"bourbon" news and stories

Whisk(e)y in a Flash - LeNell It All

by LeNell Smothers, Posted Mar 16th 2010 @ 11:00AM

Photo: Demián Camacho Santa Ana

Bourbon, Scotch, Irish and Canadian whiskies just begin our adventure with grain spirit. All whisk(e)y must be distilled from grain. You can find whiskies made with wheat, rye, barley and corn -- not to mention the rare uses of oats and buckwheat.

Bourbon is a minimum of 51 percent corn by law. Scotch and Irish styles use barley as their base. Canadian whisky is often mostly corn, but you can find some brands with a stronger rye base.

Scotch and Irish whiskies are made in beautiful copper stills often called pot stills. American whiskey is usually made in more modern stills -- known as column stills -- containing copper plates inside. This type of still is sometimes called a Coffey still, after Aeneas Coffey who patented his super efficient invention in 1831.

Filed under: Drinks

Bourbon Industry Toasts William Howard Taft

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by Hanna Raskin, Posted Jan 5th 2010 @ 2:00PM

Photo: SauceSupreme, Flickr.

The enduring image of William Howard Taft is of the corpulent president stuck in the White House bathtub, unable to free his 300-pound frame from its generous confines. But Taft's gluttony may have had an upside for generations of American epicures: When whiskey makers began squabbling over standards for their industry, he immediately recognized the threat posed by artificially colored and flavored spirits -- and issued a groundbreaking set of definitions protecting Kentucky bourbon.

In recognition of the 1909 "Taft Decision," which still regulates distilling today, the Bourbon Hall of Fame recently inducted Taft as its newest member.

"To get a president in there is phenomenal," says fellow Hall of Famer Mike Veach, who nudged the Hall's leadership to consider Taft and stood in for him at the Dec. 17 ceremony.

Veach, a noted bourbon historian, heartily approved of the very swanky ceremony, held in the Kentucky Governor's Mansion: "They had an open bourbon bar, and a wine and beer bar down the hall," he reports. "They weren't serving any vodka or gin."

Filed under: Events

LeNell It All - Little Bit of Country

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by LeNell Smothers, Posted Sep 30th 2009 @ 5:00PM

Photo: Scott W. Baker

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

The moving truck rolls into Brooklyn this week. The big international move to Mexico has been brutal to organize, but -- lucky me! -- I had the very cool cats called Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails (LUPEC) host a splendid Hasta Luego shindig in my honor.

One of the members, Elayne Duke, served up an original creation she called "Little Bit of Country," that's perfect for the chill coming in the air these days. Her cocktail pretty much sums me up: kick of bourbon, little sweetness, nice tartness, touch of spiciness and just enough bitter to balance it all out. My Granny sent me a fabulous leopard-print dress to wear that just had to have a pink feather boa for the party ... and I sported my cowboy boots for a "little bit of country."

Filed under: Drink Recipes, How To

Pizzeria Celebrates Bourbon Heritage Month with Drunken Pie

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by Hanna Raskin, Posted Sep 16th 2009 @ 11:00AM

Wouldn't this be
better with bourbon?
Photo: flickr, rick

A Louisville area pizzeria won't let a lack of hard-liquor license damper its Bourbon Heritage Month fun.

For the second consecutive year, Tony Boombozz pizzeria is saluting the state's leading spirit with bourbon pizza, a corn-liquor variation on the standard barbecued chicken pie.

According to the snack's rapidly evolving lore, Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge first nudged Tony Palmobino, who owns the four-outlet gourmet pizza chain, to create the pie at last year's Kentucky Bourbon Festival. He tinkered with a few concepts before settling on the bourbon-and-bacon concoction.

"We use hickory-grilled chicken, applewood bacon, asiago and mozzarella cheeses and then drizzle it with a bourbon barbecue sauce," explains Cindy Anderson, who manages Tony Boombozz's beer-and-wine-only Springhurst location. "It's delicious."

Filed under: Drink Recipes, Chefs & Restaurants, Restaurants

Cocktail Ingredients Quiz

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by Slashfood Editor, Posted Sep 1st 2009 @ 4:17PM

Can you identify the ingredients in a martini, cosmopolitan, Manhattan, Mai Tai, Long Island Iced Tea, Harvey Wallbager and more? See how well you know your cocktails.

