A Sharp Blade and Bow Bourbon Review

Blade and Bow Bourbon Review

Blade and Bow Bourbon ReviewThis blade and bow bourbon review goes way back before I was able to get my hands on the bottle. To get to the punchline, blade and bow is blended and aged in the same warehouse as some very old pappy van winkle.

Now that your curiosity is piqued, let’s get the full story.

Blade and Bow is made by Diageo, , which is a huge brand. They make a ton of liquors, most of which you’ll find anywhere. However, they’ve been making their way into the area of bourbon.

Bulleit Bourbon has been their biggest success so far. That’s actually not one of my favorites so I feel like that was due in large part to a good marketing team and the wide distribution. In any case, Bulleit has earned them a spot at the table for sure.

Blade and Bow is named for the parts of a key. The Blade is the long part of the key and the bow is the more ornamental section. Apparently, the Five Key symbols also stands for the five steps to making bourbon. These steps start with grain, then yeast and fermentation, and finally distillation and aging. To make things even more neatly wrapped, the key is also a symbol of southern hospitality.

Plus, the key that is hanging off the bottle is cool looking. When I brought it home, my wife said she liked the design. She also picks her favorite football players by the colors of their uniform and if they look like nice people, so that all makes sense.

I’ve had a couple chances to pickup some Blade and Bow, but always had a higher priority. Finally, this one made its way to the top of my list and I went for it.

I found a nice liquor store that has a really wide selection, including Blade and Bow, at a reasonable cost. And actually the had a great bottle of 12 year old Weller, that I got at the same time as the Blade and Bow. That’s funny because Stitzel-Weller does the aging and blending for Blade and Bow. That’s where the Pappy roots come in. The Stitzel-Weller facility is where some of the older Pappy Van Winkle was made.

So you could say that Pappy and Blade and Bow have some similar roots, but they’re not the same by any means. Blade and Bow is good, but in my opinion it’s not Pappy good. However, there is a 22 year old Blade and Bow that I have yet to sample. So they could prove me wrong with that one.

Let me set the stage for you

It was a beautiful Southern California day when I was driving to my favorite liquor store. The freeway was pretty well free of significant traffic, which is always a nice thing in urban California. We have 10 lane freeways, but they always have so many people on them. It’s nuts. But at least I was able to shop in peace, without the tense muscles of road rage and stop and go traffic on the way there.

In addition, I had just played a really decent round of golf. I had one birdie and a handful of pats. So I was ready to relax with some decent bourbon and perhaps sit someplace where I could see the ocean. Plus, if you can see the ocean, then you can usually count on a nice breeze to go with it. That’s really a fantastic way to enjoy some fancy booze.

The younger Blade and Bow had a surprisingly simple taste. It was smooth and easy to drink, but it didn’t have a lot of character to it. The taste is straightforward. It didn’t have that complex flavor that many bourbons have, which many people probably like. It’s not very spicy or cinnamon tasting like Bulleit. But it’s also not very sweet. So you could say there’s a balance there, but it’s a balance of nothing.

It finishes smooth, so you know the quality is there. Don’t get me wrong, this is a nice bourbon. It’s light and accessible. Wine Enthusiast Magazine gives it a 94 and they recommend adding a little water to release some of the flavor layers so i need to try that as well.

Overall, this bourbon was very good. It just left me wanting a little more.

List of Bourbon Distilleries in Kentucky

List of bourbon distilleries in kentucky four roses

Kentucky is like a dream come true for bourbon lovers. There are 27 distilleries that are all worthwhile visiting if you have the time. You just can’t go wrong with these facilities. Bourbon straight from the source! These are places where the generations have passed down the distilling art, so even the “less high quality” distilleries are going to produce something that you will enjoy. Let’s take a look at this list of bourbon distilleries in Kentucky.

