The year 2016 was very good to Bourbonveach.com. Thanks to all of those who have come to visit the site and read the articles. Even more thanks to those who have taken time to follow the blog. I am sure you all have your favorite articles and I hope you will take time to share them with your fellow Bourbon enthusiasts and cigar smokers. I have enjoyed writing all of the articles I have posted but some were more fun than others to research and write. Here is my top 10 list of favorite blogs.
10) Bourbon’s Unsung Heroes: Al Young and Plant Managers. I have enjoyed writing all of the Unsung heroes blogs, but Al Young and the plant managers really do need more public respect and this made the article special to me.
9) American Fruit Brandy: A Spirit to Watch. As I research Bourbon history, I find more and more references to brandy and fruit brandy in particular. I really do feel it will come back and the only thing holding it back now is the production is not out there.
8) Bourbon Ratings: What Do They Mean? I have never liked ratings and this gave me a chance to vent a little on the subject. I hope it provided some food for thought and created discussion on the subject.
7) Pappy 101: I have known Julian and Sally for years and always thought their father deserved a little more recognition. I wrote this article to try to rectify the situation and point out that Old Rip Van Winkle is not ‘Pappy” but Julian Jr.’s brand. Please join me in a little toast to Julian P. Van Winkle, Jr. every time you open a bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle.
6) Pairing Bourbon and Tobacco: As a longtime pipe smoker I have always enjoyed Bourbon and tobacco. I know many other smokers who also enjoy Bourbon with a cigar or a pipe so this article was a subject that I have discussed for years with various people.
5) Bourbon Date Night: The Next Chapter: The fact that Rosemary and I completed the Urban Bourbon Trail in the month of September made this a very fun research task. It also seemed to hit a better note with you readers as it has gotten a lot more views than the original Bourbon Date Night article.
4) Old Bottle Bourbon Flavor: I have been drinking from old bottles of whiskey for many years. I have been fortunate to drink with such people as John Lipman and Bill Thomas and their wonderful collections. John and I have had many discussion on the subject of flavor and I simply wrote down some of my opinions as to what those sources of flavor are.
3) What Happens To Whiskey In The Barrel: I have been talking about this subject for years and this is just part of the subject. The articles on Barrel Proof and Making 19th Century Whiskey should reall be enjoyed along with this article.
2) Pairing Bourbon and Food: Ouita Michel at Woodford Reserve really opened the door to the subject for me. I always knew Bourbon went well with certain foods, but Ouita helped me understand better as to why they went well together.
1) Life at 8 Miles per Hour: I spent a week on the American Queen steamboat. Of course this was my favorite to write and research. It is a great trip and I highly recommend it to any Bourbon Enthusiast who wants a unique experience.
Photos Courtesy of Maggie Kimberl
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