April 2024 Four Roses Recipe Tasting

April 23, 2024April 22, 2024 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

04/23/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Last July, following a fantastic two-day 2023 Bardstown Bourbon Collection Mint Julep Tour, Wayne and I stopped by the gift shop of the Four Roses bottling facility in Coxs Creek, KY because we heard they had released the Four Roses Ten Recipe Tasting Experience boxed set and wanted to get one to try at some point.

Wayne and I enjoy Four Roses and often have people ask, “What is your favorite recipe?” We really didn’t know because we haven’t purchased a single barrel bottle that we didn’t enjoy. This past weekend, we had the time to devote to this experience and it was very fascinating and sometimes surprising.

Selected for this Tasting

This tasting was boxed and ready for us – the Four Roses Ten Recipe Tasting Experience that is produced by Four Roses Distillery. The set includes ten 50 ml bottles, one of each recipe. The retail price at the gift shop for the set was $129.00

As discussed in Bourbon Yeast Flavors, Four Roses Bourbon produces a wide range of flavors by blending various yeast strains and mash bills. The use two mash bills – Mash Bill B emphasizes rye, while Mash Bill E prioritizes corn. Five yeast strains impart unique characteristics. These elements are combined to create ten distinct recipes as indicated on the table below.

	Mash Bill B – 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Barley	Mash Bill E – 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Barley
Yeast V – delicate fruit	1 – OBSV – delicate fruit and rye	6 – OESV – delicate fruit and caramel
Yeast K – slight spice	2 – OBSK – rye and baking spice	7 – OESK – baking spice
Yeast O – rich fruit	3 – OBSO – rich fruit	8 – OESO – rich fruit and vanilla
Yeast Q – floral essence	4 – OBSQ – rye and light floral character	9 – OESQ – delicate grains and floral character
Yeast F – herbal notes	9 – OBSF – delicate grains and floral character	10 – OESF – light grain and mint

_{The four-character recipe: O for distilled at Four Roses, B or E for the Mash Bill, S for Straight Whiskey, and the final letter (V, K, O, Q, or F) for the yeast strain.}

Four Roses Mash Bill B

Mash Bill B – 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Age – at least 4 years (straight whiskey)
Proof – 104

We did the aroma individually, wrote down our notes, and then shared with one another. We did the same with the tasting portion. We also had the Four Roses recipe table. Our conversation and knowledge of the table certainly could have influenced our results.

Recipe 01 – OBSV:
***Aroma: Wayne – pear and chocolate; Rebecca – berries
***Taste: Wayne – honey and cinnamon; Rebecca – pear, herbal, and cinnamon
***Finish: Wayne – cinnamon; Rebecca – long baking spices
Recipe 02 – OBSK:
***Aroma: Wayne – honey and rye ; Rebecca – rye bread and baking spices
***Taste: Wayne – honey and rye; Rebecca – rye bread with honey butter on it
***Finish: Wayne – warm baking spices; Rebecca – light, warm cinnamon
Recipe 03 – OBSO:
***Aroma: Wayne – apple; Rebecca – plum and ripe apples
***Taste: Wayne – cinnamon; Rebecca – plum and fig
***Finish: Wayne – nutmeg; Rebecca – nutmeg with white pepper
Recipe 04 – OBSQ:
***Aroma: Wayne – honeysuckle and cinnamon; Rebecca – light cherry and rose
***Taste: Wayne – disappointed, didn’t like; Rebecca – honeysuckle and rye
***Finish: Wayne – NA; Rebecca – light white pepper
Recipe 05 – OBSF:
***Aroma: Wayne – honey, light fruit, and mint; Rebecca – rye, mint, and tea
***Taste: Wayne – tea, mint, and honey; Rebecca – mint tea and rye bread
***Finish: Wayne – light; Rebecca – cinnamon

Favorite Aromas: Wayne – OBSV and OBSK; Rebecca – OBSO and OBSV
Favorite Tastes: Wayne – OBSK and OBSO; Rebecca – OBSV and OBSK
Favorite Overall: Wayne – OBSK and OBSV; Rebecca – OBSV and OBSO

Four Roses Mash Bill E

Mash Bill E – 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Age – at least 4 years (straight whiskey)
Proof – 104

The same as the other, we did the aroma individually, wrote down our notes, and then shared with one another. We did the same with the tasting portion. We also had the Four Roses recipe table. Our conversation and knowledge of the table certainly could have influenced our results.

