Cocktails

In Defense of the Espresso Martini

Every year, it seems another cocktail is the target of inexplicable ire and intense kvetching by both the press and certain bartenders. In 2019, the Aperol Spritz found a laser sight on itself, being called “not a good drink” by the New York Times.

Banter

OH, BROTHER! TALES OF THE COCKTAIL ADDS NEW SPIRITS COMPETITION

Drinkers need another spirits competition to tell them what to buy about as much as spirits makers need these medal-fests to tell them their products are great. Yet despite having several of these competitions annually, we’re getting another.

Indian Whisky Reviews

Rampur Asava Whisky Review

I find the nose to be lovely on this single malt. The fruity notes I discussed in my review of Rampur Double Cask are there but this time they’re joined with juicy aromas from the wine cask finishing.

Heads & Tails

HEADS & TAILS: ST. PADDY’S DAY ’22 EDITION

Drink up, lads and lasses! It’s St. Patrick’s Day! (Well, it’s a workday, too, so perhaps you should obey that directive after 5 p.m.) If you’re compelled to drink some Irish whiskey today, why not have it in the most classic of all Irish drinks.

Banter

Bourbon Crusaders & STRAW Announce Four Horsemen Kentucky Straight Bourbon

As first reported in Episode 23 of the Bourbon & Banter Podcast, the Bourbon Crusaders are partnering with the Society for Transparency in American Whiskey (STRAW) for a release that can only be described as a bourbon nerds dream. Fred Noe, Jimmy Russell, Jim Rutledge & Chris Morris got together.

Indian Whisky Reviews

Rampur Double Cask Whisky Review

In full disclosure, I haven’t had the opportunity to sample a lot of Indian Single Malts. To date, my exposure has been to a few expressions from Paul John, which I felt were quite good. In comparison, I found this Rampur Double Cask promising. The nose was fruity and full of heavy malt aromas.

Heads & Tails

HEADS & TAILS: “SMOKE AND BARRELS” EDITION

According to a news release, the world’s largest cooperage saw the increased popularity for spirits with “smokey” character and decided to develop a barrel offering smoke characteristics not achievable by traditional toasting or charring methods.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review

This is a delicious mature whiskey, far from overly oaked, and full of complexity and nuance. The nose is loaded with cooked dark cherries, warm dark chocolate, macaron, green apple and Juicy Fruit gum. On the palate it’s rich and mouth coating, not drying at all.

Banter

Rigorous testing is the norm for every Maker’s Wood Finishing Series

Referring to a pair of upcoming Wood Finishing Series fall 2022 releases, Jane Bowie, the brand’s director of innovation says, “These whiskeys will be further away from our normal taste profile than before. … With what we’ve done in the past, I believe we’ve earned the trust of consumers..."

Heads & Tails

Heads & Tails: The Bulked Up Edition

The old saying, “Flaunt it if you got it,” applies well here. Even better, “Auction it if you’ve got it, and help others in the process” is even cooler. Distilleries prove time and again that they’re generous businesses.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Jeptha Creed Bottled-In-Bond Rye Heavy Bourbon Review

On the palate, the Jeptha Creed Bottled-In-Bond Rye Heavy Bourbon begins with earthiness and intrigue, but ultimately the pour falls apart for me on the finish. The fact that it’s so drying is distracting, and that isn’t helped by the fact that it’s quite earthy and in need of a sweet or spicy kick.

Banter

The Bourbon Blues: Life with Post-Covid Anosmia

When my wife tested positive for Covid in November of 2020, she bounced back from it quickly. So, when we suspected our kids might have it 10 months later, I assumed that any fight would be equally brief.

Heads & Tails

Heads & Tails: The Stray Cats Edition

Early sips of the HHHC release bode well for an upcoming review. No sample yet for the OFBIB, but I’ll be interested in tasting this very, very Old Fitz. In recent years I’ve tended to like younger Fitz releases better. But who knows? Maybe this geezer bottle will impress.

Bourbon News

Buyout of Bardstown Bourbon Co. leaves some concerned, others hopeful

As of March 7, Bardstown Bourbon Company is the property of Pritzker Private Capital (PPC), a Chicago-based private equity owner of several manufacturing companies.

Podcast

The Horsemen Ride – Bourbon & Banter Podcast #23

The 23rd episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – The Horsemen Ride – is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. With the Midwest weather, Pops and Bob have braved wind, sleet, snow, ice, hail, and bad bourbon to bring you this month’s installment of the most honest podcast in bourb

Heads & Tails

Heads & Tails: Barrels and Blending Edition

Oy, have we got a marketing story here! This one reaches all the way back to J. Frederick Hillerich, a German woodworker who immigrated to Louisville in 1842. Hillerich’s core business was barrel making.

Heads & Tails

Heads & Tails: “THE ONE MORE DREADED ‘CELEBOTTLE’” EDITION

File this under “We wish could have made this up, but it’s fo’ real.” Top-ranked UFC fighter and Lafayette, La., native Dustin Poirier has launched a new bourbon named Rare Stash.

Irish Whiskey Reviews

Egan’s Conviction Irish Whiskey Review

This is an elegant and well-mannered whiskey; balanced, velvet soft, delicately honeyed while delivering a bit of spice across the palate. Easy, easy sipping that deserves some classy nibbles (think caviar and smoked salmon).

Banter

Maybe it’s time to ditch the term ‘craft distillery’

If you’re a whiskey drinker who likes variety and isn’t hidebound to a single notion of what “bourbon should taste like,” then I’d love to pour you some whiskeys you probably haven’t had. Ryes and bourbons from distilleries making a 2,000 to 3,000 barrels a year—or less.

Banter

Heads & Tails: “Back in the Grave” Edition

In Chuck Cowdery’s early 2022 edition of his quarterly print piece, “The Bourbon Country Reader,” he says MGP should kill off the George Remus brand and find another name for the otherwise good bourbon created for that SKU.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Green River Bourbon Review

I’m pleased to report that after scientifically tasting about half the bottle of Green River Bourbon, I can confirm that it’s beyond good. A nose of enticing warming spices greets you thanks to the high-rye mash bill followed by the standard bourbon flavors.

Heads & Tails

Heads & Tails: I Wouldn’t Wish For It Edition

Ever played this whiskey dork game? You go to a bar or restaurant and rapid-survey the bottles while thinking, “Had it. Haven’t. Have it. Hate it.” When I looked at this list of 20 top-selling whiskeys in the U.S., I added a new response. “Who drinks that?”

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Kentucky Owl St. Patrick’s Limited Edition Bourbon Review

This bourbon is truly delightful to drink. Too many multi-whiskey blends lack the synergy and symmetry that this bottle presents in spades. Its sibling, Kentucky Owl: The Wiseman Bourbon, released last September, was one of those.

Bourbon News

Owensboro has ‘no regrets’ about Green River Distilling Co.

Roughly six years after Terressentia Corp. began making respectable whiskey at the O.Z. Tyler Distillery here, the properly renamed Green River Distilling Co. staged a blowout release party for its namesake 5-year-old bourbon.

Banter

Heads & Tails: Are Single Barrels Illegal Edition

That’s the growing concern at Kentucky distilleries, where thousands of whiskey fans sample whiskeys from thousands of barrels every year.