Gifts - BourbonSphere

The Best Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast for Cozy Winter Getaways

If you’re looking for the most luxurious lodging in Bardstown, our Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast is perfect for enjoying the local distilleries and attractions while keeping relaxation at the forefront of your vacation. The Bourbon Manor Bed and Breakfast offers ten elegant guestrooms in two pre-Civil War plantation homes, each appointed with antique furnishings. …

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Whether you’re planning for yourself and your partner or thinking ahead to the holidays, giving the gift of a getaway to our Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast is an unforgettable gesture. We offer gift certificates for any dollar amount and can send them directly by email. Your friends and family can decide when they can fit a getaway into their schedules and will be grateful for a gift that’s made of memories. We have an on-site spa room for massage by the warmth of the fire, a lovely lobby bar for scratch-made cocktails, and elegant shared spaces for sipping in style.

Upon arrival, guests are always mesmerized by the historic southern charm of our Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast and are welcomed with open arms by our professional staff and innkeepers. The stately brick manor and surrounding land, built in the early 1800s, have a rich past. It offers an entirely unique lodging accommodation, more memorable than a cookie-cutter hotel stay, the perfect setting for romantic getaways, special celebrations, and so much more. Start planning your next trip to Bardstown, and book your room today!

Winter Getaway to our Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast

Over the years, there have been several renovations to the manor, but all have kept the original historical charm, making our Inn a welcoming and warm place to stay with your special someone or a group of friends. Our Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast is a fantastic location for exploring the shopping and restaurants of the Bardstown area, the local bourbon producers, and historical landmarks.

Here are eight reasons to stay at our Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast:

Elegant lodging: Staying in one of our guest suites will give you the same feeling as a loving, warm hug. Traveling can take it out of you, and there’s a palpable sense of relief when you can finally set down your bags, take in the beautiful surroundings, and realize that you’re finally on vacation at our Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast. Our rooms have modern amenities, fireplaces, luxurious beds with designer linens, and stunning garden views.
En suite baths with luxurious amenities: Each room also offers a private bathroom—many with jetted tubs and walk-in showers—all with fluffy Turkish towels and comfortable terry cloth robes.
Beautiful Shared Spaces: Our Bardstown Bed and Breakfast has a warm and friendly atmosphere, where guests can enjoy toasting with bourbon cocktails or relaxing in the Player Piano Parlor with a hot cup of coffee. We want our guests to feel at home and use our space as if it were their own. You can explore our garden grounds, bundle up for a winter walk, and explore the best of Bardstown nearby.
On-site massage: Located in the Main House, our talented and welcoming massage therapists offer Swedish, sports, and trigger point therapy treatments. If you’re on a romantic getaway, make sure to book your couple’s massage in advance,e the perfect addition to any trip—also an excellent gift idea to add to your lodging.
Gourmet country breakfasts: Our Southern-style breakfast is a delight in the morning, featuring locally Kentucky-grown ingredients in our acclaimed recipes. Our signature egg dishes, cheesy hashbrowns, and bourbon-infused breakfast sweets are sure to impress. Our formal dining room is the perfect setting to start your day right with candlelight and fresh flowers.
Ideal location: As a guest at our Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast, you’ll be within a short driving distance of the downtown area, where you’ll find many of the best Bardstown distilleries, charming boutiques, and some of our favorite Bardstown restaurants. You’ll be just a short walk from My Kentucky Dinner Train depot for a scenic ride and gourmet meal–truly one of the most romantic outings!
Local Bardstown restaurants: While we’ll take care of your morning meal, you’ll find spectacular Bardstown restaurants nearby for lunch and dinner. There’s a melting pot of culinary talent in our area. Whether you’re searching for a casual cafe or fine dining experience, you’ll find a fantastic selection. A few not to miss are Toogie’s Tavern, the Rickhouse Restaurant, and the historic Old Talbott Tavern.
Bourbon tastings and tours: We offer a long list of unique add-ons at our Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast. The most popular addition to any vacation is the Bourbon Tour and Tasting Package, which includes a customized self-driving itinerary, tickets for tastings, the Oscar Getz Bourbon History Museum, a collection of bourbon keepsakes and treats, and more.

Give the Gift of a Getaway to Bardstown

If we had to pick just one reason why our Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast holds the top spot on TripAdvisor in the Best Bed and Breakfast category, it would be the exceptional level of warm and attentive service we provide to every guest who stays with us. In today’s world, kindness goes a long way, and we aim to ensure that every guest feels comfortable and relaxed during their stay with us. This is also an excellent reason for gift-giving! When you choose to gift a getaway to your loved ones, you can rest knowing that they’ll have the same level of service that you experienced during your time here.