Cocktail Ingredients Quiz

Crazy for Cosmopolitans? You'll need vodka, Cointreau or triple sec, lime juice, and one other ingredient to shake 'em up at home.

Grenadine
Orange juice
Cranberry juice
Pink grapefruit juice

Some folks get fancy with the recipe, but a traditionally-made Mai Tai gets its signature flavor from lime juice, dark rum, grenadine (or simple syrup), curacao and what other key ingredient?

Almond syrup
Mango juice
Coconut milk
Orange juice

Shaking up vodka, cream, and this variety of liqueur results in a White Russian.

Coffee
White chocolate
Vanilla
Peppermint

The rim of a Sidecar glass is coated in what tasty substance?

Sugar
Salt
Cocoa
Honey

The non-alcoholic classic Shirley Temple contains ginger ale (or lemon-lime soda), orange juice and a sweet splash of what?

Fruit punch
Cranberry juice
Grenadine
Pineapple juice

Vodka or gin would need just this ingredient to be shaken or stirred into a gimlet.

Roses Lime Juice Cordial
Olive juice
Fresh lime juice
Pickle juice

Rye (or bourbon), vermouth, bitters and a cherry are the components of which classic cocktail?

Negroni
Old Fashioned
Manhattan
Rob Roy

Mix up rum, lime and Coca-Cola to make this drink.

Cuba Libre
El Presidente
Bronx
Corpse Reviver

Mint, sugar, lime, soda water and this liquor come together to be muddled into a mojito.

Cachaca
Tequila
Rum
Pisco

Standard ingredients in a Negroni include gin, vermouth and what other liquid?

Lemon juice
Egg whites
Angostura bitters
Campari

It's not just a punchline -- the Harvey Wallbanger is a fern bar staple featuring vodka, orange juice, and this odd liqueur.

Goldschlager
Rumplemintz
Galliano
Peach Schnaaps

When this is popped into a Martini in lieu of an olive, it becomes a Gibson.

Jalapeno pepper
Lime wedge
Gherkin
Cocktail onion

James Bond may be more commonly associated with the Martini, but writer Ian Fleming also had him slugging down Vespers, which are concocted from Lillet Blanc and which two liquors?

Brandy & Scotch
Gin & Vodka
Vodka & Bourbon
Bourbon & Brandy

Mix orange juice and this spirit for a hard-hitting Screwdriver.

Rum
Vodka
Champagne
Whiskey

Sure, you could ask for a vodka & cranberry with a lime wedge, but it's much more festive to order it this way:

Greyhound
Salty Dog
Cape Cod
Madras

If you've got bourbon, mint, and a splash of soda, you're on the right track to make the Derby Day classic, a Mint Julep. What's still missing?

Lime
Sugar
Bitters
Nothing

The Bloody Mary is a brunch standard, but this addition transforms it into a hearty Bloody Bull.

Beef broth
Red Bull
A whole hot pepper
Pepper vodka

Creme de menthe and cream are terribly tasty together, but if you want a Grasshopper, hop to the store for a bottle of:

Vanilla vodka
Creme de Cacao
Green food coloring
Mint extract

A Greyhound gets its distinctive flavor from vodka and this mixer:

Sweetened lime juice
Pineapple juice
Cranberry and orange juice
Grapefruit juice

We all know that a Long Island Iced Tea has no tea in the mix, but what liquor isn't part of the standard recipe?

Bourbon
Vodka
Rum
Tequila

Filed under: Quizzes, Drink Recipes

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"bourbon" news and stories

Whisk(e)y in a Flash - LeNell It All

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Cocktail Ingredients Quiz

Cocktail Ingredients Quiz

Crazy for Cosmopolitans? You'll need vodka, Cointreau or triple sec, lime juice, and one other ingredient to shake 'em up at home.

Some folks get fancy with the recipe, but a traditionally-made Mai Tai gets its signature flavor from lime juice, dark rum, grenadine (or simple syrup), curacao and what other key ingredient?