Also, make sure to do some tasting of something other than bourbon. There is a lot that Kentucky can offer and there are some real high quality liquors that you might not expect. Sure, most of it will be bourbon and rye. However, some of the distilleries will produce other things from gin to rum, and even absinthe. In any case, we will talk about mostly bourbon here because that’s what most people go to Kentucky to find. I think this list will satisfy your cravings in many ways.

Of course, I’m not trying to be all inclusive here. I wanted to give you some highlights so you could prioritize your visit. I’ve tried to include some of the larger facilities as well as a couple smaller ones. However, there are a lot of facilities out there, especially if you have a certain brand in mind.

Most tours take about an hour with the bourbon tasting at the end. You’ll find costs to be about $10 give or take a few dollars. Some tours are a little longer and in depth, and some are a little more of an overview and may try to sell you some stuff. Oh, and don’t forget to make a reservation. That will always help.

Angels Envy

List of bourbon distilleries in kentucky angels envy
Couresy of Angels Envy

Angel’s Envy is in the heart of it all. Located in downtown Louisville, it’s a great place to start and may be the closest distillery to your hotel. It’s actually the first full distillery in the downtown area. It’s helpful that they make such great bourbon. Angel’s Envy will start you off on the right foot or could be your last stop on at the end of the day. Make sure to make a reservation online for your tour. It’s always a bummer to show up and then get turned away. Here are the hours of operation:
Monday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday: No public tours offered
Retail Store is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY’S BOURBON HERITAGE CENTER

List of bourbon distilleries in kentucky heaven hill

Heaven Hill may not be a name you’ve heard of. Unlike Angel’s Envy, the distillery doesn’t have the same name as the liquor they sell. This is because this distillery is the home of several brands. They make Elijah Craig and Evan Williams, which I’m sure you’ve heard of before. Elijah Craig plays a big role in the history and story of bourbon. You can read about that here.
The Shapira family has owned Heaven Hill since 1935.

Heaven Hill has been the largest independent, family-owned distillery in America since then. They have a bunch of exhibits and interactive displays that you can experience. Also, they have a working rackhouse and stand inside the world’s largest bourbon barrel.

Heaven Hill opened the Bourbon Heritage Center in 2004. There are some Heaven Hill locations right in Louisville, but the Heritage Center is a little south. The tours are great and inexpensive. Of course, you will get to try some bourbon. Also, if you’re interested, the “Whiskey Connoisseur Experience” tour provides a little more bourbon.

January and February
Monday: Closed; Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Last tour offered one hour before closing.
March – December
Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Last tour offered one hour before closing.

FOUR ROSES DISTILLERY AND WAREHOUSE

List of bourbon distilleries in kentucky four roses

The Four Roses distillery is pretty darn cool. It’s actually listed on the National Register of Historic Places! They have some really great Spanish Mission-style architecture. Unfortunatley, it’s a bit farther from Louisville to the East. That being said, if you like their stuff then you should take the drive. You can tour both or either of the distillery or the warehouse in Cox’s Creek. You’ll get a taste of bourbon in both spots. The really big barrel shaped building is fun.

The warehouse is a single story rack. Out at the Creek, life is slow paced and something to be enjoyed. But they make some great bourbon, so it’s worth the mozy over there.

Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
tours on the hour
Sunday: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
tours on the hour
The last Facility Tour departs the Visitor Center at 3 p.m. daily

MAKER’S MARK DISTILLERY

List of bourbon distilleries in kentucky Makers Mark

Maker’s has some really popular bourbon, so a lot of people want to make this stop. Unfortunately, this distillery is about an hour outside of Louisville, which makes it more difficult to see. Of course, if this is a priority for you, then it is what it is.

Like most places, they offer a one hour tour of their facility. And the place is really cute and homey looking. Of course they have a gift shop as well.

Maker’s Mark is owned by the Samuels family, who has run the place since prohibition. They are clearly one of the most popular brands in the world. That red wax on the cork is easily recognizable. They still hand-dip those bottles, which is quite amazing. You can even dip your own bottle.

