Star Spangled Bourbon Vol. 3

Bourbon is having a moment—and what a moment it is! It seems everyone’s developed a taste for bourbon, and that’s both good and bad. On the plus side, more small distilleries are breaking through, exciting new releases are launching, and the bourbon community is growing fast. On the downside, bottles can sell out quickly, and sometimes you have to camp overnight to snag a limited-edition gem. But hey, isn’t that part of the fun?

This Tasting Box delivers bold, innovative, and future-forward spirits fueling Bourbon Fever. Let's meet them:

First up is Pinhook Kentucky Straight Bourbon, a testament to the artistry of whiskey-making. Crafted with care at the historic Castle & Key Distillery, Pinhook offers an annual vintage that reflects the unique character of its barrels at that very moment. With a custom mash bill and small-batch blending, Pinhook is crafted to be the best—not just the same—with each vintage offering a new expression of bourbon.

Next, meet Remus Highest Rye Bourbon Whiskey, a six-year-old Rye-heavy beauty inspired by the Prohibition era. With 39% rye in its mash bill, this whiskey honors the bold, spicy flavors that defined the era of bootleggers and speakeasies. Named after George Remus, the "King of the Bootleggers," it’s a delicious nod to history, proving some things never go out of style.

Finally, we turn back the clock with Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Bourbon, a whiskey born in 1856 and renowned in the Prohibition-era Cotton Club. Crafted entirely within Kentucky’s legendary borders, this bourbon balances heritage and ingenuity in every sip. Distilled just 76 miles from its original home, it shows that grit and resilience produce flavors worthy of being passed down through generations.

Come help fuel the flames!

SMARTASS CORNER

1. Bourbon rules refer to manufacturing methods rather than location. Bourbon must be matured in new and charred American white oak casks for at least 2 years. If the bottle has no age statement, the bourbon is at least 4 years old. No coloring or flavoring of any type is allowed, and the mash bill must contain at least 51% corn.

2. Due to its high corn content, bourbon’s going to be sweeter than other whiskeys. Don’t be surprised if you taste plenty of flavors of vanilla, caramel, custard, butterscotch, marzipan, maple, honey, or chocolate among others.

3. Bourbon matures quicker than Scotch due to higher temperatures in American warehouses.

4. Barrels of bourbon outnumber people in Kentucky. Yep, that’s how much ‘good stuff’ they produce there.

5. Bourbon was declared ‘The Official Spirit of America’ by an Act of Congress signed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

6. What’s the deal with Bourbon and Kentucky? No, bourbon doesn’t have to be made in Kentucky. Fine bourbon can come from anywhere in the USA. However, it’s true that most of it does come from the Bluegrass State. And when we say most, we mean a whopping 95%. It’s also where the juice got its name after an area today called Bourbon County, Kentucky. 

7. Do you have a favorite bourbon cocktail already? If not, the list of options is long with the most popular being Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Bourbon Sour, Boulevardier, Bourbon Sidecar, and Kentucky Mule. Mix it up!

8. The name "Pinhook" comes from an old term for buying young racing horses and raising them into champions. Successful pinhooks, like whiskey, depend on instinct, experience, some luck, and patience. 

9. Chicken Cock is a whiskey from an era when naming conventions were delightfully straightforward. Back then, the term 'rooster' had yet to be coined to describe a male chicken. If you're too shy to order Chicken Cock by name, it's probably not for you.

10. Rye whiskey is made from mash which is at least 51 percent rye. The grain gives rye whiskey its spicy, sometimes peppery, and bitter flavor. It was a big seller before Prohibition, and after decades in obscurity, it’s fashionable again.