This month, we’re engaging in some ‘whiskey’ business during our TasteMaker dinner. Yes, we’re hosting a bourbon tasting event at Ruth’s Chris Steak House! Join us for an evening of five fall-inspired courses and four cocktails featuring Kentucky’s renowned Woodford Reserve. Best of all, this elevated steakhouse experience, including alcohol pairings, costs just $130 per person plus tax and tip.
Continue reading to learn more about Woodford Reserve, the cornerstone of our October TasteMaker dinner. Then reserve your table for an upcoming bourbon focused event at a Ruth’s Chris restaurant near you!
About Woodford Reserve: The Birthplace of Fine Bourbon
If you’re a whiskey enthusiast, then you’ve likely heard the Woodford name. But did you know that the Woodford Reserve Distillery is at the epicenter of bourbon’s history? The distillery earned the designation of National Historic Landmark because the first-ever fine bourbon was crafted on its land way back in 1812. Without a doubt, no one captures the storied past of bourbon better than Woodford Reserve.
Using a grain recipe—also known as a mash bill—of 72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, and 10 percent malted barley, Woodford Reserve’s flagship bourbon expertly balances sweet, spice, and nuttiness. After an extended fermentation and distillation via both pot still and column still methods, the whiskey is carefully batched and then matured in bespoke white oak barrels. Every sip reveals the impact of these time-honored traditions!
Woodford Reserve TasteMaker Dinners at Ruth’s Chris
To attend an upcoming Woodford Reserve whiskey tasting event, make your reservation at one of our participating restaurants:
- Birmingham (AL): Thursday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m.
- Huntsville (AL): Thursday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m.
- Atlanta Buckhead (GA): Thursday, October 24 at 7 p.m.
- Kennesaw (GA): Thursday, October 17 at 7 p.m.
- Columbia (SC): Wednesday, October 16 at 6:30 p.m.
- Greenville 385 (SC): Friday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m.
- Greenville Downtown (SC): Friday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m.
- Myrtle Beach (SC): Friday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m.
- Chattanooga (TN): Thursday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m.
Featured Whiskey Cocktails on the Woodford Reserve Dinner Menu
October’s TasteMaker dinner presents four cocktails crafted with Woodford Reserve served alongside five autumnal Ruth’s Chris courses:
Amuse Bouche: Kentucky Berry Fizz
We’re already off to the races with this first cocktail, trading traditional gin for Woodford Reserve bourbon, which boasts over 200 detectable tasting notes! Almond-flavored orgeat, lemon juice, and muddled raspberries round out the drink’s flavor profile, while club soda creates the fizz. This effervescence pairs beautifully with our charbroiled oyster topped with Cajun butter and Bienville breadcrumbs.
First Course: Run for the Rosés
Inspired by the unofficial Kentucky Derby moniker, our Woodford Reserve rye whiskey cocktail combines spice and tobacco notes with a vanilla-strawberry-rhubarb purée. As the name implies, rosé bubbles also make an appearance, along with pressed basil. In between sips, savor our pork belly in a rhubarb barbeque sauce, garnished with toasted sesame seeds and crispy onions.
Second Course: Kentucky Barrel Rush
For our next course, we break out the Woodford Reserve double-oaked bourbon. The distillers deeply toast and lightly char the second oak barrel to give the bourbon its decadent flavors of dark caramel and vanilla. To make the cocktail, we add peach cream liqueur, lime juice, spiced brown sugar, black walnut bitters, and rose water.
As for the food pairing with this course, we went with a Kentucky Derby favorite: burgoo served with cornbread. Similar to Irish or Mulligan stew, burgoo features a variety of meats, vegetables, and beans to complete a savory fall dish.
Main Course: Café Reserve Old Fashioned
What libation pairs better with steak than an old fashioned, especially one that showcases Woodford Reserve straight wheat whiskey? Its cocoa nib notes helps it meld with the rest of our old fashioned’s ingredients: coffee liqueur, chicory-ginger syrup, and Mexican chocolate bitters. We also infuse our prime strip steak with Woodford and coffee, as well as top it with coffee bacon jam. On the side, enjoy soufflé-like spoonbread filled with Brussels sprouts and smoked ham.
Dessert Course: Warm Praline Bread Pudding
Last but not least, our signature bread pudding with whiskey sauce gets an exciting twist with Woodford pecan syrup, praline crunch, and vanilla ice cream. If you’re still thirsty, wet your whistle with our coffee and tea service.
Reserve Your Spot for One of Our Woodford Reserve Dinners
Ready to fall in love with steak and whiskey all over again? Whether for date night or a group outing, we hope to see you at our October TasteMaker dinner, so make reservations at your nearest Ruth’s Chris today!