This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Act of Congress that declared bourbon to be a “Native Spirit” of the United States and set down rules and regulations for how bourbon can be made. That makes today an excellent day to show your patriotism by raising a glass of America’s Native Spirit! Cheers! Code of Federal Regulations regarding Distilled Spirits (passed by Congress May 4th, 1964): (1)(i) “Bourbon whisky”, “rye whisky”, “wheat whisky”, “malt whisky”, or “rye malt whisky” is whisky produced at not exceeding 160° proof from a fermented mash of not less than 51 percent corn, rye,…
Author: Bill
Bill
Bill is the Co-Founder, Editor-in Chief, and official Bourbon-o-Phile for ModernThirst.com, and Founder and Chief Blending Officer for Four Gate Whiskey Company. He is a native of Louisville, KY in the heart of Bourbon Country. He attended the University of Kentucky in the mid to late 1990s. He has also been published on Liquor.com. He has conducted various bourbon and whiskey tastings in cities across the country, and consulted for multiple national labels. He is married with two daughters, and lives in east Louisville. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter @BillStraub and email him at [email protected].
[amazon_link asins=’B00H143UXW,B06Y1VGMH2′ template=’MT-product-carousel’ store=’modernthirstc-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’89cd9de4-ff80-11e7-ad0b-b3d612b3a656′] Stats: No Age Statement (est. 8-10 years) 46.5% ABV (93 Proof) Price: $49.99 Warehouse H, Rick No. 23 Barrel 97, Dumped 10/8/2010 Bottle 136 Cork Topper “N” Distilled by Buffalo Trace Availability: Easily Available What it is: Yet another top-shelf offering from Buffalo Trace, Blanton’s is made from the distillery’s higher rye formula, commonly known as Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2. It was the brain child of recently deceased legendary master distiller, Elmer T. Lee, first released in 1984, making it one of the older top shelf single barrel bourbons on the market. It…
[amazon_link asins=’B00H143UXW,B06Y1VGMH2′ template=’MT-product-carousel’ store=’modernthirstc-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’89cd9de4-ff80-11e7-ad0b-b3d612b3a656′] Vital Stats: Age: 7 Years ABV: 62.5% (125 Proof) Distillery: Evan Williams/Heaven Hill Availability: Very Limited/Rare Price: $100 What It Is: Located in downtown Louisville, KY, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (read more about Modern Thirst’s visit, with photos, here) offers visitors an immersive bourbon experience in a shortened format. Over the course of about an hour, visitors tour a heritage display along with a working micro distillery. The end of the tour culminates with a visit to the gift shop, which includes the opportunity to buy many of the Evan Williams/Heaven Hill products made…
Today is Kentucky Oaks day, and that means only one thing: Tomorrow is Derby Day! So dust off those sivler julep cups, crush some ice, and make some simple syrup. it’s time for that once a year oh-so-Kentucky tradition of hte Mint Julep, the offical drink of the Kentucky Derby! From the official Kentucky Derby Website: The Early Times Mint Julep Recipe 2 cups sugar 2 cups water Sprigs of fresh mint Crushed ice Early Times Kentucky Whisky Silver Julep Cups Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a…
[amazon_link asins=’B00H143UXW,B06Y1VGMH2′ template=’MT-product-carousel’ store=’modernthirstc-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’89cd9de4-ff80-11e7-ad0b-b3d612b3a656′] Stats: Aged 12 years (Note: As of January, 2016, there is no age statement on Elijah Craig bottles. This review is for an age-stated 12 year old bottle.) 47% ABV (94 Proof) Price: $26.99 Distilled/Bottled by Evan Williams/Heaven Hill Availability: Readily Available What it is: Named for the 18th century Baptist Minister generally credited with pioneering the use of charred barrels, Elijah Craig is a 12 year old small batch offering from the Evan Williams catalogue of bourbons distilled at the Bernheim facility in Louisville, KY and bottled by Heaven Hill in Bardstown,…
West Sixth Brewing has announced a joint venture release with Country Boy Brewing…looks interesting! “The style is a brown ale made with Kentucky sorghum and then aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels to kick it up a notch! Country Western Volume 2 was brewed a couple months ago and has been aging in bourbon barrels since that time. It will be canned next week and available on draft at both breweries on May 9th at noon, and then in cans at both breweries on May 15th at 5pm.” Country Western Volume 2
It’s Derby Week, folks! For those of us entrenched solidly in bourbon country, that means a week of festivities involving all things Kentucky: namely Horses and Bourbon. While not quite as famous as the Derby itself, the Kentucky Oaks is run on the Friday before the Derby every year (first run in 1875), attracting well over 100,000 fans annually. The Oaks is a 1 1/18th mile race for fillies only, and has long been considered the locals’ chance to get out to Churchill Downs for derby festivities before the horde of a half million out-of-towners pack the stands and infield…
What is bourbon? What makes it unique? Check out our beginner’s guide to bourbon.
[amazon_link asins=’B016YPDI3A,B00I52ZH5S’ template=’MT-product-carousel’ store=’modernthirstc-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’f6adfeb3-bef2-4795-87fa-7c1733366258′] Stats: Barrel # 24 Lot ID: 05-L-28 Rick House: G Floor: 4 Private Barrel Retailer: Westport Whiskey & Wine (Louisville, KY) Aged 8 years 55% ABV (110 Proof) Barreled on November 28, 2005 Price: $49.99 Distilled by Wild Turkey Availability: Limited (non-private selection readily available) What it is: Wild Turkey has been producing Russell’s Reserve for a number of years now. As a slightly more refined version of what is often considered a no-frills bourbon to begin with, the regular Russell’s Reserve is popular with those who like a smooth, but strong, in-your-face kind…
Confusing. That’s how I describe Kentucky Ale’s Bourbon Barrel Barleywine. I really wanted to love this seasonal offering from Alltech. I mean I really wanted to love it. Unfortunately, I can’t say that I do. The best explanation I can give is that the beer itself is confused as to what it’s trying to be. Barleywine, in the English tradition, is a very strong ale with earthy qualities ranging from toffee and caramel to dark malts. The American varieties tend more towards a simple high-hop ale with fruity characteristics. I suppose the Kentucky Ale version is geared directly towards the…