As we close out 2023, I wanted to thank everyone who continues to visit our site. People say, “You don’t work a day in your life if you do something you love.” Well, folks, I guess I haven’t worked since starting The Bourbon Flight.
Looking back at 2023, there has been a lot of bourbon news. New distilleries are being built, old ones are being remodeled, and it seems like every week, there is a new brand coming to the market.
So here is a list of the top-read stories of 2023.
Top 10 most popular bourbon brands 2023: WikiliQ.org
The popular spirits website, wikiliQ, has gathered the top ten popular brands of 2023. In the big world of bourbon brands, there’s a bottle for every taste, price point, and preference. Whether you’re looking for the perfect bourbon to pair with a cocktail, something smoky and assertive, or a smooth sipper, we’ve got you covered.
Here, we introduce a list of the ten most popular bourbon brands you’ll want to add to your shopping list as soon as possible.
 (1) Bulleit BourbonÂ
- Bulleit Bourbon is inspired by the whiskey pioneered by Augustus Bulleit over 150 years ago.Â
 (2) Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whisky
- Maker’s Mark started with bread, of course. Bill Samuels bought the Burks’ Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, in 1953 and did the predictable – just not in a predictable way.
Four must-try bourbons for 2023
Now that the new year has begun, let’s look at bourbons we should drink in 2023. Here are four that people will be talking about in the new year. Each should be easily located and a great addition to your winter sipping rotation.
Bib & Tucker 6-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon
- Introduced in 2014, this 6-year-old small-batch bourbon should be on everyone’s radar. Most reviews call this an entry-level bourbon, but we disagree. Full of flavor and complexity, Bib & Tucker may be in an already crowded field, but it holds its own.
Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- As with all releases from Frey Ranch, 100% of the grains used in each whiskey were grown and harvested, milled, distilled, and, in this case, malted on the Frey family farm. Experimenting with the corn, wheat, barley, and rye that Co-Founder Colby Frey cultivates has become the brand’s hallmark.
Blue Run announces first private whiskey barrel program
Blue Run Spirits is taking the wraps off its first Private Barrel Program – unlike anything the whiskey industry has seen before. Developed by Trey Wade, Blue Run’s Chief Experience Curator, the program features elements similar to the most exciting aspects of collegiate and professional sports.
Officially dubbed “CHOSEN,” the program is designed to give consumers a much more engaging experience than simply thieving whiskey from a barrel and receiving a co-branded bottle.
First look at the new Blue Run Distillery in Georgetown, KY
Blue Run Spirits revealed the first look at its planned whiskey distillery and headquarters in Georgetown, Kentucky, designed by international architect firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).
The 35,000-square-foot distillery and a 20,000-square-foot rickhouse will break ground in 2023 at the Lanes Run Business Park. Projected to open in 2025, distillery operations are anticipated to bring at least 45 full-time jobs to the local economy, which was heralded in a statement by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshears last fall.
Ten best American craft whiskeys to drink right now: Man of Many
America is the birthplace of bourbon. This corn-based, sweet, easy-drinking, aged spirit is far and away the most popular whiskey in the US.
This list comes from the lifestyle website manofmany.com
There might be more than 2,000 distilleries in the United States, but that doesn’t mean the top craft whiskey brands are falling behind. Producing some of the best single malt whiskeys, rye whiskey, corn whiskey, moonshine, and Tennessee whiskey on the market. To say that the US is drenched in whiskey is partly silly and partly true. Our team of editors and expert Christopher Osburn chooses our favorite craft American brands.
Common mistakes when drinking bourbon
“How can you possibly screw up drinking? Don’t you open your mouth and let the liquid flow down your throat?”
This is what my wife said to me when I tried to explain the proper way to drink bourbon.
It does sound silly to non-bourbon drinkers, but ask an enthusiast that question and you may receive a hundred different answers.
Bourbon is in the eye of the beholder and everyone’s palate is different. In this article, I am not focusing on flavor as much as on common mistakes that most bourbon connoisseurs make. Making a few changes may help enhance your bourbon-drinking experience.
Buffalo Trace releases Antique Collection for Fall 2023 season
Buffalo Trace Distillery is pleased to announce the return of its award-winning Antique Collection for the fall 2023 season, showcasing the products that best represent the Distillery’s exceptional craftmanship and dedication to distilling high-quality, award-winning spirits. This year’s portfolio includes all five Buffalo Trace Antique Collection  (BTAC) staples: George T. Stagg Bourbon, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Whiskey, Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Whiskey, William Larue Weller Bourbon, and a milestone for this year, the oldest Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon in the collection’s history. Â
The spirits in the Antique Collection are aged and proofed at the pinnacle of their flavor profiles to embody the best possible expression of each whiskey. Each expression is stored in a unique crystal-clear glass bottle to showcase its gorgeous color, complemented with a back label that provides a complete product story and description. The limited-edition Antique Collection bottles are sold separately and will be available at retail in early October at a suggested retail price of $124.99 (local taxes and fees will vary). Â
A Bourbon Recipe Review: Kentucky Bourbon Butter Cake
I love cake! Add bourbon, and you had me at cake. This cake’s origins date back to the 1960s when the recipe was entered into the Pillsbury Bake-Off Challenge and won a prize.
This dessert is mostly pound cake made with buttermilk, vanilla, and a load of butter, with one boozy addition that makes it truly Kentucky: BOURBON.
There is no need to dress this decadent, rich, and out-of-this-world cake with anything, but you could shower a little powdered sugar on the top to make it extra sweet.
Whiskey vs. Bourbon: What’s the Difference?
The Bourbon Flight has received many emails asking, “What is the difference between whiskey and bourbon?” So, we are clearing it up once and for all.
Both whiskey and bourbon are types of distilled alcoholic beverages, but bourbon is a specific subtype of whiskey. The main differences between whiskey and bourbon lie in their ingredients, production process, and geographic origin.
There you have it, the last Original Pour of the year.
Cheers to a happy and healthy 2024.
