It's been a big year for bourbon. The U.S.'s love affair with its own whiskey has only grown stronger — and why shouldn't it with so many great bottles coming out? We could talk about the amazing small-batch programs, the most coveted brands, the increasing quality…

It has been quite the year for the Booker’s Bourbon brand from the folks at Beam. The bourbon “inspired by a 200 year old family tradition,” which included being bottled unfiltered and at natural proof, has been through five special releases that each honored its namesake Booker Noe. Now the final expression...

The CEO of Brown-Forman has said prices for North American whiskey will start to rise if global demand leaches stocks.

Curious about Woodford Reserve’s old-school distillation process? Want to learn how to make cool cocktails from some of Houston’s best mixologists? Then buy your ticket to the Art of Making Whiskey event on December 7. There you can watch Judith Piotrowski of Weights and Measures, Older Aguilar of El Big Bad, and Caleb Gutierrez of Stone’s Throw as they shake up these tasty bourbon-based cocktails. Feeling adventurous? Follow...

Technically, it only takes a few days to distil a barrel of whisky, but it takes time for that golden beverage's taste to mature. Although you could drink it straight away, it wouldn’t be the peaty, rich liquor that whiskey fans typically relish. So what transpires in the months, years or even decades that a whiskey is left to age? When whisky is first distilled and sealed up in its barrel, it’s more like moonshine than what...

LAWERNCEBURG, Ky., Dec. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Wild Turkey® today debuted a new look for its premium bourbon and rye whiskey range. While making no changes to the award-winning liquid, Wild Turkey has designed new packaging for its global family of products that better reflects the core values of the historic brand. A detailed new turkey illustration, found on every expression and most prominently displayed on Wild Turkey...

If it seems like local distilleries have been busy this year, 2016 will be even more exciting. New producers are opening, venerable ones expanding and favorites evolving in other ways. Tom’s Town Distilling Political boss Tom Pendergast guaranteed Kansas City stayed wet during Prohibition, and Tom’s Town Distilling Co. will pay homage to that legacy when it opens at 17th and Main streets in early January. The distillery’s...

In a nice bar in Williamsburg Brooklyn NY (Bill Baker’s), Bulleit had a tasting for their bourbons, Rye, the 10-year and their bourbon. There’s a quite man surrounded by some of the attendees, in the middle stood one of Kentucky’s finest, Mr. Thomas E. Bulleit, Jr. Small in stature but huge in aura, I made my way to introduce myself and discovered a southern amazing gentleman with a soft voice who loved bourbon. Although I went...

Deerfield-based Beam Suntory is selling its Spanish brandy and sherry businesses to the Philippine brandy giant Emperador for $291 million, Beam announced Monday. Privately held Beam Suntory, which has made a killing in the booming whiskey market, says it believes the Fundador, Harveys, Terry and Tres Cepas brands were worth more to Emperador. Workers it employed to produce the liquors in Jerez and Tomelloso, Spain, will be...

As the weather gets colder and festivities go on, these five holiday cocktails are sure to melt away any student’s holiday worries with a punch of Jim Beam whiskey or twist of alcoholic peppermint. 1. Eggnog cocktail

It's Friday. Concentration's a chore. Your thoughts are wandering, and we're here to help — by directing them toward happy times and happy flavors. Welcome to our global cocktail of the week. Birmingham’s list of must-visit restaurants has been expanding rapidly and on it, belongs The Collins, a craft cocktail-focused bar and kitchen with character. The space is decorated with installations like a fleet of oversized paper...

When a man says he’s a “whiskey kind-of-guy,” your initial thoughts garner much respect for him, and you consider him more of a man’s man — all he’s missing is a sharp suit and a fedora. When a man says this, he’s referring to the fact that he likes the actual taste of whiskey and doesn’t mask it with mixers, bitters, or sours. He might have it on the rocks or with a splash of soda that brings out the taste of the liquor, but...

Thanksgiving: the official kick-off to the holiday season, and as such, a dry run for Christmas and then New Year’s shortly thereafter. Hosting this year? Or invited as a guest, perhaps for the first time to meet the family of a “special someone?” Just spending time with family, to break bread and appreciate all that the year has had to offer. Whatever the reason, there should come a time during the day to make a toast to good...