Monday – Saturday (Nov – Apr): 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Sundays: 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Fridays & Saturdays (May – Oct): 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

BULLEIT FRONTIER WHISKEY EXPERIENCE AT STITZEL-WELLER

List of bourbon distilleries in kentucky Bulleit
Stitzel-Weller is just a few miles from the downtown area of Louisville, so this is a good stop to make. Plus, most bourbon fans will want to visit since Pappy was made here. If you haven’t got much time, you should probably make this a priority. This distillery was re-opened just a few years ago and there is a lot of history to see.

Regarding Bulleit in particular, the brand was reborn in 1987 by Thomas E. Bulleit, Jr. He did a great job in bringing back his old family bourbon recipe when he started the Bulleit™ Distilling Company. His great-great-grandfather Augustus Bulleit made a high-rye whiskey between 1830-1860. Tom actually left behind a successful law practice for the pull of the frontier.

Looks like it all paid off. Bulleit Bourbon has become very fashionable and popular. Bulleit™ Bourbon is still distilled and aged as it was years ago thanks to the Bulleit family tradition. The high rye content gives it a bold, spicy flavor and manages to keep a smooth finish.

Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed on Tuesdays
Sunday: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

BUFFALO TRACE

list of bourbon distilleries in kentucky Buffalo Trace

Buffalo Trace is another big name in distilling. They have several tours you can do, including the Hard Hat tour. The Hard Hat tour includes a lot more time in the back areas. You can learn a lot about the facility back there. Also, you get to see the research labs where they make experimental libations.

This facility is actually the oldest distillery that has been continuously operated in the US. They’ve won a bunch of awards, too. Interestingly, people of all ages can visit the tour. So bring the kids! They can learn all about distilling as well.

Everyone gets a free tasting after the tour. They also have old fashioned root beer and bourbon balls. These are not to be missed.

HOURS: *Monday-Friday Tours: 9am-4pm departing every hour Gift Shop: 9am-5:30pm *Saturday Tours: 9am-4pm departing every hour Gift Shop:9am-5:30pm *Sunday Tours: Noon-3pm departing every hour Gift Shop: 12pm-5pm *All tours and tastings are FREE! *We have a beautiful Clubhouse that can be rented for events!

JIM BEAM

list of bourbon distilleries in kentucky - Jim Beam

Jim Beam is a huge company. They have a lot of brands and are very popular. They make good stuff!

The distillery tours are only 30 minutes long, so they’re a little shorter than a lot of the other places. However, they also have a stillhouse in downtown Louisville that you can tour. It’s like a mini version of the big distillery.

Beam has been around for seven generations.Apparently, Jim Beam was born in the Americal Stillhouse, where they now have a bunch of hands on tours, which are fun. Jim Beam now call themselves the world’s number 1 bourbon.

American Stillhouse Tours (Clermont, Ky.)
Monday – Saturday: Tours every half hour from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. EST except 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. EST
Sunday 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. EST

Gift Shop Hours
Monday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. EST
Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST

Urban Stillhouse (Louisville, Ky.)
Monday – Saturday: 1 p.m. – 9 p.m. EST
Sunday: Closed

Where to Find the Best Bourbon Price in 2018

best bourbon price wild turkey bourbon price maker mark bourbon price

I’ll admit it. I’m a bargain shopper. I love a good deal. I can’t resist a big sale either. It’s a problem I know. It’s not like I shop a lot, but when I do I look for value. So naturally, when I started looking at good bourbon, I looked for the best bourbon price I could find. You may be wondering where to find Wild Turkey bourbon prices or a good maker mark bourbon price, but where can you find this kind of information?

It’s not always easy to find the best deal in bourbons. In fact, for rare bottles you may never know for sure if you’re getting the best price. For more common bottles, then it’s a whole lot easier to shop around.

Most people just go to their corner liquor store and pay whatever they have to. If you’re lucky, you may have a favorite shop and the owner gives you a discount. I have a really good friend who drinks a ton. So when he goes to his liquor store, they give him anything he wants.

State Specific Liquor Stores?

