Perhaps you’ve seen both “whisky” and “whiskey” in liquor stores, and wondered if they were one and the same, or if they were different somehow.  Or perhaps you’ve wondered if all Bourbon is whiskey, or if all whiskey is Bourbon.  This Seattle Post-Intelligencer article can help.

To summarize:  Whisky and whiskey are the same thing.  Different dialects have led to different spellings of the word.  The Scotch never use the “e,” while the Irish always do.  Opinion on the “e” seems to vary in North America.

All Bourbon is indeed whiskey.  Bourbon is defined as a whiskey made in the United States, from pure ingredients including 51-79% corn, aged in a “charred new oak container.”  However, all whiskey is not Bourbon.  Scotch whisky is whiskey made in Scotland.  Irish whiskey and Canadian whiskey are other varieties.

Whatever your favorite whisky or whiskey, be sure to enjoy it in one of our fine highball glasses.

Yesterday I wrote about Jim Beam’s new black cherry-infused bourbon, and commented that after the recent growth in the flavored vodka market, flavored bourbon may be the next big thing.  Well, today we’re back with another flavor infusion for bourbon, leading to a new twist on a classic cocktail recipe.

This New York Times recipe shows you how to infuse bourbon with dates (you’ll need to allow 2 to 4 weeks for the infusion, so don’t plan on serving this drink at a party this weekend).  You can then mix the date-infused bourbon into one of the classics, the Old Fashioned.  To make the cocktail even better, the Times serves up for a recipe for brandied cherries to add as well.

Our Old Fashioned glasses are classics as well… if you order them now, you’ll have them by the time the bourbon infusion is complete.

During the past few years, flavored vodkas have been all the rage.  Old standards like lime vodka and vanilla vodka have been around for years, but recently, those have been joined on the shelves by new flavors like cucumber and root beer and tomato.

However, you rarely hear a lot about flavored bourbons… until now, that is.  Jim Beam has come out with a new black cherry flavor-infused bourbon.  Called Red Stag, the bourbon is 80 proof, and is recommended to drinkers who like flavored whiskey-based cocktails such as the Manhattan.  It would go great in one of our highball glasses.

Maker’s Mark has always been my favorite bourbon, ever since a friend of mine gave me a shot of it my senior year in college.  I’ve always found it to be the smoothest of the American bourbons, good for sipping, or for mixing with Coke.

However, what I didn’t know is that Maker’s Mark is a “green” bourbon, recycling the products of the distilling process.  This Inhabitat.com article discusses how Maker’s Mark has an energy production facility that takes the grain and water mix produced during distillation and turns it into renewable energy.  The system currently produces 85 million BTUs of energy a day.  That’ll power a lot of air conditioners!  The system is projected to expand to produce more than double that amount over the next 10 years as production grows.

Maker’s Mark also recycles 95% of its other waste, including cardboard, glass, paper, plastic, metals, and barrels.

So be good to the environment and enjoy some Maker’s Mark in a shot glass, highball glass, or old fashioned glass.

If Christmas or holiday parties have run you out of liquor, WalletPop.com has an article that will help you restock on a budget.  Some of its advice includes

• Smirnoff (James Bond’s favorite) for vodka, or if you want something a little more upscale, Svedka
• Old Grand-Dad as a substitute for Jack Daniels
• Old Crow as a sipping bourbon
• Gordon’s gin to replace Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire
• Cruzan as an affordable rum

Check out the entire article here.  To save even more money, take a look at our selection of cocktail shakers and electric mixers.  We have some real bargains on them in our store.

Check out this CBS News article to learn all about bourbon.  You’ll find out why 95% of bourbon, the only uniquely American whisky, is made in Kentucky.  You’ll also learn how old the oldest unopened bottle of bourbon in America is, and how people got around Prohibition to get their bourbon fix.  You’ll also learn why bourbon was not very good for a couple of decades following Prohibition, and why there’s a little bit of bourbon in the Scotch you drink.  Interesting article.  Check it out, and also check out Mid-South Alcoholic Supply’s highball glasses for your favorite bourbon-based cocktail.

A new, two-day, coach-driven tour through the Kentucky hills offers tours and tastings at seven bourbon distilleries.  If you love bourbon, want to taste different brands, and learn more about how it’s made, this may be the vacation you’ve been waiting for.  According to this travel article, the bourbon trail tour makes stops at

• The Wild Turkey distillery
• The Buffalo Trace dilstillery
• The Four Roses distillery
• Heaven Hill Distilleries
• Jim Beam American Outpost
• The Maker’s Mark distillery
• The Woodford Reserve distillery

Six of the seven offer tours for free; the Woodford Reserve tour is $5.  The article also notes that the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival happens next month, September 16 to 21.

Be sure to enjoy your favorite bourbon in our fine highball glasses, shot glasses, and old-fashioned glasses.

Here’s a recipe for ya: Bourbon banana pudding trifle

Made with the usual ingredients you’d find in banana pudding: Bananas, whipped cream, vanilla wafers. They also have a non-alcoholic version of the recipe where you can substitute apple juice. Me personally, if I ever whip this up, I’ll be using Maker’s Mark!

This would be a great dessert to serve at your next party. Don’t forget, you can find all the party supplies you need at Mid-South Alcoholic Supply.

According to this article, bourbon is gaining in market share while other liquors are seeing falling revenues.

Up until about 10 years ago, the AP article notes, bourbon’s popularity had decreased so much that one distillery president thought it was on its way to “that great liquor store in the sky.” However, last year WIld Turkey broke the 1 million case mark for the first time, and is expanding its distillery. Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, and Maker’s Mark are all undergoing expansions at their facilities as well.

So, pour a shot of your favorite bourbon, or mix it with your favorite mixer and celebrate. According to this FAQ, the preferred way to drink bourbon is in a snifter if you’re drinking it neat or mixed with a little water. If you’re mixing it or adding ice, a tumbler or similar glass can be used.

To learn more about bourbon, visit our books section for several fine books on appreciating and enjoying this once-again-popular liquor.