Category: Uncategorized

Blind Tasting Is Truth

Like me, Galileo is a fan of blind tastings. Because, you see, blind tastings are truth. There is no label bias. No influence of Bourbon journalists. No social media pressure. It’s simply you, the whiskey and what you like. What you really like.

At a recent Bourbon Fellowship we had thirteen guys participate in two blind tastings. The “Bourbon experience” level in the group ranged from novice to what I would consider to be sophisticated. They were given no clues about what they were tasting other than the liquid in front of them was, in fact, Bourbon. There were three Bourbons in each flight and they were instructed to rank them 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The results were surprising to both me and Galileo.

Blind Tasting #1

For the first tasting I decided to explore the wheated mashbill from Buffalo Trace. The Bourbons included were Weller Special Reserve, Old Weller Antique and Pappy Van Winkle 15 year. The results:

While none of these Bourbons are easy to find, the one that is the most difficult to locate and will cost you $1000 on the secondary market finished last. LAST! And with only one 1st place vote along the way.

Galileo: “I just discovered the moons of Jupi…wait, Pappy’s finished last?

Blind Tasting #2

For the second tasting I also picked on a highly-allocated Buffalo Trace product. I matched Blanton’s against Cooper’s Craft (82.2 proof) and JTS Brown bottled-in-bond. The results:

While the betting favorite (Blanton’s) came out on top in this flight, it was by a very slim margin. Some of the more experienced palates in the group actually preferred Cooper’s over Blanton’s. So, the question at hand: Is it worth hours of hunting to get Blanton’s when other less expensive and more readily available Bourbons may be close to it in terms of your actual taste preference?

Can we draw definitive conclusions here? Probably not. If the same group tasted the same Bourbons a day later the results could be different. Likewise, if another group did the same blind tastings the order of finish would likely not be the same.

What we can conclude is that blind tastings do reveal truth. Or if that goes too far for you, blind tastings at least dispel myths: well-entrenched, very expensive myths. And unlike Galileo, you don’t have to suffer the wrath of the Inquisition to do so.

These blind tastings were a lot of fun. The group seems to really enjoy them. I would encourage you to do these with friends in small or large groups. You are sure to learn a few things and have a good time while doing it.

Kevin Rose

Three Things of Five – 2019

Need a last minute Christmas gift? Here are five new whiskies for 2019 I’d recommend. Need something to listen to driving over the river and through the woods to or from Grandmother’s house? Here are five new albums I loved in 2019. Need something to watch while sitting around the house in a food coma? Here are five streaming ideas for you.

Top Five New Whiskies of 2019

I’ve selected five whiskies that were new releases in 2019 that would be great last minute Christmas gifts or excellent bottles to share at a New Year’s party. This list is comprised of whiskies that, if they are distributed in your market, should be very easy to find.

  1. Four Roses Small Batch Select ($55): Brent Elliott and the gang at Four Roses simply can’t miss. This is the first new permanent addition to the Four Roses lineup in a dozen years and it is outstanding. The only thing wrong with this one is I am currently out. So, if you are still wondering what you can get me for Christmas…
  2. Booker’s ($70): Including Booker’s is cheating somewhat, but my blog…my rules. Jim Beam releases four unique batches of Booker’s each year, so technically speaking Booker’s has four new whiskies each year (technically). Nevertheless, I love Booker’s and each of the four batches in 2019 were terrific. As a gift, Booker’s high proof deliciousness always fits.
  3. Old Forester Rye ($20): Old Fo outdid itself this year with the release of their first-ever rye whiskey. They very easily could have charged double the price, but, thankfully for us, they did not. In an age when most distilleries are contriving every excuse they can to raise prices, let’s give credit to Old Forester for bucking that trend. Plus, this is a very tasty rye whiskey that would be a welcome addition to any one’s cabinet.
  4. Wilderness Trail High Rye Bourbon ($70): Some outstanding whiskey is coming from Shane Baker and Pat Heist down in Danville, Kentucky. They introduced the third whiskey to their lineup (a bottled in bond, high rye Bourbon) in the Spring of this year and it is every bit as good as their wheated bottled in bond and their rye. Get on the Wilderness Trail before it gets too crowded.
  5. Legent ($35): This one may be a surprise addition to this list. This new product from Beam-Suntory is Bourbon finished in sherry and wine casks and then blended with more Bourbon. I am not typically a fan of finished whiskies, but I liked this one. More details on it can be found on my profile of Legent written for the ABV Network.