In some states, like North Carolina, you have to go to a special store to buy booze. You can’t just go into any grocery store and buy liquor. You could get beer and wine that way, but not liquor. This can really make it hard to shop around because there’s only one option!

In NC, these are called ABC stores and they’re all over the place. These are not to be confused with the ABC stores that are all over Waikiki in Hawaii, although you can get liquor there, too.

It all started back in 1933 when Prohibition was repealed. After that, liquor regulation became a state function. So that’s why you can buy liquor on every street corner in California, but you have to go to a specific state run liquor store in Virginia.

Privately Owned Retail shops

Even in states that allow liquor sales by private businesses, like California, there are a lot of state laws that regulate these sales. In fact, these laws can be really variable.

For example, they may limit liquor sails to certain types of retailers or they may regulate the hours that liquor can be sold. Like in Hawaii you can only buy liquor until 2am, I think. At least that’s how it used to be.

But even when the state allows private retailers to sell liquor, there are some states that regulate the wholesale/distributor end of the process instead of the actual stores. This means that the state basically sets minimum prices and determines what you can get.

These are the states that use this system:

  • Iowa
  • Maine
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • Montana
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Vermont
  • Wyoming
  • West Virginia

I feel like this system is particularly sneaky. Most people in Portland, for example, have no idea this is happening. They just see the prices and pay them. They may love their Bulleit Bourbon, but if they want more choices it’s not in their control.

ABC Stores

Most states allow private retailers to sell alcohol, but there are 8 states that don’t. They use ABC stores, which stands for “Alcoholic Beverage Control”. You’ll see them along the side of the road all over the place.

These are the most strict states when it comes to the purchase of liquor. I’ve already mentioned North Carolina. The other states include:

  • Alabama
  • Idaho
  • New Hampshire
  • Pennsylvania
  • Utah
  • Virginia
  • Washington
So then where are the best bourbon prices?

Well, now that we’ve got the state regulated sales out of the way, let’s try to find the best prices we can. This is largely going to depend on what you’re looking for. The difference is going to hinge on whether you are in search of a rare bottle or a common bottle.

Rare Bottles

Rare bottles are going to be somewhat difficult to comparison shop. These bottles are rare for a reason: there are fewer bottles than there are people that want them. It’s simple supply and demand.

And since they are rare, some stores will charge a ton. The most important thing to realize is that the stores may be overcharging for these bourbons. For example, a lot of liquor stores will have a couple bottles of Pappy just to pump up their reputation. You might think that if they have Pappy, then they must have a lot of good stuff or they’re the well connected liquor store. Maybe this is true, but it does not mean that the Pappy is being sold for a good price. The store may just inflate the price of the Pappy because it’s worth something to them just to have on the wall. So they don’t really need or intend to sell it.

Of course, if you find something you really want, then you might have to pay for it. Some things you just can’t find elsewhere. Then they’ve got you! That’s the worst, but at least you probably know you’re getting something really good.

For rare bottles, you may have to do some searching online. There are places you can find rare bottles and have them mailed to you. The shipping could be a pretty hefty price to pay, but again if that’s the only way to get something then you may just have to pay it.

For example, if you want to try some Hillrock Estates Solera Aged Bourbon, these can be easy to find in New York State. But for those of us on the West Coast, we may need to have a relative send it over. Otherwise, we might have to pay the shipping from an online liquor store. I did this and I really the bourbon. More on that later, but you get the idea.

Common Bottles

Now here is where you will be able to save some money by shopping around. The more common bourbons can be found at many stores and they all set their prices differently.

Here in California, I’ve noticed that the grocery store selection of bourbon has really taken off. It’s getting really pretty decent. I think that’s a testament to how popular bourbons have become.

I regularly see a nice selection that includes Basil Hayden, Michter’s, High West, Bulleit, Elijah Craig, Eagle Rare, and Four Roses, among others. This is not to say that these are all the high end versions of these, but even the mid-range versions are pretty good.

