A Sweet Tradition Continues

Our Iconic Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Balls are Made with Love, and Pappy...with a New Partner

Bourbon Balls, those iconic little bites of bliss that magically combine the flavorsof chocolate, bourbon, and pecan,  were one of the first things we considered making when we founded Pappy & Company. Naturally, for a sweet treat as deeply rooted in Kentucky history and lore, we needed the right partner to ensure we got it just right. 

That partner was Maggie, from Sugar Mamas Bakeshop in Louisville.  Maggie began making her special cakes, cookies, and treats for her friends, and, as with most good news, the word spread quickly, spurring her to open her own bakery, where she crafted delicious, handmade treats for over 10 years.  

 Together with Maggie, we fine-tuned and handcrafted our bourbon balls until they were exactly how we wanted them. The perfectly layered balance of chocolate, bourbon, and pecans, with the just-right level of sweetness. When Maggie announced she was (very deservedly) retiring from her bakery after 10 years, we knew we had to find the right partners to step into her very big (and very sweet) shoes.

We’ve enjoyed working with Maggie from Sugar Mamas Bakeshop. She ran Sugar Mamas with love and dedication for over 10 years, and, just like us, was honored to play a role in the special moments and celebrations (baby showers, birthdays, weddings… more) of her customers. We wish her the best as she enjoys retirement and pursues her next creative endeavors, which we know will be just as sweetly successful.  

 So the search for our next great Bourbon Ballpartner was on, and fortunately, we didn’t have to seek too far! We found another partner equally dedicated, creative, and passionate about handcrafting deliciousness, sourcing local ingredients, preserving tradition and heritage, and special recipes. 

That was The Whisk House, founded by Lindsay Lamb in New Albany, IN, in 2017 (and recently moved to Louisville), another woman-owned operation that started with a dream, a passion, and a finely honed craft.  Lindsay has a passion for everything in the pastry industry and has dreamed of owning her own bakery, since she was a little girl. 

Originally founded nearby in her native New Albany, IN, and recently moved to downtown Louisville, The Whisk House specializes in custom cakes, wedding cakes, and sweet treats. Lindsay considers the kitchen her “happy place,” and when she isn't in the kitchen or spending time with her husband and two young daughters, she is watching a cooking show on TV. We happen to know a little something about a passionthat seeps into all areas of your life, so we knew we had found the right partner to carry on our bourbon balltradition. 

She is passionate, creative, and puts a little bit of herself into everything that she makes. She simply wants to make others smile when they receive her custom creations. After all, who wouldn’t be happy to receive custom “edible art,” as she calls it, that just so happens to be delicious?  Working with Lindsay and The Whisk House has been a seamless transition - she instantly understood what we needed and how we wanted to maintain the integrity of our bourbon balls. She appreciates heritage and tradition as much as we do. 

Bourbon Balls, a Kentucky-born delicacy, were dreamt up by Ruth Hanly Booe in her Louisville, Kentucky, kitchen in 1930. What may have started as a simple holiday treat Ruthshared with her friends and family has expanded to become a year-round favorite, an incredibly thoughtful gift, or just a sweet pick-me-up anytime. They also bear the incredibly specialnovelty of actually containing bourbon. We are often asked if we have any of our family's bourbon, and while that answer is usually a resounding no, we can actually say, “Why, yes, we DO have Pappy…in our bourbon balls.” 

 Although we make a large quantity of these delicious bite-sized treatsevery year, they are still made by hand, following our custom recipe. Uniquely delicious, we are proud of our little balls of bliss — full of Pappy Van Winkle flavor, Kentucky-born heritage, and decades of tradition — and we are thrilled to share this favored sweet treat with all of you (just keep your hands off our personal stash). From our days with Maggie at Sugar Mamas to Lindsay with The Whisk House, ourbourbon balls have always been made with passion, love, and of course, the good stuff…

Enjoy our iconic Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Balls in a very giftable and shareable 4-pack or 12-pack.