Bourbon
Bourbon is the unquestioned king of American whiskey, its production dating back to the 1700s. While bourbon is invariably associated with Kentucky, where 95 percent of all bourbon is produced today, in reality it can be produced anywhere in the U.S. (though only Kentucky Bourbon can include the name of the state on the label). By U.S. law, bourbon must be made from a mash of at least 51% corn; be aged in new, charred oak containers; distilled to no more than 160 proof, entered into barrel at no more than 125 proof, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof. Contrary to popular opinion, there’s no minimum aging requirement for bourbon, although straight bourbon must be aged for at least two years and cannot have added coloring. One of the most popular spirits in today’s drinking world, bourbon prices have been on the rise as stocks have dwindled — although massive investments in the industry promise to ease those supply pressures in coming years.
Top Bourbon Posts:
Tips, Tricks, and Advice on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Top 10 Bourbons Under $20
Buffalo Trace’s Single Oak Project
What would bourbon season be without a few new releases from the prolific blenders at Barrell Bourbon? While Jonathan is hard at work tasting the new Cask Finish Series duo (more amburana!), today I’m checking out two somewhat a-typical offerings: Foundation, Barrell’s very first non-cask strength whiskey, and a new cask strength rye. Thoughts follow.…
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Luxco has expanded its Lux Row whiskey brand with the launch of a new, and somewhat unorthodox, four grain bourbon called Four Grain Double Single Barrel Bourbon. Offered at 115 proof, Lux Row Four Grain Double Single Barrel Bourbon is the combination of a single barrel of 4-year-old wheated bourbon and a single barrel of…
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It’s time for the third and final Larceny Barrel Proof for 2023, the high-test version of Heaven Hill’s wheater. With C923, we find the usual notes of sweet butterscotch and baking spices on the nose, though there’s perhaps more of a leathery, savory edge here than we usually get with Larceny’s Barrel Proof releases. An…
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If I said this whiskey was made in Kentucky by one Wardell Stephen Curry, you probably wouldn’t bat an eye. Some old timer, amirite? But if I clarified that that’s the full name of Golden State Warriors MVP Steph Curry, well, maybe you’d perk up a bit. Gentleman’s Cut is another in a long line…
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I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for some festivities in the form of holiday revelry. Naturally, the holidays mean gift-giving time is nigh, and you’re going to want recommendations for what to wrap up and stash under the tree. As always, this year we want your gift-giving to make a statement, but we…
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Bardstown Bourbon Company dropped new additions to their Discovery and Collaborative Series this fall, and we’ve got thoughts to share on two of them. First up, the 11th installment in the Discovery Series, a line that, until this latest release, relied entirely on sourced whiskey for its often elaborate blends. Next is a new addition…
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I promise we didn’t sleep on Old Fitzgerald‘s spring 2023 bonded release. This whiskey wasn’t even announced until August, and it’s taken another few weeks for us to get our review done. A youthful installment in the newish series (which now numbers 11 whiskeys), this wheater is a mere 10 years old, produced in the first…
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Some whiskey brands dig deep into obscure history for their backstory, but Mary Dowling, the latest from Rabbit Hole founder Kaveh Zamanian, is a story I’m honestly surprised hasn’t been told yet. I had the opportunity to chat with Kaveh about his new venture at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in September, and he gave me…
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Lots of action going on at Heaven’s Door these days. There’s a new distillery, a new visitor’s center, and a big renaming (and even revamping) of its core lineup. Let’s start with the basics. First, Heaven’s Door’s core lineup — three whiskeys — have all been given new names and new bottle graphics, each featuring…
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Kentucky Owl’s parade of odd collaborations continues with the even more oddly titled Maighstir Edition, which is a joint production of Kentucky Owl’s Maureen Robinson and John Rhea. While Rhea was most recently the COO of Four Roses, he has been at Kentucky Owl for the last two years, with Robinson presently taking over. That…
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