I love a good infographic, especially when it looks as cool as this one. See the full version at www.yearofthetoast.com.
Jim Beam Factory Tour Film
Check out this beautifully shot Jim Beam brand film. There are some really interesting factory scenes that you will enjoy.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Review
I recently stumbled upon a bottle of Wild Turkey Rare Breed bourbon at a friend’s house and had to ask for a sample. Rare Breed is a limited run made from a combination of 6, 8, and 12 year Wild Turkey batches. It’s dubbed ‘barrel proof’ meaning it goes straight from the barrel to the…
Bulleit Bourbon Review
Verdict: Unique, spicy, and flavorful. A nice treat. Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey has a uniqueness and complexity that makes it distinct. This is probably due to its relatively high rye content (at about 28% of the mash). Distilled in Kentucky limestone-filtered water and aged in charred American oak barrels, Bulleit (90 proof) claims it ages the…
Jim Beam Begins Shipping Jacob’s Ghost White Whiskey
Jim Beam’s latest, known as “Jacob’s Ghost White Whiskey” began shipping this week so we should see it popping up on store shelves soon. Beam named it in honor of Jacob Beam, the founding distiller of Jim Beam. Jacob’s Ghost is an 80-proof whiskey that is aged for one year in a charred, white oak…
1792 Bourbon Review (Ridgemont Reserve)
Verdict: Excellent Mid-bodied Small Batch I picked up a bottle of 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon (named for the year Kentucky became a state) on a recent trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The airlines frown upon traveling with liquid these days, so I was happy to see that stores that far west of Kentucky had bourbon…
Maker’s Mark Resuming Production at 45% Alcohol by Volume
Wow. Just got this email from Makers Mark. Glad to hear that they are listening to their fans! “… Since we announced our decision last week to reduce the alcohol content (ABV) of Maker’s Mark in response to supply constraints, we have heard many concerns and questions from our ambassadors and brand fans. We’re humbled…
The Difference Between Whiskey and Bourbon
Understanding the difference between whiskey and bourbon is probably confusing for many people because all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. So you are not wrong by calling Jim Beam white label “whiskey” or “bourbon.” However, you wouldn’t want to call Crown Royal “bourbon” because it doesn’t meet the criteria designated by…
Sazerac Recipe
I’m seeing rye whiskey pop up all over the place lately. A friend recently fixed me a Sazerac cocktail which uses rye as the base, so I’m adding the recipe below. This is a tasty drink that was popular in New Orleans in the 1850s. It was the signature drink of the Sazerac Coffee House…
Eagle Rare 10 Year
I wouldn’t think twice about recommending Eagle Rare Single Barrel as a gift this holiday season. The casual bourbon lover will definitely appreciate flavors while the bourbon aficionados will dig the complexity. A little back story – Eagle was introduced in 1975 by Charles Beam for Seagram’s and was apparently meant to compete with Wild Turkey…
Jim Beam Black Double Aged
Verdict: Warming, flavorful It’s hard to drink Jim Beam Black without comparing it to Jim Beam original which is probably what most of us cut our teeth on. Black is aged 8 years whereas white is aged 4 years (thus the “double aged” moniker on the label). Black carries a higher price, but carries more complex flavors and I…
Woodford Reserve Review
Verdict: Will not disappoint Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select has always been one of my favorites. This is straight-up good bourbon and worth every penny. I know the price is not completely outrageous, but a lot of folks opt for a more economical bourbon like Jack or Jim as an every day drink. I suggest to…
Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey
Verdict: Smooth, Crisp, Well-rounded My Irish friend never fails to interject his opinions about the superiority of Irish whiskey whenever the topic of whiskey comes up. I’m adding Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey to this blog as a nod to our brethren across the pond. They’ve been distilling whiskey (or ‘Water of Life’ as they call it)…
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch Bourbon
Verdict: Warm, robust, smooth I’m not sure why, but when I hear sound of the cork popping out of a bottle of bourbon my taste buds start to anticipate something great coming their way. Jefferson’s Very Small Batch Bourbon, from McLain & Kyne, did not disappoint them. Jefferson’s Small Batch is aged 8 years (vs. their Jefferson’s Reserve…
Jim Beam Rye
Verdict: Mellow, Peppery I hesitated a little bit adding a rye whiskey to this blog since someone is going to write to tell me that it’s not a bourbon, but this what I have in the cabinet at the moment so let’s roll with it. Rye is usually associated as the drink from the pre-prohibition days,…