Month: September 2023

Sep 30

Cocktails Tied to Sporting Events

Everyone has their favorite cocktails that they go to for any sporting event that they attend or watch on TV.  Here are some cocktails tied to sporting events for you to try.  Personally, at an early afternoon football game, I am going to the Bloody Mary Extra Spicy or the Screwdriver to start the day for the game.  Heading to a tailgate, there will be a bottle of canned beer and maybe a shooter or two to get the party started.  Now, what are some of the cocktails of famous sporting events?  Taking a look at 8 of the Most Iconic Cocktails Tied to Sporting Events | VinePair we will discuss four of these drinks in detail. Azalea Cocktail Quote: Widely considered to be the world’s most prestigious golf tournament, the Masters takes place each April in Augusta, Ga. On the course, a blanket of blooming flowers decorates the grass surrounding the 13th hole and inspires the tournament’s unofficial cocktail: the Azalea Cocktail. Consisting of vodka, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine, the Azalea takes on a bright pink color, similar to that of the blooms surrounding the green. While I have not personally crafted one of these cocktails, I have now learned of this, and next spring while I am getting ready to watch the Greatest Major The Masters, I will ensure I have the ingredients and prepare one or two before the event starts.  To get this drink to look similar to the plants around the 13th green, you will have to use just the right amount of grenadine.  Too much will be too dark and too little will be too light and could throw off the flavor as grenadine can be a bit sweet.  Looking forward to trying this cocktail Recipe: Mint Julep  This drink is tied to the best two minutes in sports, The Kentucky Derby. Quote: The Mint Julep has been practically synonymous with the Kentucky Derby since becoming the horse race’s official cocktail nearly 100 years ago. Traditionally made with Kentucky bourbon as its base, the Mint Julep combines the spirit with muddled mint and a splash of simple syrup for a lively summer sip. Classically distributed in a silver cup meant to mimic the winning trophy, the cocktail has been served at Churchill Downs since the 1930s, and today, nearly 120,000 Mint Juleps are sold during Derby Weekend each May. I have hosted a Derby party for the last six years and have made plenty of this cocktail.  Use Woodford Reserve bourbon for this drink.  Slap the mint and then add it to the bottom of the glass.  Fill it with crushed ice or ice cubes.  Then add the simple syrup and bourbon and stir the drink in the glass.  Top it with more mint and no straw so you get the smell of the mint with each sip of the drink.  I have also used a shortcut to place the mint into the simple syrup as you are making the syrup to get that nice minty flavor and not have to slap the mint for each julep.  You can prepare this drink beforehand and serve as your guests arrive for your party.  Give it a whirl and enjoy. Recipe: The Lily Cocktail This is the drink of the Kentucky Oaks which is the biggest filly horse race.  This will most definitely be on my next derby party drink list. Quote:While the Kentucky Derby is obviously the mainstay at Churchill Downs the first weekend in May, many may not know that a separate horse race actually takes place the day before: the Kentucky Oaks. Held on the Friday before the Derby, the winner of the Kentucky Oaks race receives prize money and a garland of lilies, hence the event’s official drink: the Lily Cocktail. Created by the event’s official vodka sponsor, Grey Goose, the cocktail takes inspiration from the Cosmopolitan with its mixture of Grey Goose, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup. The color of the cocktail is meant to pay homage to the winner’s lily bouquet and honor the race’s association with breast cancer awareness. Recipe: The Belmont Jewel Finally, the last drink to discuss is.  Staying with the horse racing theme, this is the cocktail of the final race in the triple crown of horse racing.  Made with Woodford Reserve again you will only need one bottle of bourbon to make a couple of different cocktails. Quote:Since the first two races in the Triple Crown boast their official cocktails, it’s only fitting that the Belmont Stakes, the final race in the series, receives its drink as well. Created in 2015, the Belmont Jewel — named for the race’s status as the final jewel in the Crown — is made using Woodford Reserve, the official bourbon of Belmont Park. The cocktail combines the bourbon with lemonade and pomegranate juice and serves as an easy concoction to serve in large quantities, which is exactly what the drink’s creators had in mind. This is a very simple cocktail to make and is made in the glass, so you don’t need a shaker or any other items for this.  This cocktail is very light and refreshing for everyone to enjoy. Recipe: Conclusion While plenty of other Cocktails Tied to Sporting Events, the above are some of my favorites that I have enjoyed.  What are some of your favorite cocktails to go with sporting events?  Or other events that you enjoy? Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it. Junior’s Bourbon Hall

