Bourbon

Question 1

Freeland Bourbon

Answer 1

Portland, OR
$14/1.5 oz
$16/2 oz. glass

Caramel, baked fruit, smoked pecan, cocoa and baking spices.

Aged in American Oak and finished for 5 months in Pinot Noir barrels. 70% corn, 20% rye, 10% malted barley.

Founded by Jill Kuehler. The distillery is named after her grandmother, Freeland. Molly Troupe is the Master Distiller, who got her Masters Degree in Distillation at Heriot Watt University in Scotland. They started making bourbon in 2018.

Question 2

Ragged Ranch

Answer 2

Charlottesville, VA
$13/1.5 oz pour

Rye spice on the nose. Sweet tobacco finish.

The master distiller is Dave Pickerell. Ragged Ranch grows and farms all their own raw grains in the hopes of expressing the local terroir. Aged for 4+ years in new American White Oak barrels.

Question 3

Willett Pot Still

Answer 3

Bardstown, KY
$16/1.5 oz pour
$18/2 oz pour

Lemon, vanilla. Smooth mouthfeel.

8-10 years of aging.

The Willett family has been distilling bourbon since the mid-19th century, but started a distillery of their own in 1936 and it has remained a family owned operation since. Drew Kulsveen is the master distiller and is a 3-time James Beard award nominee.

Question 4

Maker’s Mark

Answer 4

Loretto, KY
$12/1.5 oz pour

Carmel Vanilla, fruity

Co-founder (with her husband, Bill) Margie Samuels was the first woman to be inducted to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame because of her successful branding of Maker’s Mark (the red wax cap, label and shape of the bottle).

Question 5

Hudson Bright Lights

Answer 5

Gardiner, NY
$13/1.5 oz pour

Vanilla, stone fruit, nuts. Salted caramel finish.

Aged 3+ years. 95% corn. Certified Kosher (because it isn’t aged in wine barrels, which is a fairly common practice for whiskey).

Hudson Distilling was started by Ralph Erenzo in 2003. Used to be known as Hudson Baby Bourbon.

Question 6

Woodford Reserve

Answer 6

Versailles, KY
$14/1.5 oz pour

Rich texture. Toffee, caramel, chocolate.

70/20/10 — corn/rye/malted barley

Woodford Reserve made the first Kentucky bourbon in 1812. Sustainably focused operation. The master distillers are Chris Morris and Elizabeth McCall (one of the youngest female distillers in the U.S.).

Question 7

Basil Hayden’s

Answer 7

Clermont, KY
$15/1.5 oz pour

Vanilla, sweet brown sugar, black pepper and dried fruit.

Higher proportion of Rye. Master Distiller is Booker Noe, who started the project in 1992.

Question 8

List the bourbons in the order you would present them

Answer 8

Basil Hayden’s ($15)
Willet Pot Still ($16)
Woodford Reserve ($14)
Maker’s Mark ($12)
Ragged Ranch ($13)
Freeland ($14)
Hudson Bright Lights ($13)

Expensive name-brands first, cheaper, widely available brands second, smaller artisanal production last.