Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1331779
21 Boss Up ✘ 1½ oz. Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series #1 ✘ ¾ oz. Meletti ✘ ½ oz. Dolin Dry Vermouth ✘ ¼ oz. Tempus Fugit Crème de Banane to rinse ✘ Lemon twist (express and discard) Garnish with a slice of banana. Bardstown Bourbon is challenging the perceptions of what a Kentucky bourbon can be. In the words of National Brand Ambassador Sam Montgomery, "Versatility [is] the most important thing. Does it work well in a cocktail? Does it pair well with food? And does it taste great on its own?" Though it began as a distillery to accommodate brands without facilities, Bardstown Bourbon now releases its own line of Kentucky's finest, including the Fusion and Discovery Series. The knowledge its team has gained along the way has cemented its ethos of collaboration and invention. "This is a blend of three different bourbons," Montgomery said of the Fusion Series #1, containing corn, wheat, malted barley, and rye. "On the side of the bottle, because we are a company that really values transparency, you can see exactly how we blended it— all three bourbons, age statements, where they came from and their mash bills, which the consumer always wants to know. So there are no secrets." But there are complexities: the expression's coffee, peach, mocha, and banana aromas lead to a malty smoothness with a hint of white pepper and cask- strength heat. Dark coffee notes, rye spice, and nuttiness appear on the lengthy finish. Its character comes through in Montgomery's Boss Up cocktail, which combines Fusion Series #1 with amaro, dry vermouth, and a crème de banana rinse. It's an ideal match for chocolate-covered espresso beans. Set to Blend: BARDSTOWN BOURBON Bardstown Bourbon National Brand Ambassador Sam Montgomery.