Basil Hayden Red Wine Cask Finish

I’d like to thank the folks from Beam Suntory and their PR teams for sharing this sample with no strings attached.

A while back, my favorite artist came out with a new album. I stream everything on Spotify these days, but when I want to support an artist, I have no problem buying an album digitally as well. If I need to, I will buy the CD instead. But I realized as I was looking at the order page that I no longer have a device that will play CDs. Not even my vehicle has a CD player. And the last computer with an optical drive died last year. So I decided that I’d buy the album on vinyl. If I wasn’t going to be able to play it anyway, I might as well go with the big art. This way, I could use it as wall art, if nothing else.

But a funny thing happened after I bought that vinyl album. I got to thinking about the nature of the music I listened to as a kid. About albums that were meant to be listened to from start to finish instead of as individual tracks. And I came to the realization that even though I love streaming, there is something to be said about old formats too. Yes, I love just throwing on a playlist and letting it go all day. Basically as background music for my life. But when I was a kid, vinyl was king. Unless you were much more coordinated than I was, you couldn’t just choose the track you wanted to listen to (unless you had a single). And as is turns out, there are some ablums that were better listened to in order with one track flowing into another. Basically a larger work of art that is made up of smaller works of art.

So why didn’t I already have a ton of vinyl? Well, I was alive and aware as CDs hit the stage and became the dominant music format. I remember kids in school teasing me about still playing records when they all had CD players. Kids can be cruel and the those in the tiny town I grew up in were hyper-obsessed with how rich someone was. The more money you had the more popular you were. And I grew up in poverty so I didn’t have a lot of friends back then. The moment I could afford a CD player as a teenager, I got one. If only so that I could tamp down the emotional baggage of being teased as child. I don’t know that I listened to a record by choice after that until well into my second stint at college. By then I was collecting classic rock albums like crazy. But then digital music came around and, once again, I gave up vinyl as a waste of space and sold or gave them away.

Somehow I never seem to learn.

Anyway, long story short, I may have found a new obsession. Since I bought that “piece of art for the wall” I’ve bought five or six more albums, I researched and ordered a turntable. I’ve made a wishlist of other albums I want to buy in this crazy old format. And I plan to visit a few record stores in the area the next time I have a day free. I like the idea of intently listening to music again. Needing to pay attention to when a record ends and needing to get up to flip it over appeals to me right now.

Now, you may ask what any of that has to do with bourbon. And that’s a good question. But I have a good answer too. You can enjoy music a couple of different ways. You can have it on in the background and almost ignore it. It’s just something to keep it from being too quiet. Or you can sit there and intently listen to a piece of someone’s musical art. Follow how one song flows into another and makes a whole greater than its pieces. Same thing with bourbon. You could take a shot and just use it as a means to an end. Or you could do what we do here and intently taste the bourbon. Teasing out the nuances of someone’s liquid art.

Plus in both of them you can easily get obsessed and spend way more than you had intended to if you aren’t careful. Ask me how I know.

Luckily for me, tonight’s whiskey was a review sample that didn’t cost me anything. It is the latest offering from the Basil Hayden folks over at Jim Beam. This one was partially finished in red wine casks. And although I’ve sworn off Basil Hayden numerous times in the past as not being flavorful enough for me, I found the idea of this one intriguing. Here’s what the producer has to say about it:

A blend of the classic Basil Hayden high-rye mash bill and bourbon partially aged in Californian red wine casks, this special release is ripe with cherries & dried fruit, while also delivering characteristic bourbon flavors of vanilla and charred oak. Perfectly balanced, Basil Hayden Red Wine Cask Finish is layered & complex, yet approachable & inviting.

But, how does it taste?

Basil Hayden Red Wine Cask Finish

Purchase Info: The bottle was provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $59.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 ml): $4.00

Details: 40% ABV. Some of the bourbon used in the blend has been finished in California red wine casks.

Nose: Dried cherries, brown sugar, and oak.

Month: Cherry, vanilla, nutmeg, and oak.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of cherry and cinnamon linger.

