Just Add Bourbon

My friends at JustAddBourbon sent me gifts in the mail today for my participation and support of the Urban Bourbon Trail. The first gift is a hat that says 'Bourbon Country' on the front and 'Just Add Bourbon' on the back. It's brown with gold writing. A very nice hat I must say. The second gift is a very nice handbag that my Fiancé, Kristyn, has already laid claim to and swears to proudly display it as she visits the Urban Bourbon Trail, Local Distilleries, and other various day trips. I want to give a very special thanks to Stacey for the gifts.
For those of you not familiar with www.JustAddBourbon.com, it is a very informative and user friendly site dedicated to the Bourbon lifestyle. I suggest you check it out. Just click on the link and browse through the site. If you are a Bourbon enthusiast, you'll truly enjoy the site and get plenty of use of it.

The Urban Bourbon Trail

The city of Louisville announced just recently that it has created an Urban Bourbon Trail. This trail consists of 8 bars in the downtown Louisville area. They provide you with a passport (pictured left) that has all the information you need to successfully complete the trip. Inside you'll find tasting notes (pictured right), a map of downtown with each spot marked (pictured below), and write ups on several distilleries around the are where you can see these fine beverages being produced.








I had the pleasure of hitting the first stop on the Urban Bourbon Trail with my father in law Steve and Tim. The Bar at BLU. This bar is located next to the lobby of a fine Marriott Hotel. It is very contemporary. It reminds me of a place you would go after work for a quick drink to shrub off the day's hassles before heading home. The prices were reasonable and the drink selection was appealing to most tastes. When we ordered our drinks, the waitress returned with drinks in hand escorted by glasses of water and a Cajun snack mix that was quite tasty. I had the Bulleit Single Barrel Bourbon. A very smooth Bourbon drink.


The next stop on The Urban Bourbon Trail is Bourbons Bistro. This place was designed for a man like me. It is dim lit with dark woods furnishing the place. There is a touch of class in the place, but not so much that you feel uncomfortable wearing casual clothes. The bar rests in front of a tall wall of Bourbons. When you ask the bartender for a drink menu, be ready to read. They have the largest selections of Bourbon in the U.S., (over 150). If you cannot find something to fit your tastes here, then you shouldn't be drinking Bourbon. I had the Wild Turkey American Spirit 15yr. It is by far the most complex and tasteful Bourbon I have ever had to drink. The 122 proof Bourbon will leave a warm feeling in your chest and pure pleasure in your mouth. A definite must try for anybody looking for the ultimate experience. Ask the Bartender about their Bourbon Flights before you order. They have several designed to heighten your experience.


Next up is The Brown Hotel Bar. I went to this local with my fiancé Kristyn. It felt like we stepped back in time when we walked into the front doors of this fine hotel. The bar is located on the second for tucked away in a corner. The bar itself was small only having for seats and maybe being ten feet long, but there was plenty of comfortable love seats and padded chairs when you stepped away from the bar.
We ponied up to the bar and ordered our drink. I had the Elijah Craig 18yr. It was poured by a very knowledgeable bartender. She knew what she was talking about. She spoke of the different distilleries that she had visited and the ways the different Bourbons were produced. It only involved me deeper into the fantastic world of Bourbon. She then let me know the story of the Blanton's stoppers. Each one has a letter on it, B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S. When all the stoppers are placed in a specially designed holder, the horse & rider stoppers form a horse race. How cool is that. I'm now on a mission to collect the 8 stoppers.


The fifth place on the Urban Bourbon Trail is Maker's Mark Bourbon House & Lounge. Located in the heart of Forth Street Live, this long spacious bar was set up to handle some heavy nighttime traffic.
I decided to have a Bourbon flight. For those of you not familiar with Bourbon flights, it is a fantastic way to get to know and compare different Bourbons. A flight will usually consist of 2-4 Bourbons being poured and served up at the same time. Although the drinks are smaller in size, the total amount you get still adds up to a full drink or more. You will definitely not be cheated by ordering one of these. I see it more as a privilege to take a flight and instantly compare my Bourbons. I had The Wild Turkey Flight which consisted of Wild Turkey 101, Kentucky Spirit, and Russell's Reserve.
The woman behind the bar then took my passport and stamped it upside down. When she apologized, I replied "It adds character. It's perfect." I had the opportunity to sign up to be a Maker's Mark Ambassador. Steve, Kristyn, and I were each given a cool gift during our visit. When talking to the bartenders, they informed me that they too had knowledge of the Blanton's stoppers and wished me good luck on my quest for a collection.