Recipe 06 – OESV:
***Aroma: Wayne – vanilla, honey, baking spices; Rebecca – caramel, pear, baking spice
***Taste: Wayne – fruit and honey; Rebecca – caramel and pear
***Finish: Wayne – cinnamon; Rebecca – warm nutmeg and light pepper
Recipe 07 – OESK:
***Aroma: Wayne – honey, vanilla, baking spice; Rebecca – vanilla and allspice
***Taste: Wayne – honeysuckle and cinnamon; Rebecca – baking spices
***Finish: Wayne – cinnamon and pepper; Rebecca – light cinnamon
Recipe 08 – OESO:
***Aroma: Wayne – honeysuckle, vanilla, baking spice; Rebecca – vanilla cream and raspberry
***Taste: Wayne – spicy and honeysuckle; Rebecca – vanilla cream pie with berries on top
***Finish: Wayne – nutmeg and ginger; Rebecca – white pepper
Recipe 09 – OESQ:
***Aroma: Wayne – caramel, honey, vanilla; Rebecca – corn, lavender, and light spice
***Taste: Wayne – wild honey, nutmeg, cinnamon; Rebecca – buttered corn and lavender
***Finish: Wayne – nutmeg and cinnamon; Rebecca – nutmeg
Recipe 10 – OESF:
***Aroma: Wayne – rich vanilla, caramel, slight mint; Rebecca – herbal mint tea and baking spices
***Taste: Wayne – cinnamon and mint; Rebecca – sweet mint tea
***Finish: Wayne – cinnamon; Rebecca – nutmeg

Favorite Aromas: Wayne – OESK and OESF; Rebecca – OESV and OESO
Favorite Tastes: Wayne – OESK and OESV; Rebecca – OESO and OESV
Favorite Overall: Wayne – OESK and OESV; Rebecca – OESO and OESV

Blind Tasting Comparison

Note: The blind tasting was completed on Sunday, the day after the initial tasting.

This turned out to be much more challenging than we anticipated. It was our first blind tasting, and even so, we did break it into 5-pour sets based on Mash Bill B and Mash Bill E.

We started with the “B” group for aroma. This was a silent approach and we did not speak until we each had our top two. We then identified what was on the bottom of the glass but still did not know which one it was. Next we replicated the same approach for the “E” group. Finally, we took the top four that we had each selected and personally ranked them 1-4. Still, no idea which was which.

We repeated this exact process for the tasting component. This took much longer because we drank quite a bit of water between recipes to clear our palates.

Once we completed the process, we looked up the codes for each pour. We found it interesting that we each leaned more toward the Mash Bill B (higher rye) and that our taste tended to align more with one another than our nose. Below are our results.

	Aroma	Taste
#1 of Mash Bill B	W: OBSK; R: OBSK SAME	W: OBSV; R: OBSV SAME
#2 of Mash Bill B	W: OBSF; R: OBSV	W: OBSQ; R: OBSK

#1 of Mash Bill E	W: OESV; R: OESQ	W: OESQ; R: OESK
#2 of Mash Bill E	W: OESF; R: OESK	W: OESV; R: OESQ

#1 Preference	W: OESV; R: OBSK	W: OBSV; R: OBSV SAME
#2 Preference	W: OBSK; R: OESQ	W: OBSQ; R: OBSK
#3 Preference	W: OBSF; R: OBSV	W: OESQ; R: OESQ SAME
#4 Preference	W: OESF; R: OESK	W: OESV; R: OESK

W = Wayne; R = Rebecca

We learned that information absolutely influences your palate. That could be what we have watched or read regarding other similar tastings, what the distiller states we might find, and even our ongoing conversation throughout a tasting as that makes it a shared versus individual experience.

Just for Fun – A Bit of Blending

Just for fun, we decided to try some blending. Except for single barrel offerings, most of the Four Roses expressions are expertly blended under the watchful palate of Brent Elliott, Master Distiller. We were curious to see what we might find by blending our top taste choices.

