Raise a Glass to Bourbon Heritage Month at Christner’s
Sep 8, 2026
Bourbon has a long history at the American table, but each September it takes center stage during Bourbon Heritage Month. The observance recognizes the people and traditions that helped turn a distinctly American whiskey into one of the world’s most recognizable spirits.
At Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster, bourbon has earned a special place at the table. From carefully chosen pours to private barrel selections, exploring the differences between bourbons can be as much a part of dinner as choosing the right cut of steak or bottle of wine.
A bourbon flight at Christner’s offers a glimpse of the range behind the restaurant’s collection, including private barrels hand-selected at distilleries.
Why Is September Bourbon Heritage Month?
The tradition of National Bourbon Heritage Month dates to 2007, when the U.S. Senate designated September 2007 as a month to recognize bourbon’s place in American history. The observance has continued as a celebration of the heritage and craft surrounding this distinctly American whiskey.
September also has an older connection to the bourbon-making calendar. Historically, some Kentucky distillers paused production during the hottest part of summer, when high temperatures could interfere with fermentation. As cooler weather returned, September marked the beginning of another distilling season.
Modern distilleries can operate throughout the year, but September remains an appropriate time to look beyond the bottle and appreciate the grain, barrels, aging and decisions that give different bourbons their individual character.
What Makes Bourbon Bourbon?
Every bourbon is whiskey, but not every whiskey qualifies as bourbon. Federal standards give bourbon a specific identity.
Among its defining requirements, bourbon must be produced in the United States from a grain mixture containing at least 51% corn. It must also be stored in new charred oak containers. Production rules additionally limit its distillation and barrel-entry proofs.
Those standards still leave plenty of room for distillers to create remarkably different bourbons. The remaining grains in the recipe, the barrel, proof, maturation conditions and other production choices can all influence what eventually reaches the glass. Those differences are part of what makes comparing and selecting individual barrels so interesting.
How Christner’s Selects Private Bourbon Barrels
Christner’s relationship with bourbon goes beyond choosing bottles for the back bar. Members of the Christner’s team have traveled to distilleries to compare barrels and select distinctive expressions for the restaurant.
That history has included Christner’s Private Select Maker’s Mark, a custom expression created through Maker’s Mark’s private selection program.
More recently, members of the Christner’s team traveled to Kentucky to select a custom Four Roses Single Barrel. The team compared individual barrels before choosing the bourbon they felt best represented Christner’s.
Because private selections are limited by nature, the bottles available at Christner’s can vary over time. That evolving collection gives guests new opportunities to explore how recipes, barrels and proofs shape the character of a bourbon.
Meet Christner’s Newest Bourbon Partner, Town Branch
Town Branch brings together the tradition, craftsmanship and individuality that fit naturally with Christner’s approach to bourbon. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the distillery was the first new one built in the city in more than a century.
Its single-barrel program focuses on the character of each cask, with barrels evaluated for qualities such as aroma, depth and balance before being hand-selected. That philosophy closely reflects Christner’s own history of traveling to distilleries and choosing distinctive barrels for the restaurant.
Town Branch is also now featured in Christner’s Barrel Aged Old Fashioned, giving guests another way to experience the partnership at the table.
How the Barrel Shapes Bourbon
One of bourbon’s defining characteristics is its time in new charred oak. As the spirit matures, that interaction helps develop its color, aroma and flavor, contributing notes that may include vanilla, caramel, oak and baking spice.
There is no single bourbon flavor profile, though. Some pours lean sweeter or fruitier while others emphasize spice, toasted wood or richer barrel character. Comparing them side by side can help you discover which styles, proofs and flavor profiles you enjoy most.
Pairing Bourbon With Steak
Bourbon does not need to wait until after dinner. Its combination of sweetness, spice, oak and warmth can make it an interesting partner for a steakhouse meal.
A robust bourbon can complement the richness and char of a Prime ribeye or strip, while a softer or more delicately flavored pour may be a better match for filet mignon. Bourbon can also work particularly well with savory sides, caramelized flavors and a rich dessert at the end of the evening.
There is no single correct pairing. A better approach is to consider both the food on the table and the characteristics you enjoy in your glass.
Make Bourbon Heritage Month a Tasting Experience
If you usually order the same bourbon, September is a good excuse to try something different. Compare a wheated bourbon with a higher-rye expression, explore different proofs or sample a private selection alongside a familiar favorite.
A flight can make those contrasts easier to notice. If you are new to comparing pours, our whiskey tasting guide explains how to evaluate appearance, aroma, flavor and finish. A few drops of water can also reveal different aromas and flavors in a higher-proof bourbon.
Christner’s collection continues to evolve with private selections, limited pours and new partnerships like Town Branch. Ask your server about the bourbons currently available and which selections offer an interesting comparison.
Celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month at Christner’s
Bourbon Heritage Month celebrates an American tradition that continues to evolve one barrel at a time. At Christner’s, September offers a fitting reason to revisit a favorite pour, experience Town Branch or discover something you have not tried before.
Discover a Bourbon Worth Savoring
Pair dinner with a carefully selected pour, explore available private barrel selections or enjoy the newest addition to Christner’s bourbon story.
For informational purposes only.
