May 2024 BBQ & Barrels

May 13, 2024May 13, 2024 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

May 13, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

We started the weekend on Friday night with the kick-off dinner, Spirited Bourbon Pairing Dinner at Green River Distillery. However, Saturday, May 11, was the big day – and BIG it was. The 2024 BBQ & Barrels event was amazing. There was competition BBQ in the streets, a great line-up of live music all day, a very interesting auto show, education sessions in the afternoon, followed by the bourbon festival. Of course, that doesn’t mean the day is complete until gathering with friends and an opportunity to view the Northern Lights. What a day! Something for everyone!

BBQ Competition and Street Fair

Cooking teams, BBQ competition, Food Trucks – this Street Fair lined 2nd Street in downtown Owensboro, KY. It was fun to walk and smell the amazing aromas coming off of those smoker. Wow – if only cameras had smell-a-vision!

On Friday we sampled one item and enjoyed a cocktail from Castle & Key.

Saturday we had the opportunity to sample from the various competition teams. So many yummy bites of smoked chicken, pork, bologna, ham, sausage, venison, etc. It is amazing how full you can get sampling with a toothpick!

Champions Motorcar Invitational

The car show was new this year. I’m not sure I would have been aware of it if I hadn’t known someone who was showing his 57 Chevy. While there weren’t as many cars in the field as one might expect, they were all incredibly different and quite stunning. Ultimately, 12 barrel head trophies were awarded.

Education Session with Evan Williams

We enrolled in the Master Class with Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (EWBE) Artisanal Distiller, Jodie Filiatreau. The BBQ & Barrels classes are a terrific value. Held one hour prior to the VIP entry for the bourbon tasting, the last two years there have been three options available and only $25 a ticket for a 45 minute session.

Jodie introduced himself and provide some background on his 42 years of experience, working his way up, of being a part of the Heaven Hill family-owned operation.

He then led us on a detailed tasting of two award-winning Evan Williams Bourbons made in distinctly different styles. The small cups, in the photo above, contained various elements, such as cherry, cinnamon, walnuts, etc. that might be on the nose or the palate of the two expressions. We were also provided a water dropper and were encouraged to try each a second time with a drop of water to see how it might open up differently.

First up was the Evan Williams Single Barrel made in column stills at the historic DSP-KY-1 Bernheim plant. This expression is 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. The notes provided were accurate for our palate as well – nose of dark caramel, sweet oak, and charred wood; taste of oak with honey, fruit notes of apple and orange, and a very nice spice.

Next was the Square 6 wheated bourbon made in the EWBE Artisanal Distillery using Vendome pot stills. We have tried and purchased the Square 6 previously and the wheated expression is one of our favorites. It is a blend of two mashbills. The first is 74% corn, 16% wheat, and 10% malted barley. The second is 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. This is bottled at 105 proof. All aspects of this is wonderful. The nose starts with caramel, vanilla, figs, cherries, and oak. The nose continues on the palate and adds confectioners’ sugar and walnuts. The walnuts continue on the finish as well as oak and cinnamon. It is a yummy flavor bomb.

Jodie loves what he does and it shows in his excitement when talking about these spirits. It was really nice to meet him, hear his story, and taste these spirits again with his enthusiasm as an added bonus. After the session concluded, we were able to get pictures with him for us and our friend, Lisa Stinson.

Barrels Bourbon Festival – VIP

*_{View of the BBQ & music festival from the Convention Center}*

The VIP ticket included the all-important one-hour early entry (3PM vs 4PM). Everything else aside, this is critical because it is much less crowded and this allows you to sample more easily and spend time talking with the various distillers. Of course, the passed heavy hors d’oeuvres and commemorative VIP BBQ and Barrels Glencairn tasting glass is very nice as well.

With 35 distilleries, we approached it somewhat methodically but also ensured we had time with some of our favorite people!

**Rebecca, Kim, & Wayne: The Bard Distillery**

There were legacy distilleries, craft distilleries, and some who were just getting started. It is wonderful to see everyone together and in a support environment.

The crowds were substantial following the VIP hour but everyone was polite and friendly. People shared tables to visit and take a break. Distillers shared their stories, provided samples & tchotchkes, most were able to sell bottles a well. It was a great opportunity to be reminded of why we have enjoyed these folks while meeting new people and tasting new expressions.

We made our bottle purchases (pro tip: wait so you don’t have to carry!) and exited the event a little after 5PM. We enjoyed our time there and two hours was just about perfect for us.

