Sipping Bourbon in Paradise: Key West Edition In this episode of the Fun in Key West podcast, host Michele O'Connor takes listeners on a laid-back journey through the unique bourbon scene in Key West. Whether you're a bourbon aficionado or just dipping your toes into the world of bourbon, Michele offers tips on how to enjoy bourbon like a pro. Learn the basics of bourbon, including what makes it distinct from other whiskeys, and discover some of the best spots in Key West to savor this American spirit. From understanding bourbon lingo to choosing your style and picking the perfect bourbon, this episode is packed with valuable insights and recommendations. Tune in for a blend of spirited education and Key West charm. 00:00 Welcome to Fun in Key West 01:26 All About Bourbon in Key West 03:46 Bourbon Basics and How to Order 10:02 Top Bourbon Spots in Key West 11:31 Conclusion and Key West Tips Sign up for our newsletter - here Transcript
Hey there, island dreamers, locals, and anyone craving a slice of paradise. Welcome back or welcome for the first time to the Fun in Key West podcast, where the vibe is always laid back, the stories are salty, and the drinks are definitely frozen. I'm your host, Michelle O'Connor, your unofficial tour guide to the Conch Republic.
Whether you're planning your first trip, your fifth trip, or you're just daydreaming about trading the cubicle for the ocean breeze, You are in the right place. Here's the deal. This podcast is your insider's guide to all things Key West. We're talking where to eat. Hello, cog fritters and key lime pie.
Where to drink. Spoiler alert, there will be rum. Where to stay and all the quirky wonderful things that make Key West the one of a kind paradise we all love. Plus, I'll keep you up to date on the latest happenings and Festivals, events, maybe even the occasional Hemingway lookalike sighting. And just to keep things spicy, we'll be bringing on some amazing guests now and then.
Locals, business owners, and people who know the island like the back of their sandy hand. So grab your flip flops, pour yourself a cold one. And let's escape to the island state of mind together, whether you're tuning in from your hammock or your commute. You know, while wishing it was a hammock. We've got all the Key West goodness coming your way.
Thanks for being here. It's going to be a lot of fun in Key West. Let's dive in.
Hey there, and welcome back to the Fun in Key West podcast. Today, we're talking all things bourbon, because who doesn't want to sip like a pro in paradise, right? And trust me, there's no better place to elevate your bourbon game than in Key West. Whether you're already a bourbon buff or just curious about how to order an old fashioned without looking, well, I got you covered.
We'll also chat about some amazing Key West spots for bourbon enthusiasts, whether you're into fancy cocktails, good vibes, or just a solid drink. There's a place for you there. And yes, um, while recording this, I was outside because, you know, I was in Orlando and I just had to have that outside vibe and all, but.
Mr. Coffee decided to say hi to the neighbor and well, it turns out she's not a fan of enthusiastic greetings from dogs. But hey, here at Fun in Key West, we just keep rolling dog barks and all. All right, grab a drink, bourbon or otherwise, and let's get started.
Everybody, this is Michele with Fun in Key West, and it is Happy thirsty Thursday. What a great way to start off the new year. And what I thought I'd talk about today is bourbon. Hear me out. There's, there's a couple of places in Key West that you can get, uh, whiskey and bourbons and, and do all of the cocktails.
But I thought, you know, whether or not you're sitting on a bourbon, need, uh, you know, a local dive bar, think, you know, maybe Green Parrot or you're ordering a fancy old fashioned. Um, Key West is the perfect spot to enjoy a great cocktail like bourbon. Now I'm not, Key West. long term, long time whiskey bourbon drinking girl.
Um, my husband, Gavin, he loves a great old fashioned. So, along the way, I have learned a little bit about bourbon and how to order one. And I thought, you know what? I might want to share some of my tips and some things that I've learned along the way so that when you go into, uh, one of these places I'm going to tell you about in Key West, um, you'll be able to actually maybe order something that you know.
So, um, first off, what is bourbon? So bourbon is a type of whiskey, but not all whiskeys are bourbons, right? You know, not to be confusing or anything, right? To be bourbon, it must be made in the U. S. and it comes mostly from Kentucky and it contains at least 51 percent corn and it's mash bill or grain mix of how it's made up.
What makes the alcohol in the bourbon must be at least 51 percent corn. And it must be aged in charred oak barrels, and distilled to no more than 160 proof, and entered into the barrels at no more than 125 proof. And it contains no additives, flavorings, or colorings. So, it's a pretty simple recipe. pure distinct, uh, spirit.
So it's going to have some really nice sweet caramel, um, notes of caramel and vanilla and oak and sometimes a spicer fruit because of the charred, um, barrels that they come out of. But by law, bourbon is America's only native spirit. Did you know that? I didn't know that until I started researching some of this.
And it was declared so by Congress in 1964. Pretty impressive, huh? So, when you walk into a place, you can order bourbon several ways. You can order it neat, which means it's served in a glass at room temperature. No ice or mixers. you know, poured into a glass on the rocks. It's served over ice, which chills it slightly.
