Are you interested in trying bourbon, but aren’t sure where to start? At its most basic, learning how to drink bourbon takes a little bit of curiosity and a sense of adventure.

Whether you’re a lifelong bourbon fan, an avid whiskey drinker or new to whiskey, bourbon is on the rise - this guide on how to drink bourbon by Rowan Gibb, South Africa Super Premium Ambassador for Woodford Reserve will help you on your way.

“There are certain ‘musts’ and basics when it comes to bourbon that you need to understand and it might take some time and practice to build your palate to appreciate the subtle nuances of bourbon,” says Gibb. “But getting the basics right will give you a multi-sensory experience.”

At its most basic, all bourbon is whiskey but not all whiskey is bourbon, Gibb explains. “Firstly, for a whiskey to call itself bourbon, its mash bill (the mix of grains) must contain at least 51 percent corn, the rest is made of malted barley, rye or wheat and there are no additives like flavouring or colouring allowed, just pure water.”

Next is the location, this is everything. “For a whiskey to be called a bourbon, by law, it must be produced in the United States and it must be aged in brand-new, charred white oak barrels, and matured for more than two years,” he says.

Did you know? 95% of all bourbon is made in Kentucky? The reason for this, he says, is that the area is rich in limestone, which is used and needed to filter the water for the highest quality bourbon.

“Woodford Reserve is more than a spirit. It’s a sensorial experience, not only how it tastes, or how it smells, makes you feel or just looks in a glass. It’s more than just a bourbon - it’s the world’s finest bourbon,” Gibb adds. “The amber liquid is built around flavour and its staggering complexity comes as a result of a meticulous process described by Woodford Reserve as the ‘Five Source of Flavour’: grain, water, fermentation, distillation and maturation.”

Keep your choice uncomplicated, says Gibb, start with a straight bourbon whiskey like a Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select. “Because it's a caramel forward bourbon, it picks up more sweet flavour from the charred oak, which I believe is a great introduction to bourbon and doesn’t break the bank.”

Quite simply he says, with a bourbon like Woodford Reserve it’s a spectacle. “With over 200 flavour notes - 212 to be exact, it wows your senses, delights your palate, surprises you with every new scent and sensation.”

Now onto how to drink it. Gibb explains that, with any spirit, there’s an opportunity to drink it anyway you like and drinking bourbon is no exception. “But to get the most out of the alluring liquid and to let the spirit's natural characteristics shine, it's best to serve it neat (with no water or ice whatsoever) otherwise known as straight - this can also be shaken or stirred with ice and then strained.”

If you really want to taste the bourbon and explore the flavour, he says, you need to use the correct glass. “The best way to bring out the richness of aromas and flavours is a tulip shaped glass or whiskey tumbler. The combined form and function of the glass is to deliver the ultimate taste experience. In fact, any simple glass with a wide brim is ideal to ‘nose’ the bourbon.”

Gibb advises that when you taste it, do it slowly. “First, waft it gently under your nose and then sip just a little and let it roll around your mouth, over your tongue and smack your lips, this is also known as the ‘Kentucky Chew.’ As you swallow, the bourbon will warm you up as it goes down - this is called the ‘Kentucky Hug.’”

If you’re drinking your bourbon ‘on the rocks’ or over ice, he explains, try adding larger cubes or ice spheres which will melt slower instead of watering it down which will adulterate some of the flavour. “Over ice can be a refreshing way to drink it especially if you’re new to bourbon.” 

Some people believe that adding small amounts of water releases some of the flavours, however he says that is worth remembering that if you do add water to your bourbon, it will dilute the spirit and soften the punch of the alcohol, but he advises that adding a small dash of water will avoid diluting too much of the flavour. 

Then there’s mixing, Gibb says, if you’ve had a cocktail made by a mixologist the chances are you've enjoyed bourbon in that cocktail. “Some of the most popular bourbon cocktails are an Old-Fashioned, Mint Julep or a Boulevardier and bourbon is a great base for a cocktail as the flavour is so diverse,” he adds.

“Lastly, remember that you don’t have to drink the rarest or most expensive bourbons to enjoy it and you don’t even have to drink it any other way than your own,” he explains. “Your willingness to try it and your appreciation of the fact that behind every bottle is years of talent and crafting already makes you an enthusiast.”

Woodford Reserve is available at participating Retail stores nationwide, while stocks last.

For more information visit: https://www.woodfordreserve.com/ or visit Facebook or Instagram @woodfordreserve #SpectacleForTheSenses

Not for sale to persons under the age of 18. Crafted carefully. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2021. Woodford Reserve is a registered trademark. All rights reserved

Bourbon is enjoying an upswing in the premium spirits market with the dispersing notion that the drink is favoured by men only. The question on everyone’s tongues is, are females fuelling the bourbon renaissance?

Global statistics from the Bourbon Women’s Association indicate that around 30% of bourbon drinkers are women, and the total number of women who drink bourbon increased about 50% between 2011 and 2014, compared to the early nineties when only about 15% of whiskey drinkers were female. Further reports from The Spirits Business Magazine said that worldwide sales of the American craft liquid have grown faster than any other distilled spirit in the past year, at a rate of about 7 percent.

Three prominent industry women; namely an international distiller, a renowned South African drinks writer, and a local mixologist give their opinions on the spirited rise of female bourbon drinkers.

Elizabeth McCall is a second-generation bourbon maker and one of the youngest female distillers in the United States at the world’s oldest bourbon distillery, Woodford Reserve, who says that she believes that the taste is the main reason that women want in on it.

“The mellow allure of America’s craft liquid is seeing a growing number of discerning female drinkers becoming increasingly more appreciative of authentic American whiskey,'' says McCall. “Bourbon has a rich and fascinating history, which adds to its allure, it’s honest, it’s natural and it’s delicious.”

