhail

With Distiller, you’ll always know what’s in the bottle before you spend a cent. Rate, Review and Discover spirits! Head on over to Distiller, or download the app for iOS and Android today!

The post Distiller’s Friday Roundup – January, 25th 2019 appeared first on The Distiller Blog.

The post Distiller’s Friday Roundup – January, 25th 2019 appeared first on Liquor Gift Baskets.

from http://liquorgiftbaskets.net/2019/01/26/distillers-friday-roundup-january-25th-2019/

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cleopatrarps · 6 years

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New tariffs risk turning U.S. whiskey sour

(Reuters) – American craft distiller Adam Spiegel is bracing for a double shot of pain.

A bottle of Jack Daniels is shown for sale among other brands in the liquor section of a food market in Encinitas, California, U.S., June 6, 2018. Picture taken June 6, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

An escalating international trade spat is driving up his equipment costs and threatens to cut into his profit from the bottles he exports to Europe, just as business is booming.

U.S. President Donald Trump on June 1 imposed tariffs for aluminum imports from Mexico, Canada and the European Union. As a result, Spiegel expects his bill for recently-ordered steel fermentation tanks, worth several hundred thousand dollars, to be $50,000 to $60,000 higher.

Spiegel will also get squeezed by the tariffs the EU announced in retaliation on U.S. goods, including whiskey, earlier this week. They could put his roughly 58 pounds ($77.83) per bottle of Sonoma Rye and West of Kentucky Bourbon out of reach for some European drinkers unless he swallows some of the cost.

With nearly a quarter of his sales coming in Europe, lowering his prices enough to offset the entire tariff would be too stiff a drink for Spiegel given total revenue only amounts to a few million dollars a year.

“We are not a big company who can absorb such frivolous fluctuations,” he said, predicting: “American whiskey will get more expensive.”

For a graphic, click tmsnrt.rs/2xXDFx8

To be sure, Spiegel’s business Sonoma Distilling Co of California is a tiny fish in the world of spirits. But the multinationals that dominate the American whiskey industry – worth some $5 billion a year to suppliers and triple that at retail – are facing similar questions about an uncertain business climate with proposed tariffs from the EU, Canada, China and Turkey, and Mexico’s own tax on U.S. whiskey imports that kicked in earlier this week.

In a letter Thursday to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross arguing these tariffs “will seriously harm producers,” the industry trade group Distilled Spirits Council noted that 46 percent of global U.S. spirits and 65 percent of global U.S. whiskey exports are either currently facing – or are at risk of facing – retaliatory tariffs.

It requested a meeting with Secretary Ross to discuss the matter further.

Brown-Forman (BFb.N), the Louisville-based home to market leader Jack Daniel’s and higher-end Woodford Reserve, already started shipping more whiskey to its warehouses overseas ahead of the tariffs, CEO Paul Varga told analysts on Wednesday.

Slideshow (5 Images)

Brown-Forman, which also sells tequila and other drinks, generates about half its revenue domestically, a quarter in Europe and a quarter elsewhere.

Beam Suntory [BSI.UL], home to bourbons including Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek, is also “making contingency plans to manage through all potential scenarios,” spokeswoman Emily York said. “We will continue to make our case on both sides of the Atlantic because no one wins in a trade war where consumers, distillery workers, farmers, bartenders and wait staff are among the innocent victims,” she said.

Those two companies make about 62 percent of all American whiskey, according to researchers IWSR. Other big players include Heaven Hill, Diageo (DGE.L) and Campari (CPRI.MI).

Ninety-five percent of bourbon, a major American whiskey style, comes from Kentucky. The Southern state, which helped Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential election, is also the home state of prominent Republican politicians Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Rand Paul. McConnell has publicly stated his opposition to tariffs.

Kentucky’s largest city, Louisville, has benefited from what its mayor Greg Fischer has called “bourbonism”, or the convergence of bourbon making and tourism.

Bourbon, which can only come from the United States and is often sweeter than Scotch, has been growing beyond its home state, due in large part to a resurgence of cocktail culture.

Exports grew 43 percent to $1 billion over the past decade, according to the Distilled Spirits Council. About 59 percent of exports went to the EU last year.

To meet rising demand and interest, many whiskey producers are expanding, with the help of last year’s massive U.S. tax cut that lowered federal excise tax on distillers from $13.50 to $2.70 per gallon for the first 100,000 gallons – but only for two years.

HIGHER PRICES FOR CONSUMERS?

Once the tariffs come into effect, suppliers can choose to swallow the extra cost themselves or they can pass it on to customers. Protecting margins is always a priority, but in this case they risk losing hard-earned market share if drinkers pick cheaper brands.

