T h e Fa i r m o n t Ta s t e m a k e r p r o g r a m
and initiatives like its Bartender
Bout and bourbon trail adventure
are but a taste of how the hotel
brand works with spirit partners
l i k e Brow n - Fo r m a n t o c re a t e t r u l y
meaningful experiences for its
bartenders, who in turn create truly
unique and interesting cocktail
experiences for guests.
Bourbon Bliss
All bourbon is whiskey but not all
whiskey is bourbon. This was just one of
the distinctions that the group of fervent
bartenders learned after arriving at the
stunning Kentucky-based distillery of
Woodford Reserve. The phrase speaks to
the diligent and detailed process that goes
into each barrel of Woodford Reserve
bourbon. Master Taster Elizabeth O’Neill
walked the bartenders through a tutored
tasting and tour highlighting the five
sources of Woodford Reserve flavor: the
grain recipe, water, fermentation, distillation and maturation. Woodford is aged
for approximately six to eight years and is
deemed ready based on tasting the product regularly throughout its life cycle. It is
O’Neill’s job to ensure that each batch of
Woodford is perfect, drawing on her highly developed and experienced palate. Taking in the sights, sounds and tastes of the
Woodford Reserve distillery gave each of
the bartenders a renewed appreciation for
this iconic American spirit, inspiring new
ideas of how to mix and highlight its complex crisp taste. Whiskey WisdomArrival
to the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg,
Tennessee was bursting with historical
significance and legacy. Registered in 1866
by Jack Daniel, the Jack Daniel Distillery
is the oldest registered distillery in the
United States and is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. The distillery
is surprisingly high touch and hands-on
for an operation that sold 12.3 million
cases of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
globally in the last year alone. Craftsmanship and dedication to quality is clear
when walking through the various stages
of production. Veteran guide Jesse James
brought the group through a tutored tasting of the suite of Jack Daniel’s products,
highlighting the unique properties of true
Tennessee Whiskey. He explained that it
is the charcoal mellowing process that sets
the spirit apart. The whiskey drips through
10 feet tightly-packed vats of homemade
sugar-maple charcoal.
About 16 ricks of hard sugar maple are
burned to fill one vat of charcoal. The
incredible smoky smell and heat of the
rickyard was a sight that wouldn’t soon be
forgotten. A serene moment of reflection
followed when Fairmont’s bartenders
had the opportunity to stand in the very
cave where it is rumored that Jack Daniel
himself started distilling over a century
ago. The musky surroundings and flowing
spring that echoed through the space
transported the group to the past, reflecting on Jack’s early grit and craftsmanship.
Inspired Ideation After four days of exploration, tasting and appreciation, things
came full circle when the participating
Fairmont bartenders came together in
Lynchburg to ideate and create new cocktails inspired by the craftsmanship and
history of Woodford Reserve and Gentleman Jack. An afternoon of mixing and
tasting seemed to flow naturally after what
was a full week of memorable learning.
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