A Brit and A Southerner

Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse – How to Enjoy an Amazing Mixology Class?

Kentucky

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Jun 19, 2017

Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse – How to Enjoy an Amazing Mixology Class?

Are you ready to find your inner flair and a touch of je ne sais quoi flamboyance to create a perfect cocktail using Jim Beam’s finest bourbon whiskey? This is exactly what you should be prepared for when you visit the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse in downtown Louisville to enjoy an epic mixology class experience. Whether you are an expert bartender or don’t know the difference between a whiskey glass and a shot glass, the mixology class is the perfect experience to learn all about the bourbon whiskey cocktail scene.

Bourbon whiskey may not be the first liquor you think about using to create a perfect cocktail but after enjoying a mixology class at the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse, you likely will want to reconsider this thought process. Thanks to our awesome bartender teacher for the night, Daniel, we can now well and truly say that we are experts in the field of bartending!

Ok, so that’s a slight exaggeration…perhaps a HUGE exaggeration, but regardless of our talent levels before and after the mixology class, nothing can take away from the amazing experience we enjoyed thanks primarily to Daniel’s awesome lesson.

If you are planning a bourbon-inspired weekend in Louisville, you have picked the right blog to read! We enjoyed an amazing 48-hours experiencing some of Louisville’s finest bourbon distilleries and we will be posting more of our experiences from around the city. But this post is all about creating that perfect cocktail. Let’s find out how we did and hopefully you will be inspired to add this creative experience to your Louisville itinerary!

Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse Tours

Ready to head downtown Louisville to enjoy one of the amazing tours and experiences at the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse?

If you already enjoyed the Jim Beam American Stillhouse in nearby Clermont, this is definitely a great alternative with a more “modern, urbanized” feel to the location. Both offer a great experience and we highly recommend visiting both Stillhouses if you have time when you are in the Louisville area.

Here is the selection of tours currently available, including the awesome “mixology” class that you can participate in.

Tour the Visitor Center

No reservations are necessary and anyone can just walk inside the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse located on the vibrant 4th Street Live in downtown Louisville to enjoy a small working distillery, a bottling line, a tasting experience and of course, the opportunity to create your very own personalized bottle of bourbon.

Taste of History

For those wandering around downtown Louisville and want a quick introduction to Jim Beam’s iconic bourbon flavors, head inside the Urban Stillhouse and participate in the “Taste of History” tour.

For only $6, you can learn about the history and heritage of this brand while at the same time enjoying a sample of four flights, including the rare Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse Select, only available inside this location. Two other favorite options are chosen by the expert guides while the fourth option is entirely personalized dependent upon your own preference!

Jim Beam’s bartenders and guides will lead you through the process of enjoying the perfect Jim Beam bourbon while also learning about Booker’s signature “Kentucky Chew.” Did I also mention that you get to take home your very own commemorative Jim Beam shot glass?

Tableside Cocktails Tour

We were delighted to participate in a brand new experience that the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse has recently introduced. The “Tableside Cocktails” experience is a great way for anyone to become a bartender in just 30 minutes. These experiences are available every hour between 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM, Monday through Saturday.

Adults – $18

As there is limited availability on this tour, we strongly recommend making reservations by calling the Urban Stillhouse at (502) 855-8392.

Enjoy A Personalized Mixology Class

Welcome to your very own bartending bourbon 101 mixology lesson!

After briefly speaking with the manager of the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse, we learned that this tableside cocktail experience has only been offered since March 2017, so we were honored to be able to enjoy such a new attraction in downtown Louisville.

I recently read an article on the Insider Louisville website that indicated the following…

Mixology doesn’t have to be intimidating (Insider louisville)

I have to admit that I fell into the category of being slightly nervous about what to expect. These nerves didn’t last long thanks mainly to our awesome guide!

Our personal bartender for the evening was Daniel and we quickly realized this was going to be an awesome experience. He immediately made us feel comfortable despite neither of us having any bartending experience (Heather “claimed” to have some but I will admit that I had zero experience!) and shared a brief history on the use of bourbon in creating cocktail concoctions.

Introducing us to the ingredients that can be used to create the perfect whiskey sour, we were ready to watch Daniel throw together a delicious cocktail. We quickly realized that we should probably pay close attention as it would soon be our turn.