Top Five Albums of 2019

Music, even more so than whiskey, is a matter of individual preference. If you tell me a whiskey or two that you like, I can probably recommend several others you’ll enjoy. If you tell me a few musical artists you like, if I haven’t heard of any of them then I’m no help to you. Regardless, here are my favorite albums from the year. With Spotify and Apple Music it is really easy for you to give them a try.

Photo: Scott Willis Photography
  1. Trigger Hippy, “Full Circle and Then Some”. This rock/country/soul album is so easy and fun to listen to. Trigger Hippy is the brain child of Steve Gorman, founding member and drummer for The Black Crowes. I just saw them live last weekend which is an experience I’d highly recommend, too.
  2. The Raconteurs, “Help Us Stranger”. Of all the Jack White musical vehicles, The Raconteurs is probably my favorite. So, I had high expectations when this album dropped in 2019 after an eleven year wait. This album is musical genius from start to finish and the best Jack White associated album since The White Stripes “Elephant” (and that is saying a LOT).
  3. The Black Keys, “Let’s Rock”. I didn’t care much for The Black Keys 2014 release, “Turn Blue”. This new album, however, was a great comeback to me. It is a nice blending of modern Keys albums (“El Camino” and “Brothers”) and old-school Keys (“Thickfreakness” and “Magic Potion”).
  4. Rival Sons, “Feral Roots”. This is one of those bands that I like that I don’t get why they aren’t more popular. They have a funky-Led Zeppelin vibe. Vocally and musically this band is strong and Mike Miley may be the best drummer in rock music right now.
  5. Tedeschi Trucks Band, “Signs”. This is THE best live band in music today. There isn’t a close second. Their latest studio album, “Signs”, is still a showcase for their musical talent, but nothing like seeing them live. As Steve Gorman once told me: “Susan Tedeschi is the best singer and Derek Trucks is the best guitarist. It’s hardly fair to any other band out there”.

Five Things to Stream

I’m not putting the obvious on the list. You already know about “The Office”, “Parks and Rec” and “Friends”. So, here are a few other shows to check out (or revisit) if you haven’t already.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Georgetown University
  1. Mike Birbiglia, “The New One” (Netflix): Mike Birbiglia is a supremely talented stand-up comedian. His shows are both hilarious and extraordinarily well-crafted. The entire stand-up is the telling of one story with clever rabbit trails and funny tangents brilliantly woven into the tale.
  2. Dave Chappelle, “Sticks and Stones” (Netflix): This special from Chappelle was viewed controversially upon its release because he pulls no punches (to the left, to the right, to you, to me and to himself). It is a very crude brand of humor, which is why I have not watched it…twice. Still, this is not for the easily offended.
  3. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Hulu): I wasn’t a fan of Andy Samberg when he was on SNL, but I gave his sitcom a chance when it came out in 2013 and I am glad I did. Samberg is very funny in it and the writing is fresh and clever. Andre Braugher (who I loved in Homicide: Life on the Street) is surprisingly terrific as a comedic actor, too.
  4. “Fargo” (Hulu): The FX Series loosely based on the Coen Brothers movie of the same name is extremely well-written and a case study in character acting. There are three seasons available to stream and each is a unique story line unto itself. Season One is my favorite with stellar performances from Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Allison Tolman and Colin Hanks. Good news: in 2020, we have the release of Season Four to look forward to.
  5. “Seinfeld” (Hulu): As I was writing an article on “Festivus” I got sucked in to the Seinfeld world again. For a show about nothing, it has a lot of hilarious plot lines for us to enjoy.

I hope some of these recommendations help you enjoy time off from work or time spent with family during this holiday season. If you have any feedback or other suggestions, please share them with me. On behalf of me and my family I want to wish a very Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Kevin Rose

Just Say No…

Jason is one of the funniest and most talented guys I know. He’s a musician, he’s a fantastic cook and he can effortlessly make better any gathering he’s a part of. We’re fortunate enough to have Jason as part of The Bourbon Fellowship but, aside from tailgating back in his college years, he is relatively new to Bourbon. The wonderful things about that are: (1) He thinks I know a lot about Bourbon and (2) He is willing to ask anything. That second one…that can make for some interesting discussions in our group.

