By Richard Thomas Earlier this year, bourbon fans on both sides of the United States were rocked by news of alleged corruption, in what was the biggest news of its kind since Pappygate. In February, it was revealed that managers of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) had been under investigation for several years …
The Collaboration of Blade & Bow and Garden & Gun Has Given Bourbon Fans Ways to Raise Their Bluegrass Experience A Notch By Richard Thomas When Blade & Bow Bourbon first started their collaboration with Garden & Gun magazine, that authoritative guide to all things tasteful, upscale and Southern, it was in a standard exercise …
Whiskey Fungus Has Been Around For As Long As Spirits Have Been Aged, And It’s Only Going To Get Worse By Richard Thomas Earlier this year, whiskey fungus got back into national headlines, this time in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Even though the 35,000 residents of the rural Lincoln County love Jack Daniel’s Distillery, in the way …
By Kurt Maitland Earlier this summer, I got to meet Malcolm Waring, the distillery manager of Old Pulteney. He graciously gave up some time to discuss some of the changes going on at Wick as well as discuss the first release in Old Pulteney’s upcoming Coastal Series. KM: Malcolm, it was a pleasure to meet …
Use These Other Barrel-Aged Spirits To Take Your Summer Cocktails In A New Direction By Richard Thomas Summertime calls for cold drinks, and in my book that means its time to make more cocktails. When the circumstances call for something more involved (and perhaps a conversation piece as well) than a Mint Julep, Kentucky Mule …
By Richard Thomas Some ideas die slow, hard deaths, and as recently as last year I found myself reading yet another magazine article warning consumers that their bottle of supposedly craft whiskey really came from the big distillery in Indiana, MGP. Moreover, I continue to hear this notion virtually every time I engage with enthusiasts, …
As more people are discovering the world of spirits, to the point that liquor now outperforms beer, some drinkers are looking for brands to be more forthcoming on their production methods and what exactly it is they are drinking. Enter Four Roses, a brand that most bourbon drinkers are already likely familiar with. Four Roses …
By Richard Thomas The most recent batch, B523/May 2023, of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof brought with it two interconnected changes. Whereas prior labels (see left) have proof, ABV and batch number printed on them, the current version has proof, age statement and batch number instead. That first alteration underscores the second change: the age statement, …
By Kurt Maitland I was able to speak to Frey Ranch Whiskey Farm and Distillery co-founders Colby and Ashley Frey about the amazing farm to glass whiskey they are making at Frey Ranch in Nevada. KM: Please tell us the story of Frey Ranch before their entry into distilling. The Freys: In 1944, Colby’s grandfather …
By Richard Thomas A recent scroll through my Instagram yielded a picture of a bottle of Old Barterhouse bourbon, which had been trotted out by the poster to share at a gathering of fellow enthusiasts. He declared it one of his favorite pours, whenever he can snag a bottle that is. I have a long …