As we learned the difference between a strainer and a shaker and all of the associated techniques to be used with each of the cocktail making tools, we were ready to enjoy the hands-on experience and create something that “hopefully” would be drinkable.

The first step was to mix together the Jim Beam bourbon and the lemon juice. After combining the egg whites, we were ready to add some personalized flavor in the form of jam (or jelly depending on where you are from).

A range of flavors was available from peach jalapeno to blackberry and Heather and I both opted for a different option so that our final cocktails were very different. I think there was a little bit of “internal” competition going on between the two of us but fortunately, Daniel was there to ensure both of us stayed on track!

Creative Cocktails – The Result

I am sure you are ready to find out what our final products looked like. I have to admit, we were both proud of what we created, especially given this was our very first experience in the world of mixology. My creation of a peach jalapeno whiskey sour tasted great though Heather will argue that her blackberry concoction was the better of the two. Either way, both looked great and the taste was acceptable.

Daniel gave us both kudos and although neither of us can compete with his talent in the bartending industry, it’s the experience that makes this such a worthwhile place to visit.

experience first-hand how to craft a truly unique and great tasting cocktail and lots of laughs as you and your friends experiment and enjoy a well-balanced cocktail that will make you the life of any party! (Jim Beam)

The experience is advertised above as having “lots of laughs” and we can both well and truly attest that this is definitely true! Whether we are going to be the life of the party moving forward, well only time will tell, but thanks to Daniel, we can both say that we know how to create a unique Jim Beam bourbon cocktail!

Summary

Visiting the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse and participating in the mixology tableside cocktail experience was one of the most entertaining activities we have done. If you are planning a visit to Louisville to experience the awesome bourbon distilleries, be sure to add this to your itinerary because you won’t be disappointed.

It’s very different to anywhere else in Louisville and offers a “hands-on” experience rather than simply just learning about the history and process of making bourbon and then having the opportunity to sample the different flavors.

You may find the inner bartender inside you or perhaps you will realize that you need to find an alternative industry. Either way, one thing is for sure, you will have an AMAZING time experiencing this and thanks to Daniel, we both cannot wait to go back and enjoy this again!

Disclaimer – We would like to thank Go To Louisville for hosting us on this trip and to Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse for allowing us to participate in the Tableside Cocktails experience. These are solely our personal opinions/experiences and we were not financially compensated for this post.

How to See Elephant Rocks State Park in the Heart of Missouri?

Missouri

Chris Boothman

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Jun 15, 2017

4

How to See Elephant Rocks State Park in the Heart of Missouri?

Breathtaking natural landscapes and geological phenomena are not necessarily words you would associate with the state of Missouri. However, when you hear the name Elephant Rocks State Park, surely this has to be a really awesome experience? Don’t worry, this state park in the heart of Missouri doesn’t disappoint in a number of ways.

From awesome hiking trails to the amazing sight of huge boulders that create this extraordinary landscape, Elephant Rocks State Park is certainly a location you should consider visiting if you are planning a trip to Missouri. Perhaps the location is a factor that will prevent huge volumes of visitors to this state park but at the same time, I think this is a benefit given that it will help preserve the gorgeous natural phenomenon that can be found here.

Where is Elephant Rocks State Park?

Having spent much of our recent travels heading far and wide away from Arkansas as we embark on visiting all 50 US states, we decided to visit our neighboring state of Missouri to see what Elephant Rocks State Park was all about. Located in the Arcadia Valley area of Missouri, this state park offers a number of attractive reasons that will likely inspire return visitors given the beauty throughout the area.

For those of you unfamiliar with the state of Missouri and the geography surrounding here, Elephant Rocks State Park is a little over an hour south of St. Louis along US Highway 67. Visiting from Arkansas, it was approximately 3 hours from our hometown of Jonesboro.

Whether you intend on spending a full day exploring this state park or perhaps some of the nearby natural attractions, there are plenty of options in this region. We opted to spend a couple of hours early in the morning hiking around Elephant Rocks State Park before taking the short drive north to spend time “exploring off the beaten path St. Louis.”

Braille Trail

It’s all about hiking and exploring when you visit Elephant Rocks State Park. If you are visiting for the first time, we strongly encourage you to take the interpretative “Braille Trail”. This self-guided walking tour allows you to follow a trail specifically designed for everyone to enjoy this amazing landscape.

