The group behind the renovation of the former Old Taylor Distillery in Frankfort has finally settled on a brand name for its line of products: Castle & Key. The announcement came this week from Master Distiller Marianne Barnes and founding partners Will Arvin and Wesley Murry, who have been operating as the company Peristyle LLC but who had not yet chosen a name for the bourbon and gin they plan to produce....

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Feb. 29, 2016) – Buffalo Trace Distillery continues its homage to former Distillery owner Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. with a special release bourbon whiskey aged in seasoned wood oak barrels. This 100 proof, Bottled-In-Bond, small batch wheat recipe bourbon was aged well over a decade and is a special one-time-only release...

Jim Beam bourbon has undergone a transformation with all-new global packaging, marking the first time significant changes have been made to the brand in decades. As of mid-2016, the Jim Beam portfolio will have a unified, premium look in more than 100 markets around the world. Maxxium UK is rolling out the new packs from March, beginning with Jim Beam Bourbon followed by Jim Beam flavours, including Jim Beam Apple...

American Whiskey isn’t just enjoying a renaissance in its home market, but is drawing in new consumers around the world. Now, the International Wine & Spirits Report projects that increased interest among millennials globally could lead to sales of Bourbon and Tennessee whiskies surpassing those of Scotch malts as early as 2020. IWSR chief executive Mark Meek presented the findings at this week’s Whiskies & Spirits...

Today marks the biggest day for the film industry, as the 88th Academy Awards are taking place later this evening. Millions will be watching and for those who are interested in trying a new cocktail for tonight's event, Basil Hayden's Bourbon has one to consider. This particular cocktail is a rather simple one to craft and it is called the Basil Hayden's Golden Spice. The drink fits perfectly well as a pre, during or post show...

As we rapidly approach our 100th issue, The Bourbon Country Reader remains the oldest publication devoted exclusively to American whiskey. The Reader is still independent and idiosyncratic, with no distillery affiliation. It accepts no advertising. The Reader exists to serve the worldwide community of whiskey geeks and for no other reason. Volume 17, Number 3 of The Reader may well be our geekiest issue yet, as we dive deep...

I saw on Instagram the other day that some people have started growing bananas in California — another reason to be homesick in London in February. While we can’t boast a local banana crop here in the UK, we do have access to good bananas all year-round, since they do not have a specific growing season. At Violet, we are known for our banana bread, but more can be done with the fruit of this giant herb which...

The American craft distilling scene may have entered a renaissance period of late, but the business of making homegrown spirits is by no means a new one. In fact, distilling arrived here with the colonists, and while wars and, most significantly, Prohibition all but wiped out the nation’s first wave of commercial distilleries, a few have managed to survive. Considering the names that dominate the roster of extant long-running...

f you enjoy the classic Mint Julep, this is an event you do not want to miss. Mixologists from eight Louisville-area restaurants and bars will compete and create their own take on Derby’s classic cocktail - the Mint Julep - during Four Roses Bourbon Rose Julep Contest Wednesday, March 2, at 5 p.m. The contest is part of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s “Festival Unveiled” event, which will be held at the Mellwood Arts...

Whether you're celebrating the 88th Academy Awards with a soiree or just kicking back on the couch with the leading man or leading lady in your life, we have some simple and delicious cocktail recipes to make your Oscar night sparkle. Plus it doesn't hurt to have a little bit of alcohol to help get you through the inevitable boring parts of the broadcast. We've compiled 10 easy cocktails to serve during an Oscar-watching...

Maker's Mark Master Distiller Greg Davis kicked off a four-city tour at Butcher & the Boar to offer tastes of the Kentucky distillery's high-powered Cask Strength bourbon, which goes straight from barrel to bottle at around 110 proof. Davis will take the Maker's Mark "Tastemakers Series" to New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C....

Life is filled with absolutes, like the Talmud, the hangover following a bottle of gas station chardonnay, and the knowledge that if a distiller calls its spirit “bourbon,” they distilled that spirit in Kentucky. As with so many other absolutes — the world is flat, Apple will head for bankruptcy by 1999, Dennis Miller will always be a funny guy —the rule of bourbon? Not true. Undeniably, when someone says “bourbon” most people...

A new Single Barrel Bourbon is the latest limited edition expression in the premium 1792 whiskey collection from Barton 1792 Distillery. All of the bourbon used in this bottling was distilled and aged at the historic Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown before being selected and tasted for its exceptional quality. The bottling took place on a small hand bottling line that only allows one barrel to be processed at a time....