Wayne:
OBSV with OBSQ – Aroma of mint, cherry, baking spice; Taste of honey and cinnamon
OESQ with OESV – Aroma of honey and vanilla; Taste of honey, mint, and vanilla
All Four – Aroma of honey and vanilla; Taste of mint, rye, and cinnamon

Rebecca:
OBSV with OBSK – Aroma of berries, plum, rye, and mint; Taste of fruit, honey, plum, and finished with cinnamon and nutmeg
OESK with OESQ – Aroma of caramel, vanilla, berries, and tea; Taste of caramel, corn, vanilla cream, mint and finished with nutmeg and pepper
All Four – Aroma of rye bread, caramel, and fruitiness; Taste of caramel, vanilla, honey, fruit and finished with nutmeg

This was super fun to do some “blending” at home. It was interesting to see which characteristics had the strength to rise to the top over such a wide range of aromas and tastes happening. On a side note, we each took our remaining six recipes and poured them into a Glencairn to sip on throughout the day.

Discussion and Final Notes

As fans of Four Roses, we really enjoyed this challenge/experience. We now better understand their approach to bourbon and blending and this brought us a greater appreciation for the Small Batch and Small Batch Select (although they are typically 6-7 years old) expressions and helped us to better understand why we might prefer one single barrel over another.

Speaking of single barrels, these samples and tastes will likely never perfectly match a single barrel; although, there should be a family resemblance. A single barrel is selected for its specific characteristics. These samples are straight whiskey and likely in the four-year range. Single barrels are typically aged 7-9 years. An older single barrel should have additional barrel notes. Plus, if you purchase a store picked single barrel, that will have the characteristics of what that selection team desired.

Since we have one more set, we plan to do this again in 6-12 months; however, we will approach it differently to make it a new experience. Perhaps comparing yeast strain as the primary or head-to-head challenges in a bracket system. A bracket approach might be nice as we could do it over several days and avoid palate fatigue. We will let you know when that happens!

Meanwhile, enjoy Four Roses because surely there is a small batch or single barrel that aligns with your palate.

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey:
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 additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

NOTE: The bourbon in this review was 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.

First Visit to The Bard Distillery

April 18, 2024April 18, 2024 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

April 18, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

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.

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.

April 2024 Casey Jones Tasting

April 16, 2024April 15, 2024 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

04/16/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Wayne and I enjoyed our recent visit at Casey Jones Distillery and especially LOVED sharing their special eclipse bottles with friends April 8th, during the Total Eclipse! Typically when we open new bottles, we like to do a formal “first taste” tasting and write up. Due to the eclipse festivities, we simply enjoyed them with friends, which is really how you should drink the spirits that you love. This past weekend, we decided to take some time with what we purchased recently.

Selected for this Tasting

Casey Jones Total Eclipse Kentucky Straight Bourbon (375 ml), Casey Jones Single Barrel Eclipse Cask (700 ml), and Casey Jones Single Barrel Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill 3 – all produced by Casey Jones Distillery. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.

Casey Jones Total Eclipse Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Mashbill – 75% Corn, 10% Wheat, 10% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Age – at least 2 years
Proof – 100
Other – We purchased the eclipse 2-pack with 375ml bottles
Price Paid – $27.49

Color – Honey gold.

Aroma – Corn, a hint of honey, apple, and spices and wood.

Taste – Corn and vanilla lead the way to a crips green apple and a nice cinnamon and black pepper finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Sweet but with vanilla versus corn, the apple remains and, pepper is stronger on the finish.

Tasted with a pecan – The vanilla is very sweet and the oak comes through on the finish.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Very different. Toasted vanilla cream with a stronger black pepper finish.

Casey Jones Single Barrel Eclipse Cask

Mashbill – 50% Corn, 50% Sugar Cane
Age – Moonshine aged just under 7 years (barreled after 2017 Eclipse)
Proof – 109
Other – It was aged in a Kelvin Cooperage #4 char, medium toast cask, offered uncut at cask strength, 700ml.
Price Paid – $99.99

Color – Medium to dark amber.

Aroma – Vanilla, molasses, brown sugar, cherries, and a light spice such as white pepper and baking spices.

