What Happens When You Drop a $45 Port-Finished Bourbon Next to the Pumpkin Pie

💥 Opening Pour

The clocks fell back, the leaves hit peak crunch, and your whiskey glass deserves something that tastes like fall in full stride.

Today marks the first real sip of November — and I’ve got just the pour, the pairing, and the post-pie surprise that’ll steal the show.

📖 The Story

I once hosted a Friendsgiving where the turkey was smoked, the sides were stacked, and everyone was two pours in before dessert even made its entrance.

But that’s when I made my move.

I slipped away, came back with a bottle no one had seen — Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished — and quietly placed it next to the pie. No label talk. No tasting notes. Just a bottle, unopened, sitting there like a velvet-gloved secret.

The table hushed. Forks paused mid-air. Phones came out.

One friend leaned over and whispered, “Is this one of those bottles you have to know a guy to get?”

I just smiled and poured.

The sweetness from the port finish hit right as the pecan pie did. Dark fruit, soft spice, a little magic.

It wasn’t rare. But in that moment, it didn’t need to be. It felt like something meant for right then.

Moral of the story?
You don’t need a unicorn to steal the spotlight.
Just a good bottle, a little timing — and knowing when to stay quiet and let the bourbon speak.

🥇 The Weekly Pour

Bottle: Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Bourbon
Price: ~$45
Proof: 92
Age: No age statement (blend of well-aged barrels)

Nose: Dark cherry, vanilla, and soft spice
Palate: Red berries, caramel, toffee, and toasted wood
Finish: Smooth and lightly tannic, with lingering fruit and dry oak

✅ Dessert-ready without overpowering sweetness
✅ Great value for a port-finished sipper
✅ A conversation-worthy bottle with historical flair

🛒 Buy it now → Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished - $39.99

🍹The Art of Mixing

Cocktail: Maple Bourbon Flip

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Isaac Bowman Bourbon

• ¾ oz maple syrup

• ½ oz heavy cream

• 1 whole egg

• Fresh grated nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Dry shake (no ice) all ingredients hard for 15 seconds.

2. Add ice and shake again until chilled.

3. Strain into a coupe glass.

4. Garnish with nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.

Tip: This one disappears faster than pecan pie.

🍖 Flavor Pairing Picks

Pair it with:

🍗 Smoked turkey with bourbon glaze — The berry-rich finish balances the savory, smoky bird.

🍑 Pumpkin pie with cinnamon whipped cream — Warm spices meet port-aged sweetness.

💨 Padron 1926 Maduro — Cocoa and cedar from the cigar echo the whiskey’s deep finish.

🧠 Big Lesson of the Week

A hidden bottle at dessert? That’s not showing off.
That’s how legends are made.

🥂 Final Toast

Hide a bottle, wait for dessert, and let the whispers do the rest.

🥃 Repeatable Proverb

“The right bottle at the right moment beats a thousand good meals.”

✨ Step Inside The Lounge — Where Whiskey Stories Live

You’ve been writing your whiskey journey.
Now share it with others who pour with the same passion.

When you join The Lounge, you’ll get:

• 📖 Exclusive Report — Top 10 Whiskeys Under $50 (yours free the moment you join).

• 🏆 Real Rewards for Real Participation — earn whiskey swag gifts just by showing up and sharing.

• 💬 Civilized Conversation with Pour-Curious People — no snobbery, just good pours and good company.

• 🌍 Connect with Like-Minded Whiskey Enthusiasts from All Over the World — your tribe is waiting.

🕰️ Free Lounge Entry — Secure Your Spot at the Bar

Now Its Your Turn

🔥 What bottle do you save for dessert?
💬 Hit reply and let me know. Or better yet…
⭐ Save this to your favorites
📩 Forward to your dinner host
📍 Share with a friend who needs a Thanksgiving upgrade

Cheers to crisp nights, hidden pours, and pie-chasing bottles,

Ethan “Neat” Whitmore

P.S. Friday’s story? I’ll share the best under-the-radar bottle for impressing your in-laws — and it doesn’t cost a fortune.