Things I'm Loving About Kentucky Right NOW

We only have a few days of February left. Valentine's Day is behind us but there is still a little bit of time to think about love. Last year, I focused on the romantic aspect of the month and rounded up spots in Kentucky to be with the one you love. This year I'm taking a broader view. Kentucky can be romantic but there are a lot of things I'm loving about our state this very moment that has nothing to do with romance.

So, here you go. My latest Kentucky interests, fascinations, and obsessions.

* A Kentucky Oscars!

* All the Ashley Judd Senate race speculation.  No surprise here. I'm liberal and I love Ashley Judd. However, beyond that I just love a good old fashion horse race (I am a Kentuckian after all!) and I love the idea of someone giving Good Ole Mitch a run for his money.

* Erin Smallwood Wathan (you may also know her as my grand-big sister!) joining the ranks of herKentucky!

* The Kentucky for Kentucky guys keep kicking ass.

* Spring is my favorite time of year in Kentucky and it is SO SO CLOSE.

* The insane popularity of bourbon...even if it has caused some growing pains.

What are you loving about Kentucky right now?

~ Sarah Stewart Holland

The Bourbon Lover's Wish List

Every Kentuckian has at least one bourbon lover on her holiday shopping list. 

Now, in theory, shopping for the bourbon lover is easy. You stop by the corner liquor store, and mark one present off the list. But, it doesn't really work that way. You can either pick up a tried-and-true favorite, or risk a flavor profile that doesn't suit the recipient. You sure aren't going to be able to find a bottle of Pappy anywhere. And the bourbon accessories that have sprung up in recent years are a tricky business as well. Bourbon lovers are very precise in their enjoyment of the spirit -- whisky stones and rocks glasses are the impetus for a million debates.  Loving bourbon is a serious business, y'all.

I want that julep cup!

If you're shopping for a bourbon lover this year, why not give the gift of knowledge? The Bourbon Review is a quarterly, Lexington-based magazine that explores all things bourbon. From cocktail reviews to recipes to tasting notes, TBR is a must-have for anyone seeking the full Bourbon Experience. It's one of those magazines like Garden and Gun or Southern Living that I just can't wait to find in my mailbox. It's a fantastic gift for the bourbon lover in your life!

The guys at The Bourbon Review have graciously offered a one-year subscription to The Bourbon Review and a t-shirt from their Bourbon Outfitter merchandise line to one lucky HerKentucky reader. Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. The contest runs through midnight on Friday the 14th, and a winner will be announced on Saturday.

Cheers and Good Luck!

Edited: Congratulations to Townsley M., the winner of this giveaway!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pumpkins and Witches!

I love decorating for Halloween. There are just so many fun pumpkins and witches to choose from!

I recently ran across some Louisville Stoneware pieces that I just love for the holiday this year:

This black pumpkin lights up a room or porch and saves all the carving mess.

This pumpkin serving tray is a great way to serve treats. Pumpkin whoopie pies are always a hit!

And this witch pitcher is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Maybe you could stir up a spooky cocktail, a la Martha, although I'd recommend serving an artisan bourbon instead.

What kind of Halloween decorations do y'all have this year?

The HerKentucky 60 Things Project: Frankfort

In Sunday's Herald-Leader,  Cheryl Truman, with the help of many readers, listed 50 things that define Lexington.  We thought it would be fun to make a similar HerKentucky list, with 10 things that define our respective hometowns.  Where better to start than Kentucky's capital city? Here's Lydia's list of things that define Frankfort.

via Kentucky Tourism Apps.

1. The Grey Lady of Liberty Hall. Nothing like scaring the wits out of yourself by walking past on Halloween and timidly looking up to see if she's watching you from a second floor window.

2. Gene Burch Photography. While his dental skills and practice are top-notch, every Frankfort resident recognizes Dr. Burch's photography of our capital city, especially his iconic three spires photograph. His photo calendar always hung on my mom's kitchen wall.

3. The Capitol Buildings (Old and New). Admittedly, this is a bit self-indulgent, but if you were a teenager at Frankfort High School between 1994 and up through the current year, it's likely that you hung out at one of the Capitol buildings.  Frankfort isn't exactly known for its Things To Do If You're A Teen, and hanging out at the Capitol bench or the Old Capitol stone wall is our version of "cruising."

4. The Black Cat Chase. The 5K race, held at night, near Halloween is an annual fundraiser for the Frankfort YMCA. It seems that all of Frankfort participates in this race - whether you're a hardcore runner or a grandma in jeans and a t-shirt. It's a fun time and lots of folks wear costumes.

5. The Smell of Sour Mash. On crisp mornings, you can often start your day with a whiff of sour mash cooking at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. It's pervasive all over town. Some people hate it. Personally, I love it.

6. The Frankfort Cemetery. It's just plain beautiful and features Daniel Boone's grave in a prime location that overlooks downtown Frankfort.

7. The Grand Theatre. Recently restored, this entertainment venue was once a vaudeville theater and now features arts performances ranging from opera to children's theater.

via Kentucky Tourism

8. The Switzer Covered Bridge. On the edge of Franklin County is the small community of Switzer, best known for its covered bridge. The bridge washed downstream in the Flood of 1997 but has been restored. It's a perfect place to visit for a fall picnic.

