Irish Distillers, producer of Jameson, Powers and Redbreast, today announces the appointment of Billy Leighton to Master Blender Emeritus as Dave McCabe steps into his predecessor’s role as the new Master Blender at Irish Distillers. Billy will remain at the business supporting Irish Distillers’ brands as Master Blender Emeritus following an incredible 47-year career at …
By Richard Thomas For many whiskey enthusiasts, the beauty of a gleaming copper still takes on a certain romantic allure. That is true whether the enthusiast loves bourbon or Scotch and whether the still is a column or a pot, just so long as it polished. I took to calling photos of these lovely pieces …
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 …
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 …
People tend to drink alcohol to have fun and feel better. That’s why many people drink in social situations to enhance their experience. It’s even a behavioral expectation within a community, such as a sign of respect toward a superior at work. It can also serve as a coping mechanism. It’s one of the …
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 …
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 …
By Richard Thomas One of the idealized features of an artisanal movement–whether it be craft beer, craft whiskey or craft gin–is the spirit of independence. That ideal has existed more often in the imaginations of the imbibers than at the company making the booze, but it’s easy to understand how it got there: the little …
Bourbon Women is pleased to announce the 2023 SIP Scholarship Program funded by the Bourbon Women Foundation. Bourbon Women is a community that believes in paying it forward, helping develop new talent and professional connections in any industry, especially the spirits industry. Each year hundreds of Bourbon Women gather at the SIPosium National Conference for …
