It’s fairly well known that Marge Samuels, wife of Bill Samuels Sr., came up with the name, the label and the now-iconic red-wax seal for the Maker’s Mark brand. But did you know she had to fight to keep the shape of the…
Thanks to everyone who entered the contest to win a copy of Mike Veach’s “Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey: An American Heritage.” I conducted a random draw over the weekend, and the two winners were Tyler Montell of Shelbyville, Ky., and Joshua…
I like to sip a cocktail while watching “Mad Men,” and often that cocktail is an Old-Fashioned. It’s classic, and it was invented right here in Louisville. But unlike poor Don Draper, who seems unable to change his ways, I’m open…
It’s never too soon to decide how to mark National Bourbon Day. Celebrated on June 14 (that’s Friday), this I’m-not-quite-sure-it’s-official holiday commemorates the day in 1789 that the Rev. Elijah Craig is said to have first distilled whiskey in Kentucky. Now,…
The popular photo-sharing app Instagram began as a start-up called Burbn, “a game-play location-based service… named, in whimsical Silicon Valley fashion,” after co-founder and CEO Kevin Systrom’s interest in “fine whiskeys and bourbons.” Source: “The Money Shot” by Kara Swisher,…
It was a Google alert that finally pushed me over the edge. There among my daily results for the word “bourbon” was this headline from Forbes: “Special Bourbons for Celebrating Father’s Day.” “If your father is a bourbon fan, this…
Over the weekend, I mentioned 1792 Ridgemont Reserve. You might know that the 1792 in the name is a reference to the year that Kentucky became the 15th state. But did you know the bourbon was called “Ridgewood Reserve 1792” when it…
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Aged 9 years; 120 proof Suggested retail: About $40/750ml This is a single-barrel, higher-proof (120 vs. 100) version of one of Jim Beam’s small-batch bourbons. Here’s what the company says about this expression: “You’ll find…
Today is Statehood Day in Kentucky, which was the 15th state admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792 (although technically we are a commonwealth and not a state). What better way to celebrate than with a toast of 1792…
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