A bar shelf filled with various bottles of liquor, including Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Jameson, and other whiskey brands, with wooden paneling in the background.

At the crossroads of bourbon, blues, and ritual.

Stave & Slide explores the cultural intersection of bourbon and blues — two American originals shaped by labor, craft, and time — and invites readers into the rituals that keep them alive.

Learn more about us
Our Brand Mission & Philosophy

STAVE: A curved plank in a barrel that holds whiskey in time.
Like a rhythm that molds sound, it shapes what is inside without ever betraying the grain.

SLIDE: A movement along strings that bends a note toward truth. In blues it is phrasing over perfection — tension made audible.

Together they signal structure and expression — the architecture and the improvisation of bourbon, blues, and the rituals between them.

This Week In Ritual

What we’re practicing this week — in sound, in spirit, and in time.

On The Turntable 

A blues record currently in rotation — studied for phrasing, lineage, and tone

A live document of blues in motion — expansive, improvisational, and unbound by strict form. We chose this record for the way it stretches tradition without abandoning it.

In The Glass

A bourbon or cocktail chosen for its craft, context, and character.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
A study in secondary maturation, where additional oak adds richness without overwhelming structure. Chosen because it reliably embodies quality, complexity, and accessibility in equal measure.

From The Humidor

A cigar selected for its blend, origin, and ritual pacing.
Oliva Serie G (Cameroon)
Chosen for its quiet balance — cedar, toasted nuts, and restrained spice carried on a classic Cameroon wrapper. It’s a cigar that delivers consistent craft without spectacle, making it an ideal companion to a measured pour and an unhurried listen.

The Journal

Our latest writing on craft, lineage, and lived ritual.

Featured
2026 Grammy Winners: A Celebration of Blues, Roots, Americana, and More
2026 Grammy Winners: A Celebration of Blues, Roots, Americana, and More

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards held of February 1, 2026, were an unforgettable celebration of music—where the legends of blues, the innovators of Americana, and the soul of roots music took center stage. This year’s awards honored artists whose work continues to shape and redefine genres, from traditional blues to the cutting edge Americana and roots performances.

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The Heartbeat in the Floorboards: The Enduring Story of the Juke Joint
The Heartbeat in the Floorboards: The Enduring Story of the Juke Joint

Imagine a dirt road in the Mississippi Delta in the early to mid-20th century. The air vibrates with music, laughter, and the promise of escape. Light spills from a ramshackle building, beckoning you closer. This is a juke joint – or was, and for generations of Black southerners, it was more than just a place to dance – it was a sanctuary.

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The Colonel Has Laid Down His Guitar: A Story of Steve Cropper’s Life, Music, and Legacy
The Colonel Has Laid Down His Guitar: A Story of Steve Cropper’s Life, Music, and Legacy

His genius lived in restraint, in the unspoken spaces between notes, in the groove that made others shine. And so his passing felt heartbreakingly appropriate…subtle, steady, and soaked in soul.

But the story of Steve Cropper…one of the most influential guitarists in American music…began long before he ever stepped on a Memphis stage.

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Raising a Glass to Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week
Raising a Glass to Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week

Every October, the bourbon world rallies for one of its most spirited traditions: Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week. What began as a celebration of a classic cocktail has evolved into something bigger — a toast to craftsmanship, community, and creativity. Distillers, bartenders, and enthusiasts across the country stir up their best versions of the timeless Old Fashioned, all while supporting Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit aiding hospitality worker in need.

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At The Bar

Cocktails, conversation, and the craft behind the pour.

Featured
Tiki Time Episode 4...Sipping the Bourbon Special!
Tiki Time Episode 4...Sipping the Bourbon Special!

Sandbar Scotty returns to the bar for another laid-back episode of Tiki Time, and today we’re shaking up an original island-inspired riff: The Bourbon Special. This drink takes classic tiki flavors—lime, falernum, ginger, and bitters—and anchors them with a bold pour of bourbon for a cocktail that feels just as at home on a sandbar as it does in a dimly lit speakeasy.

Sandbar Scotty returns to the bar for another laid-back episode of Tiki Time, and today we’re shaking up an original island-inspired riff: The Bourbon Special. This drink takes classic tiki flavors—lime, falernum, ginger, and bitters—and anchors them with a bold pour of bourbon for a cocktail that feels just as at home on a sandbar as it does in a dimly lit speakeasy.

We used Old Forester 1870 for its rich, historic profile, but the structure of this drink invites experimentation with your favorite bourbon. Bright, spicy, refreshing, and just a little dangerous—this one sneaks up on you.

So grab some pebble ice, cue the island vibes, and welcome back Sandbar Scotty for another round.

