June, 2023 - BourbonSphere

Bourbon Weekly Roundup #3

Lots of new releases to report, but unfortunately, many of them are doing their best to take consumers for a ride with price tags starting at $200 and beyond. When will people start voting by not purchasing these tater-priced releases?

Hey there! We hope you're looking forward to a great 4th of July weekend with your loved ones and getting ready to enjoy all the festivities. Are you planning to hit the lake, grill in the backyard with fireworks, or chill with friends over bourbon and cigars after dinner?

Whatever your plans are, we hope you'll have a fantastic time celebrating our nation's independence. And if you're incorporating bourbon into your plans, you're definitely on the right track!

We've got a fully stocked Bourbon Weekly Roundup coming up to keep you in the loop on all the latest bourbon and whiskey news. So stay tuned, and let's dive into today's recap.

In today’s email:

3-Tier Jenga: Let's discuss, folks – Does the current three-tier liquor system in the US still have legs?
Damn! Bourbon Inflation Sucks: Lots of new releases to report, but unfortunately, many of them are doing their best to take consumers for a ride with price tags starting at $200 and beyond. When will people start voting by not purchasing these tater-priced releases?
Quick Shots: Puppies, lacrosse, and the Civil War. And yeah, Buffalo Trace called to let us know you won't be picked at their next Single Barrel Select drawing.
Straight From the Bunker: Life seemed much simpler in 2012 when we launched Bourbon & Banter. Or was it? Join us for a trip down memory lane as we revisit some older and arguably naive posts.
Bourbon Bullshit: We love Wild Turkey. We love Jimmie, Eddie, and Bruce. So why is the brand trying to hurt us?

BARREL PROOF BUZZ

Does the three-tier system in the US still have legs?

It's a question that seems to be on everyone's mind – including producers, retailers and consumers. I suppose the pandemic had a lot to do with opening people's eyes to the advantages and convenience of direct-to-consumer shipping within the world of spirits. But now, as we get back to life as usual, liquor distributors are doing everything they can to push back on the relaxing DTC shipping of spirits. There's no shortage of opinions on the topic, and it's not uncommon for discussions to get heated. So when we came across this story from The Drinks Business, we knew it had to be shared with our readers.

Give it a read, and let us know in the comments how you feel about the three-tier system and what changes you would like to see implemented in the near future.

The US’s three-tier distribution system for alcoholic beverages will be 90 years old next year, and some are questioning whether it may have outlived its usefulness, reports Roger Morris.

Opponents of America’s three-step system of alcohol sales – producer to distributor to retailer to consumer – argue that the process throttles innovation, competition and consumer choice and should to be dumped. The system’s defenders, on the other hand, fear its historic role as market regulator is being eroded by direct-to-consumer sales.

In truth, there is not just one three-tier system, but approximately 51 distribution systems for selling alcoholic beverages – one for each state and Washington, DC – all somewhat similar and each intended to provide order in a critical, highly contentious industry by dividing it into three parts – the people who produce wine, beer and spirits or import them, the ones who distribute them and the ones who sell them retail to customers.

The system has been constantly under attack – and vigorously defended – since it was first put in place following the repeal of Prohibition in December 1933. In some ways, it’s a bit like the weather – everyone talks about it but no one has done anything about it.

Now there are fresh attempts to mount an attack and, with it, a defense.

To continue reading the full story, please visit: https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2023/06/does-the-three-tier-system-in-the-us-still-have-legs/

NEW BOURBON RELEASES

Here are a few new releases that have crossed our desk recently.

Heaven’s Door Spirits Unveils 2023 Decade Series Release of 10+ Year Aged Whiskey

Frey Ranch Distillery Announces Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon

Lost Lantern Declares 2023 the Summer of Bourbon!