At various points around the trail, there is interpretive signage providing more information on the landscape and also some history of this state park.

Designed especially for people with visual or physical disabilities in 1981, Braille Trail is the first of its kind in Missouri state parks and is designated as a National Recreation Trail.

Although the estimated hiking time suggests you can complete this 1-mile trail in 30 minutes, realistically you should probably plan on spending more than an hour around here with all the viewpoints available and other off-road experiences you may want to explore.

Engine House Ruins Trail

There is also an opportunity to head off the beaten path and take a more challenging adventure through the natural terrain that makes up this state park.

Known as the Engine House Ruins Trail, this 0.4-mile trail is still relatively easy but offers a different experience to the traditional route that the majority of visitors will stick to.

We opted to explore both trails and although we anything but expert hikers, this was a comfortable yet enjoyable hike with very few other hikers taking the time to head along this route.

Simply follow the blue arrows sporadically affixed to trees and feel free to take your own route to really appreciate the views beyond the bluffs and drop-offs beside the trail.

Depending on the direction you start this trail, the ancient ruins (ok, so it only dates back to the 1890’s) of the Engine House offers visitors the opportunity to view the location where train engines from the Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad were repaired.

Explore the Elephant Rocks

You can hike to your heart’s desire but for most visitors, the highlight has to be the amazing granite rocks that you can clamber over and admire. As you wander out into the open space where all of these giant boulders are located, it’s pretty easy to understand where the name “Elephant Rocks” was derived.

These rocks date back over 1.5 billion years and although this is understandably a popular attraction for children to enjoy, I think we can all find our inner childhood for a few moments to enjoy these awesome natural features.

giant boulders that stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants

The Missouri State Park’s website elaborately describes these boulders as an “end-to-end train of circus elephants”. I’m not sure that’s exactly how I would explain their appearance but who am I to argue, given that it’s pretty awesome way to vividly describe these geologic formations.

It’s a location that inspires you to take a number of selfies and why not! These rocks provide the perfect backdrop for an amazing family photo or perhaps creating a memory exploring this state park with your hiking buddies.

Missouri Fall Foliage

The beauty of these rocks goes well beyond the historic granite formations. Their location in the heart of gorgeous surroundings creates a myriad of amazing landscape viewpoints.

On a number of occasions as we wandered around the rocks, we just stopped to admire the beauty highlighting the Missouri fall foliage. I’m sure this is pretty spectacular all year round but we felt pretty fortunate to visit while the vibrant colors were in full show.

Having recently spent time exploring the breathtaking fall foliage in Minnesota, we could be forgiven for thinking that Missouri was going to fail at living up to our high expectations. Don’t worry, in the heart of the Arcadia Valley, it’s pretty easy to stumble across a myriad of scenic views across the foliage.

Summary

Elephant Rocks State Park lived up to the high expectations created by its name. We actually visited with pretty low expectations given the remote location in Missouri but we left satisfied that this was a great location to stumble across and one that we look forward to visiting in the future.

For those of you visiting the St. Louis region of Missouri and want a day trip away from the hustle and bustle of city life, consider a short drive south into the rural valley to explore Elephant Rocks State Park. We think that you will be happy with your decision!

What’s the quirkiest/strangest location name that you have visited around the world? Did it live up to expectations? Have you spent much time exploring Missouri?

CabinZero Backpack – How to Enjoy the Perfect Weekend Getaway?

Travel Tech 101

Chris Boothman

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Jun 12, 2017

7

CabinZero Backpack – How to Enjoy the Perfect Weekend Getaway?

Have you ever fallen in love with a product that you can well and truly claim has changed the way you travel? We have enjoyed using a variety of travel products, many from leading brands in the travel industry while others are from up and coming organizations looking to thrive in this saturated market. However, nothing can quite compare to the experience we have enjoyed with the amazing CabinZero backpack!

And we are ready to share our experiences with you and after reading this post, we are convinced that you will be raring to ditch your other travel bags and add a CabinZero backpack to your collection.

Long gone are the days where you need to think about checking luggage along with finding that perfect carry-on to handle a change of clothes and all those valuable tech gadgets. With the CabinZero Backpack range, you can enjoy all of these in requirements in one bag…it’s that simple!