Thoughts: I've been hard on Basil Hayden products in the past, but I think they have a winner with this one. Lots of flavor in the mouth. The wine cask finish brings a lot of cherry to the party. I like this one. And that cherry note has me thinking that with such pronounced cherry, this might work well in a cocktail. And, of course, how could I pass up that opportunity? After giving it a thought, I landed on a sweet riff on a Manhattan. The result is below. I think it turned out pretty ok.

A Thursday Night Cocktail

• 2oz Basil Hayden Red Wine Cask Finish

• 1/2oz Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao

• 1/2 oz Luxardo Cherry liqueur

• 2 dashes of Aromatic bitters (I use my own recipe, but Angostura would work too)

• Orange Peel for Garnish

Directions: Combine all ingredients (except orange peel) into a mixing glass with ice. Stir. Strain into your favorite cocktail glass. Express the orange peel over the drink. Garnish with the orange peel and a couple of cherries.

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Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.

Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon by Barton 1792 Master Distillers

I realized today that since I got a Costco membership that I’ve become one of those people that buys a lot of stuff at Costco. I mean it is hard not to. You go in there, you grab one of the giant, multi-level carts, and you toss giant quantities of items in there. As a person who smokes meat, I particularly like their meat selection. But I usually also have to check out their liquor selection too. In many states, it is inside the main store, but Minnesota forces retailers to have a separate area with a separate entrance for their liquor store.

You might ask why that is. Well there is an easy answer. Culturally, Minnesotans do not like liquor. It was our Congress-critter one Andrew Volstead that introduced the National Prohibition Act that kicked off Prohibition. And until recently any place that sold beer that was higher than 3.2% alcohol had to be closed on Sunday. Hence the separate entrances. Now don’t get me wrong, much like our cousins to the east in Wisconsin, Minnesotans drink a lot. But culturally we feel bad about it and judge those who seem to cross the lines of what we consider to be overindulging.

But we were talking about Costco, not the historical cultural hangups of my adopted home state.

Even though I find it near impossible to walk out of Costco without having spent a couple of hundred dollars, if you plan things right it does save you a bit of money. Especially on items to stock your pantry, meat, and liquor. Most especially on their Kirkland branded liquor, like tonight’s Bottled-in-Bond bourbon. $25 per liter. It’s hard to beat that. At least if it tastes good. But having had a couple other Kirkland Bourbons by Barton 1792, I’m going to tell you up front that this one is just as good as the other two. Maybe better.

Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon by Barton 1792 Master Distillers

Purchase Info: Roughly $25 per liter. I tossed the receipt so I don’t know exactly how many pennies below $25 they went on this.

Price per drink (50 mL): $1.25

Details: 50% ABV. Distilled at D.S.P.-KY-12.

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, almond, and oak.

Mouth: Honey, caramel, vanilla, almond, cinnamon red hots, and oak.

Finish: Medium length and warm. Notes of oak and cinnamon red hots.

Thoughts: This is a killer "everyday" bourbon. Good sweetness and spice. The honey note is delicious. There is just enough oak to keep me happy. I liked this enough that I went back the next day and bought four more bottles. I'm glad I did. The shelf was full when I bought my first bottle and there were six bottles left when I went back the next day. I was nice enough to leave two for the next person.

After having three different of these Barton/Kirkland collaborations, I think I've learned my lesson. It's Costco... buy in bulk the first time. It’s looking like a recession out there, kids. Let’s save ourselves some money by buying good quality, inexpensive products.

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.

From the BourbonGuy Archives: Handcrafted? Yes.

So, yeah. I’m still sick enough that I don’t have the brain power to write. Nor do I have the taste buds to taste accurately. Which totally sucks. But I’m on the mend so don’t feel too bad for me. Instead of giving you no content, I’ve decided to repost an educational article from way back in 2015. Guessing not many of you were around for this so hopefully it is good info or at least entertaining info.

In the last few months there has been a lot of news regarding the lawsuits alleging a misuse of the term handcrafted by members of the bourbon producing community. And on the face of it, it almost sounds legit. The lawyer alleges that something can’t be hand made if it is made in a giant computer controlled factory. If you didn’t know anything about whiskey, that argument might make you believe that the lawyer was onto something. To many people, handcrafted means that there is at least a little skill, a bit of human touch involved in making the product. (To others who are a bit more cynical it is a marketing term that has long since lost all meaning to reasonable folks.) So the lawyer tries to convince people that he knows what he is talking about, because computers.