A couple of weeks ago Jason asked: “Is it fair to tell someone to not use your good whiskey as a mixer?” Many of you may be hosting parties around the holidays and this very issue may be one you have to deal with. We discussed this at Bourbon Fellowship and this was the consensus opinion:

1. Just say no. If someone wants to take your William Larue Weller and mix it with Yoo-Hoo, you are well within your rights as host and owner of that bottle to nip that in the bud. The “drink what you want, how you want” rule applies to Bourbon you paid for. If someone wants a mixer, then it is quite reasonable to direct them towards a nice bottom-shelfer you’ve included on the table.

2. Know your crowd. If your invitation list is full of people who understand and respect Bourbon then you can feel a little more at ease about what to put out as your whiskey lineup for the party. Say we have a Bourbon Fellowship New Year’s party. I trust these guys to not be looking at the good Bourbon as something to liven up their Ale 8.

Like Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett, Michter’s 10
and Dr. Pepper are great separately
but never really fit together.

3. Know your crowd (part two). If your invitation list has some who are unlearned in the ways of Bourbon (or if you just aren’t sure where they fall on the Bourbon spectrum) then leave the “good stuff” in the cabinet. That way if they want to spike the eggnog you don’t have a vein start pounding in the middle of your forehead when they reach for your Birthday Bourbon.

4. Call an audible. Say it’s your wife’s book club holiday party. The other husbands that couldn’t find an excuse to not come actually turn out to be good dudes who like Bourbon. (Let’s be realistic…one of them turns out to be a good dude who likes Bourbon). Sneak out some of the good stuff and make a discreet pour or two.

5. Don’t be “that guy”. While you have the right to set the ground rules you don’t have to be a jerk about it. If you need to re-direct someone, subtlety and discretion are useful skills. Embarrassing someone or mocking their lack of Bourbon knowledge is a d-bag move. At the end of the day, people and relationships are, of course, more important than any Bourbon

With a little planning and a generous spirit you can make the sharing of your whiskey line-up the best part of any party (holiday or otherwise). Most of us like to share our bottles and love to let others try new things and help them learn more about Bourbon. Part of learning more about Bourbon, however, is understanding that you don’t take another man’s allocated whiskey and mix it with your Dr. Pepper. No means no.

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. We are all blessed more than we deserve (at least I am). I hope you have a wonderful time with family and friends as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Kevin Rose

Happy Birthday, Bourbon Elvis

Jimmy Russell is Bourbon Elvis (sans white jump suit).  He is the rock star of Bourbon rock stars.  The celebrity of Bourbon celebrities.  The master distiller’s Master Distiller.  Today is Jimmy’s birthday.  Long live The King.

Lots of people have Jimmy Russell stories.  I have a few of them myself, but will try to limit this post to a couple and avoid tangents into others.  Otherwise, we may be here awhile.

Jimmy and me. Best of friends.

I first met Jimmy on June 16, 2018.  (I realize that isn’t that long ago, but I’m fairly new to Bourbon.)  It was the 10th anniversary celebration for Westport Whiskey & Wine in Louisville and it was hot.  It was fry-an-egg-on-your-forehead, sweat-through-your-underwear kind of hot.  Despite the heat, there is Jimmy Russell:  Wiping his sweat on a scarf and tossing it to the crowd (he didn’t really do that).  But, Jimmy was there.  He was there to support Chris Zaborowski and Rich Splan, the owners of Westport.  And he was there to meet Bourbon fans like me.  He sat under that tent for four hours shaking hands, smiling and answering the same questions a hundred different times with an enthusiasm like it was the first time he had heard it.  All the while, Jimmy was just sweating it out with us commoners.

