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Book Review: The Drunken Botanist

~ Bill Thornley ~ 1 Comment

I got a wonderful gift last weekend from my wife, Lynn. She belongs to the Assistance League of Fullerton and last weekend was their annual Alpha Chapter “Day of Authors.” One of the speakers was Amy Stewart. Amy wrote The Drunken Botanist, “the plants that create the World’s Great Drinks.” It was published in 2013 and was a New York Times Bestseller!

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So why should a bourbon fan care about this book? This is a fascinating book filled with  information and fun facts about the plants that create the world’s great wine, beer, and spirits. It includes chapters on cocktail recipes, water, spices, distilling, brewing, even the the plants themselves. She covers anything you wanted to know about the botany behind drinks.

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Naturally, I immediately turned to the chapter “The Birth of Bourbon.” I love the quote from James O’Rear: “Limestone in bourbon let’s you wake up the next morning feeling like a gentleman.”

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Amy really covers it all. She has broken the book into 3 very creative parts.

Part I: We explore the twin alchemy processes of fermentation and distillation. From which wine, beer and spirits issue forth”

Part II: We then suffuse our creations with a wondrous assortment of Nature’s Bounty

Part III: At last we venture into the garden, where we encounter a seasonal array of botanical mixers and garnishes to be introduced to the cocktail in its final stage of preparation.

Life has been a little crazy lately (you’ve probably noticed the slowed down blog posts). I’m looking forward to taking some time to really dive into this book. I leave you with the New York Times review. It perfectly sums it up!

Some Plants Deserve a Toast
By: Steven Kurutz

Amy Stewart has a way of making gardening seem exciting, even a little dangerous, as she did with “Wicked Plants,” her best-selling book about poisonous and invasive vegetation. In “The Drunken Botanist” (Algonquin, $19.95), her latest, Ms. Stewart is once again out to show the sexier side of the garden, this time linking plants to alcoholic spirits.

Horticulture is ever-present in grape wine and rye whiskey, of course, while tequila is made of agave, and a twist of lime can garnish a martini. Such basics are entertainingly covered in the book. But Ms. Stewart, a founder of the blog Garden Rant, is most fun when serving up esoterica. During President Nixon’s 1972 trip to China, she writes, he was warned by Alexander Haig not to drink moutai, a highly alcoholic beverage made from sorghum. Nixon ignored the advice and “matched his host drink for drink.” The book is full of such tidbits.

Plants aren’t limited to the realm of garden clubs and botanists, the author reminds us; they can get out and party on a Saturday night. Ms. Stewart writes of being in a liquor store with a friend and gesturing wildly at the shelves. “This is horticulture!” she said. “In all of these bottles.”

 

My Bourbon Mecca

~ Bill Thornley ~ Leave a comment

You might be a fan of a special store, techies and my kids love the Apple Store. My wife, a big fan of Nordstrom. Me – I love to shop for bourbons. My go-to store is Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, California. I love to go there and browse for that new release from a favorite distillery, or just to look for something I’ve have always wanted to try. I love to look at the selection, packaging and graphics.

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Hi-Time Wine Cellars is my bourbon store of choice because whatever I am looking for they have. The same is true for most any liquor and wine. They have it, and if they don’t they’ll get it for their customers.  I was there a couple days ago to pick up my 2016 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Bottle (read my write up about its release here).

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I was wandering around the store looking at all the bourbon, scotch, and whiskey (whisky if you are an import) on the shelves. There is so much rich history and life in those bottles. Many began their journey 15, 20, 23, even 30 or more years ago.

While there I spoke with Keith Hanson their liquor buyer. His knowledge of the industry and their inventory will blow you away. On another occasion I spoke with Holden, who was helping someone get a 20-year-old bottle of Pappy out of the case. Both Keith and Holden are great to work with.  In California we have a 3 tier system. The stores have to buy from a liquor distributor, who has bought the product directly from the distillery. Young’s Market is one of the distributors Hi-Time deals with for many of the brands they carry.

Now back to the Pappy. Not only do they carry new bottles but they do purchase bottles from collectors for resale. I took a few pictures but unfortunately through the case they are not the best. If you need that special bottle for a client or best friend, this is your place (for a price).

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I would be remiss if I didn’t mention they have an equally awesome selection of Champagne. A few years ago Lynn and I stayed at a little Maison in Ludes, France called Ployez–Jacquemart. While there we had the opportunity to try their champagne and fell in love with it.  Hi-Time carries the champagne and they are one of the few in the US who have it, so we are also regular visitors to restock on this special champagne.

