The famous limestone quarry in Rosendale, N.Y., supplied material to build many of the monuments that define America. In the 1800s, this town in the Hudson Valley produced half the cement used in North America and the material was used to build the foundation of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, and the 27,000-ton pedestal that the Statue of Liberty stands on.
The holidays are here, which means your social calendar is probably filling up with seasonal parties and dinners. It can be an overwhelming time, but what shouldn't feel hectic is choosing the perfect host gift, especially if the host likes to imbibe. If you want to bring a bottle to your next gathering, these 10 are some of my favorite to gift. You can't go wrong with any of them, and there's something for everyone on this list.
In the case of Texas A&M - specifically, its athletic department - that means a partnership with Unreined Whiskey, a relatively new entry to the spirits world, but also one with Texas roots.More specifically, it's a whiskey company with a deep connection to Texas A&M itself. As Ralph Green of the Houston Chronicle reports, the company's seven founders are all university alumni. The partnership will involve Unreined's bourbon being made widely available at the Aggies' stadium, Kyle Field, along with sales of the whiskey at other Texas A&M athletic events.
I don't even like marshmallows, but here they're an integral part of a chewy combo (marshmallows and caramel) that's combined with dark chocolate, bourbon-smoked sea salt and a bit of Old Forester 86 Proof. You can order them from Louisville's Art Eatables - a non-chocolate one is also available, closer to the original idea of a Modjeska - while Old Forester offers a bourbon dark chocolate truffle on its own site. Note that the Modjeskas are a 21+ treat.
This was the Commonwealth Distillery, the site where Julian Van Winkle III once reclaimed his family's brand and bottled the most sought-after bourbons on earth. In 2002, he formed a partnership with Buffalo Trace and moved out. Now, it was home to Lou DeFino, a Vietnam-serving Marine with a sign-making shop on one side, an apartment on the other and the pit of leprechauns in the middle.
Bourbon is a very special kind of spirit, and those who drink it often see it as a hobby as much as a preferred libation. While even the most novice bourbon drinkers have likely heard of Eagle Rare and Old Rip Van Winkle, there is another brand that could impress any connoisseur and give even the best of the best bourbons a run for their money.
You may see this headline and think I'm going to recommend a bunch of Pumpkin Spice-flavored bourbons, and listen: I may be a basic boy and yes, of course, I enjoy a PSL. I'm a sucker for cider, mulled and otherwise. I have a long list of horror movies I watch over the course of October, and I love the crunch of leaves under my feet and the sight of my breath in the crisp autumn air.
A whiskey sour is one of Jack's favorite cocktails to order when we go out to dinner. Made with bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and optional egg white, it's brighter than most whiskey drinks, which Jack thinks makes it the perfect start to a good meal. It also means that though I'm not usually a whiskey drinker, I do enjoy a whiskey sour. I love its sweet/tart flavor, rich texture, and foamy top.
Bourbon whiskey is as American as apple pie. To such an extent that Congress recognized bourbon as a distinctly American product in 1964. While not America's first liquor, rum holds that title, bourbon is widely considered America's native spirit. Also, it's a spirit that has to be made in the U.S. Bourbon's popularity has boomed over the years as whiskey lovers are drawn to the sweet, nutty, and toasty oak flavors of the corn-based spirit.
The Baltimore Bang cocktail combines bourbon, apricot brandy, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. To assemble, the ingredients all get a wet shake and strained into an ice-filled old fashioned glass (bonus points if you make your own simple syrup). Garnish with a skewered Luxardo cherry and orange wheel. You could also serve this sophisticated bad boy in a chilled martini glass.
At the IWSC, it received 98 points out of a possible 100 (a gold outstanding ranking, aka one of the judges' most exceptional spirits). The judges raved over the American-made bourbon, saying, "The alluring aroma presents a delightful mix of apple tart, custard, and intriguing dried apricots. On the palate, a refined medley of buckwheat honey, dried apricots, vanilla, and warm spice unfolds, while the finish offers a satisfying hint of leather."
Pappy Van Winkle releases new offerings every year, typically in the autumn and in batches of six. Bourbon aficionados come out of the woodwork, many meticulously scheming for the slight chance of snagging a special reserve bottle. Bottles can sell for thousands of dollars apiece on the secondary market - but the actual retail prices upon release are surprisingly much lower. Scoring a bottle of Pappy is indeed challenging, but here's a look at the new offerings and initial list prices (subject to availability with individual retailers).
Hailing from the Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, IN (also home to drinks giant MGP), this is the ninth edition of the celebrated annual release (last year's won a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition). The release celebrates the end of Prohibition, which makes sense, as the whiskey brand is named after legendary bootlegger George Remus. Using barrels between 10 and 18 years of age, this one is full of oak, tobacco, cherry and coffee.
