The Bard Distillery

Celebrating Bourbon in Louisville

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June 18, 2024
By Rebecca McBrayer

To wrap up National Bourbon Week, Wayne and I enjoyed a quick trip to Louisville, KY. We had two planned activities for the weekend: a dinner at Evan Williams on Friday and a tour at Starlight Distillery on Saturday. Beyond that, we decided to go with flow and enjoy whatever caught our eyes. If you haven’t been to Louisville and explored Whiskey Row, you should likely place that on your travel calendar!

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bottled-Bond Release

When we arrived in Louisville, we drove directly to Angel’s Envy. They were releasing their Cask Strength Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, their first non-finished offering. We were excited to stop in and acquire a bottle. We learned that they were 375ml bottles and got two as well as a distillery only single barrel. This is an historic moment for Angel’s Envy and we were thrilled to stop in for their celebration!

Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Louisville Tasting Room

We have been huge fans of Bardstown Bourbon Company since our first weekend on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and love that they now have a tasting room in Louisville. Thus, that was our next stop.

A busy day in Louisville!
View from the bar.

We had hoped that we would be able to acquire a bottle of their Amrut Collaboration and were thrilled that it was available. When planning our tasting flights, we also wanted to try the two distillery only offerings. The first was a Small Batch Stave Finish and the other was a Single Barrel Four Grain. When we saw that their Bardstown Collection for 2024 was available, that was an easy choice!

As we sat down for our tasting, I was more than surprised to see my friend and AOII sorority sister, Cindy Visot, who I have not seen in 9 years! She and her husband were in town for a wedding and just happened to stop in to sample some bourbon. What a fun coincidence!

Flight: Small Batch Stave Finish, Single Barrel Four Grain, Bardstown Collection 2024, Amrut Collaboration
Finding a friend you haven’t seen in 9+ years!













We bought all that we sampled as each expression was amazing. To say we were surprised and THRILLED to have the opportunity to purchase the 2024 Bardstown Collection is an understatement!

Buzzard’s Roost Whiskey Row Experience

We then walked a couple blocks to the Buzzard’s Roost Whiskey Row Experience. We really enjoy their products and made a point to stop in as we knew they are having a special event to celebrate the grand opening of their hidden speakeasy. The event included a sample spirit upon arrival, light bites, and a special cocktail menu at their cash bar.

Buzzard’s Roost on Main St in Louisville
We got a peek at their still!

Everyone was dressed in Roaring 20’s attire and the place was buzzing! The small bites were welcomed as we had been quite busy already. We were happy to get a seat at the bar and order from the special menu for the event. We each enjoyed our drink selections … Manhattan for me and a Paper Plane for Wayne!

Special Cocktail Menu
A Manhattan for Rebecca & a Paper Plane for Wayne

Evan Williams – A Toast to Bourbon Dinner

Following our visit at Buzzard’s Roost, it was time to head to Evan Williams for our “A Toast to Bourbon Dinner” that was scheduled to begin at 7PM. Please read all about that event HERE.

Breakfast at Doc Crow’s

We were up early on Saturday morning and looked forward to breakfast at one of our favorite places – Doc Crow’s! The location and atmosphere is fantastic. We always have amazing service and the food is outstanding.

Wayne enjoyed the “build your own” omelet with hashbrowns, a side of biscuit & gravy and a spicy Bloody Mary made with bourbon. I loved the spinach and feta omelet with hashbrowns … and we shared a side of cheddar grits!

Whiskey Row Car Show

As we walked to Doc Crow’s, we noticed that cars were filing in for a show. By the time we finished breakfast, we were able to stroll along Whiskey Row and enjoy some amazing cars! You just never know what you will find in downtown Louisville.

Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery

After checking out of our hotel, we decided to see what Michter’s was offering for the day. We arrived just as the doors were opening and learned that they had a Barrel Strength Rye (109.6 proof) available. It came as a set with their Straight Rye Whiskey. There was also an opportunity to bottle-your-own Barrel Strength Bourbon but the next available time was later than we desired to stay.

James B. Beam Distilling Co.

After leaving Michter’s, we decided to head to Jim Beam, which is less than a 30-minute drive from Louisville. We always love being on their campus and we were hopeful that they would have some bottles on the shelf that we wanted to buy.

We were in luck as they had exactly what we were hoping for: Booker’s 2024-02, “The Beam House Batch” and Little Book Chapter 8, “Path not Taken.” Of course, it would have been incredible to acquire a bottle of their 2024 Bardstown Collection; alas, there were none available. But that is ok, we got what we thought we would have an opportuity to buy!

