Amaro Cocktails

Bulleit Bourbon Distillery Tour & Double Bottle Tasting Review

/ bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

We are back on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail for Episode 63 of Bourbon Trail Tales & Tastes! Today, we are sharing our recent second visit to the massive Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Distillery in Shelbyville, KY. While we’ve stopped by before, this was our very first time taking the official Bulleit Distillery Tour with our fantastic guide, Jeremy! 

Even though production was temporarily shut down, we got an up-close look at the incredible automated facility, stood inside a disassembled vintage Vendome column still to inspect the plates, and explored their fascinating microscope-blown yeast strain wall. Plus, we dive into their legendary “hippie trip” full sensory tasting room to experience the sensory orbs!

After hitting one of the best gift shops on the trail, we brought home two unique bottles purchased the same day. Today, we crack them open for a double first-pour tasting review:

ONE: Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Strength (Batch 08) An uncut, non-chill filtered powerhouse clocking in at 121.8 proof. 

TWO: Bulleit Bourbon Mesquite Smoked Malt (Limited Edition) A fascinating 6-year-old experimental release distilled in November 2018. 

Have you done the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience? What do you think of the experimental Mesquite Smoked Malt? Let us know in the comments below!

If you love what we do, hit that SUBSCRIBE button, join us on the journey, and always remember to drink responsibly. Go bite the Bulleit today! Cheers!

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🎓 Want to earn a FREE Whiskey Certificate? Start your bourbon education journey with Whiskey University today! Take your first steps here: https://www.whiskeyuniv.com/first-steps

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Strength (Batch 08)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Diageo
  • Distillery: Sourced from undisclosed Kentucky distillery(ies) (Aged/Bottled at Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville, KY)
  • Mash Bill: Bulleit’s signature high-rye bourbon mash bill, typically ~68% Corn, 28% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
  • Age: NAS (at least 4 years)
  • Proof: 121.8
  • SRP: $60
  • Other: Uncut and non-chill filtered; aged in level 4 char barrels with level 2 char heads.
  • Purchased: 03/29/26 for $60 at Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience

Bulleit Bourbon Mesquite Smoked Malt (Limited Edition)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Diageo
  • Distillery: Bulleit Distilling Co. (Shelbyville, KY)
  • Mash Bill: 65% Corn, 30% Mesquite-Smoked Malted Barley, 5% Malted Barley
  • Age: 6+ Years (Distilled November 2018, dumped 2025)
  • Proof: 93
  • SRP: $50
  • Released: March 2, 2026
  • Other: Bulleit’s first-ever straight bourbon crafted without any rye grain in the mash bill. Part of their experimental new-make and grain exploration project.
  • Purchased: 03/29/26 for $50 at Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

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

#BulleitBourbon #YourBourbonJourney #DistilleryTour #BourbonTrail #BulleitBarrelStrength #MesquiteSmokedMalt #KentuckyBourbon #WhiskeyTasting #BourbonReview #Diageo #ShelbyvilleKY #ExperimentalWhiskey #BourbonPairing #BBQCocktails #BiteTheBullet

Upgrade Your Boulevardier Cocktail With This High-Proof Trick

/ bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

Welcome to Episode 78 of Thirsty Thursday Cocktails on Your Bourbon Journey! Tonight, we are crafting “The Darker Boulevardier,” a brooding, spirit-forward riff on the classic Boulevardier cocktail. If you love a classic Negroni or a traditional Boulevardier but want something with more depth, complexity, and a savory backbone, this recipe is for you.

Instead of the bright, sweet citrus snap of traditional Campari, this recipe features the high-proof intensity of Cynar 70. This amaro brings an assertive, velvety, and deeply savory artichoke-and-herbal bitterness to the glass. To stand up to that heavy modifier, we are anchoring the build with 2 full ounces of the Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel 7-Year bourbon. With its famous high-rye mash bill, this 114-proof powerhouse brings a sharp punch of black pepper, cinnamon, baking spices, and a classic Jim Beam nuttiness that remains the absolute star of the glass.

We round out the sharp edges with the rich cocoa-and-berry sweetness of Cocchi di Torino Sweet Vermouth and bind the structure together with Orange Bitters. The result is a bold, viscous, and unapologetically complex aperitivo-style cocktail that opens up beautifully as the clear ice melts.

Are you a fan of using Cynar in whiskey cocktails? Let me know your thoughts on this spec in the comments below!

🛒 Featured Cocktail Ingredients & Tools

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out the links below!