The most recent time I saw Jimmy was almost a year later: June 13, 2019.  Jimmy was again at Westport Whiskey & Wine, but this time with his son, Eddie, and his grandson, Bruce.  They weren’t promoting anything specific.  They were just there to share a few pours while taking some pictures and talking Bourbon with Wild Turkey fans.  My older son and I were sure to get a picture with the Russells.  The three generations of Russells with two generations of Roses.  At the time, my son and his wife were expecting so the third generation Rose was on his way.  My grandson was born just a few days shy of sharing a birthday with Jimmy.  So, join me in raising a glass of something Wild Turkey for Jimmy’s birthday.  Here’s to many more years, many more stories and many more Bourbons.  Cheers, Jimmy, and thank you.  Thank you very much.

Families photo: Three generations of Russells. Two generations of Roses with the third on the way.

When you drink Wild Turkey you can’t help but think of Jimmy and all he means to the world of Bourbon. Raise a glass and give a cheer for Jimmy any time you’re sipping Wild Turkey, but especially on his birthday.

Kevin Rose

Bourbon Me Up, Scotty!

You remember Blockbuster Video, don’t you? Do you remember walking up and down the aisles trying to select a movie? You covered every inch of ground from New Releases to Comedies to Sci-Fi and back again. You see a movie that’s a “Tyler pick”. Tyler is the 35 year old behind the counter rewinding returned video tapes as a vocation. Sure. He seems qualified to recommend my movie. You’re reading the back of the case and trying to remember if the girl from “Cheers” is in a good Star Trek movie or a bad one. Tyler wouldn’t steer you wrong, would he?

Now we have streaming services. Should be easier, right? Wrong! First you have to decide which platform to browse: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Google Play, or on demand movies from your TV provider. There is no “Tyler” so you ask Alexa to recommend a movie and she suggests the Star Trek with Sherlock Holmes in it. That never seemed to make any sense. So, you just start scrolling and scrolling and scrolling (and scrolling and scrolling and…). You’re on your phone trying to find reviews and you’re not sure if a movie getting a lot of tomatoes is a good thing or a bad thing (whatever happened to the simplicity of “two thumbs up”?). 45 minutes later you’re watching Season 5 of The Office for about the hundredth time (and which Star Trek was Idris Elba in?).

So, what happens when you’re trying to choose a movie with other people? That is the Kobayashi Maru: The no-win scenario. You should just prepare to be assimilated because resistance is futile.

To Boldly Go

Now, you’re in your favorite liquor store and, logically, you want to buy Bourbon. You carefully scan each shelf. Then you scan again just in case you missed some hidden gem. You’re reading labels. You’re brain hurts from trying to figure out why Captain Kirk has a Bourbon. Pulling up reviews on your phone doesn’t help. The ascot guy says it is like “ashtray and bong water” (actual Fred Minnick review). Another guy says that same Bourbon is better than Pappy’s (I can’t find where someone actually said that about Kirk’s Bourbon, but there is some dope out there who says something is “better than Pappy’s” about everything).

Let’s add a couple other people to the decision making process. You and two friends are going in together to buy a bottle to share. You’ll need to agree on where to shop, price, brand, etc. While we’re at it, let’s make a blind tasting competition out of it.

This is what we did at The Bourbon Fellowship. I assigned three teams of three guys each. Each team went to a different liquor store with one rule: you had to pick a Bourbon. The team would have to agree on which store to visit, how much to pay and what brand to choose. Each of the three teams brought their carefully concealed bottle to The Wife who transferred a portion of each Bourbon to a color-coded flask.

Once each team had arrived at my house, everyone did a blind tasting of each Bourbon. After the blind tasting was completed everyone voted on which one they liked the best. The team who brought the winning bottle not only got all-important bragging rights, but took home the bottles submitted by the other two teams, too.

It was interesting to see what the three teams chose. Fortunately, no team brought Star Trek Bourbon (or whatever it is). The first team selected a Kroger store pick Smooth Ambler Old Scout. The second team decided on an Old Forester 1910. While the third team picked an Old Forester 1920! Jackie Zykan would be proud.

All the votes are counted. The tribe has spoken. The judges have made their decision. The United Federation of Planets has made a proclamation. We’ll have the results…after this commercial break.

Actually, we don’t have commercials. However, if anyone is interested in sponsoring The Bourbon Fellowship blog, I am open to offers. You spell “million”, m-i-l….

