Tag: Brown-Forman Corporation Page 6 of 8

The Brown-Forman Corporation is one of the largest American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, it manufactures several well known brands throughout the world, including:
Woodford Reserve bourbon whiskey
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey
BenRiach single malt whisky
GlenDronach single malt whisky
Glenglassaugh single malt whisky
Canadian Mist whisky

KFC and Bourbon pairings

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/07/2021

In Lifestyle

Top KFC and Bourbon Pairings to try this weekend
In my house, take away is a treat. We only eat it when I have not had any time to cook, or when the weekend was just so lazy that I could not bother. One of our preferred fast-food is KFC.

And it seems that I am not alone in loving the crispy fried chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is the most prolific brand in South Africa, with over 800 stores spread across the land. Kentucky in KFC and Kentucky in bourbon made me think… would the two work together?

You know I am always up for experimenting, so this past weekend, off I went to KFC for a bucket of chicken. John was in the mood for Zinger wings, so I grabbed a few of those as well.

In the summer of 1955, Colonel Harland Sanders was a relatively unknown entrepreneur in Corbin, Kentucky, with a roadside restaurant, a fried chicken recipe, some spices, and a dream. He probably messed up his wife’s kitchen and drove her crazy; he looked at using a pressure cooker for cooking the chicken quickly.

The Colonel identified the potential to franchised this idea to bring it into the fast-food market. As competitors could easily use the pressure cooker, he came up with exciting herbs and spice combination to make his chicken stand out.

The Colonel’s original recipe of 11 herbs and spices is one of the best-kept trade secrets in the catering industry. Many people have claimed to have discovered it. Going to the KFC down the road is so much easier than messing up my kitchen.

Also Read: Whisky Truffles Recipe

Pairing Bourbon with KFC

KFC and Bourbon pairing to try this weekend

Pairing bourbon with fried chickenis about finding balance. The bourbon’s spices and sweetness should not overpower the well-known crunchy crust of the KFC but work together to enhance the flavourful juicy meat. KFC is very much comfort food.

When you are travelling across the globe, and you need some comfort, there is bound to be a KFC not far off. Pairing this with bourbon might just create a match made in foodie heaven…Let’s try…

I first lined up the bourbons from my favourite (Makers Mark) to my least favourite (Elijah Craig). Then for ‘testing purposes’added the Jack Daniel’s at the end of the line. The results were interesting, and not what I expected. I also rated the chosen bourbon suitability with the Zinger wings as the results were quite different from the friend chicken bourbon pairing.

Makers Mark Bourbon & KFC

KFC and Bourbon Makers Mark bourbon pairing
One of my favourite bourbons! The Makers Mark is probably the bourbon I replace most often. The notes of condensed milk, cherries, brandied fruit, toasted oak and sweet vanilla and cinnamon spice are just so satisfying. It is wonderfully smooth with a fantastic balance between the vanilla sweetness and the cinnamon toasted oak spicy notes.

However, this was the worst pairing with the KFC. It just created a peppery, spicy combination that made my eyes water. I looked up at John and realized he felt the same way. I give this pairing a RATING: 2/5.

John sees himself as a bit of a Zinger Wings connoisseur. He has tried Zinger Wings on various continents, and when he paired the Zinger Wings with the Makers Mark, he had a big smile on this face. The Makers Mark worked perfectly with the spicy Zinger Wings. No surprise that I give this KFC and Bourbon pairing a RATING: 4.5 / 5.

Eagle Rare Bourbon & KFC

KFC and Bourbon eagle rare bourbon pairing
Next up was the Eagle Rare that was our first Bourbon for 2017. Not as sweet as other bourbons, the Eagle Rare had notes of vanilla, toffee sweetness, brandy pudding, fresh-cut flowers, hints of toasted oak and pepper, chilli peppers, nuts, and creamy cocoa.