Ever since getting more into bourbon, and bourbon collecting, Hi-Time has become my go-to place (my bourbon mecca). For those not located in Southern California, I highly suggest finding your go-to bourbon place. While this is hard for people living in places with state controlled liquor stores, there still is definitely a utility to developing a relationship with your local state-run store. The managers, just like at a store like Hi-Time, will let you know when new products are coming in or there is something you shouldn’t pass up!

Release of Woodford’s 2016 Kentucky Derby Bottle

~ Bill Thornley ~ 7 Comments

We are just a month and a half away from the most exciting 2 minutes in sports. Have you started planning your Kentucky Derby gathering? Whether it’s you and your best friends in the den, or a backyard full of people, what bourbon will you serve on Derby Day? As an avid horse racing fan, this is my favorite time of year. Its spring, horse racing’s Triple Crown is around the corner, and it’s time to enjoy a little bourbon on the patio.

I will cover a lot of related subjects the next 2 months and today I am excited to share the special edition 2016 Kentucky Derby Bottle that Woodford Reserve released just a few days ago.

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I believe this is the 6th one of these they have done since becoming the “official bourbon” of the Kentucky Derby. The bottle always has new art, is colorful, and brings the race right to your bar. What better way to jazz up the big day! This is a perfect bourbon for a Mint Julep during the Kentucky Derby.  This year’s bottle does not disappoint. You can read more about the bottle’s artwork in the press release Woodford sent out.

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Woodford’s press release says the bottle will be out in March. It’s usually available at your better liquor stores, BevMo and Total Wine.  The best part of the Woodford bottle is what is inside the bottle. Woodford reserve is a fantastic Bourbon and, as I said in my post about Bourbon Country, a great tour.

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I was actually asked yesterday what bourbon I serve on Derby Day. There are a lot of good choices and I just think you have to start with Woodford. I love to have bottles on the bar with a horse racing theme. The next that comes to mind for me is Blanton’s. It’s another great Bourbon in an equally impressive package. Blanton’s was the first to market and sell single barrel bourbon. The unique bottle that looks like cut glass is topped by a cork with a brass horse and rider on it. Even more unique, there are 8 different positions of the horse and rider from standing to a full gallop. At the base of each horse’s back foot is a letter that corresponds to the gait you see. The 8 letters spell out Blanton’s.

Lexington is another horse racing themed Bourbon and named after the famous horse Lexington. Not quite the quality of Blanton’s or Woodford but a very reasonable price point. Other horse-themed bourbons are Chestnut Farms and Calumet. Calumet is named for the famous farm which bred several Triple Crown winners, including Citation and Whirlaway.

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Whatever you pour, remember that bourbon is the essential ingredient in a Mint Julep. Make sure your guests enjoy the best.

Visiting the Bourbon Trail

~ Bill Thornley ~ 5 Comments

A great adventure for spring is hitting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.  Lynn and I did the Bourbon Trail in the Fall a few years ago. Kentucky is a big state and you can’t cover it all in a day, or even two. Before hitting the road, you definitely want to have a plan of attack to see the distilleries you want to tour.

But first, if you are going to earn the official Bourbon Trail t-shirt or Julep Cup, you need to decide which trail you will follow. “Which trail?” you say. Yes! There are 3 trails: The Bourbon Trail (mostly the big distilleries you’ve heard of), the Craft Bourbon Tour (smaller distilleries) and the Urban Bourbon Trail (Louisville’s distilleries). All 3 are unique and offer different experiences, and can also be mixed and matched together.

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Lynn and I drove to Kentucky after visiting our daughter in Richmond, Virginia – so that kind of determined where we began. If flying in, your could start in Lexington and end in Louisville, or vice versa.

We started at “Old Pogue” without reservations. It was during sequestration and while we had planned to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway through Shenandoah National Park, we were shut out, so we went on to Maysville, Kentucky. We showed up at Old Pogue for the first tour of the day. We knocked on the door and when John Pogue opened the door we said we were there for the first tour. John said, “I didn’t know I had a tour this morning,” and we said, “You do now.” It was just the 3 of us.   What a great way to start the week.

Old Pogue is a great little Craft Distillery. Founded in 1876, it closed after prohibition and was re-opened by 5th and 6th generation Pogues. They even bought back the old antebellum home of the family which sits next to small distillery.

