What Did You Expect the Disney Bourbon Trail to be?

The Disney Bourbon Trail will be open fromMay 1 through June 17.

We can all agree that Florida is known for a few things – Old People, Gators, Mosquitos, Beaches, Heat, The Florida Man, and Disney.
For anyone who hasn’t been, Disney is magical for children and hell for adults. Dreams become reality for the little ones as their stuffed animals and cartoons come to life. Mix that with a little adrenaline and a break from school and you have yourself a perfect day for a tot.  Adults are focused on other things during this trip – money, heat, tired and sweaty kids, whining, and long lines.

Is this real life? Can we be like kids again? Carelessly living for today?   Well, sort of.

When we heard about the Disney Bourbon Trail, our brains went to bourbon tastings and tours of bourbon artifacts shipped in from Kentucky.

In reality, it’s a list of restaurants that created food and bourbon cocktail pairings – A Bourbon Mojito and A cuban sandwich, a Kentucky Sunrise and a Skirt Steak (you get the idea). Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Old Fashioned and a Burger as much as the next guy, but I don’t need to go to Disney for that. If you’re local to Orlando and want to get out for a drink and a meal like any other weekend, head to Disney Springs and you’re bound to find what you’re looking for. If you’re let down about what the Disney Bourbon Trail actually is, don’t be upset – Disney sells the dream, not the dram. And if you’re wanting to experience the real Kentucky Bourbon Trail, book your flight to Kentucky instead of Orlando.

“Whether you’re a bourbon aficionado, or just enjoy sipping and savoring new drinks, this experience is perfect for an afternoon stroll or a night out with friends,” – Alex Dunlap

Though it’s not what we hoped it would be, we’re excited to see it happening. We love seeing the bourbon craze infiltrate other areas of our world.

The Disney Bourbon Trail runs from May 1 through June 17. Check out the Walt Disney World blog here and the list of food & bourbon pairings below.

House of Blues Restaurant & Bar

• Fine and Mellow – featuring Knob Creek Bourbon, St. Elder, lemon juice, strawberry, and rhubarb bitters
• Hurry Sundown Old Fashioned – featuring Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Benedictine, butter pecan syrup, bitters, and caramel pecan bacon
• Smoked Brisket or Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich
• Homemade Bread Pudding – topped with toffee sauce and bourbon butter

Splitsville Dining Room

• The Trifecta – a stirred concoction of Old Forester 100, Carpano Antica Vermouth, Benedictine, and Pimento Dram
• BBQ Chicken Pizza – smothered in BBQ sauce, topped with marinated grilled chicken, BBQ sauce, smoked gouda, mozzarella, cilantro, and red onion

Bongos Cuban Café

• Angel’s Envy Bourbon Mojito – featuring Angel’s Blue Envy Bourbon, simple syrup, soda water, and fresh mint leaves
• Authentic Cuban Style Churrasco Certified Angus Beef – a 10-ounce skirt steak hand-cut and served with house-made chimichurri sauce, white rice, and beans

YeSake

• Strawberry Bourbon Sour Slushie – bourbon, sweet strawberry puree, and lemonade
• Citrus Fresh – salmon, green leaf lettuce, cucumber, onion, spinach, and jalapeño tempura crunch wasabi ponzu sauce (available as a bowl or wrap)

Planet Hollywood Observatory

• Bulleit Frontier Old Fashioned – featuring Bulleit Bourbon, sugar, and bitters
• BBQ Ribs – fall-off-the-bone St. Louis-style ribs, slow cooked in-house, smothered with BBQ sauce, and served with triple fries

STK Orlando

• Double Down – featuring Woodford Reserve and lemon juice
• Double Smoked Bacon – served with date chutney, oven-dried tomatoes, and crispy garlic
• Bag O’ Donuts – enhanced with dulche de leche filling and spice chocolate and raspberry sauces

Enzo’s Hideaway

• Enzo’s Bourbon Swizzle – featuring Bulleit Bourbon, lemon juice, ginger syrup, bitters, and fresh mint sprigs with notes of spice, rye, and cedar
• Salumi and Formaggi Board – an impressive selection of meats and cheeses

The Edison

• Peach Tree Downs – a refreshing peach mint julep with a nutty pecan finish featuring Knob Creek Bourbon and Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey, with a rich, sweet, woody, full-bodied and almost-fruity flavor and aromas of toasted nuts, grain, and oak
• DB Clothesline Candied Bacon – maple and black pepper-infused bacon served with a sour pickle

Paradiso 37, Taste of the Americas

• Kentucky Sunrise – featuring Jim Beam Bourbon, orange juice, and grenadine
• Argentinian Skirt Steak – 10-ounce char-grilled skirt steak topped with caramelized onions and chimichurri and served with wasabi or truffle fries

The Ganachery

• Woodford Reserve Bourbon – comprised of more than 200 delectable flavor notes, from bold grain and wood to sweet aromatics: spice, fruit, and floral notes

Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant

• The Gold Cup – featuring Bulleit Bourbon, Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and muddled mint, lime, and cucumber
• Dub Schpuds – herb roasted potato wedges with a Smithwick’s & Dubliner cheese dip

Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar

• Coffee Old Fashioned – Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Kahlua Coffee Liqueur, Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee, Vanilla Syrup, Aromatic Bitters, and served with a coffee ganache square
• Snakebite Sliders – three gourmet beef sliders with tomato-bacon jam, house-made pickles, shredded lettuce and cheese

The Boathouse

• Orlando Pride – featuring Old Forester Bourbon and a homemade blackberry citrus purée
• Calamari – hoisin chili marinated calamari rings lightly fried with a medley of peppers and served with a side of hoisin chili sauce

Paddlefish

• Southern Sangria – featuring Medley Bros. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, peach liqueur, Tempranillo, and seasonal fruit with warm notes of caramel, oak, and spices that are followed by touches of creamy vanilla, milk chocolate, and caramelized sugar
• The Pork Chop – a 10-ounce pork chop served with house-made apple sauce and fresh green beans

The Polite Pig

• Winner’s Circle – featuring Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Pamplemousee grapefruit liqueur, and elderflower tonic, with a rich and complex flavors and hints of vanilla, toffee, and candied fruit
• The Southern Pig Sandwich – mouthwatering pulled pork, fennel-apple slaw, tangy mustard BBQ and Dukes Mayonnaise

Frontera Cocina

• Bórbon Néctar – featuring Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, 3 dashes of organic agave, 5 drops of Elemakule Tiki Bitters, and orange peel with lean oak, corn, and caramel flavors and finishes of warm toffee, spice, and drying wood
• Carne Asada – garlic and red chili-marinated Creekstone Natural Black Angus Steak, black beans refritos with queso fresco, and caramelized plantains with crema and Cotija cheese and served with tomatillo salsa and warm tortillas

D-Luxe Burger

• Smoked Bourbon Gelato Shake – vanilla gelato blended with Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon, hickory smoke, and dark chocolate sauce and topped with a bacon strip
• Southern Burger – signature blend beef patty topped with a fried green tomato, pimento cheese, lettuce, grilled onion, and bacon

Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’

• The Old Fashioned Elder – featuring Michter’s Bourbon and St. Germain Elderflower
• Basil Hayden’s Mint Julep – featuring Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, simple syrup, and sprigs of fresh mint
• Famous Thigh High Chicken Biscuits – three biscuits topped with Chef Art’s fried chicken thighs, drizzled with hot honey, and served alongside bread and butter pickles

And that’s the Disney Bourbon Trail, friends.