Happy National Beer Day! Instead of doing the boring, expected plug to drink your favorite beer today, we decided to do something a little different. Let’s celebrate with a nice cold boilermaker. For those of you wondering what the hell a boilermaker is, it’s a delicious pairing of a cold beer and a shot of whiskey.

This might not be the most popular drink of choice, but bartenders around the country have been hearing more and more orders for boilermakers. The origin of this unique drink is still in question. One theory is that it came to be in the 1800s when blue collar workers headed to the bar after a long shift and it is believed that the drink was named after the workers who built and maintained steam locomotives during the same time period. Another idea is that the first boilermaker was created when Richard Trevitchick and his friends celebrated after his steam powered vehicle made its first successful climb up his village’s steepest hill on Christmas Eve in 1801.

No matter which story you choose to believe, we can all appreciate the boilermaker and the many ways you can enjoy one. Drink the entire shot of whiskey and chase it with a beer, sip on the shot of whiskey and beer until each drink is finished or just drop the shot of whiskey into the beer and drink. In order to properly enjoy this cocktail, no matter how you consume it, the kind of whiskey you choose is crucial.

Bulleit Whiskey compliments a variety of different beers so you really can’t go wrong. If you’re into lagers we recommend Bulleit Bourbon. It has a medium amber color, with gentle spiciness and sweet oak aromas. Mid-palate is smooth with tones of maple, oak, and nutmeg while the finish is long, dry and satiny with a light toffee flavor. For those more interested in IPA’s, try Bulleit Rye. Russet in color, it has rich oaky aromas. The taste is exceptionally smooth, with hints of vanilla, honey and price. The finish is crisp and clean, with long, lingering flavors.

Enjoy!

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