BEAM'S BOURBON EVOLUTION EVENT AT WILLOW PARK WINES AND SPIRITS

Glasses arranged for the tasting on a map of Kentucky

This was a wonderful tie-in from the kitchen at Willow Park Wines and Spirits - Southern Style biscuits and ham served at the tasting

The classic red wax seal atop a bottle of Maker's Mark

The evening's host Jeff Meyers pouring the Devil's Cut to an attendee

One of several prize winnings - perfect for a home cave

Jeff Meyers speaking about Beam Global

Bottles from the tasting with their distinctive seal and shapes

Meyers with a bottle of Maker's Mark before the crowd

More iconic bottles from the brand

One of the t-shirts given away as a prize after the presentation

The American native spirit - bourbon was on full display at Willow Park Wine's and Spirit's Beam's Bourbon Evolution Event. Six of Beam's brands (including several small batch) - Basil Hayden's, Baker's, Maker's Mark, Maker's 46, Booker's and Knob Creek - were part of the tasting. Aged in American white oak, and made from a minimum of 51 percent corn, the bourbon are all designed to be full flavoured.

Host and Western Canadian Distillery Diplomat, Jeff Meyers, spoke to an enthusiastic crowd about the "sipping product," the Kentucky Derby and its long association with bourbon, how pewter cognac bottles inspired the design of Maker's Mark and how mint julep began as a sling. Stressing the point, that these amber beauties should be enjoyed by slowly sipping, not as shots.

Likening Beam's brands to a baseball team lineup, Meyers praised Knobb Creek for its "standout nature." Booker's he said is "a rare tribute bourbon to look out for in retail," while Basil Hayden's "was designed so it will forever be the same [bourbon] whisky, it is a ride and a crowd favourite." Of Baker's Meyers commented: "it has soft vanilla notes, and goes down easy, the black wax is emblematic of high quality." The MVP of the lineup however, was a new bourbon from the brand - the Devil's Cut. "We've all heard of the angel's share well with the whiskey we soak out the bourbon in the barrel. It is something new and creative to play with." Meyers recommends drinking it with cola or ice.

At the end of the presentation, Meyers quizzed the attendees on trivia about the brands; to the delight of everyone winners received Beam swag: golf tees, a bag, shaker, and a real bourbon cask top.

With such a wide range of bourbon made for cocktailing, sipping and socializing - we're ready to play ball, y'all!

www.willowparkwines.com

makersmark.com

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