However, that doesn’t mean the prices are going to be great. In the past, I’ve almost always seen better prices at the grocery store than I have seen at corner liquor stores.

However, that’s no longer a rule to live by. There are lots of times the grocery stores will inflate their prices so they can advertise a big discount. The big discount often catches people like me who love to see that and feel like they’ve saved a lot of money. You still need to get a feel for prices elsewhere before assuming a price is good. But never fear, read on for the shortcuts to finding good prices.

Liquor Stores

Liquor stores are so variable. Some of the stores with the best selections are also the highest priced. This is because people know they have good stuff, so the connoisseurs all go to them first. They pay the price because they want the extensive choice.

However, if you are shopping on price, then the place to go is the shop that has less of a selection, but sometimes get really good bottles. These are the stores that have a less discerning clientele. They sell more Titos Vodka and Jack Daniels than anything else.

People don’t go to these stores looking for really good bourbon, so they can’t price them as high. That’s where you’ll find some deals.

Even better, you could make friends with the owner and ask them to order certain bottles. Of course, you should ask them how much they would sell them for first. The owner will love that because you can guarantee them some sales. They’ll often give you a price break because they don’t have to sell those bottles. It’s like having a presale and they won’t even take up any shelf space. It saves them money!

So if you buy a lot of liquor, then this is the way to go. It’s like finding yourself a direct dealer.

Big Chain Stores

Stores like Bevmo and Total Wines and More can be a great place to get liquor. They often have sales that rotate through their product. If bottles sit on their shelves, then they will put them up for sale quickly. That shelf space is costing them money and they are right on top of their inventory.

In my experience, Total Wines and More has better prices than Bevmo, but they aren’t as convenient to my location. So location is always a factor of course. But it’s worth it to get on their email lists to get the specials emailed to you.

Also, sometimes you will find that they have a good selection of bourbon. I got a bottle of Orphan Barrel Barterhouse when they were first released several years ago. That was a great find of what turned out to be a very popular bourbon. It’s my wife’s favorite!

A Shortcut to Finding a Good Price

In the end, we really don’t care if we get our liquor at the grocery store, the corner liquor store, or a big box retailer. We just want to pay a fair price! So how do we know if we are getting ripped off?

Well, being the bargain shopper that I am, I’ve looked for places that offer good prices and still have a decent selection. I’ll show you a shortcut to making sure you are getting a good price.

There is a website called Wine-searcher.com. This website is hooked up with a bunch of liquor stores across the country. You can filter the stores by state and distance to you as well. They don’t have every liquor store in America, but they have enough to give you a sample cross section of the prices that are being paid near you.

You can look up any bottle you want on this website. They have a pretty extensive database of liquors of all kinds. It was originally a website where you could look up rare wine. Then you could go and get something specific at a store near you. However, I have had some definite success using it for bourbon.

Since they give you a list of retailers that have your booze in stock, you can see what each place is charging as well. This is a huge help because you can see which liquor stores are trying to rob people and which ones have fair pricing that will be kind to your wallet.

This helps in two ways. First, if you are looking at a specific bottle, then you’ll know if they have it in stock and the price. You can go straight to that source.

The second piece of information you get from the site is a general feel for the various liquor stores that are within driving distance to you. You can keep a mental database of the stores that carry the stuff you are like. Also, you can figure out which stores have decent prices. The idea is that their pricing practices may carry over to other products as well. Maybe you can also get a cheap bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label, too?!

In any case, once you have an idea for the high prices and low prices, then you can shop around at the local liquor stores and you will know if they have good prices, too. Remember, not all liquor stores are in the wine-searcher database, so the liquor store a block from your house may have prices that are just as good as any other.

So that’s how I take a shortcut to figuring out where to buy my liquor. Often times, I will pull up wine-searcher.com on my phone while I’m at a liquor store. It helps me decide which bottle to pick up. For very rare bottles, sometimes I still have to order the bottle and have it mailed to me, but those are usually reserved for special occasions.

I hope that helps you in your quest for the best bourbon whiskey out there. At least, I hope it saves you all some moolah!