This pairing offered nothing. You taste KFC, you taste Eagle Rare, but nothing special. Thus, I give this KFC and Bourbon pairing a RATING: 2.5 /5.

Pairing it with Zinger Wings was disastrous. John described it as drinking methylated spirits. Not a good pairing at all. RATING: 1/5

Jim Beam Black & KFC

KFC and Bourbon Jim Beam Black bourbon pairing
Last year the Jim Beam Black bourbon impressed me. It is super affordable and delicious. Notes of cinnamon spice, cherries, lots of vanilla notes, BBQ sauce and hints of caramel. This Jim Beam has an unusual freshness, and it is smooth and creamy.

Pairing the KFC with the Jim Beam Black bourbon brought out lots of spices in the whiskey, while the chicken became sweeter and creamier. As a result, I give this pairing a RATING: 3.5/5.

The spicy Zinger Wings brought out lots of vanilla notes in the bourbon, and the pairing was quite lovely. Again, this KFC and Bourbon pairing gets a RATING: 3.5/5.

Elijah Crag 12 yo Bourbon & KFC

KFC and Elijah craig 12 yo bourbon pairing
I tasted the Elijah Craig 12 yo bourbon sometime in 2015 and found it quite bold. My notes captured hints of toasted warm oak spice, pepper and nutmeg, citrus peel, candy apple, toffee, Christmas pudding and cinnamon baked apples with faint bits of jasmin. Not a bourbon I drink regularly.

However, the KFC transformed this whiskey. It made the whisky creamy and smoothed out the spicy notes. The chicken became rich and delicious and the pairing was excellent. I give this pairing a RATING: 4.5/5.

And with Zinger Wings? Not so much. It did not work. Do not try. It gets a RATING: 1/5.

Also Read: Suncamino Rum Cocktails

Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey & KFC

KFC and Bourbon Jack Daniel's whiskey pairing

Purely for testing purposes, I grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 as well. Just to see if it did anything with the KFC. My notes for Jack Daniels include butterscotch sweetness with some honey, vanilla and oak with a hint of smoke, dried fruit and marzipan.

O WOW. Paired with the KFC chicken, this was great. Both elements were creamy and rich, and the vanilla and charred oak of the Jack Daniels enhanced the chicken. I give this pairing a RATING: 4.5/5.

Zinger Wings? No, the wings did nothing for the Tennessee whiskey and visa versa. I give it a RATING: 2/5.

Conclusion:KFC and Bourbon Pairings

The best whiskey to grab when you have KFC is an Elijah Craig or Jack Daniel’s Old No 7. It just creates a comfort food pairing with which you can relax.

The best whiskey to pair with Zinger Wings was the Makers Mark. It balanced out the spicy wings very nicely. In a pinch, the Jim Beam Black is probably the best all-round bourbon whiskey to pair with anything from KFC. There you go. Dinner sorted. 😉

What do you think?

Also Read: My Top 5 Whisky Food pairings

Glenglassaugh Evolution Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/08/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Earlier in 2020, I started exploring whisky from the Glenglassaugh distillery. The first whisky I tried was the first release of the series, the Revival release. It’s named to celebrate the reopening and revival of the distillery. Today it is time for the second release in the series, the Glenglassaugh Evolution single malt Scotch whisky.

Col. James Moir founded the Glenglassaugh distillery in 1875. He ran the distillery with his two nephews until 1892, when Highland Distillers sold Glenglassaugh. The distillery had periods of being closed, and then in 1960 was completely re-built.

Glenglaussagh distillery mainly produced whisky for blends, including Cutty Sark and the Famous Grouse. The distillery continued to produce whisky until 1986, when it was mothballed.

Also Read: Whisky rating system

On the lookout for a Scottish distillery to buy, Scaent Company acquired this Highland distillery in 2008. The intention was to bring this distillery fully backs to life. They restarted production and upgraded some of the processes. In 2013, the BenRiach Distillery

Company acquired the Glenglassaugh distillery, and they continued to build upon the work done by Scaent.