What this lawyer either doesn’t understand or is betting that a judge doesn’t understand is that there is a very large difference between distillate and whiskey. If Jim Beam, Makers or any other bourbon maker were bottling distillate there might be a case to be argued. Might. 

You see distillate is a product that could conceivably be very tightly controlled by people who know what they are doing and, yes, with computers. But bourbon is a natural product. It goes into a barrel and sits there for a good long time. And the longer it sits, the more influence the barrel has in the finished product. But just as each tree is different, so too is the infusion of each tree. The bourbon. Because at a basic level that’s all bourbon is. An infusion of charred new oak by a grain based alcohol solvent.

And yet, the bourbon from each batch tastes so close to the same that if you didn’t have them side by side you’d never know the difference. Or for most people, even if you did. So how does that happen? Well, bourbon manufacturers have a tasting panel. It could be one person, it could be many. And they do quality control. They make sure each batch tastes like the reference sample that they are aiming for within tolerances. And if they are off, they fix it by adding another whiskey until it is right.

Let’s look at an illustration. For this example we are going to pretend that oak changes a distillate’s color instead of flavor. Mostly because it is easier to visualize color than flavor.*

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We’ve got three barrels we are using to make whiskey. One produces a light orange color, one a pink color and one a teal color. If you mix all of these together in equal amounts you will get a brown color. And so you’ve got your first batch of bourbon.

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But then you go to make you second batch and you realize that what came out of the second batch of barrels are not the same colors as the first three barrels. So you need to go find barrels that will make this batch of whiskey as close as you can get to the first batch. In this case what you find is that if you mix a different pink, a lime green and a light purple together you will get a brown that is extremely close to the initial batch. So close you couldn’t tell the difference.

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One more example, this time we want to make a lot of whiskey. So once again based on our reference sample, we mix and match until we find that if we take 6.5 parts of light orange, 6.5 parts of pink, 6 parts of teal, 4.5 parts of the other pink, 5 parts of lime green and 5.5 parts of light purple we once again end up with almost the exact same brown as our sample.** 

In each of these examples we are trying to match that initial reference sample. And in each case the art, the skill, the human touch comes in while taking the different results you get from many different barrels and mixing them together to get a consistent result that matches the reference. You may argue that distillate can be computer-made in a factory but to me, bourbon qualifies as handcrafted.

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The Maker's Mark tasting panel. Shot in September 2014 while on the Beyond the Mark tour.

*They are in mason jars because this idea came from a bourbon 101 presentation I used to do where I would invite volunteers to mix a color based on a reference sample to show this very topic. All of the colored waters were stored in mason jars and that shape just stuck in my mind.

**Don’t believe me? Take the illustrations into photoshop, sample the colors and mix them in the same proportions. It works.

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.

I.W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve

Well, hey there! I’m back from vacation and ready to roll.

Roll into bed, that is. Although I had a great vacation, I did bring a little something back home with me. And that something would be a couple of cases of Covid for my wife and I. Apparently, I’m just about the last person in the US to get it. I heard that our soon-to-be Octogenarian-in-Chief told a news outlet that the pandemic was over while I was away. Really wish someone would have told that to the virus that lodged its way into my head and chest. It might have saved me some coughing.

But even with getting a case of the VID, this was possibly the best vacation I’ve ever been on. I love seeing new places and experiencing new things, and this trip had two weeks filled with nothing but places I’ve never been before. It was heaven. I really liked California. My wife, not so much. Well, she liked it enough to visit, but not enough to stay. Which is fine by me. After almost 20 years of living in Minnesota, I’m finally coming around to the idea that there are so many worse places to live than here…I mean, where else do I get semi-yearly temps that are cold enough to freeze 80-proof bourbon?

