116: Sippin' Whiskey with Jason Brauner & Buzzard's Roost

We sit down with Jason Brauner and some "Sippin' Whiskey" at Bourbon's Bistro in Louisville.  We discuss Jason’s experiences in the bourbon world, owning a highly regarded restaurant with an extensive selection of bourbon, and owning his own Whiskey brand.  Buzzard’s Roost Sippin’ Whiskey is a brand that relies on Jason’s palate and experience to craft unique barrel finished (double barreled) rye whiskey. 

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Bourbon Lens

 

ABOUT BUZZARD’S ROOST:

The story of Buzzard’s Roost started nearly two decades ago with one man’s goal to educate people about whiskey. From the opening of the first bourbon-focused bar - Bourbon’s Bistro to pioneering the idea of barrel selection for restaurants, Company Founder and Master Blender Jason Brauner has always been at the forefront of whiskey.

After taking part in more than a 100 barrel selections over his career, Jason is embarking on his most exciting challenge yet  - Buzzard’s Roost Sippin’ Whiskey, a Rye he designed with the bourbon drinker in mind.  His goal with Buzzard’s Roost is still the same as it was 19 years ago,  to educate and share his love of whiskey.

THE PROCESS:

We start by sourcing the best aged whiskey we can find, but the real magic is in our barrels. We use only brand new, 53-gallon white oak barrels that are carefully toasted and very lightly charred. Each one is designed from the ground up to deliver a specific flavor profile.

We work closely with our cooperage to tweak every parameter of the barrel  - from the seasoning to the charring to the development of our custom toast profiles. All of our barrels are unique and proprietary to our company, giving Buzzard’s Roost a truly one-of-a kind flavor. After resting only a few weeks in our new barrels, the whiskey is purposefully transformed and ready for bottling.

ABOUT JASON BRAUNER:

Since opening Bourbon's Bistro in 2005, Jason has had an active single barrel program allowing him to work side-by-side with many of Kentucky's leading master distillers. Through those relationships, he not only has gained a tremendous amount of knowledge but also garnered the respect of those distillers.  Jim Rutledge says: “If I could pick an understudy for J.W. Rutledge Distillery when it gets going it would be Jason. That is how much I respect his passion and his palate”. 

The knowledge gained through these distillers combined with his overall passion for the industry grew into a desire for Jason to go from just selling whiskey to making whiskey.

ABOUT THE WHISKIES:

• Single Barrel Buzzard’s Roost Rye Whiskey 
  • 105 PROOF
  • A unique and award-winning bottling from one of our favorite barrels in the warehouse.
• Barrel Strength Buzzard’s Roost Rye Whiskey
  • 113-116 PROOF
  • Our most prized barrels are offered to you uncut, unfiltered, straight out of the barrel.  Bottled from a single barrel, only a select few barrels will meet the criteria to be offered at Barrel Strength.
• Very Small Batch Buzzard’s Roost Rye Whiskey
  • 105 PROOF​
  • Tastefully and carefully blended from only a few barrels in our stock, each batch is always different, always delicious.
• Toasted Barrel Buzzard’s Roost Rye Whiskey
  • 105 PROOF
  • A thoughtfully blended three-year-old rye whiskey that’s finished in one-of-a-kind toasted barrels which lend a vanilla character

LINKS:

• Buzzard's Roost WhiskeyFrom festivals to cities, here are places to go if you love bourbon
• A Look at Jason Brauner's Role in the Bourbon Boom — The ABV Network
• A Bourbon Maker's Guide to The Best Bars in Louisville
• Planning the Perfect Bourbon Pilgrimage to Louisville, Kentucky