Heaven Hill Distillery Launches Square 6 Wheated Bourbon

Brush Creek Distillery Unveils Heroes Edition Straight Bourbon

Introducing Wild Turkey Master's Keep Voyage

QUICK SHOTS

Quick hits of random and interesting news for you to keep yourself entertained when standing in line to buy the next limited-release bourbon.

You Still Won't Be Picked: Buffalo Trace has announced the date of their next Single Barrel Select drawing. The next drawing will be held on July 26, 2023, from 6:15 PM to 6:45 pm EST and live-streamed from the Sazerac House in New Orleans. You must have a Single Barrel Select account to participate. Visit the SBS website for more details.

Heavy drinkers really don't 'handle their liquor': A recent study challenges the perception that experienced drinkers, like "two cowboys in a bar," have built up a tolerance to better handle themselves after consuming large amounts of alcohol.

Jack Daniel's Hates Puppies: Jack Daniel's finally won its epic trademark tussle with dog toy maker VIP Products. Apparently, they didn't like the parody, which featured the tagline, "Bad Spaniels was the "Old No. 2 on your Tennessee Carpet."

Civil War Day Drinking: Americans are now drinking as much liquor as in the Civil War days. And it looks like women "may hold the key to rising liquor consumption."

Bourbon Fueled Lacrosse: It looks like Rebel Bourbon is ready to fuel the fastest game on two feet via a new partnership with the Premier Lacrosse League. Our resident Chief Drinking Officer played lacrosse in college and says that bourbon fueled many of his best performances. It's a partnership that's long overdue.

STRAIGHT FROM THE BUNKER

As we worked on migrating all of the website content to our new platform, we had a chance to revisit many of our older posts and reviews. Our bunker (archives) covers 11+ years of writing from current and past contributors. We thought it would be fun to occasionally highlight a few of these older posts as part of our Weekly Roundups. Here are a few from our first year of publication for your reading pleasure.

IT'S 5 0'CLOCK HERE COCKTAIL SERIES

Are you cocktail curious? Join our Cocktail Editor Erin Petrey on a journey through the wide world of cocktails and mixology. Learn how to make old classics, new favorites, and a few custom creations of her own.

FOR THE CURIOUS DRINKER

Tidbits and tipples from beyond the world of bourbon to help you lead a #DrinkCurious lifestyle.

Tomatin’s 36 Year Old single malt has been named ‘Best in Show’ in the whisky category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Benriach Introduces The Forty to the U.S.

Introducing Laphroaig Càirdeas 2023 White Port & Madeira Casks

Old Pulteney Launches The Coastal Series in the U.S.

Rare Hare Spirits Releases 30-Year-Old Canadian Whiskey

Talisker Distillery Unveils the Latest of Its 30 Year Old Single Malt

BOURBON BULLSHIT

Blunt and unfiltered commentary calling out some of the biggest bullshit stories happening in the booze industry.

We just recorded a new podcast episode this week in which we waded through a 3-foot-deep pile of limited-edition pricing bullshit, so we'll keep this short.

The pricing madness around limited editions is growing tiresome. We’re tired of complaining about it, and some folks are tired of hearing us complain. Sure, we could stop and just let it happen but in our book, that’s letting the distillery execs win the tater battle.

But what is killing us now is that the pricing madness has extended further into one of our most beloved brands–Wild Turkey. From the Single Rickhouse Collection pricing to the new 2023 Master’s Keep bottle ($275), even the most respected brands can’t resist the urge to take advantage of a consumer market devoid of logic. And yes, it’s the business’ right to make money, but when they jump the shark and ignore the reality of their product value vs. MSRP, it becomes clear who is running the show. (Hint: It's not the distillers themselves.)

In our book, you’re setting yourself up for a big fall when you forget who brought you to the dance. So now we wait. We wait for brands to fall and pray that the drop is big enough to get their attention but small enough to prevent another glut like in the 1970s. It won’t be today or even tomorrow. But it will happen.

WANT MORE BOURBON BULLSHIT?

