During the winter ice storm, February 2009, the BourbonBlog.com team was without power in our headquarters in Louisville. But we had a bottle of this, on the rocks, literally as in we could see our breath… Bourbon: Four Roses Small Batch Distillery: Four Roses, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky Age: “The target age for our Small Batch is… Read more »

 
Mint Julep Creations Video Episode from the Four Roses Julep Contest 2010

BourbonBlog.com’s 2010 Four Roses Julep Contest Video episode. Watch the Kentucky Derby Mint Julep created with Four Roses Bourbon by ten Louisville bartenders and mixologists, including the winning recipes featured below. × RECIPE LINKS: 1st Place Winner-  Cherry Blossom Julep Recipe by Rory McCollister of Varanese 2nd Place – The Perfect Finish Recipe by Aaron Price,… Read more »

 
Julep Down Under by Jenni Pittman, Proof on Main, 21c, Louisville

Proof on Main’s Jenni Pittman won 3rd Place for this Julep Down Under Recipe in the 2010 Four Roses Julep Contest. Here is the recipe… Julep Down Under by Jenni Pittman, Proof on Main, 21c, Louisville, Kentucky Ingredients: 1.5 oz mango puree (combine flesh of 2 mango & 1/2 cup fresh brewed tea in blender,… Read more »

 
Zaya Rum Review

Comment: Moving operations from Guatemala to Trinidad in recent years (and enduring the obvious supply issues associated,) Zaya now seems to be back online and producing this fine aged and blended rum with surprisingly few hitches. Distiller: Zaya Rum Company, Trinidad Age: 12 years Proof: 40% ABV, 80 Proof Notes: This is a blended rum… Read more »

 
Kilo Kai Iced Coffee

As the temperatures get warmer, people begin thinking less about steaming-hot cups of coffee and start looking to iced-coffees. This is a nice variation on the king of the class… Vietnamese Coffee. Enjoyed as the daily pick-me-up beverage of choice in this tropical zone, we could think of no better way to incorporate the flavors… Read more »

 
Bubble Tea Expression

In Southeast Asia, people commonly enjoy a beverage called ‘bubble tea.’ It is a variety of juices, teas and extracts to which sweetened, cooked tapioca pearls are added. The drink is enjoyed with a larger-than-life straw, through which the pearls might pass. At BourbonBlog.com, we have decided to use this as the inspiration for our… Read more »

 
The Perfect Finish Juelp by Aaron Price, Maker’s Mark Lounge, Louisville, Kentucky

This is the winner of 2nd place recipe in the 2010 Four Roses Julep Contest. “The Perfect Finish” by Aaron Price of Maker’s Mark Lounge Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz Four Roses Small Batch 3/4 oz Amaretto Disaronno Angostura Bitters Simple Syrup Orange Juice Orange Slice Mint Instructions: Place an orange slice in the bottom of… Read more »

 
Cherry Blossom Julep by Roy McCollister of Varanese Restaurant, Louisville

Rory McCollister’s “Cherry Blossom Julep” This is the 1st place winning recipe in the 2010 Four Roses Julep Contest. Ingredients: · 1 1/2 oz Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon · 1 1/2 oz Dried Cherry Lemon Zest Gastrique · Fresh Mint · 2 oz Tamarind Soda · 2 oz Ginger Ale To make the Gastrique:… Read more »

 
Four Roses Julep Contest Winners and Recipes for 2010

BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer was a judge in the recent Four Roses Julep Contest which is held annually in weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby. Varanese’s Rory McCollister won 1st with his Cherry Blossom Julep  (recipe below and photo above), making it Rory’s second year in a row to win and the third time Varanese has… Read more »

 
Bourbon Barrel Smoked Pork, using retired Maker’s Mark Barrels

Smoking with retired Maker’s Mark Bourbon Barrel tops and bungs adding flavor and depth on the grill at Varanese Restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky. Chef and Proprietor John Varanese shows us how in this video episode. The BBQ rub and the caramelizing sugars…mmmm watch. Special thanks Chef John Varanese, Dave Allen, Stephen Dennison and Cinephreak Pictures