Go big or go home. That’s the philosophy of S. Barrett Rinzler when he brought bourbon to the Valley.
Barrett is the Founder, President & CEO, of Square One Concepts, the restaurant group that operates Bourbon & Bones Chophouse│Bar and B&B Cocktail Lounge. He says there’s just something special about the whiskey.
“Drinks are cynical in nature. Vodka and gin have been the kings for so long, and now bourbon is making its mark. The fresh popularity begets new distilleries and therefore more offerings to add to its popularity,” says the Valley restaurateur.
Selecting bourbon is an art, and the Square One Concepts team takes curating their collection very serious. They flaunt the largest collection in the Southwest – with more than 860 labels and many varieties under each label – the Bourbon & Bones umbrella easily has a collection that surpasses 1100+. They are on the radar of every bourbon maker in the country and are routinely offered “barrel picks” which are when they get to go and hand select their specific barrel from the distillery. It is then bottled and labeled exclusively for them.
“We have cultivated some great relationships over the past 30 years with our vendors and work with them to get the best,” says Barrett.
In fact, Barrett and his beverage team are always hunting for the best bourbon on the market and bringing a vast collection to the Valley.
The collection curation process involves the team making regular visits to Kentucky and Tennessee, tasting with the master distiller, exploring the property, learning the history of the property, and touring Rickhouses, where barrels are stored. They sample straight from the barrel – nosing the bourbon and figuring out what they like.
A distinct departure from this process is with Maker’s Mark where the ‘house of Bourbon & Bones’ creates its own custom flavor profile. The team selects wood staves for the barrel and also distinctive flavors, and the result is a singular creation available exclusively at Bourbon & Bones Chophouse│Bar and B&B Cocktail Lounge.
Nothing compares to the Bourbon & Bones collection and the team is well versed when it comes to bourbon 101. Staff is highly trained to educate diners and drinkers ensuring a delectable and insightful experience.
We scored a bourbon briefing from the esteemed staff breaking down the whiskey’s bones.
What makes a good bourbon?
- Depth
- Doesn’t fall flat
- Lingering flavor in your mouth
- Rounded out
- Not watered out
- Flavor comes from the barrel; the longer there, the more barrel flavor it picks up. Some hold better with some age.
Five areas to consider that impact flavor profile of bourbons:
- Barrel (the wood)
- Where in the Rickhouse it’s stored
- Temperature
- Elevation of where it’s stored
- Humidity
What bourbon “flavors” are best?
You want that toffee, caramel-vanilla flavor, and some people prefer a spearmint edge.
What limited editions can guests enjoy at the Bourbon & Bones umbrellas?
- Michter’s Celebration – only three bottles ever came to Arizona and Bourbon & Bones has two of them!
- Eagle Rare 25 – two bottles came to AZ; one to Bourbon & Bones!
- The new Jack Daniels barrel proof rye from Coy Hill in TN, their famous Rickhouse. They’ve never given anyone a private barrel!
- Weller Millennium is a super rare release.
- Square One Concepts pretty much gets every rare release available.
- [Barrett picked the Blanton’s Gold and Angel’s Envy bourbons.]
What meals are best paired with bourbon?
Bourbon is definitely a red meat spirit and goes with B&B steaks. That’s why they do the flambé with Elijah Craig 127 proof, single barrel.
Any fab finds on the horizon?
The newest thing coming out is Angel’s Envy Sherry Cask Bourbon. They'll be the ONLY group getting it. It will be served at both at the Lounge and Chophouse.
Fun fact: While he’s no admitted connoisseur, Barrett says he’s a fan of Blanton’s, Buffalo Trace and Woodford Double Oaked, in addition to high-end options from Pappy Van Winkle, Michter’s and Eagle Rare.
Owned and operated by Square One Concepts, Bourbon & Bones Chophouse│Bar and B&B Cocktail Lounge are chef-driven boutique fine dining experiences. The steakhouse and bar feature an innovative menu and a hip, high energy atmosphere.
bourbonandbones.com, bbcocktaillounge.com