Caught up with Jim Beam’s Fred Noe last year. #Nerd
Headed to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival’s All-Star Sampler tonight in Bardstown, and looking forward to it. It’s like the Comic Con of bourbon for me.
Not only do you get to meet and talk shop with most of the master distillers, but you can also bring things to sign and enjoy bourbon, of course.
Somehow I scored a ride with the folks from Mint Julep Tours. I think the universe is aligning. Should I buy a lottery ticket?
Perry is the man!
Went to a ceremony today honoring Stitzel-Weller’s longtime employee, Carroll Perry — or just Perry to most. He’s been working at the Shively distillery for 47 years and now is the gate keeper for the Bulleit Experience. He’s the first guy you’ll meet when you pull in to do a tour.
Here’s a quick write-up of the morning press conference.
I was so eager to get back and write the story, I didn’t even stay for a bourbon tasting. I think I should win something for that.
Fill that tub up with some bourbon!
Got a chance to check out the new Bourbon Pompeii tour at Buffalo Trace last night, and it is simply amazing. Definitely worth the trip — and best of all, tours are free!
Here’s a piece I wrote about it, including some photos.
I sipped some E.H. Taylor Small Batch as I walked around the space, making it an even more delightful experience. It’s what Taylor would have wanted … and expected.
If you build it, they will come.
I’ve gotten another step closer to having my dream bar in my basement, which I’ll call the Bar Belle’s Bourbon Bungalow. Found this cool bourbon barrel couch online, and it matches perfectly.
There is still lots to be done, including some curtains and new flooring, but the key parts are coming together.
If you know how to do flooring or sew fabric, let me know! You can be a V.I.P. member if you help me out. 😉
Stamp it!
Here’s a sneak peek at the new Urban Bourbon Trail passports, which celebrate 1o years. Looks like I need to get a new one and start the process all over again.
This year, there are 39 stops where you collect stamps for prizes. Remember: You only need six … which you can technically do in one night downtown.
These new passports will be available at participating bars and restaurants, as well as the Visitors Center downtown at Fourth and Jefferson. Happy trails!
Hot bourbon on bourbon action.
I was the high bidder on this cool piece of furniture at a property auction yesterday. Woot!
I now have a plan for my basement bar … just not the funds to complete it. One step at a time, I suppose.
Or I could win the lottery.
Love the color choice this year!
September is a glorious time — mostly because it’s one month before my birthday, but also because it’s when Old Forester releases its special Birthday Bourbon. This year’s BB sounds quite delicious, and I can’t wait to try it!
(I wrote about the new release on Monday for Insider Louisville, so click here if you want the details.)
This year, I’m asking for your help. I’d like to buy a bottle, but I always have trouble, as does everyone else, finding it on store shelves. So if you see it, please alert me ASAP! Or buy it and I’ll pay you back.
Maybe the heavens will open up and bestow a Birthday Bourbon on me for my birthday. A girl could only be so lucky.
Stick it to me.
So the other day I got this Barrel Char in a Jar kit in the mail, and I’m currently conducting two very scientific experiments. I should get my own lab coat.
Basically, this kit offers you two jars and several varieties of toasted and charred wood that you can add to bourbon, tequila, rum … anything you choose, really. You pick one of the woods at first, put it in the jar with the liquor, and let it age like it was a barrel.
In one jar, I bought some Buffalo Trace White Dog Wheated Mash, so I can attempt to make my own version of W.L. Weller. I put in a charred piece of wood, similar to the inside of a new bourbon barrel. In the other jar, I put Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon and a stick of sugar maple wood in an attempt to make it even sweeter.
Right now the jars are aging out on my front porch. I hope my neighbors think it’s sun tea. And in a few days, I’ll put them in the freezer to try and get that liquid in and out of the wood, like Mother Nature.
I’ll update you here along the journey.
Problem solved.
OK, everybody is in an uproar around here about statues of Confederate soldiers. I actually had no idea that white man on a horse near Cherokee Park was from the Civil War — I just liked the horse.
I have a suggestion, however. Let’s remove the thing and put up this dandy Mint Julep in its place — or one like it. That way, nobody will be angry, it’ll commemorate our bourbon heritage and it’ll look cool.
You can’t change the past, but you sure can tidy up the present to make things better for the future. Or something like that.
We can even put Christmas lights on it in December. And maybe a witch’s hat for Halloween.
The options are limitless.
Grass is stupid.
I am willing to crack open my bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year for anyone who wants to come over and mow my yard tonight.
Oh, and if you can fix a leaking pipe in my basement, you can have the whole bottle.