Caramel popcorn holds a unique place in the world of snacks. It’s buttery, sweet and salty. All in one crunchy bite. So, it’s not hard to see why caramel corn has been a popular snack since the 1870s. Perhaps the most famous version is Cracker Jack, with its mix of peanuts and caramel corn. “Take me out to the ballgame...”

Kings County BourbonBrooklyn has had its share of distilleries. Sometimes, too many. In 1869, the IRS commandeered 2000 soldiers and marched into Brooklyn, intent on destroying dozens of non-tax-paying distilleries. For several months, the whiskey wars raged, with distillers rebuilding as fast as they were torn down. It’s fascinating history, and brings a certain rebellious pride to the presence of New York City’s oldest...

The two bottlings will be available through the distillery’s distribution network from December. This marks the first time the Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon (US$120) and Michter’s 20 Year Single Barrel Bourbon (US$600) have been made available in 2015 after they were finally approved by master distiller Willie Pratt.

There's a brewery in a former church and a pool hall in a former bank. Now, Kentucky will add a distillery in a former school. On Tuesday, Gov. Steve Beshear announced that western Kentucky-based Pond River Enterprises LLC plans to open a distillery in Muhlenberg County's historic Graham School. The nearly $1.3 million investment will create 31 jobs, adding to the nearly $581 million in total investments announced by Kentucky...

Many people see the word “Straight” on a whiskey label and do not realize that single word represents decades of struggle to protect consumers from adulterated whiskey. The story of the term “straight” starts in the middle of the nineteenth century. Aging whiskey in charred barrels had become very popular with consumers and therefore profitable to distillers. This meant time sitting in the barrel taking on color...

Vikre Distillery in Duluth, one of the leaders in a recent wave of Minnesota distillery startups, is expanding from its initial lineup of gins and vodka with its first whiskey release. The Duluth News Tribune reports on the launch of Vikre's Sugarbush Whiskey, which is a riff on a traditional bourbon using nontraditional barrels, maple wood and local maple syrup in the aging process. The company is planning more varieties...

Crank up the flow of red wax: Maker's Mark is boosting its bourbon output. The producers of the Kentucky whiskey are pouring about $67 million into an expansion that features a new still. The ramped up production comes a couple of years after Maker's caused a stir with its short-lived attempt to cut the amount of alcohol in each bottle to stretch its whiskey supplies. Maker's — known for its square bottles sealed in red wax...

Beer is no stranger to wood: for centuries, beer was fermented, stored, and transported in containers made of the arboraceous stuff. But wood has recently become valuable to the beverage in a whole new way, with many brewers aging beer in barrels that previously contained entirely different types of spirits. As the trend picks up steam...

In Kentucky (where I live) and throughout the mid-South, Thanksgiving isn’t all about remembering the most famous of pilgrim potlucks. Many rural people my grandparents’ age—were they alive, all would be older than 100—worked factory jobs during the day and farmed on nights and weekends to make ends meet. Thanksgiving meant a day off work, though farm duties didn’t abate. That meant the last Thursday in November saw the end of...

UK-based drinks company Diageo has launched a new experimental craft whisky project, called Whiskey Union. With this move, the UK-based drinks company hopes to counter the challenges posed by innovative American and New World whiskies. The drinks launched under theconcept are described as "unorthodox, weird and wonderful", reports The Spirits Business. Adhering to the industry specifications, some of the drinks will only be...

The project forms part of Diageo’s newly unveiled strategy to target growth in the Scotch whisky segment and combat the challenge posed by innovative American and New World whiskies. Bottlings launched within the range are described as “unorthodox, weird and wonderful”. While some will be labeled as Scotch whisky when they adhere to industry regulations, others will not be. “It’s worth stating here that we think the SWA...

Ever wanted to stand under a water tower and have it appear as if bourbon was spilling over your head? That oddly specific dream can soon be realized in Lebanon, Kentucky - where officials are turning the city's water tower into a Kentucky Bourbon Trail photo op art piece that will picture a Maker's Mark bottle pouring amber-colored liquid down the tower's 135-foot length. The Lebanon Tourist and Convention Commission hired...

I used to live in Atlanta, and the one thing I miss about living there above everything else is the rich, soulful, buttery, sweet, and filling food of the South. And if there is one thing I can look forward to this Thanksgiving that satisfies my longing, it's a perfect, easy pecan pie recipe. (And sweet tea, but that’s another story.) At my Thanksgiving table, you not only get pumpkin pie, but a decadent pecan pie made with a...

