Gear Patrol

Talk about working your way up from the bottom. Chris Morris came to Woodford Reserve’s parent company, Brown-Foreman Corporation, in 1976 as an intern. The native Kentuckian stuck it out, rising to the position of Master Distiller as American bourbon rose, too, from a soda additive to a super-premium product on the same level as its haughtier cousins. We caught up with him as part of our summer preview to hear some drinking stories, find out what’s next and hear about his love of the Kentucky Derby.

Bulleit Bourbon has long been an affordable favorite for lovers of the smokey libation. Bulleit 10 Year ($45) adds some age and flavor distinctions, at a price. The fine gentlemen over at Bourbon Blog have had the first crack at the new whiskey, and from what we can tell, it’s definitely worth a try. This…

The Mixologist’s gotten you into plenty of blissful adventures, most of which ended without real long term damage to your record or your marriage. He’s a passionate guy, and he knows his craft: beer, that is. Malts, mash, wheat, barley, rye, and oh yes, sweet sweet delicious hops — he sucks them all down, grinning…

We’re off to Ironman this week. There’s plenty to keep you occupied, though: a great director needs to be mourned, rare bourbon consumed, and mobile phones hurled. All in a days work. It’s a big and complicated world. We’re at tips [at] gearpatrol.com if you think there’s something we should know about.

In the single barrel bourbon space, the Buffalo Trace Distillery is at the top of our list for their variety of well-made, accessible and just generally great bourbons. Their Blanton’s Bourbon gets most of the shelf space — and for good reason, it’s delicious — but our current single barrel favorites in the Buffalo Trace…

Fresh on the heels of your last thought about a reason to imbibe comes

In addition to its flagship offering, the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY produces some of our favorite bourbons, including Eagle Rare, Rock Hill Farms and Elmer T. Lee ($28). The latter is a small batch, single barrel bourbon that’s named for the former Master Distiller at Buffalo Trace. Mr. Lee created this bourbon with…

Woodford Reserve has put out a handful of interesting whiskeys of late, including the New and Aged Cask Ryes and, coming this March, its Double Oaked Bourbon ($50). While the former spirits are part of Woodford’s Master’s Collection and therefore available for a limited time, Double Oaked is an extension of the brand’s permanent lineup….

Maybe it’s just our nature to root for the little guy, but man, we sure love small batch bourbons. The industry giants put out some fine products, but it’s the smaller players that take up most of the space on our home bars. Like Jefferson’s ($30), a very small batch, hand-crafted and Kentucky-bred bourbon. Jefferson’s…

Angel’s Envy Bourbon ($43) comes courtesy of Lincoln Henderson, a former 40-year veteran of Brown-Forman who was tasked with crafting some of the world’s most popular and widely-consumed whiskeys. Henderson’s latest venture defies rules and corporate expectations as he makes the bourbon he always wanted to make. Angel’s Envy starts with Kentucky-grown corn and rye…

Wild Turkey’s powerful, flagship 101 proof blend has attracted both bourbon fans and “dirty bird” escapists thanks to its bold, peppery flavoring and leg-rubberizing alcohol content. For years, the company has also offered an 80 proof blend for those looking to enjoy bourbon and still stay conscious after a few rounds. While master distiller Jimmy…

Named for the year that Kentucky became a state, 1792 Ridgemont Reserve ($28) is a handcrafted small batch bourbon from the whiskey-soaked hills of Bardstown. Created with a high percentage of rye grains, aged for eight years and bottled at 93.7 proof, this bourbon is spicy, complex and full-bodied. On the nose, 1792 Ridgemont Reserve…

Wireframe sunglasses are a departure for Electric Visual, a company who has built a reputation for their snow goggles and nylon framed sunglasses. The departure has been a good one, neither ill-conceived or hurried. The frames are well-built with hinges that flex, just so, to avoid the obnoxious flimsy feeling and offer 100% UV protection….

Whiskey (or whisky) drinkers tend to fall into one of two camps – single malt Scotch fans and those who favor Bourbon. Devotees of each tend to be fiercely loyal and passionate about their distilled grains. But there’s no reason why any man should limit his imbibing to the Old World or the New. After…

A good bourbon, neat or on the rocks, is a man’s drink. No explanation required. You can keep your Red Bull and vodka. Though there are plenty of big name Kentucky Bourbon makers out there, small batch bourbons are making some serious headway, and not just amongst connoisseurs. Among them, is Rowan’s Creek Small Batch…

Bullitt… McQueen. Bisset. Car chase. Mustang. Charger RT. Car chase. Witness Protection. Mafia. Car chase. Turtlenecks (that are cool). Dirty cops. Did we mention the car chase? Buy Now: $9 (Blu-Ray | $22 (Special Edition DVD) 30 Essential Movies is a Gear Patrol series focused on highlighting the 30 core films every guy should own…

You needn’t be an employee at Sterling Cooper to appreciate the value of a well-made American cocktail. For our money, bourbon is one of the best ways to get there from here. Happily, food writer and chef Fred Thompson agrees and has thus served up a definitive selection of recipes to utilize and improvise on…

240 Bottles of J.D. – Almost Enough To Get You Through The Holidays You probably don’t know this, but there’s a pretty popular drink called Jack Daniel’s Whiskey. It’s a semi-famous drink distilled in Lynchburg, Tennessee (population: 361) and it’s been around since 1866. You probably don’t know that it might be one of America’s…

Jimmy Russell gives the okay at Wild Turkey, and I’m okay with that. Like you, good distilled beverages get better with time. As a matter of fact, I was treated to a supurbly aged and decanted 10 year old Cabernet Sauvignon this past weekend that literally gave me chills of vino-delight. It had a body…

The Jim Beam Distillery. I can already smell the bourbon. Looking for a getaway this month? Vegas, Europe, Mexico maybe? Well, how about making a trip to Louisville, Kentucky? September is National Bourbon Heritage Month (bet you didn’t know that) and what better way to celebrate than partaking in the caramel-hued libation. Combine that with…

If you’re a man and enjoy a good drink then relegating yourself to beers and vodka alone is truly sad. Take your personal consumption and home bar up a notch with a small batch bourbon. It’s a drink truly made for the connoisseur. Every sip of a small batch bourbon is made to be enjoyed….