Distilled: How to Host a Bourbon Vertical

Plus: New brands to watch; an old-fashioned twist

A colleague was recently reminiscing about a post-event gathering in a New Orleans hotel room where someone pulled out a bottle and she wound up sipping bourbon out of the only vessel that hadn’t been grabbed—an empty Pringles can from the minibar. That’s just the kind of thing that can happen sometimes during a late night in the Crescent City. For this week’s edition, contributing editor Steve Russell took a slightly more refined approach when he enlisted a few friends for a vertical tasting of five bottles in the Woodford Reserve lineup. Contributor Tom Wilmes, fresh off a trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival (where there were plenty of late-night gatherings), suggests four up-and-coming brands that might surprise some folks at your next bottle share. We also catch up with bartender extraordinaire Tiffanie Barriere, and if you’re a fan of the old-fashioned, try this riff on the classic that swaps in cane syrup. Wherever or however you like your bourbon, here’s hoping you get to enjoy some great sips with friends soon.

Choose a distillery and up your bourbon expertise with some whiskey-loving pals.

From bourbon made on the family farm to bold experiments, these relative newcomers are turning heads.

Known as the Drinking Coach, Tiffanie Barriere spent seven years as the beverage director of One Flew South at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Now an independent bartender and educator, the Louisiana-Texas native has lent her expertise to prestigious events like the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Tales of the Cocktail, and the Charleston Wine & Food Festival. In 2023, she received the Visionary Award from the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation.

What’s the most popular bourbon you’re pouring?
Old Forester 100. Smooth, bold, and familiar in all the right ways. It hits that sweet spot with guests who know what they want.

What whiskey are you drinking after-hours?
Russell’s Reserve 6 Year. It’s like a warm blanket at the end of a long day or before dinner. Deep, rich, and comforting. Last night it was Penelope.

What’s your dream bottle?
Michter’s 20 Year. It’s elusive, elegant, and tells a whole story in a single sip.

Your most popular bourbon cocktail?
An old-fashioned, every time. It’s a classic for a reason and a beautiful way to highlight a good bourbon.

Is there a new brand or bourbon you’re excited about?
Yes, Edmond’s Honor bourbon has completely captured my heart. Crafted by Tracie Franklin, this spirit honors Edmond Albius, the botanist who at twelve years old invented vanilla pollination on Réunion Island. This bourbon pours rich and vibrant—honeyed vanilla, toasted spices, baking warmth, balanced yet bold. As a Black woman in spirits, it means everything to me. It’s the kind of bourbon that opens doors and reminds us who came before us and who’s next.

Where’s the best spot to drink bourbon?
If you’re in Atlanta, hit Whoopsie, Kimball House, or Southern National. They know how to pour with purpose and curate an experience.

Neat? One cube? Crushed?
Neat for me!

If you love the classic cocktail, try this version that brings the depth of sugarcane.

This year, Angel’s Envy’s October cask-strength release also marks the distillery’s first age-stated expression: Angel’s Envy 10-Year Cask Strength. Bottled at 122.6 proof and with a big, roasty peanut brittle note, the bourbon spent at least seven years aging in new charred oak barrels and up to three more finishing in port wine casks. Master distiller Owen Martin says he used a high percentage of second-fill wine barrels to enable the extended finish.

Bourbon meets rye in the latest Garrison Brothers release, Sonora, named for caverns carved into the limestone deep beneath the Texas Hill Country. This bourbon aged at least four years in new charred oak and was finished for another three in rye whiskey barrels. It’s bottled at 108 proof, and $5 per bottle supports the Texas Cave Management Association.

The coveted King of Kentucky—a historic label produced by Brown-Forman from 1936 to 1968 and revived in 2018—returns with a seventeen-year, high-proof single-barrel release. Master distiller emeritus Chris Morris selected sixty-three barrels from two prime warehouse locations, yielding 5,000 bottles of a “bold, robust bourbon that has been aged to perfection.”

Buffalo Trace Distillery celebrated the filling of its nine millionth barrel since Prohibition with an October ceremony at its Frankfort, Kentucky, headquarters. The milestone comes less than three years after the eight millionth barrel and reflects the distillery’s growing pace—especially after the recent completion of a $1.2 billion expansion that more than doubled capacity.

Speaking of Buffalo Trace, VIP tickets are going fast for the Bourbon Classic (February 25–28) in Louisville, where the distillery is sponsoring the Saturday evening VIP Lounge. All attendees can enjoy educational sessions, Friday’s cocktail and culinary challenge, and Saturday’s grand tasting, while VIP ticket holders that evening will also be treated to top-shelf pours from the famed distillery.

—Tom Wilmes, G&G contributor