Heck, even the whiskey I drank in California was new to me. While visiting Monterey and their world-famous aquarium, I stopped at Total Wine and picked up a new (to me) bourbon. I’m still too sick to do too much research on it, but here is what the press release had to say:

Cabernet Cask Reserve is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey aged for four years in new charred American oak barrels, then perfected in luxury California Cabernet Sauvignon casks and bottled at Stitzel-Weller Distillery, one of the true cathedrals of the American Whisky industry. This spirit takes the distinct character of fine Cabernet wine and pairs it with the brand's bold bourbon to create a clean, dark fruit and wine-like aromatics, along with an exceptionally complex flavor.

Luckily for you, I decided to write down my tasting notes a day or two before I started to show any symptoms. Because my taste buds, while not gone, are very messed up right now. If they don’t come back soon, we may be looking at re-runs of old “educational” articles next week instead of reviews. So in the meantime, let’s see what I thought of this one sometime last week.

I. W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve

Purchase Info: $55.99 at Total Wine, Monterey, CA

Price per drink (50 mL): $3.73

Details: 45% ABV. Four years old. Finished in Cabernet wine casks.

Nose: Cinnamon, brown sugar, dark chocolate, and a subtle dark fruit note.

Mouth: Cinnamon spice, nutmeg, red fruits, toffee, and chocolate.

Finish: Warm and sweet with notes of oak, then cinnamon, toffee, and chocolate.

Thoughts: This was a very good bourbon. We had a pour of it quite a few nights while on vacation, and it is possible that beautiful or fun settings may have colored my enjoyment. Be that as it may, I still really liked it. I’d buy it again.

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, C922

I’d like to thank Heaven Hill for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

Hello from the past! I’m on vacation at the moment. If everything is going well I should currently be enjoying the sights of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. I love nature, especially when experienced in a National Park that I’ve never before visited. So I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that I am currently having a blast.

But you came here for the bourbon, I get that. So let’s get down to it.

Last year, the September edition of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (there are three editions per year released in January, May, and September) was only the second bourbon to receive a BourbonGuy.com Bourbon of the Year award since the award was introduced in 2017. There just weren’t that many bourbons that stood head and shoulders above the competition in the intervening years that would warrant the honor. So needless to say, I really enjoyed last year’s September edition.

So let’s see how this year’s September release does.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, C922

Purchase Info: This was graciously provided by Heaven Hill for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $69.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.67

Details: 12-years-old. 62.4% ABV.

Nose: This smells like a cookie. Notes of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and oak.

Mouth: Hot, but sweet. Notes of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon and oak. It's exactly like I would have guessed from the nose.

Finish: Warm and long. Notes of cinnamon and oak.

Thoughts: This is really good, as usual. Rich, thick, and delicious. Water brings out the oak and tames the heat. Not a Bourbon of the Year winner this year, but not because C922 isn’t good. It is very good. It’s just that the other Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases have been just as good. Let’s look at how C922 compares to May’s B522.

Comparison to B522: The nose on C922 is sweeter. The mouth of B522 shows more baking spice, whereas C922 is much sweeter. If I had to choose, I'd pick C922 personally. It just captures that "stereotypical Bourbon" flavor better. And because I have a sweet tooth. But both are delicious and if you see either on the shelf near the suggested retail price, I’d pick it up. Even if you have one in your closet already. Big, big fan.

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.

Little Book Chapter 6, "To the Finish"

I’d like to thank the folks from Beam Suntory and their PR teams for sharing this sample with no strings attached.

Beam Suntory’s Little Book is the creation of the newly appointed Eighth Generation Jim Beam Master Distiller Freddie Noe. It is a celebration of what “blended whiskey” can be. These aren’t the blended whiskeys of the mid-to-late 20th century. These are delicious, high proof whiskeys that allow for creativity of ingredient. And I have liked every iteration of Little Book so far. So when I was offered a sample for review, I jumped at it.