Taste – Sweet, great mouth feel, brown sugar, molasses, cherries, baking spices and oak .

Tasted with dried cranberry – This turned the sweet cherry to sour cherries – very interesting. Also, now there is cinnamon on the finish.

Tasted with a pecan – The cherry flavor now tastes and feels like brandy soaked cherries – very sweet. The spiciness and wood flavors are rather limited with the pecan.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Interesting, the sweetness has been eliminated but there is and it finishes with a pink peppercorn.

Casey Jones Single Barrel Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill 3

Mashbill – 26.5% Bloody Butcher Corn, 26.5% Yellow Corn, 35% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley
Age – 4.5 years
Proof – 113.5
Other – Authentic Square Pot Distilling, Barrel #931, Char 4, Toast M
Price Paid – $99.99

Color – Medium amber.

Aroma – Inviting sweetness of vanilla cream, caramel, crème brûlée, and fruit notes of apple and/or pear. There seem to be hints of cloves and oak as well.

Taste – This has a terrific mouth feel and it is incredibly smooth. There’s caramel, honey, vanilla pie, and the crème brûlée that was on the nose. Very balanced with some sweet tea notes. A nice finish with cinnamon and a malted caramel.

Tasted with dried cranberry – This really brightened it up like fresh berries but it has a strong finish of black pepper.

Tasted with a pecan – The woodiness of the barrel is very prevalent. The pecan itself is present but more like the pecan used in a smoker. Overall, there is also some toasted marshmallow – terrific.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Very creamy and sweet, the cinnamon is more like a cinnamon roll.

_{Casey Jones Authentic Square Pot Still. Photo taken 12/18/22 during first visit.}

Discussion and Final Notes

Casey Jones Total Eclipse Kentucky Straight Bourbon is very good but in this line-up, we might have to rank it third against its older brothers!

Casey Jones Single Barrel Eclipse Cask is phenomenal. It is still hard to believe that it is an aged moonshine. It has a wonderful sweetness yet very complex. It’s a beast – and we mean that in the best possible way. The primary “negative” is that it is likely sold out since it was quite limited when we visited April 6th. It is one of those times we really wish that we had purchased a back-up bottle!

Casey Jones Single Barrel Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill 3 is fantastic! We are huge fans of good four-grain bourbons and this one ranks way up there on our list. In addition to the single barrel that we purchased, they also offer it in a small batch at 95 proof for $59.99. Since it has regular availability, we encourage you to make a visit and give it a try.

Honestly – we thoroughly enjoyed each one. AJ is making some terrific spirits at Casey Jones. Give them a try!

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

NOTE: The spirits 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.

Bourbon Eclipse Of the Sun

April 12, 2024 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

April 12, 2024
By Wayne McBrayer

Rebecca and I woke up early Monday morning with work to do. I had 2 houses to clean and Rebecca had work for Purdue Global. We both saw that David Meier, the owner of Glenns Creek Distillery, was looking to go to Bloomington with Vicki to watch the eclipse and wanted to see if anyone was willing to have them join their viewing party. We tagged David in a post and messaged him explaining that coming to where we live in Newburgh, Indiana would be an easier drive for the both of them and we would experience totality. He accepted our invite and we were excited to host them.

David and Vicki arrived from Frankfort, KY about 12:30 and we invited them onto the deck of our dock at the lake to taste bourbon and watch the eclipse slowly happen. We started off with the Casey Jones Eclipse Cask and it was outstanding! David commented that “this is really good,” and we agreed that it was outstanding.

David had brought us a thank you gift for inviting them to join us – a bottle of their OCD #5 Premium hand filtered bottle. Obviously, we decided to taste and enjoy that during the eclipse as well. It was a butterscotch bomb and quite honestly one of the best bourbons/whiskeys I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. It was an incredible experience to drink it with the person who made it and David explained the process of how it came about. The story is on the side of the bottle, but to hear David talk about it was so awesome.

Not long after this, the total eclipse took place. For 3 minutes and 10 seconds, everything went dark and got cool. It was a breathtaking experience that I’m blessed to have been there to see with my wife and our friends Dave and Vicki.

*_{4/8/24 at 2:04 PM during the total eclipse}*

Once the eclipse concluded, we gathered on the patio and Rebecca grilled burgers for us to eat. It was a great time to reflect, laugh, and just have fun.