Listen to the official Bourbon & Banter podcast (a new episode dropping this weekend just in time for the July 4th holiday) for the largest and most honest bourbon podcast in the galaxy. We've got whiskey news, new release info, the Craft Shoot, and more bourbon bullshit than you can carry in the semi used by Brad Paisley to haul his bourbon around the country.

Chester Graves and the Story of “Hub Punch”

Recently the Louisiana State University Press announced it would be publishing a new series of short books on famous cocktails. Because LSU is not likely to treat a libation that primarily sold in a bottle, it occurred to me that a post on an drink marketed nationally before Prohibition by Boston liquor dealer Chester H. “Chet” Graves also deserves to have its history revealed. The libation was known as “Hub Punch.

”Hub Punch did not originate in Boston, however, but on Hub Island, a small bit of land in the St. Lawrence River, located between Grenell Island and Thousand Island Park, shown on the map above. The dominant feature of the island was the Hub House, right. That hotel has been described as a “debaucherous” lodging, dance hall and bar. A short boat ride from the mainland, it was notorious for its dance parties at which young people could waltz until dawn, sleep in one of the rooms, and dance the next night through, all the while imbibing their favorite cocktails.

The most popular of those alcoholic concoctions was known as Hub Punch. It was the brain child of an Oswego, New York, bartender named Bart Keether, who was in charge of the Hub House bar and the first to mix Hub Punch. The drink was an instant hit, according to one author. Although Keether served it during the 1870s and into the 1880’s, he never divulged his recipe. Some have speculated that among its ingredients were rum and brandy. The end of Keether’s punch came in 1883 when Hub House burned to the ground.

Chet Graves was not about to let the popularity of Hub Punch fade away. In 1858, Oliver Wendell Holmes had identified Boston as “The Hub of the Solar System,” which developed into “The Hub of the Universe” or just “The Hub City.” Hub Punch fit well with Boston. Graves added it to the flurry of proprietary brands of liquor he offered.

Those whiskeys included: “Beech Grove,” “Boat Club,” “Cumberland Club,” “Graves’ Maryland Malt,” “Kentucky Union,” “Mackinaw Rye,”Old Heritage Rye,” “Superba,” “The Judges Favorite,” “Union League Club,” and “Walnut Hill Pure Rye.” He trademarked Walnut Hill Rye, likely his flagship whiskey, in 1892. After Congress strengthened trademark protections in 1905, Graves registered many of his other brands.

On May 1, 1879,C. Graves & Sons advertised: “At the earnest solicitation of a number of our hotel patrons and personal friends we have decided to offer our Rum and Brandy Punch in bottles, an article that has a most excellent reputation, having been originally prepared by our senior member.” Graves appeared to be taking credit for the origins of Hub Punch. Observers generally agree that his recipe, also never divulged, differed from Keether’s but do not know how. Grave’s ads give slim clues to its contents, claiming to contain “only the best of liquors, choice fruit juices and granulated sugar.” Ads also suggested “drinking clear or mix with lemonade, soda or ice water.” Because it was sold before National Prohibition, Hub Punch was not required to disclose its alcoholic content.

Marketed through vigorous advertising in local newspapers and national magazines, Hub Punch proved to be a hit with the American drinking public. Increasingly people were moving from straight liquor to cocktails and mixed drinks. Hub Punch suited the trend well. As shown below, Graves packaged his beverage in both clear and amber quart bottles, bearing blue or green labels that depicted the skyline of Hub City.

Graves’ rise to success in the liquor trade was a long one. He was born in Sunderland, Massachusetts, in January 1818, the son of Eliza Hatch and Elijah Graves, a New England family whose Yankee ancestry stretched back into colonial days. He arrived in Boston in 1844 at age 24 and went to work for Seth W. Fowle, a manufacturer and dealer in patent medicines, known for his inventive advertising for his lung remedies, including the highly alcoholic “Wistar’s Balsam of Wild Cherry.”

