Bardstown

Bourbon is not just for the glass

Bourbon is not just for the glass

Posted on by Pat
Patti and I found good company and good conversation on our trip to northern Kentucky Bourbon country. We also tasted some great Bourbon, but the spirit wasn't always confined to the glass. With its complex bouquet of flavors, it's not surprising that Bourbon complements sweet and savory dishes alike. Following are a few of my favorites. FLAVORS OF FRANKFORT In Kentucky's state capital of Frankfort, distillers used to roll barrels from their warehouses down the streets to flat-bottomed boats waiting to ferry the whiskey down the Kentucky River. A different type of commerce holds sway these days. One night before dinner, I strolled through the historic downtown and discovered a retail district full of local character. Crafts stores featured Kentucky folk artists and an independent...Read More
Bardstown proudly claims ‘World Capital of Bourbon’ title

Bardstown proudly claims ‘World Capital of Bourbon’ title

Posted on by Pat
Patti and I ended our tour of northern Kentucky's Bourbon country in Bardstown. Settled by colonists in 1780, it's the second oldest city in the state. But it doesn't play second fiddle to anyone when it comes to Bourbon. Signs throughout town proclaim Bardstown as the World Capital of Bourbon. Founded a year before the community, the former stagecoach stop of Old Talbott Tavern (Court Square, 502-348-3494, talbotttavern.com), shown above, deems itself the oldest Bourbon bar in the world. Bardstown supports its claim with Kentucky's greatest concentration of distilleries. Eleven distilleries fan out in a twenty-mile ring from the gracious former courthouse that houses Bardstown's Welcome Center. That cluster includes such pioneers as Jim Beam, which was established in 1795. But newcomers keep popping up,...Read More
Slaking my thirst for friendship in Kentucky’s Bourbon country

Slaking my thirst for friendship in Kentucky’s Bourbon country

Posted on by Pat
After months of pandemic lockdown, I really needed a drink. So I was all in when my Kentucky friend Patti asked me to join her on a road trip through the northern edge of Bourbon country. Kentuckians, I was to discover, take their Bourbon seriously. And no wonder. Barrels of aging Bourbon actually outnumber people. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has enough Bourbon to offer two shots to everyone in the United States. That's everyone of legal age, I'm sure. After decades of vodka inexplicably dominating the spirits market, Bourbon is enjoying a well-deserved revival. Just as foodies are embracing local products, drinkers are looking for unique and authentic spirits. Bourbon fits the bill. First distilled in Kentucky in the late eighteenth century, Bourbon was designated...Read More