9. Elkhorn Creek. Flowing throughout central Kentucky, the Elkhorn meanders through Franklin County and empties into the Kentucky River here. Local fisherman, canoeists and kayakers enjoy the waterway.

10. Rebecca Ruth Candies, because who doesn't love a bourbon ball?

The Bourbon Chase

The Bourbon Chase. Source: aceweekly.com via AceWeekly on Pinterest

Here in the Bluegrass State, we do things a little differently.

We never miss an opportunity to celebrate our beautiful Commonwealth or our bourbon.  We've even found a way to combine these things with our exercise!

This morning, teams of runners convened in Clermont, Kentucky, the home of Jim Beam, to participate in the annual Bourbon Chase.  This two hundred mile relay race, comprised of twelve-member teams, will loop around the stops of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail throughout the day and night, crossing the finish line at Rupp Arena tomorrow.

Good luck to all our friends who are participating in the Bourbon Chase! The HerKentucky girls are all raising a glass (of bourbon, natch) in your honor!

Why Not Throw a Bourbon Cocktail Party?

Don and Pete.  Mint Juleps. That is all. via AMC.

It's Friday, and it's Bourbon Heritage Month.  Why not celebrate the gloriously crisp autumn weather with the warm, smooth notes of a bourbon cocktail? This weekend, you should throw a bourbon cocktail party!

Now, here at HerKentucky, we're always looking for a reason to throw a good party. Kentucky's very own whisky is a better reason than most.  In just four simple steps, you can put together a fun and elegant bourbon cocktail party.

Bourbon tasting bar, via Garden & Gun

Step One: Choose Your Bourbon
I'd suggest picking up three whisky labels that fit the distinct mashbill profiles -- one high rye content brand, like Basil Hayden's, one high corn content like Buffalo Trace's Old Charter, and a wheated bourbon like Maker's Mark or Pappy Van Winkle.  This article from Bluegrass Threads, and this one from Epicurious, do a great job of describing the different taste profiles.  Pick up one of the small batch labels for true sipping, and remember your beer-loving guests with Bourbon Barrel Ale.

Step 2: Choose Your Blend

Most Kentuckians are pretty easy to please.  We take our bourbon neat, with a splash of water or, heaven forbid, with a little Coca-Cola.  (Bourbon and Coke tastes good, but don't ever admit it!)  It seems that bourbon is nationally trendy again, with all these speakeasies popping up in major cities.  You get things like the Bacon Old Fashioned, from Nashville's Patterson House, or the Kentucky Rose from Atlanta's Southern Art and Bourbon Bar.  If you want to get that fancy, your guests will love a sip.  This bourbon and ginger sounds interesting. Of course, nothing beats a Maker's Manhattan. Nothing.

Step 3: Choose Your Glass
A variety of lowball glasses, Manhattan glasses and julep cups help you enjoy in style.  I love these stemless martini glasses from Maker's Mark and these Fleur de Lis julep cups from Louisville Stoneware


Step 4: Choose Your Friends
Make a few calls, pour a few drinks, and enjoy.

Cheers, y'all!

This is the first installment in a series of posts called "The Bourbon Files", which will showcase the history, culture, and distinct taste of Kentucky's signature spirit.

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Now that we're past the oppressiveness of summer heat and the State Fair and its terrifyingly odd fried foods are behind us, it's time for festival season in Kentucky. This weekend is a great one for everyone!

The 21st Annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival.

Some rights reserved by Colbyt69

That's right. If the festival were a person, it would get to legally enjoy its namesake.

Held every year in Bardstown, Kentucky, the Bourbon Festival celebrates Kentucky's native spirit with events like a barrel-making demonstration, a balloon glow, tours of historic Bardstown, a free country music concert, bourbon tastings and countless other events. You can see the entire list at http://www.kybourbonfestival.com/events.html.

When my husband and I first started dating, before I was employed in the spirits industry, we made a trip to the Bourbon Festival. I'm not a bourbon drinker, a bad experience in college ruined me on it. However, I love history and am interested in how things are made, so the festival offered lots of things for me to enjoy. For my husband, it was pretty close to the best thing ever. He loves bourbon. He has strong opinions about how it should be enjoyed. While my favorite booths were ones where the exhibitors showed how pioneers made bourbon, his favorite place was the tasting booth.

Some rights reserved by sniggie

You guys. Even I, a non-bourbon drinker relegated to drinking the only beer on hand (Bud Light), was impressed by the bourbon tasting booth. Admission offered to adults only (of course), nearly every single bourbon produced in Kentucky is featured. When we attended, the procedure was to buy tickets. Then, those tickets could be redeemed for tasting samples of your choice of bourbon. Of course, the "price" of tastings varied. My husband took this opportunity to taste bourbon varieties that he'd never had before or that were out of his price range at the liquor store. He tasted a variety including the coveted and hard-to-find Pappy Van Winkle 23-year old bourbon. He was in heaven!

You've got until Sunday to visit the Bourbon Festival in Bardstown. Many events and demonstrations are free. Some require advance tickets or payment for entry. Check out the festival's website for more information.

From someone whose livelihood currently depends on our state's signature spirit, thanks for supporting the industry! Please drink responsibly and designate a sober driver.