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We then continued on to Town Branch

And then it was on to the rest of the distilleries on the Bourbon Trail passport. Although they are big they are all different. Lynn had read about the “Corn to Cork” tour at Woodford Reserve. It was a great education and they do very small groups. Its more expensive and you have to book in advance but well worth it. We sampled some bourbon right out of the barrel at Woodford Reserve. Lynn also got to fill a barrel at Jim Beam, and while there also filled her own bottle of Knob Creek. Along the Bourbon Trail, we also visited Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and Evan Williams.

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The Craft Tour gives you the chance to see things even more up close and have a more intimate experience. We haven’t completed that passport yet, but did a lot of it. I will write about the Old Pogue experience later. It deserves a whole blog.Willett Distillery was another great experience and well worth the stop.Limestone Branch also offered another unique experience.

We also visited many others that technically aren’t part of the branded “Bourbon Trail.”  Makers Mark is another incredible experience and tucked into this beautiful valley. Another “must see” is Buffalo Trace – purveyors of Pappy Van Winkle, E.H. Taylor, Blanton’s, Stagg, and a number of other great bourbons.

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Blanton’s bottles
Where’s the Pappy?

The Urban Bourbon Trail is a bar hopping experience that allows you to experience all that great bourbon you have been tasting and reading about all week. When you combine that with the food in Louisville it’s an evening you will not forget.

We ended our trip in Louisvile, and stayed the night at the Seelbach Hotel, a great old historic hotel. While we were in Louisville, we stopped by the Brown Hotel for a Hot Brown – a must do in Louisville!

Feel free to leave a comment below if you’re planning your Bourbon Trail visit and are looking for additional suggestions on your trip!

Pappy Van Winkle Sweepstakes

~ Bill Thornley ~ Leave a comment

A couple weeks ago I wrote a blog post about how to get your hands on a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle.  Well, here’s one way. I got a notice from Casker’s this morning about their Pappy Van Winkle sweepstakes. You can enter the sweepstakes here. Good luck!

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Bourbon Review: Basil Hayden’s

~ Bill Thornley ~ Leave a comment

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I have had a bottle of Basil Hayden sitting on our bar cart for over a year, unopened.  After opening it the other night I am not sure WHY I waited so long.

I didn’t know what to expect, as I had never tasted it or read a review. I’m actually not really sure why I originally bought it — maybe the packaging.  But I have heard a lot of good things recently, and it turns out they were all true. Taylor wrote about Basil Hayden’s in her guest post earlier this week – it’s a favorite at her house, and now mine too.

What an incredibly smooth bourbon!  I am putting it on the same pedestal with the best.  I starting sipping while working on another blog post and I had to stop and savor the moment.  It reminded me of the first time I tasted Pappy (which I’ll talk more about in a couple weeks).  It was one of those moments when you say to yourself, “This is a special moment, stop and enjoy it.”

The History (from their website):

In 1796, Master Distiller Basil Hayden Sr. broke ‘the rules’ by mixing small grains into the mash of a traditional corn base. A Maryland transplant unafraid to stand out amidst the residing establishment, Basil conjectured that the spicy flavor of rye would be a striking complement to the sweet smoothness of corn in his distillery’s standard bourbon. And much to the chagrin of the traditionalist set, Basil was right. His recipe was a masterpiece, resulting in a unique, singular small batch bourbon whiskey that was blessed with rich hints of peppermint, notes of pepper, slight citrus overtones, and a spicy, warming finish.

I have to agree with their notes of strong pepper and a spicy aroma.  As it sits on the granite counter by my keyboard, it has a wonderful smell and color to enjoy.  Each sip brings new tastes and a warmth with the finish.  I can’t say enough about how much I have enjoyed this bourbon.

In their notes they say, “Basil Hayden’s is the lightest bodied bourbon whiskey in the family of Jim Beam small batch bourbons produced by Beam Suntory.”  It is that light body that makes it soft and a great sipping whiskey.  I just wish it would cool off again here in California so I could build a fire to sit by and enjoy this wonderful bourbon.  Pick up a bottle and enjoy it this weekend!

Age: 8 years
Proof: 80
Color: Golden amber
Aroma: Spice, tea, hint of peppermint
Taste: Spicy, peppery, honey, light-bodied, gentle bite
Price: $38.99 BevMo

 

Guest Post: Decking out the bar

~ Bill Thornley ~ 2 Comments

It’s Taylor – back again today with another guest post. Today I’m talking about decking out your home bar. We love to entertain, and so does Bourbon Bill and mom. Having a great bar set up is key to easy entertaining and also being the ultimate host.