It was a great, albeit quick, trip to Louisville. We always look forward to visiting!

Farewell Louisville – time to head to Borden, IN and Starlight Distillery!

Happy Trails!
Rebecca & Wayne

First Visit to The Bard Distillery

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April 18, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Wayne, Rebecca, Tom, & Kim




February 18, 2023, Wayne and I decided to venture to Graham, KY in Muhlenberg County. The reason for this trip was to make a visit to The Bard Distillery, which is on the Kentucky Bourbon Craft Trail, Western Region. Little did we know that we would fall in love with the people and the distillery and make many more visits.




History and Beginnings

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Bourbon Trail is learning the history of the distillery and what brought the owners to be in the distilling industry. This is especially interesting with the Craft Distilleries who are typically following a life-long or possibly a learned passion for spirits. For Tom and Kim Bard, they took different paths but ended at the same destination… A love and commitment for the history and people of Muhlenberg County in Kentucky.

Tom, a mechanical engineer, grew up in Muhlenberg County and is the 4th great grandson of William Bard – the founder of Bardstown, KY. Tom spent many years in motorsports including being a crew chief. On the other hand, Kim is from Tallahassee, FL and spent her early career in education, but has been known for being a race car driver in the Nascar Busch series. The stars aligned, they were married and now live on the family farm in Kentucky. For more on their legacy, see the distillery’s About page.

Tour of the The Bard Distillery

When you first arrive at the distillery, you can’t help but notice the art-deco building sitting on the hill. It was a beautiful old school that had been abandoned in 2004. Thankfully, Tom and Kim had a vision for a distillery and entertainment venue and purchased the property in 2015. Based on what we heard on this tour as well as subsequent visits, we know that they are taking time to properly renovate while lovingly paying homage to the historical buildings that they treasure.

The Graham School Building
The Graham School Gymnasium

For now, the old gymnasium is their hub of operations and doubles for an event space. Luckily, it is in amazing condition and the floors are beautiful.

On the stage of the gym is where the distilling takes place! They shared with us on that first tour that they cannot wait to get their Vendome Copper & Brass Works still that will reside in the main school building. If you know anything about the industry, you know what a long wait time is usually expected to get a custom made Vendome!

At the conclusion of the distillery tour, we enjoyed a guided tasting of several of their award-winning spirits – each one was terrific.

Gift Shop

They have a terrific little gift shop and we were each able to get a shirt plus a very nice sign to display (and Kim and Tom signed the sign for us).

Happy to acquire another distillery ornament for the tree and distillery pin for my hat!

We loved all their spirits and bought our fair share – including their last bottle of Founder’s Select. Even things that we wouldn’t normally consider – such as flavored or creamed, were awesome! Since this first visit, their Cinder & Smoke Oloroso has become one of our favorite bourbons.

Distillery Trail Statistics

The Bard Distillery in Graham, KY was our 33rd distillery. A member of the Kentucky Bourbon Craft Trail, Western Region – it was our 13th distillery on the Craft Trail and our 3rd of 5 in the Western Region.

We returned 5/28/23 for the release of their Central City 150 and enjoyed a Smoked Old Fashioned while visiting. A pre-dawn return trip 09/23/23 to purchase the Cinder & Smoke Excelsior aged 17-years. Plus, most recently on our pre-eclipse outing! Always a joy!

Please visit The Bard! You will not be disappointed!!

Pro Tip: As mentioned in a previous article about this area, The Bard Distillery, MB Roland Distillery, and Casey Jones Distillery are quite close together and are on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour Western area.

A fun addition is Old Glory Distilling Co in Clarksville, TN. That plus MB Roland and Casey Jones will complete the Stateline Whiskey Tour. You will receive a souvenir shot glass at each stop and a finisher’s stave at the last one.

Happy Trails!
Rebecca

All photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer unless otherwise noted.

Pre-Solar Eclipse Trip to MB Roland, Casey Jones, and The Bard

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By Rebecca & Wayne McBrayer

Saturday, April 6, 2024 we decided to enjoy the beautiful day and revisit some awesome stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour Western area. Besides loving these distilleries, there were some events and special Total Eclipse bottle releases happening as well that we didn’t want to miss.