WILLISTON — The idea being to elevate the overall dining experience in Williston, The Eleven restaurant manager, Nick Krebsbach set out to create a classic ambiance in his restaurant with bourbon as the backdrop.

Sometime next year, a new bourbon distillery will open at the site of the former Old Taylor Distillery near Frankfort. Leading the project is master distiller Marianne Barnes, the first woman to hold the title in modern times. The forthcoming distillery is backed by Will Arvin and Wesley Murry, who asked Barnes to partner with them. The distillery would breathe new life into an abandoned 130-acre property that was once a grand...

There’s something extra enticing about a cocktail that riffs on one of our favorite childhood drinks. The “Bourbon Hot” from Jen Shen, Executive Pastry Chef for the gorgeous 5-star Hotel Bel-Air in L.A., fits the bill. “For many people, enjoying hot chocolate together is a holiday tradition, and we wanted to put a grown up spin on this popular favorite,” says Shen.

The end of the harvest season means pumpkin and all things pumpkin-flavored are having a moment in the sun. So why not splurge on a dessert that brings that flavor to your table? Spiced pumpkin cheesecake merges two classics into one flavorful dessert. In a break from the norm, I used a cast-iron skillet rather than a spring-form pan to bake this dessert. Why? Skillets tend to heat food evenly, so the cracking that often mars...

Bourbon and bread may not appear to be a likely duo, but Zachary Golper, a renowned baker and owner of the award-winning, Brooklyn-based bakery Bien Cuit, brings it to a peanut-butter-and-jelly level of harmony in his new cookbook Bien Cuit: The Art of Bread ($29; amazon.com). The French phrase “bien cuit” refers to “the darkest, crunchiest loaves, baked to the point of perfection,” says the book’s co-author, food writer Peter...

The concept of fast food is as American as apple pie, the designated hitter and reality TV. It’s been proven that Americans don’t have time to sit down and eat and would rather wait in a long line of cars to pick up a dozen burgers and fries to feed their hungry hordes. Brands like Jack in the Box, Burger King, Sonic and McDonalds are deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of America. At fast food restaurants, you can purchase...

Sitting on the couch recently scrolling through Facebook on my phone, I read a request from a friend for someone to tend bar from 3-8 on a Saturday. I had zero bartending experience at that point, but it’s a bourbon bar and I know a ton about bourbon so I responded. After some training I was set loose behind the bar at one of my favorite spots in town- Match Cigar Bar in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Going in, I knew the majority...

Are you, oh bourbon collector, banging your head against the wall at the moment because you can’t track down a bottle of that fabled Van Winkle bourbon of which there is even less to go around this year? What if you could enter into a charity auction sanctioned by the Van Winkle clan to win bottles of their various expressions, with the proceeds going to a new “farm distillery” project being undertaken in Kentucky? If that...

Whiskeys in general — and bourbon in particular — are having a moment among discerning drinkers. At the forefront is Woodford Reserve, one of the oldest small-working distilleries in the United States, which has been dedicated to quality bourbon making since 1812. All bourbon is produced using the five sources of flavor — grain, water, fermentation, distillation, and maturation — and each step in the process impacts the flavor...

Would you buy a bourbon-themed, limited-edition gift set if it didn’t actually include any bourbon? It is a question to ponder as you read about this otherwise pretty cool Basil Hayden’s + Quoddy offering which includes special glasses and so-called “drinking shoes” you wear while sipping said American whiskey. Beam Suntory bourbon brand Basil Hayden’s has teamed with Quoddy, a Maine-based footwear brand, to create 100 limited...

Sweet potatoes are a must-have on Thanksgiving, especially in the South. With its bourbon and pecans (two ingredients with Southern roots), this casserole is the epitome of Southern hospitality. The bourbon adds a depth of flavor to the maple-syrup sweetened potatoes, while the pecans add a buttery crunch. True to the Southern table (and palate) this dish is a little sweet, so feel free to cut back a bit on the maple syrup to...