After four years of working for Fowle and learning his merchandising techniques, Graves moved on to the Boston house of John T. Hearn where he spent the next 12 years engaged in the liquor trade. In November 1846 he married Charlotte A. “Lottie” Fuller of Newton, Massachusetts, a Boston suburb. Although sources differ on numbers, the couple had at least three sons and a daughter over the next 14 years.

His growing family may have induced Graves to strike out on his own. In time he brought his two eldest boys, Edward and George, into the business, and it became Chester H. Graves and Sons. Graves continued to guide the fortunes of his company until his death in April 1901 at the age of 82. His sons took the reins of management and continued the success of Hub Punch until closed by the advent of National Prohibition in 1920.

Unlike the great majority of liquor houses in America that closed for good, the Graves boys waited out the “dry” 14 years and in 1933 as Repeal became certain trademarked the name and signature of their father. The application reads “for gin and other potable liquors.” A bottle of the company’s gin is shown right. I have not found evidence that the sons revived Hub Punch in the post-Prohibition era.

In more recent times, however, a brother team in Boston has brought new life to Hub Punch. Will and Dave Willis in 2010 founded Bully Boy Distillers, Boston’s first craft distillery. They specialize in making small batch spirits in accord with local tradition and recognized that historically no beverage was more closely identified with Boston than Hub Punch. As for ingredients, the Bully Boy version is not identical either to Keether’s or Graves’ recipe. The bottle says only that it is “infused with orange, fruits and botanicals” and is 70 proof, that is, alcohol just over one-third of the volume. As is said, things old thus are made new again.

Note: This post and illustrations was gathered from a variety of Internet sources, among them a 2014 article from MISE magazine by Cassandra Landry.

Those whiskeys included: "Beech Grove,” "Boat Club,” "Cumberland Club,” "Graves' Maryland Malt,” "Kentucky Union,” "Mackinaw Rye,”Old Heritage Rye,” “Superba,” "The Judges Favorite,” "Union League Club,” and "Walnut Hill Pure Rye.” He trademarked Walnut Hill Rye, likely his flagship whiskey, in 1892. After Congress strengthened trademark protections in 1905, Graves registered many of his other brands.

Note: This post and illustrations was gathered from a variety of Internet sources, among them a 2014 article from MISE magazine by Cassandra Landry.

Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (June 30, 2023)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information.

Here is the round-up of the news from this week.

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AnCnoc

The Highland distillery of Knockdhu has announced two new peated editions for its AnCnoc single malt range - the AnCnoc Peated Sherry Cask Finish and the AnCnoc Peatheart Batch 3. The pair feature peated spirit, which is distilled for a short period each year and uses locally sourced Aberdeenshire peat. The AnCnoc Peated Sherry Cask Finish (pictured, left) is a permanent addition to the range and combines the distillery's peated and classic non-peated spirits. These were matured initially in American oak ex-bourbon casks before being married and finished in ex-sherry casks sourced from Jerez, Spain. It is bottled at 43% ABV and will cost £40.

The Peatheart Batch 3 (pictured, right) features 100% peated spirit and has been solely matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks. It follows Batch 1 from 2017 and Batch 2 from 2020, and is graded as being 13.3 PPM (Phenol Parts per Million) in the bottle. The Peatheart Batch 3 is bottled at 46% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. There are just 9,210 bottles and each will cost £55. Both whiskies were created by Gordon Bruce, the Distillery Manager at Knockdhu, and will be available in selected markets worldwide. This begins with the UK and followed by Asia, Canada and Europe in the coming months.

Bimber X Compass Box

The Bimber distillery and independent whisky maker Compass Box, which are both based in west London, have joined forces to launch two collaborative whiskies - Bimber Duality and Compass Box Duality. Both are blended malts and feature whiskies sourced from both England and Scotland. They ahve been created in tandem by Matt McKay from Bimber and James Saxon from Compass Box.

