08/28/2026
It never fails. You walk into THIS room at the distillery, catch a whiff of the fermentation tank...and suddenly you're very, very invested in the science of sour mash. 🧪
After countless distillery visits, there is still something magical about seeing (and smelling) a fermentation tank up close. Stainless steel or cypress wood. Massive 40,000 gallon vessels or smaller 1,500 gallon vats. All of it
I'm always captivated by that almost-unappealing funky yet awesomely sour reminder that bourbon is very much alive long before it hits the barrel. 🥃
Bonus points awarded when the tour guide lets me stick my finger in the mash to taste a small sample. 🤩
08/26/2026
Bourbon. Scotch. Which side are YOU on? 🤔
Our next big Phil Talks Whiskey public tasting features a flavorful face-off between two iconic spirits: Kentucky Bourbon and Scotch Whisky! No kilts. No bagpipes. Just some world-class whisky, fantastic stories and history, and a whole lot of fun.
🗓️ Thursday, Sept 17 | 7:00 PM
📍 Story Louisville (828 E Market St)
🎟️ Tickets & More Details on Eventbrite: https://scotchvsbourbon.eventbrite.com/
❗ 21+ Event • Limited Seating
We’re putting Scotch and Bourbon in a head-to-head matchup, exploring how centuries of heritage across two distinct cultures shaped the spirits we love today. Come ready to taste four curated heavy-hitter pours, learn some fascinating history and colorful tales, and share a few laughs over the course of a lively, interactive evening.
It's an evening with a little Kentucky hug alongside a wee Scottish kiss... along with a few fun surprises!
🐦💵 Early Bird Alert: Save 10% on all tickets when you book your seat by this Wednesday evening!
Dinna dally, grab yer ticket for the bricht grand rally!....er...I mean, snag your spot today before it's gone!
https://scotchvsbourbon.eventbrite.com/
08/24/2026
Sending a huge thanks to everyone in Cincinnati who came out to our "Aged to Perfection - A Tasting of 12-Year KY Bourbons" event last week at CoHatch Kenwood! Excellent times all around with a sold-out room as we dug deep into the world of well-aged Kentucky bourbons.
The tasting was packed with an incredibly inquisitive crew (my favorite kind) that tossed out excellent questions non-stop and generated some lively discussions. The night flew by in an all-too-fast flash.
Here's a look at what was on the tasting mat. As always, we wrapped up the evening with a vote for a favorite. On this particular night, the imported Evan Williams 12-Year-Old juuuusst barely edged out the competition for the crowd favorite!
We also managed to shatter a classic bourbon myth: a higher age statement on any bottle doesn’t mean for certain that it's going to taste better than its younger cousins. Or that you'll like it more. It only means one thing for sure: You’re going to pay more for the bottle!
Looking forward to doing it all again soon at another tasting event, Cincy! Cheers!
08/24/2026
When I'm asked to name the ONE thing I dig most about the world of bourbon, that's always a layup of a question. Without hesitation, it's the people.
I know that's a familiar refrain and I'm not the first (nor the 1,000th) to say it, but there are just scores and scores of tremendous fellow whiskey-loving amigos out there who are kind, engaging and love sharing good pours.
For example, every single time I see a certain friend up in Cincinnati, he hands off an innocuous-looking brown bag that could be holding his lunch. But instead of ham and Swiss inside, I always find kick-ass whiskey samples based on conversations we've had on what to try next.
So, to everyone who has ever shared a pour, swapped a great story, or handed me a mysterious brown paper bag, I'm raising a glass (or at least one of these samples) to you tonight. Cheers to the people who make the whiskey taste even better.
08/19/2026
Louisville, this one is close to my heart. 🥃
Always thrilled to help spread the word about , a team of professional chefs on a mission to make sure nobody in our city goes hungry. They rescue surplus food and transform it into nutritious meals for Louisville's unhoused and food-insecure neighbors.
And this year, they're part of one of Louisville's most beloved traditions, the Taste of Louisville. A night of incredible food, great drinks, live music, and giving back to a city we all love!
But here's the key part (where you can help!): Feed Louisville is one of the event’s nonprofit partners. When you purchase your Taste of Louisville tickets through the link below, your ticket helps support their amazing work.
AND once they sell 100 tickets, they can unlock up to $10,000 for Feed Louisville. Help 'em hit 100 and help fight hunger, yo.
https://www.etix.com/ticket/c/3D2D382F4DDAA03CF65859180AB2EF66/taste-of-louisville-feed-louisville
🗓️ Wednesday, October 14 | 6 - 9pm
📍 Mellwood Art Center
🎟️ Event Site: https://thetasteoflouisville.com/
08/17/2026
Easily one of my favorite Louisville oddities of all time… The Door To Nowhere!🚪
The façade dates back to 1865 as the front section of the Heigold House. The home was one of the few in the area to survive the infamous 1937 flood. Has been picked up and moved in its entirety a few times since, but today it sits peculiarly placed at the intersection of River Rd and Frankfort Ave.
This one is always a "must see" when I'm showing visitors around town (followed by a stop at Sergio's World of Beers up the road for some secret beers).
08/19/2026
08/17/2026