There’s a certain kind of gathering that calls for something beyond the ordinary. The bubbles are flowing, the glasses are clinking, and someone breaks out the bourbon — because why not? Whether you’re hosting a backyard party, a bridal shower, a birthday celebration, or simply a Friday night worth remembering, a well-curated spread of bubbles and bourbon is always the right move.
We’re pairing two sparkling wines with two standout bourbons for a guide that covers every mood, every palate, and every kind of celebration. Here’s what to expect:
• Athens Wine Company Revery Brut Sparkling Wine is a California sparkler that’s bright, festive, and made for toasting
• Crémant de Loire is a French sparkling wine from the Loire Valley, available in Brut and Brut Rosé
• Redemption Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a rye-forward, approachable bourbon with notes of vanilla, caramel, and spice
• Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon is a Memphis-crafted, unfiltered small-batch bourbon with soulful, bold character
The Bubbles
Athens Wine Company Revery Brut Sparkling Wine, California
The Athens Wine Company’s Revery Brut Sparkling Wine is as gorgeous as it sounds, a California brut in a stunning pink-and-gold label that makes a statement before the first pour. Made in the California tradition, this brut sparkling wine is crisp, dry, and lively with fine bubbles and a refreshing effervescence that makes it perfect for toasting and celebrating.
Bright and festive, the Revery delivers aromas of green apple, pear, and subtle floral notes, with a clean, elegant palate and a dry, refreshing finish. It’s the kind of wine that makes any occasion feel like a celebration, chilled, poured, and enjoyed with friends.
Revery Brut Pairings
Serve well-chilled in a flute or coupe with:
• Oysters
• Brie and soft cheeses
• Fresh strawberries and stone fruit
• Smoked salmon
• Light hors d’œuvres and canapés
Crémant de Loire, Brut & Brut Rosé
If you haven’t met Crémant de Loire yet, consider this a very warm introduction. Produced in the Loire Valley, France’s second-largest sparkling wine region after Champagne, Crémant de Loire is made using the same traditional method as Champagne, with secondary fermentation in the bottle. The result is a wine with fine, persistent bubbles, real complexity, and a price point that doesn’t require a special occasion.
The Crémant de Loire Brut is a blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, pale gold in the glass with a lively nose of green apple, fresh pear, and toasted almond. It’s dry, elegant, and refreshing, with excellent acidity and a clean, mineral finish.
The Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé is made from Cabernet Franc, producing a beautiful salmon-pink hue and a nose of fresh raspberry, strawberry, and a touch of citrus. On the palate, it’s creamy and light with delicate red fruit and a crisp, dry finish — a real crowd-pleaser.
Crémant de Loire Pairings
• Brut: Oysters, goat cheese, herb-crusted chicken, sushi, light pasta
• Brut Rosé: Charcuterie, roasted salmon, soft cheeses, berries, light desserts
The Bourbons
Redemption Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Redemption Straight Bourbon is a rye-forward whiskey with a mission: bring back the classic flavors of American bourbon with attitude and soul. Inspired by pre-Prohibition recipes and crafted by Master Blender Alan Kennedy, it’s made from a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, and bottled at 92 proof. Non-chill filtered for a full, natural character, each bottle is hand-numbered to reflect the batch, a quiet nod to the attention to detail behind every pour.
The nose opens with honey, vanilla, and toasted oak, inviting and familiar. On the palate, notes of caramel, sweet corn, cinnamon, and dried fruit unfold with warmth and balance, and the rye adds a satisfying spice that keeps every sip interesting. The finish is medium-length with vanilla and oak, and just a touch of sweetness from the corn. It’s smooth enough to sip neat, versatile enough for an Old Fashioned, and approachable enough to be everyone’s new go-to.
Redemption Pairings
• Smoked brisket or BBQ ribs
• Caramelized peach cobbler
• Dark chocolate
• Aged cheddar
• Sip neat, on the rocks, or in a classic Old Fashioned or Whiskey Sour
Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon, Unfiltered Small Batch
Born in Kentucky and crafted in Memphis, home of the Delta Blues, Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon is a straight bourbon whiskey with character that’s impossible to miss. Made from a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley, aged a minimum of three years, and bottled at 93 proof, it’s unfiltered to preserve a naturally rich, viscous body that sets it apart from the crowd. The barrels age near the banks of the Mississippi River, where the Delta heat and humidity work their slow magic into every drop.
The nose delivers sweet corn, allspice, and a warm oak foundation. On the palate, it’s smooth and bold with notes of vanilla, apricot, allspice, and pear. The finish lingers with notes of oak, pear, and a hint of allspice. Like a great blues track, it’s got soul, rhythm, and just enough grit to keep things interesting. Blue Note took home two Platinum medals at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of only six bourbons to receive that honor.
Blue Note Pairings
• Memphis-style BBQ pulled pork
• Fried chicken
• Peach or pecan desserts
• Dark chocolate and caramel
• Try it in a Gold Rush or a classic Whiskey Sour
Skip the either/or and put them both on the table. Whether your guests reach for the bubbles first or go straight for the bourbon, this lineup has everything you need to make any occasion feel like the one worth remembering.