One of the best ways to make your time memorable here is by adding on one of our enhancement packages. Here’s a lovely review from a recent couple who celebrated their anniversary at our Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast:

“The Bourbon Manor is beautiful! We purchased a package that included two rocks glasses, two drinks from the bar, two distillery tours, dinner reservations with a $50 gift card, and chocolates. It was amazing for Todd to make the tour and dinner reservations for us. The bartender, Jojuan, creates signature drinks that are amazing. He is very friendly, and we enjoyed our after-dinner drinks and chats with him. Tyler makes a wonderful breakfast each morning! Our room was cozy and relaxing and so beautiful!”

We hope you’ll come back to see us soon and consider giving your friends and family a wonderful gift of a getaway by purchasing a gift certificate to our Bourbon Trail Bed and Breakfast. Book your room today!

2022 BRIAN’S BOOK AND A BOTTLE ™

You can make 2022 brighter with the right bottle of Bourbon or Rye Whiskey paired with Bourbon Justice. Think of these bottles for gifts as Holiday parties ramp up, for the whiskey enthusiast on your list, or just for treating yourself.  Brian’s Book and a Bottle™…

You can make 2022 brighter with the right bottle of Bourbon or Rye Whiskey paired with Bourbon Justice. Think of these bottles for gifts as Holiday parties ramp up, for the whiskey enthusiast on your list, or just for treating yourself.  Brian’s Book and a Bottle has the right suggestion for everyone on your list:

For your business partner:  Bourbon Justice and Pursuit United because partners Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil are showing everyone how to do it right. You’ll show yourself to be the creative brain of the operation.

For your impossible family member:  Bourbon Justice and Russell’s Reserve by Wild Turkey. Lord knows that we need to get back to solid roots and there’s hardly anything as solid as Jimmy Russell, Mater Distiller at Wild Turkey since 1954. Jimmy has been the heart and soul of Wild Turkey and he can tell you all about family.

For a host/hostess:  Bourbon Justice and Wilderness Trail. Shane and Pat’s authenticity is evident in every bottle of Wilderness Trail, and your host will appreciate the low barrel entry proof sweet mash far more than that bottle of white wine that keeps getting regifted. Step up with the most memorable gift of the evening.

For your boss or other authority figure:  Bourbon Justice and Old Elk. There may not be a distillery with a more diverse offering than Old Elk, with Bourbon, Rye, wheat whiskey, wheated Bourbon, barrel finished Bourbon, and more, giving you the opportunity to nail the perfect gift to showcase your wisdom. That sensibility and personalization will show that you are a crucial part of the team.

Where to find Bourbon Justice:
Best deal: Bourbon Justice is on a 50% off sale through Potomac until Dec. 31 with promotion code 6HLW22 — use this link: Potomac.

Fastest Shipping: Amazon is tough to beat — you know the drill: Amazon.

Signed by me: Visit A Taste of Kentucky in person or online for a signed book or tell them that you’d liked it personally inscribed and I’ll make it happen. They ship anywhere.

Please enjoy the Holidays responsibly!

Stocking Stuffers: Snackable Treats for Whisky Lovers

Here’s a brief list of little gifts for Christmas stockings—these ones exclusively centered around satisfying any holiday hunger pangs.

The post Stocking Stuffers: Snackable Treats for Whisky Lovers appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

You may be planning on gifting a loved one a bottle of whisky this holiday season, but pay mind to their stocking, too, and spice it up with these whisky-centric snacks or a gift card for them. From salty to sweet, these delicious bites call on Irish whiskey, scotch, and Tennessee whiskey to deliver a full tasting experience.

Munchable Delights, Paired Perfectly With Whisky

Whiskey minis mixed up with potato chips A Poppable Bag of Whisky Miniatures
We’ve sung the virtues of the whisky mini in the past—they’re portable, inexpensive, and an easy way to try something new. Around the start of football season, Tullamore D.E.W. introduced this 6-pack of minis of its Original Irish whiskey called Tully Chips ($29 through Caskers), giving the sports-minded whisky drinker something new to bring to the watch party. Packaged to look like an actual bag of chips, this works just as great as a fun and surprising holiday gift. And pairing whiskey with chips is a winning combination. Tayto is considered the holy grail of Irish potato chips, or “crisps” as they call them in Ireland. American drinkers can pair Tully with Zapp’s New Orleans Kettle Style Potato Chips in Voodoo Heat and get great results.—TS

