Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, is in the midst of immense growth. Over the next 10 years, they’re planning to spend about $1.2 billion on a multi-phase expansion that touches nearly every aspect of the distillery, from the installation of a brand-new boiler to the creation of a state-of-the-art $50 million bottling line. “This place is about to become a construction zone,”...

Here’s a little secret about mint juleps: They are delicious just about year-round and not merely on the first Saturday in May, when the Kentucky Derby takes place and everyone is reminded of them. Why limit yourself to one gambling-intensive day on the calendar? Why not July, or Labor Day, or that one day in October that is freakishly hot before winter grabs the controls? Why not Thanksgiving?...

Go straight to the source for your Kentucky Derby party: make this pie from Churchill Downs Executive Chef David Danielson. You’ll find this and other easy-to-prepare Derby Day dishes from Danielson’s cookbook with Tim Laird, The Bourbon Country Cookbook. Pecan pie is an iconic Southern dessert emblematic of a region that is blessed with a wealth of pecan trees. Whether you pronounce it PEE-can...

You might expect a bourbon trail through Kentucky, just like you might expect a whiskey trail through Tennessee, a Buffalo wing trail through Buffalo, or a wine trail through Santa Barbara (and don't you dare forget Ohio's doughnut trail!). But this summer you can find a deliciously different kind of bourbon trail running through somewhere a little unexpected: Disney World. From May 1 to June...

When it comes to bourbon cocktails, it’s hard to beat the thoroughbred that is the Mint Julep. This combination of bourbon, ice, simple syrup, and mint is one of the most popular classic cocktails and the go-to drink for fans of the Kentucky Derby. It’s also a perfect cocktail to build an alcohol-fueled bridge between the cool, rainy spring days and the warm, sunny summer days ahead. Since you...

Last year everyone was tweeting about the happy coincidence of Cinco de Mayo falling on a Friday and the Kentucky Derby occurring the very next day. But that’s horseplay compared to this year’s planetary alignment, when Cinco de Mayo and the 144th Kentucky Derby literally come together on Saturday, May 5. Sure, you could celebrate the Cinco de Mayo with some margaritas while you look for other...

Buffalo Trace, among its many labels of American whiskeys, has had quite a bit of success with ground level buzz around its E.H. Taylor expressions, particularly those which are much more limited edition in release. One of these happens to be E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon, released about a year ago and named 2018 World Whiskey of the Year in the highly regarded Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible...

Aside from horses and big hats, nothing signifies Derby Day more than an ice-cold mint julep. The iconic bourbon cocktail is typically served in a frosty metal glass with crushed ice and sprigs of mint. Because the cocktail has so few ingredients—just bourbon, simple syrup, mint, and ice—every single component must do serious work. That includes the ice. And if you want to do the julep justice...

American writer Mark Twain once said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” We couldn’t agree more. That’s why MAGNETIC compiled this list of five American made bourbon whiskeys for you to try right now. These selections are award-winning, excellent for the money, and generally easy to buy. Cheers to that!...

When summer rolls around, I tend to set aside my Scotches and Irish whiskeys in lieu of bourbon, rye, and rum, and the occasional gin or tequila—because that’s just what one does in stifling New York heat. Here are four exceptional expressions (from Michter’s to Sagamore and beyond) to consider for the coming Dog Days. But take heed: A few of these are limited releases so you’ll want to...

Ahh, time for a little whiskey. You grab your favorite, settle back in your chair, pop the top on the can, and—wait, what? The can? There are countless innovations taking place in the spirits world, from unusual grains to accelerated aging to re-use of barrels across liquor types, but canned whiskey might seem a crack in the traditional bottle that’s more gimmick than good. But it’s not like...

Bourbon and horse racing go hand-in-hand, and not just in Kentucky. Most bourbon and horse racing enthusiasts in Kentucky can tell you that the same limestone filtered water that makes bourbon so amazing also contributes to the great strength of our Thoroughbreds. But that doesn’t mean horse racing enthusiasts all over the country aren’t also enjoying bourbon cocktails at major races near them...

The familiar Wild Turkey spice and oak take over on a medium length finish with a very slight hint of smoke. The charcoal filtering has sweetened the finish a bit thereby rounding off the spice corners a bit. Wild Turkey fans will want to give this a try if for no other reason than to see if it’s worth their allegiance. I doubt it will excite folks that reach for Wild Turkey 101 or higher, but...