🍹 The Bourbon Special (Tiki-Style)

Ingredients

1–2 dashes Angostura Bitters ( @angosturahouse )

½ oz Fresh Lime Juice

¼ oz Simple Syrup

¾ oz Ginger Beer

¼ oz Falernum

1½ oz Bourbon ( @oldforester )

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice (pebble ice preferred).

Shake to chill and dilute.

Dump into a chilled rocks glass.

Top with additional ice.

Garnish

Spent lime shell

Luxardo cherries

If you like tiki drinks with a twist—or bourbon cocktails that break the rules—this one’s for you.

👉 Like, subscribe, and let us know: What bourbon would you try in The Bourbon Special?

The Elder Hour...A NYE Special!
The Elder Hour...A NYE Special!

The Elder Hour is an original Stave & Slide cocktail built for that pause between years—where bourbon’s warmth meets dark fruit, bright citrus, and a sparkling elderflower finish that nods to Champagne without trying to replace it. Refined, restrained, and right on time.

Midnight doesn’t always arrive with fireworks.

Sometimes it arrives with a raised glass, a quiet countdown, and a moment worth marking.

The Elder Hour is an original Stave & Slide cocktail built for that pause between years—where bourbon’s warmth meets dark fruit, bright citrus, and a sparkling elderflower finish that nods to Champagne without trying to replace it. Refined, restrained, and right on time.

Whether you’re toasting the new year or simply savoring the hour before it begins, this one’s meant to be served slowly… and remembered.

Recipe

Ingredients:

1½ oz Bourbon

¾ oz Chambord

½ oz Fresh lemon juice

2–3 dashes Orange bitters

Elderflower tonic, to top

Method:

Combine bourbon, Chambord, lemon juice, and orange bitters in a shaker with ice

Shake to chill and properly dilute

Strain into a chilled coupe

Top gently with elderflower tonic

Garnish with an expressed lemon twist

A New Christmas Classic...The Sugarplum Reverie
A New Christmas Classic...The Sugarplum Reverie

Some cocktails shout. This one whispers. The Sugarplum Reverie is a quiet holiday nightcap—warm Cognac or brandy layered with tawny port, vanilla bean syrup, and just enough bitters to keep things grounded. Think candlelight, slow snow, and the last glass poured when the house finally goes still.

Some cocktails shout. This one whispers.

The Sugarplum Reverie is a quiet holiday nightcap—warm Cognac or brandy layered with tawny port, vanilla bean syrup, and just enough bitters to keep things grounded. Think candlelight, slow snow, and the last glass poured when the house finally goes still.

It’s rich without being heavy, festive without being flashy, and built for sipping—preferably near a fire, record spinning low.

Recipe:

1½ oz Cognac

¾ oz Tawny Port

½ oz Vanilla Bean Syrup

2 dashes Christmas Bitters (Angostura as a substitute)

Sugared Prunes

Instructions:

Stir all ingredients with ice until well chilled.

Strain into a chilled coupe or small Nick & Nora glass.

Garnish: Sugared Pruned on a cocktail pick.

If sugarplums ever danced in liquid form, this would be it.

Kringle's Favorite: A Midnight Sleigh Ride
Kringle's Favorite: A Midnight Sleigh Ride

Christmas Eve runs long. Santa knows it. Whether you’re staying up late assembling toys, slipping gifts under the tree, or making one last quiet toast before the sleigh bells fade, The Midnight Sleigh Ride is built for that moment.

Christmas Eve runs long. Santa knows it. 🎄

Whether you’re staying up late assembling toys, slipping gifts under the tree, or making one last quiet toast before the sleigh bells fade, The Midnight Sleigh Ride is built for that moment.

This rich, velvety holiday flip blends aged rum and bourbon for warmth, a touch of coffee-honey syrup for gentle lift, and a whole egg for that classic, creamy Christmas indulgence. It’s cozy, nostalgic, and just caffeinated enough to keep Kris Kringle on schedule.

Perfect for Christmas Eve. Best enjoyed when the house is finally quiet.

The Midnight Sleigh Ride 🛷

Ingredients:

1 oz Aged Rum

1 oz Bourbon

½ oz Coffee Honey Syrup (equal parts brewed coffee + honey)

1 whole Egg

Method:

Shake all ingredients without ice to emulsify

Add ice and shake again until well chilled

Strain into a chilled coupe

Garnish:

Freshly grated nutmeg

5-6 drops of cocoa bitters around the foam edge, swirl (optional)

If you’re still awake when the cookies are gone and the reindeer have flown, this one’s for you. We hope all your holidays are magical and meaningful. Cheers!

#MidnightSleighRide #ChristmasEveCocktail #HolidayCocktails #BourbonAndRum #CocktailFlip #ChristmasNight #SantaApproved

#StaveAndSlide #HolidayDrinks #WinterCocktails