If you’re lucky enough to have a built in bar, I am very jealous! That is on the top of my wish list. Storage space is a premium at our house and somehow we have managed to squeeze way too many bourbons on our kitchen counter, and a ton of different bar essentials in cabinets.

So what are the essentials for your home bar? Besides bourbon, that is…

Bar Glasses
I’m dividing these into two categories, fancy and casual. Fancy are those you bring out on a special occasion, and casual are those that are dishwasher safe and you’re ok with guests taking outside.

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Casual Glasses: Just because they’re dishwasher safe doesn’t mean they can’t be fun! We have a set of monogrammed highballs and double old-fashioned glasses that come out on weeknights, for dinner parties, or when friends are just over hanging out.

  1. Ours are from Williams-Sonoma and have a nice heavy bottom. But there are so many fun options out there!
  2. I love these simple, trendy glasses from West Elm that are super affordable. They also have a ton of other really fun options. I personally prefer something simple that will go with any setting.
  3. Waiting on Martha always has some really unique bar essentials. How cool are these highballs?
  4. Juliska makes some really pretty bar glasses that are safe for everyday use. How fun would it be to use these on a regular basis?
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Fancy Glasses: No joke, Carter’s favorite item on our wedding registry were his crystal bar glasses. And it’s not surprising to come home and find him drinking bourbon out of Waterford Crystal on a random Tuesday night. There is just something about dressing it up a little bit every once in a while. Having a nice set of bar glasses really steps up special occasions, holidays, and more.

  1. We love our Waterford Lismore bar glasses. They’re timeless, the pattern has been around forever. Waterford makes crystal glasses in a number of other patterns if you want something a little less popular.
  2. William Yeoward makes some beautiful crystal barware. The Elizabeth pattern is my favorite.
  3. Another tried and true crystal maker is Baccarat. How elegant are these bar glasses!

Wine Glasses

Since this is a blog about bourbon, I won’t go into too much detail about wine glasses. But these are definitely an essential part of any fully stocked bar. We have “fancy” and “casual” wine glasses. My suggestion is to get the same style for red and white wine. If you are going to do stemmed water glasses, I would get something that matches as well. That way when you set your table for a dinner party, everything matches. Here’s a quick rundown of good wine glass options.

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  1. We have the Riedel Vinum wine glasses and LOVE them. They’re thin and big and great to drink out of. The only problem is they are technically crystal and break easily in the dishwasher so I find myself hand washing them if the dishwasher is getting full. We also have a set of Riedel O stemless wine glasses. I’m not the biggest stemless fan, but they’re good to have.
  2. Crystal wine glasses are key to a special occasion. We have the Waterford Lismore Essence wine glasses to match our bar glasses. We went with the Lismore Essence style because they’re more modern than the original Lismore. Again, these are a favorite of Carter’s.
  3. I love the shape of these Crate & Barrel wine glasses. They’re so unique. A friend has these and I love drinking wine out of them at her house!
  4. Pottery Barn makes a great set of wine glasses for dinner parties called Caterers. Their Caterers boxed sets are great basics for dinner parties, large gatherings, or to just have a great basic set of plates, glasses, etc on hand.

Decanters

Decanters are a really impressive way to display liquor. We have collected a bunch of different decanters and keep one brand of vodka, whiskey and gin in them. I personally love vintage decanters, but this is another area to really express your personality and style for your bar.

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  1. Really sleek crystal decanter from Tiffany – would be great in a library or man cave!
  2. Pretty vintage etched decanter from Williams-Sonoma
  3. Love the unique shape of this decanter from Crate & Barrel

Cocktail Napkins

Caspari
Lettermade
Biscuit Home
Lettermade
Haute Papier

These are by no means an actual bar essential, but are such a fun addition to any bar! I have a slight obsession with napkins. We have a napkin holder that sits on our counter that I rotate season paper cocktail napkins in and out of. I love these from Caspari for spring. Lettermade and Biscuit Home have some really clever linen napkins. Lettermade also has some great options for monogrammed napkins. Coasters are another great addition. These letterpressed drink recipe coasters from Haute Papier are so fun (you can also get custom coasters through them)!

Bar Tools

Every bar needs some essential bar tools. This is still a work in progress at our house. I prefer to buy bar tools individually, rather than in a set, so that you can pick out the best for each type of tool. Bourbon Bill has just about every bar tool imaginable, including multiples of some. Below are what I consider the essentials.

