Why Drinking Bourbon Is A Religious Experience

Bourbon is a unique American product which tends to be sweeter and more full bodied than rye.

Bourbon takes its name from the Catholic royal house of France in gratitude for King Louis 16^th’s vital support of the 13 colonies during the War for Independence.  The grateful Yanks named much of the Kentucky territory Bourbon County whence comes bourbon.

Although the invention of bourbon is commonly attributed to the Baptist preacher Elijah Craig, Catholics played a key role in the rise of this spirit.

Old Grand-Dad Bourbon is named after the founder’s grandfather, Basil Hayden Sr., who built the first Catholic chapel on the Kentucky frontier.  It is Basil’s image that you see on the label of Old Grand-Dad Bourbon. 

There are a number of excellent bourbons these days, such as Knob Creek, Blanton’s, Maker’s Mark, 1792 Ridgemont, and the top-shelf offerings of Jim Beam.  There is also a bourbon named Basil Hayden.

Early Times is an affordable choice recommended by the great Catholic writer Walker Percy.

The most famous bourbon cocktail is the Manhattan and its arguably superior sibling, the Perfect Manhattan.

You should drink bourbon not only in tribute to our French allies in the Revolutionary War, but also to the Jesuit missionary priests from France who evangelized the native americans and settlers with some even being martyred for the faith. 

From Drinking With The Saints by Michael P. Foley