Bourbon & BBQ's

Posted by Alayne Gardner-Carimi on

Bourbon, with its smoky swagger and caramel charm, struts its stuff alongside grilled meats and barbecue sauces like it owns the joint. Whether it's showing off in a cocktail, cozying up to summertime foods, or just chilling solo over ice, bourbon knows how to help you make the most of those long summer days. Cheers to bourbon, the new MVP of summer sipping! 

Madison’s own Bourbon Trail

Hit the bourbon trail this weekend without leaving Madison. Did you know that vomFASS Madison has 6 different bourbons available for tastings? We also have ready to pour (just add ice!) Bourbon Old Fashioned and Mint Julep cocktails. Bring Dad, grad or a friend in to explore the flavor difference between varying percentages of corn in a mash, and answer the question of how a different kind of corn affects the taste. Delve into the nuances of a high wheat bourbon, and discover what sour mash brings to the palate party. Remember to get a bottle (or two) of your favorites to enjoy all summer long. Check out the refreshing cocktail recipes below.

National Bourbon Day

June 14th is National Bourbon Day. The story has it that Reverend Elijah Craig (of Kentucky Bourbon fame) invented Bourbon on this day in 1789. In 1964, the US Congress declared bourbon a “distinctive product of the United States,” laying down the specific criteria for its production. Now to test your bourbon knowledge...

Bourbon Trivia

True or False...

After aging, each bourbon barrel remains saturated with up to 10 gallons of bourbon. True.
Although 2-3 gallons is the norm, up to 10 gallons can be saturated into the wooden staves of the charred oak barrels.

Bourbon must be made in Kentucky.  False. 
This is a common misconception. “Kentucky Bourbon” is only produced in the state, but Bourbon in fact can be made in any of the 50 American states. Once the overall standards for Bourbon are met, it’s Bourbon. It does not matter in which state it’s produced in.
Bourbon must be aged for a minimum of two years. False.
Products aged for as little as three months are sold as bourbon. The exception is “Straight” bourbon, which has a minimum aging requirement of two years. Additionally, any bourbon aged for less than 4 years must include an age statement on its label. A bourbon without an age statement is usually aged 4 years or just slightly more.
Bourbon must have at least 51% corn in its mash bill. True.
The remaining grains can be malted barley, wheat or rye to make up the remaining mash bill. A high corn bourbon is generally defined as one having 80% of the mash bill being corn; however, there is no defined upper limit for corn in the mash bill.
Bourbon distillers can reuse their bourbon barrels. False.
Bourbon must be put into new charred oak barrels to age. Once the barrel has been used for aging and is emptied, it is no longer suitable for aging bourbon. However, they are still used for many other purposes, including aging Scotch Whisky! 
In each batch, every barrel of bourbon can taste slightly different. True.
Due to small differences in wood and storage location within the rickhouse as it ages, each barrel within a batch may have individual nuances. A distiller may pick out the most distinctive and flavorful barrels from the rickhouse, cut them with water to get the correct proof and send the contents of that barrel straight into bottles. These are labeled “single barrel bourbons” and usually carry a premium price. In standard production, a distiller mixes the contents of hundreds of barrels to get a relatively consistent flavor that matches their style brand of bourbon. 

Cheers to YOU! 

With their delightful dance of flavors and cool sophistication, bourbon libations are like a breath of fresh air on a sweltering day. Picture yourself lounging on a sun-drenched patio, sipping on a Mint Julep or a Bourbon Smash, the clink of ice against glass mingling with laughter and lazy conversation. Each sip is a symphony of sweet and spicy notes, a tantalizing tease for the taste buds. So, here's to the magic of summer bourbon cocktails—where every sip is a small vacation in a glass, and every moment is a celebration. 

Brown Derby

Kentucky Bucky

Bourbon Smash


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