"Women are the future of bourbon but were also a big part of the past too,” McCall explains. ”This long history of women in bourbon stems back to the eighteenth century where women were the first distillers before industrial distillers became popular.”

McCall adds that the notion of bourbon being an old man’s drink is due to it historically being marketed towards men, who over the years turned into ‘old men’. “It wasn’t socially acceptable for women to drink bourbon or alcohol in general, and if they did it was to be ‘dressed-up’ in a cocktail. Eventually, as bourbon fell out of fashion and lighter spirits began to trend, bourbon became thought of as the old man’s drink. We are changing that perception.”

“There is an increased interest in the bourbon category and consumers are hungry for bourbon and are constantly looking for the newest bourbon innovations,” she adds. “This has impacted the versatility of bourbon and consumers are understanding all the ways bourbon can be enjoyed from cocktails to culinary experiences.”

Female buying power and interest in drinking a spirit that has flavour are fuelling bourbon’s popularity, she explains. “Coupled with this, women see women working in the industry and drinking bourbon and they become interested to try it, once you taste a delicious bourbon it’s hard to go back to drinking anything else.”

McCall explains that bourbon has something to offer every whiskey palate; from bold grain and wood to sweet aromatics, spicy, fruit and floral notes. “Bourbons, and particularly Woodford Reserve, has a wonderful complexity of flavour and character with over 200 flavour notes which delights and wows the senses.”

Cassandra Eichhoff, Mixologist and Director at the European Bartender School in Cape Town believes the drinking culture has drastically changed over the last few years. “More and more women are drinking bourbon because of the exponential growth of females filling different positions in the industry, especially in the bourbon category.”

“These female lead positions, from distillers to master blenders, ambassadors and bartenders come with a vital duty to educate consumers about the category and more specifically, how to sip good quality bourbon,” she explains. “With bourbon, a particular stand-out for me is that it is distinctly different from any other whiskey - it’s a bit feisty, yet playful and easy to drink and mix.”

“The category itself is expanding with more people exploring different types of whiskies, such as American whiskies,” Eichhoff says. “Thanks to platforms such as the US Distilled Spirits Council, bartenders are being given the opportunity to provide a gateway through mixology to showcase the beauty of Bourbon.”

“Mixology has been a gateway for more people to try Bourbon, especially if they thought drinking it neat might be too strong,” says Eichhoff. “It’s quite diverse when it comes to the different styles of drinks that you can mix with it, from long refreshing highballs to shorter mixed drinks as well as the re-emergence of classic cocktails such as the Old Fashioned, and Boulevardier.”

Leah van Deventer who is a multifaceted spirits professional, leading cocktail-and-spirits writer and a regular competition judge for both cocktails and spirits, believes that more and more women are drinking bourbon because in general people are getting more comfortable discarding gender stereotypes.

“For example, in the past, a man may have felt awkward ordering a sweet, fizzy drink - believing somehow it emasculated him but now they’re more comfortable drinking whatever they want,” she says. “The same goes for women and bourbon - we’re no longer held back by societal expectations.”

Van Deventer explains that South African drinkers are acquiring a taste for bourbon as the profile of the whiskey drinker has evolved over time and says that what used to be the preference of older men, has found new enthusiasm amongst women acquiring a taste for whiskey.

“Recent reports from a number of industry analysts indicate that more women are enjoying whiskey,” McCall adds. “These reports reveal that the growth in the bourbon category is booming thanks to an enthusiastic demand from consumers in every income bracket aged 40 and under, in some global trend reports it's been shown that two-fifths of bourbon drinkers are women.” 

The experts explain how you can taste Bourbon:

“I recommend trying as many bourbons as you can,” McCall says. “As a distiller, I would usually insist you drink it ‘any way you like it but I prefer it neat or on the rocks, but there are some recommended ways to best appreciate the art of distilling bourbon:”

1. Taste bourbon neat, in a tulip-shaped tasting glass that concentrates the aroma at the rim.
2. With your lips slightly parted, smell the bourbon and rate the aroma, identifying specific notes.
3. Take a sip, but don’t gulp it. Take a mouthful and move the liquid around your mouth before swallowing. Consider the flavours and the ‘mouth feel’ (is it creamy and smooth or does it have a bite?) - by way of example, there are more than 200 detectable flavours in Woodford Reserve.
4. Wait to appreciate the lingering ‘finish’. Bourbon will leave a short, medium or long finish, which could be described as smooth or mellow, through to crisp, dry, spicy or with a burn. It may even give you a warm sensation after you’ve swallowed it. This is fondly known as the ‘Kentucky Hug’

Van Deventer says that she loves bourbon because of its balance, the sweet vanilla profile contrasted with the kick of a good spirit. “I like to drink it neat but also love it in an Old-Fashioned, Bourbon Sours and a Boulevardier.”

“I always try to encourage people to drink spirits however they want, but if you catch me at a bar, I'll always be down for Whiskey Sours,” adds Eichhoff. “And if you are feeling extra adventurous, try out a Pickle Back!”

“Essentially bourbon is in a class of its own within the whiskey empire and it is encouraging to see it gaining greater recognition amongst female drinkers,” McCall says. “Bourbon is all about flavour and complexity and if you like something fruity, floral and bold you will really enjoy the Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select with two-hundred flavour notes it has a taste allure, which comprises vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, cherries and dates which add to a taste allure that is truly unique.”

For more information visit: https://www.woodfordreserve.com/ or visit Facebook or Instagram @woodfordreserve #SpectacleForTheSenses

Woodford Reserve is available at participating retail outlets from R399 while stocks last. 

Not for sale to persons under the age of 18. Crafted carefully. Enjoy responsibly.Copyright 2021. Woodford Reserve is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.