Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2019 i American Whiskey Magazine

SPONSORED BY GLENCAIRN CRYSTAL Whisky Live New York May 22, 2019 The first Whisky Live ever held in the US, Whisky Live New York, moves to the Altman Building on 18th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. Established in 1896 as the carriage house for the B. Altman department store, The Altman Building is a stunning space with 13,500 square feet over two floors. Original mahogany bay doors connect directly to the street to welcome visitors into an expansive piece of New York history, with custom hardwood floors, exposed vaulted brick ceilings, and an expanse of windows that lend an endless cascade of natural light. Standard tickets prices are $159, with VIP tickets at $199, which include unique Masterclasses hosted by Whisky Magazine and American Whiskey Magazine’s editorial team and…

Long before Prohibition or Standards of Identity, people were making whatever kind of whiskey they could from whatever grains were in abundance after their harvest. Because corn grew so well in Kentucky the region became known for a particular style of whiskey called Bourbon, and because rye grew so well in the Northeast, that region became known for rye whiskeys. But that’s not to say there weren’t people making other styles of whiskey in those regions – including malt whiskeys. While malt whiskey is traditionally associated with Scotland, people have been malting grains and making whiskey in America as long as they have been distilling. Now many distilleries, primarily craft distilleries, are starting to make malted whiskeys again to appeal to American whiskey lovers looking to try something new. American…

For more than a quarter of a century, Delilah’s, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, has been a destination for whiskey lovers. But, it certainly doesn’t look like a destination. Housed in a building dating from 1894, nestled along several blocks of storefronts, the exterior doesn’t exactly seem run down so much as well worn, like a favorite armchair. The bar has been open every night since its founding in 1993, which is quite an achievement considering some of the brutal winter weather Chicago can have. And, once you enter its dimly lit space, there is no way to keep track of time, unless you glance at your own watch or phone. Proprietor, Mike Miller says that’s intentional. “We don’t want anyone to see the ‘man behind the curtain,’ - us.…

In all of Scotland, there are only a handful of distilleries that still do their own malting. Among them are masters of distinctive flavor: Highland Park, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Kilchoman, Springbank, Balvenie, and Benriach. In the USA, eight craft distillers have embraced this in-house tradition. Two of them are in New York’s Hudson Valley! Some whiskey makers say it’s more efficient and economical to outsource malting. Maybe so. But the whiskey makers who malt, despite all the extra effort and expense, do so because they feel it makes a difference. And I agree. Sure, distilleries can produce high quality whiskey while outsourcing all their ingredients. Most do. But the flavour they create must be attributed more to technique, style, and a good palate on the part of their master distillers, than…

“Having a home like this helps to bring you into the fold of other distilleries,” says Treaty Oak Distilling founder, Daniel Barnes. “It gives it that realness. That, and actually making good Bourbon.” Back in 2006, Barnes opened the first iteration of Treaty Oak in an industrial area of North Austin, Texas. His father-in-law built his first still, which was open-fired like a turkey fryer. “We only caught it on fire twice,” he laughs. Today there are Vendome copper pot stills, and a column still on the way, in addition to brewery equipment. While the primary focus of Treaty Oak today is Bourbon and rye, they also make several gins, beer, and more. Barnes had been drinking Bourbon since the 90s, and his favorite back then was Basil Hayden’s. He…

Copper Fox Distillery has launched new branding and packaging for the distillery’s existing products and new limited edition releases. Copper Fox Distillery produces single malt whisky, rye, and gin. “The new packaging and label design better organizes our current product portfolio, better communicates our rich brand story at the shelf, and helps cut down on confusion as it didn’t seem that people understood our Copper Fox Rye and Wasmund’s single malt were from the same distillery,” explained Rick Wasmund, founder and master distiller at Copper Fox Distillery. Current fans familiar with Copper Fox products will no longer see Wasmund’s on the Original single malt whisky label. Wasmund added, “This consolidation under the Copper Fox brand reflects our respect for the history and culture of whisky, our commitment to malting our…