Cheers!

The Best Bourbons List 2018

best bourbons list

As a self-proclaimed bourbon connoisseur, is this truly what we are seeking? Actually, I just like bourbon, but I’m not sure I would say I’m an expert or anything. But anyway, isn’t the search for the best bourbons list like our life’s work?

I have a really great cat that we got from the pound. Her life’s work was to tear a toy mouse off of the top of a cat tree. It was attached with a strip of elastic. Catalina would run up there and pull that toy down until the elastic wouldn’t give one more inch. Then the toy would snap back up to the top and the cat would go at it again.

This happened over and over again, day after day. One day, the elastic finally weakened and snapped. Catalina had won her battle! It was like her life’s work.

A lifetime of searching…

Well for you and I, our life’s work may be amassing knowledge and experience with bourbon. We want to taste every bourbon out there and embrace the subtle flavors. Which one will we love and which will we think are overrated?

Since I don’t work at a distillery, and I am not a chemist or expert in all things alcohol, I’ve had to take this journey on my own. Like you, I taste what’s available and splurge when I feel the urge. But it’s slow going this way.

To speed things along, I’ve looked at various best bourbons lists online, as I’m sure you have. Some of them make perfect sense and some baffle me. In the end, some have introduced me to some really good bourbon!

Of course, there are those bourbon lists that seem obligatory. They list Pappy 23 yr, Black Maple Hill, and a few other well known bourbons that are difficult to find these days. But those lists are kinda boring because most people know about those already.

Instead of looking at lists of top 5s or top 10s, I like to look at the ratings on websites like Wine Enthusiast. This way I can get a qualitative comparisons of the different bourbons I’m interested in. Then I can check out the prices and where I can find them before I make my decision. It’s a lot more information than a simple list.

So this list is going to be a little different. I’ll tell you what I think are the best bourbons that I would go out and get right this minute. Some you know and hopefully some you don’t. Here goes:

The Best Bourbons List…

1. Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 yo

pappy-van-winkles-20-year-family-reserve

Ok, let’s get this out of the way. It’s an obvious choice, but I’m not going to sit here and say it’s rubbish. Pappy is a very impressive bourbon.

Of course I like the 23 yo version because it’s amazing, but the 20 yo is cheaper and sometimes just as good. It all depends on the batch. I’ve had the 20 yo that I thought was every bit as good at the 23. But in truth, they are both amazing.

Some of the tasters around the internet recall an aroma of pork sausage and sweet spice scents. You may notice scents of dark coffee, marzipan, praline, vanilla, and caramel corn. It’s a very nice sensation when it meets your palate. It’s silky smooth. There’s not a ton of bite to it. Then it finishes warm and sweet. It’s really something to behold.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine gives the 20 yo Pappy a 97/100. They give the 23 yo version a range between 96-100. I suppose that makes sense? In any case, it’s excellent, just expensive.

2. Parker’s Heritage Collection 2013 – A Promise of Hope

parkers-heritage-collection-2013

I’ll just caveat this pick by saying I had this once when I was already a little drunk in Las Vegas, but nevertheless it was amazing. We later had some A5 Wagyu, but that’s another story. Also, another thing to take into account was that we had the 2013 edition and there is a new edition every year. I think there are 11 editions through 2017 and I haven’t seen the 2018 come out yet.

This bourbon is from Parker Beam, who apparently tasted a boat load of barrels before finally deciding to use this one. He released it to raise money for ALS research, as well. Nice!

This is the first of this series to be from a single barrel. It is reported to be 11 years old.

Picture this…a beautiful caramel colored glass approaches and you catch a scent that’s sweet with a little fruit. There’s definitely some oak in there.

When it hits the palate, you feel a smooth rush of sugar, maple syrup, and a touch of apple.

The finish is very smooth with a hint of spice, but is mostly a little more oak than at the start.

In any case, this is a dang good bourbon. They’re really hard to find anymore, but if you can find one then don’t pass it up.