When I started on this Bourbon Journey with Rebecca, I never thought about the relationship aspects that would come about. We’ve made friends with several distillers on the trail and have developed memories with them. Bourbon is yummy to me, but it’s the time that you share and the bourbon that you share that is special. Before David left, he signed the OCD #5 Premium bottle, wrote “Eclipse Day” and dated it 4/8/2024. It was a special moment, with special people. It’s all about the journey.

This was a great memory for Our Bourbon Journey!

Wayne

Photo credits: Rebecca Herman McBrayer

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

April 11, 2024April 15, 2024 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

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.

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.

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

April 2024 Elijah Craig Trio Tasting

April 9, 2024April 26, 2024 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

04/09/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Wayne and I regularly enjoy Elijah Craig Barrel Proof offerings and the Toasted Barrel stands out as a classic toasted offering. Last year at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, we were able to acquire a bottle of their 18-year-old and had not had an opportunity to open and taste it. Thus, we decided to taste and compare a trio of Elijah Craig for this tasting.

Selected for this Tasting

Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel, Elijah Craig Single Barrel #6334 18 year old, and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof #A122 – all produced by Heaven Hill Distillery. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.

Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel

Mashbill – 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
Age – at least 4 years but typically 8-12 years
Proof – 94
Other – Toasted Barrel
Price Paid – $64.99

Color – Golden amber.

Aroma – Caramel, baking, spices, and classic toasted aromas of marshmallow.

Taste – A lovely sweetness of marshmallow and graham crackers with chocolate and caramel. Nutmeg and white pepper linger on the finish with a nice hint of smokiness.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Muted many of the flavors, only a light sweetness after the cranberry and even the spicy notes are limited.

Tasted with a pecan – Spicy notes really returned but more of a white pepper. The barrel and toasted oak is prevalent but the sweetness and toasted marshmallow is gone.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Much more balanced with a nice flavor profile, including a hint of pepper on the finish.

Elijah Craig Single Barrel #6334 18-Year-Old

Mashbill – 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
Age – 18 years
Proof – 90
Other – Single Barrel
Price Paid – $199.99

Color – Golden amber.

Aroma – Caramel and oak, then honey and brown sugar, followed by apple and cinnamon.

Taste – Very delicate but 18 years of oak come forward. Not as sweet as on the nose but vanilla cream and spiced apples are present. It finishes with rye spices, a touch of vanilla, and aged oak. A little higher proof might create more complexity and a more viscous mouth feel.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Not a huge difference with the cranberry but more tannins, less sweetness and spice, and somewhat of a tea flavor, perhaps cardamon.

Tasted with a pecan – The pecan made it quite bitter and it stripped away all of the delicate flavors.

Tasted with dark chocolate – The chocolate comes through and provides an elevated mouth feel.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof #A122

Mashbill – 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
Age – 12 years
Proof – 120.8
Other – Barrel Proof
Price Paid – $89.99

Color – Medium amber.

Aroma – Vanilla, caramel, light toffee, and light baking spice. A very pleasant nose.

Taste – Cherry, caramel, and baking spices with a hint of leather. The finish includes cinnamon, pepper, and lingering oak.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Heavy spices with a lot of cinnamon and pepper.

Tasted with a pecan – It is cinnamon on the front and pepper on the back.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Cherry came back and then cherry cinnamon pie with a buttery piecrust.

Discussion and Final Notes

We enjoyed each one. The Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel is a pretty classic toasted barrel profile and exceptional for its price point. This particular Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is good but perhaps not as flavorful as other seasonal releases. The Elijah Craig 18-year-old is good but quite delicate and lacks the viscosity and complexity that we enjoy. Based on its availability and price point, it would be lower on our recommendation.

Our personal favorite of this specific trio leans toward the Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel. It has a great flavor profile and terrific price point with good availability.

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

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.

First Visit to Cascade Hollow Distilling

April 4, 2024April 3, 2024 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

April 4, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

August 19, 2023, Wayne and I were in Tennessee for a family wedding. Of course, we decided that this was a great opportunity to visit a few Tennessee distilleries. This led us to Cascade Hollow Distilling – home of George Dickel Whisky – in Tullahoma, TN.