Torfa followed Glenglaussaugh Evolution, and there are various Limited Editions also available. The Evolution release is a NAS whisky matured in a unique combination ex-Tennessee first-fill whiskey barrels. It has a natural colour and is non-chill-filtered.

Glenglassaugh Evolution Whisky Review

REGION: Highland

ABV: 50%

COLOUR: Crisp gold

NOSE: Delicious sweetness with white grapes, green grass, cinnamon and vanilla. Warming and inviting. A bit of alcohol on the nose, and it needs to stand for a bit to breathe. The nose is lovely and promises many delights.

PALATE: White pepper and dry oak with hints of malt. Only later does some of the fruitiness come through. Some alcohol heat. The sweetness promised by the nose has disappeared. There are hints of lemon rind, which softens with the addition of a bit of water. The water softens the alcohol and pepper heat but does not bring any more sweetness. Medium body with not a lot of complexity.

FINISH: Lemon pepper and dry oak.

RATING: GOOD

I could not finish my glass. The pepper is just too overwhelming on the palate and the finish. The nose was delicious and promised all kinds of pleasures, but the promised sweetness did not appear.

Looking back at the Glenglassaugh Revival release I tasted a year ago, my tasting notes were pretty similar for that release, just to peppery. I might only try the Torfa release next year at this rate.

Also Read: Maraska ABC Whisky

GlenDronach Parliament 21 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 02/08/2021

In Single Malt whisky

I found a whisky called after the collective noun for a group of rooks; a Parliament, the GlenDronach Parliament 21 year old single malt Scotch whisky. It can only have an unique story. Nestled in the valley of Forgue, deep in the East Highland hills, a Parliament of Rooks guards a warehouse.

In this warehouse, ex-Sherry casks slowly take their time maturing the golden liquid within.A syndicate headed by James Allardes founded the GlenDronach distillery in 1826.

The distillery opened and closed various times and at one time or another, was owned by many of the well-known players in the market including Chivas, the Grant Family and Teachers and Sons.

In 2008, BenRiach’s owners purchased the distillery. April 2016 saw the Brown-Forman Corporation purchase GlenDronach. The deal included BenRiach and Glenglassaugh distilleries.

GlenDronach is known for long maturation periods in sherry casks. The GlenDronach 21 yo is no exception as it was aged in a combination of Spanish Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso casks from Andalucía. The core collection includes a 12 year old, 15 year old, 18 year old, and even a peated expression.

Last year, the GlenDronach 18 yo whisky was one of the best drams I tried during the year. It will be interesting to see if how the additional time in the sherry casks matures the whisky.

Also Read: My Top 5 Whisky Food Pairings

GlenDronach Parliament 21 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Highlands

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: Polished amber

NOSE: Red fruit sweetness, creamy oak with bits of dark roasted coffee, an underlying ginger note mixed with bits of vanilla and orange. Delicious and rich inviting you to savour slowly.

PALATE: Full-bodied and with a big mouthfeel, there are notes of bold sherry, dry oak, chocolate-covered cherries, red berries, cinnamon and pepper. In the background is the subdued sweetness of honey. A bit of alcohol heat. Quite spicy. A few drops of water softens the alcohol heat, but bring more pepper spice to the front. It is a thick and oily dram. It is complex with many layers.

FINISH: Long and lingering with notes of dry wood and lemon pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It is delicious, but not an easy-drinking whisky. Not for novices as it is bold and complicated. The GlenDronach Parliament 21 year old whisky demands the focus befitting of its age, and for me, it is a drink to enjoy on a special occasion. It is not just something to sip at the end of a hard day.

John loved the pepper bite in the end, I found the pepper and oak a bit overwhelming and far more pronounced than in the 18 yo release. I enjoyed the 18 year old release far more and found it softer and better balanced. In South Africa, the GlenDronach 21 year old Parliament single malt whisky retails for about R2 500.