Our CabinZero Experiences

We have been using our CabinZero backpack for a little over two months on a variety of trips, ranging from day trips to long weekend getaways. We have posted product reviews before on our site after one experience but after using these bags on our weekend in St Louis, we knew that we had found something special.

Rather than giving a typical review after a one-time use, this product deserved better and instead, we opted to use this on trips to Louisville, Dallas, Nashville and our biggest test to-date, an international trip to the Canadian national parks of Banff and Jasper over the Memorial Day weekend!

We are actually the proud owners of TWO CabinZero backpacks, notably the larger 44-liter and the smaller 28-liter option. Both are perfect for a weekend getaway and together, they provide an ideal combination for us to explore the world one weekend at a time!

But what makes CabinZero so different to anything else in the market? Let’s take a look at why this brand is creating such a cutting-edge product and how you will quickly fall in love with the perfect companion for your next weekend getaway!

CabinZero Brand

Forget Samsonite, forget The North Face and forget all of those other high-profile brands that have a myriad of products waiting to capture your attention! Take a moment to focus solely on one brand that will change how you travel…WELCOME TO CABINZERO!

It all started in 1993 when founder and current CEO, Neil Varden, headed on a journey or as refers to it “an epiphany” to India to explore and to find himself. Armed with a large backpack, his 6-week journey took him all around but after returning to the UK, he quickly realized two things. Firstly, he had to return to India and secondly, he needed to find a better bag.

Varden returned with a smaller bag and this time experienced India for six months but yet again, his return to the UK revealed a very similar pattern…another trip back to India was needed but this time, with the “perfect” bag!

As we fast-forward to today, we can see how the CabinZero brand evolved! Varden developed a cost-effective solution that would not only satisfy the nomadic traveler but also the every-day traveler looking to head on a weekend getaway aboard the low-cost airlines that are dominating the international market.

Now is also a good time to mention where the name CabinZero comes from?

Cabin Sized = Zero Hassles. CabinZero. Neat huh?

After using two CabinZero backpacks for our recent travels, it’s fair to say they have 100% achieved their goal.

Socially Responsible Brand

Before indulging in the vast array of colors, designs and product lines offered by CabinZero, I want to touch on an important aspect of this brand – social responsibility. All too frequently we hear about brands that offer low-cost solutions across a variety of needs but at what cost “behind the scenes?”

CabinZero is the epitome of a socially responsible brand on a number of fronts.

No Sweatshops – All factories are hand selected by Varden and he, along with his senior management team, frequently visit them to ensure high working standards are in place. All of the factories used are also part of an internationally recognized scheme that is socially responsible ensuring that no sweatshop conditions are experienced.
Quality and Safety – All products are inspected for quality throughout the production lifecycle and final shipment inspections are conducted by CabinZero staff in China or Vietnam. A stringent quality and safety check is a critical component in ensuring that customers are 100% satisfied with their purchases.
Reducing Environmental Impact – Although it’s critical for all CabinZero products to pass regulatory tests, the real benefit in reducing the impact on the environment is the creation of high-quality, durable products meaning that consumers don’t have to constantly throw away bags and replace with new ones.

These are the three key components that CabinZero strives to address with everything they produce but it’s also interesting to note that this brand is committed to supporting charitable organizations in less economically developed countries while maintaining high ethical standards.

Classic 44L CabinZero Backpack

Let’s take a look at our first CabinZero backpack, also known as Heather’s backpack given that she generally takes more clothes! Regardless of whether you are male or female, the 44-liter option is an ideal choice for everyone given that it can accommodate so many items.

Heather is a huge proponent of the vibrant purple color and why not!! It’s gorgeous and makes it easily identifiable in the cabin, especially if there are other backpacks in the overhead space. But the CabinZero backpack is more than just a gorgeous color.

Characteristics

Here are some of the key characteristics that make this our new favorite backpack.

Global Luggage Tracker – Powered by Okoban, there is a built-in global luggage tracker making this safe, secure and creating a worry free product that will give you piece of mind as you travel the world!
Lockable Zippers – You can easily add your own lock to increase the security of this backpack.
10 Year Warranty – The CabinZero brand offers a 10-year warranty on all their backpacks…and for a quick LIKE of their Facebook page, you can increase this to 25 years!

