Bourbon time you say? Low wine, high wine, yes it’s Bourbon Time! So let’s get one thing clear, I am a wine drinker. Plain and simple, wine is my drink of choice. However, my husband is a brown water fan so being the wife of the year, I indulged him with a trip to Bourbon Country USA. Lexington, KY. And, I must confess it was a blast! While bourbon, scotch, whiskey, rye and any other kind of brown water out there is way too strong for my delicate palate, I am always an education enthusiast and loved learning about the legacy of Kentucky’s bourbon industry.
Wine does play a key role in how we ended up in Bourbon-tucky. After a few glasses too many with friends at one of our favorite annual fundraising events, the Fort Worth annual Beat Leukemia Ball, my ever-so-generous and tipsy husband “won” a fabulous trip to Lexington. Always up for an adventure, we set the dates and invited friends along for the ride. Our only instruction for the coordinator was to book small distilleries who did not distribute product except direct to consumer (DTC).
Low wine and high wine in bourbon?
At our first stop, James Pepper distillery right on the outskirts of Lexington did not disappoint. While a larger and more commercial purveyor, our educational tour was uber informative and not only gave insight into bourbon making processes, but most interesting glimpses into the spirits long history and reasoning behind why Kentucky is “the place” to make the best bourbon in the U.S. Well, at least according to everyone there! Limestone. Just like in Champagne, France, is the key. With high levels of calcium, limestone filters impurities out of the very water Kentucky distillers use to make bourbon. Couple the ideal soil and substrate with a rich land of corn crops and the result is magical mash. Ultimately, blissful bourbon.
While I left the tasting to the boys, I found my wine link in the fact during the bourbon-making process, Low Wine and High Wine are key stages in the process. Who knew!?! Both versions are more aligned with ever clear than Napa Cab or German Riesling, but crucial to the end product. Multiple distilleries later including Bourbon 30, Three Boys Farm (now Whiskey Thief) and Town Branch did not disappoint. Each was unique, had it’s own rich history and legacy and made my hubby super happy. We even bottled our own blend to take home and enjoy. What’s not to love about getting right in the thick of the process itself?
Final verdict, I’ll be sticking to wine made from grapes, not corn. But I’ll be back as the wide open fields, the horse farms, the rolling hills of blue grass and the passion for perfection each distillery exemplifies are enticing enough for another round. Low Wine, High Wine, it can be Bourbon Time anytime in my book.
Cheers! 🍷
#lexington #bourbon #bourbontrail #jamespepper #