Its caramel-vanilla sweetness and oaky warmth feel built for sweaters and long shadows, so pairing it with a harvest fruit like persimmon just makes sense. The fruit's honeyed flesh echoes bourbon's richness, while its bright, custardy sweetness rounds the edges of the alcohol. Together, they're like sweet cream and burnt sugar meeting halfway, amplifying each other's depth. Those warm flavors are written into bourbon's very aging process.
There's something about sweet cinnamon and cloves with the subtle spicy finish of rum or bourbon that's absolutely soul-warming. I love how the booze melds seamlessly into the hot cider, making a smooth sip and a cozy finish. It has just the right balance of spices and alcohol-and it makes your kitchen smell like a fall candle (a nice bonus!).
Buffalo Trace's wheated bourbon line has garnered a cult following for itself, partly due to its connection to the coveted Pappy Van Winkle recipe. However, close to 300 people agreed with the opinion that Weller - especially the entry-level Special Reserve that you can get for around $50 a bottle - is too pricey for what it offers (even when a user managed to snag it for $45, they still considered it overpriced).
What makes this drink really stand out is the fact that it's garnished with - what else? - a steak strip. Even if you're not up for a trip to a high-end steakhouse, you can still experience this cocktail at home thanks to developer Julianne De Witt's copycat recipe. As De Witt says of her take on Morton's signature cocktail, "This is a fun, bold, bittersweet cocktail that would be perfect for serving at a dinner party or small get together."
Fresh off the heels of what might have been the most spectacular edition yet, Louisville's Kentucky Exposition Center is probably still buzzing from the energy that filled every corner of the expanded festival grounds from September 11-14. As someone who's been tracking food and beverage trends for years, I can tell you that this wasn't just another music festival with some food trucks thrown in, this was a masterclass in how to blend culinary excellence, craft spirits, and world-class entertainment into something truly special.
According to Karen Frazier, a Tasting Table recipe developer and mixologist, there are lots of ways to incorporate bourbon into pasta dishes - from replacing the vodka in a vodka sauce to making a buttery bourbon and sage sauce or a mushroom bourbon pan sauce. Bourbon can also replace the wine that's used in a number of pasta dishes, including Bolognese - in the case of Bolognese, you can use bourbon instead of wine in a 1:1 ratio to deglaze the pan.
It's easy to be drawn in by fancy bottles, or to grab something from the top shelf with a hefty price tag and assume that the cost means it will be delicious. Sometimes this is true, but there are also plenty of bottom-shelf bourbons worth drinking. And when it comes to overall value - the best quality bourbon in its price range - it is tough to argue with Evan Williams Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
National Coffee Day might be best known for café specials and free refills, but this year the celebration calls for something stronger. Enter the Four Roses Coffee Old Fashioned-a cocktail that bridges bourbon tradition with the bold kick of coffee. Equal parts familiar and inventive, it's the kind of drink that feels right at home on a cozy night in or as the star of a National Coffee Day gathering. Smooth, rich, and dressed up with chocolate shavings and espresso beans,
If you're worried about not having the budget to get a good bourbon, you shouldn't be. There are many affordable bourbons out there that you'll actually want to drink. More important than how much you spend is the thought that goes behind your choices. Making such a choice can be difficult if you don't have extensive knowledge of bourbon. As you'll see, there are only a few bits of information you need to make an informed decision.
The oldest 100% Mizunara-cask aged Yamazaki expression from The House of Suntory, this 25-year-old release meets the official Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association (JSMLA) standards for authentic Japanese whisky, being fully distilled, matured and bottled in Japan. Encased in a handcrafted box that was assembled using a traditional Japanese nail-free "locking" method, this single malt is exquisite on the nose, full of sandalwood, malt and honey notes.
The vintage/retro audio brand just launched its first party speaker. The Bromley 750 features 40+ hours of playtime, 360-degree sound, integrated stage lighting and a "sound character" knob that lets you flip between the vibes of, say, a living room and an outdoor setting (it's also dirt/splash resistant).
The 2025 bottling features 74% 11-year-old, 10% 13-year-old, and 16% 14-year-old bourbons, showcasing a meticulous blend that speaks to Maker's Mark's commitment to 'aged to taste'.
Sunshine Blend is crafted for those very moments. It's bourbon with its sleeves rolled up-easygoing, chilled out, and tailored for daytime sipping.
J.P. Wiser's 18 Years Old blended Canadian whisky demonstrated a mastery of blending, showcasing a balanced taste with subtle spice, honeyed sweetness, and undertones of toffee and vanilla.
Since 2008, barrels have traveled all over the world, crossing the equator and stopping at ports in various continents, letting rising tides and salty air mature batches.
Costco's Kirkland Signature products exemplify high quality at lower prices, making them a top choice for consumers seeking value in name-brand alternatives.