Technical Specifications

Volume: 44L
Weight: 760 grams (approx)
Dimensions: Fits 55 x 40 x 20 cm
Composition, Outer: Waterproof polyester, Lining: Polyester

Our Thoughts

We love how spacious this bag is and regardless of your desire to pack everything but the kitchen sink, we are confident that the 44-liter backpack will accommodate all of your needs. When we first opened the bag, we didn’t realize quite how much we could pack into this bag but we were quickly astounded at just how much we could fit inside the space.

Another feature that I really love about this bag is the simplicity. We have used a variety of bags that have different sized pockets and compartments and although you may think this will help keep you organized, it can actually have the reverse effect because you have no idea where anything is.

I realize that this is a catch-22 situation and everyone has different but I challenge you to consider the CabinZero backpack as a viable alternative to those products with multiple pockets.

Classic 28L Cabin Sized Backpack

For those of you that already have the larger backpack, perhaps you will be intrigued by the smaller version that we have been fortunate enough to enjoy over the last couple of months. It is very comparable to its larger counterpart but marketed as an “ultra-light” option that can still accommodate your travel needs.

The 28-liter CabinZero backpack is the perfect bag for everyday use and also for short weekend getaways. Combine this with the 44-liter, and you have the perfect setup for a longer vacation without having to worry about carrying a number of larger bags.

Technical Specifications

Volume: 28L
Weight: 600 grams (approx)
Dimensions: Fits 39 x 29.5 x 20 cm
Composition, Outer: Waterproof polyester, Lining: Polyester

Our Thoughts

Why is the 28-liter the perfect companion to the larger 44-liter version? Well, it’s the ideal backpack to carry around as you explore on your travels while you can leave your larger backpack in the hotel with all of your clothes. You can easily fit your DSLR camera, laptop, iPad and other tech gadgets with you and still have plenty of space for a waterproof jacket, umbrella and of course, anything you choose to purchase on your travels.

We also think this bag is trendy and modern, particularly because of the vibrant color scheme available but with a variety of colors to choose from, all travelers can benefit from this 28-liter backpack.

Another great benefit of this smaller backpack is that you can take this as your second carry-on item. On our recent trip to Canada, we took both CabinZero backpacks without any issue because the smaller version can simply slide under the seat in front of you…it’s that convenient!

Summary

We LOVE our CabinZero backpacks! It’s such a simple concept but the appearance, quality, and affordability make these great options for all types of traveler. In our opinion, there are just not enough superlatives to describe how awesome these backpacks are.

I know we all frequently read reviews where someone promotes a product and I will be the first to admit that I am generally very skeptical about these. However, we challenge you to check this backpack out for yourself and you will quickly realize why we are so positive. We literally found ZERO negative aspects about these backpacks.

Whether you opt for the larger 44-liter or the compact 28-liter option (or why not both!!), we are convinced that these backpacks will quickly rise to the top of your packing list and ensure that your next weekend getaway is the perfect experience. The concept of packing can be a hugely frustrating, time-consuming and difficult process…not any longer, thanks to the CabinZero backpack product line that is helping transform the way we can travel!

Disclaimer – CabinZero provided us with two backpacks in exchange for consideration of a blog post. The views contained within this post are entirely our personal opinion/experience and we received no final compensation for this.

Jim Beam American Stillhouse – Why Bourbon 101 Is the Best Tour?

Kentucky

Chris Boothman

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Jun 8, 2017

11

Jim Beam American Stillhouse – Why Bourbon 101 Is the Best Tour?

Kentucky may be famous for the iconic horse race that takes place at Churchill Downs every year but I would argue that this state should be renowned for something on a much larger scale – bourbon whiskey! What better place to start your experience that the world’s largest brand of bourbon – Jim Beam. A visit to Clermont, Kentucky, located about 20 minutes south of Louisville, will give you the opportunity to take a guided tour of the historic Jim Beam American Stillhouse.

Anyone visiting the state of Kentucky would be hard-pressed to avoid the sight and indeed smell of bourbon. But why would anyone want to avoid this? Instead, embrace this experience and consider taking an awesome tour around the various distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. For those of you that would prefer to visit just one, after reading this post hopefully you will be inspired to choose the Jim Beam American Stillhouse as your chosen distillery.

