Butcher And The Boar Receives Top Honor For Bourbon

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- There's a new title for an already decorated restaurant in downtown Minneapolis Thursday morning.

Butcher and the Boar was just named the No. 1 seller of Knob Creek single barrel bourbon in the entire world. They held an exclusive tasting to celebrate Wednesday night, and our cameras were allowed inside.

You can't order a cocktail at Butcher and the Boar without a splash of bourbon. One of the most popular restaurants in Minneapolis offers a 9-year-old bourbon from Knob Creek that's the No. 1 seller in the world. Butcher and the Boar's owners said they've currently sold 1,984 bottles. Their closest competitor is the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

In 1964, Congress recognized bourbon as "America's native spirit."

"You're doing your patriotic duty drinking bourbon," said Fred Noe, a seventh generation master distiller. He said he thinks bourbon's popularity in the U.S. is rood in its history.

"That tradition has been passed on generation to generation, so I think we know a little about making bourbon and Butcher and the Boar knows about selling it," Noe said.

Butcher and the Boar owners said when they opened, they made a conscious decision to stay American and it's paid off in sales, and now also in awards. Their bourbon is No. 1 in the world.

They're not the only restaurant in Minneapolis having success selling certain types of specialty alcohol. Back in February, Brit's Pub was named the best seller of Newcastle Brown Ale.

And you may remember in 2008, The Local, an Irish pub, sold 671 cases of Jameson Irish Whiskey. That's about 22 bottles a day. That made it the largest server of Jameson's in the world, a title it has maintained for four consecutive years.