The pair of whiskies are made up from stocks maturing in both company's warehouses - Bimber Duality (pictured, above right) was created using peated Bimber matured in an ex-bourbon cask and first-fill ex-sherry whisky from Glendullan in Speyside. Compass Box Duality (pictured, above left) is a marriage of peated single malt from Ardbeg on Islay and Bimber matured in ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

Bimber Duality is limited to just 340 bottles and is released at 54% ABV. A bottle will cost £120. Compass Box Duality is limited to 1,050 bottles and is released at 52% ABV. It will cost £180 per bottle. Both will only be on sale via the Bimber and Compass Box websites from July 4, until sold out.

Whistlepig

The American whiskey brand of Whistlepig has announced details of the latest bottling in its Rye Hero range - The Boss Hog VIII: LapuLapu's Pacific. It is the eighth whiskey in the series and will be launched in the UK on American Independence Day, July 4. The whiskey has been aged for nearly 18 years in American oak barrels before a double finishing period in ex-single island Phillipine rum casks.

This is referenced in the name - LapuLapu was a Filipino hero in the 16th century who helped defeat the Spanish at the Battle of Mactan and is now seen as a symbol of strength and independence. The Boss Hog VIII: LapuLapu's Pacific is bottled at 52.4% ABV (104.8 Proof) and will retail at £675 per bottle. It will be available through specialist whisky retailers in the UK.

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Woodford Reserve Moves To Foster Rye Farming In Kentucky

In an ongoing effort to bring production of rye grain back to Kentucky, Woodford Reserve today announced a five-year commitment to purchasing the grain from local farmers while working with the University of Kentucky to conduct research. Beginning this summer, Woodford Reserve will run small distillation trials on ten varieties of rye to determine their …

Beginning this summer, Woodford Reserve will run small distillation trials on ten varieties of rye to determine their flavor nuances that impact bourbon.

“If we can bring rye back to Kentucky, it would not only support farmers, but give a sustainable grain to whiskey producers across the state,” Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall said “Sustainability is a topic I care passionately about – and, working with partners, we can make a big impact.”

Woodford Reserve will purchase the rye grown by four farmers in the trial for the next five years. The grain will be used in production and distillery trials to run sensory tests on the final distillate.

Rye is difficult to grow in Kentucky because of its generally warm, humid climate. Rye is mainly sourced by distillers from the cooler climates of Canada or Europe. To overcome these challenges, more than $1 million will be invested collectively by partners in the development of an open-sourced Kentucky variety over the course of the program.

This project aims to uncover an open-sourced rye variety that will grow well locally in Kentucky.

Rye is an essential part of a suitable environment as it improves the health of soil by reducing negative impacts of rainfall variability and sequesters carbon. Growing rye locally provides a third cash crop for farmers in a two-year corn and soybean rotation. Partnering with local farmers allows for a reduced carbon footprint at the Woodford Reserve Distillery and diversification in supply while strengthening relationships and the economy.

“Woodford Reserve is committed to the environment and to caring for the natural resources that go into making the world’s finest bourbon,” Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall said. “Six ambitious sustainability commitments were announced in 2021, including a commitment to creating a resilient and agile agricultural supply chain.”

TWiB: Premiumization Is Losing Steam, 2023 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame New Inductees, Booker’s Bourbon Apprentice Batch

It’s This Week in Bourbon for June 30th 2023. Premiumization is now losing steam, The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame will induct […]

The post TWiB: Premiumization Is Losing Steam, 2023 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame New Inductees, Booker’s Bourbon Apprentice Batch appeared first on BOURBON PURSUIT.

It’s This Week in Bourbon for June 30th 2023. Premiumization is now losing steam, The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame will induct eight new people, Booker’s Bourbon is releasing the second batch of the 2023 Collection called Apprentice Batch.

