I was a Bourbon snob. I only ordered premium brands, and would scoff at those who would drink it any way other than 'neat'.
Actually, I wasn't a Bourbon snob; I was kind of a bourbon dick. That all changed one weekend.
I took two of my buddies to Bourbon Country to get the true bourbon experience. I don't claim to be an expert on Louisville history, but I am pretty positive The Brown Hotel was influential in putting Louisville close to the epicenter of the bourbon world. That is where I decided we should stay.
We celebrated happy hour in the hotel bar. Our cocktail waitress was a curious blonde with cropped-curled hair. Her white blouse was about a half-size too small, and the buttons on the front of her shirt became stressed with her every breath. My buddy Brandon had a hard time putting together more than three-word sentences in her presence. She was stunning.
Knowing the answer to my question, I asked her what we should order for my bourbon neophyte buddies? She said there was only one choice.... Pappy.
We ordered Pappy Van Winkle 20 year. We were excited to taste the rich, full-bodied bourbon with its intense toffee and caramel flavors. In a flawed world, this is as close to perfection as you can find. And at $125 a glass, it better be... This is what I thought bourbon should be: beautiful girls serving old, expensive bourbon in swanky, historic hotels with good friends. And while bourbon is all those things, I would soon find out it is so much more...
Bourbon is exceptionally popular. The dark ages for the brown liquor are over, and everyone is in on the craze. "The Bourbon Hunter" explains how to navigate the complex world of bourbon.
Whether you are trying to learn the basics, trying to locate hard-to-find bottles, interested in throwing a tasting party or planning a boys trip to Kentucky, this book has you covered. And hopefully a few laughs will be shared along the way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pat Hagerty lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Pat writes books, bets ball games, plays great golf courses, drinks fancy bourbon and hikes the Appalachian Trail with his son.
He is also the author of Good Teams Win, Great Teams Cover - An Underdogs Tale of Life, Gambling and Sharp Sports Betting. This book reached Amazon Best Seller Status.
He is also the author of the following websites:
PatHagerty.com FishyFive.com TheFraternityAdvisor.com
Finally, be sure to follow on social media:
Twitter - @fishy_five FB - @fishyfive Instagram - @pathagerty8