I have done a side by side comparison between the Parliament release and the GlenDronach 18 year old whisky to see how they rate next to each other.

Also Read:Boplaas Single Grain Whisky

Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Cocktail

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/12/2020

In Cocktails

Old Fashioned Cocktail with Woodford Reserve
Old Fashioned Week is celebrated around the globe during the beginning of November. Despite Covid, this year was no exception. More home-based than previous years perhaps, but with just as much enthusiasm. Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned cocktail enthusiasts took the opportunity to celebrate this delicious cocktail in a variety of shapes.

I love watching the mixologists put their own twists on the theme. The creativity in cocktails that I have seen over the last couple of years shows how mature the industry is becoming. I spend some time to create a few variations on the theme to highlight specific elements of the Woodford Reserve bourbon.

What is an Old Fashioned Cocktail?

It is a blend of bourbon, bitters, water and sugar that date back to the 1800s. According to research, it was founded at The Pendennis Club, a gentlemen’s club in Louisville, Kentucky. The recipe is said to have been invented by a local bartender, in honour of a prominent bourbon distiller who brought the recipe to the internationally acclaimed Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York city.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

An outstanding bourbon when you are in the mood for something sweet and bold. One of my favourite bourbon whiskey releases. It has notes of honey sweetness with apricots and dark chocolate. Hints of oak balanced with a few cherries and cinnamon spice. A bold and smooth bourbon whiskey.

Also Read: Mint Julep Cocktail

The Classic Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Recipe

Classic Old Fashioned Cocktail with Woodford Reserve Bourbon Ingredients

50 ml Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select
1 tsp brown sugar
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
lemon peel (for garnish)

Method

Put brown sugar and bitters into a rock glass.
Add the ice and stir.
Add the Woodford Reserve bourbon and stir again.
Serve with a twist of lemon peel.

Variations on the Theme

Black Forrest Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Cocktail

Chocolate cherry Old Fashioned Cocktail with Woodford Reserve Bourbon
Switch the Angostura bitters for chocolate bitters. Garnish with maraschino cherries. This variation complements and enhances the chocolate and cherry notes of the Woodford Reserve bourbon and gives it a Black Forest cake feel.

Spicy Simple Syrup Old Fashioned Recipe

Spicy Old Fashioned Cocktail with Woodford Reserve Bourbon
Replace the brown sugar with a teaspoon of spice-infused simple syrup. Make a simple syrup using 1 unit of sugar and 1 unit of boiling water. Add a cinnamon stick and star anise to the hot syrup and let infuse until cool. The spices balance out the sweetness and add a depth of flavour.

Smoky Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe

< Smoky Old Fashioned Cocktail with Woodford Reserve bourbon
Add a drop or 2 of liquid smoke to the water used to make the ice before freezing.

This version as my favourite. The husband frowned at me when I started dropping liquid smoke in the ice trays, but the result was worth it. The slight smokiness from the ice slowly impacts on the Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned cocktail and highlights the oak notes while adding a new dimension to the drink.

Recently the Woodford Reserve Rye whiskey reached South African shores and I need to try an Old Fashioned with this spicier whiskey as well.

Disclaimer: Header photo supplied by the PR company. I received a bottle of Woodford Reserve and bitters as part of the Old Fashioned Week promotion.

ALWAYS ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

Also Read: Ciroc Mango Mimosa Cocktail Recipe

Jack Daniel’s Rye vs Old No 7 Whiskey

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 11/02/2020

In Whisky Comparison

Jack Daniel’s Rye vs Old No 7 Tennessee Whiskey side by side comparison
A few weeks ago, I had the fantastic opportunity to chat to Bradley Watson, the South African Brand Ambassador for Jack Daniels about all things Jack and especially the Jack Daniels Rye whiskey. Even though this release has been around since 2017, it is only now available in SA. As part of our chat, we also did a side-by-side comparison between the Jack Daniel’s Rye vs Old No 7 Tennessee whiskey.

