It’s National Bourbon Day — and it’s Friday — so you better believe we’re pouring a glass.
Check out 6 ways you can experience bourbon at French Lick Resort and nearby during an upcoming stay:
French Lick Resort’s 2 Select Bourbons (And Another One Coming Soon)
Where to find them: Purchase at Ballard’s Bar at West Baden Springs Hotel, or through in-room dining.
If you’re a bourbon connoisseur, you’ll want to pick up a bottle of Woodford Reserve Personal Select and Maker’s 46 Private Select.
In the Woodford Reserve Personal Select — featuring French Lick’s old-school Pluto “devil” mascot on the bottle — you’ll pick up on honeysuckle and high spice tones like clove, cardamom and dark pepper with cranberry/cherry/berry in the flavor and the nose. A lingering taste of toasted sweet marshmallow comes in on the finish. The Maker’s 46 Private Select features a distinct citrus tone and a smoky, toasty flavor inside each bottle that’s hand-dipped in red wax in signature Maker’s style. You can buy the Maker’s and Woodford together as a set or separately, and each comes with an engraved bourbon glass.
Soon, our duo of signature bourbons will be expanding to a trio. Look for a new brand of French Lick Resort private select bourbon coming very soon.
Bourbon & Bites
When & Where: September 13; West Baden Springs Hotel atrium. Reserve by calling (812) 936-5579.
Spirits and a 5-course tasting menu under the West Baden dome. No better way to spend a Friday night.
This is always one of our favorite events, featuring a diverse palette of bourbon tastings along with small plates made in-house. It’s still a few months away, but good idea to reserve your table early—this event typically sells out, and it’s the final Bourbon & Bites event of 2024.
Bourbon Tasting Train
When: Fridays, June 28 & September 6
You’ve got two more chances this summer to hop aboard. We’ve joined forces with our friends at French Lick Scenic Railway to offer a Bourbon Tasting Train Package: start the evening with bourbons and appetizers on the train ride, and after you’ve indulged, comfy accommodations await at French Lick Springs Hotel or West Baden Springs Hotel. Being a 21-and-over event, this also makes for a great date night when you need some adult-only time.
Not a bourbon fan? Wine tasting and chocolate tasting train packages are also offered select weekends this summer.
1875: The Steakhouse’s Vast Bourbon Selection
From A(ngel’s Envy) to almost Z (Woodford Reserve Double Oaked), take your pick from dozens of bourbons behind the bar at French Lick Springs Hotel’s signature restaurant.
Jefferson’s Rye is a rare find, Woodford’s wheat variety is a twist on a traditional favorite … and the list goes on and on. Need help choosing? Tomi Parker, our 1875 mixologist, has a few recommendations.
“I like Jefferson’s; of course Basil Hayden is an easy-drinking bourbon. Your Basil Hayden and Angel’s Envy, they’ll go with pretty much anything because they’re light and fluffy and floral. Bulleit’s been awfully popular. Four Roses is delicious. Of course I’ve always been a fan of Woodford, because, you know, it’s our baby.”
“With a steak dinner, you’re going to want something that’s a little bolder — Knob Creek or Old Forester, or even Booker’s is really good for a big, robust flavor profile.”
Signature Cocktails
3 Must-Tries at our Resort Restaurants:
Under the Big Top
Order it at: Ballard’s in the Atrium and Sinclair’s Restaurant
Named as a nod to our community’s circus history, this cocktail starts with Old Forester 1870 top-shelf bourbon blend along with Aperol and maraschino liqueur.
Award-Winning French Lick Manhattan
Order it at: 1875: The Steakhouse
You can’t beat the classics. 1875’s Manhattan ranked #1 in Indiana in the “Craft the Ultimate Manhattan” contest sponsored by Woodford Reserve and Esquire magazine. Featuring French Lick Select Woodford Reserve, amaretto, simple syrup made in-house with vanilla beans, and rimmed with crushed candied almonds. (Stirred, never shaken, of course.)
Murphy’s Swing Coach
Order it at: Hagen’s Club House Restaurant
Fun fact: one of our servers, Paige Murphy, invented this cocktail after always hearing golfers at our Donald Ross Course tell her, “I need a swing coach and a drink.” Even if your swing is flawless, this blend of French Lick Select Woodford Reserve, ginger ale and lemonade hits the spot in the summertime.
Sip on a Murphy's Swing Coach at the restaurant, or order it from the beverage cart out on the Donald Ross Course.
Distillery Tour
Find it at: Spirits of French Lick
For an all-out, immersive bourbon experience, plan a private tour of our local distillery.
Spirits of French Lick — located between French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel — offers distillery tours by appointment. You can go behind the scenes of the facility and see the entire life cycle of a bottle of liquor, from the grain handling to the stills to the barrels.
Finish the tour with a tasting of any of their spirits or wines (including their White Bourbon or the Lee Sinclair 4-Grain Bourbon) and raise a glass to a bourbon education and locally made spirits.
Pro tip: French Lick Resort’s shuttle service can provide you a lift to and from the distillery.