Sep 15

Bourbon Drinks Perfect for Fall

Introduction: Howdy! The warmth and sunshine of summer are coming to an end, and we will discuss bourbon drinks perfect for the fall.  The days and nights are starting to get that chill in the air of fall.  This time of year, you look forward to a cocktail with bold, robust flavors to warm you up while you enjoy the chill of fall.  In the following post, you will find cocktails that do just that. Cocktails: The first cocktail to talk about is the Spiced Bourbon Apple Cider.  This is a perfect fall cocktail as it adds apple cider and cinnamon, which are ingredients you think of when you think of fall.  If you have a local apple cider producer, go with that.  Think of this drink as a warm apple pie. Spiced Bourbon Apple Cider Ingredients: 2 oz Bourbon 4 oz apple cider 1/2 oz cinnamon syrup Cinnamon stick and apple slice for garnish Instructions Combine bourbon, apple cider, and cinnamon syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a thin apple slice. The second drink will be the Bourbon Maple Sour.  Fresh Maple syrup is produced in the fall, and try to find 100% maple syrup as Mrs. Butterworths is great on pancakes but not so much in this cocktail.  Always use fresh lime juice, as it makes your cocktail much better. Bourbon Maple Sour Ingredients: 2 oz Bourbon 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice 1/2 oz pure maple syrup Dash of bitters Lemon twist for garnish Instructions: Combine bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and bitters in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon twist. The final drink on the list is Cranberry Bourbon Fizz.  This drink reminds me of the cranberry sauce I make from scratch for Thanksgiving dinner.  I do have bourbon in the cranberry sauce, and if you have never liked canned cranberry sauce, try making yours from scratch, and you will come around to it. Cranberry Bourbon Fizz Ingredients: 2 oz Bourbon 1 oz cranberry juice 1/2 oz simple syrup 1/2 oz fresh lime juice Soda water Fresh cranberries and lime wheel for garnish Instructions: Combine bourbon, cranberry juice, simple syrup, and lime juice with ice in a shaker. Shake and strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with soda water and garnish with fresh cranberries and a lime wheel. Conclusion: The cocktails discussed capture the essence of fall and the changing of the temperature, as well as the leaves changing colors.  Whether sipping a Spiced Bourbon Apple Cider while changing the leaves or enjoying the warmth of a Bourbon Maple Sour by the fireplace, these cocktails will enhance your fall experience.  Enjoy the flavors and Bourbon Drinks Perfect for Fall  cheers to a season of unforgettable memories.

Sep 01

Glorious “Once in a Life Time” Buffalo Trace Tasting

The Tasting: This past week, I took in “Once in a Lifetime” Buffalo Trace Tasting.  There were seven different bourbons to sample and a bonus of a 1978 Old Commonwealth that was opened for the evening for everyone to sample.  The idea for the tasting started with the 1978 bottle and then grew from there. What was on the tasting menu?  Well, this menu had seven hard-to-find bourbons.  These are allocated in my state and may not be in others.  Here is the list: A person from the distillery and the local distributor were at the tasting.  The Club Manager was also available to answer questions and give insight into each bourbon being tasted.  These bourbons have a history at the Buffalo (O.F.C) Distillery.  The name Old Fashioned Copper Distillery was born in 1870 and was way ahead of its time.  E.H. Taylor was the man who named the distillery and used the copper vats and column stills to produce the bourbon.  Taylor was very particular and needed everything perfect for the bourbon to get the name and place it into the barrels.  The distillery is believed to be the oldest continuously operating distillery in the US, now owned by the Sazerac Company. The person from the distillery did a nice job of giving the history of the bourbons and the men who created them.  The person was not forthcoming with details about the bourbons like age, proof, or mash bill.  Stated a few times that not informing people of this information was company policy.  Well, the proof is on the bottle, and the club manager would answer the questions, which was awkward.  They also didn’t want to answer any age questions.  This was a bit tougher as the only age statement is the Weller.  The person also didn’t want to answer about the OFC Rickhouse at Buffalo Trace Distillery being haunted.  Personally, I have been on that haunted tour at the distillery, and the guide takes you into that Rickhouse and talks about it being haunted. Surprise: Another great surprise for the evening was to see a bottle of 1995 OFC.  This was the first time I saw one of these bottles, and the enclosure and case are quite impressive.  The bottle was for display purposes only, and we did not get to taste it; it was amazing to see. Here is an image of the 1978 Old Commonwealth bottle.  It’s probably the oldest bottle of bourbon or any spirit I have ever tasted.  The bourbon was smooth and had no “Kentucky Hug.”  To me, it tasted very strong oak with strong vanilla flavors. Of all of the bourbons, my favorite was the Weller 12.  This had a nice mouth feel, and the flavor stayed with you throughout the sip.  It was very smooth on the way down without any burning sensation.  The wheat and sweetness prevailed in the taste and had a nice, oaky finish. The Stagg Jr. was the hottest of the bourbons that was sampled.  It came in at 132 proof from what the club manager informed us.  Neat, there was a punch when you sampled.  Add a drop of water or two, the heat disappears, and the flavor comes through.  This is not for anyone who doesn’t like high-proof bourbon.  This was the least favorite in the group that did the sampling.  I enjoyed it, and my least favorite was the Blantons.  To me, Blantons is more marketing than flavor. Conclusion: In conclusion, the Once in a Lifetime” Buffalo Trace Tasting was a great evening sampling rare bourbons.  I hope to add a bottle or two of these to my collection. I need to be at the right place at the right time or have a friend who can grab a bottle that works at a distributor or win a raffle.  Hope you have the opportunity to try one or all of these great bourbons. Cheers!! Junior