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  1. Ice cube molds – Square: big ice cubes are in. They don’t water down your drinks as quickly as normal ice cubes. And they’re just so trendy. Tevolo now makes them in two sizes. At least start with the big ones.
  2. Ice cube molds – Round: for when square just won’t do.
  3. Cocktail Spoon: This is a tool still missing from our bar tools, but so essential for making cocktails. Break this out for your next Old Fashioned. I like the simplicity (and price) of this spoon.
  4. Cocktail Shaker: This is where you can really express some personality. We have a monogrammed cocktail shaker. I LOVE this gold shaker from West Elm. Or you could be super farm to table and get a mason jar cocktail shaker.
  5. Strainer: To me, this is just a utility tool. I would go with simple and easy to clean like this OXO strainer.
  6. Muddler: You have to get a wood muddler. Similar to the cocktail spoon, it’s essential. And why not have something unique for making mojitos and other muddled drinks?
  7. Peeler(s): Bourbon Bill is left handed so using a straight peeler made making perfect orange slices difficult for him. This one did the trick. This zester from Sur La Table is great for making thin strips.
  8. Jigger: This is just another utility tool in my opinion, so practical is key. I like this one from OXO because it has multiple measurements.
  9. Beaker: If you really want to look like you know what you’re doing behind the bar, a beaker/mixing glass is a great addition.
  10. Ice Scoop: Bourbon Bill got us this great ice scoop a couple years ago. I like it because it has holes so that you don’t water down your drink with melted ice.
  11. Ice Bucket: Key if you’re setting up a bar away from the refrigerator.  There are so many options out there. Go with something that matches your style. We have a simple glass ice bucket, and my mom recently gave us a leather one (now, if only I had a library to keep the leather ice bucket with leather bound books). I love this copper ice bucket from Williams-Sonoma – copper is so popular right now!

Guest Post: Valentine’s Day Bourbon Ideas

~ Bill Thornley ~ 3 Comments

Hey there! It’s Bill’s daughter, Taylor, here with my first guest post.  I’ve been helping my dad in the background with technical support. Today I’m sharing some Valentine’s Day ideas. And tomorrow I’ll be back with a post about decking out your home bar!

Valentine’s Day is right around corner (on Sunday!). I have yet to get my husband a gift, and fortunately he enjoys bourbon as much as Bourbon Bill.  Bourbon is a super easy, yet thoughtful and fun gift, to pick up for your Valentine, guy or girl. You can really tailor it to your someone special. You can easily find a bourbon with a cool bottle, a top rated bourbon, or just something new, for under $50 at your local liquor store.

Below are three bourbons great for any Valentine, and all for under $50 for a 750mL bottle.

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  1. Basil Hayden’s Bourbon – This is a favorite of ours right now. I’m not the biggest bourbon drinker and it is smooth enough for me to drink. I love the style of the bottle. The paper label ads a little something unique to it. This would definitely impress a Valentine. BevMo has Basil Hayden’s for $41.99 right now.
  2. Larceny Very Special Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – This is another favorite right now. Really easy to drink and really tasty.  Also, the bottle styling is really cool (are you seeing a trend in how I chose these bourbons??). This one is a great price point at $29.99 on Caskers.
  3. Angel’s Envy Bourbon Whiskey – It’s Valentine’s Day. The Bottle has wings. It was an obvious choice. But in all honesty, it’s another great bourbon, getting all sorts of praise in the bourbon world. Any Valentine would be excited to get this. BevMo has it for $45.99 right now. You can read Bourbon Bill’s review of Angel’s Envy here.

Whiskey, Taxes, and a Little History

~ Bill Thornley ~ Leave a comment

Whiskey is woven throughout the history of America, whether it was the Whiskey Rebellion, prohibition, the roaring 20’s and speakeasies, or today with the renaissance of the Bourbon Trail, mixology, and classic cocktails.  Caskers in New York City posted a new Bourbon for sale yesterday that I had never heard of, with an ironic historical name, “Bower Hill.” What grabbed my attention, being a bit of history buff, was the name. Bower Hill was the home of Tax Inspector John Neville — a central figure of the Whiskey Rebellion.

