Gear

Affordable Ice Balls For Your Bourbon

Okay. I admit it. I enjoyed typing the title for this blog post. Juvenile…perhaps? But I don’t think people want “ice spheres” to add to their Bourbon. I’m just keeping it real for the common Bourbon folk interested in finding ice balls to chill their drink.

Banter

Glenmore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Advertisement

Today’s Bourbon advertisement is a circa 1938 Glenmore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Advertisement. I did a search and found this interesting Glenmore timeline courtesy of Mike Veach over on BourbonEnthusiast.com. I’ve come to learn that Bourbon’s heritage is nothing if not convoluted and intertwined.

Banter

Chocolate for Adults – Twice The Vice

I stumbled across a new chocolate product on the web today called Twice The Vice. They mix chocolate with top-shelf liquors for a product banned in 32 states. As if that wasn’t enough to get my attention, it turns out that they offer The Kentucky Bourbon Collection.

Banter

It isn’t BOURBON in the bottle…Bourbon Institute Ad

Here’s a great promotional ad from the Bourbon Institute in 1959. This is but one of many in a series of advertisements the Institute put out to promote Bourbon to the masses.

Scotch Whisky Reviews

Benromach 21 Year Whisky Review

Scanning the shelves of my favorite shop, my eyes beheld only the familiars, those I had seen so many times before. It was late. I was tired. I stopped in on the way home from a hospital visit, taking the chance that the proprietor, my friend Tony, would have a surprise in waiting.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Breckenridge Bourbon Whiskey Review

As we’re all aware, bourbon, by law, does not have to be made in Kentucky. I know that many of you feel differently but for the sake of my review, I’d appreciate it if you could all simmer down and play by the rules for the next 5 minutes.  T

Scotch Whisky Reviews

Aberlour A’bunadh Whisky Review

The giver of this gift, put me to the test. I had previously bragged to my dear Jennifer that the only curves that rivaled her own were those of my whisky bottles. Needless to say, she did not see the humor.

Scotch Whisky Reviews

Glengoyne 17 Year Review

Have you seen the movie “Rocky”? It’s the story of an up and coming boxer who trains hard, eats right, goes the extra mile, and in the end, gets his chance at the title fight. Of course, everyone expects an exhibition by the reigning champ, a bout expected to last only a round or two.

Banter

Can Bourbon help save the art of conversation?

The world needs more bantering and less bitching. That’s the point I tried to convey in a post I wrote last week. In continuing along the lines of people and communication, I’d like to share an article I read this weekend in The New York Times titled “The flight From Conversation. “

Scotch Whisky Reviews

The Balvenie Madeira Cask 17 Year Old Single Malt Whisky Review

There are certain distilleries that have earned my reverence. The Balvenie is one. Never have I purchased a particular release from The Balvenie and found it wanting.

Banter

1938 Buchanan’s Black and White De Luxe

James Buchanan went into business in 1884. Eventually, his whisky was the acceptable standard in the higher class hotels and pubs, and by 1898, he had received the royal warrant from Queen Victoria to be the whisky supplier for the royal household.

Vintage Advertising

Old Quaker Bourbon Advertisement

Sorry that I haven’t posted more this week on the site, Twitter or Facebook.  I got hit by some random sickness that put me out of commission for a few days.  I’m starting to feel a little better, but I probably need a few more days to get back into the full swing of things.

Banter

Who’s Leading The #Bourbon Conversation On Twitter Infographic – April 2012

Last month we posted our first #bourbon Twitter infographic to show who’s leading the bourbon conversation on Twitter. We thought everyone might enjoy a monthly update so below are the results for the past month.

Banter

There’s A Reason We’re Named Bourbon & Banter

Last week was my wife’s birthday. To celebrate, we got together with some friends on Friday night at our favorite restaurant. I even surprised my wife by getting one of her college roommates to drive in for the evening from 3 hours away.

Banter

Old Grand-Dad – Bourbon Advertisement

This week’s bourbon advertisement is from Old Grand-Dad Special Selection circa 1980. I especially like this line, “You’ll know why we recommend it to people who drink Bourbon for sheer enjoyment.” I suppose it differs from people who drink it to get @#$@ up.

Events

Every Bourbon Pilgrimage Deserves A Bourbon Barrel

With the 2012 Bourbon & Banter Pilgrimage open for registration, I thought I’d give you a sneak peek into some trip details over the next few months. To kick things off, I thought I’d share a photo of this kick-ass mini bourbon barrel I received from our good friends at Bluegrass Barrels.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Jefferson’s Reserve Very Old Bourbon Review

Jefferson’s Reserve is a big, sophisticated bourbon with a lot of flavor up front, a lot of weight mid-palate and a deep, wonderful finish.

Events

Announcing the 2012 Bourbon & Banter Pilgrimage

A few weeks ago, I was discussing a trip to Kentucky with some friends. As we started to research all the different distilleries tours and pre-packaged travel options, I realized that the type of experience I was looking for wasn’t readily available.

Banter

Northwest Distilleries – Bourbon Advertisement

For this Friday’s installment of vintage bourbon ads, we will make you jealous. That’s right? Wouldn’t you like to be able to grab yourself a pint of bourbon for less than a dollar?

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon Review

An innovative approach to twice-barreled bourbon creates the rich and colorful flavor of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Uniquely matured in separate, charred oak barrels – the second barrel deeply toasted before a light charring – extracts additional amounts of soft, sweet oak character.

Banter

“The Ultimate Bourbon Immersion 2012” – PSA

Hey gang, I wanted to share something that I just received an email about. It’s the “The Ultimate Bourbon Immersion 2012” tour on April 26-29, 2012. I was asked to share with my readers who might enjoy a trip like this.

Banter

What Makes A Bar, More Than Just A Bar?

The other day I was scanning my RSS feeds, and the following headline from the NY Times caught me off guard and stopped me in my tracks… “The Last, Lush Hours of Bill’s Gay Nineties” “Bill’s Gay Nineties is closed?” I asked out loud to myself. Surely the headline was a joke.

Banter

Cream of Kentucky – Bourbon Advertisement

Welcome to Friday, everyone! We’re glad you all made it through the week safe and sound. What better time to slip back in time and experience some vintage bourbon advertising?  This Friday’s installment features a classic ad from Cream of Kentucky Bourbon.

Banter

Scotch versus Bourbon Infographic

Bourbon and Scotch lovers are united by the fact that both are types of whiskey. However, that’s also where things tend to end for many people who claim allegiance to one over the other.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Review

“As bourbon ages, a portion of the liquid is lost from the barrel due to evaporation—that’s the “Angel’s Share.” After aging, when the bourbon is dumped out of the barrel, a certain amount of whiskey is left trapped within the wood of every barrel.  We call that the “devil’s cut.” So goes the explan