Live Long and Drink Bourbon

The vote count was 4 to 3 to 2. Two votes came in for the Old Scout leaving the title between two Old Fo favorites. The campfire marshmallow sweetness of 1910 was not enough to overcome the classic, boldness of 1920. Old Forester 1920 was the winner. Gold and silver medals were a nice showing for Old Forester. Next time I may need to make a rule that you can’t choose a Bourbon with the word “old” in the name.

The guys enjoyed this event. They were serious about trying to pick the winner with their selection. The blind tasting aspect is always fun, too. This is something you could easily do with a group of your own. Or, it is also a good time to meet up with two or three friends and jointly pick a bottle and let that be what you sip on together that night.

Maybe there is a way to beat the Kobayashi Maru after all. You just have to be named Jackie Zy-Khan. 

Apologies: First, to Jackie Zykan for the bad pun with her name.  Second, to all of you for having to endure the ridiculous and contrived Star Trek references. As I was writing it fit naturally a couple of times so I just went with it. At any rate, the Bourbon teams is a good idea and I hope you get to try it with your friends.

Kevin Rose

Booker’s Night (or “What Is a Led *bleeping* Zeppelin?”)

If you drink Bourbon then you’re familiar with Booker’s.   If you aren’t familiar with Booker’s then you’re doing Bourbon wrong.  Booker’s was the first of the Jim Beam small batch series developed by long-time master distiller, Booker Noe.  Currently, there are four Booker’s batches released each year.  Since 2015 each batch has been named for people and places important to Booker and the Noe family.  Booker’s is an unfiltered, uncut barrel-strength Bourbon.  According to Booker, himself: “it is the way Bourbon used to be and the way Bourbon is supposed to be”.  Who am I to argue?

An Aggressive Bourbon

The lineup started as being every Booker’s release from 2017 and 2018, both releases of Little Book and the Booker’s 30th anniversary Bourbon.  As if that weren’t beautiful enough, we added in a few releases from previous years such as Off Your Rocker, Noe Hard Times and Center Cut.  I’ve always commented that Booker’s is “an aggressive bourbon”. So the problem is: with so many great high proof whiskies to sample, how do you organize a tasting and everybody’s BAC not end up resembling a Booker’s ABV?

From very early on, Booker’s has been the unofficial Bourbon of The Bourbon Fellowship.  Regardless of the theme for each night, a bottle of Booker’s seems to always find its way on the table.  So a special night to honor Booker and his namesake Bourbon was a no-brainer (Fun fact: if you drink too much Booker’s at one time you may also be a “no-brainer”). 

We started Booker’s Night with a pour of Booker’s 30th and then raising a glass to good friends, good Bourbon and the contributions to both made by Booker and Fred.  I really enjoyed this Bourbon.  It certainly fits in the profile of the best of the regular Booker’s releases, but the additional age gives this one more flair and complexity.   What a treat!

After sharing the 30th, the guys in the Fellowship mostly went one of two routes with their other tastings.  We had printouts available of the stories of each batch with some tasting notes.  I had also created a Booker’s lineup handout so everybody could keep track of what they tried that night and make some notes. To be sure, the notes at the first of the night were more detailed and more legible than the notes at the end of the night. 

A few guys sampled a couple of batches that they had not tried before.  A few others did blind tastings of three or four batches.  There weren’t enough blind tastings to draw definitive conclusions, however, a couple of batches were consistently rated higher than others. Those batches were Kathleen’s Batch (2018-01) and Sip Awhile (2017-04) from the 2017 and 2018 batches.  From the prior years’ batches, Center Cut (2015-03) was also a favorite. 

In addition to great drink, we enjoyed some great food, too.  Tom brought Booker’s Bourbon Balls and Mark brought a homemade Booker’s Bread Pudding.  I also grilled some Booker’s Pork Chop Flambe! I think Booker would have enjoyed himself. 

If you’ve drank much Booker’s in your day, you probably have a Booker’s story or two.  Laughing over a few Tales of Booker’s Past rounded out the evening.  I’ve got one story worth sharing with you, but I’ll save for a future blog post.

What Is a Led F*****g Zeppelin?

