BBQ and Bourbon

The Bowling Green Daily News restaurant reviewer has been on a tour of local BBQ joints. Loving’s One Stop B-B-Q was disappointing.

Here is a summary of the review (read complete review at link.)

Loving’s One Stop B-B-Q has a storied history in Bowling Green, and was one place that always came up as a “must-visit” joint. Over the past few years it has migrated to various sites.

Last year, One Stop B-B-Q settled at the corner of 11th Avenue and Clay Street. While the name remains the same, the quality of the food, unfortunately, has not made it to the new location.

At One Stop I attempted to order the chicken and the ribs, only to find them unavailable. After I asked again, I found that the ribs had been overcooked and had fallen completely off the bone. It was a bit disappointing Read the rest

The Munfordville Tourism Commission announced the Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook Off will be October 15-16.  This event has been officially sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS). More than $11,000 in prize money, including a grand champion prize of $3,000.
The local event will also have vendors who sell barbecue-related items.

“We’re really looking forward to this becoming an annual event that attracts lots of visitors.”

says Coni Shepperd, event coordinator.

She and Neva Brent and David Williams recently received their KCBS judges’ certification at a training in Eddyville, Ky.

KCBS conducts official competitions at each event in the following categories: chicken, ribs, pork and brisket. The judges evaluate barbeque in three different criteria: taste, appearance and texture.

“We are expecting participants to come from all over the U.S.,”

says Shepperd.

Even though judges for local events come from outside the area, the group was interested in learning about the process so they could help create a professional contest.

For more information about the Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook Off, contact Coni Shepperd at (270) 524-4752 or conimtourism@scrtc.com.

KCBS, the world’s largest society of barbecue enthusiasts, sanctions about 300 events in 44 U.S. states each year. KCBS provides a representative for each contest and an appropriate number of certified BBQ judges who have been trained in how to judge world-class barbeque, all while using a blind judging process that is fair and void of personal knowledge of teams being judged.

Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the second best selling Bourbon in the world, has signed a deal with Championship Bull Riding (CBR) to become the “Official Bourbon of the CBR”.

Turns out fans of professional bull riding are a lot of the same fans of Bourbon.

Evan Williams, wants CBR fans to have a chance to try Evan Williams so they will display and sample at CBR events.

“Given the high index of bull riding and rodeo sports against the Bourbon demographic audience, we feel that our sponsorship of the CBR and Evan Williams’ status as its official Bourbon will allow us to reach a large and growing audience in a relevant and targeted way. With our sponsorship position in professional bass fishing already well-established, we feel that the CBR provides a great environment in which to promote Evan Williams to a different, but equally engaged audience.”

…noted Susan Wahl, Brand Manager for Evan Williams at Heaven Hill.

Evan Williams, named after Kentucky’s first distiller and a past winner of “Best Buy Whiskey of the Year” from Malt Advocate magazine, is produced according to a traditional 200 year old recipe by Heaven Hill’s father and son Master Distillers, Parker and Craig Beam.

Wes Bruce, CEO of Championship Bull Riding said of the new deal…

“We are pleased to have reached a partnership agreement with a producer of such a high quality, uniquely American product. We look forward to a long term relationship with Evan Williams Bourbon.”

Photo by Todd Brewer ToddBrewerPhotography.com

Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book

The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) and Buffalo Trace Distillery will host “Let’s Talk Bourbon: An Evening with Joy Perrine and Susan Reigler.” Thursday, March 25 at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in downtown Frankfort.

Perrine, an award-winning bartender from Jack’s Lounge in Louisville, and Reigler, a noted author and former Courier-Journal restaurant critic, will discuss their new book, “The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book.” The book will also be available for purchase and signing.

Historic images of Kentucky’s bourbon industry from KHS Collections will be featured during this event, along with bourbon-related artifacts, including Catherine Carpenter’s Read the rest

George T. Stagg

History, hooch and hospitality!

Famed whisky publication, Whisky Magazine has named Buffalo Trace Distillery 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” The announcement was made at the annual “Icons of the Industry” dinner held in London, England.

This award comes after Buffalo Trace was named “American Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year” last November as part ofWhisky Magazine’s “Icons of the Industry” regional finals. After garnering the American title, Buffalo Trace went on to compete with distilleries from around the world before being named “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year” for the entire industry.

“This is so exciting and such an honor. We are always trying to improve our tour to draw new visitors, while encouraging old friends to return. This really validates the efforts of everyone at Buffalo Trace in welcoming our guests and giving them a memorable experience.”

said Elizabeth Hurst, visitor center manager.

In recent months Buffalo Trace has added a new cooperage display Read the rest

University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari will be pictured on another of the collector series bottles for Maker’s Mark and Keeneland Association Inc.

The limited-edition bottles are expected to be available for purchase across Kentucky beginning Friday, April 2, the opening day of Keeneland’s spring meet. They will retail for about $49.

“It’s an honor to team with Maker’s Mark and the university in this unique fund-raising opportunity to help benefit the UK Symphony Orchestra Outreach Program,” I’m not sure the world is ready for my face on a bottle, but if it helps the university, I’m all for it.”

Calipari, Maker’s Mark president Bill Samuels Jr., and Keeneland president and CEO Nick Nicholson will sign bottles at Keeneland on Friday, April 9. The running of the Grade I Marker’s Mark Mile Thoroughbred race also will be held at the track that day.

The proceeds from the sales of the commemorative bottles — estimated to be about $300,000 from 24,000 bottles — will benefit a program that brings the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and students from the UK School of Music into Kentucky’s public schools.

Flames consumed the fire pit at Old Hickory Pit BBQ in Owensboro Saturday afternoon.

The fire was caused by build up in the venilation system, but firefighters contained the fire before it could spread.
The dining room and kitchen sustained minor smoke and water damage. No one from Old Hickory Barbecue was injured.

“You couldn’t see two feet in front of you,”There was nothing but smoke.”

Photo Courtesy of Lisa Spain

The Owensboro fire chief said fires like this are not uncommon for BBQ joints.

“If they were just cooking with gas it would be different, but they’re burning wood and things like this will happen time to time.”

John Foreman is the fifth generation of Foremans who have operated the Old Hickory Bar-B-Q in Owensboro, Ky.

The barbecue was started by his great-great-grandfather Read the rest

Maker’s Mark bourbon is the official bourbon of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., Sept. 25 to Oct. 10.

Maker’s Mark will sponsor the equestrian games’ main hospitality tent.

The equestrian games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Federation Equestre International.

The Kentucky games mark the first time the event has been held outside Europe and the first time competition in all eight disciplines have been held at the same location, according to a news release.

The main hospitality tent, mostly for VIPs and those who buy hospitality packages, will be sponsored by Maker’s Mark and feature Read the rest

Second, beg, borrow, or steal enough rocks glasses and shot glasses to provide everybody a change of glasses for each taste. Don’t underestimate the number of glasses you will need. A back-up would be to gather up used glasses as the evening progresses and hand-wash them (please, no dishwasher or soap residue.)

or any of the dozens of other recipes available on the web. Have the ingredients for the classic Mint Julep – even if you don’t have enough silver cups. Everyone should have at least one Mint Julep in their life and your party could be the perfect chance.

Fourth, who provides the Bourbon? Read the rest