Show Notes:

Diageo has now severed ties with Sean Diddy Combs
Casey Jones Distillery has entered into its first contract as a bourbon producer for B. H. James Distillers
The premiumization trend is now losing steam
The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame will induct eight new people
Hudson Whiskey introduces New York Straight Bourbon Whiskey 5 Year Old
New collaboration between Ireland’s Clonakilty Distillery and Texas’ Garrison Brothers Distillery
Booker’s Bourbon is releasing the second batch of the 2023 Collection called Apprentice Batch
Whiskey Myers launches Uncle Chicken’s Sippin’ Whiskey
Playboy Spirits’ Rare Hare presents Lucky Bastard
Still Austin Whiskey Co. launches Bottled in Bond
@diageo @caseyjonesdistillery @bhjamesdistillers @garrisonbros @hudsonwhiskey @clonakiltydistillery @whiskeymyers @playboy @stillatx
Support this podcast on Patreon

The post TWiB: Premiumization Is Losing Steam, 2023 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame New Inductees, Booker’s Bourbon Apprentice Batch appeared first on BOURBON PURSUIT.

Mike And Matt Taste Starlight Old Rickhouse Double Oaked Rye

This whiskey is made at Ted Huber’s Starlight Distillery in Starlight Indiana and is a small batch Rye whiskey finished in a second oak barrel. I have nothing but respect for the Ted Huber Family’s distilling abilities and they make… Continue Reading…

Today Aultmore

Aultmore 10 yo ‘Discovery’ (Gordon & MacPhail, bourbon cask, +/-2021)Aultmore 12 yo 2010/2023 (55.7%, Infrequent Flyers, independentspirit.de, ruby Port hogshead, cask #6351, 325 bottles)

Aultmore 10 yo 'Discovery' (Gordon & MacPhail, bourbon cask, +/-2021)
Aultmore 12 yo 2010/2023 (55.7%, Infrequent Flyers, independentspirit.de, ruby Port hogshead, cask #6351, 325 bottles)

Booker’s Releases Second Batch Of 2023

Beam Suntory has released the second batch of Booker’s, the seminal cask strength bourbon introduced as part of the Small Batch trend of the 1990s. This batch has been dubbed “Apprentice’s Batch,” and refers back to Booker Noe’s entry into the bourbon industry. Booker started working at the Jim Beam Distillery in 1952, and shortly …

Booker started working at the Jim Beam Distillery in 1952, and shortly after, Carl became his mentor. Carl was in charge and didn’t put up with any foolishness; he always made sure Booker was set straight. But even if Booker did mess around sometimes, he was a fast learner and was ready to be put to work, which quickly got him Carl’s approval. Two years after Booker started, Jim Beam purchased a distillery in Boston, KY to increase production capabilities. Carl and Booker worked closely together to get it up and running, and eventually, Carl handed the reins over to Booker. This is where he was able to experiment and master the bourbon-making process, and later on, the location was renamed the Booker Noe Distillery.

For decades, Booker’s has been described as between 6 to 8 years of age. Batch 2023-02 sits in the middle of that range, at 7 years, 1 month, 2 days. The cask strength bourbon came out at 125.5 proof this time. The price point is holding steady at $89.99.

Obtanium Bourbon Whiskey

At o…

At one point in my life, the Fourth of July weekend was my favorite time of year. I’m ethnically redneck, so there is a part of me that likes to “blow some shit up.” And I spent many a happy holiday weekend during my childhood and early adulthood doing just that. Once you add in the large fireworks displays, well, that was all it took for me to be happy.

These days though, I spend a lot of time as a dog sitter. This means that I comfort pets who are pretty sure that my neighbors have started a war outside. And as an empathetic human, it breaks my heart to see these poor pups so scared. But we try to make it calm and soothing, and fun to distract them from the chaos outside.

So though, I will never tell someone not to blow some shit up—because, damn, that’s fun—please be considerate of your local pets and also your local veterans who could also be suffering due to the noise as well.

