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.

Bars

DRY 85 Bourbon Bar: Like the Bourbon? Take it Home!

Suppose you are in one of the highest rated bourbon bars in the country tasting one of their bourbon selections. If you really like, it wouldn’t you want to buy a bottle and take it home. That would be Dry 85, Annapolis, MD.

Banter

For the Love of Bourbon

For the people who know me it’s no surprise that I love to entertain! Cooking for my friends and family is something that I really enjoy doing. It must be the little old Italian woman that lives inside of me, but it makes me happy to see people enjoy the food that I have prepared.

Distilleries

Copper & Kings: The Hipster Brandy Distillery That Won Me Over

Perhaps you are wondering what an article about a brandy distillery is doing on a bourbon website? I was wondering something along those lines myself when the media tour I was doing before the Bourbon Classic pulled up to Copper & Kings American Brandy Company.

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.

Distilleries

Kentucky Bourbon Travel for the Uninitiated

Although the legal requirement for where bourbon can be produced specifies anywhere in the United States, the strongest presence of the American spirit comes from the Bluegrass state, Kentucky.

Banter

Bourbon Bachelor: Pairing KFC’s Zinger Sandwich with Kentucky’s Finest

If honoring your calling is the only true way to live, then today is the first day I can say with certainty that I am alive. Because pairing fried chicken with bourbon is what I was born to do.

Banter

Bourbon: It’s Personal!

When it comes to the booming cult of bourbon, many newbies feel they need to drink what the pundits are touting. While many expert opinions are valued for various reasons (Mike Veach, Susan Reigler, Fred Minnick, to name a few) it can be a bit intimidating to try and match the same tasting notes.

Banter

Glassware 101: Choose the Best Glassware to Enjoy your Bourbon

If you are new to the world of whiskey, you may be wondering what the best whiskey for you to try is. Let’s be honest. If you’re an experienced whiskey drinker, you’re still probably searching out that perfect pour.

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!

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Diamond State Bourbon Review

Bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States, but when one thinks of bourbon, one typically thinks of Kentucky. After all, 95% of all bourbon produced is made there. But one need not be in Kentucky to make fine bourbon; craft distilleries are popping up all over the United States.

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.

Events

WhiskyFest Chicago 2016 Recap

The 17th annual WhiskyFest made its second stop in Chicago on March 18th. WhiskyFest has exploded in popularity in recent years, and this event is no longer the laid-back casual affair that long-time attendees remember.

Events

Bourbon Classic 2016 Recap

Disclaimer: I was invited to attend the Bourbon Classic at no cost to write about it for Bourbon and Banter but I paid for my hotel, food, and travel expenses while there and this review reflects my honest opinion on the event.

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.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Review + Bourbon Graph

Every regular bourbon drinker has THE bourbon, the one that opened up the portal to the possibilities that the spirit offers. For me, it wasn’t one bourbon, but several from the constellation of Buffalo Trace’s collection.

Irish Whiskey Reviews

5 Irish Whiskeys for the Bourbon Lover

Every March 17, we all get to be a little Irish. How, or if, you choose to embrace your new, day-long heritage has always been a personal preference, but conventional pop culture tells us that means consuming green beer, Guinness and, of course, Jameson Irish Whiskey.

Irish Whiskey Reviews

West Cork Irish Whiskey Review

I always reach for bourbon when I want a tasty pour of whiskey. Sure, I’ve had a number of scotches I have enjoyed and I have the requisite bottle of Jameson on my bar, but when I crave whiskey I crave bourbon. That’s why, after trying a number of world whiskies at Whiskies of the World last year.

Cocktails

Bonded Buck Cocktail Recipe

Do you know what the difference between ginger beer and ginger ale is? I didn’t, but I did a search and now I do. Ginger beer is brewed and fermented. Ginger ale is carbonated water with ginger flavoring added. Knowledge is power.

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.

Book Reviews

12 Must Have Bourbon Books

You upgraded from bourbon & coke, you have Glencairn glasses, and you even started reading this fantastic little blog: now what? It’s time for you to get educated, my friend! Bourbon writing has exploded in the past decade.

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.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Review

Evan Williams Black Label is a benchmark bourbon, not be confused with Benchmark Old No. 8 which I’ve previously reviewed. It’s one of those bourbons by which others are judged. I get that, but if you’ve read any of my reviews, you’ll know 86 proof is not my preferred ABV.