Ah, smoothness. It’s one of the most commonly used—and loosely understood—words in the whiskey lexicon. Everybody’s tasted a whiskey they’d describe as “smooth” at some point, but what exactly does that mean? Mellow? Gentle? Mild? Light? Sweet? Lacking an alcoholic burn? Smoothness is a tough quality to pin down, a little bit like how Justice Stewart attempted to describe what makes a film...

Peach State tasting rooms aren't just for craft breweries and North Georgia wineries anymore. Georgia distilleries are making their mark with signature bourbons and visitors 21 and up are welcome to sip and savor and maybe bring a bottle home. If the science of bourbon is a fascinating subject for you, many of the distilleries (and their distinguished artisans) are more than willing to share...

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the national trade association representing leading producers and marketers of distilled spirits in the US, will participate in the upcoming 2018 Drinks Industry Show in Sydney. “This is exceptionally exciting news,” said event director David Paterson, of organiser Exhibition & Trade Fairs. “The Distilled Spirits Council will showcase iconic...

We already dug Pope Francis for saying wine is necessary for celebration, and for ridiculing the Church for its anti-abortion and gay marriage beliefs. But thanks to Father Jim Sichko, a Kentucky priest, author, and motivational speaker, we now have another reason to love the Pope: The Pope loves Pappy. During a private event at the Vatican last week, Fr. Sichko, who is one of 100 papal...

Spring’s sweet, sweet warmth is so close we can almost taste it. And the seasons vibes, all optimism and short inseams, pairs well with bourbon. You might have been drinking the spirit all winter long, on ice or stirred into cozy-looking cocktails, but it definitely deserves your continued attention with the impending sunshine. With a few tweaks, your bundled-next-to-a-fireplace bourbon can...

For the first time in more than 20 years, Kentucky bourbon is back in Owensboro. It is produced and bottled at the O.Z. Tyler Distillery, originally Green River Distillery circa 1880’s and most recently the Charles Medley Distillery. Kentucky’s newest bourbon, O.Z. Tyler, is made from locally sourced corn and superior malt barley and rye and is a marriage between the time-honored craft of bourbon...

Did bourbon play a role in the win by the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon in 33 years? Desiree Linden, the winner, spoke last year with Runner’s World training editor Meghan Kita about her newfound obsession with good bourbon. “To be honest, having that on my bio has blown this collection up,” Linden said. “People love to talk about good bourbon.” She said people give her bottles...

If you’re from Kentucky and get invited to the boss’s house, to make a good impression you might bring a bottle of bourbon. If your boss is the Pope, you have to go above and beyond. And this Kentucky priest did. Last week, Father Jim Sichko personally delivered a bottle of 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle to Pope Francis. Sichko, who lives in Madison County, tweeted about the event, posting a photo...

The new Wild Turkey bourbon will be released under the name Longbranch, and is a small-batch straight bourbon refined with oak charcoals and Texas mesquite – an homage to McConaghey’s home state. Made with eight-year-old Wild Turkey bourbon, Wild Turkey Longbranch is bright gold in colour with its an aroma profile of vanilla and spices, with flavours of caramel, pear, and hints of citrus that...

For this week’s Thirsty Thursday, we decided to try our hand at an Old Fashioned. Our camera guy has been trying to get us to do this drink since the beginning of the school year, so this week’s Thirsty Thursday is long overdue. The drink is fairly simple, so it is perfect for any college student looking to class up their next pregame. The Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail supposedly invented...

What if you could drink a super-expensive, bourbon-based libation, take home the ultimate luxury souvenir of the 2018 Kentucky Derby and get one step closer to making Jennifer Lawrence your best friend? That, in theory, is what purchasing Woodford Reserve’s Kentucky Derby cocktail—a $1,000 Mint Julep in a cup made of sterling silver and 18k gold—could do. The cups are handcrafted by Louisville...

The world of Kentucky bourbon, Wild Turkey style, has long been dictated in a certain way by legendary master distillers and father and son distilling duo Jimmy and Eddie Russell. In more recent times the overseers of this brand, Campari, saw fit to bring in the services of actor Matthew McConaughey in a creative director type capacity. Now, in a further tying together of McConaughey and the...

