Story by Caroline Paulus and Shea Davidson
The third Sunday of each July is designated as National Ice Cream Day, and the ladies here at The Bourbon Review were only too happy to celebrate. We’ve chosen three Bourbon flavored ice creams from both local Kentucky and national brands that combine two of our favorite things – Bourbon and ice cream.
Ben & Jerry’s Urban Bourbon
This creamy yet light concoction features thick flakes of chocolate, almonds, and Bourbon caramel swirls. We tasted butterscotch but not much Bourbon, but this “bold and toasty” ice cream was delicious either way. While tasty on it’s own, it’s not too rich to pair with a brownie, a Bourbon neat, or a slice of Derby pie. New in the 2017 Spring lineup from Ben & Jerry’s, we hope this flavor is here to stay.
Crank & Boom Bourbon Honey
This one is for the Bourbon purist. The Bourbon flavor comes through clearly and cleanly, with notes of honey and vanilla to follow. The texture is soft but not particularly rich, with a fluffy finish. None of the bite of a Bourbon neat is present in the ice cream itself, but the Crank & Boom Ice Cream Lounge in Lexington, Kentucky serves up a spiked version with a shot.
The Comfy Cow Bourbon Ball
Louisville’s Comfy Cow unveiled their Bourbon Ball ice cream as part of their Derby collection two years ago. Using Old Forester Bourbon to make this Bourbon Ball blend, they mix pieces of the real thing in with vanilla Bourbon ice cream and chocolate chips. This strong Bourbon and chocolate flavor was our favorite of the bunch.
