Nothing But The Best

Sometimes even the gourmet, foodie, culinary enthusiast – whatever name you want to call them – that person we all know (or in some cases are ourselves), the one with the ever prepared kitchen ready to launch into a meal at a moments notice, sometimes even that person just plain runs out of stuff. A situation all the more complicated when the “stuff” we are out of happens to be, well, something to drink after a hard day’s work.

Not My Fault

I swear it’s not my fault, really. Some weeks ago I received a rather disconcerting letter in the mail, insinuating as it were, that I was somehow to blame for the imminent shortage in one of Kentucky’s native spirits. Apparently, I drank the distillery out of Knob Creek. Or at least that’s how I interpreted the correspondence. Had I really been consuming that much bourbon? I mean, the economy has been tough, work was stressful, and I had been enjoying a Wednesday night cocktail more often than in times past. I had even, on the occasional night out, enjoyed a second. But could one person have really made that much of an impact on the bourbon supply chain? Was I one of those people who had crossed the line from indulgence to addiction? Did I need, (gasp), intervention?

Return to The Black Marlin

The bike path through the center of Hilton Head Island, leading to The Black Marlin Bayside Grill at the Palmetto Bay Marina.

“He was a fugitive with a pseudo-name. Lost his mind in a hurricane.”
Jimmy Buffett “Nobody Speaks to the Captain”

It’s 1:30pm and I’m two hurricane’s into a Sunday lunch of fried eggs, smoked bacon and cheddar cheese on a toasted hoagie roll, what the restaurant calls a McMarlin Sandwich. While I could do without the McD’s reference, whatever the name it is a mountain of artery clogging scrumptiousness. However, while the food at the Black Marlin Bayside Grill is always fantastic, I’m here for the drinks.

Running with the Boys Cocktail

The Derby Day Sleeper cocktail went over so well we decided to create another concoction for this afternoon’s running of the Preakness. In addition to watching the racing at Pimlico today, we are neck deep in preparations for tomorrow’s 43rd running of the High Hope Steeplechase in Lexington.

The Derby Day Sleeper

It has been said the Kentucky Derby is the most difficult horse race to handicap. It is a day where it is not always a good thing to be the favorite. It’s a good day for a sleeper.

Making a Mark on the Holidays – Part 2

Ok, so it appears Maker’s Mark didn’t revoke my membership for threatening to use this year’s Ambassador Christmas paper to wrap up a bottle of Woodford Reserve. Evidence that I have been given a second chance, or at least an opportunity for redemption, was this week’s invitation to the Ambassador cocktail reception at Hugo’s and Harvey’s in Lexington to benefit the Make A Wish Foundation. In addition to the food, the auction items and the very excellent band, the highlight of the evening was when Bill Samuels, Jr. himself climbed behind the bar and began serving drinks. For those who have never met Samuels or seen him in action, the patriarch of Maker’s Mark can best be described as the clown prince of bourbon.

Celebrate Repeal Day – December 5th

Prohibition era prescription for medicinal whiskey

So what exactly is Repeal Day? It’s the day we celebrate the end of Prohibition after the last state ratified the 21st amendment to the Constitution, which repealed the 18th amendment passed 14 years earlier. I won’t waste space here with the details as others have eloquently told the story already. Check out the “official” Repeal Day website by Jeffrey Morganthaler, or see his post from earlier this week on his regular blog (click here). You can also read more about Repeal Day at The Scotch Blog. The Wall Street Journal even got into the act with an article by Eric Felton (click here).

Making a Mark on the Holidays

Maker's Mark takes good care of its Ambassadors around the holidays (click for larger image)

A sure sign the holidays are approaching is the annual delivery of the Maker’s Mark Christmas gift to its ambassadors. In the past I’ve received such goodies as coasters, drink stirrers, cocktail napkins, a DVD on the distillery and a nice little cocktail shaker. This year, however, I’ll admit to being a little perplexed when I opened the package and saw a roll of wrapping paper inside decorated with little bitty bottles of Maker’s Mark bourbon. Also included were gift tags in the shape of Maker’s Mark bottles and a bundle of ribbon (in Maker’s wax red color of course). Let’s face it, nothing screams “alcoholic” more than giving gifts to loved ones at Christmas wrapped in bourbon decorated paper with all the trimmings.

I wonder if I’d lose my title if I used it to wrap up a bottle of Woodford Reserve?

Jim Beam for President

Jim Beam Whiskey Decanters, circa 1968 (internet photo, although I do own a set of these)

Up until a few years ago the county I live in was dry, meaning no alcohol sales of any kind were allowed. Kentucky may be the center of the bourbon universe, but we are also the buckle of the Bible Belt and there are antiquated laws like this in effect throughout the state. It has only been in the last year that the city of Lexington began allowing liquor stores to open on Sunday (sales in restaurants having been ok’d years ago).

Thus it has always been for those of us living in Georgetown – if we wanted to buy alcohol we had to drive across the county line. Conveniently, a couple of enterprising entrepreneurs had long ago realized that in spite of Georgetown being the home to a well known Baptist College, there was still demand for accessible liquor sales to its inhabitants.

Bourbon, Bartenders and Sommeliers: A Rant

One shouldn’t have to visit a rock and roll hotel in order to find a bartender that understands bourbon. That being said, you would be forgiven for expecting the wait-staff at the Hard Rock Hotel to have a firm grasp of the differences between bourbon, scotch and rotgut whiskey. Enough icons of music have stumbled onto or off of stages with either a bottle of Jim Beam or Jack Daniels in their hand to make whiskey the unofficial drink of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After all, the club was called the “Whiskey-a-Go-Go”, not the “Vodka-a-Go-Go”. Being a Kentucky native, it should come as no surprise to anyone that my main focus, object of affection, drink of choice and favorite ingredient in the kitchen happens to be bourbon. I have a reasonable fondness for Scotch and a new found respect for Japanese whisky, but I do not buy, purchase, drink, partake, enjoy or even tolerate that sugary foul tasting concoction known the world around as Tennessee Whiskey. If your reading this from Lynchburg, Tennessee all I can day is “I’m sorry”. God must not love you as much as he does me.