“I choose to start with cocktails, because no great story ever started with a salad.”

That quote has been attributed to Amelie Laurent and could very well be the reason I began Breakfast Tea & Bourbon with the Bourbon Sidecar.

Consider adding bourbon tasting to your evening book club meeting. You may want to do the bourbon tasting before discussing the book, which may make for a livelier discussion of the book. Here are ideas:

Visit your favorite store for spirits. Begin with a bottle of Buffalo Trace.

Ask a store clerk to help you find two or three additional bourbons from different distinguishable categories. This will make the differences more noticeable, give you and your guests something to talk about, and, the best part, help you discover the one you prefer.

Categories include low-proof bourbon (80-85 proof), wheated bourbon, rye whiskey, small batch, single barrel, and barrel strength.

Some things to consider during your Bourbon & Book event:

* Breathe in through your mouth to smell your bourbon. Pause to appreciate the aroma and note any scents you detect.

* Try “chewing” before swallowing (or swishing the bourbon around in your mouth). Each section of the tongue picks up on different aspects of flavor (sweet, bitter, salty, sour, savory). By swishing the bourbon around you receive a more complete taste.

* Begin by testing neat, without ice. Then do a round or two adding a little water or dropping in an ice cube (or ice ball), because that will alter the flavor dynamic. Which do you prefer?

* Try different glasses and notice the differences in aroma and taste. Try a whiskey glass, a snifter, and a regular wide-mouth glass.

* Try a bourbon cocktail. Of course, I recommend the Bourbon Sidecar from Chapter 1 of Breakfast Tea & Bourbon.

Here's a fun article on hosting a bourbon tasting party: http://www.kentucky.com/news/business...

Breakfast Tea & Bourbon