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Read all about it. The here and now of bourbon. Featuring articles covering the lifestyle surrounding bourbon and happenings of the industry. Have a bourbon story to suggest? Contact Us

BULLEIT RELEASES LIMITED EDITION 100 PROOF 'BLENDERS' SELECT' BOURBON March 6, 2020 by BRANDON FRIEDERICH

Bulleit, the rye-forward Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey brand, is getting crafty with the release of Bourbon Blenders' Select No. 001. As its name suggests, the limited-edition bottle is the inaugural expression in Bulleit's experimental Blenders' Select series...

How Pappy Van Winkle Became a Wildly Expensive, Impossible-to-Find Unicorn March 3, 2020 by AARON GOLDFARB

In June 2011, Wright Thompson, a writer for the now-defunct Grantland, cold-called liquor stores in three U.S. cities to see if he could score a same-day purchase of Pappy Van Winkle, the wildly popular Bourbon. He struck out and was laughed at for his chutzpah...

This episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars focuses on bottled-in-bond whiskey and bourbon pioneer E.H. Taylor. March 3, 2020 by Noah Rothbaum

You should really have a whiskey today—but better make it a bottled-in-bond whiskey. Why? Congress enacted the Bottled-in-Bond Act on March 3, 1897, which set a new standard for American whiskey and ushered in a new era of consumer protections.

The Hands-Down Best Bourbon Brands to Drink Right Now March 2, 2020 by Jonah Flicker

We take bourbon way too seriously these days. We argue incessantly about it on Twitter and Reddit. We tell people they are wrong for liking certain brands or drinking it a particular way. We spend exorbitant amounts on rare releases, then make fun of people for doing the very same. And we come to bars and liquor stores armed with a ridiculous amount of knowledge about the truth behind the stories distilleries weave...

Just because you can age wine in bourbon barrels doesn’t mean you should February 28, 2020 by Dave McIntyre

The first time I stood in a wine store and saw a label advertising “aged in bourbon barrels,” I just thought, “Why?” Don’t get me wrong. I like bourbon. And, of course, I love wine. But to me they seemed like the points of the compass for Rudyard Kipling. “Never the twain shall meet.” Yet there on the shelves were cabernet sauvignon aged in bourbon barrels, merlot in rum barrels, even sauvignon blanc in tequila barrels.

Buffalo Trace Is Bringing a New Kind of Blanton’s Bourbon to the States February 27, 2020 by Will Price

Available this summer, Buffalo Trace Distillery has confirmed that Blanton’s Gold Edition is coming to the US for the first time ever. The whiskey is the same as standard Blanton’s in every way, bar a 10 point proof increase (from 93 to 103).

The 13 Best Whiskey Brands To Add To Your Bar Cart February 26, 2020 by SARAH WEINBERG

Whiskey drinkers, we did some homework for you and found the best sweet, spicy, and smoky bottles your money can buy. This list has whatever strikes your fancy (Scotch, Japanese single malts, Kentucky bourbon) at whatever price point you're willing to entertain—from $20 classics to $150 splurges.

You’re Probably Wrong About Whiskey And Bourbon. Here’s The Truth. February 24, 2020 by Brandon Schultz

Is it whiskey or whisky? What exactly is a bourbon? Doesn’t it have to be made in Kentucky, and how is, or isn’t, Tennessee whiskey actually a bourbon itself?...

How Japan Created the Modern American Bourbon Market February 24, 2020 by Aaron Goldfarb

It was 1975 and bourbon sales in America were tanking. The brown spirit had hit its peak just five years earlier, selling some 80 million cases in 1970 — but it all went downhill from there. Baby boomers coming of drinking age were rejecting the stuffy-seeming whiskey their parents drank, instead favoring beer, cheap wine, and, most especially, clear booze like vodka and tequila.

The Whiskey Brand That's Highlighting How Black History Shaped American Whiskey February 21, 2020 by Lauren Hubbard

American whiskeys have always been proud of their heritage. From the Scottish and Irish immigrants who brought their distilling traditions to the new world, to moonshiners who kept the spirits alive during Prohibition, American whiskey makers have long leaned into the history of the liquor they bottle...

