The History Of Bourbon Whiskey!

Click the link for more: What Is Bourbon Whiskey

5 Great Bourbons On A Budget.

Click on the link for the list: 5 Great Budget Bourbons

Blurring the lines between Scotch and Bourbon, Scotch ‘Infused’ Bean Bourbon to launch in july.

Click the link for more information: Scotch Infused Beam Bourbon

Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys that are worth tracking down!

Click on the link for the full story: All American Heroes American Whiskeys

Kentucky Bourbon Taste Test

Seen today on one of our Interstate highways.

You have to give credit to Maker's Mark for clever advertising!

Elmore Leonard's character driven Justified, a whiskey lovers dream?

Click the link for the full article: FX hit drama Justified whisky lover's dream

I love whisky, and I really like Justified, but calling it "a whisky lover's dream" might be a bit of a stretch.

Angel's Envy Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson has passed away.

Lincoln Henderson, Master Distiller at Angel's Envy Bourbon

The Bourbon industry has lost another legend! Angel's Envy Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson died today.

This is the family's official announcement, by Mr. Henderson's son Wesley Henderson,

"Last night the world lost a national treasure, but to his family, Dad was simply "Dad". He was the kindest person I have ever known. He loved with all his heart, and without conditions. While we are saddened beyond words, there is joy in our hearts as he is now free from any suffering. As Dad was an eight year melanoma survivor, we knew this day would eventually come, but I would give anything for one more day.....I love you Dad."

Our condolences and prayers go out to the Henderson Family over their loss.

Buffalo Trace (Elmer T. Lee Collectors Edition)

Whisky Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, American Whiskey

Bottle Size: 750ml

Alcohol by Volume: 45%

Notes: Buffalo Trace Distillery has a long and storied past. About an hour drive east of Louisville Kentucky, it is located on the site of an ancient Buffalo crossing by the Kentucky River. Though the distillery has had many names (Old Stagg Distillery, Ancient Age Distillery) and many owners over the years, it was given it's current name after the Sazerac Company bought the distillery in 1992. It is the oldest continuously operating distillery in the US, and it was officially listed as a National Historic Landmark this year. 

The Buffalo Trace Distillery makes a wide range of Bourbons, from basic mixer brands, to some of the most prized names in the Whiskey business, names like Blanton's, Eagle Rare, and Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbons, George T. Stagg and Handcock's Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbons, Pappy Van Winkle and W.L. Weller Wheated Bourbons, and Sazerac and Tomas H. Handy Rye Whiskeys, just to name a few!

This review will cover the standard bearer for the company, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, introduced in 1999. It is made from a proprietary mash bill of at least 51% corn, rye and malted barley, and aged in new charred oak barrels for 9 years. 25 to 30 barrels are hand selected and blended for bottling in batches. 

Nose: Honey, Wrigley's Spearmint, and orange peal.

Taste: Orange, cinnamon, and buttery vanilla cake batter.

Finish: Vanilla and a touch of butterscotch linger.

My Personal Ranking: 81/100

Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour pictures

Buffalo Trace Distillery, recently named a National Historic Landmark.

The Buffalo statue in front of the Visitor's Center. The Distillery is located next to the Kentucky river, in a location that used to be an ancient buffalo crossing.

One of many brick and mortar warehouses. You can see the barrels in the open windows!

The Buffalo Trace Distillery water tower.

Another angle on the distillery's iconic water tower.

Those tracks aren't for trains, they're for rolling barrels in and out of the various warehouses. 

Another warehouse for aging barrels of whiskey. There are more barrels of whiskey aging in warehouses in Kentucky, than there are people living in the Bluegrass State! 

The curious barrels of experimental "Peated Malt" I saw during our tour. 

Banners hanging from the roof of the bottling house, listing just some of the awards this distillery has earned in recent years. 

Our knowledgeable tour guide. Oh to have the keys to this cabinet! There's some rare Bourbons in there that would be the envy of any whiskey collector, including rare bottles of Blanton's, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, and Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel. Sadly, Elmer's death was announced just days after our tour of this Distillery his hard work, dedication and innovation, made famous!

Maker's Mark (Red Seal)

Whisky Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, American Whiskey

Bottle Size: 750ml

Alcohol by Volume: 45%

Notes: Maker's Mark distillery is less than a hour drive south of Louisville Kentucky. Of the distilleries on the "Kentucky Bourbon Trail", it is a little out of the way, but well worth a visit. The distillery is listed as a National Historic Landmark, and it's park like grounds and Victorian era buildings make quite a positive impression on first time visitors! Taking the tour, you will find the guides are friendly, knowledgeable and humorous, making for a fun and informative time. One of the highlights of the tour is towards the end, where you get to hand dip a bottle of whisky into that now famous red wax!

Maker's Mark is one of the few distilleries to rotate their barrels to maintain consistency, which is understandable for a distillery that only makes two products. This review is on the standard bottling, also known as "Maker's Mark Red Seal". Maker's Mark is a Bourbon that uses wheat in place of the usual rye in it's mash bill, using a recipe developed by Pappy Van Winkle (of Buffalo Trace fame), of 70% corn, 16% wheat and 14% malted barley!

Nose: Vanilla, citrus, and some light floral notes..

Taste: Caramel, vanilla, and hints of cracked pepper and smoke.

Finish: Medium length, where the smoke and citrus linger.

My Personal Ranking 1-100: 83/100

Special Note: It's been asked more than once, do Bourbon Whisk(e)y reviews belong in a Malt-centric blog like this? My answer is Yes! Why? A small part of the mash bills of these classic American whiskeys, includes malted barley! That being said, this blog will primarily focus on whiskies with a higher malt content. This review, and another planned review on Buffalo Trace, the result of a recent trip through Kentucky's Bourbon Country, are exceptions to the rule, not a trend away from Malt Whisky reviews.