A distilled spirit is an alcoholic beverage in which the concentration of ethyl alcohol has been increased above that of the original fermented mixture, by a method called distillation. Dating back to the ancient Greeks, people have been making potent spirits for recreational and medicinal purposes for centuries. Much like craft beer has become hugely popular among the hipster crowds and older generations alike, craft...

Maltby, who also served as CEO of Cruzan Rum and executive committee member at Bacardi USA, will lead Florida-headquartered The Espiritus Group as its chairman and CEO. The Espiritus Group’s portfolio currently consists of Blue Nectar Tequila, Corner Creek Reserve Bourbon Whiskey, The Lost Distillery Scottish Whisky Company, Purus Organic Wheat Italian Vodka, and Virginia Distillery Company Highland Malt Whisky...

"We love to celebrate the pre-Revolutionary history of Ho-Ho-Kus, where George Washington came through and stayed," says co-owner Laurie Hamm. "This cocktail plays on his favorite fruit (cherry) and alcohol (whiskey). After his presidency, Washington went into the whiskey business and, at the time of his death in 1799, he operated the largest whiskey distillery in America...

Delaware’s inaugural bourbon, Diamond State Bourbon Whiskey, will be back on shelves at 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26, three months after the initial small batch sold out in a record 45 minutes. The first release took place Nov. 14, 2015, a date which also marked the distillery’s two-year anniversary. After cozily slumbering for a year, the bourbon was dumped from barrels Feb. 18 and 22. An invitation to attend the bottling was...

Back in 2012, Heaven Hill started its Elijah Craig series with Elijah Craig 20 Year. For several years now Heaven Hill has offered a taste of Elijah Craig bourbon aged an additional year allowing us to taste what happens to their signature premium bourbon over time. This is a very unique offering that has produced Elijah Craig 20 Year, Elijah Craig 21 Year, and now Elijah Craig 23 Year. Each of these offerings...

In the World Whisky Awards (WWA) just concluded, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10-year-old single barrel bourbon was named World's Best Single Barrel Bourbon. The WWA is presented by Whisky Magazine. It is all blind tasting and they have good judges. Of all the awards for which I've served as a judge, nobody does it better than Whisky Magazine. (I was not a judge this time.) The WWA doesn't make any distinction between large...

Have you ever wondered what makes up the mash bill of your favorite bourbon brands? Or why you might prefer Maker’s Mark to Bulleit Bourbon? Well, let’s find out. The most basic requirement for bourbon is that it must contain a minimum 51% corn in the mash bill. Traditional bourbons (Knob Creek, Eagle Rare, and Jim Beam, for example) are made up of 70-80% corn, with the balance being a combination of rye and barley...

Peerless Distilling, a family distillery dating to the late 19th century that was revived downtown last year, is offering their first bourbon to be bottled in 98 years as part of a collection called Series 1. Beginning with new make, the seven-bottle series is a journey through the aging process presented in 375 milliliter bottles. Using product “all cooked and barreled on one day and all stored in the same place...

Reported sales for Beam Suntory increased by 23 per cent to the 12 months ended 31 December 2015, led by strong momentum from its Bourbon brands. The company also benefited from mid-single digit organic sales growth and from a full year of results from the acquired Beam Inc business.

Distill, my heart. Some of the world’s best bourbon can be found aging in oak barrels right here in Louisville. In fact, bourbon is arguably Kentucky’s most notable claim to fame — aside from horse racing and basketball, of course. Kentucky possesses a rich, unique bourbon culture. There is no doubt how the spirit has influenced the Kentucky Derby. Mint Juleps, anyone? The Kentucky Derby Museum brings together an innovative...

Distilling bourbon is a right reserved for American producers, so where better to get your next bottle than from the nation’s capital? Enter Republic Restoratives, the newest, and first women-owned, distillery in Washington, D.C. Distillery and craft cocktail bar founders Pia Carusone and Rachel Gardner have been planning and renovating their warehouse space in Ivy City for over two years to achieve an almost-ready-to-open...

Nestled in the hills of Frankfort, Kentucky, is the oldest continuously operating U.S. distillery: Buffalo Trace. As you drive into the distillery property along a winding, fence-lined road, you can see the Buffalo Trace water tower in the distance, overlooking the property. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you get out of your car, because you’ll immediately be able to smell bourbon in the air. The distillery grounds...

