Send us some of that Red Whiskey

I am blessed to have had the opportunity to travel a fair amount in my life and career. One of the first super memorable trips that Jenni and I went on when we were dating was our first trip to Napa Valley. One of Jenni’s customers had gone on his honeymoon to Napa and he gave her a map drawn on a restaurant menu of all their favorite vineyards, secret lunch spots, great B&Bs, and of course, the best restaurants in town. That trip set the bar so high for me that I was certain no other wine country (read Willamette Valley) or spirit trip (read Kentucky Bourbon Trail) could ever compare. Boy was I wrong. 

I sensed a notable disappointment in Jenni’s voice when she did not hear the typical excitement and intensity of my reaction when she asked if I wanted to go to Kentucky for a long weekend. In another life, I lived in Dayton, Ohio for a year. I had the opportunity to go to Kentucky on several occasions during that year. My personal situation most certainly tinted my lens toward Kentucky in a neutral at best color. Louisville however, is anything but neutral.

The gentrification in Louisville is in full force. It has an intriguing vibe between honoring tradition and an exhilarating future ahead. When we visited Napa, our first stop was at Quintessa. Keeping with the tradition of setting the bar high immediately, our first stop in Louisville was at Angel’s Envy. We were taught what makes a bourbon a bourbon, the process to create it, the time it takes and how the Angel’s are envious even though their “share” must indeed cause a smile, we still enjoy 85% of the yield. Finishing their bourbon in port barrels creates a unique sweetness and complex flavor profile that has quickly become my favorite. Nothing like setting the bar high from the get-go.

Next up was the Evan Williams speak easy bourbon experience. We needed to guess a password and were allowed in to a secret bar and transported back to the 1930s at the very end of prohibition. The bar tender had some funny stories and was very colorful. I could not help but make the analogy to the legalization of marijuana today versus alcohol then.

First up on Saturday was our trip to Buffalo Trace. On our drive out there, you get the full sense of just how beautiful the Kentucky foothills are. The property is an absolute site to behold as they have maintained the tradition and legacy of such names as Pappy Van Winkle. Good luck trying to buy a bottle as it has achieved cult like status among spirit lovers. Buffalo Trace carries more brands than any other place we visited on our trip. Blanton’s Single Barrel is one not to miss.

Next up was our trip to Woodford Reserve, one of the oldest and smallest distilleries in Kentucky. Woodford is nestled in to the foothills and is a photographer’s paradise. You know you are in horse country when you are here. The rolling hills and landscape leaving you with a feeling of “God’s country”. 

Our last stop on Saturday was one of the most enjoyable. I am usually a fan of the “little guy” and have generally leaned that way. Whether it is a micro-brew start up, a small production high quality vineyard, or a “ridiculously” small batch bourbon. Welcome to Jefferson’s. Our good friend Captain Lain Goodwin mentioned Jefferson’s to us when we were fishing with him in the Keys. Lain said “If you guys ever go on the Kentucky Bourbon trail, you should go see my cousin Trey”. So that’s exactly what we did. As soon as we heard the story of Trey’s 8^thgeneration grandmother getting arrested for trafficking moonshine, we knew we were at the right place. Legend has it that the original charring of the oak barrels was not on purpose. When locals from New Orleans sent an order to Louisville for Kentucky whiskey, they floated that white dog in charred barrels down the Ohio river, then down the Mississippi river to New Orleans. When it arrived and the locals realized how good it was and how much cheaper it was than French cognac, they sent word back to “send us some more of that Red Whiskey”. Hence, the inspiration for Jefferson’s Ocean.

On Sunday we visited Makers Mark. If you have ever visited a bar, you have most likely noticed their trademark bottle with the red wax around the neck. Each one is actually hand dipped and creates a sense of art that none of the other distilleries have matched. The grounds at Makers Mark are positively stunning. You get the urge to unfold a blanket and lay out a picnic basket when you are there. The sense of history and awe here engulfs you as the realization sets in that you are touring the grounds of the oldest operating bourbon distillery. Makers Mark has been producing bourbon on these grounds since 1805 and there is no end in sight. The fact that Makers Mark is one of my daughter Ariel’s favorites, that puts a smile on my face…and so does their excellent red whisky.