Water of Life

Buffalo Trace Bourbon & Beer Magical Mystery Tour

The appreciation whisk(e)y and other spirits for that matter, is an entirely subjective exercise, although there are a few objective truths when it comes to realm of Bourbon, e.g. that it must be made from a mash bill comprised of a lion’s share of corn, aged in new charred oak containers, distilled in the new world and meet certain proof requirements.

Having tumbled down the rabbit hole of liquor made from fermented grain, spending exorbitantly to chase elusive expressions, these days I appreciate a reliable, accessible and affordable workhorse Bourbon, which is where Buffalo Trace Distillery’s predominantly corn based, eponymous gateway core expression comes in. 

Needless to say, I was intrigued when I learned about a curated Buffalo Trace Beer, Bourbon & BBQ-filled Brewery Magical Mystery Tour, comprised of a four-stop stint at some of the more prominent inner-west breweries of Sydney in a bid to find the identify the ideal brewed companion to match a boilermaker with Buffalo Trace’s expressions being the sole constant.

After carving my way to the first stop, i.e. the warehouse brewery in the industrial heart of White Bay and acquainting myself with the hosts of the evening, we were off to the races. 

White Bay’s cold fermented Balmain Velvet Schwarzbier proved to be an interesting entry point to easy into the proceedings: A traditional German Schwarzbier in nature with the added twist of being based on a melange of a wide selection of robust German grown base and specialty malts along with the tiniest addition of Kiwi grown Roasted Wheat for a distinct Southern hemisphere touch. Living up to its name it terms of a velvety mouthfeel, on the top of the mouth richly sweet but bitter, a little malty, and slightly earthy nuances dance against a backdrop of molasses, which aid in emphasizing the richness of caramel and cocoa. 

Despite the heady Schwarzbier characteristics, this naturally carbonated little number proved to be on the crushable end of the spectrum with its welcome crispness. Not a bad pairing to complement Buffalo Trace’s spiced toffee profile and one that set the tone for the classy evening that was to ensue.

What followed was a Buffalo Trace Distillery masterclass, MC’ed by whisky-phile par excellence and never not charming spearhead of the Fine Drinks Movement,Geraint ‘Gee’ David who not only knows how to spin a contextualised, engaging yarn but had us follow him on the chronological timeline of America’s native spirit, from the distillation of whiskey by early pioneers to the current thriving bourbon environment, confessing his love of the spirit along the way by presenting educational Bourbon fun facts along with anecdotes about his encounters with the main protagonists behind Buffalo Trace Distillery.

I was mildly excited about Wayward Brewing Co being the next stop of our tour as we have featured their excellent, micro-brewed emissions many times over the years and it was fantastic to check out their digs in the third dimension. 

The special brew conjured specifically for the occasion of the Buffalo Trace Magical Mystery Tour, i.e., the aptly named “Chasing Buffalo”, had its focus firmly set on not merely matching but enhancing the DNA of Buffalo Trace in terms on enhancing its toffee, vanilla, and molasses characteristics. 

I used the stop to stock up on Wayward Brewery’s Pavlovian response evoking juicy Triple IPA Mum Rock, which based on the triumvirate of Mosaic, Eclipse and Citra hops is a tour de force in marrying zesty citrus with stone fruit flavours. 
While the evening was dotted at each stop with generous cured meat and cheese platters, the Wayward Brewing stop constituted a local highlight with a sumptuous and generous bourbon BBQ dinner. 

Off to Marrickville we were to stop at the small-batch brewery Stockade. Set against a backdrop of stacked barrels, some of which were previously used to age Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Stockade’s light Pepperberry Porter made an appearance with its delicate botanical highlights.

On the Bourbon front, things got dialed up a notch or three with E.H. Taylor Single Barrel making an appearance: A fulminant melange of spicy notes based on a bed of oak, leaving an aftertaste of plums, fruits, and hints of figs after hitting the palate with its buttery texture. 

The fact that its long finish is veiled in smokiness only adds to its allure. Dangerously more-ish and the fact that Stockade offered a taste of their exotic, boozy Desert-wine like flat-as-a-tack Ancient Money potion with its distinct grape, raisin and port flavours certainly added in things getting loose.

The Buffalo Trace Bourbon Magical Mystery Bus tour culminated not far away in the same hood at the iconic Mixtape Brewing & Bar, where head brewer Jason Newton presented what has been specifically created for the occasion, i.e., the Buffalo Bourbon Amber Ale which with its hop driven aromas of currant and pear. 

A thoughtfully crafted brew that not only rounded on the palate with a toasted malt character, light fruitiness and a balanced bitter finish but also rounded out an immensely enjoyable and well-calibrated evening, which was sealed with another dram to pay homage to Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor and a bottle of Buffalo Trace Bourbon to be taken home and enjoyed within the confines of one’s abode.

Summa summarum, a masterfully executed ode to Southern hospitality, everything Bourbon and craft brews, tickling all senses in equal measures.

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image courtesy of Wasamedia