MB Roland Distillery in Pembroke, KY

MB Roland Distillery is located on a lovely farm just south of Hopkinsville, which also means that they are just north of the Tennessee state line. Via their Facebook postings, we knew that they were releasing the MB Roland Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon and “Smallest Small Batch” hand selected and blended by Jackie Zykan. Bonus, she was to be there for bottle signings 11-3. In addition, we wanted to acquire a bottle of their total eclipse commemorative Black Sun Bourbon etched bottle.

Jackie Zykan signing bottles
Wayne, Rebecca, and Jackie


We were fortunate to arrive early and have an opportunity to talk with Jackie. She is not only incredibly knowledgeable and possesses an amazing palate, but she is super nice as well.


After our chat, we decided to do a small tasting to help us determine what other bottles we wanted to take home with us. They have endless options and you are sure to find one or two that hits the mark for your taste. In addition to the ones that Jackie signed and the Black Sun Bourbon, we also got one finished in brandy and a single barrel named “Butter and Biscuits” as it was very clear how it got its name!


Casey Jones Distillery in Hopkinsville, KY

From MB Roland, it is a mere 22 mile drive north to the Casey Jones Distillery. We had a mission to collect as many eclipse specialty bottles as reasonable and we knew that Casey’s had a few options. We were able to sample several items and that helped us confirm that we would acquire the three eclipse options as well as an amazing single barrel four-grain.

Rebecca, AJ, and Wayne

We had the opportunity to meet with their Master Distiller, AJ, and get a picture with him. He was thrilled that we loved their spirits and encouraged us to stop in their bar for a specialty cocktail before leaving. That was certainly on our agenda just as soon as we grabbed some of the BBQ that we had been smelling on the smoker! Smokin O’s BBQ had burgoo, BBQ nachos, pulled pork, chicken, brisket, and ribs – amazing! We enjoyed our food selections with a cocktail (Bloody Mary for Wayne and the Total Black Out for Rebecca).

Casey Jones Single Barrel Eclipse Cask: Originally barreled for the 2017 Eclipse, it was now bottled for the 2024 Eclipse. The mashbill is 50% corn and 50% cane recipe. It was aged just shy of 7 years in a Kelvin Cooperage #4 char, medium toast cask, offered uncut at cask strength.

Total Eclipse Bourbon: This is a 4 grain mashbill with 75% corn, 10% wheat, 10% rye, and 5% malted barley.

Total Eclipse Moonshine: Distilled from a century-old family recipe of 50% corn and 50% cane sugar, this particular moonshine was first created during the 2017 eclipse.


The Bard Distillery in Graham, KY


It was somewhat a “given” that we would stop by The Bard Distillery as we would literally drive by the exit on our way home. From Casey’s, it is less than 40 miles to the north – and again – on our way home to Southern Indiana. We had our fingers crossed that we might catch a lull on a Saturday so we could chat for a bit. That’s exactly what happened – we arrived just after two large groups had departed!

We always enjoy visiting with the team, seeing what might be new in the gift shop, and getting a bottle or two to replenish our shelves. We were in need of their Cinder & Smoke Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey finished in Spanish Oloroso casks. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones with that great idea as they were temporarily sold out. Just another reason to make a visit in the near future!

That said, we were able to catch up with Kim Carter Bard and Amy Bryant while enjoying that day’s specialty cocktails. In addition, we were blessed to receive a special behind-the-scene’s peek at things to come for the distillery. All I will share is that you will want to see it unfold! Just brilliant. We are very excited for Kim, Tom, and the entire team!

Kim invited us to follow her to Greenville, KY to check out a great spot there. And we were off to do just that!

Sip&Spin Coffee & Records in Greenville, KY

Greenville, KY is a picturesque town in Muhlenberg County with a traditional town feel and many historic buildings. The Sip & Spin Coffee & Records is no different. Located in the historic Roark building, the location has served several purposes including an undertaking business, antiques, and the printer for a local paper, “The Record.” Many historical items are on display today and it is fascinating to walk through. If that isn’t enough, they have fabulous coffee and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings.

We truly enjoyed relaxing there and chatting with Kim as well as Ben Duvall, the owner of the establishment. We look forward to returning on a Saturday in the near future to enjoy the music and people of Greenville.

Rebecca, Kim, and Wayne at the Sip & Spin

Distillery Trail Statistics

MB Roland Distillery, Casey Jones Distillery, and The Bard Distillery are on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour Western area. This trip marked our second visits to MB Roland and Casey Jones and our 4th to The Bard. Overall, they were our 121st, 122nd, and 123rd distillery experiences.