Bower Hill

Here is the story from Caskers’s website:

In 1794 a group of approximately 600 Mingo Creek militiamen surrounded Federal Tax Inspector John Neville’s fortified home, rebelling against the Excise Whiskey Tax of 1791. The farmers and militiamen taking part in this “Whiskey Rebellion” were fighting for the very same principles which fueled the American Revolution, and during the attack on Neville’s home — Bower Hill — two rebel leaders were killed, including Revolutionary War Major James McFarlane. Upon completion of the two-day battle, Neville’s home was razed by fire, and now, Bower Hill and the Whiskey Rebellion are commemorated with a new rebellious spirit, Bower Hill Single Barrel Bourbon.

Distilled and aged in Louisville, Kentucky, Bower Hill Barrel Reserve Bourbon has a warm amber appearance and an aroma of vanilla spice and rich, charred oak. On the palate, there are more spicy oak tannins complemented by lush fruits and wheat toast, leading to a long, smooth finish defined by caramel and popcorn.

Bower Hill Barrel Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon just hit the market in 2015 — be the first to pick up a bottle today!

Isn’t that a great story, and what a good looking bottle! It’s a relatively new bourbon – released in 2015. I need to spend a little more time researching who makes this and what the story is behind the bourbon.

There are so many whiskeys and bourbons with historic names. George Washington is the first to come to mind. I have a bottle of Rye Whiskey from George Washington’s Distillery at Mount Vernon, Virginia (that’s a neat tour btw, we visited the distillery last spring when we were in Virginia visiting our daughter).

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Jefferson’s is the another. Some of their bottles even have Thomas Jefferson’s image on them.

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Booker Noe named Knob Creek after the small stream that flows through Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home in Kentucky.

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Another one that comes to mind is 1792 — the year Kentucky became a state (did you know prior to becoming a state it was part of Virginia?).

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And, Calumet is named for the horse farm that bred many Derby and Triple Crown Winners.

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Reviews on many of these are to come.  There are many more stories behind the names of today’s whiskey brands. Next time you pick up a bottle look into its history, then sip in the sweet success of years of the distiller’s craftsmanship. I, personally, can’t wait to try Bower Hill!

All of these bourbons are available on Caskers’s website. I’ve included links to them below:

George Washington Estate Rye Whiskey (Sold out, they usually release in December)

Jefferson’s Reserve Very Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Knob Creek Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon

1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Calumet Farm Bourbon Whiskey

(This post was not sponsored by Caskers. I am just a big fan! It’s a great website to go to learn about bourbons and buy online.)

 

Collecting Old Bourbons

~ Bill Thornley ~ Leave a comment

I collect different things – horse racing memorabilia, old sports stuff from colleges my family went to, Boy Scout badges… But the one thing I don’t collect is old bourbons.Well, until last January.

I was attending the All-American Collector’s Show in Glendale, Ca this weekend and it reminded me if a purchase a year ago at this same show.  I walked up to a booth & saw an Old Bardstown 103rd Kentucky Derby Decanter.  The 103rd Kentucky Derby was in 1977 when Seattle Slew won, and went on to win the Triple Crown.  I already have one but as a price check I asked the guy in the booth how much he wanted for it.  He said, “12 bucks and it still has the bourbon in it.”  I wasn’t interested until he said, “It has the bourbon in it.”  That was bottled 38 years ago.  I couldn’t get the money out of my pocket fast enough.

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There are bourbon aficionados out there who do collect old bourbons.  It’s important to understand that bourbon does not age in the bottle like wine (If it was a 12 year old bourbon when it went in, its still a 12 year old barrel aged bourbon).  But that said, old bourbons have a different taste that is unique to their heritage and maker.  One of the most famous of those collectors is Chet Zoeller who was profiled in the June/July 2014 Garden & Gun Magazine.  He collects pre-Prohibition bourbons.

“These Prohibition-era bottles emerge periodically from their hiding spots in attics and storm cellars, places where they have spent nearly a century as fugitives from what was once the law of the land. When they do, Chet Zoeller is waiting to pounce. A septuagenarian Kentucky native, Zoeller knows as much about the history of bourbon whiskey as any man alive, and he has made it his mission to lay his hands on one bottle from each notable pre-Prohibition distiller. He’s up to 125, about halfway there. Among his prizes: a rare bottle of the once popular Green River whiskey from Daviess County, and an Old Oscar Pepper with its distinctive “OOP” on the label. While the latter brand is lost to history, the distillery itself remains in operation as Woodford Reserve.”

Like anything worth looking for, these bourbons can be found and they are still out there.  Take a look at the Garden & Gun article and look out for that old bottle of bourbon in your Grandfathers kitchen cabinet.  So, I ask you this — Should I open the bottle of Old Bardstown?