To think that our ancestor’s name was barely known outside of Lynchburg, Tennessee when Uncle Nearest 1856 was launched, to now his legacy being known around the world, it’s amazing.– Melissa Green, (descendant) Nashville, TN So begins an outpouring of family pride, make that astonishment, in the wake of Uncle Nearest 1856 premium whiskey’s meteoric rise, both in popularity and demand, a remarkable drink created to honor the life and times of Nearest Green, the African-American slave credited for teaching Jack Daniel how to make whiskey. (Jack Daniel never owned slaves.) The 1800s marked one of the most oppressive and racially divided eras of America’s history, despite which a serendipitous turn of events led to the creation of one of America’s most enduring brands; Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey. Jack (Jasper…

It’s a place to sit in a comfortable chair, maybe have a drink, and speak to your friends or make some new ones. Wherever you travel you can find a cigar lounge that feels like your home away from home, because the etiquette is always the same. “Smoking a cigar in a lounge is supposed to be a relaxing experience, as well as an environment for comradery,” says Jonathan Ross Lipson, director of sales and marketing for Alec Bradley. “If it’s obvious that a fellow aficionado wants their space - don’t engage. If a fellow aficionado wants to join the conversation, be welcoming. As Lew Rothman, the ex-owner of JR Cigars, once said: ‘You meet the nicest people in a cigar shop.’ Have fun and don’t take life so seriously,…

In Kentucky, horse racing culture and Bourbon culture are almost indistinguishable. The two industries grew up together, side by side, different aspects of the same agricultural traditions from the frontier days of the Commonwealth. Over the decades both traditions have turned into the signature industries of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, all the while maintaining strong ties between the two. Today both industries are more popular than ever and The Kentucky Derby, presented by Woodford Reserve, showcases this relationship internationally as the oldest continually running sporting event in the United States. “Kentucky has long been known for two things, Bourbon and horses,” says Woodford Reserve assistant master distiller Elizabeth McCall. “The limestone filtered water is the link between the two. This water is nutrient rich, full of calcium, magnesium, potassium which…

Stop being skeptical. That’s the look I sometimes receive from guests during a food pairing when I tell them we are pairing Asian food with our Bourbon selection. They will immediately say Asian flavors are too strong, or too much heat. Too strong? Have you not met Bourbon? It’s quite the opposite when you do it correctly and the fascination of those delectable flavors is nothing in comparison to the wild fascination we now have with Asian cuisine. It’s an invasion of Asian flavors and your palate will say, “thank you, I feel exotic.” It’s why Americans have fallen in love with global and cultural cuisine. There is such a range of Asian flavors and a comprehensive variety of ingredients, so to simplify with pairings, focus on the classic sauces…

Chris Zaborowski spent years teaching wine appreciation classes at the local university, but when it was time to open his own shop he knew that he wanted to place an emphasis on whiskey. He was, after all, right in the heart of Bourbon country, and Bourbon’s popularity was just starting to rise after a decades-long slump. When he opened Westport Whiskey and Wine, the idea was to shine a spotlight on Kentucky’s native spirit by emphasizing consumer education and events, making this little shop a destination for Bourbon lovers from far and wide. These days his entire family is involved in everything from the day-to-day operations of the store to picking the single barrels they will sell with the store’s name emblazoned on the side. As you can well imagine,…

After years of touring people through distilleries to explore the Bourbon process, I seem to notice that one of the all-time favorite stops on the tour is the fermentation area. Why? Fermentation is so visual, watching the bubbly yellow grains interacting with the yeast and watching the tourist dipping their finger in the mash to taste. It’s quite entertaining because aside from the spirits safe, you can’t always see what is happening in the still or watch the inside of a barrel as it matures. Fermentation is open and sensory, but when it comes to saluting the final Bourbon product on the shelf, many times the barrel receives the applause. However, fermentation is the foundation that carries the flavors of the Bourbon throughout the entire production process. If there are…