BourbonBlog.com parties at the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival in Manhattan in this video. An entire day full of favorite things.

Special thanks to Greg Nivens and the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival and BourbonBlog.com filmmaker/photographer Jake Bilinski, filmed at L.A. Venue, Manhattan, New York.

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Ever liked a Bourbon so much you wanted a barrel of it? BourbonBlog.com takes you to Four Roses Bourbon facilities in Cox’s Creek, Kentucky where Master Distiller Jim Rutledge leads us through a Private Barrel Selection. Four Roses is the only bourbon distillery that combines five proprietary yeast strains with two separate mashbills to produce 10 distinct bourbon recipes. Watch which recipe is chosen and learn about their distinct differences in the video episode below.

Visit www.FourRoses.us to learn more and to schedule your own Private Barrel Selection Program, e-mail info@fourroses.us or call 502-839-3436

Special thanks to Master Distiller Jim Rutledge, Nick Clark, Jake Bilinski, Dan Gardner, Rick Jones, Ken Blum, Paul Willett, and Liquor World

The Ten Recipes are OBSV, OBSK, OBSQ, OBSW, OBSF, OESV, OESK , OESO, OESQ, OESF.  Learn more about the ten unique bourbon recipes of Four Roses on this link

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Maker’s Mark Bourbon tells BourbonBlog.com that they are commemorating the Lane’s End Stakes at Turfway Park and honoring an entire team: the 1990 World Series champion Cincinnati Reds. This limited edition bottle is the seventh in a series honoring Turfway’s Kentucky Derby prep race.

The 2010 bottle pays tribute to the 20th anniversary of the Reds’ wire-to-wire season and stunning four-game sweep of the Oakland A’s. The label of the 375 ml bottle features the famous photo, taken by then director of publicity Jon Braude, of the champions celebrating on the field. The bottle is hand-numbered and dipped in red wax.

Led by team captain Barry Larkin, the 1990 Reds spent the entire regular season in first place, defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in six games to take the National League title, and then tore into the heavily favored A’s. Larkin, Eric Davis, Chris Sabo, Paul O’Neill, and Billy Hatcher powered the team at the plate, while Jose Rijo, Tom Browning, Jack Armstrong, Danny Jackson, and the bullpen’s Nasty Boys—Rob Dibble, Norm Charlton, and Randy Myers—intimidated opponents from the mound.

Maker’s Mark is producing an unprecedented number, 8000, of these commemorative bottles, the most since the series started in 2004. The bottles are to go on sale Friday, March 19 and will retail for about $24 depending on the retail outlet. Proceeds from sales will benefit the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

Previously bottles commemorating the Lane’s End Stakes have benefited the Cris Collinsworth ProScan Foundation; the Oscar and Yvonne Robertson Family Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation; the Reds Community Fund and One Way Farm on behalf of Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall, respectively; the Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund and Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum; and the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

The bottle signing at Turfway Park is Saturday, March 27, the morning of the Lane’s End Stakes. The signing is from 8 AM to 11 AM at Turfway Park, Gate B. 400 free tickets will be distributed on a first come-first served basis, to persons 21 years and older and one ticket per person. Each ticketholder may bring two of the 2010 bottles to be autographed.

The 39th running of the Grade II Lane’s End Stakes is a 1 1/8-mile race for Thoroughbreds aiming for the Kentucky Derby. With its $500,000 purse, the race virtually guarantees the winner a spot in the Derby field, which is limited to 20 starters.

This year’s Lane’s End Stakes is set for Saturday, March 27, at Turfway Park. Tickets for the race range from general admission at $10 to the Maker’s Mark VIP Tent at $175 and are available by calling Turfway at (859) 371-0200. More information is available at www.turfway.com

The Lane’s End Stakes is sponsored by Lane’s End of Versailles, Kentucky., one of the world’s leading Thoroughbred operations and first among North America’s stud farms for 10 years, seven consecutively. The farm stands such influential stallions as A. P. Indy, Smart Strike, Kingmambo, and two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. Lane’s End is owned by William S. Farish, former United States ambassador to the Court of St. James’s. Farish was honored earlier this year with the Eclipse Award of Merit for outstanding lifetime achievement in the Thoroughbred industry.

As part of the bottle introduction, the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum will host a grand opening celebration of its new exhibit: 1990-A Celebration of the 1990 World Champion Cincinnati Reds on March 25 at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. Reds Hall of Famers and select members of the 1990 team will be in attendance. The evening will consist of dinner and a question and answer session with the 1990 players. Admission is $80 for the general public. Reds Hall of Fame members and Maker’s Mark Ambassadors may purchase tickets at the discounted price of $70. Tickets are available for purchase by calling 513-765-7923.

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Jim Beam Puppy Commercial from the “Guys Never Change, Neither Do We” campaign. Really made us laugh..watch below.

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Earlier in 2009, BourbonBlog.com released our bourbon review video episode below of The Parker’s Heritage Collection Golden Anniversary Bourbon. We told you that it has a “unforgettable flavor and one of the longest finishes ever.”  Mike Veach also shared his review on this outstanding Bourbon on BourbonBlog.com.  We aren’t alone in loving this Bourbon as it was just awarded the highest honor being named “American Whiskey of the Year” in the 16th annual Malt Advocate Whisky Awards, given yearly by Malt Advocate Magazine publisher and editor John Hansell.