In the late 1800’s Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. was the first to incorporate the use of steam power and temperature controlled warehouses to age bourbon whiskey at the distillery known today as Buffalo Trace. Elmer T. Lee introduced the world to the first very Single Barrel Bourbon in 1984 and soon thereafter the folks at Buffalo Trace began more whiskey experiments using unique mash bills, types of wood, barrel toasts...

When Bob Monk heard that the state Liquor Control Board was holding a lottery that offered him a chance to buy a bottle of Van Winkle bourbon, he thought, "Why not?" So he threw in his lot to grab a bottle of Van Winkle Special Reserve 12-year, 90.4 proof bourbon. If he won, he would be able to buy the bottle for $59.99 plus tax. What he didn't know then was just how expensive that bottle of bourbon would turn out to be...

While this winter has been mild in some parts of the country, there are still those cold days and during such times is when it's nice to have some warm recipes that break up the chills. Today, we have several new cocktails from Woodford Reserve to share with you all. The first cocktail is the Woodford Candy Cane, while the second is known as a Woodford Hot Apple Pie, both of which are great drinks on a cold winter or spring...

Scot Sanborn stood behind the bar and concentrated on a drinking glass. He wiped it clean and carefully laid the glass on the bar, alongside another just like it. He pointed at each glass and counted in silence, save for the soft jazz that came from a speaker set high in the corner of the candle-lit room. He glanced toward Moose — a 6-year-old Goldendoodle incessantly searching for attention — took a deep breath and smiled...

“Where did you find that bottle?” That is the question that starts the hunt for many of us; after the rare bottle has been opened, shared, and tasted and you finally understand all of the hype. For me, a sip of George T. Stagg in 2010 was the bottle that launched a thousand ships. One bottle, seven bottles, and then over a hundred – a few bottles in the home bar turned into a bourbon bunker but not overnight...

Q: I am trying to find straight bourbon, not a mix of bourbon and whiskey as most labels seem to indicate. What can I do? M.S., OF BELLEVILLE A: Unfortunately, your knowledge of this popular beverage seems to be on the rocks. The first thing you should do is learn this neat but perhaps confusing rule from the world of distilled spirits: Although all whiskey is not bourbon, all bourbon is whiskey.

Gravel crunches beneath the tires of my car as I navigate my way down a well-worn driveway deep in the Texas Hill Country. As I steer my vehicle around the last in a series of undulating curves, I make out a single, barnlike structure in the distance, its rolling doors spread wide open revealing a large copper-pot still. Nearby, a rooster crows its early morning call. This September day marks the first of two I’ll be spending...

When they left Missouri in 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark didn’t exactly pack light. In addition to 35 oars, 25 hatchets, 420 pounds of lead, 45 flannel shirts, 288 brass thimbles, and 50 dozen of something called “Dr. Rush’s patented ‘Rush’s Thunderclapper’ pills,” they also packed more than 90 gallons of whiskey. Each gallon cost about $1.28. While the price of whiskey has gone up since then, its association...

A former single-family home, tucked away in a wooded area off the Mt. Nebo interchange, could become the latest distillery in Western Pennsylvania. Sewickley Hills Council approved a site plan and conditional use permit allowing McLaughlin Distillery to move forward with plans to produce fine-crafted spirits. Kim McLaughlin of Mars said his distillery will be small, producing bourbon, vodka and moonshine at fewer than 2,000...

When it comes to literature and liquor, there’s never a bad time to brush up on the classics. After all, as the old joke goes, it was probably Charles Dickens’ bartender who inspired one of his most famous works when he asked the author a basic question about a martini—olive or twist? So which classic cocktails can I easily make at home? Which ones can—and should—be enjoyed no matter what the season? Big questions, I know...

If it seems like everyone at the bar these days is trading in beer for bourbon, it's not just in your imagination. In 2015, hard liquor continued its decade-long onslaught against the supremacy of beer, according to numbers released this month from the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. For the sixth straight year, distilled spirits' market share rose while beer's declined. Beer now accounts for less than half of the total...

A competition has been launched to find a UK brand ambassador for leading bourbon Four Roses, with the successful candidate chosen in a final audition. Drinks company Spirit Cartel is looking for someone with a thorough understanding of the bar industry, excellent trade relationships and the ability to engage with people in the drinks world. They are being asked to submit an “engaging and exciting” two-minute video...