This “chapter” is a pretty complicated blend. It includes a five-year-old straight bourbon along with four four-year-old straight malt whiskeys that have each been finished in a different type of finshing barrel. Those include barrels with cherrywood staves and maple wood staves along with barrels that have been smoked with applewood smoke and hickory smoke. Here is what the press release has to say:

Little Book Chapter 6: “To The Finish,” is the latest chapter in Eighth Generation Master Distiller, Freddie Noe’s acclaimed Little Book Whiskey series. The name of this year’s chapter is inspired by Freddie’s passion for both whiskey-making and cooking, and more specifically his curiosity for how flavors come together.

The kitchen has always been a place where the Noe family has come together to share traditions from generation to generation. These traditions around family meals, and Freddie’s adventures around the grill, inspired his work in the rackhouse for Chapter 6. Freddie uses the traditional method of smoking hardwoods to create different aromas and flavors in food, and he’s applied that same method to the whiskey-making process, using unique wood staves and barrel techniques for Chapter 6.

So, how does it taste?

Little Book Chapter 6 "To the Finish"

Purchase Info: This sample was sent to me by the producer for review purposes. The Suggested Retail Price is $124.99

Price per Drink (50 mL): $8.33

Details: 58.725% ABV. Blend Components: 4-year-old Straight Malt Whiskey finished with cherrywood staves, 4-year-old Straight Malt Whiskey finished with applewood smoked barrels, 4-year-old Straight Malt Whiskey finished in hickory smoked barrels, 4-year-old Straight Malt Whiskey finished with maple wood staves, and 5-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

Nose: Cinnamon, wintergreen, malted grain, and hints of cherry.

Mouth: Very hot and dry. Notes follow the nose with cherry, wintergreen, malt, and cinnamon.

Finish: Long and warm with notes of malt, cinnamon, wintergreen, and a touch of barbeque smoke.

Thoughts: I'm sad to say that this is the first "Chapter" of Little Book that didn't work for me. But that is entirely on me, not the Whiskey. I'm not a fan of either malt or smoke, and this has notes of both. So that's on me, not Freddie Noe. If you like/don't mind the flavor of malt whiskey, then this is worth a look.

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.

Larceny Barrel Proof, C922

I’d like to thank Heaven Hill for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

In the May review of Larceny Barrel Proof version B522, I said the following:

If you can find it, it is usually pretty affordable with a suggested retail price of $59.99. That if carries a lot of weight though as I’ve never seen it on a shelf before.

Well hallelujah! Since that time, I’ve seen it on the shelf. Twice. And I bought it both times. We either just got it locally or the local stores have stopped holding it back for lotteries. Either way, I like it when online whining seems to correlate to a change in the universe, and in that spirit, I’d just like to say that I’ve also never seen a million dollars in my bank account.

You know, in case the universe wants to do me another solid…

Larceny Barrel Proof is a barrel-proof bourbon released three times per year in January, May, and September by the folks at Heaven Hill. It is fairly affordable for a special release, with a suggested retail price of $59.99. I think I may have spent $65 on my bottles locally. Larceny Barrel Proof uses Heaven Hill’s wheated Bourbon mashbill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. Every release so far has been super tasty. Let’s see if that trend continues.

Larceny Barrel Proof, C922

Purchase Info: This was graciously provided by Heaven Hill for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $59.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.00

Details: 63.3% ABV.

Nose: Caramel, herbal mint, oak, bubblegum, and a hint of wood smoke.

Mouth: Spicy with notes of ginger, oak, caramel, orange zest, cinnamon, and vanilla.

Finish: Long and warm with notes of cinnamon, ginger, leather, and orange zest.

Thoughts: This is delicious. Warm, sweet, spicy. I could drink this all night long. Big, big fan.

Comparison to B522: The noses are very similar. B522 might show just a little more sweetness. B522 isn't as sweet on the mouth but is just as spicy, though B522's spice is more nutmeg than ginger. If I were forced to choose, C922 would be my choice, but since I've bought two bottles of B522, it is safe to say that both are good.

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, posters, and more.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Announces 50 States Collection to Benefit Charity

Hey folks! I don’t normally just post press releases, but I was going to skip tonight anyway. No time to write tonight because it is officially COLLEGE FOOTBALL season. And tonight, my beloved Minnesota Golden Gophers open the season against one of their formerly beloved prior coaches (who is currently a bitter old man who will bad mouth the University without prompting), and I wouldn’t miss it for anything. But this came across my inbox this morning, and I thought it was interesting. Hopefully, you do too.