Meet the Brothers Behind the Midwest’s Best New Bourbon February 21, 2020 by Thomas Connors

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “There are no second acts in American lives” is a great line. But it no longer holds water — if, in fact, it ever did. Everyone, it seems, is ready to reinvent themselves with some disruptive business plan once they find an appropriately credulous investor...

BUFFALO TRACE NAMED THE AMERICAN DISTILLER OF THE YEAR BY WHISKY MAGAZINE February 18, 2020 by Matthew Evans

The Icons of Whisky America Awards by Whisky Magazine named Buffalo Trace Distillery the 2020 Distiller of the Year and Visitor Attraction of the Year at a recent ceremony in New York City. The magazine also awarded E.H. Taylor, Jr. Straight Rye as the Best American Rye Whiskey of 2020...

Belle Meade Bourbon Rolls Out the Honey Barrels February 19, 2020 by Chris Chamberlain

For a relatively young operation, Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery has some really dedicated fans. You can attribute some of that fervency to the popularity of their Belle Meade Bourbon Craftsman Cask Collection, a series of unique cask-finished bourbons released in extremely limited quantities...

Raising a Glass to Bourbon-Spiked Kentucky Chili February 18, 2020 by Tim McKirdy

The “authentic” chili debate includes such spicy topics as: whether or not beans deserve a home in the stew; what type of beef you should include (ground or diced?); and exactly how guilty you should feel for using store-bought spices and paste (who wants to invest the time and elbow grease grinding a fresh paste from dried chilies?)...

Why Does Whiskey Taste Like Whiskey? February 18, 2020 by Lew Bryson

What do you taste...what do you smell when you take a sip of whiskey? If it’s Scotch, you may taste tar, or dried fruit, or marmalade. Trying a bourbon? Scents of maple, or blackberry, or coconut come from the glass. Irish? A lush selection of fruit, maybe a grassy freshness. Sipping a Canadian might yield caramel, roasted nuts, and a zippy note of spice. Japanese can offer a bosky note of greenery, perhaps smoky plum notes...

10 Things You Should Know About Buffalo Trace February 14, 2020 by Emily Bell

When you hear the name “Buffalo Trace” you probably think of a bottle of bourbon whiskey with a proud- and/or slightly pissed-looking buffalo on the label (wouldn’t you be?). But in the world of bourbon, Buffalo Trace isn’t just a bottle. Buffalo Trace’s legacy (originally Old Fire Copper Distillery) basically encapsulates the history of American bourbon itself...

Woodford Reserve debuts Batch Proof Bourbon February 13, 2020 by Nicola Carruthers

Woodford Reserve Batch Proof (61.8% ABV) is part of the annual Master’s Collection series and follows the spring 2019 release of the “highly acclaimed” Batch Proof 123.3. The limited edition expression celebrates the brand’s batching process, which bottles the whiskey at its actual proof, straight from the barrel. Batch Proof is created using the same grain bill and process as the flagship Woodford Reserve Bourbon...

The World’s Best Bourbon Comes from a Small Distillery in Texas, According to More than 40 Experts February 12, 2020 by Will Price

Announced at World Whiskies Awards in New York last night, Ironroot Republic’s Harbinger bourbon whiskey earned the title “World’s Best Bourbon.” The Northeast Texas distillery’s whiskey is made using heirloom corn varieties from local farms and is available in limited markets outside its home state for around $50. For those unfamiliar with World Whiskies Awards, this is an underdog story...

Whiskey Can Teach Us A Thing Or Two About Innovation February 11, 2020 by Chuck Swoboda

Just ask the old-school distillers—and the ‘new kids’ who are disrupting the market. Imagine that you run a business where, above all else, your customers value how long it takes to make your product. The longer it takes, the better the outcome—or so believes the customer. You’ve become an expert at using time to make the best product possible. And that, hands down, is your competitive advantage...

