Woodford Reserve and Maker's Mark

Another Day another Bourbon tasting!

Day 2 has brought us to the beautiful Woodford Reserve distillery.  Woodford was founded in 1996 by the conglomerate Brown-Forman.  Originally founded as the Old Oscar Pepper Distillery in 1812.  The site has not been a continuously operational distillery since then.

Oscar Pepper died in 1867 the distillery was passed to his son James Pepper. 

The Pepper family sold the property to Leopold Labrot and James Graham in 1878, who owned and operated it (except during Prohibition) until it was sold to Brown-Forman in 1941. 

Brown-Forman operated it until the late 1960s, then sold the property and its accompanying acreage to a local farmer. Brown-Forman re-purchased the property in 1993, and brought it back into operation with Woodford Reserve debuting in 1996. 

Fermentation Tanks

Copper Distillation

Destined for a Princess cruise ship

After an interesting Bourbon tasting, we were off to Maker's Mark.  

Maker's Mark's origin began when T. William "Bill" Samuels Sr., purchased the "Burks' Distillery" in 1953. Production began in 1954, and the first run was bottled in 1958 under the brand's dipped red wax seal. Currently owned by Beam-Suntory group, the Samuels family continues to be involved in the distillery.  

 

Bubbling cauldron of corn and grains

Each bottle is hand-dipped.  Every so often the dipper will dip deeper into the wax and create a unique, larger seal on the bottle.  We were told that Bourbon "nerds" look for this!

Glass ceiling created by Dale Chihuly

The inevitable tasting of Bourbon at the end of the tour.  

On our way out of town, we passed the Jim Beam Distillery--closed on Monday and Tuesday, but photo-ops are free.  We are off to Louisville, two more distilleries, and the Louisville Slugger museum.  Cheers!

 

Bourbon, Thoroughbreds, and Bourbon Balls

 

When a friend offers to guide you on the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky, you take him up on his offer.  Along with our bourbon-loving friends from San Diego, we arrived in Louisville and headed to the capital of Kentucky, Frankfort for the night.  

Up bright and early the next morning for a tour/tasting at Buffalo Trace distillery.  Situated along a river, the distilleries all emphasize the importance of the water here in Kentucky (which is delicious) since the springs come up through Limestone without any iron or other minerals, to give the Bourbon a pure taste.  Buffalo Trace has gone through many owners/corporations since its founding in 1811, but is now family-owned by the Sazerac family since 1992 establishing the Buffalo Trace Brand.   

Of course there is a gift shop!

Pappy Van Winkle is made here at Buffalo Trace

Blanton worked his way up from office boy at 16 to plant supervisor in 1900

And, now the tasting:  All of these are Buffalo Trace Brands, truth be told, Bourbon isn't my thing, but the Bourbon cream is delicious and so is the Freddies' root beer.  I kept pouring my tasting bourbon into our friend's glass since he's the connoisseur.  

  

Leaving Buffalo Trace, we headed to Sun Valley Farm, a thoroughbred nursery, raising and selling horses worldwise.  We met Brett and his mom and dad, the family that owns this beautiful piece of the Kentucky countryside and toured the beautiful barns, and got to see some of their gorgeous babies.

Brett with one of his "kids"

Lots of $$ represented here

Stud fees are mind-boggling

We came away with an appreciation of the work and money involved in raising these horses.  This family loves every one of the horses they raise and we loved the tour.  

Our surprise this day is that Kentucky is a stunner; the countryside, and the beauty here is not what we were expecting.  I'd taught in Louisville 30 years ago, but really never got out of Louisville, I'm so glad we did this day.  We are on to Woodford and Makers Mark tomorrow.  But first, there are Bourbon balls!

Ruth Boos bourbon balls are legend in Frankfort, Kentucky.  We visited Rebecca Ruth chocolates, took the short tour, had a bit of a taste, and then headed off to dinner.  

Tomorrow, Woodford Reserve and Makers' Mark.  Cheers for now.