Good eats, better bourbon, and rubbing elbows at the Derby

 

combo photo.jpgAt some point in time, the Kentucky Derby became a star-studded event luring everyone from celebrities to those of us simply wanting walks of life to Louisville, Kentucky.  For the second year in a row, BourbonBlog.com lives, eats and drinks the Derby culture. Not only for our own pleasure, but also so we can share the stories, celebrity interviews, and the entertainment with you. Now, pour yourself a Mint Julep or an iced mint tea if more appropriate. 

            Before we find ourselves interviewing Food Network's Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri in one day, our Kentucky Derby coverage begins on a much simple but elegant note. We are flown by private jet from Henderson to Louisville for one of the most celebrated aviation shows in this region of the country called “Out of the Blue.” How are private jets for sale and a 1966 Lamborghini on display related to the Kentucky Derby anyway? Out of the Blue happens every year right before Derby. I haven't walked away buying a jet yet. I direct you to BourbonBlog.com to watch the story titled, “Could there be a better night in Louisville.” It is an evening that begins with our friends at Louisville Executive Aviation and ends as we party and stay at the 21c Museum Hotel. By the way, whether you stay as a guest or not, you can visit 21c any hour of the day for free as it is an amazing museum inside of a beautiful hotel.

            I often think to myself, “How does bourbon get us invited us to parties and places like these?”  It could be because much of coverage on BourbonBlog.com goes beyond drinking bourbon. We produce videos about Kentucky and what makes the “Americana Spirit” come alive. So to take a moment away from only thinking about consumption, the next story we cover is competition of Mint Juleps held by our friends at Four Roses Bourbon Distillery. Bartenders are infusing mint juleps with cherry pipe tobacco, bacon, apple pie flavors, and blackberries. Fortunately, not all of that is one Julep. Unfortunately, the bacon bits had sunk to the bottom and surfaced through the straw when I took a sip.  

            The typical Mint Julep is bourbon, simple syrup, mint, and lots of crushed ice. While Mint Juleps are most popular during the Kentucky Derby, they are a sweet treat year around. Food Network Host Guy Fieri and The Modern Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim agree. We meet them both the next morning at the next event we cover. 

            On the morning before Derby, the Marriott Oaks Bourbon Brunch is raising money for Home of the Innocents devoted to helping kids in crisis. Guy Fieri is cooking up breakfast and Tony Abou-Ganim is making the cocktails. I sample a Java Julep, basically a Mint Julep with cold coffee, ice, chocolate syrup and whipped cream. When I interview Guy, he is as down to Earth in real life as he is on TV. He comments on my Seersucker suit and asks me, “Do I have to wear a tie to the Derby tomorrow?” Guy and I browse some Derby hats that are for sale at this event and auction. Guy tells me about a company that has made a wig within a hat called, “FlairHair.” It looks a lot like Guy's famous spikey bleached hair. 

            If it isn't enough to have one of my favorite Food Networks hosts in the morning, the evening brings us to the globally acclaimed Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala. BourbonBlog.com is standing TV Guide on the red carpet interviewing celebrities one by one as they enter. Barnstable Brown has been called, one of the “top ten parties in the world” and it raises money for The Barnstable Brown Kentucky Diabetes and Obesity Center. That is why names like Paris Hilton, Travis Tritt, Nick and Drew Lachey are right next to us. “Maker's Mark is probably my favorite drink in the world. I'm not just kissing ass because I'm in Louisville,” Nick tells us.  

            After snapping a photo with Nick that looks like he and I are going to start our own boy band, Food Network host and celebrity chef Bobby Flay enters. After asking Bobby a few questions about all the ways he has been enjoying bourbon since visiting Kentucky, he seems to wonder where all the bourbon questions are coming from. 

            “What’s the name of your site?” Bobby inquires. 

            “BourbonBlog.com. We're all about bourbon, flavor and the South,” I reply.

            “I love all that. I love that,” smiles Bobby.
            We love it too and we love sharing. For more stories on the Kentucky Derby, the celebrity Derby galas, and Mint Juleps, watch our videos on BourbonBlog.com. We're adding new recipes, cocktails, and stories every day. In this region of the country, we're always looking for more. So if you have any, drop me a line at tom@bourbonblog.com.