Belle Meade Bourbon Tasting at Watson's Shack and Rail
A long day at work yesterday....trying to get end of the fiscal year things done, some interviews, stressing about steam engines.... Ernie picked me up and we stopped by Fries and Peanuts for a quick glass of wine and I talked Roger and Ceal's ears off until we took off for Watson's Shack and Rail. We'd splurged for a Belle Meade bourbon tasting. Our friend Mary had let us know about it and I kinda figured it would be too expensive for us but I was pleasantly surprised by the cost so we splurged. Honestly I think it was a pretty great deal. It was $40 a person but you ended tasting five different bourbons (a full shot each, ahem) and a tasting menu with it that was delightful and ended up being a full dinner.
Oh, and we got to sit next to friends Stacey and Hilary, which was delightful.
Mary Sack's presentation was great....wonderful stories about the distillery and easy, easy drinking bourbons....this was so much fun. I hope Watson's does some more of these. We really loved the bourbons---in fact we might have to splurge and get a bottle. Our mini-vacation seems to have been postponed so I can afford it lol.
Here's the menu that Shades did....the pairings were really lovely and nicely thought out.
Sweet & Salty
Hopleaf refresher: Melon compressed with lime & chile flake
Belle Meade Bourbon
My name is Inigo Montoya…
Country ham wrapped date, cumin aioli
Belle Meade Bourbon Sherry Cask Finish
The melon was perfect....brought out notes in the bourbon that I didn't get at all at first. Sometimes bites built around dates are too sweet for me, but this one was really nicely balanced by the saltiness and texture of the country ham and the aioli deserved to be licked off the plate. You'll be pleased to know that I restrained myself. The Belle Mead Bourbon was great and is the most affordable...probably what one we'll buy first. I love sherry so I really liked the sherry edge to that bourbon as well.
Polyculture in West Africa
Cocoa rubbed beef, avocado, lava salt
Belle Meade Single Barrel
I didn't get too much of the cocoa rubbed taste, but the beef, avocado and lava salt was damned luscious. Perfect. The bourbon was incredible....definitely our favorite!
Chicago blend
Miso caramel popcorn, grated 4 yr Gouda
Belle Meade Cognac Cask Finish
As always, they had me at popcorn....
Feverishly till dawn
Banana bread with chocolate, pb, bacon
Belle Meade Madeira Cask Finish
I'm not the biggest sweets person but the bacon/chocolate/pb sauce on top? Oh my. My father loved madeira and would always give us 'morning madeira' on Christmas and Thanksgiving mornings...so of course I liked this one as well!
It was great night. By the end I was too full and tired and wound up at the same time to do anything but go home. We sat in our messy living room, talked to the boys, and listened to Owen play guitar.
Nice.