By Nanette Wiser
Bourbon is trending, and perhaps is best sipped at DTSP’s Flute & Dram or Urban Stillhouse, 17,000 square feet of bar, restaurant and homage to locally distilled bourbon (American Freedom Distillery) and run by veterans. Kozuba & Sons produces another local bourbon favorite, and a trip to any adult candy store (Leukins, Total Wine, ABC, PicPac Liquor) showcases a plethora of craft bourbons from states beyond bourbon’s Kentucky birthplace.
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey made from at least 51% corn, along with malt and rye, and according to the American Bourbon Association it must age in charred new oak barrels and include no color or flavor additives. Sip it neat, on the rocks or in a Manhattan or other bourbon cocktails (see below). Small-batch bourbons flavors will wow your tastebuds. May we suggest?
Let’s start local with Horse Soldier Bourbon from American Freedom Distillery. Horse Soldier is owned by the Green Berets chosen to be the first of the Army Special Forces to enter Afghanistan after 9/11. The movie 12 Strong depicts one of their team’s missions. Horse Soldier is based here but the company distills its bourbon in a co-op in Ohio. The Horse Soldier portfolio contains a straight bourbon and a small batch expression that just scored double gold at the San Francisco Spirits World Spirits Competition. But it’s the wheat recipe bourbon that blows me away. Big, cask strength, and non-chill filtered, this bourbon is loaded with caramel and vanilla and drinks a little too easily for its 108-116 proof.
Buffalo Trace Distillery is one of my favorites, and their Weller Single Barrel has a vanilla-woodsy taste. Jim Beam Distillery’s Knob Creek offers 9 and 12-year age statement bourbon. Elijah Craig Small Batch is finished in a toasted barrel, giving the whiskey a slightly burnt marshmallow and honey taste.
New this year is Sweetens Cove, serving up a 13-year-old bourbon blended by Marianne Eaves, a former taster at Brown-Forman (the company that owns Old Forester, Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve and others). For a butterscotch taste, you can’t go wrong with Heaven Hill Distillery’s Henry McKenna bourbon, named “Best in Show” at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Celebrate rock and roll with Heaven’s Door, created in partnership with Bob Dylan, especially the 90-proof Tennessee bourbon with butterscotch, cherry, and honey notes. Kentucky’s Willett Distillery’s Noah’s Mill 15-year-old bourbon pops with cinnamon and allspice, a little vanilla and caramel notes. The first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, Garrison Brothers released its multi-award winning twice-barreled bourbon, Balmorhea earlier this year.
BOURBON COCKTAILS
The Manhattan: A classic. 2 parts bourbon, 1 part sweet vermouth, 2 dashes aromatic bitters, Amarena cherry. Combine ingredients over ice in a mixing glass, stir and strain into a chilled glass neat or on the rocks. Garnish with a cherry.
The Sidecar: A Prohibition favorite. 1½ parts bourbon, 1 part orange liqueur, ½ part lemon juice. Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into rocks glass, garnish with lemon twist.
Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Float: Mix 2 teaspoons of Torani Puremade Pumpkin Pie Sauce and ¼ cup bourbon. Pour in 1 cup root beer; top with 1 scoop vanilla ice cream.