According to federal law, for a whiskey to be sold as bourbon, it must have certain characteristics: it has to be made in the United States, with at least 51% corn, and be distilled to 80% ABV or less. It must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. That official definition, though, leaves plenty of space for interpretation; as any studious whiskey drinker knows, for example, beyond the 51% corn...

The Heaven Hill distillery, much like Buffalo Trace, has a relatively long and storied history in regards to whiskey making. It was founded back in 1935 and continues making whiskey to this day. It has produced so much, in fact, that it was recently announced its eighth million barrel of Kentucky bourbon was filled. The filling of this barrel comes at a time when Heaven Hill is seeing some major...

The Buffalo Trace distillery has been around for a quite a long time, with a tradition of making mostly whiskey which dates back to the late 1700s. It is therefore quite notable when this Kentucky facility reaches its million barrel marks, as it did this week at seven million. Also of importance is the fact it has opened a major new aging warehouse as part of an ongoing expansion. This special...

There are more than 200 detectable flavors in Woodford Reserve craft bourbon. So Brown-Forman's "How-To-Hostess," Brittany Gilbert, likes to set up a tasting game to play with friends when she hosts a Kentucky Derby party. She prepares a small plate with five specific food pairings that will accentuate certain characteristics of Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select bourbon...

THE STORY BEHIND THE RUBY SOUR When made right, a New York Sour is a delicious combination of bold, sweet, and balanced flavors. I wanted to take it to the next level, so I came up with this Old 502 Sour. It features aromatic bitters, bourbon, and wine, all produced in Kentucky. The balance of this cocktail relies a lot on the dry red wine. Whether you tend to prefer sweeter or drier wines...

This month Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort is releasing three vintage bourbons: The O.F.C. Vintage bourbons date from 1985, 1989 and 1990. The bottles are on sale for a suggested retail price of $2,500 each. You read that right: $2,500 per bottle. Why so pricey? Only one barrel of each bourbon was available, with very little whiskey in each. In fact, the 1989 barrel yielded only 18 bottles...

Wilderness Trail Distillery’s first bourbon release is set for April 28 at the 2nd annual Taste of Danville, a day of celebrating with food, music and tastes of its Bottled in Bond, Single Barrel Kentucky Straight wheat Bourbon. The spring release is the first of three limited releases this year, as the majority of the barrels continue to age toward six years before regular...

Attention, bourbon collectors: Brown-Forman is releasing a very special bourbon, King of Kentucky Bourbon. It’s an old label, brought back for a special release, which will officially announced after the Kentucky Derby. Originally a nod to the sport of kings, as horse racing is known, the King of Kentucky brand was acquired by Brown-Forman from Selected KY Distillers Inc. in 1936 and...

Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey is making its annual return in honor of Stitzel-Weller Distillery's 83rd anniversary. Boasting an impressive resume, Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has been awarded Double Gold and named Best Kentucky Straight Bourbon at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was named the Best Bourbon 10...

Our family is from a small town in central Kentucky [in the United States, with a population] of 10,000 people. Most of our bourbons are from that area so I grew up around bourbon, listening to Dad and his friends talk about it, but I didn’t really think I was going to work there. My plan was to get a college education and move away to have my own business. But I went to Wild Turkey for a...

The folks over at Maker’s Mark have, for awhile now, been quite successful with their Private Select Program, in which they add 10 custom finishing staves to an aging bourbon barrel to create unique flavor profiles. The distillery is now looking to take this a step further with the unveiling of their first ever, limited edition single stave finished bourbon. Maker’s Mark Seared Bu 1-3, according...

Few drinks are as potent—culturally or physiologically—as the boilermaker. That iconic combination of a pint of beer and a shot of whiskey has been crisply marking the end of the workday for generations, tipping its hat to blue-collar traditions while segueing seamlessly into the hipster lexicon. But unless you’ve recently been transported here via a time machine from 1970, you’re probably...

Start camping out now to get a 2018 Maker’s Mark UK commemorative bottle because Maker’s Mark says they sell out fast! The 2018 bottle will go on sale Friday at larger liquor stores. The proceeds go towards the student-athlete tutoring center at UK. Maker’s Mark says this year’s bottle honor UK’s 1998 championship men’s basketball team. UK Athletics has partnered with Maker’s Mark and Keeneland...

