bourbon history
September 5, 2023
Creative costumes, horror flicks, thrills and chills — there’s a lot to love about Halloween. However, when it comes to spirits, we know where to find the good stuff, and, no, it’s not in your neighborhood cemetery. Instead, head to your bar cart this holiday and host not just any old Halloween party but a Halloween spirits-tasting party.
Keep reading for a little spooky inspiration, tips on how to pair your favorite Halloween candy with your favorite bourbons, and more.
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July 12, 2023
If you are a bourbon or whiskey enthusiast, you've likely noticed that whiskey collecting has become a hot hobby. This has led to higher prices and harder-to-find bottles that just a few years ago were populating shelves across the country. You might even do some whiskey collecting yourself.
So, we want to ask (and maybe provide an answer to), "Should I collect or drink my whiskey?" Let's have some fun.
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June 20, 2023
Kentucky bourbon whiskey, straight rye whiskey, and whiskey whiskey–there are many variations of everyone’s favorite brown spirit available in every liquor store and bar in the country. But have you ever stopped and really considered the differences? This advanced guide to bourbon, whiskey, and rye will teach you everything you need to know to drink like a pro.
And, even if you already know the basics, we hope you’ll learn something new and appreciate what’s in your glass even more.
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July 17, 2018
Say the word “Kentucky” and the next word automatically falls into place: bourbon. It’s just one of those natural pairings.
Nearly all bourbon is made there: 95 percent, according to the Kentucky Distillers Association. The connection between the state and the spirit is undeniable.
What is it about the Bluegrass State that makes it the bourbon capital of the world? There are five reasons:
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October 15, 2018
Think you know everything there is to know about bourbon? We bet you’ll learn at least one new fact from reading this list.
If nothing on here surprises you, then kudos! You’ve earned a drink. (more…)
February 1, 2019
When you’re in the bourbon section of your local liquor store, you can’t go wrong with any of our fine Lux Row offerings. But even then, you have some choices to make. If you’d like to be a more confident shopper — or you just want to impress people at dinner parties — read on to learn how to interpret that sometimes-mysterious bourbon label. (more…)
March 28, 2019
Making great bourbon involves many ingredients, each essential in its own right, whether it’s the corn and grains or the cool, clear Kentucky water. But one of the most crucial elements in shaping bourbon into the drink we love: the charred American oak barrels in which it’s aged.
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March 28, 2019
By regulation, all bourbon must be aged in new charred oak barrels. Why? Because unlike other whiskies, no additives (other than water) are allowed in bourbon. No added color. No added flavors. So, other than the distillate itself, bourbon picks up a lot of its character from the barrels. And the character of the barrels depends in large part on the level of char.
To learn more about the process, we chatted with Jeff LaHue, head of strategic partnerships at Independent Stave Company (ISC), which supplies and chars barrels for Lux Row Distillers.
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September 23, 2019
Ah, whiskey. The deceptively simple, amber-colored elixir has served as the inspiration for song, film, study, and reflection. Scholars have spent centuries contemplating how it’s made, how it has evolved, and the role it has played in history and civilization.
In fact, entire museums dedicated to whiskey have sprung up around the world. Here’s our guide to three American favorites.
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November 5, 2019
December 16, 2019
Bourbon isn’t bourbon until it’s been aged in barrels, both by tradition and by law. It needs a protected, waterproof vessel to come into its own, and wooden barrels are just the ticket.
Barrel-making is an ancient process — but there’s room for innovation, says Jeff LaHue, head of strategic partnerships at Independent Stave Company (ISC), the largest maker of whiskey barrels in the world. ISC also supplies barrels to Lux Row Distillery.
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