Number 6 is The Old Seelbach Bar. This place is nothing but class. This hotel is beautiful. The Bar is located to the right of the lobby. Dim lit and timeless, you instantly feel comfortable walking in. I can see why this was named one of the 50 best bars in the world. The bartenders were the perfect picture of what a bartender should be. They did everything they could to make you feel at home with friends, which is something you cannot say about a lot of places.
I decided to have a Bourbon flight here. The flight to be enjoyed was The Soloist, named for the 4 single barrel Bourbons it is comprised of. Now lined up in front of me is Blanton's Single Barrel, Eagle Rare Single Barrel, Evan Williams Single Barrel, and Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel. Any time you have four select Bourbons like these lined up in front of you, your bound to be in for a delightful experience. I thoroughly enjoyed comparing the qualities, colors, smells, and tastes these Bourbons had to offer me.
I had to ask the Bartenders about the Blanton's stoppers. They knew about them and had been keeping some aside. Well, to my dismay, the stoppers had been misplaced and were nowhere to be found. The trip to this bar did end on a very nice upbeat when the one of bartenders produced a very nice set of 6 Bourbon glasses in front of me. Not wanting to let Steve feel left out, they gave him a set also. These were some classy people who I'd have a drink with any time. Cheers to you Seelbach Bar.


Park place on Main is the 7th stop on the Urban Bourbon Trail. It's located next to Louisville Slugger Field. The bar is small with a contemporary look to it. I had the Wathen's Single Barrel to drink. The bartender was very lively and friendly. She made me feel like I was in the right place at the right time and boy was I. When speaking about the Blanton's stopper, which have become quite the conversation piece, she said she didn't want me to leave empty handed, reached under the bar, and produced a Blanton's stopper for me to take home and start my collection.



Last but definitely not least on The Urban Bourbon Trail is Proof on Main. A very modern place with boatloads of Art. Your eyes will feast on the surroundings as you have your drink.
My drink for the visit was The Beam Flight consisting of Baker's, Basil Hayden, and Knob Creek. It was a good choice of Bourbon's to sample together.
The manager stopped by our table to make sure we were enjoying ourselves and we took the opportunity to ask him about the Red Penguins that are perched around the top of the building. He was very informative plus gave us all Red Penguin temporary tattoos. What a cool and interesting gift those made.
Steve left to go to the restroom and upon his return informed me that I needed to make a trip there also. When I returned from the restroom, I then informed Kristyn that she should check it out. She returned and instantly sent my friend Matt to the restroom. When he returned, we all shared our experiences, laughed, and thought of how cool it was. Are you curious? You'll have to go to the restroom when your there. You won't forget it anytime soon. It was a great and fun way to cap off the Urban Bourbon Trail.


For more information on the Urban Bourbon Trail, The Kentucky Bourbon Trail, or to keep up with the 'Bourbon Buzz' and upcoming events visit http://www.justaddbourbon.com/.

Fighting Cock

Fighting Cock Bourbon is a very complex drink. The 103 proof (51.5% alc/vol) that it comes in has some heat to it on the first few sips. After your palate softens up, a multiple of intense flavors cross your tongue. It is dark and spicy with notes of oak and vanilla. I am very surprised that so much flavor was poured out of the barrel after being aged for only 6 years. I would recommend this Bourbon to be sipped with a cube of ice if you cannot handle the heat. It is another good Bourbon distilled in the Bardstown hills. For more information log onto Fighting Cock's official web site at http://www.fightingcock.com/. They have lots of info, recipes, and cool downloads.

Evan Williams Single Barrel

I tried this old time Bourbon today to find that beyond the price and my original opinion, it deserved to be on a higher shelf. What a great Bourbon this turned out to be. Smooth and subtle, this Bourbon will most definitely catch you by surprise. It's draw, taste, and finish gives you no wonder why it has achieved so many awards. I must say if you have not given this one a chance, now is the time to do so. Saying it's worth every penny is a small feat being that it is so priced with Bourbon of a much less caliber. To find out more about this fine quality Bourbon visit http://www.evanwilliams.com/.

Blanton's Single Barrel

From the moment Blanton's touches your lips, you know you're drinking something special. A smooth and mellow drink that will add a touch of class to the best of occasions. This is a Bourbon that I am truly in love with. As you pull the glass to your nose you are pleased with the aroma of caramel and vanilla. The first taste will give you flavors of caramel, citrus, and some light oak. As you finish you're left with an aftertaste of sugar and vanilla. It is best to serve this 93 proof (46.5% alc/vol) Bourbon straight. You wouldn't want to dilute it any at all. For a pure pleasure, pick up a bottle and enjoy. For more information on Blanton's Bourbon visit their site at http://www.blantonsbourbon.com/.