Let’s take a look at why our experience in Clermont was the perfect introduction to the world of bourbon whiskey! We enjoyed an epic weekend in Louisville as we enjoyed the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, but we can well and truly attest that the Jim Beam American Stillhouse was the perfect way to start 48-hour hour experience.

Jim Beam American Stillhouse Tour Options

A visit to the Jim Beam American Stillhouse will offer you a variety of tour options. Depending on whether you book in advance may determine the limited options that are available to you. This is unfortunately what happened to us as we failed to book in advance and we were left with only one viable option as we still wanted to experience the distillery tour.

However, with a little more planning you can enjoy the full experience at Jim Beam but after reading this post, you may consider the tour we took to be sufficient to appreciate everything this American Stillhouse has to offer!

Jim Beam Distillery Tour (Including Tasting)

The most popular of all tours lasts 90 minutes and offers visitors the opportunity to explore the entire process of distilling bourbon whiskey at Jim Beam. The final part of the tour offers a tasting of iconic Jim Beam bourbons.

Adults – $14
Ages 7-20 – $7

If you are interested in experiencing the full Jim Beam Distillery Tour, be sure to make an advanced reservation here: Jim Beam Distillery Tour

Jim Beam Bourbon Bar/Taste of History

If you have already sampled the distillery tour and simply want to return to Clermont to enjoy a traditional bourbon beverage, why not participate in the new “Jim Beam Bourbon Bar” cocktail experience? For only $8, you can appreciate the versatility of bourbon with a perfectly concocted cocktail.

Whether it’s a traditional Old Fashioned or perhaps something with a little more flair, visitors can enjoy a unique cocktail in the bar next to the tasting room!

Tickets can be purchased at the main desk before heading over to enjoy your favorite whiskey inspired cocktail!

Jim Beam Bourbon 101

I think it’s fair to say that we were pretty fortunate to stumble across the Jim Beam Bourbon 101 tour.

We had every intention of taking the full distillery tour but unfortunately, all of the tours for that day were sold out. However, the Bourbon 101 tour is a condensed version that pretty much offers much of the same experience but lasts only 45 minutes.

Adults – $10
Ages 7-20 – $5

Be aware that the Bourbon 101 tour tickets are sold on a first come, first serve basis at the front desk of the American Stillhouse and unlike the full distillery tour, online reservations cannot be made in advance.

History of Jim Beam

Our tour started inside the American Stillhouse as our guide greeted us before leading us outside to board one of the shuttles that would take us into the heart of the distillery. The short journey from the Stillhouse gave our guide the opportunity to give us a quick history lesson and share the seven generations at Jim Beam.

Seven generations, more than 200 years, countless challenges and one goal: to make the best bourbon in the world.

It all started in the 18th-century when Jacob Beam sold his first barrel of Old Jake Beam in 1795. David Beam continued the growth of the distillery in the first part of the 19th-century followed by David M. Beam, but perhaps the iconic figure in the timeline was the fourth generation, Colonel James B. Beam.

Shortly after Prohibition ended, James Beam was inspired to rekindle the brand by rebuilding the distillery in Clermont that we see today. Following the completion of the distillery, the infamous “Jim Beam” was unveiled and ever since that historic day, it’s been the number one bourbon throughout the world.

T. Jeremiah Beam was the final “Beam” in the legacy as the Beam brand was forced to pass the reins to Fred Booker Noe II. Renowned as “The Innovator,” Noe revitalized the declining bourbon category with his legendary Small Batch Bourbon Collection.

Fred Noe became today’s master distiller and introduced many of the flavors that we see on the market such as Red Stag, Honey, Apple, and Maple.

Bourbon 101 Guided Tour

Do you know the five criteria that have to be met in order for a whiskey to be classified as a bourbon? You can learn all of this along with step by step details of the various processes that go into the distilling of bourbon whiskey on the Bourbon 101 tour at the Jim Beam American Stillhouse.