When you're at your local bar or liquor store, look around: just as innovative craft beer and some of the best wines made in North America hail from the Pacific Northwest, so too has the region begun to establish itself as a space for excellent spirits. In Oregon and Washington, a growing number of distilleries are looking to do for whiskey and gin what the likes of Deschutes and Elysium have done for beer–establishing their...

Rick Tapia admits he got really interested in bourbon only fairly recently. He’d been a vodka man. “Growing up in the Northwest, you grew up drinking vodka, rum, maybe some Jack [Daniels] and Coke,” he said. “I don’t recall any bourbon. It wasn’t sexy at the time.”

Alcohol in general is a big source of extra calories during the holiday season, but there are a few boozy treats that make plain old beer and wine look downright health-conscious. You know the ones. Eggnog, hot buttered rum, spiced wine and spiked hot chocolate all contain enough extra sugar — or fat and sugar — to make them as caloric as a small meal. Does that mean you should avoid them altogether? Bend dietitian RanDee...

They called it the "Black Friday of Bourbon" and "Survivor: Pappy Edition." A couple dozen hardcore fans of the rare bourbon Pappy Van Winkle (or those who hope to make money on reselling) braved drizzly rain and chilly temperatures in hopes of being one of the few to get a bottle on Monday.

When I was little, my mother would pour a splash of sweetened iced tea into my plastic Fisher-Price tea set — which I'd sip slowly with a pinky in the air. When I was older and had my first unsweetened hot tea, I gagged, I was surprised by its bitterness and had not yet learned any valuable hacks for improving a cup of tea. But fret not, tea hacks are out there.

The colder months are here and that means there's no better time to get into some traditional bourbon and 1838 style white corn bourbon than right now. There are many different spirits to choose from this holiday season, but allow us to introduce you to Woodford Reserve's Master Collection, a bourbon certainly worth a look.

This holiday season, Watershed Distillery is already mixing the drinks for you. The Columbus-based spirits-maker has a new product hitting stores Nov. 13. The Old Fashioned takes the classic bourbon cocktail and stuffs the whole thing into a bottle. “We wanted to have a product out for the holidays, but we weren’t ready to invest in another segment like ryes or single malts,” co-founder Dave Rigo told me. “What can we do with...

Sean Higgins is okay with his company’s relative obscurity around town. When you’re in the tourism business, getting out in front of the out-of-town folks is of the most importance. People around the world often place their first call to Mint Julep Tours & Transportation when they’re planning a trip to Louisville. “We are truly the concierge of the city,” says Higgins. They’ve had some luck showing up on Google, he explains...

Old Forester, the nation’s oldest continuously-operating whiskey distillery, produces a range of bourbons, from the high-end to the everyday. We recently reviewed their Birthday Bourbon and bottled-in-bond bourbon, both higher-priced expressions; this one, Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon, is their middle-shelf release, priced at around $20.

Journeyman Distillery, an artisanal organic distillery that Valparaiso native Bill Welter opened just across the Michigan state line four years ago, is graduating to the next level. The craft distillery in Three Oaks, best known for its fine whiskeys, has quadrupled its production capacity, opened a 500-person event space for wedding receptions and other gatherings, and launched the Staymaker Restaurant. The new 125-seat...

Change isn’t something that comes naturally to Maker’s Mark. For most of the brand’s history, it sold only one product, made in a small historic distillery, tucked away in the remote hills of Loretto, Kentucky. The Maker’s Mark distillery is one of the few American distilleries housed in a registered historical landmark, a status that has helped restrict the brand’s ability to substantively change and grow its operations over...

Louisiana natives Erin Nugent and Lauren Beth Landry have pretty much nailed the whole Pinterest-perfect, rustic cooking and entertaining vibe—as cool Louisiana girls are wont to do. So they did the world a favor, and launched lifestyle brand Five Seasons, which was followed by a coffee table-style cookbook Five Seasons Cookbook. In celebration of their charming book of recipes, Nugent and Landry are heading to cities all over...

Infuse your own bourbon with these delicious flavors for a cocktail perfect for any party! step-by-step directions Into a glass mason jar, add the bourbon, orange peel, star anise and thyme. Screw on a tight fitting lid. Let sit overnight, but no longer than 24 hours. For the Cocktail: in a rocks glass filled with ice, strain 2 ounces of infused bourbon. Top with club soda to taste. Garnish with an orange peel. Helpful Tip...