Tour of the Cascade Hollow Distillery

Our guide was very knowledgeable and energetic and that made the tour great. She started out by letting us know that we should keep our eyes open for wildlife, including copperhead snakes and minks. OK!

The tour was woven with stories of the history of George Dickel. It started initially in Nashville, TN but really took off when the Cascade Hollow Distillery opened in 1878 and George purchased a large share.

At Cascade Hollow, they have a specialized charcoal mellowing process. They cold chill the distillate to 40 degrees before starting the slow steep through the charcoal. Also interesting, their mellowing vats are layered with virgin wool blankets to achieve a slow, uniform flow. To learn more about the Tennessee Whiskey classification, please review this post.

At the conclusion of the distillery tour, we returned to the “Post Office” and entered a somewhat hidden back room for our tasting.

Fun Facts

Dickel is one of the few American Whisky’s that doesn’t use the “e” in whiskey. George Dickel was a big fan of Scotch, and it does not use the “e” so George wanted to emulate that tradition. In addition to using the Lincoln County Method of maple charcoal filtration, Dickel also uses wool blankets as a secondary filtration.

Gift Shop

They have an extensive gift shop and a wonderful area to have a cocktail. However, we were on a tight schedule as we had a wedding later in the evening. So it was a quick shop to gather up our favorites such as pins, ornaments, a glencairn, and of course – some whisky!! Happy to get a couple of bottles that were signed by the Master Distiller, Nicole Austin.

We did a formal tasting of the 15- and 17-year-old whiskys. You can read about that HERE.

Distillery Trail Statistics

While it is not easy to get to, we recommend it as it is worth the effort to visit.

Cascade Hollow Distilling, in Tullahoma, TN, was our 3rd Tennessee Distillery, 52nd distillery, and 84th distillery visit or event.

In addition to this visit and a family wedding, we visited 2 other distilleries over the weekend – Uncle Nearest and Jack Daniels.

Pro Tip: Plan to visit other nearby distilleries. With advance planning, it is possible to create a terrific weekend trip with multiple distilleries on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail.

Happy Trails!
Rebecca

March 2024 Industry Highlights

April 1, 2024March 31, 2024 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

04/01/24

The bourbon and whiskey market continues to perform well. American whiskey exports hit a record US$1.4bn. Beam Suntory and University of Kentucky deepen partnership. Log Still Distillery to open luxury restaurant in downtown Louisville. Frey Ranch Distillery expands into new markets. Multiple notable bourbon releases and festival announcements. New Orleans Bourbon Festival and Whisky Magazine Awards winners announced.

Industry Market News

American whiskey exports bring in record US$1.4bn

Beam Suntory and University of Kentucky Advance Strategic Partnership

Distillery News

Log Still Distillery to open luxury restaurant in downtown Louisville

Frey Ranch Distillery expands into new markets

Bottle Releases

Michter’s is Releasing its Barrel Strength Rye Again

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company Releases Toasted Bourbon Batch 1

New Riff Distilling Unveils Eight-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey

Old Forester Releases 117 Series: High Angels’ Share

Yellowstone launches rum-finished Bourbon

Penelope Bourbon returns to Rio

Woodford Reserve releases rare $15,000 whiskey in crystal decanter for Kentucky Derby 150

Bardstown Collection 2024 Release During National Bourbon Week

Michter’s Is Releasing Its 10 Year Bourbon

Hard Truth and Mellencamp Whiskey Co. Just Dropped a Blend of Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys That Supports American Farmers

Awards Announced

New Orleans Bourbon Festival Tasting Winners

Whisky Magazine Awards 2024 global results revealed

Bourbon Festival News

Kentucky Bourbon Festival Dates and Ticket Sales

Bourbon on the Banks Festival Date and Ticket Sales

BBQ and Barrels Festival Dates and Ticket Sales

Recent Visit with Jimmy Russell at Wild Turkey

March 28, 2024March 28, 2024 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

March 28, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

*_{Rebecca & Wayne enjoying a Chocolate Cherry Cordial}*

February 23, 2024, Wayne and I decided to enjoy the Frankfort and Lawrenceburg areas in Kentucky. We only had one scheduled visit that day and it wasn’t until 5PM. It is amazing all the places you can visit in a single day.

