Banter

A collection of 475 posts

Banter

Changing the Game: Allocated Bourbon All Year

This past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to meet with Jonathan Blue. For those of you who don’t know: Jonathan’s investment firm, Blue Equity, had already owned Party Mart and now recently acquired Liquor Barn.

Banter

The Embassy Series: A Journey Through the World’s Native Spirits

On May 4, 1964, the United States Congress passed legislation that we can all agree was a wise move: the designation of Bourbon Whiskey as a uniquely American product and our country’s native spirit.

Banter

Bourbon Beyond Borders

I reported to my current posting here at the U.S. Embassy in Quito, Ecuador, in mid-October of 2017…just in time for the annual Marine Ball.

Banter

Blinded By The Hype

One of my least favorite things is what I like to call the “hype” formula. People go crazy over a bottle, which leads to other people going crazy over that bottle, and eventually, the hype gets to a level where everyone just runs out and buys that latest.

Banter

What should I really put next to my steak?

In the world of bourbon today, there are unfortunately many different characters that you may rather not associate with. The world is getting smaller thanks to social media, and there are seemingly more fans of good whiskey than ever before.

Banter

The Benevolent Basil Hayden

I was standing in an empty Kentucky Kroger parking lot as the sun was setting on Christmas Eve night five years ago, taking stock of my situation.

Banter

Good-bye 2017 & Happy New Year!

As I sit down to write my year-end post I find myself a bit at a loss for the words to explain how I’m feeling about the closing of another year.

Banter

Brett Atlas’ Best of 2017

The most important thing I’ve learned in 2017 is that taste is an argument that cannot be won. You may find your friend’s wife annoying or ugly, but you’re not likely to express that on Twitter.

Banter

Help Wanted: Seeking Booze Evangelists Worldwide

As we head into 2018, Bourbon & Banter is excited one again post an open call for booze evangelists. If you’ve ever wanted to write for Bourbon & Banter or get your point of view heard by hundred’s of thousands of fellow booze aficionados, now’s your chance.

Banter

Retail Store Memberships: Good or Evil?

Liquor distribution in the United States is not right. Control states aside, the rest of the U.S. is subjected to monopolized and a bastardized remnant from Prohibition that is a pay-to-play system.

Banter

A Bourbon Spouse’s Point of View

I’m going to be honest here. I am not a bourbon drinker. I stick to those girly drinks with umbrellas. I went along on the Bourbon & Banter 5th Anniversary event because I thought it would be fun and interesting.

Banter

Wild Turkey: The Best Private Barrel Pick Ever

Over the past decade of I’ve been extremely fortunate to be a part of nine different bourbon barrel pick trips. Some of my good fortune has been due to the relationships that I’ve developed, some have been due to me living in within a 2-hour drive of Louisville, and some has been just plain luck.

Banter

Bourbon Bunkers: Ideas For Storing Your Bourbon Collection

I began researching this post some time ago. By chance, the contributors to Bourbon and Banter were discussing where we store our pride and joy bourbon collection. I was surprised to hear the variety of choices used to store bourbon.

Banter

Chasing Bourbon Unicorns

What are your top five unicorn bottles? First, let’s define a “unicorn.” A unicorn is a bottle that you have heard of but never seen. It’s not in a bar. It’s not on your Instagram feed. Your Google search is strangely unproductive.

On The Road

Kelvin Cooperage: The Best Damn Cooperage Tour Ever

Back in 1963, after completing his five-year apprenticeship, Ed McLaughlin started his cooperage. Kelvin Cooperage has been a family-run business ever since. It began on the banks of the River Kelvin in Glasgow, Scotland and now resides in Louisville, Kentucky.

Banter

Taste More, Listen Less

In a Louisville hotel room overlooking the Haymarket whiskey bar, my friend Brian had arranged something special. As I entered the room, I instantly spotted three rows of semi-filled glasses, each row dead-ending at an amber bottle marked with the letters ‘X’, ‘Y’ and ‘Z.’ “Oh, hell yes!”

Banter

100 Proof Bonded Weekend: A BIB Blind Tasting

It’s that time of year again. My annual guy’s weekend in the mountains of western North Carolina. If you read my post from last year, you may recall that a few of my buddies from Louisville and I make our way to Tuckasegee, N.C. each year for a weekend of bourbon, football, and grilling.

Banter

Up the Ante of Your Next Card Party

Card parties are still a thing and are as popular as ever. Whether you’re hosting one to visit with friends, eat great food and enjoy great drinks in the comfort of your own home, themed card parties are all the rage right now, so power up your typical night of playing cards with a little bourbon.

Banter

You Need to Meet…The Smooth Draws Radio Show

It was a particularly enjoyable time for me a few weeks back when two of my worlds collided during a Saturday afternoon live broadcast of the Smooth Draws Radio show.

Banter

Reimagining Wild Turkey’s Ad Campaign

A few weeks ago, Wild Turkey/Campari released the second installment in the tenure of Matthew McConaughey’s Creative Directorship.

Banter

Bourbon Women

The phrase “women in x” is everywhere these days. Even though we’ve been around for, well, as long as men have, it seems that only recently people are taking notice of highlighting women in various industries.

Banter

#30DaysofBourbon In Review

September sure flew by fast. We’re at the end of Bourbon Heritage Month and my #30DaysofBourbon challenge. Honestly, when I invited folks to join in on the fun, I was completely unprepared for the participation rate.

Banter

Best Bang For Your Bourbon Buck

With the myriad of options available on the shelf for the bourbon drinker, the possibilities are seemingly endless. Particularly with the constant flow of “new” brands that seem to keep appearing on shelves.

Banter

The Ultimate Guide To The 2017 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

It’s Buffalo Trace Antique Collection season! With this year’s release just announced, we know many of you will be moving heaven and earth to get your hands on a few bottles. Sadly, we know that most of you will fail (don’t let the bottles released numbers get your hopes up too much.)

Banter

You Need To Meet…Christopher Mize – Virginia’s Bourbon Artist

A few months ago, I stopped by the Christopher Mize booth while attending the Food and Wine Festival at National Harbor, Maryland. As I came around the side of the both, I stopped as I noticed a painting containing my favorite bourbon, Buffalo Trace.