Bud and Beam are getting hitched in a first-of-its-kind marketing partnership bringing together a major beer and whiskey brand. Budweiser in September plans to release a limited-edition brew called Reserve Copper Lager that is aged on Jim Beam bourbon barrel staves. (Staves are wood pieces that makeup bourbon barrels.) Before then, the two brands will begin appearing together at bars. The "beer...

A measure that would allow direct shipment of alcoholic beverages received final passage today in the state Senate and is on its way to the governor to be signed into law. The measure, known as House Bill 400, is an economic development and tourism bill, said Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, who presented the measure in the Senate today. “As our Kentucky bourbon industry experience continues to grow...

A substantial slab of white oak within the shiny new Hotel Zachary—mere steps from Wrigley Field—slides open to reveal prolific chef and restaurateur Matthias Merges (Billy Sunday, Yusho) latest Chicago contribution. Mordecai, a sleek bi-level bar dressed in more blonde oak and leather, pays homage to early 20th-century Cubs pitcher Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown and, come April 7, will provide an...

TASTE: Dark brown sugar and molasses | Rye grain, Rye Toast, Dark Spices, Fruit Cake, Raisins, Cola| Cinnamon, Oak| Surprisingly Light Bodied, Clean Finishing FINISH: Long and juicy, just a tad of dryness at the end. Silken at 111 proof, scant warmth on hard palate. A bit of water amplifies the oak and toasted barrel; reveals bit of cocoa and cake. Leave it alone—if you can—then close your...

In any bourbon drinker’s life, there comes a time when they inevitably (spurred on by at least a few fingers’ worth of the stuff) say that they want to make their own bourbon. They’ll spout grandiose plans replete with beautiful Vendome stills, kick-ass bottle labels, and all the bourbon you could ever drink. No talk of the long hours and the hard labor it takes to make a quality product...

Working for the U.S. Army, Secret Service, Los Angeles Police Department, FBI and the National Guard, Jake Clark has not led a typical life. Topping his resume now: founder of Save A Warrior, a nonprofit headquartered in Ohio and California that connects and empowers active duty military, returning veterans and first responders who are experiencing post-traumatic stress (PTS). Clark’s efforts with Save a Warrior...

Evan Williams is Heaven Hill’s flagship brand. The Black Label is their largest selling Bourbon and they have several extensions of the brand including a Bottled-in-Bond and a 12 years old Red Label. They are all excellent whiskeys. The brand is named for Evan Williams, one of Kentucky’s earliest distillers. Williams came to Louisville in the 1780s and quickly became a prominent businessman...

Tax season is a fickle time. It seems like half of us are eagerly anticipating a fat return check, already plotting how we’ll spend those “bonus” dollars once they hit our bank accounts. The other half are scrimping and saving, dreading the impending phone call that will bring the final tally from the accountant. If you fall into that second camp, don’t worry—we’ve got your back. You don’t need...

It seems when you leave it up to Bourbon fans to “craft their perfect Bourbon” they unanimously agree, wheat recipe is king! In November 2015, Buffalo Trace Distillery launched its “Craft Your Perfect Bourbon” website, in a lighthearted attempt to teach people about distilling. The interactive experience allows fans to choose their mashbill, warehouse placement, age, and proof. In just over...

It’s that time of the year when everyone from kids to adults overindulges in chocolates and scrumptious sweet delights. This year cook up some a healthy dessert for Easter that is sure to leave your dear ones impressed. This dessert contains walnuts that are rich in antioxidants and are an excellent source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) – the plant-based form of omega-3...

Whiskey is without a doubt one of the most loved alcoholic beverage out there. It is sort of omnipresent all across the globe. Be it a party, special occasion or even sadness people always turn towards this golden liquid to unwind themselves. Without it any celebration is incomplete and the demand for this drink is always high whatever the season is. Since the time it was discovered, this...

Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam, Jack Daniel’s, and other American-made whiskies will not become collateral damage in the Trump Administration’s desire to protect the U.S. steel industry from European competition – at least for now. United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told members of the Senate Finance Committee Thursday that the European Union has been included on a list of trade...