Shaking up vodka, cream, and this variety of liqueur results in a White Russian.

The rim of a Sidecar glass is coated in what tasty substance?

The non-alcoholic classic Shirley Temple contains ginger ale (or lemon-lime soda), orange juice and a sweet splash of what?

Vodka or gin would need just this ingredient to be shaken or stirred into a gimlet.

Rye (or bourbon), vermouth, bitters and a cherry are the components of which classic cocktail?

Mix up rum, lime and Coca-Cola to make this drink.

Mint, sugar, lime, soda water and this liquor come together to be muddled into a mojito.

Standard ingredients in a Negroni include gin, vermouth and what other liquid?

It's not just a punchline -- the Harvey Wallbanger is a fern bar staple featuring vodka, orange juice, and this odd liqueur.

When this is popped into a Martini in lieu of an olive, it becomes a Gibson.

James Bond may be more commonly associated with the Martini, but writer Ian Fleming also had him slugging down Vespers, which are concocted from Lillet Blanc and which two liquors?

Mix orange juice and this spirit for a hard-hitting Screwdriver.

Sure, you could ask for a vodka & cranberry with a lime wedge, but it's much more festive to order it this way:

If you've got bourbon, mint, and a splash of soda, you're on the right track to make the Derby Day classic, a Mint Julep. What's still missing?

The Bloody Mary is a brunch standard, but this addition transforms it into a hearty Bloody Bull.

Creme de menthe and cream are terribly tasty together, but if you want a Grasshopper, hop to the store for a bottle of:

A Greyhound gets its distinctive flavor from vodka and this mixer:

We all know that a Long Island Iced Tea has no tea in the mix, but what liquor isn't part of the standard recipe?

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Hot on HuffPost Food:

"bourbon" news and stories

Whisk(e)y in a Flash - LeNell It All

Bourbon Industry Toasts William Howard Taft

Sponsored Links

LeNell It All - Little Bit of Country

Pizzeria Celebrates Bourbon Heritage Month with Drunken Pie

Cocktail Ingredients Quiz

Cocktail Ingredients Quiz

Crazy for Cosmopolitans? You'll need vodka, Cointreau or triple sec, lime juice, and one other ingredient to shake 'em up at home.

Some folks get fancy with the recipe, but a traditionally-made Mai Tai gets its signature flavor from lime juice, dark rum, grenadine (or simple syrup), curacao and what other key ingredient?

Shaking up vodka, cream, and this variety of liqueur results in a White Russian.

The rim of a Sidecar glass is coated in what tasty substance?

The non-alcoholic classic Shirley Temple contains ginger ale (or lemon-lime soda), orange juice and a sweet splash of what?

Vodka or gin would need just this ingredient to be shaken or stirred into a gimlet.

Rye (or bourbon), vermouth, bitters and a cherry are the components of which classic cocktail?

Mix up rum, lime and Coca-Cola to make this drink.

Mint, sugar, lime, soda water and this liquor come together to be muddled into a mojito.

Standard ingredients in a Negroni include gin, vermouth and what other liquid?

It's not just a punchline -- the Harvey Wallbanger is a fern bar staple featuring vodka, orange juice, and this odd liqueur.

When this is popped into a Martini in lieu of an olive, it becomes a Gibson.

James Bond may be more commonly associated with the Martini, but writer Ian Fleming also had him slugging down Vespers, which are concocted from Lillet Blanc and which two liquors?

Mix orange juice and this spirit for a hard-hitting Screwdriver.

Sure, you could ask for a vodka & cranberry with a lime wedge, but it's much more festive to order it this way:

If you've got bourbon, mint, and a splash of soda, you're on the right track to make the Derby Day classic, a Mint Julep. What's still missing?

The Bloody Mary is a brunch standard, but this addition transforms it into a hearty Bloody Bull.

Creme de menthe and cream are terribly tasty together, but if you want a Grasshopper, hop to the store for a bottle of:

A Greyhound gets its distinctive flavor from vodka and this mixer:

We all know that a Long Island Iced Tea has no tea in the mix, but what liquor isn't part of the standard recipe?

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