Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse Tableside Cocktails

Have you ever been on a distillery tour and looked at the faces of those around you during the bourbon tasting at the end?  It's real easy to pick out the bourbon drinkers and non-bourbon drinkers.  I find that a lot of non-bourbon drinkers visit the distilleries as a tourist experience.  They probably walk away not liking bourbon because they couldn't handle the straight bourbon tastings.  I think this is where the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse has hit the nail.  This place is for those who are new to bourbon and want to learn about it and try it via cocktail.  When introducing friends to bourbon, you need to bring them to the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse and let them do the Tableside Cocktail program.  It's a great way for them to begin developing their bourbon tastebuds.

I'll admit that I've been quite curious about the Tableside Cocktail program at the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse in Louisville, KY.  This interactive cocktail experience is $18 a person and lasts approximately 30 minutes.  The recipes change periodically.  On April 6, 2017, I made a Whiskey Sour with Jim Beam Black.

 This was the shared ingredient display.  For this drink, guests had the opportunity to choose their own ingredients based on their personal tastes and preferences. 

 Every person is given a tray with individual portions of the main ingredients.  Luckily I was the only person participating, which made the experience more fun for me.  It looks like I had equal parts Jim Beam Black and sweet and sour mix.  The other item is an egg white.  

 This is the glass you get to keep after you make and drink your cocktail.  The base is painted with a grey tint.  The glass has a modern feel with the flared shape.

 The sweet and sour mix is in the back and the egg white is in the front.  The egg white adds texture to the drink.  It helps create a frothier drink when shaken.  I love slurping the foam off of a freshly poured root beer and the same goes for a cocktail!

  

 We had a total of 8 "flavor" ingredients to add to the Whiskey Sour.  From salt, to pepper, to marmalade, to jam...every person gets to make their cocktail reflective of his/her tastebuds.  

 Ashley was the employee who walked me through this experience.  First, she modeled how to make the Whiskey Sour.  She did an excellent job explaining why each ingredient was important and which glassware to use.  This was a very conversational experience where we could ask questions and make comments.  

 I had a hard time choosing between the peach jalepeno jelly and the raspberry jam.  I ended up with the raspberry jam because I love sweet flavors.

 Jim Beam Black spends more time in the barrel and has a bolder flavor.  Ashley also noted why we should mix in the clear glass.  

Tap into your inner bartender and shake it hard for a frothier drink!

 I give you the finished product!  It tasted fabulous and was extremely fun to make!

As much as I love bourbon, I'll admit that the bourbon story on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail gets a little redundant and boring.  The Tableside Cocktail class is so refreshing and fun!  The addition of mixers, garnishes, glassware, and barware increase your bourbon repertoire.  While I don't see myself re-visiting a distillery for the same tour, I will definitely come back here to learn a new cocktail!

I have two recommendations.

1. Give us a recipe card to take home

2. Make sure we know when the cocktail changes and what the new cocktail is (Facebook and Instagram).

I highly recommend taking part in the interactive cocktail experience.  It's just different from the traditional tour and the hands on interaction is very fun.