The Complete Buying Guide to Buffalo Trace Whiskey: Important Brands and Bottles Explained February 10, 2020 by Chandler Bondurant

There is perhaps no American whiskey maker more respected or awarded as Buffalo Trace Distillery. The brands under its umbrella are some of the biggest names in whiskey — Pappy Van Winkle, E.H. Taylor, W.L. Weller and so on.

Jason Aldean & Florida Georgia Line Made a Bourbon and We Need to Try it February 7, 2020 by Taylor Weatherby

Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean have countless hits between them, and now they're teaming up for a new kind of hit: 80-proof bourbon. The country superstars officially launched Wolf Moon on Friday (Feb. 7), with both FGL and Aldean taking to Instagram to express their excitement over now being "bourbon brothers"...

Seven New Whiskeys To Watch For in 2020 February 4, 2020 by Caroline Paulus

While most of the rare annual releases come out in the fall, we here at The Bourbon Review believe that bourbon hunting is a year-round sport. There are special releases hitting shelves as we speak, and plenty that are only a few months away. Don’t let winter weather keep you down – here are seven new whiskeys to watch for in 2020...

A Day in the Life of Bulleit Whiskey Blender Eboni Major February 3, 2020 by Anna Archibald

Getting paid to taste bourbon every day is a job that most whiskey lovers can only dream about. For Eboni Major, it’s just a normal part of her morning routine. With a degree in food science and technology, Major thought she was destined to spend her life working in the quality control department of a food company...

Angel’s Envy Releases Second Cellar Collection Whiskey February 3, 2020 by Jonah Flicker

Angel’s Envy is known for doing basically one thing, but doing it very well — sourcing bourbon and rye (until the new distillery has enough aged stock of its own to release) and finishing it in different cask types. So far that’s included rum, sherry, and port barrels. The newest release in the distillery’s Cellar Collection series is a different version of the latter type of finish.

The Best American-Made Whiskeys January 31, 2020 by Kaitlyn McInnis

Sure, Scotch Whisky is pretty great – but there’s something to be said about spirits made stateside. Of course, it should come as no surprise that Kentucky has been producing world-class whiskey for centuries, but American-made whiskey is having a moment from coast to coast...

Terry Bradshaw Announces Foray Into Whiskey February 2, 2020 by Tobias Carroll

Over the course of his career, Terry Bradshaw has been an outstanding quarterback. He’s been a charming presence when providing commentary and analysis on the NFL. And he’s recently announced a new venture — one that sounds decidedly tasty. Like a well-executed audible, the news that Bradshaw is entering the whiskey business might come as a surprise — but it could pay off nicely...

Bartender Approved: The Best Booze to Bring to Your Super Bowl Party (And Why) January 30, 2020 by Christopher Osburn

Super Bowl Sunday — the day when everyone is a football fan — is almost here. Well, at least it’s the day when everyone enjoys chips and guac, chicken wings, and pizza while watching commercials and the halftime show. The teams are all set, and the Kansas City Chiefs will be taking on the San Francisco 49ers for a chance to hoist the Lombardi trophy...

Here Are The Whiskeys Bartenders Think Deserve More Hype January 29, 2020

It’s sad to admit, but the alcohol world is — at least to some degree — dominated by hype.

Where To Look For Pappy Van Winkle In 2020 January 27, 2020 by Aaron Goldfarb

In the booze-buying game we call them "honey holes." Off-the-beaten path liquor stores that seemingly no one knows about, which inexplicably have a great selection of liquid rarities. Every time you pop in there's some Japanese whisky or an oddball scotch or some vintage "dusty" bourbon that's been around since the Clinton administration. One thing that honey holes never ever have, however? Pappy Van Winkle...

The Best New Whiskies To Buy Right Now January 24, 2020 by Brad Japhe

If you’re a fan of great bourbon, scotch, rye, Irish whiskey—and even Canadian whisky, the decade is off to a sterling start. The first month of 2020 isn’t even quite over yet, and the shelves of your local liquor store are already stocked with new releases of note, spanning a wide range of price points. But it’s not all roses right now for the spirits trade, sadly...