Here are the five rules that every aspiring bourbon maker has to satisfy:

It must be made in the United States – Although 95% of the world’s bourbon is made in Kentucky, as long as it is made in the US, it can be classified as such!
The mash must comprise of at least 51% corn.
Aging has to take place in a new, charred, oak barrel.
Whiskey cannot enter a barrel at higher than 125 proof and cannot be bottled at less than 80 proof.
Only water can be added and only if it is being used to reduce the proof.

So how does it all start? Well, the perfect mash comprises of a secret mix of corn, rye, and barley malt. Our tour started in a cool room where our guide shared the history of Kentucky’s limestone filtered water and how it is used to create the perfect mash. But of course, the secret ingredient of yeast is a closely guarded family secret but adding this is what ensures Jim Beam’s iconic taste remains consistent.

Walking through the small distillery learning about the fermentation and distilling processes was an eye-opening experience and our guide even gave us the opportunity to sample the distilled bourbon before it heads into the oak barrels to age for several years.

Bourbon Tasting 101 Experience

Anyone visiting the Jim Beam American Stillhouse will likely have one thing in their mind, having the opportunity to sample some of this brand’s iconic bourbons.

If you enjoy the Bourbon 101 tour, another key benefit of the condensed experience is that you don’t have to wait as long before sampling three of your favorite bourbon drinks.

Before indulging in Jim Beam’s iconic flavors, our guide gave us a quick overview of the best practices to follow when sampling this drink. There are actually four distinctive stages that we should all experience in order to fully appreciate bourbon whiskey.

Study the color – Each bourbon has a distinctive shade associated with the flavor. A lighter amber indicates a lighter flavor.
Nose the bourbon – Before enjoying your first smell of bourbon, be sure to open your lips so that you can breathe through your mouth.
Take a taste – Don’t forget the “Kentucky Chew” experience! Take a small sip of bourbon and let it swirl around the roof of your mouth before sucking in a little air to gargle it, allowing all of the flavors to hit the tip of your tongue.
Enjoy the finish – Bourbon isn’t cheap so ensure that you enjoy every last sip!

Visitors are handed a credit card loaded with three credits so that you can wander around the tasting room and enjoy your very own personalized tasting experience!

Our guide gave us a brief overview of all 18 flavors available, ranging from the traditional Jim Beam bourbon to the new whiskey flavors that are becoming more and more popular in the market.

However, there is one piece of advice that was best said by Fred Noe when describing the best way to drink bourbon…

Drink it any damn way you please (fred Noe)

Summary

Whether you prefer a classic Jim Beam bourbon such as “Jim Beam Black” or one of the innovative flavors, a visit to the Jim Beam American Stillhouse is definitely the place to go to learn all about this iconic brand. For the bourbon connoisseurs out there that enjoy small batch collections, the Knob Creek flavors are also available, so it’s fair to say there is pretty much everything you need to enjoy bourbon whiskey.

After enjoying the Bourbon 101 tour, we would argue that this is the best way to enjoy the Jim Beam American Stillhouse. Although I cannot comment on the enjoyment level in the full distillery experience, for those of you that prefer condensed versions of tours, this is definitely an awesome alternative.

Regardless of whether you are a bourbon expert, the Jim Beam American Stillhouse experience is for everyone to enjoy. Undoubtedly the best part is at the end when you can enjoy your favorite bourbons but be sure to appreciate all of the history throughout this distillery in Clermont.

Are you a fan of Jim Beam bourbon whiskey or do you prefer other brands?

Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse Tours

Tour the Visitor Center

Taste of History

Tableside Cocktails Tour

Enjoy A Personalized Mixology Class

Creative Cocktails – The Result

Summary

Where is Elephant Rocks State Park?

Braille Trail

Engine House Ruins Trail

Explore the Elephant Rocks

Missouri Fall Foliage

Summary

Our CabinZero Experiences

CabinZero Brand

Socially Responsible Brand

Classic 44L CabinZero Backpack

Characteristics

Technical Specifications

Our Thoughts

Classic 28L Cabin Sized Backpack

Technical Specifications

Our Thoughts

Summary

Jim Beam American Stillhouse Tour Options

Jim Beam Distillery Tour (Including Tasting)

Jim Beam Bourbon Bar/Taste of History

Jim Beam Bourbon 101

History of Jim Beam

Bourbon 101 Guided Tour

Bourbon Tasting 101 Experience

Summary

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