Mason Walker and Clay Risen know a few things about legendary whiskey. The former holds claim to one of the world’s most expansive collections of vintage bourbons and ryes. The latter is one of the world’s preeminent authors on those classic categories of spirit. Together the duo have collaborated on Bourbon Lore®, a new book highlighting the history of their beloved liquids as told through 100 of the most culturally significant expressions ever entered into bottle.
And it’s more than just a photogenically rendered tome for your coffee table. Bourbon Lore® is also the name of the ongoing project Walker and Risen cofounded to provide high-end tasting experiences in epic locales across the United States. Given their breadth of collective knowledge—amassed from exposure to thousands of exemplary pours, embodying over a century’s worth of production—you’d think the experts would require lengthy deliberation when asked to name their unequivocal favorites.
