09/03/2026
I'm a day late and a dram short, but September 2nd is always a special day around bourbon country. We celebrate both the birthday of whiskey pioneer and founder George Garvin Brown (September 2, 1846) and the annual release of the super-duper allocated Old Forester Birthday Bourbon. (Did YOU luck into a bottle this year?!)
For me, this day has always been the unofficial kick-off of the Fall Whiskey season around Kentucky. Bring on the annual bottle releases, dust off those rocks glasses, get your tickets for allll the festivals, break out a sweater for the cooler weather, find a fun tasting and so much more. It's an exciting time to be knee-deep in celebration of America's native spirit.
Cheers to September! And may your Old Fo bottle today be almost as large as the iconic bourbon water tower sitting atop Brown-Forman HQ!
09/02/2026
Get ready to raise your spirits, Lexington. TODAY is the day to step into a New Era! 🥃✨
Lexington's first all-in-one distillery, tasting room, gift shop, and social club (whew) is flinging open its doors TODAY, (Wed. September 2nd) and this is the place to be for a bit of mid-week Whiskey Whimsy.
Come mingle, make some pour decisions (the good kind), and toast to a brilliant new addition to the Bluegrass whiskey scene.
Here is everything you need to know to join the party:
What: New Era Distillery Grand Opening & Open House
When: Today from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Where: 333 E. Short Street, Lexington, KY
And Why: Meet founder Zane Brammell, take a sneak-peek tour, enjoy a tasting, and score yourself some exclusive special edition bottles to take home.
Admission is completely free to attend. Just bring your ID, as you must be 21+ to join the fun)
Head over to www.newerawhiskey.com for all the extra details. Grab a friend, clear your schedule at 4 PM, and let's get this barrel rolling. 🍻
08/31/2026
I've done the math, checked the lunar calendars and I'm fairly sure my astrological sign is "Bourbon." (It's a Whiskey Sign. Which is kinda like a Water Sign. but better.)
The primary trait includes enjoying a good bourbon pour. Especially when it includes new whiskey, making a few new friends, and some great conversation and whiskey stories.
Important to note that as a Whiskey Sign, I'm told that I'm empathetic, creative and know the difference between bourbon made in Lawrenceburg, KY and bourbon made in Lawrenceburg, IN.
Fun fact, According to my Mash Bill Zodiac, it also predicts that my lucky numbers in the Amber Alignment are 1897, 100 proof, and however many fingers are currently left in the bottle. Cheers!
08/28/2026
It never fails. You walk into THIS room at the distillery, catch a whiff of the fermentation tank...and suddenly you're very, very invested in the science of sour mash. 🧪
After countless distillery visits, there is still something magical about seeing (and smelling) a fermentation tank up close. Stainless steel or cypress wood. Massive 40,000 gallon vessels or smaller 1,500 gallon vats. All of it
I'm always captivated by that almost-unappealing funky yet awesomely sour reminder that bourbon is very much alive long before it hits the barrel. 🥃
Bonus points awarded when the tour guide lets me stick my finger in the mash to taste a small sample. 🤩
08/26/2026
Bourbon. Scotch. Which side are YOU on? 🤔
Our next big Phil Talks Whiskey public tasting features a flavorful face-off between two iconic spirits: Kentucky Bourbon and Scotch Whisky! No kilts. No bagpipes. Just some world-class whisky, fantastic stories and history, and a whole lot of fun.
🗓️ Thursday, Sept 17 | 7:00 PM
📍 Story Louisville (828 E Market St)
🎟️ Tickets & More Details on Eventbrite: https://scotchvsbourbon.eventbrite.com/
❗ 21+ Event • Limited Seating
We’re putting Scotch and Bourbon in a head-to-head matchup, exploring how centuries of heritage across two distinct cultures shaped the spirits we love today. Come ready to taste four curated heavy-hitter pours, learn some fascinating history and colorful tales, and share a few laughs over the course of a lively, interactive evening.
It's an evening with a little Kentucky hug alongside a wee Scottish kiss... along with a few fun surprises!
🐦💵 Early Bird Alert: Save 10% on all tickets when you book your seat by this Wednesday evening!
Dinna dally, grab yer ticket for the bricht grand rally!....er...I mean, snag your spot today before it's gone!
https://scotchvsbourbon.eventbrite.com/
08/24/2026
Sending a huge thanks to everyone in Cincinnati who came out to our "Aged to Perfection - A Tasting of 12-Year KY Bourbons" event last week at CoHatch Kenwood! Excellent times all around with a sold-out room as we dug deep into the world of well-aged Kentucky bourbons.
The tasting was packed with an incredibly inquisitive crew (my favorite kind) that tossed out excellent questions non-stop and generated some lively discussions. The night flew by in an all-too-fast flash.
Here's a look at what was on the tasting mat. As always, we wrapped up the evening with a vote for a favorite. On this particular night, the imported Evan Williams 12-Year-Old juuuusst barely edged out the competition for the crowd favorite!
We also managed to shatter a classic bourbon myth: a higher age statement on any bottle doesn’t mean for certain that it's going to taste better than its younger cousins. Or that you'll like it more. It only means one thing for sure: You’re going to pay more for the bottle!
Looking forward to doing it all again soon at another tasting event, Cincy! Cheers!
08/26/2026
08/24/2026