Our first stop was at Wild Turkey. We cannot wait until their Visitor Center “refresh” is completed and they are offering tours again. We were told that would be very soon. Meanwhile, the people at their outpost are terrific.

We selected a few items to purchase and then enjoyed a fantastic cocktail – a Chocolate Cherry Cordial made with Russell’s 10 Year. I asked if Jimmy Russell might stop in and was told that our best bet would be after lunch. We decided not to wander too far so we could make a return trip later in the day.

We departed and just went with the flow. Our first stop was Lawrenceburg Bourbon, which is just down the road. Then we revisited Four Roses, Woodford Reserve, and Castle & Key. It was a lovely day to enjoy the beauty of the area. We had worked a good “loop” and the timing seemed good to return to Wild Turkey. As we approached the building, a few folks said – “Hey, someone is in there signing bottles and taking pictures.” In our minds, that could only be one person!

Visit with Jimmy Russell

We walked in to see Mr. Jimmy Russell and his lovely wife Joretta greeting visitors. We waited for our opportunity to speak with them. They were incredibly gracious and you could tell that Jimmy loved meeting people and sharing stories.

We took photos with him and he signed items for us. We stayed and talked with him whenever someone else wasn’t waiting for the opportunity. This was truly a dream come true and I admit to getting a bit emotional to finally meet him.

Jimmy got into a great conversation with Wayne about Judge McBrayer. He had someone grab publication where he looked up an article about Cedar Brook and was trying to find something about the Judge but couldn’t put his finger on it. It was a special conversation.

Wayne asked him if he loved the aromas of walking through a distillery as much as we do. He share that he really doesn’t notice the great smells because his nose is trained to look for something that is wrong or out of place. Then he knows there is an issue. Wayne also asked which of their bourbons was his favorite. He quickly noted that the Russell’s 10 Year is his pick!

He also signed my Bourbon Trail hat! This really made my day. I could have stayed longer but we really needed a bite to eat before our scheduled evening event.

What a fantastic experience to meet the “Buddha of Bourbon” who has enjoyed an amazing 60+ years making Wild Turkey whiskey! It should be no surprise that he is a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. He was also granted a Lifetime Honorary Membership to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s Board of Directors. Read more of his story here.

Great Finds to Bring Home

In the morning, we selected the Russell’s Single Barrel and the Russell’s 10 Year. In the afternoon, we ha the opportunity to acquire the month’s personal selection by Eddie Russell of Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel.

We also got this amazing crystal decanter and a terrific Wild Turkey sign for our Bourbon Room.

This was a great memory for Our Bourbon Journey!

Cheers!
Rebecca

March 2024 Holladay Distillery Tasting

March 26, 2024March 24, 2024 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

03/26/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Wayne and I became familiar with the Holladay Distillery and their bourbons while watching Mike Veach & Matt Kohorst tastings on the BourbonVeach YouTube channel. We first watched their tasting of the Soft Red Wheat and later the Rickhouse Proof. They each sounded amazing! We kept an eye out at our local liquor stores and have acquired three bottles over the last few months. We have also reviewed the Holladay Distillery website and now want to make time to visit there this summer! We hope you enjoy our tasting notes and want to give them a try as well.

Selected for this Tasting

Ben Holladay Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond, Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Ben Holladay Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey Rickhouse Proof Small Batch Reserve. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.

Ben Holladay Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond

Mashbill – 73% Corn, 15% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Age – 6 years
Proof – 100
Other – Bottled in Bond
Price Paid – $69.99

Color – Medium amber

Aroma – Sweetness is the first thought, caramel, vanilla, fruity – perhaps a nice crisp apple.

Taste – Very similar to the nose with one exception, it’s got baking spices on the finish. Sweet caramel, vanilla, and apple. Light cinnamon and a pleasant oak on the finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – The baking spices became pronounced on the front and the oak is gone. Still very pleasant. It’s almost like being at Cracker Barrel when you order that little bowl of baked cinnamon apples as a side dish.

Tasted with a pecan – The oak is more pronounced and there is still a lite cinnamon on the back.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Beside the mouth feel being great, most of the sweet notes are gone and a strong hit of cinnamon.

Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Mashbill – 73% Corn, 15% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley
Age – 6
Proof – 100
Other – Bottled in Bond
Price Paid – $64.99

Color – Medium amber.

Aroma – The sweetness of that soft red wheat is coming through as well as red fruits, vanilla, and a pleasant woodiness.

Taste – Great mouth feel to match the viscosity/legs as demonstrated on the glass. Much like the nose, the soft red wheat is present with sweet caramel and creamy vanilla, a juicy red apple, a hint of cinnamon with a light yet long finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Less sweet, the cinnamon is hitting the mid-palate while the apple seems to be the finish. Not bad – but interesting.

Tasted with a pecan – The caramel and vanilla have returned but the fruit is muted and the baking spices are stronger.

Tasted with dark chocolate – There’s no sweetness or fruit and limited woodiness, but baking spices on the finish. Different yet still pleasant.

Ben Holladay Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey Rickhouse Proof Small Batch Reserve

Mashbill – 73% Corn, 15% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Age – 6 years
Proof – 120.1
Other – Small Batch Reserve
Price Paid – $74.99

Color – Medium to dark amber .

Aroma – Brown sugar, cherry or perhaps another red fruit.

Taste – Caramel, French vanilla, butterscotch, cinnamon, and other baking spices. It is 120.1 proof but it doesn’t drink like we just did a 20-point jump.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Muted the sweetness and amplified the cinnamon. Perhaps a hint of cherry or apple.

Tasted with a pecan – Creamy, juicy apple, woodiness, and a lot more baking spices on the finish.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Again, very creamy with baking spices, apple, and chocolate. Almost like a chocolate cake with creamy vanilla icing and crumble of apples and cinnamon on top. It is very good with dark chocolate.

Discussion and Final Notes

One thing is for certain, when you taste each of these, you know they are family. While they are each quite distinct, they have some common aromas and tastes that remind you that they are related.

On the nose, each had a lovely sweetness – either caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, or red fruits. The Soft Red Wheat also included that particular grain and the Rickhouse Proof seemed to bring more of the barrel notes and brown sugar. All inviting!

On the palate, they were very true to their nose and that doesn’t always happen. All had terrific viscosity with a very soft and creamy mouth feel. The BIB leaned in with sweet caramel, vanilla, and apple. The Wheated BIB was a bit more pronounced with sweet caramel and creamy vanilla as well as a juicy red apple. The Rickhouse Proof had more pop with its proof and the sweetness leaned more toward french vanilla and butterscotch.

On the finish, all were soft and lingering. The BIB and Wheated BIB lingered with a hint of cinnamon an oak. The Rickhouse Proof had was stronger with the baking spices and woodiness.

Our recommendation: If you find these locally, certainly give at least one a try. Align your selection to what your palate most enjoys. If you can’t decide, get them all as they will be a great addition to your bourbon collection. For us, we now know that we want a back-up bottle of each one plus a visit to the distillery!

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Missouri Bourbon Whiskey, Straight Bourbon, Bottled-in-Bond

Basic requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, free from additives (except water), and bottled at >= 80 proof.

Missouri Bourbon or Missouri Bourbon Whiskey must meet all federal requirements for bourbon AND the 2019 laws to include Missouri on the label: must be mashed, fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled in the state of Missouri; aged in oak barrels manufactured in Missouri; and, as of January 1, 2020 – made with corn exclusively grown in Missouri.

Straight bourbon means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4).

For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

Bottled-in-Bond: must be produced in a single distillation season by a single distillery; must mature in a U.S. bonded warehouse for a minimum of four years; and the aged spirit must be bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof). For additional information on Bottled-in-Bond requirements, please read this post – Bottled in Bond.

Your Bourbon Journey

Embracing the Craft

bourbondistilieries

April 2024 Four Roses Recipe Tasting

First Visit to The Bard Distillery

April 2024 Casey Jones Tasting

Bourbon Eclipse Of the Sun

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

April 2024 Elijah Craig Trio Tasting

First Visit to Cascade Hollow Distilling

March 2024 Industry Highlights

Recent Visit with Jimmy Russell at Wild Turkey

March 2024 Holladay Distillery Tasting