Prasino to unveil special Buffalo Trace bourbon on March 22
The St. Charles restaurant's team visited the Kentucky distillery last fall to craft a custom batch.
Photo by Tony Marchetto
Last fall, several members of Prasino's team drove to Buffalo Trace distillery in Bourbon County, Kentucky, to hand-pick a barrel and craft their own memorable variety of bourbon.
"Bourbon has really been our focal point, as far as spirits are concerned," says executive chef Tony Marchetto, who's been with the St. Charles restaurant since it opened five years ago.
Photo by Tony Marchetto
While in Kentucky, the group selected the type of barrel and experimented with various flavors to find the ideal combination. “It’s an amazing process,” Marchetto says.
The resulting bourbon is a single-barrel blend with a “really subtle finish and a lot of caramel overtones,” he says.
In February, Buffalo Trace shipped 198 bottles and a customized barrel to Prasino. “It doesn’t taste like any other bourbon, because there is nothing like it,” Marchetto says. “There is only one barrel.”
Photo by Tony Marchetto
Next Thursday, March 22, Prasino will unveil the bourbon at a release party. The restaurant will offer signature cocktails and complimentary appetizers. Bottles will also be available that evening —$42 for 750 ml—and guests can order from the extensive list of other bourbons regularly available at the restaurant.
Prasino plans to eventually give the barrel to Modern Brewery to use in brewing beer, which the restaurant will later offer.