When I plan these Bourbon Fellowship gatherings with a brand-related theme, I’ll write the master distiller a few months in advance.  In my letter, I’ll explain who we are and what we do.  I’ll also invite them to attend (so far…no takers).  Finally, I’ll ask them to share some thoughts about the connection between bourbon and friendship (which is what Bourbon Fellowship is really all about).

Fred Noe wrote me a wonderful letter.  But, also, a few weeks before our Booker’s Night I got to speak to Fred at Westport Whiskey & Wine.  Since we have a “soundtrack” for each Fellowship, I took the opportunity to ask Fred what kind of music his dad liked.  “Dad liked old country music”, Fred said.  “We had a cassette player in the truck back in that day.  So, when I’d play ‘Bad To the Bone’, he’d asked me to rewind the tape and play it again”. 

“Dad didn’t care for a lot of hard rock music”, Fred shared.  “He always asked ‘What is a Led F*****g Zeppelin anyway?!’”.  So, the soundtrack for Booker’s Night was a playlist of old school country music, several plays of “Bad to the Bone” and a little Led Zeppelin tossed in for Fred.

Stay on the Beam!

In Fred’s letter he referenced several things that tie back to the connection between bourbon and relationships.  Here are a few cuts from that letter:

“I really appreciate the fact you are honoring my father and my son with the Bookers and Little Book releases you are going to enjoy.  The batches from the last two years all have great stories behind them and go back to the people, places and things that were important to my dad”.

“Tommy’s Batch, Kathleen’s Batch and the Blue Knights Batch were people that touched my dad either through work or socially”.

“The other batches were named for places or things that were important to dad.  We are naming all the batches so there is a tie back to the brand and my father.  I have enjoyed telling the stories that meant a lot to me growing up with my father creating Booker’s bourbon”. 

“Drink one for me since you guys will have a hell of a good time.  Thanks for the invite.  Stay on the Beam!”

Booker’s Night really was a lot of fun to plan and fun to share with the guys. Fred was extremely gracious in his letter and in our conversation. It is times like these that create the best memories and that is at the core of why we enjoy Bourbon.

Kevin Rose

Father’s Day For the Bourbon Dad (Part 2)

Recently, I published a blog post on Father’s Day For the Bourbon Dad. You can follow the link to read it again. “Again” because you’ve clearly already read it at least once. Because you are clearly an intelligent and savvy individual.

In that post I listed some Bourbons, some Bourbon books and some Bourbon experiences that would make ideal gifts for Father’s Day. (This is a community service as there are some really crappy Bourbon-related gifts out there that you will want to dodge. So…you’re welcome). One experience that I wanted to include in that post was the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Unfortunately, the festival schedule had not been posted at the time I published the blog. Thanks to Kevin Ragland for letting me know that the schedule was posted by KBF yesterday. So, here is “Part 2” of the “Father’s Day For the Bourbon Dad” post.

The 2019 Kentucky Bourbon Festival is September 18 – 22. There are many events (both free and paid) to choose from. Here are a few quick highlights to consider for Father’s Day gifts.

Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame (September 19 @ 4:00 PM): This is the induction ceremony and reception for the 2019 Hall of Fame inductees. Cost is $40.

Kentucky Bourbon All Star Sampler (September 19 @ 7:00 PM): Spend an evening sampling Bourbon with all KDA Master Distillers as well as some craft distillers. Cost is $75.

Bourbon, Cigars and Jazz (September 20 @ 7:00 PM): You may not get this from the name of the event, but there will be Bourbon, cigars and Jazz. Cost is $100.

Bottled in Bond Fire (September 21 @ 7:00 PM): Sip on bottled-in-bond Bourbon by bonfires. Cost is $85.

Great Kentucky Bourbon Tasting & Cocktail Party (September 21 @ 7:00 PM): This is the signature event of the Festival. There will be food, live music and, of course, high end Bourbon pours. Cost is $175 or $225 for the VIP ticket.

These are just a few events from the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. For more information you can go the the KBF website. But you already knew that because you are clearly an intelligent and savvy individual.

Happy Father’s Day to all. I hope you get the Bourbon gifts you are looking for, but most of all I hope you enjoy the day and time with your children. God bless!