7 American Whiskey Trends in 2020 January 22, 2020 by Kyle Swartz

Brown spirits continue to boom in America. Although consumer education remains a bit behind — many people still don’t know the difference between bourbon and whiskey — interest in distilled spirits is very high. This is obviously great news for distillers, distributors and retailers alike. The depth of consumer interest has spurred numerous new brands to emerge in recent years. Product innovation also has reached new heights...

Three brothers open first Black-owned bourbon company in Louisville January 24, 2020 by Dawn Onley

It was Victor Yarbrough’s idea: to do something that would increase economic opportunities in the predominantly Black neighborhoods of west Louisville. So he got with his brothers, Chris and Bryson, and the three started the first Black-owned bourbon company in Louisville — Brough Brothers Bourbon...

The Definitive Guide to Drinking Bourbon the Right Way

First off, the title of this post isn’t exactly accurate. All you have to do to drink bourbon the “right way” is swallow it. What we’re really getting at when we speak of drinking bourbon properly is tasting bourbon properly. Once you’ve made that distinction–the one between drinking and tasting–you’re ready to develop an appreciation for the nuances of America’s native spirit...

America’s First Family of Bourbon: The Beams January 22, 2020 by Lew Bryson

James Beauregard Beam was distilling bourbon well before Prohibition, and when Prohibition ended, he was eager to do it again. At the news of Repeal, Jim Beam (as he was commonly known) turned to his son Jeremiah, his brother Park Beam and Park’s two sons, Carl and Earl, and said, “boys, time for us to get back to work.”...

Buffalo Trace Distillery Reports the Bourbon Boom Still Boomin’ with 35% Increase in 2019 Visitors January 21, 2020 by Distillery Trail

It may be hard to find that elusive bottle of 23 Year Old Pappy Van Winkle Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey but it’s not difficult for bourbon fans to find their way to where it’s made. The historic Buffalo Trace Distillery located in Frankfort, Kentucky is celebrating another year of record growth in the number of visitors to its distillery...

How to Talk Bourbon: 11 Slang Terms Every Wannabe Expert Should Know January 20, 2020 by Will Price

The beginning of every new hobby goes something like this: figure out you like something, seek more information, become overwhelmed with jargon, take a step back. In industries as old and technical as whiskey-making, lingo abounds — mashbill, small batch, barrel pick, high wine, high rye, distillate and so on. But at least these words have firm definitions...

Tasting Bourbon for a Living Is No Party January 17, 2020 by Francesca Fontana

Jackie Zykan has a whiskey-lover’s dream job: tasting bourbon for a living. She was initially interested in molecular interactions of a different sort. Before joining Brown-Forman’s Old Forester brand as its master taster, Ms. Zykan majored in biology while bartending her way through college in St. Louis and planned to attend medical school...

10 of the Best Bourbons You Can Buy for Less than $100 January 15, 2020 by Chris Wright

There was a time when drinkers thought spending more than $50 on a bottle of bourbon was pretty insane. This was before the bourbon boom, mind you. Nowadays people buy rare bottles that cost as much as a used car. But the hesitation remains: there are so many great bottles of bourbon that cost $30 or $40 that it seems a tough sell to spend twice that on anything at all.

BUFFALO TRACE TAKES THE BOURBON BY THE HORNS WITH 128-PROOF STAGG JR. WHISKEY January 16, 2020 by Maxim staff

Buffalo Trace has launched an all-new, 128.4 proof Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey from its acclaimed Stagg Jr. franchise. The latest Stagg Jr. bottle, which is the 13th release since the series started, is an uncut, unfiltered, eight-year-old barrel-proof whiskey...

