Meet Blanton’s Single Barrel, our May Whiskey of the Month! The original single barrel bourbon, Blanton’s. Begun at Ancient Age Distillery (Now Buffalo Trace) by Elmer T. Lee, Colonel Blanton’s apprentice, when he decided to begin bottling bourbon from a special warehouse his mentor had discovered aged whiskey better than any other spot on the grounds. Even within that special warehouse, the lots in the center would age better still. Colonel H. Blanton would entertain friends with barrel selections from this special spot, and the logical result was to begin bottling a premium bourbon selected from the very best barrels and bottling them from single barrels, rather than blending lots as was the standard practice until that time.

Blanton’s is a complex, smooth bourbon with strong vanilla and caramel aromas, smoky wood and cocoa notes, a smooth, honeyed palate, and rich black tea on the finish, with spicebox notes both on the nose and throughout the palate.

Meet our April Whiskey of the Month: Elijah Craig 12 year! Come in for a taste, Bourbon Society members, bring your passport and we’ll pour you a complimentary glass!

Smoky, crisp, and smooth, this bourbon is the namesake of the Baptist minister who first aged whiskey in charred oak barrels in Kentucky in the late 18th century. Best enjoyed neat. Cigar box and honey aromas dominate, with vanilla, tea, and hints of charcoal. This classic bourbon is a great discovery as a moderately priced tipple with the hallmarks of a well-aged whiskey.

Elijah Craig 12 Year

Our Whiskey of the Month for March will be Journeyman’s Ravenswood Rye Whiskey.

With our next whiskey dinner being on the 6^th of March it only seemed appropriate to choose a whiskey that has direct ties to the neighborhood.  The first batch of Ravenswood Rye was distilled at Koval Distillery before moving to their current home in Three Oaks, Michigan.

Being local and organic, the wheat in the bottle is sourced from Michigan while the rye comes from Minnesota. Located in an old maple factory of a staunch prohibitionist, they sourced refurbished local Midwest products to help build their distillery. Distillers of an outstanding gin, as well as bourbon and blended whiskeys, we look forward to showcasing Ravenswood Rye this month.

Being a young rye whiskey, the raciness of the grain comes through on the nose with nice baking spice characteristics from the rye while the wheat gives those softer cereal grain aromas. On the palate there is a nice weight to the whiskey with hints of vanilla and underlying tones of fruit giving it a softness and making it a very smooth sipping whiskey. The finish is long and mellow with subtle hints of mocha and winter spices.  This is hands-down one of our favorite new ryes on the market especially since they take the time to source local and organic ingredients and make their whiskey instead of buying barrels and relabeling like a lot of the ryes on the market.

We look forward to seeing you all month to try Ravenswood Rye, or better yet come to our spirits dinner on March 6^th and try multiple products from a true craft distiller. Cheers and keep drinking whiskey.

We are proud to announce one of the iconic bourbons from Kentucky as our Whiskey of the Month for February, Evan Williams.

Evan Williams, the man was a jack of all trades including a politician who would bring his moonshine to dry meetings wherein it would be confiscated by authorities. Although, rumor has it he always left with an empty jug. Sounds like business as usual to me.

Part of the Heaven Hill brand since the fifties, it is now under the watchful eye of 6th generation master distiller Parker Beam with the family’s trademark yeast strain. Evan Williams has a gentle aroma of vanilla, caramel, and oak with a hint of dried spice. On the palate it is very soft showing a little bit of summer fruit to go along with the aromas. Notes of clove and cinnamon come through on the finish.

Evan Williams is a must-have bottle on the back shelf of every home bar as a go-to whiskey for everyday drinking. It makes a wonderful Manhattan or enjoyed on its own after a long work day, or keep in mind as Mardi Gras approaches, it makes a great Sazerac.

We look forward to pour you multiple tastes of this whiskey throughout the month of February especially on the 14th, because what romantic evening doesn’t start and end with bourbon. As always keep sipping whiskey.

Big Jones is pleased to announce Redemption Rye as its Whiskey of the Month for January.

Redemption Rye is distilled in Indiana and bottled in Bardstown Kentucky. The mash bill contains a high premium rye count of 95%. It is aged for two plus years in charred American oak barrels and bottled at 92 proof. With the high rye count and bottled at a young age the racy flavors of the rye really come through in this whiskey. The nose gives you one last reminder of Christmas with notes of clove, ginger, evergreen and cinnamon with a little hint of menthol. These flavors transfer over to the palate with a subtle flavor of chocolate and licorice. The mild sweetness combined with the spice characters that this whiskey shows makes it perfect for a Manhattan, or just poured over ice and sipped on its own.

We look forward to seeing you at the restaurant to try the first aged rye whiskey that we have featured, and as always keep sipping whiskey. Cheers.