Now onto the whiskey. I grabbed this one a while ago and have been sitting on it for a few weeks. As you will see below, my local liquor store had been sitting on it a for a while. That said, it is a wonderful example of a brand that we looked at back in 2021 for their Light Whiskey. As I stated back then:

Obtainium is a line of sourced whiskey from the Cat’s Eye Distillery in Bettendorf, Iowa, one of the five Quad Cities that span the Iowa/Illinois border (yes, there are 5 cities in the Quad Cities…I’d make an Iowa joke, but I’ll just leave it at that). In any case, these guys seem to be doing the sourced whiskey thing right.

What I especially like about the brand, other than never finding one bottle that wasn’t delicious, is that they give you as much information as possible about the whiskey. Back on that old Light whiskey, they named the predecessor of MGP as the distiller. On this one, they called out which MGP bourbon mash bill that is in the bottle. Just very cool transparency with these guys.

So even though it looks like they aren’t currently selling an Obtainium bourbon, let’s take a look at this so you can see if you are interested in picking one of their other products up if you run across it.

Obtainium Bourbon Whiskey

Purchase Info: I bought this at Viking Liquor Barrel in Prior Lake, MN, for somewhere around $50. I lost the receipt, so I can only get that close.

Details: Distilled 8-5-15. Bottled 1-30-21. Five years old. MGP 21% Rye mash bill. 53.4% ABV.

Nose: Sweet, caramel and vanilla, baking spices, and oak.

Mouth: Spicy cinnamon notes without being too hot. Caramel, vanilla, and a bright floral note.

Finish: Medium to long and warm. Finish follows the mouth with cinnamon, oak, and floral notes.

Thoughts: This is a good solid cask-strength bourbon for a decent price. And being a fan of MGP bourbon, that's a great combo for me. Being as this was bottled in early 2021 and isn't currently on their website, availability may vary. But I've liked everything I've bought from this line, and this is no exception. So if you see the brand, give it a shot.

Have a safe and Happy Independence Day. Come back next Thursday with all your fingers and toes, ok?

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The Northwest Whiskey Trail

Have you ever been on a whisky trail before? Of course, you get to taste a lot of different whiskies, but there is a lot more to it. Firstly whisky trails do visit distiller centers and plantations, and some of them can be from alarming to spooky. Secondly, there can be breathtaking scenery that forms […]

Secondly, there can be breathtaking scenery that forms eternal memories and soul-freeing moments. Take for example the Madrekin Berg wine plantation in Croatia, which is set on one of the highest points in the country. Tourists can peek all the way to Holland.

Let’s get back to this current trail. It dots three of star-spangled states and encompasses seven whisky distilleries.

The journey leads tourists through British Columbia, Washington State, and Oregon, and will include tours of the following seven distilleries and their facilities.

Westward Whiskey
Copperworks Distilling
Westland Distillery
Macaloney’s Island Distillery
Goldstream Distillery
Shelter Point Distillery
Deep Cove Brewers & Distillers.
No tasting too much now. Visitors can learn more about the distilling process at each distillery and sample their displayed whiskies. Some distilleries may have up to 15 different products and sometimes will let visitors try different flavors.

At one distillery in Montego Bay, Jamaica, tourists were allowed to try five of ten displayed whiskies and receive a complementary ¼ flask if they choose to buy. No wonder the trip is so hard to get in.

Stamp Collections

if you are looking to fill your travel document with souvenirs, then you may want to collect stamps from some of the distilleries that you visit. However, some distilleries offer special wooden flags made from bourbon barrels.

I know exactly hope it sounds. Yet these flags are small and easily placed on your desk, table, bookshelf, or even your vehicle dashboard.

As the trail twist and turns, you will discover vivid landscapes and remarkable scenery as I mentioned before., from the British Columbia coastlines to the rolling hills of Washington State.