The Bourbon Trail is so much more than collecting stamps and bottles of spirits. Whether you are just starting the Trail or are well into it, always remember to savor each moment and take it all in. It is a culture. It is making new friends. It is supporting up and coming businesses. It is a way of life and we love it!

Pro Tip: Add Old Glory Distilling Co in Clarksville, TN. That plus MB Roland and Casey Jones will complete the Stateline Whiskey Tour. You will receive a souvenir shot glass at each stop and a finisher’s stave at the last one.

Happy Trails,
Wayne & Rebecca

All photos by Rebecca

January 2024 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Tasting

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01/31/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already. 

For this tasting, Wayne and I decided to select three Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys. Such whiskeys have all the requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof. Straight bourbon means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky.

For this tasting, we selected expressions from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour: The Bard Distillery, Bluegrass Distillers, and James E. Pepper Distilling Co.

The Bard: Cinder & Smoke


Mash Grains – Corn, Rye, Malted Barley
Proof – 94
Age – At least 4 years






Color – Medium Amber
Aroma – Honey, baking spices, smoke
Taste – Honey, caramel, vanilla, brown sugar; Tasted with dried cranberry – very similar but there is a buttery taste and the black pepper finish is gone; Tasted with a pecan – baking spice, caramel, and some light oak; Tasted with dark chocolate – creamy, buttery, caramel.
Finish – lingering with black pepper
General Notes – Solid bourbon with a nice balance of tastes.

Bluegrass Distillers: Bottled-in-Bond


Mashbill – 75% yellow corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
Proof – 100
Aged – At least 4 years







Color – Medium amber
Aroma – Honey, salted caramel, vanilla, green tea, light fruit
Taste – Honey, pear, oak, butterscotch; Tasted with dried cranberry – more fruitiness again a very light caramel with a really smooth finish with a hint of cinnamon; Tasted with a pecan – more buttery with the pecan, less cinnamon, finish is very light now; Tasted with dark chocolate – strong pepper on the finish.
Finish – Lingering baking spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon as well as black pepper
General Notes – Very nice, full-bodied, drinks like it would be a warm hug in the cold

James E. Pepper: Decanter Barrel Proof

Note – this decanter is a recreation of a historic bottle from 1945
Mash grains – Corn, rye, malted barley, malted rye
Age – average of 5.5 years
Bottled – from barrel, uncut, unfiltered
Proof – 105.7






Color – Darker amber
Aroma – Strong caramel, toasted oak, fruit and nuts
Taste –  Cherry, raisins, caramel, citrus, toasted oak, cinnamon; Tasted with dried cranberry – the fruit is a little different and less forward, buttery, cinnamon finish; Tasted with a pecan – baking spices with caramel and a hint of cocoa and a light cinnamon finish; Tasted with dark chocolate – creamy, buttery caramel, a little bit of cinnamon and baking spices, would like pair well with a dessert
Finish – dried fruits, rye spice, cinnamon
General Notes – Beautiful bottle with an inviting complexity, a great pour

Comparison and Ranking

Aroma
  Wayne: Bluegrass, James E Pepper, Cinder & Smoke
  Rebecca: James E Pepper, Cinder & Smoke, Bluegrass  
Taste
  Wayne: James E Pepper, Cinder & Smoke, Bluegrass
  Rebecca: James E Pepper, Cinder & Smoke, Bluegrass

Discussion – We enjoyed each of these even though they are incredibly different. Perhaps that is one of the reasons that we love bourbon so much – they are all labeled Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and they are each their own unique offering. What they have in common is that each have rye as their second grain.

**James E Pepper is right in the midst of our favorite profile. It is caramel and fruity with just the right pop of baking spices.
**Cinder & Smoke is loaded with honey, caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar with the added interest of smoke and black pepper.
**Bluegrass BIB is honey, pear, oaky, and finishes with nutmeg and black pepper.

How to chose? For a cocktail, we know that Cinder & Smoke is amazing in an Old Fashioned (especially a smoked one). Overall, it will depend on your day and what you are in the mood to enjoy. Today, we rank them as listed above. However, the great thing about bourbon is that if we do this again in a few months, the ranking could very well be completely different.

We recommend them all and they would be terrific additions to a bourbon collection, especially since they are so different. Have you tried any of these? What did you think?

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

NOTE: The bourbons in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.