Generally, if the price of a distilled spirit increases 10 percent, sales volume of that spirit falls by about 5 percent, according to Henry Saffer, a researcher with the National Bureau of Economic Research in New York.

Therefore, if bourbon prices rise in the EU, he says people would just “buy cheaper versions of something very similar.”

With a recent boom in whiskey, there are more choices than ever – from classic places like Scotland and Ireland, as well as newcomers like Sweden and Australia.

Yet Euromonitor analyst Spiros Malandrakis predicted those alternatives will not see a boost until it becomes obvious that the tariffs are here to stay because suppliers will likely suck it up if the duties are short-lived.

Because the U.S. has shifted positions in the past, several whiskey executives Reuters spoke with displayed a “wait-and-see” attitude, hoping that the tension will die down and any tariffs would be temporary.

“It’s very hard to predict what will transpire,” said Mark Brown, chief executive of Sazerac Co, owner of Kentucky’s Buffalo Trace distillery. “There isn’t going to be any certainty over whether it’s going to be a one-week spat or a two-year spat.”

The tariff may be shared all along the supply chain, from producers to importers and distributors to retailers.

But producers such as Brown-Forman, whose Jack Daniel’s sells for about 23 pounds ($30.86) per liter in British supermarkets, tend to have fat profit margins. Its operating margin was 32 percent last year, versus only 16.5 percent for Unilever and 12 percent for Cadbury chocolate maker Mondelez International.

Joseph Magliocco, president of Michter’s Distillery, sees the premium price of his bourbon as insulation. The cheapest version can be found in Britain for around 53 pounds ($67.10).

That puts him in prime position to weather the tariff storm, and keep his plans to expand with a new distillery set to open the public in downtown Louisville in September.

“In general if taxes go up, I would think the super-premium products will be affected less,” Magliocco said. Even though Michter’s is available in some 40 countries, international markets are only about 15 percent of sales.

($1 = 0.7452 pounds)

Additional reporting by Melissa Fares in New York; editing by Vanessa O’Connell and Edward Tobin

The post New tariffs risk turning U.S. whiskey sour appeared first on World The News.

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dragnews · 6 years

Text

New tariffs risk turning U.S. whiskey sour

(Reuters) – American craft distiller Adam Spiegel is bracing for a double shot of pain.

A bottle of Jack Daniels is shown for sale among other brands in the liquor section of a food market in Encinitas, California, U.S., June 6, 2018. Picture taken June 6, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

An escalating international trade spat is driving up his equipment costs and threatens to cut into his profit from the bottles he exports to Europe, just as business is booming.

“We are not a big company who can absorb such frivolous fluctuations,” he said, predicting: “American whiskey will get more expensive.”

For a graphic, click tmsnrt.rs/2xXDFx8

It requested a meeting with Secretary Ross to discuss the matter further.

Slideshow (5 Images)

Brown-Forman, which also sells tequila and other drinks, generates about half its revenue domestically, a quarter in Europe and a quarter elsewhere.

Those two companies make about 62 percent of all American whiskey, according to researchers IWSR. Other big players include Heaven Hill, Diageo (DGE.L) and Campari (CPRI.MI).

Kentucky’s largest city, Louisville, has benefited from what its mayor Greg Fischer has called “bourbonism”, or the convergence of bourbon making and tourism.

Bourbon, which can only come from the United States and is often sweeter than Scotch, has been growing beyond its home state, due in large part to a resurgence of cocktail culture.

Exports grew 43 percent to $1 billion over the past decade, according to the Distilled Spirits Council. About 59 percent of exports went to the EU last year.

HIGHER PRICES FOR CONSUMERS?

Therefore, if bourbon prices rise in the EU, he says people would just “buy cheaper versions of something very similar.”

With a recent boom in whiskey, there are more choices than ever – from classic places like Scotland and Ireland, as well as newcomers like Sweden and Australia.

The tariff may be shared all along the supply chain, from producers to importers and distributors to retailers.

Joseph Magliocco, president of Michter’s Distillery, sees the premium price of his bourbon as insulation. The cheapest version can be found in Britain for around 53 pounds ($67.10).

That puts him in prime position to weather the tariff storm, and keep his plans to expand with a new distillery set to open the public in downtown Louisville in September.

($1 = 0.7452 pounds)

Additional reporting by Melissa Fares in New York; editing by Vanessa O’Connell and Edward Tobin

The post New tariffs risk turning U.S. whiskey sour appeared first on World The News.

from World The News https://ift.tt/2kV1A74 via Today News

#Daily News #Daily World News #Daily Business News #Daily Sports News #World The News

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