Kevin Rose

Father’s Day for the Bourbon Dad

Your dad loves bourbon.  You have seemingly countless choices for a Father’s Day gift for dear ol’ dad, but not every choice is a good one.  Handing dad something with “Bourbon” printed on it can be pretty lame.  Is it a plaque?  Is it a license plate? Is it worth anything in a yard sale?

Novelty bourbon clothing may seem clever, but it usually isn’t.  Nobody wants bourbon-themed boxer shorts with a joke about the “size of your stave” stitched on them. (OK…maybe that’s brilliant.  I claim it.  Nobody steal it!). 

You could always just ask dad what he wants for his special day, but most dads aren’t going to give you much help as they tend to down play Father’s Day for themselves.  This is where I can help.

I’ve put together a few ideas to help you find a gift that most any bourbon pappy would love.  And, no, Pappy Van Winkle isn’t on the list.  These are all things you can easily find.

Bourbon

This is Kathleen’s Batch. It is one of my favorite Bourbons.

Every Bourbon lover loves Bourbon.  That’s what makes them a Bourbon lover.  However, there are a lot of choices and some liquor stores don’t have employees that are that knowledgeable or that helpful.  My first Bourbon suggestion is Booker’s.  Each year there are four different releases of Booker’s batches.  They are all numbered (2018-01 is the first batch released in 2018, for example) and named (The 2018-01 was called “Kathleen’s Batch”).  It’s a unique gift without going too far out on a limb and can be found for $60-$75.

If you know where your father shops, you can visit there and see if they have any store picks.  Those are barrels specifically selected by that store’s management to be bottled and sold only in their store.   There are a limited number of these bottles available and once they are gone, they are gone.  Again, this is a unique and thoughtful gift that is also a safe one.

This may be a little more risky, but if you are looking for the bourbon dad who seems to have everything then consider something new and crafty.  Craft distilleries (small, privately-owned, up-and-coming distilleries) are doing some very good things in Bourbon these days. A bottle from Wilderness Trail, Neeley Family or Jeptha Creed would be an intriguing addition to any Bourbon collection.  If you can’t find these brands in your town, then you may need to do an internet search for craft Bourbons in your area or rely on that liquor store employee for help after all.

Books

Posted without permission. It is a photo of my own copy of his book. I don’t think Michael will be mad. I might need to hire Brian if he is.

You have to be careful here as a book can mean different things to different people.  To some, a book is a joyful way to learn.  To others, a book is a chore.  There are many books about Bourbon on the market today and I’ll narrow it down to two for you.  One is “Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey” by Michael Veach.  Veach is the daddy to Bourbon history and a must read for any father serious about his Bourbon.

A second book is “Bourbon Justice” by Brian Haara.  Brian is an attorney…stop booing, that’s rude.  Brian is a nice attorney (yes, those exist).  His book tells many stories about legal cases in the whiskey world and how that shaped law in America.  Think “Law & Order with a hangover”.  It is a very interesting read.

Bourbon Experience

A few of the distilleries now in downtown Louisville.

Bourbon Tourism is a big thing these days and not just in Kentucky.  Distilleries around the country offer tours for the Bourbon enthusiast everywhere.  As competition has increased for the Bourbon tourist dollars, distilleries have gotten creative.  They now offer special events such as behind the scenes experiences or tastings with master distillers or tasters.  Buy yourself and your dad a ticket to one of these tours or events and it will be a fun memory to make together.

I wanted to suggest a ticket to a Kentucky Bourbon Festival event, but there isn’t anything available on their website yet.  Not even a schedule of events is posted.  It’s only about three months away, so if somebody wants to nudge the folks at the KBF to see if they are awake that might be helpful.

The final Bourbon experience I would suggest is the easiest and easily the most meaningful.  Sometime next Sunday, go see your dad.  Bring in a bottle of Bourbon you enjoy and, assuming you are of legal drinking age in your state, share a pour with him and tell him you love him.  And when you go home…leave the bottle.

Feel free to share this on Facebook or Twitter so that your children or wife might see it. Or print it out and leave it casually lying around the house where someone might happen upon it. Whatever the case…Happy Father’s Day to all the Bourbon-loving dads out there. Cheers!

