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This is the fifth in a series on Bourbon by Zach Pearson. Read them all: Bourbon, Bourbon After the Act, Bourbon: What it is ... and isn't, Making Bourbon, Who Makes My Bourbon, Producer Capsules., Finding the Good Stuff, Tasting the Good Stuff, Neat, Mashbills, Geeky Information and Resources.

About a year ago, GQ exerpted this great picture from David Haskell's The Kings County Distiller Guide to Urban Moonshining. Click the image on the left to see the detail. It’s pretty easy to see from this that there are really only thirteen major Bourbon producers in the United States. These 13 distilleries are owned by only nine companies.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. You can’t walk into a liquor store and not see an entire 50 foot shelf of Bourbons with names you’ve never heard of. Some of them are even local. All of them have great stories on the back about how this particular Bourbon was the favorite of Ulysses S. Grant or Al Capone or was made by some hill-William from a secret family recipe only recently rediscovered inside a hollow log in Possum Lick, Kentucky. Like the Templeton Rye label to the left. Click it to expand and read it.

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Recent Additions

Retirement — Gin, Cherry Liqueur, Framboise, Bitters, Pomegranate juice, Sea salt
Cattle Drive — Cognac, Crème de Violette, Averna, Bitters, Pomegranate juice
Chicagovardier — Herbal liqueur, Amaro Abano, Sweet vermouth
Concoction — Pisco, Aperol, Sake, Orange bitters, Orange juice, Sherry vinegar
Bank Heist — Gin, Limoncello, Green Crème de Menthe, Bitters, Orange juice

Recent Discussion

Re Suzerac, 1 day ago Artur B commented:
Reduce Suze, increase Rye.
Re Save the Last Dance, 3 days ago flickerdart commented:
Made this with Smith & Cross rum standing in for the Appleton. I think the charred flavor kind of takes over unfortunately, but the concept feels sound: a dry baking spice bomb.
Re Chicagovardier, 3 days ago Shawn C commented:
Surprisingly, despite not having any real base spirit, this Boulevardier inspired riff works. Admittedly, I don't find Malort horribly bitter, and I use it as a single note bitter and drying agent for overly rich cocktail recipes. Also my bottle is now 2+ years old so it could be losing some wormwood intensity even in a dark cabinet. The Abano provides a slightly earthy, herbal connection to the wormwood and red berry/grape of the vermouth. It is an extremely dark brown.

Note: I grabbed the wrong bottle of amaro out of the cabinet the first time, Amaro di Angostura. While it sort of worked, the flavor was thinner and did not connect things as well.
Re Pearl Handle Gun, 4 days ago yarm commented:
Hibiscus cordial? Is that like a hibiscus tisane/tea syrup or is that Sorel Liqueur or other? From the recipe, it looks like it needs to be as sweet as a liqueur to match all that citrus acid.
Re Hurly-Burly, 4 days ago yarm commented:
I forgot that this one was "mine" -- I always attribute the initial idea to Paul Manzelli at Bergamot in Somerville, MA, who made me a 5 part Hoop La riff that I felt needed a little work. I went home and made it again but dropping the orange liqueur to what's published here.