According to the organizers, “The Malt Advocate Whisky Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in their sixteenth year, these awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. They honor the world’s greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them.” In awarding the American Whiskey of the Year to Parker’s Heritage Collection Golden Anniversary Bourbon, the organizers praised it as “…a fabulous whiskey; seamless, incredibly complex, with an impeccable marriage of youth and maturity.”

With the awarding of Malt Advocate’s American Whiskey of the Year, the annual series of whiskeys bottled under the Parker’s Heritage Collection, while only in their third release, have already garnered two of the biggest available industry awards. Last year’s second release, a 27-year-old Bourbon, was the first American Whiskey ever named “Best of Show, Brown Spirits” at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The series is a limited edition collection of American Whiskeys, produced by Heaven Hill Distilleries, named for and honoring 6th generation Master Distiller Parker Beam. This year’s Golden Anniversary edition commemorated Parker’s 50 years at Heaven Hill, the nation’s largest independent family owned and operated spirits producer and the world’s second largest holders of aging Bourbon, by marrying barrels from each decade of Parker’s 50 years with Heaven Hill. The Golden Anniversary is available in limited quantities until next Fall, bottled at 100 proof and at a national average retail price of $150 for a 750ml bottle.

Malt Advocate also announced its worldwide “Top Ten New Whiskies for 2009”. This list included not only the Parker’s Golden Anniversary Bourbon, but also Heaven Hill’s Rittenhouse Very Rare 25-year-old Single Barrel Rye.

Hansell, one of the world’s leading authorities on whiskies/eys, specifically praised the Golden Anniversary bottling as “…a classic bourbon that’s very complex, yet very drinkable.” In his review in Malt Advocate Magazine, he scored the Bourbon as a 97 out of 100 points, making the Parker’s Heritage Collection Golden Anniversary the highest rated American Whiskey ever in the publication’s nearly 20 year history.

“It’s quite an honor to win this award from John and Malt Advocate Magazine,”  Parker Beam tells BourbonBlog.com. “Just having this edition recognizing my 50 years at Heaven Hill was a thrill, and this just makes it more so.”

Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. For our archives of coverage relating to Heaven Hill Brands on BourbonBlog.com, click this link.  Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes The Christian Brothers Brandies; Evan Williams and Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Hpnotiq Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Lunazul and Two Fingers Tequilas, and Dubonnet Aperitif.

Special thanks to Firefly Southern Grill and Cinephreak Pictures on the video above.

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(L to R) Bill Samuels Jr., President & C.E.O. Maker's Mark and Jamie Link Jamie Link, C.E.O. of World Games 2010 Foundation make it official by holding the Barrel Head

Maker’s Mark has been named the official bourbon of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The Games will make their American debut Sept. 25 – Oct. 10, 2010, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

“Our Maker’s Mark traditions and heritage are rooted in Kentucky, which is why we’re so thrilled to be a partner of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games,” Bill Samuels Jr., president and chief executive officer of Maker’s Mark tells BourbonBlog.com. “Bourbon and horses are a natural pair – especially in Kentucky where their histories run deep. We’re looking forward to making our ‘mark’ on the games.”

Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear also noted the significance of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games’ announcement. “Bourbon is a part of the fabric of Kentucky and Maker’s Mark is a world-class spirit,” she said. “It’s only fitting that they are part of this international event that showcases our wonderful Commonwealth.”

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Federation Equestre International (FEI) and are held every four years. The Games have never before been staged outside of Europe, nor have all eight disciplines competed at a single site – both firsts that will be achieved at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

“Having the Games’ American debut held right here in Kentucky makes this an historic occasion,” said Terry Johnson, vice president of sales for the Foundation. “We’re proud that Maker’s Mark is part of an event that not only has worldwide recognition, but will also have a very positive economic impact on the state of Kentucky.”

Maker’s Mark will sponsor the Games’ main hospitality tent that will be visited by thousands of horse and bourbon enthusiasts from around the world. The tent will feature the “world of bourbon” and include a wide variety of brands.

About the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). The Games are held every four years and this will be the first occurrence in the United States. The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million, and current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International, Inc., Meydan and the University of Kentucky. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.alltechfeigames.com.

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To celebrate Mardi Gras, a threesome of videos below from the BourbonBlog.com archives taking you to Bourbon Street for some Bourbon Punch during Mardi Gras, a live performance of “King of New Orleans” from Better than Ezra, and a video recipe demonstration for The Vieux Carré made famous by New Orleans.

We feature Basil Hayden’s Bourbon the two songs in the video above by Bonner Fuller and Brennan Stoelb. Those tracks you heard are yours to download for free when you register for our Bourbon Newsletter on this link.

The Vieux Carré is credited with it’s invention in 1938 at Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. In the video above, we show you how to make a Vieux Carré using (rī)1 Ultra-premium Rye Whiskey and Hennessy Cognac VS, recipe here.

Watch the full Better than Ezra interview on this link on BourbonBlog.com Better than Ezra filmed with permission of v2-artemis management during July of 2006

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