The HerKentucky Guide to Talking About Bourbon
A quick guide to Kentucky Bourbon terminology.
We Kentuckians take our bourbon seriously. Of course, Kentucky bourbon is the original and the best of all bourbon whiskeys. But, while it's made right here in the Bluegrass State, we aren't all experts. Some of us don't drink bourbon, or don't live in a part of the Commonwealth where the spirit is produced. Even if you don't partake in Kentucky's native spirit, or if you've never taken an interest in bourbon culture, there are times when the conversation turns to Kentucky bourbon. In the spirit of Bourbon Heritage Month, we're giving you a little cheat sheet that will have you talking about Kentucky Bourbon like a pro.
Bourbon: Bourbon whiskey is a uniquely American spirit which falls under strict production standards. The Federal Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits (27 C.F.R. 5) require that bourbon made for U.S. consumption must be produced in the United States, made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak barrels, distilled to no more than 160 proof (80% alcohol by volume), entered into the barrel for aging at no more than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume), and bottled at 80 proof or more (40% alcohol by volume).
Kentucky Bourbon: Although we all know that the best bourbon is bottled here in the Bluegrass State where it was invented, bourbon does not have to be produced in Kentucky. Unlike French wines such as champagne or burgundy, bourbon does not carry a requirement for provenance. Kentucky distillers believe that the high limestone content in Bluegrass region water leads to a superior product. Here at HerKentucky, we tend to agree.
Barrel: Federal law requires that bourbon be aged in a new charred oak barrel. This means that the barrel is actually lit on fire in preparation. (Watch it here!) This process removes sulphur from the wood and allows the natural wood sugars, vanillin, and color of the wood to be absorbed into the whiskey, resulting in a delicious finished product.
Charred White Oak Barrel. Image via Maker's Mark.
Mash Bill: The mash bill is, basically, the recipe for a particular bourbon. Federal regulations require that the mash bill be at least 51% percent corn; many are 60-70% corn. Most mash bills contain varying percentages of corn, barley, and rye. The secondary grain mixture is an important factor in determining the bourbon's flavor.
Wheated: A bourbon which uses wheat as a secondary grain in its mash profile is often referred to as "wheated." These whiskeys are known for a soft, sweet flavor with notes of caramel or vanilla. Popular wheated bourbons include Pappy Van Winkle, Maker's Mark, and Old Fitzgerald.
Rye: A bourbon containing a notable amount of rye in its mash bill will have a bold, spicy flavor. Basil Hayden's, Bulleit, and Old Grand Dad are well-known rye bourbons.
Angels' Share: The "angels' share" is a distilling term referring to the amount of alcohol lost to evaporation during the aging process. This often leads to the
Proof: Proof refers to the strength of, or, put simply, amount of alcohol in, bourbon. In the United States, proof means twice the alcohol percentage. So, for example, 90 proof bourbon is 45% alcohol.
Now you can talk about bourbon with the pros! Cheers, y'all!
The HerKentucky Guide to Speakeasy Louisville: The Hot Brown
The Jazz Age roots of Louisville's most famous sandwich.
Welcome to the second installment of the HerKentucky Guide to Speakeasy Louisville! On Thursdays throughout the fall, we'll travel back to the Jazz Age in the Derby City, when the nation's Prohibition laws didn't quench the collective thirst for Kentucky Bourbon. We'll channel our inner Daisy Buchanans and dance the Charleston at Louisville's finest establishments. And, of course, we'll take a sip or two of the native drink that kept the city's spirits high. Today, we'll visit the Brown Hotel for one of those famous open-faced sandwiches that fueled the era!
The Brown Hotel's opening day, October 1923. Image courtesy Brown Hotel.
In 1923, when Louisville businessman J. Graham Brown opened his eponymous hotel at 4th and Broadway, Louisville was a bustling city of 235,000 people. With its ornate English Renaissance design, the Brown Hotel immediately became synonymous with luxury, opulence and excess. This was especially true in the Crystal Ballroom, where the city received Queen Marie of Romania.
Queen Marie of Romania in the Brown Hotel's Crystal Ballroom. Image courtesy Brown Hotel.
The Crystal Ballroom was known in this era for its lavish nightlife; crowds of around 1,200 people were common in the new hotel as party-goers enjoyed the Brown Hotel's dinner dances. (And, despite the Prohibition laws of the era, likely a little Kentucky bourbon to keep their spirits high!)
Crystal Ballroom, Brown Hotel.
All that dancing (and, perhaps, imbibing...) worked up quite an appetite. So, the Brown's chef, Fred Schmidt, came up with a hot, open-faced sandwich to be as a midnight meal, as his customers were beginning to tire of the standard ham and eggs fare.. The result was the Hot Brown -- perhaps the most iconic staple of Louisville cuisine -- a sandwich made of turkey, bacon, mornay sauce and toast points and garnished with tomatoes and parsley and served piping hot.