Bourbon Friends & Northern Lights

It was a wonderful day and a beautiful evening; thus, we couldn’t let the fun end at the conclusion of the festival. Many of us gathered at about 8PM for a “bottle share” around the bonfire at one of the hotels on the river. Again, time with old friends and time to get to know new friends. That is what the bourbon journey is all about. Sharing a pour with stories, laughter, and even some cigars. I’ve said it before and will say it again – bourbon has an amazing culture and it is one that we feel immensely blessed to be a part of.

This also happened to be a night where viewing the Northern Lights was a possibility. Being on the river, without excessive lights, was a lovely setting to gain a glimpse. We all looked, watched, and hoped for several hours. Ironically, it wasn’t until Wayne and I were walking back to our hotel at about midnight that we were finally able to capture the magical view. Wow – the Northern Lights truly placed a colorful bow on what had already been a perfect weekend.

The Glover Cary Bridge (also known as the Blue Bridge) connecting Indiana to Owensboro KY always has an amazing light display.

That’s a Wrap for BBQ & Barrels

Wow – what a wonderful weekend! We could not have asked for better weather. The event was well-organized and everyone we met was friendly and fun. It is always difficult to say what was the best part or the best memory. While the events were excellent, it is always the people who create the memories. Seeing folks that we haven’t seen for some time. Making new friends. Spending time with people who come from various locations and walks of like to share a common passion – bourbon.

If you haven’t been to Owensboro, KY or this BBQ & Barrels event, mark your calendar for 2025. The BBQ event has been a staple on the riverfront for decades and in 2023 the “barrels” portion was added. This year was the first time for the car show. With the live music, it is truly a festival atmosphere. There is something for everyone and that is why the attendance continues to grow. Bookmark their site, tickets usually go on sale late February or very early March.

Again, we highly recommend this event. If you haven’t attended a bourbon festival before, this is a terrific chance to do so in a non-overwhelming environment. And if your friends, spouse, or significant other are not “into bourbon” that’s ok because there is so much to do!

This was a great memory for Our Bourbon Journey – be sure to add it to yours!

Rebecca & Wayne

Photo credits: Rebecca Herman McBrayer

First Visit to Four Roses Distillery

April 25, 2024April 24, 2024 / bourbonjourney / Leave a comment

April 25, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

May 21, 2023, as part of our Kentucky Bourbon Trail completion weekend, Wayne and I visited Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, KY. It was our next-to-last stop on the trail.

Tour of the Four Roses Distillery

Their visitor center and campus is very lovely with the light yellow buildings and Spanish mission style design. Gracie was a very knowledgeable and fun guide. It was interesting since we just attended an education session with Brent Elliott, Master Distiller, the previous week. What we heard on the tour helped us to solidify their history and approach to bourbon.

At the conclusion of the tour, we enjoyed a guided tasting of four of their expressions: Four Roses Bourbon, Four Roses Small Batch, Four Roses Single Barrel, and Four Roses Small Batch Select.

We also learned from Bill McBrayer that the area was formerly McBrayer Kentucky and there is a McBrayer sign near the railroad track. We visited the “sign” after departing Four Roses.

Gift Shop

They have a truly beautiful gift shop with items for just about everyone’s taste. We got a variety of goodies to commemorate our visit. Loved the red T-shirt and the Four Roses history book is fantastic. Wayne got an awesome bow tie made of barrel wood … it creates a great conversation when worn. Of course, a pin for my hat, an ornament for our bourbon tree, and some glasses. Now and then we find some interesting cigars at distilleries and these looked like a great option.

We were fortunate that they had the Four Roses Single Barrel Select and Small Batch Select available that day.

Distillery Trail Statistics

Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, KY was our 49th distillery. A member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, it was our 17th distillery on the Signature Trail and our 41st stamp of 42 total.

Pro Tip: Plan to visit other nearby distilleries. With advance planning, it is possible to create a terrific weekend trip with the distilleries in the Lawrenceburg area.

Four Roses
Wild Turkey
Woodford Reserve

As you can see on the map Frankfort, KY is also nearby and that opens another list of possibilities, depending on your time available.

Happy Trails!
Rebecca

All photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer unless otherwise noted.

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.

Your Bourbon Journey

Embracing the Craft

FourRosesDistillery

May 2024 BBQ & Barrels

First Visit to Four Roses Distillery

April 2024 Four Roses Recipe Tasting