Patrick "Pops" Garrett

Founder and Chief Drinking Officer of Bourbon & Banter and DrinkCurious.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Blood Oath Pact 2 Review

A little over a year ago, St. Louis-based Luxco debuted their first foray into the fast-growing premium bourbon category – Blood Oath Pact 1. As further evidence of their whiskey-fueled momentum, Luxco is releasing Blood Oath Pact 2, the sequel to last year’s Blood Oath Pact 1.

Food

Bourbon Inspired Foods: Great Ways To Eat Your Bourbon

Since the bourbon trend has been popular over the last several years, increasingly, bourbon is being infused into food culture as an ingredient. Living in Portland, Oregon, eating and drinking is serious business and taken to the highest art form.

Industry News

Master Distiller Ken Pierce to Retire from 1792 Distillery

After more than 30 years in the beverage industry, Master Distiller Ken Pierce is retiring from Barton 1792 Distillery. Pierce’s early days in the distilled spirits industry started with Barton Brands of Georgia (now defunct) where he was Plant Chemist and later Quality Control Manager.

Industry News

Jim Rutledge Announces Plans for New Distillery

Rutledge retired from Four Roses Distillery in September 2015, and after nearly 8 months of retirement he said: “I realize it is time for me to get back to work!”

Gear News

Old Hickory Vintage Label T-Shirt

Today we’re introducing our newest vintage label t-shirt – Old Hickory. We invite you to take a closer look in our online shop and explore the rest of the vintage label collection.

Banter

What’s Next for Bourbon & Banter?

We’re only two months into our fourth year, and things are busier than ever at Bourbon & Banter. We’ve launched a new website design, logo and tagline along with the addition of eight new guest contributors from our recent Help Wanted recruitment drive with more joining our ranks very soon.

Industry News

Luxco Announces Plans for Bardstown Distillery

(St. Louis) April 4, 2016 – Luxco announced today the company has finalized plans to build a distillery, located in Nelson County, Kentucky. Luxco has chosen to build the distillery on a 70-acre site off state highway KY-245 in the heart of Bardstown and Bourbon Capital of the World.

New Brand Releases

Luxco Releases Blood Oath Pact No. 2

(St. Louis) March 28, 2016 – St. Louis-based Luxco has launched Blood Oath Pact No. 2 – the second expression in the limited release, ultra-premium bourbon series, Blood Oath.

Banter

Happy Easter

Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter! Stay safe and make sure to share your bourbon with everyone around you today. Cheers!

Industry News

Luxco Release Party Celebrates 3 New Whiskeys

Photo L to R: Steve Beam (Limestone Branch Distillery), John Rempe (Luxco – Blood Oath Bourbon), Patrick Garrett (Bourbon & Banter) and Ciaran Mulgrew (Quiet Man Irish Whiskey) One might think that whiskey launch parties are a typical occurrence for someone who runs a bourbon blog.

New Brand Releases

High West Releases Distillery-Exclusive 14-Yr Light Whiskey

PARK CITY, Utah (March 17, 2016) — Come see the light! High West Distillery, Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870, releases a limited edition 14-Year Light Whiskey.

Banter

Meet Your New Bourbon & Banter Team Members

Over two months ago we put out a Help Wanted post to recruit some new writers for Bourbon & Banter. Little did we know how strong interest was going to be in joining our team.

Banter

The Story Behind Our New Logo

It’s been a few weeks since we launched our new website and new logo. We thought we’d take a few moments and share with everyone some of the ideation behind the new look from the amazing designer, Josh Reeves, who created it for us.

Industry News

Announcing Castle & Key: Kentucky-Bred Bourbon

Millville, KY, February, 2016—Inside the walls of a 19th century limestone castle in the heart of bourbon country, history is being honored–and made.

New Brand Releases

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Seasoned Wood Bourbon Whiskey Released

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Feb. 29, 2016) – Buffalo Trace Distillery continues its homage to former Distillery owner Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. with a special release bourbon whiskey aged in seasoned wood oak barrels.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Colorado Straight Bourbon Review

Colorado Straight Bourbon is made by Peach Street Distillers, out of Palisade, Colorado. Peach Street Distillers boasts of being “artisan experimenters” and “fearless craftsmen” located in a “secluded mecca perfect for growing the finest fruits and grains on the planet.”

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

John J. Bowman Single Barrel Bourbon Review

Living in Louisville makes it easy to develop the mindset that local is better. We excel at homegrown restaurants, arts, and bourbon. Here a bourbon lover can audition a different Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey weekly and never run out of options.

Industry News

Barton 1792 Distillery Releases Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon

New product release update from the fine folks over at the Barton 1792 Distillery: Barton 1792 Distillery Releases Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon. A new Single Barrel Bourbon is the latest limited edition expression in the premium 1792 whiskey collection.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon Review

Looking into Hillrock Estate Distillery’s history you’ll find it is very short. But the estate upon which it’s situated, located in the Hudson Valley of New York State, has a history that dates back to the early 19th century.

New Brand Releases

The Return of Bourye

Some good news from our friends at High West Distillery. If you enjoyed the original Bourye you may want to look into how you can get your hands on the new version.  Good luck!

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Perfect Pairing – Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon & Ashton VSG Tres Mystique Sun Grown Petite Corona

THE BOURBON Since 1954, Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon has been one of the country’s best selling small batch bourbons. The mainstream bourbons are created with corn, malted barley, and rye. Maker’s Mark, on the other hand, is a ‘wheated’ bourbon.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

David Nicholson 1843 Bourbon Review

Attach the names Van Winkle or Weller to a bourbon brand and a good story instantly begins. This one started in 1843 when grocer David Nicholson began distilling an original bourbon whiskey recipe at his St. Louis general store.

Cocktails

Old Jonas Cocktail Recipe

Blizzards are quite possibly the best reason to drink. You can’t possibly drive anywhere and your greatest risk is falling asleep on your couch, floor, stairs or bathroom instead of your own bed.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon Review

Everyone has seen the increase in the price of bourbon recently too, along with more and more bottles becoming highly allocated. It is nice to have a bourbon that tastes good, isn’t $100, and you don’t have to sign up for a lottery to get a bottle.

Canadian Whisky Reviews

A Canadian Whisky Tasting

A Canadian Whisky the World’s Best for 2016! shouted the headline on November 20th 2015. This was a first for Canada and the whole country was thrilled to hear it. The next day the whisky (Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye) was sold out.