And as the ice melts, it'll dilute it some. You can do it with a splash of water. So you can do neat with a splash of water, although I don't think that really makes it neat. Or you could do it over the rocks with a splash of water. and it supposedly that splash of water enhances and opens up the flavors of the bourbon or more popularly, you can put it into a cocktail so you can do an old fashioned Manhattan, a mint julep, um, whiskey sour.
So, you know, now, you know, kind of how that all comes together. Some of the times the bartenders will say, so what do you want and what are you thinking of? So there's some lingo You probably want to get your head around is a single barrel that's bourbon from one specific barrel, and that offers some unique flavor varieties.
Small batch. So this is made from a select number of barrels emphasizing quality. So think small batch distilleries. They're going to be a little more on the flavor side and have a higher cost than those mass produced places. and proof means how much of it is percentage of alcohol. So a 90 proof means it's 45 percent alcohol, just like any other spirit.
So usually what makes up the, the, um, the spirit is some sort of sugar that makes it turn into alcohol. So grains are usually used. So, you know, you have grains in beer, you have grains in vodka, you have grains in all your spirits. Um, so the common grains in bourbon can be corn and rye and barley and wheat.
And think about bread. And this is how I always relate to it. Each is going to have its own distinct flavor profile. Remember, 51 percent has to be corn. And so rye heaven, uh, rye heavy bourbons are spicier. Um, the weeder, the wheat heavy ones are softer and sweeter. So remember, think about your breads as you kind of look through and look at these bourbons.
So I'm going to get to the good place, places and some really cool places that you should try bourbon at in Key West here in a second. But first, like, let's, how do you order bourbon like a pro? So first and foremost, Choose your style. Step one, choose your style. How do you want to enjoy it? Do you want just the pure flavor?
So you're gonna go neat. You get chilled because you don't like your room temperature and you're gonna go on the rocks. You want to ease into bourbon? Then you're gonna try it in a cocktail like an old fashioned or a Manhattan. Step number two is you're gonna pick your bourbon. So what they say is there's like beginner friendly bourbons.
It's kind of like beginner friendly wines and beers. Um, makers mark. Um, it's smooth and sweet Buffalo trace. It's affordable and it has a nice well rounded flavor. Knob Creek has a slightly stronger flavor. Um, if you want to go a little higher up on the shelf and do a little premium, you can do Blanton.
So it's known for its collectible bottles. Woodward's Woodford Reserve. It's complex, it's balanced, it's, it's, you know, kind of the fancy one to get. Angel's Envy. This one is finished in port barrels for a unique twist. Can you imagine bourbon with a little bit of port on it? Um, some adventurous options include high rye bourbon such as bullet bourbon.
or cast strength bourbons, such as Elijah Craig barrel proof. So these are kind of like out there if you're really wanting to experiment. Step three, I want you to match your atmosphere to what you're drinking. So you're not really going to have an old fashioned sitting at the Green Parrot. You're probably going to have it on the rocks or neat.
So stick to, you know, if you're a casual Key West, you know, you're going to stick to the classic brands or just maybe a house cocktail. Um, You going upscale or someplace that's kind of known for their classy cocktails? Experiment, have something a little higher end or do an old fashioned or something along those lines.
So here's a little bit of fun facts about bourbon. Bourbon must be aged in new charred oak barrels which can only be used once for bourbon. Interesting, huh? And the name bourbon probably comes from Bourbon County, Kentucky. I don't know. Check me out. Let me know in the comments. Say, Hey, Michele, you're way off base.
That's not where it comes from. Um, so here's where I'm gonna highlight a few places for you to check out in Key West. If bourbon is your thing. So general horseplay head over there. I love this place. Got the 10 ceilings. Um, they do some really cool cocktails. So if you're not into bourbon like me, but you want to explore and do some different things with cocktails.
there. That's your place to go. But if you love an old fashioned, they do an old fashioned cocktail class. So check that out. See if it's available. Um, so you'll learn all of the tips and tricks of how to make the best old fashioned. Another place that offers kind of a unique twist on cocktails. And I kind of think this is just off the beaten path is the roost.
So it's over on Fleming and, um, they do old Forester old fashioned Wednesdays. So from 6 p. m. to close, uh, that's their special on Wednesdays is old Forester old fashions. Of course, you can hit, you know, the traditional spot. So if you're with people who just want to do other things than cocktails, there's usually some bourbon available at Sloppy's and at Irish Kevin's.
And last but not least, here's another place to check out. So Old Town Tavern on Wednesdays offers 50 percent off from nine p. m. to close on all of their whiskeys and bourbons. So not a bad place to check out.
And that's it for today's episode of Fun in Key West. I hope you feel ready to take on the world, or at least your next drink order, like a true bourbon connoisseur. Remember, if you're planning a trip to Key West or just dreaming about it, you have to check out some of the places we mentioned today.
Don't forget to visit FunInKeyWest. com, where I've packed in even more tips, ideas, and inspiration for your ultimate Key West adventure. Seriously, there's something for everyone, bourbon lovers included. And you know what? I truly appreciate you spending a few minutes with me today. It means the world.
Alright, go enjoy the rest of your day. Sip something delicious, and I'll catch you next time. Thanks for tuning in. You're the best.