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BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY HONORS AMERICA AND BOURBON HERITAGE MONTH WITH 50 STATES COLLECTION BENEFITING CHARITY

Nation’s oldest continuously operating distillery and Keep America Beautiful® honor the birthplace of bourbon by auctioning 50 hand-painted, state-inspired Buffalo Trace Single Barrel bottles and corresponding artwork 

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (September 7, 2022): In celebration of Bourbon Heritage Month, Buffalo Trace Distillery, the world’s most awarded distillery, announces the Buffalo Trace Bourbon Heritage Month Collection. This one-of-a-kind series of whiskey and art will feature 50 1.75L bottles of Buffalo Trace Single Barrel Bourbon hand-painted with designs inspired by iconic elements from each state along with the corresponding artwork and a VIP distillery tour. Beginning September 7th, the bottles will be available via an online auction with all sale proceeds benefiting Keep America Beautiful, the largest community improvement organization in the US. 

“Bourbon is a uniquely American spirit, and we’re proud of that heritage,” said Sara Saunders, Vice President of Global Marketing for Buffalo Trace Distillery. “As America’s oldest continuously operating distillery, Buffalo Trace Distillery has deep roots pioneering the category of American Whiskey, and we’re thrilled to mark Bourbon Heritage Month by celebrating not just our home state - the birthplace of bourbon – but also the states our bourbon-loving fans from coast to coast call home too.”

Artwork for the collection was done by Louisville, Kentucky-based artist and illustrator Bri Bowers. Known for her wearable art, cardboard sculptures and illustrations, Bowers is most famous for her watercolor series depicting Louisville's beloved neighborhoods and landmarks.

“This was a particularly exciting project for me for a few reasons: first, I’m a huge bourbon fan and second, because I have really a special connection with my home state of Kentucky, which also happens to be the homeplace of Buffalo Trace,” said Bowers. “Central to much of my art is the idea of celebrating connectedness to places that are important to you, and I love that with this collection we’re doing just that while also giving back, too.”

The auction will run September 7 – September 22. All proceeds raised will support the mission of Keep America Beautiful which is committed to ensuring our nation remains a clean, green, and beautiful place to live. Over the years, Buffalo Trace has donated millions of dollars to charities around the globe, and in 2022 alone, the Distillery committed to donating 2,022 bottles of its finest whiskies to raise record-breaking donations for nonprofits around the world.

“As a National Historic Landmark, Buffalo Trace Distillery understands that the diverse beauty of our nation requires care and attention to ensure future generations continue to benefit. Keep America Beautiful is a leader in this charge, and we’re thrilled to support their important work with this one-of-a-kind offering,” Saunders said. “Giving back to communities is a core value at Buffalo Trace Distillery and it’s an honor to work alongside such inspiring changemakers.”

To participate in the auction, visit https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/bourbon-heritage to link to the auction site from 9AM ET on September 7 – 7PM ET on September 22. Bidding will begin at $75/each for a hand-painted 1.75L of Buffalo Trace Single Barrel Bourbon with corresponding artwork. Winners will be notified via email and will immediately be able to download their artwork. Bottles and physical art prints will be available for pickup at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY from January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023. Auction winners will also receive a VIP tour and tasting at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Entry and eligibility restrictions apply. See website for details. 

For more information on Buffalo Trace please visit https://www.buffalotrace.com/ and follow along on social media via Instagram and Facebook. Join Keep America Beautiful on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube and take action at kab.org.  

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery's rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its George T. Stagg was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2022 and its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named 2nd Finest Whiskey in the World for 2022. Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com. To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/media

About Keep America Beautiful

Keep America Beautiful, the nation's leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America's Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green, and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. 

The Keep America Beautiful Model for Change – steeped in education, research, and behavioral science – is the cornerstone of Keep America Beautiful. We empower generations of community and environmental stewards with volunteer programs, hands-on experiences, educational curricula, practical advice, and other resources. The organization is driven by the work and passion of nearly 700 Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.

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