The story of Elijah Craig becoming the “father of bourbon” is a great story. And that’s what it is…a story. It goes like this…Craig opened his distillery in 1789, and […]
Old Forester-The First Bourbon Bottled in the U.S.
Did you know that Old Forester was the first bourbon exclusively sold in bottles? In 1874, salesman-turned-distiller George Garvin Brown, in Marion County, Kentucky, first bottled his own “Old Forester” […]
GMOs and Whiskey
There’s been a lot of discussion about GMO’s and whiskey lately. I can’t say that I’m surprised by all the anxiety. It’s a hot topic without even bringing whiskey into […]
Needs More Beautiful Copper…
Copper is beautiful. It seems to glow in the sunlight and somehow evokes warmth and well-being in us. Perhaps that’s why I always want to hug a still when I […]
Let’s Have a Dram
Sunday. Here’s a great quote from Henry David Thoreau- “The gods who are most interested in the human race preside over the tavern. The tavern will compare favorably with the […]
What are Whiskey Legs?
The “legs” that form on the side of your whisk(e)y glass can be helpful in determining what you’re drinking in a blind tasting. I like to make note of them […]
Not All Ryes Are Created Equal…
Watch yourself here with your rye whiskey purchases. Though rye whiskey is similar to bourbon (at least 51% rye -instead of 51% corn as bourbon must be- aged in new,charred […]
Back to Pre-Prohibition Standards?
There’s something satisfying for me in knowing that some of the whiskeys that American distillers are producing for consumers today are similar to the whiskeys produced before prohibition. The lighter […]
“The 10 August”
Today is the day historians refer to as “the 10 August.” The insurrection of 10 August 1792 was one of the defining events in the history of the French Revolution. […]
The Priest’s Tipple
Did you know that Redbreast 12 year old is sometimes called “the priest’s tipple”? 1920’s Ireland was a time of political turmoil and economic uncertainty. Money was tight and money […]