We Asked Bartenders To Tell Us The Best Mixing Bourbons January 13, 2020 by Christopher Osburn

We understand that to some of you, the idea of mixing a well-made bourbon into a cocktail is borderline blasphemy. The thought of not slowly sipping on that long-aged, hand-crafted spirit is just too much to handle. There’s a case to be made for that, but we also love bourbon-based cocktails. And we’d rather not have ours made with bottom-of-the-shelf well swill...

What’s the Best Way to Drink Bourbon? Just Ask a Kentuckian January 14, 2020 by Ben Bowers

Is there a right or wrong way to enjoy bourbon? We set off in search of a definitive answer by asking everyone from master distillers, tour guides, mill workers and marketing managers to quality control scientists, chief operating officers and bartenders...

A New Bourbon Finished In The Prisoner Red Wine Barrels January 11, 2020 by Kevin Gray

The constantly-flowing stream of new whiskey releases covers all categories, from bourbon and scotch to American single malts and Mexican corn whiskeys. But one thing these releases have in common: a penchant for finishing spirits in barrels that previously held wine, port, sherry, rum and beer...

Your Ultimate Guide to Buying Bourbon, Whether for Sipping or for Cocktails January 8, 2020 by Jennifer Anderson

The bourbon renaissance of the last two decades first led to a bourbon shortage, but, lucky for us, it was followed by a bourbon boom! While that's good news for bourbon lovers, it does leave those shopping for spirits with a dilemma: Now that there are more brown liquors to choose from than ever before, how do you make a selection...

The Best Bourbon Whiskeys You Can Buy for $100 and Up January 7, 2020 by Chris Wright

So, you want to spend more than $100 on a bourbon. Great! This is your right. (If you haven’t tried the army of great bourbons for less than $50 or $25, you should probably start there first.) There are loads of “high-end” bourbons to choose from. Since the bourbon boom in the early 2000s...

Here’s your chance to taste the ‘best’ whiskey on planet Earth January 6, 2020 by Charles Passy

The Barton 1792 Distillery has a long history of making bourbon. In fact, it claims to be the oldest fully operating distillery, established in 1879, in the Kentucky town of Bardstown, which is considered the hotbed of bourbon-making. (The 1792 in the name refers to the year that Kentucky became a state.)...

Distiller will pay over $700,000 because of bourbon spill January 2, 2020

Jim Beam will pay the state of Kentucky more than $700,000 because of a bourbon spill that killed fish in the Kentucky River and Glenn’s Creek last summer. The spill happened after lightning struck a warehouse on McCracken Pike in Woodford County in early July, causing a fire. The warehouse collapsed, destroying about 40,000 barrels of bourbon and contaminating the nearby creek, which flows into the river...

These Are the Best Bourbons of the Year, According to the World’s Leading Whiskey Expert December 28, 2019 by Will Price

Love it or hate it, longtime whiskey writer and critic Jim Murray’s tastebuds have the power to make bottles disappear off shelves. Containing upwards of 1,500 individual bottle reviews, his annual Whisky Bible is a guide to the good, bad and ugly of the whiskey world...

Four Roses Bourbon brand ambassador Al Young dies December 27, 2019 by Sarah Ladd

Al Young, the senior brand ambassador for Four Roses Bourbon, died on Christmas, the company announced Thursday. "The Four Roses family is in mourning," the company said in a statement shared on its website. "Husband, father, grandfather and friend, Al was an integral part of Four Roses’ legacy and history, having been with our distillery for more than 50 years...

5 Dramatic American Whiskey Stories That Shaped The Decade December 27, 2019 by Fred Minnick

For the past decade, American whiskey’s grown like a weed. Bourbon, especially, has entered the mainstream, with television series writing brands into their scripts and music promoters building festivals around the spirit. Bourbon’s growth has allowed me to live a dream I never thought possible...

Inside Kentucky's Tradition Of Whiskey-Making December 26, 2019 by Editor

There are more barrels of bourbon in Kentucky today than at any point since the 1970s. According to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, there are more than 7 million barrels of bourbon aging in Kentucky — a state with only about 4.5 million people. Host Jeremy Hobson revisits his travels to Kentucky last May...

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