Image courtesy Brown Hotel.
Brown Hotel Executive Chef Josh Bettis recently took me on a tour of the Brown's kitchens. As we talked about food, history, and Louisville, he assured me that the recipe hasn't changed at all since Chef Schmidt first made it for his Jazz Age patrons. After all, it's a quintessentially Kentucky dish that often winds up on people's culinary bucket list. And, with the perfect mix of sweet, tangy, rich, and salty that the Hot Brown delivers, why mess with perfection?
Thanks so much to Chef Josh Bettis and the Brown hotel for their assistance, and for continuing the tradition of the very best sandwich in the entire Commonwealth!
Fall Fashion 2014
It's officially fall y'all! Time for a round up of fall's hottest trends!
It's officially fall y'all! Pumpkin spice has taken over and college football is in full swing! It's time to bring out your chunky knits, chambray shirts, and riding boots and to update your wardrobe with some of fall's most fabulous trends! I am in love with ladylike leopard and can't wait to give my plaid shirt a glamorous makeover. Below is a round up of fall's hottest trends! Which ones will you be sporting this season?
1. Meow
Leopard in ladylike silhouettes is everywhere this season. I am loving bow tie blouses and pleated skirts in this catty print.
2. Wrap it up
Wrap/robe coats are all the rage this fall. I am loving their over-sized collars and cinched waists. Talk about slimming!
3. Shearling
Shearling makes an appearance in a big way. It will be accenting everything from moto jackets to booties.
4. Pretty Plaid
Everyone is mad for plaid. My favorite look is a plaid button down with a monogrammed vest and some killer riding boots. You can also dress it up with a pleated skirt and pearls.
5. Capes
Elegant capes have been translated into everyday wear. I am loving this trench inspired cape. It's a little more casual and a really fun way to enjoy this trend.
6. Fun Fall Colors
One of the easiest ways to update your fall wardrobe is by adding pieces in this season's signature colors. Bright orange, UK blue, grey and pastels like mint green, baby blue and pale pink will brighten and update your fall ensemble in a flash.
7. Key Accessories
Statement bags, menswear oxfords and cowboy hats will be your go to accessories this season. I am loving metallic shoes as neutrals as well.
HerKentucky's Favorite Bourbon Cocktail Recipes
Celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month with a Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail!
September is Bourbon Heritage Month. This month at HerKentucky, we've shown you some sweet treats made with bourbon, a delicious savory bourbon sauce, a fabulous historic tour, and even a great way to support bourbon sustainability efforts. But you know what we haven't discussed yet? Cocktails.
Everyone knows that the best way to enjoy Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey is neat, with a couple of ice cubes to evenly dilute the flavor. But, sometimes you need to mix it up. Here is a list of some of the HerKentucky team's favorite bourbon cocktail recipes.
Liz's Skinny Manhattan
Liz came up with a way to enjoy her very favorite bourbon drink without packing in the extra calories. You can check out the recipe here.
The HerKentucky Pumpkin Spiced Manhattan
Liz has another take on her beloved Manhattan here. This time, she added the tastes of autumn!
Belle's Berry Cobbler Mint Julep
Glenda had this drink at Belle's Cocktail House in Lexington, and loved it so much that she asked for the recipe!
Maker's Mark Hot Toddy
This is my go-to recipe when I'm fighting off a cold, or when there's a chill in the air. We first ran the recipe for National Hot Toddy Day. But, this time of year, should they all be hot toddy days?
What's your favorite bourbon cocktail?
Shop Local Kentucky Interview and Giveaway!
Happy Friday, y'all! I hope you have big plans to enjoy the weekend and celebrate Kentucky Bourbon, whether it's served in cocktail, a dessert, or a savory treat!
Today, we have a Bourbon Heritage Month present for one lucky HerKentucky reader, courtesy of Shop Local Kentucky. We sat down with Rick from Shop Local Kentucky with a few questions about their initiative, and he kindly offered a gorgeous reclaimed bourbon barrel necklace embossed with the outline of Kentucky. What a great way to celebrate the Commonwealth! Here's what Rick had to say to us:
HK: Tell us a little about the mission of Shop Local Kentucky.
SLK: Shop Local Kentucky is an initiative to 'Keep the Grass Blue' by promoting local shopping and independent business owners across the Commonwealth. While Kentucky have had several successful localized 'Buy Local' programs, business alliances and campaigns, this will be the first statewide grassroots local shopping awareness initiative.
HK You’re starting off by selling SLK merchandise, but what’s coming next?
SLK:. Right, The Kentucky Shop is the funding mechanism behind Shop Local Kentucky. This effort has completely funded the intiative through year-end and gives us a way to plug local makers and artists in with our Kentucky following via the e-commerce store. Through the store we have paid out nearly $6,000 in sales to these local business owners since first opening one month ago. Further, we have raised over $1,100 for the Toy Chest Childrens Charity of Kentucky through a charity T-shirt sale.
