When it comes to Kentucky, bourbon lands at the top of the list for things that are as Kentucky as Kentucky gets. But if you grew up in the Bluegrass, you know it’s southern enough that the tradition of going fishing has to make the Top 10, not far behind horse racing, burgoo and fried chicken.

If you grew up hardcore, you’d spend the evening prior digging nightcrawlers for bait, or maybe you’d sane a local creek to pick up some minnows and crawfish. Worst case, you could stop at the local bait shop and pick up what you need. (Don’t forget your minnow bucket.)

But getting to the shore or the boat with a cooler, bait, tackle box and a buddy or family member, is the ultimate goal. Whatever you catch, you catch. It’s all about the experience – before, during and after the lines hit the water.

In Fred’s latest live YouTube stream, he shares his top recommendations for bourbons and other sippers to take on a fishing trip with you. Let’s face it, whether you’re in Kentucky or anyplace else where there are rivers, lakes and ponds, this is valuable information. Fred himself loves fishing for bass and catfish, and he loves to take his sons fishing whenever possible.

And when he does, you can bet he’ll have one or more of these on hand.

Fred’s first recommendation? Put whatever whiskey you have on hand on ice. Keep it in the cooler with your water and your sandwiches. You’ll need a refresher if you’re going to be sitting in the sun all day.

For fishing, he also likes certain brands of ready-to-drink cocktails, most notably bourbon cocktails from Siponey Spritz Co. “Incredibly refreshing,” Fred says. Whiskey aside, an ice cold beer will never steer you wrong if you’re going fishing.

When the fishing is done, and you’re back on the deck basking in the day’s catch, Fred recommends something cask strength for maximum flavor. If you can get one of the tough-to-find premiums, go for it, but a couple of Fred’s somewhat more accessible recommendations are Michter’s Barrel Strength or any Booker’s.

On a budget? You can’t ever go wrong with Evan Williams Bottled in Bond, Fred says.

Watch the full video below for more.