Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2021 i American Whiskey Magazine

Bourbon distillers are constantly saying goodbye, not just to bottles but also their barrels which can only be used once to age Bourbon. Shipped around the world, these white American oak barrels, charred on the inside, embark on a second career ageing other styles of whiskey, whether in Scotland, England or Wales, across Europe and Scandinavia, or in Australia and Japan. In the Caribbean and South America Bourbon barrels nurture rum, while in Mexico they accommodate tequila. Such global appeal reflects the benefits a Bourbon barrel provides. Having already been ‘seasoned’ by ageing Bourbon, the influence on a subsequent occupant is mellower, while still dispensing plenty of flavor. Generous quantities of vanilla (the world’s most popular flavor) appear in various guises, whether vanilla custard, crème anglaise, crème caramel, crème brûlée, Highland toffee,…

Bently Heritage Estate Distillery is easily the most ambitious start-up distillery in the United States, in my opinion, but if you were driving down Main Street in Minden, Nevada, you might blink and miss it. The Mill Building, with a few modern touches to the understated renovation, could pass by like other grain elevators dotting the American West. If the traffic light at Buckeye Road were green, you would have to pay attention to catch a glimpse of the Creamery Building, a block away. With its original signage reading “Minden Butter Mfg Co. Inc,” it looks like little more than a nicely maintained, nondescript brick building from the pioneer era. The facade gives little indication of the impressive distillery inside. Bently Heritage is a sustainable farm, LEED-certified historic renovation, composting…

Many years ago, I attended a soy sauce tasting conducted by Chef Castro at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. This Bourbon Woman was utterly fascinated after attending about a million Bourbon tastings; captivated by something unique and exploratory for my passionate foodie side. What struck me were the different flavor components and vast styles of soy sauces that I took for granted. Sound familiar? Flavor and styles of whisky perhaps? So, when I first met Matt Jamie back in the mid 2000s, connected by a mutual foodie acquaintance, I listened to his vision of creating micro soy sauces aged in Bourbon barrels. I celebrate umami like any foodie and Bourbon lover does, so of course I connected on that front. However, to create a total company and brand identity…

As we continue to focus on the future, Whisky Live organisers are considering alternative methods of delivering engaging whiskey-tasting experiences in new, safe and socially distanced ways. Should an ‘in person’ event not be possible in 2021, new remote options are being developed. Whisky Live London is leading the charge and has been reborn as Whisky Live at Home, taking place in November 2020. Ticketholders and exhibitors have transferred from the postponed March 2020 event to this new ‘at home’ experience, which promises to deliver all of the tasting, entertainment and education of the London event in the comfort of whiskey lovers’ homes. Impressive tasting packs boasting a minimum of 29 samples (30ml) for ‘full day’ ticketholders are just the beginning, as Masterclass and VIP ticketholders receive additional samples and…

If you’ve ever visited a distillery while on vacation and tried to buy a souvenir bottle to have shipped back home, chances are you have encountered the ban on direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping that still exists in most states. But why, if you can order wine online, would you be prohibited from buying spirits online or even shipping a bottle home to yourself from a distillery? Whenever there’s something you don’t understand about whiskey laws, chances are it’s a holdover from Prohibition. National Prohibition lasted from 1920 to 1933 and decimated the distilled spirits and beverage alcohol businesses in the United States. In order to get support for the 21st Amendment, which would repeal the 18th Amendment, states had to be assured they could set their own laws regarding the production, sale and…

I enjoy a traditional Bourbon. I’m not exactly a purist who insists that you only add water to your amber elixir. Many a cocktail with Bourbon does my heart the world of good. Profiling whiskey flavors by identifying the best aromas and taste is my jam, all the way to describing the finish. How that Bourbon collectively sits on the tongue with its gorgeous mouthfeel and oh so lovely heat, usually needs no explanation. So, when an extra layer of flavor is added that twists and turns my palate, I pay attention. I call this the “final finish”, as barrel finishes are taking place all over the Bourbon industry and I have a front row seat. For consumers this means a soft adventure down whiskey lane for innovative, creative and…

Even though Jane Bowie, director of innovation at Maker’s Mark, was born in and grew up in Kentucky, that did not mean that a career for her in Bourbon was pre-determined. “I grew up in Monticello, Kentucky in dry county,” recalls Bowie. “It was a town of 5,000 and all the people you knew with successful jobs were lawyers, doctors, bankers or teachers.” Indeed, Bowie’s parents were in that group. Her mother a teacher and her father a banker. “And drinking was very taboo. I never saw my parents drink a drop of alcohol. There was church three times a week.” When Bowie left her eastern Kentucky home for college, she went to Transylvania University in Lexington and even though she’s of average height, she had a basketball scholarship. “If…

There aren’t many things in life that are certain, but one of them is that wiThevery passing day, every minute in fact, we are getting older. Oh yes, as someone who recently found their first grey – thanks for that Covid – I have been reminded that there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. However, unexpected greys aside, I have to say that ageing is one of my favourite things about life. With age comes experience, perspective, understanding and most importantly some damn fine whiskey. This year Kentucky’s own Heaven Hill has reached the milestone of its 85th birthday, an accolade that is not sending the brand towards a warm fire and an early night. No, instead the family-owned distiller is taking a moment to reflect, grow and…

Cigar smokers enjoy simple pleasures. Unwinding at the end of a long day or week with a cigar while enjoying some music or a whiskey, or both, is a great way to relax. But when it comes time to buy a gift for a cigar smoker the task at hand can be daunting. After all, so much about cigar smoking is personal preference. So, what do you gift the cigar smoker who has everything? Cigars are an obvious choice but be careful here – cigar smokers have specific preferences, so don’t opt for the first shiny gift pack you see. Take note of the brands your gift recipient usually smokes and talk with the tobacconist at your local store for recommendations based on that. Ensure you have a spending limit…

In this day and age the importance of implementing sustainable practices, be that as a person, small brand or large-scale conglomerate, is increasingly important. Despite certain individuals’ attempts to deny it, the changes to the planet we are charged with looking after for the relatively short time we are on it are now impossible to ignore. Those working in our beloved industry, and many fans of it, are well aware of the fact that resources used in the whisky-making process are often non-renewable or limited. In each issue of American Whiskey Magazine we will be taking an in-depth look at the work of brands to lessen their environmental impact, while cementing their legacy. First up we have Bulleit Distilling Co., the brand taking great strides through its distillery, distilling processes…

There are some people you will meet in life that immediately put you at ease and Pedro Shanahan is one of them. After meeting officially in February this year at the US Whisky Magazine Awards to celebrate the Seven Grand bar group’s Icons of Whisky award and talk all things whiskey, I knew that Pedro was someone who would always have some calming wisdom to impart. This fact about him that is exceptionally useful in his role as a spirit guide at Seven Grand bar group and host of The Spirit Guide Society, while also acting and holding yoga classes. Life is obviously a little different for Pedro right now, along with many in the hospitality side of our industry, however, when catching up with him it was great to…