Louisville Recap

Well, Im actually still here, but had some great fun over the weekend when mi novia came into town. I used some hotel points(one of the few benefits from consistent travel) and we stayed at the Seelbach Hotel.

It is an old hotel with a pretty cool history including mention in The Great Gatsby and having secret doors for Al Capone to escape down into underground tunnels.  I did not take the above picture, as our digital camera broke, which would have to be explained to people if we asked them to take our picture with a sweet kodak disposable that we picked up.  

 

We also went on a tour of the Buffalo Trace distillery.  They make 14 different bourbons there, some of which do not make it to the east coast, and if they do are very limited.  Taking pictures of the storage area, which was basically long hallways of barrels with a point and click was funny.  Why, you ask.  There was only two other people in our tour, so it was quiet and if you remember, you have to wind that camera after every pic.  Full disclosure:  Andrea was in charge of the camera.  Very informative and for those curious what makes a bourbon, there are laws, man.

On 4 May 1964, the U.S. Congress recognized Bourbon Whiskey as a “distinctive product of the United States," creating the Federal Standards of Identity for Bourbon. Federal regulations now stipulate that Bourbon must meet these requirements:

• Bourbon must be made of a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn.^[1]
• Bourbon must be distilled to no more than 160 (U.S.) proof (80% alcohol by volume).
• Bourbon must be 100% natural (nothing other than water added to the mixture).
• Bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak barrels.^[1]
• Bourbon may not be introduced to the barrel at higher than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume).
• Bourbon which meets the above requirements and has been aged for a minimum of two years, may (but is not required to) be called Straight Bourbon.^[2]
• Bourbon aged for a period less than four years must be labeled with the duration of its aging.

 

In accordance with local culture, we drank a good amount of bourbon at various bars, mostly in downtown hotels.  I did some tasting flights.  Andrea had a champagne and bourbon concoction as well as a bourbon and creme do cocoa mixture, but my favorite was the Old Fashioned.

Because of my hilton status they gave me a couple drink vouchers and room service coupons when checking in.  They were just printed on normal paper and I figured that there was no real way to track them, so each time I saw a new person at the front desk, I told them I never received the coupons.  A couple of times doing that ended up in about 100 dollars in free drinks at the Old Seelbach Bar, and over a hundred in room service breakfast.  Not a bad deal.

Might post more on this when pictures are developed.......