Bourbon

 About a year ago I came to a realization.  I had all but stopped drinking and didn’t even notice it. I didn’t make a conscious decision to stop, I just did. 

I’ve never been one of those guys who has a drink every night, never came in from work every day and fixed a drink or a beer.  I’d have a drink with Bob, or if I went out to eat or went to a party.  I enjoyed a drink while I cooked out.  But I never overindulged and rarely drank enough to even get a buzz, much less get drunk.

After my divorce I would go every Friday to a little dive bar across the Mississippi River from Vicksburg for a burger. (One of the top 3 burgers I’ve ever had!) Across the highway from the bar is a huge liquor store/truck stop. On Fridays, they had a tasting event and you could try samples of different liquors and wines. I’d go there before I went for my burger. I got to know the guys who poured and I learned a lot about different liquors. I’d been a Jack Daniel’s drinker since I was in college. I thought it was as good as any whiskey out there.  I was wrong.  Those guys at the tastings introduced me to true bourbons. (Jack is not a true bourbon.  It’s a Tennessee sour mash whiskey).  I really enjoyed comparing the flavor profiles of the different bourbons.  Some are sweet while others are more “peppery”.  Some have notes of leather. Many taste of the oak barrels they are aged in. There are subtle differences in every one.  I learned that just because a whiskey has a high price doesn’t necessarily make it better than a cheaper one.  In fact, one of my favorites is less than $15 for  a fifth (750ml).  I don’t see the appeal of the rare bourbons that cost in the thousands.  They’re no better than more moderately priced bourbons. They’re just status symbols  so you can tell people you have too much money to waste  

Two years ago, Susan and I went to Kentucky to do the bourbon trail tour.  We toured several distilleries and sampled their products.  It was super interesting seeing the distilling process.  I enjoyed sampling the different whiskies and comparing them.  I had bought the Bourbon Trail guidebook and it had a place for notes on the whiskeys I sampled.  Shortly after that, for no reason I can think of, I hardly drank at all. It dawned on me one day that I hadn’t had a drink in months and I didn’t see any reason to change that.  I still enjoy a drink now and then, but I may go 2 months between drinks.  And then I’ll only have one.  

The bourbon tour cost me, though!  In order for Susan to agree to tour the distilleries, I had to agree to tour the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY!  I reluctantly agreed and when we got there, in her best teacher voice, she told me to go in with an open mind like I was going to an art museum.  So I did.  And she was right.  Those quilts really were works of art and were absolutely beautiful.  I’m glad I went. 

So while my drinking has gone down, I do still enjoy the good bourbons. I just don’t indulge as much as I did.  But I’ll share some of my favorites with you.  

Evan Williams 1783  

Four Roses Small Batch

Four Roses 86 proof 

Old Grand Dad Bottled in Bond 100 proof   

Maker’s Mark Single Barrel  

Try these if you’re a bourbon enthusiast.  You can thank me later!  

                                          

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