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🎓 Want to earn a FREE Whiskey Certificate? Start your bourbon education journey with Whiskey University today! Take your first steps here: https://www.whiskeyuniv.com/first-steps

🥃 THE RECIPE: THE DARKER BOULEVARDIER

  • 2.0 oz Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel 7-Year Bourbon
  • 0.75 oz Cynar 70 Amaro
  • 0.75 oz Cocchi di Torino Sweet Vermouth
  • 2 dashes Orange Bitters
  • Garnish: Expressed Orange Peel

📖 INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice.
  2. Stir thoroughly for 30 to 45 seconds to achieve an ice-cold chill and proper dilution.
  3. Strain into a chilled rocks glass over a single large, clear ice cube.
  4. Express a fresh orange peel over the top to release the bright essential oils, and drop it in as the garnish.

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. 

#BourbonCocktails #Boulevardier #OldGrandDad114 #Cynar70 #CocktailRecipe #ThirstyThursday #YourBourbonJourney #WhiskeyCocktails #AmaroCocktails #NegroniRiff #HomeBartender #SweetVermouth #CraftCocktails #BourbonEnthusiast #ClassicCocktailRiff

The Darkest Irish Whiskey Cocktail You’ll Ever Taste

/ bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

The Ultimate Irish Twist: The Pot Still “Black” Manhattan 🥃

If a standard Manhattan is a sharp pinstriped suit, the Pot Still “Black” Manhattan is a heavy charcoal overcoat. In Episode 60 of Thirsty Thursday Cocktails, Rebecca from Your Bourbon Journey explores a dark, viscous, and brooding twist on a classic.

By swapping traditional rye for the powerhouse Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength and replacing sweet vermouth with the thick, Sicilian Averna Amaro, we’ve created a cocktail with a massive, oily “chew” and an earthy profile that commands the palate. Whether you are an Irish whiskey lover or a Manhattan purist, this velvety, buttery build is the perfect way to elevate your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🥃 Become a Patron & Get Exclusive Content

🔔 YouTube

📸 Instagram 

👍 Facebook

📋 The Recipe: Pot Still “Black” Manhattan

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength Irish Whiskey
  • 1 oz Averna Amaro
  • 2 dashes Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
  • Garnish: Luxardo Cherry

Instructions:

  1. Combine: In a mixing glass, add the Black Walnut bitters, Averna Amaro, and the Redbreast Cask Strength.
  2. Chill: Add plenty of ice and stir for 25–30 seconds until the glass is frosted and the cocktail is perfectly diluted.
  3. Prep Glass: Place one Luxardo cherry (and a touch of syrup!) into the bottom of a chilled coupe glass.
  4. Strain: Double strain the mixture into your coupe.
  5. Enjoy: Experience the aromas of dark chocolate and toasted oak before taking that first velvety sip.

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. Please drink responsibly.

#BlackManhattan #IrishWhiskey #Redbreast #CocktailRecipes #StPatricksDay #HomeBartender #WhiskeyLover #Averna #Mixology #ThirstyThursday #PotStill #CaskStrength #DrinkResponsibly #BourbonJourney #ClassicCocktails

Your Next Favorite Drink: Monte Whiskey Sour!

/ bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

Thirsty Thursday Cocktails – Episode 24 – The Monte Whiskey Sour

Get ready for your new favorite sour! We’re diving deep into the Monte Whiskey Sour, a drink that takes everything you love about a classic whiskey sour and elevates it with incredible depth and aroma.

Our star bourbon, Four Roses OBSF, brings its unique high-rye spice and minty notes to the party, while Amaro Montenegro adds its signature orange, herbal, and subtly bitter charm. Forget plain sugar – we’re using Demerara syrup for a rich, caramel backbone that makes every sip sing.

And the foam? Silky Fee Foam gives you that beautiful, creamy texture without the egg. But the real secret weapon? Aromatic orange bitters for bright zest, and a touch of black walnut bitters for a surprising, earthy richness that will blow your mind. This is balanced, complex, and utterly delicious. 

Ready to master this riff on a whiskey sour? Click play ▶️ now and let’s make some magic!

Items Needed:

  • Four Roses OBSF Bourbon
  • Amaro Montenegro
  • Fresh Lemon Juice
  • Demerara Syrup
  • Orange Bitters
  • Black Walnut Bitters
  • Fee Foam

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more amazing cocktail recipes and tips! 🔔 Let us know in the comments below what cocktail you want us to perfect next! 👇 We love hearing your suggestions!

#whiskeysour  #FourRoses #AmaroMontenegro 

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

✅ Please SUBSCRIBE and hit the LIKE button!

NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. Please drink responsibly.