Kevin Rose

Becoming Old Grand Dad

Easter is always a reminder of the good news that “He is risen”.  This Easter we received the bonus good news that our oldest son and his wife are having a baby.  The Wife and I are going to be grandparents! 

We love our daughter-in-law and, of course, we love our son, too.  We are extremely proud of all they have done and who they are becoming in their marriage.  Our excitement level for them has gone from “fairly stoked” to the “totally stoked” level now that they are having a child…our grandchild…did you hear that I’m going to be a grandfather?

One of the beautiful things about their relationship is that I was friends with the DIL’s father, Bill, for several years before they started dating.  (Bill is actually a Bourbon Fellowshipper, too!)  The friendship that The Wife and I share with Bill and his wife has been remarkably smooth.  It’s remained steady and true through several years of our kids dating, an engagement and a wedding!  It will be wonderful to share the grandparent experience with a couple who are already our friends, too.

So, the first thing I did when I learned of the grandchild was…well, the first thing I did, actually, was cry like a Michael Jordan meme and hug everybody like Roger Goodell on draft day.

So, the second thing I did when I learned of the grandchild was (did you hear that I’m going to be a grandfather?) to buy a new bottle of Old Grand Dad for Bill and me to share when the baby is born.  It is not an expensive Bourbon, by any means, but it is still very good and it was a logical choice for the occasion (from drinking Old Grand Dad to becoming Old Grand Dad).  It is just be another example of Bourbon being a great way to celebrate a special event with friends and family.

I don’t look as old as this guy, right? Right?! You took a little too long to answer that.

I chose to go with the bottled in bond version of Old Grand Dad.  It has more room on the bottle than the OGD 114 for writing dates, height, weight (of the baby…not me or Bill).  There is also an 80 proof Old Grand Dad but it is just too lightweight.  It might be suitable for the grandbaby’s sippy cup, however. 

Several friends have asked what I want our grandchild to call me.  One had even suggested “Old Grand Dad”.  I don’t really care what he or she calls me but if it is that, can we drop the “Old” and just go with “Grand Dad”.  Maybe I should rename this post simply “Becoming Grand Dad”? By the way, did you hear that I’m going to be a grandfather?

Thanks for indulging me on this brief celebration. When the baby arrives in an estimated 186 days (but who’s counting) I’ll be sure to post the news and let you know what we celebrate with…other than Old Grand Dad, of course.

Kevin Rose

Bourbon Good Guys (Vol. II)

We all have that friend who it feels like we’ve known all our life, even though we haven’t.  Well…I hope you do, anyway.  It’s the kind of friend who has free reign to your refrigerator, your pantry and even your liquor cabinet.  The guy I’m writing about today may not be somebody you know, but if you were to meet him you would instantly have a new friend. 

Hanging out in Vegas. Probably just left a speak-easy.

Tom is the brother I never had.  Our families have traveled together, played games together and eaten more meals together than I can remember.  Our kids were baptized in their swimming pool. We’ve walked through rough times together and celebrated good times together.  Thankfully, we are blessed enough that the celebrations far outnumber the rough times.

I caught the Bourbon Fever a year or so before Tom. About the time I started The Bourbon Fellowship, Tom got infected in a big way.  As Tom has built up his Bourbon collection he has always been quick to share what he finds during his hunts with the rest of our group.  He also recently became a Certified Bourbon Steward.  He even showed up at a Bourbon Fellowship on his wedding anniversary.  That’s commitment.  Or maybe he just needs to be committed?

Tom was so excited to meet Fred Noe, he forgot to open his eyes.

Tom was with me when I opened a Pappy 15 to celebrate my son’s wedding.  Tom and I finished off a bottle of Old Fitzgerald bottled-in-bond at Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen one night because at $7 a pour it would have been rude to have done otherwise.

It is a true blessing to have a friend with whom you can share so much of life. To be able to share Bourbon with that friend just makes it all that much sweeter.  Kind of like those wheated bourbons you like, Tom.

Happy birthday, Tom.  Cheers!

Raise a glass in honor of the friends you share your life and your Bourbon with. Better yet…raise a glass with those friends.

Kevin Rose