These two releases are both produced according to the Lincoln County Process that makes Tennessee whiskey unique. However, the mash bill for the Rye release is different. Jack Daniel’s whiskey isn’t bourbon, despite bearing most of the same characteristics, in production methods at least.

There is, however, one key difference. Jack Daniel’s filtrates their whiskey through sugar maple charcoal before maturation. This process is of key importance to the finished whiskey’s character, bottled as Tennessee whiskey.

Also Read: Jack Daniel’s vs Gentleman Jack Whiskey

Jasper Newton ‘Jack’ Daniel’s started the Jack Daniel’s distillery around 1866. It is one of the oldest registered distilleries in the United States of America. The distillery remained family-owned until 1956 when it was sold to Brown Forman, a Kentucky distilling company.

Moore County, where the Jack Daniel’s distillery is located, is one of Tennessee’s dry counties. While it is legal to distil the product within the county, it is illegal to buy it there. An exception is made where a distillery can sell one commemorative product.

Jack Daniel’s Old No 7 Tennessee Whiskey

Jack Daniel's Old No 7 with glass b
Jack Daniels Old No 7 Tennessee whiskey is the entry-level whiskey from the distillery. The mash bill for this release is 80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye. It is a NAS release, but maturation is estimated to be around 4 years.

Jack Daniel’s Rye Tennessee Whiskey

Jack Daniel’s Rye whiskey with glass
Brown Forman released the Rye whiskey in September 2017 as a new addition to the standard Jack Daniel’s lineup. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Straight Ryewhiskey is produced using a mash bill of 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley.

It follows the same Lincoln County Process that makes Tennessee whiskey unique. It is a NAS release, and it also has an excellent ABV.

Jack Daniel’s Rye vs Old No 7 Whiskey

Jack Daniel’s Rye vs Old No 7 comparison

	Jack Daniel's Old no 7	Jack Daniel's Rye
Type	Tennessee Whiskey	Tennessee Rye Whiskey
Mash Bill	80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye	70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley
ABV	43%	45%
Colour	Light amber	Light amber
Nose	Sweet with caramel, vanilla and dry oak and a hint of smoke. Some dried fruit and marzipan.	Tropical banana, hints of dark chocolate and toasted oak. Cinnamon and sweetness
Palate	Toasted oak and butterscotch sweetness. Hints of vanilla, overripe cherries and nuts. Something like sour cherries and cereal on the palate. It is quite an oily whiskey. Mellow and smooth.	Freshly baked banana bread, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Drying cinnamon and nutmeg with hints of chocolate sweetness. Bits of oily wood and vanilla. Medium body.
Finish	Medium length with some toasty oak, butterscotch and spice.	Medium length with lack pepper and spicy cinnamon and oak spices
My Rating	Very Good	Excellent
Comments	Not very complex. However, it is easy-drinking and great to use in marinades or basting sauce when cooking.	Tropical notes with an oily mouthfeel. Smooth and warming
Price	$27	$28
Pairs well with	Smoky chicken, KFC	Aged steak, dark chocolate

Putting these two releases side by side shows the difference in the mash bill very nicely while keeping to the smooth Jack Daniel’s distillery character.

The standard Jack Daniel’s has notes of caramel, vanilla, and dry oak, with cherries and cereal. The Jack Rye release has a tropical tone, with banana, dark chocolate, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The standard release showcases cherry and vanilla notes with toasted oak. The Rye release is spicier than the standard release and more complex than the Old No. 7.

Both releases are readily available in SA and affordable, and if you enjoy Jack Daniel’s, I would recommend that you try this comparison.

I prefer the Rye release. It is better balanced, more versatile and just delicious. It reminds me of freshly baked banana bread and chocolate. The Rye suits my sweet palate but with enough bits of rye spice to make it distinguishable.

I got this nice breakdown from the friendly folks at Jack Daniel’s. A quick way to see the differences.

Jack daniels old no 7 vs rye whiskey