However, that is not the full extent of Shop Local Kentucky. In the fall we have an app for Android and iPhone coming that will connect locally owned, independent businesses to the Kentucky customers who seek them out via geolocation services. In other words, you open an App on your phone, it locates you wherever you may be in the state, whether Bowling Green or Pikeville, then it shows you Shop Local Kentucky businesses within a given radius. There are a few more bells and whistles like exclusive coupon deals (think groupon for locals), a searchable directory and a reviews service. If you are a business interested in becoming a Shop Local Kentucky business - Click here to sign up for more information.
HK:Your Instagram is a must-follow! Where do you get those gorgeous shots of Kentucky?
SLK:. Our Instagram account, which is nearly 10,000 Kentuckians strong, is a place to highlight the Commonwealth's beauty through the lens' and phones of folks from across the state. 60% of the photos are user content driven with #ShopLocalKY and the other 40% are original content. It's a fun way to look at the state from each individuals' different point of view. Once we get the app going, we plan to highlight Shop Local Kentucky businesses on the platform. You can follow us at @ShopLocalKy.
Someone once said to me “People from Kentucky are obsessed with being from Kentucky.”What’s your favorite thing about the Bluegrass State?
SLK: The cliche answer... Fall in Kentucky. However, I think the overarching pride we as Kentuckians take in our state is unparalleled and trumps the changing leaves any day. There are so many great initiatives, blogs and people out there right now all with one goal - Make Kentucky look awesome in some fashion. You really don't see that sense of ownership elsewhere.
The HerKentucky Guide to Speakeasy Louisville: Evan Williams Speakeasy Experience
The Evan Williams Speakeasy Experience transports visitors to Prohibition-Era Louisville.
Welcome to the first installment of the HerKentucky Guide to Speakeasy Louisville! On Thursdays throughout the fall, we'll travel back to the Jazz Age in the Derby City, when the nation's Prohibition laws didn't quench the collective thirst for Kentucky Bourbon. We'll channel our inner Daisy Buchanans and dance the Charleston at Louisville's finest establishments. And, of course, we'll take a sip or two of the native drink that kept the city's spirits high. Today, we'll visit the Speakeasy at Evan Williams Distillery.
The Evan Williams Experience, in the heart of Downtown Louisville's Whiskey Row, is unlike any other distillery tour you'll ever visit. Of course, you get the nuts and bolts of whiskey-making, as you do on other tours, but you also hear a lot about the label's history. That's only natural, since Evan Williams himself -- the Welsh politician, businessman, and distiller -- was Kentucky's first commercial distiller.
In keeping with the historical focus, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience recently added a Speakeasy Experience tour, which transports visitors back to the days when the dreaded Volstead Act drove liquor sales underground.
Image courtesy Evan Williams
Bourbon Historian Rick Bell portrays a Roaring Twenties Barkeep in a charming period lecture that immerses the visitor into the days when alcohol production and consumption ceased in American. Well, officially ceased in America.
Rick Bell, image courtesy Evan Williams
The half-hour tour runs Friday-Sunday at the Evan Williams Distillery, 528 W. Main Street in Louisville. The $12 admission fee includes three shots of bourbon -- one is the ultra-premium 23 year-old, which retails for over $400 per bottle. For fans of good bourbon and the era of flappers and philosophers, it's a can't miss event!
Delicious Ways to Celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month
Photo Credit: Betty Crocker Recipes via Compfight cc
September is Bourbon Heritage Month, which is very, very exciting... for all of you NOT pregnant. However, I AM pregnant and I am NOT excited about my beloved bourbon being forbidden for the next several months.
Not to be deterred, I thought I would offer up some delicious ways to celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month that don't involve actually drinking bourbon.
Sure, this recipe comes from Hummingbird High, a lovely blogger who is actually from Portland, Oregon. However, I feel she can be trusted because this cake looks delicious. I also feel that someone should make this cake and deliver it to my house ASAP.
Bourbon Pecan Pumpkin Cheesecake
The first day of fall is September 23rd. That means fall is officially close enough for all of us (or me) to start gorging ourselves on all things pumpkin, including this delicious cheesecake by Kitchenette.
Bourbon Maple Bacon and Pecan Cookies
These cookies from Heather Christo have bourbon and bacon and a cup of butter. What more do you people need to know?
If I can't get tipsy, at least my cake should be able to! Plus, chocolate and bourbon is a winning combination every time. Not to mention, Better Homes & Gardens knows their stuff when it comes to baking.
Bourbon Pecan Pie Chocolate Donuts
You know what? Sometimes you need to celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month first thing in the morning. Luckily, The Noshery has you covered with this delicious mix up of bourbon pecan pie and donuts!
Happy celebrating! Don't forget to make two of each and send one to me!
~ Sarah Stewart Holland of bluegrass redhead