A Whisky-Infused Pairing Snack
When it comes to quick and easy pairings, it’s hard to beat a well thought-out snack. Our favorites combine sweet and salty flavors allowing you to use multiple parts of your palate; think chocolate-covered almonds or peanut butter-filled pretzels. Or you can just combine your whisky and your snack into one convenient bite with Eatable’s Whisky on the Pops Gourmet popcorn ($9). Air-popped and coated with scotch-infused caramel, these deliver a bit of smoke, salt, and sweetness. The Top Shelf Trio ($28) gets you Whisky on the Pops along with Pop the Champagne and Pop the Salt and Tequila, though Eatable offers a range of spirit and wine-infused popcorns to purchase individually. If your family is opting to stream a movie at home rather than hit the theaters this holiday, elevate the experience with a nice glass of peaty scotch and some gourmet snacking.—TS

Chocolates Designed With Whisky in Mind
It’s no secret that chocolate and whisky go great together. We have recipes for chocolate cocktails and the ever-popular bourbon balls but whisky brands are also leaning into pairings by collaborating with world-renowned chocolatiers. Vosges has a box of chocolate bombes using Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve ($45), Winans teamed up with Watershed Distillery for some Bourbon Cherry Cordials ($20-$35), and Chef Jacques Torres is selling bonbons made with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked ($27) with a portion of proceeds going to a good cause. Elsewhere, chocolate maker Compartés’ specialty truffles are made with Macallan 18 year old ($38 for a 10 piece set) and dark chocolate ganache, coated with single origin dark chocolate.—TS

Rack of ribs For the Meat Lover In Your Life
Whisky and meat are a match made in heaven, and if your preferred choice of meat is succulent, smoky barbecue, then you’re in luck: Tennessee barbecue stalwart Peg Leg Porker is available on fine food delivery site Gold Belly. Within days after ordering, the meat lovers in your life can enjoy a feast of dry-rub ribs and pulled pork ($139 for 2 racks of ribs, 2 lbs. of pulled pork, 1 bag of pork rinds, 1 bottle of barbeque sauce, and 1 bottle of dry rub). But of course, barbecue isn’t the only thing Peg Leg Porker offers—the pit master, Carey Bringle, is a whiskey fan himself, so much so that he created his own Tennessee whiskey label back in 2015.—JH

Cheddar Paired Perfectly With Whisky
We’ve delved into how whisky and cheese complement each other in the past, given that the many flavors found within whisky can be right at home with any number of cheeses when paired correctly. If you’re of the same mind, then a pairing of aged single malt and matured cheese might just make your day, and GlenDronach is now offering such a duo via ReserveBar. Whisky and cheese lovers can enjoy a bottle of GlenDronach 12 year old alongside an 8 oz. wedge of Point Reyes white cheddar ($105), which was aged for one year at the company’s farm in California. Make it a full charcuterie board by tacking on some prosciutto, which harmonizes beautifully with single malts matured in sherry casks such as this one.—JH

The post Stocking Stuffers: Snackable Treats for Whisky Lovers appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

Bourbon Bill’s Christmas Gift Guide

I know my blogging has been sporadic lately (VERY sporadic), but the Christmas Season seemed like a good time to get back online and share some gift giving ideas for bourbon and bar lovers alike. Keep an eye out for Black Friday sales at your favorite local liquor and beverage store! Naturally, as someone who … Continue reading Bourbon Bill’s Christmas Gift Guide

Naturally, as someone who works in packaging, my bourbon choices for this year’s gift guide include bourbon bottles with good packaging. I also made sure to include some splurges and some steals (Santa Hint: Airplane bottles are ALWAYS a great steal for stockings).

Larceny is a favorite that we keep stocked on our bar. The price point is great at under $30. Every bourbon fan needs a bottle.
Blade and Bow was a favorite from our recent trip to the Bourbon Trail. The packaging can’t be beat either – perfect for a Christmas gift.
If you can get your hands on a bottle of Stagg Jr., you will make a bourbon lover’s Christmas! If you can get your hands on two bottles – send me one! In all seriousness, finding a bottle of Stagg Jr. generally requires making good friends at your favorite liquor store (or if you live in a regulated state, visiting stores often). In Virginia, a bottle goes for about $53, if you can find one. The bourbon is some of the best, and the bottle is so perfect for Christmas.
I have my eye on this “Mint Condition” bow tie from A Taste of Kentucky’s website. Perfect for a Kentucky Derby!
No bar can have too many fun glasses to sip bourbon out of. I have the Dorset Crystal Double Old-Fashioned Glasses from Williams-Sonoma and really like them.
Porch Parties is one of Lynn’s favorite cocktail books for entertaining. Lots of great drink and appetizer recipes. We should all throw more impromptu porch parties these days!

If you’re looking for more ideas, check out past gift guides here, here, and here.