One of the many fun things about visiting a distillery (besides trying the whiskey or taking a tour) is the chance to purchase mementos to bring home. Sometimes this is a bottle of your favorite bourbon, but many distilleries also sell t-shirts, branded whiskey glasses, or customized wooden barrel heads. What happens, however, if you forget to buy something – or you have no immediate plans to get to your favorite distillery...

Imagine this – you are at a bar and you want to compare some whiskies side-by-side. The problem is, the bartender isn’t the most attentive in the world, leaving you wondering if you’ll ever actually get that flight you ordered 15 minutes ago. One possible solution? Self-service technology in the form of the new SpiritStation. The SpiritStation, which we learned about from Whisky Advocate, follows in the model of self-dispensing...

Between January 2015 and December 2015, the group “benefited” from a full year of results from the integrated Beam Inc business. In 2014, Japan’s Suntory Holdings took over US firm Beam Inc for US$16bn, creating the world’s third biggest drinks group, Beam Suntory. The group’s Bourbon brands Knob Creek and Basil Hayden’s, as well as Scotch whisky Laphroaig, achieved double-digit growth in the Americas last year. Meanwhile...

A century ago, spirits flowed freely in the Tri-State. From Maysville to Petersburg to Newport, Covington and Cincinnati, families made small fortunes distilling whiskey, rum, bourbon and gin along the Ohio River before Prohibition hit in 1920. Craft distilleries have finally come back home, with five opening in Greater Cincinnati since 2012, and are riding the resurgence of craft spirits and record-breaking liquor sales...

A night-before-Derby outing from Mint Julep Tours will offer the chance to tour Buffalo Trace distillery after hours. The Derby Eve Distilled Exclusive Experience - set for May 6 - includes a private distillery tour and tasting at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, along with cocktails, a bourbon inspired dinner, live bluegrass music and cigars on the porch. “When we came up with this we were so excited,” said Mint Julep...

PLANT by Jay Astafa Pop-Up Dinner, Adelina's, 159 Greenpoint Avenue, Brooklyn, Monday, 7 p.m.

There’s only one thing better than hot cocoa on a cold night — and that’s hot cocoa with booze. Don’t get us wrong: We love an easy, dump-and-stir cocoa packet every now and again, but in the dead of winter, when spring still feels like a distant dream, it’s time to ditch the Swiss Miss for something stronger. The good news? That perfect, slightly dangerous cup of hot chocolate is never more than four ingredients away. Dreamed...

This drink is a French-inspired take on a Manhattan. Benedictine provides sweetness and spices and Byrrh is used as a replacement for vermouth. The name Deauville Dandy comes from the city of Deauville, Lexington’s French sister city...

What's better than a box of chocolates on Valentine's Day? A homemade chocolate dessert, of course. From Chocolate Bread Pudding to Chocolate Cupcakes to Chocolate Cream Pie, these desserts are sure to make your sweetheart swoon. 1. Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream Spiked with bourbon and studded with chunks of dark chocolate, this warm, chocolate-y bread pudding is the ultimate comfort food. Top it with...

In 2004, Dave Broom, Dominic Roskrow and WHISKY Magazine did some fine journalism that revealed a massive fraud in old bottles of Macallan. The wine world too is periodically rocked by counterfeiting scandals. There is one going on right now. Whether it's whiskey or art, when prices soar forgery soon follows. Until recently, counterfeiting wasn't much of a problem with American whiskey. It wasn't worth the trouble when...

Yellowstone Bourbon has long been relegated to the status of bottom-shelf swill. One of many whiskey labels owned by spirits giant Luxco, Yellowstone is also one of the older bourbon brands, dating back to 1872, the year its namesake national park was founded. Since Luxco’s partial acquisition of Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery in 2014, the two companies have been hard at work rehabilitating the brand...

How do you like your bourbon? Spicy or soft? With aromas of fruit or cereal grains? To be bold in cocktails or elegant sipped neat or on the rocks? While proof does play a part in all the above, the bulk of a bourbon’s forward flavors come from two “flavor” grains: rye and wheat. And if you talk often to bourbon lovers, you’ll find the lines of preference pretty vividly drawn, though they really needn’t be...

In 2008, Stacey Yates - with the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau - would likely have laughed in the face of anyone who said the city had too many bourbon bars. She and her co-workers had just spent a year convincing businesses to join the Urban Bourbon Trail - then a new tourism program they hoped would solidify Louisville's place in the state's bourbon story. And there was no way the final list of eight bars was too...