Banter

Look at Me: The Private Barrel Sticker Craze

As I said earlier, custom stickers are a great way to capture and remember a barrel pick for years to come. It’s also a fun to express you or your group’s personality and creativity. And just like the whiskey in the barrel, people’s like or dislike of your label will be subjective.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Basil Hayden’s 10 Year Bourbon Review – 2020 Release

The initial mellow flavors hit on the traditional notes of caramel, vanilla, rye spice and oak but I found the taste thin and fleeting. After my initial tasting notes, I added a few drops of water (as per usual review practice) – this was a mistake; most flavors became non-existent and I felt like I

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

The Ultimate Guide to the 2020 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

It’s that time of year again: Buffalo Trace Antique Collection season! Buffalo Trace just released this year’s lineup and the secondary market is already getting extra thirsty. Lines will be formed, lotteries entered, and many dollars shelled out.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye Review

This is a decent rye that checks all the boxes required of an American rye whiskey, but it needs more time in the barrel to gain complexity and character to make it worth its $69 price.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review

This is a good but unremarkable bourbon. It is a pleasant, easy drinker that is best savored neat. Even a few drops of water softened it appreciably, making rocks pretty much out of the question. A cocktail? Not for me.

Bourbon News

Fistful of Bourbon Launches Nationally

It’s a hot day in the wild, wild west. A cowboy interrupts a duel to slather sunscreen all over his face, while questioning the whole idea of scheduling shootouts at high noon. Another cowboy compares a bourbon’s smoothness to the silk loungewear he has taken to wearing.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Rye Review – 2020 Release

This is a bottle full of goodness all around; silken yet full bodied; lush in texture but busily spicy with fruit notes. If you can make rye whiskey candy, solidify this. It’s a delight to hold in your mouth and roll around as the honeyed texture gives way to tingly spice and slightly drying oak.

Bourbon News

Buffalo Trace Announces 2020 Antique Collection

Just in time for the fall, Buffalo Trace Distillery is releasing its 2020 Antique Collection of whiskeys (BTAC). The highly regarded collection will once again feature five limited-release whiskeys of various ages, recipes and proofs.

Bourbon News

2020 Parker’s Heritage Collection Limited Edition Bottling Announced

Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the 2020 limited edition release of Parker’s Heritage Collection 10 Year Old Heavy Char Bourbon. The 14th edition will ship nationally beginning in September at an SRP of $120.00.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon Review – 2020 Release

Michter’s has treated me to the past several releases of this 10-year bourbon, and all were good, well-mannered and delicious. Crucial to my preferences, each also paired amazingly well with food. But the 2020 release is something truly special, my favorite of the lot so far. Warm chocolate gives wa

Bourbon News

Heaven Hill Announces Fall 2020 Edition of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Series

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the release of the fall 2020 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at 14 years old. Comprised of barrels produced in fall of 2005, and bottled in fall of 2020.

Distilleries

Bringing The Distillery To You: Virginia Direct To Consumer Shipping

If a Virginian can’t come to our distillery, we can bring our distillery to them.

Podcast

America Needs A Drink – Bourbon Podcast Episode 6

Episode 6 of the official Bourbon & Banter podcast – America Needs A Drink – is now available for your listening pleasure. Welcome to Bourbon Heritage Month! We’ve got a fantastic episode to kick of the most badass month of the year.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Watershed Distillery Barrel Strength Bourbon Finished In Apple Brandy Barrels Review

This special, limited release bourbon celebrates the 10 Year Anniversary for Watershed Distillery. It is actually the same distillate as their previous 4 year old Watershed Bourbon, but with two additional years of age on it.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak Casks Review

For 10 years Angel’s Envy has produced delicate, rounded and balanced bourbons finished in second-use casks—port, tawny port, sherry and rum (for its rye).

Banter

The 2020 Bourbon Heritage Month 30 Days of Bourbon Challenge

2020 has been a hell of a year so far. It seems as though every month offers something worse than the previous one. If you’re ready to turn things around for September, Bourbon & Banter has the solution.

Bourbon News

Limited Release Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel in the U.S.

For Blanton’s fans, Buffalo Trace Distillery is making Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel available in the United States this fall. This announcement follows Buffalo Trace Distillery announcing earlier this year that Blanton’s Gold Edition will be available annually in the United States.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Four Roses 2020 Limited Edition Small Batch Review

Similar to last year’s release, this year’s Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch bourbon has a lovely nosed filled with buttery vanilla and complemented with a pome fruit bomb and spiced orange.

Events

2020 Kentucky Bourbon Festival Moves to New Virtual Experience

Out of an abundance of concern for the health and safety of distilleries, attendees and the Bardstown community amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kentucky Bourbon Festival board unanimously approved the pivot from the traditional live event to a virtual experience.

Podcast

Who Let The Dogs Out? – Podcast Episode 5

Episode 5 of the official Bourbon & Banter podcast – Who Let The Dogs Out? – is now available for your listening pleasure. Our fifth episode is once again packed full of truth, honesty, and barrel proof opinions on the state of today’s bourbon industry.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon Review

The nose on the Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon is lovely. It’s more robust and more complex than the standard Elijah Craig expression we all know and love. As such, I was super excited to give this one a taste finally. Unfortunately, the flavor profile didn’t live up to the aroma.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

George Remus Repeal Reserve IV Review

I always look forward to MGP’s release of George Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon and was thrilled when they announced they would be getting it to market a few months earlier than usual. If you’re a fan of previous releases, you’re going to want to start making plans now to grab yourself a bottle NOW.

Food

Bourbon Brussels Sprouts Flambé Recipe

Brussels sprouts have been a much maligned vegetable over the years. Why is this? Mostly because the flavor is strong, and kids have much more sensitive taste buds than do adults, so a child tasting strong flavors gets overwhelmed very easily.

American Whiskey Reviews

Port Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whisky Review

In full disclosure, this isn’t my first run-in with Virginia-Highland Port Cask Finished Whisky. I’ve served previous batches at whiskey appreciation classes I’ve hosted and it always went over well. As such, I was excited for the opportunity to try Batch 10 to experience how it has held up.

Scotch Whisky Reviews

The Glendronach Revival Aged 15 Years Scotch Whisky Review

This is a delightful and intriguing whisky. It never stops giving new aromas, which makes it a lot of fun just to nose. Few flavors in this Scotch jump out at you; there’s a bit of seek and find with it.