Banter

A collection of 475 posts

Banter

12 Dumbest Drinking Laws Across Our Great Nation

As my grandmother taught me: one should never discuss sex, politics, or religion at the dinner table. These days, it seems politics are nearly unavoidable (especially when you have one relative who leans against the grain of the rest of the family) so what are we supposed to discuss?

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Find Us At Whiskey In The Winter 2018

Today is one of my favorite days of the year. It’s the day that Whiskey in the Winter occurs in St. Louis, MO – which just happens to be where I live. Whiskey in the Winter is a whiskey festival that started seven years ago as a first of its kind event in St. Louis.

Banter

How The Bourbon Crusaders Determined the Best Bourbons on the Shelf

What may have been overshadowed by the shocking and magical live auction at “Willett To Be Cured” was the months-long, massive blind tasting to determine the best bourbons that can still be found on most store shelves.

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Ratings, Ratings, Ratings! But what do they all mean?

Let’s face it, there are a lot of reviewers out there writing for websites, magazines and books. There are several commonalities: They’ll tell you a bit about the history or backstory, they’ll talk about mashbills, they’ll describe aromas, tasting notes and finishes.

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Rutledge Returns: Why He Left Four Roses, What He’s Been Doing & Where He’s Heading Next

A little over 3.5 years ago I had the honor of hosting a Four Roses bourbon dinner in St. Louis with Jim Rutledge as our guest of honor.

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Join Us for the 2018 #30DaysOfBourbon Challenge

Four years ago I started a little something to celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month. You see, I wanted to go to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. The problem was that life happens, and I couldn’t make it work out.

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It’s coming…are you ready?

We’re just 30 days out from the best damn month of the year – Bourbon Heritage Month. Are you ready to join us for a month-long celebration of America’s native spirit?

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From Coke to Cask Strength – Part Two

As with most people who visit the bourbon trail, they have a personal connection to certain distilleries and the people who work there. For Kevin, that indeed was the case & it helped shepherd him along at a remarkable pace regarding what his palate enjoyed.

Banter

From Coke to Cask Strength – Part One

My only experience is bourbon & Coke.” That was the answer when I asked Kevin, who purchased a VIP trip to the Bourbon Trail, what he typically drank. My organization (Jazz St. Louis) auctioned off a trip to the trail, guided by yours truly, as a fundraising item.

Banter

How to Celebrate National Bourbon Day 2018

Happy National Bourbon Day 2018! We hope your day is off to a great start and that you started your day with a nice shot of America’s native spirit while enjoying scanning the morning’s news headlines.

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Instagram: Follow • #DrinkCurious • Win Free Stuff

That’s right, we’re going to give away more stuff. We already pick a monthly winner from our email list (sign-up here if you haven’t) and now we’re going to pick a 2nd winner from our Instagram followers who have #DrinkCurious in their profile.

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Bourbonomics: Taking Advantage of Human Nature

Mark Twain wrote that Tom Sawyer “had discovered a great law of human action, namely that in order to make a man covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.”

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Introducing Our New Bourbon & Banter Team Members

All of us at Bourbon & Banter are thrilled to welcome our newest round of Guest Contributors. We invite you to learn more about them below and offer them a hearty congratulations for becoming part of our team.

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Cognac for Bourbon Drinkers

We all have our favorite drinks. And Bourbon is about as American as pumpkin pie and good ol’ Abe Lincoln. But you know? On occasion, a change is as good as a rest, and you might just fancy a different drink to savor.

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Remember When Nobody was Going to Ever Drink Elijah Craig Again?

Do you ever feel worn out? Run down? Past your prime? Have you ever longed for your younger days? Does getting older suck, or is it a great experience?

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How To Host A Scotch Tasting

While bourbon was my first love, there is so much other great whisk(e)y out there to explore. If you and your friends are interested in branching out, here are some ideas to hold an introductory scotch tasting!

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The Embassy Series: Mekhong – Thailand’s Native Spirit

For this month’s installment of my international series, I looked a bit closer to home. Just around the corner from my house sits BKK Cookshop, a restaurant focused on Thai-style street food. This tiny neighborhood kitchen is one of my favorite restaurants in DC.

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The 4 Bs of Bourbon Photography

We all have our favorite little things that we enjoy about bourbon. Obviously drinking it is number one. For many there is also the thrill of collecting it and the reward of sharing it with friends and family.

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A New Take On Whiskey Pairings

Whiskey pairings are nothing new, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find new and exciting ways to pair your whiskey. The best pairings bring out the essence of what’s in your glass, and better still, bring your experience to a new level.

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NEAT: The Story of Bourbon – A Review

Bourbon, there is nothing more rooted in American history and tradition. Bourbon can span generations, bring people together and make friends out of competitors. “NEAT: The Story of Bourbon” shares the history of bourbon, and also the love and passion of the people who make the spirit unique.

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The Biology of your Buzz

We all have that friend. The one that insists on telling you that they only drink beer because whiskey gets them too drunk. Or, I stick to vodka because tequila makes me crazy.

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Gordy Hue and the Greatest Bourbon Story You’ve Never Heard

If you found your way to Bourbon & Banter, then you’ve undoubtedly heard of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon. And if you’ve heard of Pappy Van Winkle then know it’s coveted by everyone from aficionados to the people who cut their hair.

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A Feast For The Eyes…

I’ll kick off by saying that I am usually a person who buys whiskey with my eyes and not my taste buds (not 100% accurate to be completely honest if I’ve had a blind sample of a whiskey).

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Bourbons To Help You Stay Warm This Winter

As frigid weather swept the country—even the Deep South, where I live—this month, my taste turned to bold, high-alcohol bourbons. I found myself drinking even the most intense bourbon undiluted, out of my Glencairn glass, rather than with an ice cube or two.

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The Embassy Series: Chacha – Georgia’s Native Spirit

Who we are is largely defined by where we come from. Traditions, cultural norms, and language all contribute to how each of us perceive and experience the world. But tying all of these together is the significant impact that geography has on shaping culture.