Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2022 i American Whiskey Magazine

This world is quite something. We all have a mask to put on each day as we go to work, or school, or to coffee with friends, because as an adult in the modern world, it’s not always possible to say exactly what is on your mind. I wish it was right now, but that would be neither responsible nor fair to do within these pages. I also can’t put profanity in print, so that removes about 50 per cent of my utterly dumbfounded thoughts at present anyway. However, as all creatives will know, writing around the gigantic elephant in the room (or your brain) is never simple. So, for now I hope you will join me in seeking comfort in the good on display in the world of whiskey…

America’s largest independent, family-owned distilled spirits supplier, Heaven Hill Brands, has announced the succession of its third generation of family leadership. The company has appointed Kate Latts and Allan Latts as co-presidents, effective September 1. The current president, Max L. Shapira, will be assuming the new role of executive chairman. In the years since Kate and Allan joined the company in 2001, they have proved themselves to be transformational leaders in driving Heaven Hill’s accelerated growth. In their new roles as co-presidents, the duo will continue to pursue Heaven Hill’s strategic growth plans and corporate vision. “Over the past 20 years, I have been proud to watch Kate and Allan grow and develop into roles of leadership and increased responsibility,” said Max L. Shapira. “They have added immeasurably to the…

After hitting it out of the park in his first issue, Will Eaves, also known as The Cheese Guy, is back and ready to get our taste buds tingling with his latest selection of pairings. It is the hope that through the cheese and whiskey duos in these pages you will begin to recognise the way in which the two can work together, and of course, to showcase and enjoy this new skill in your own home. This issue’s offerings stretch across the full spectrum of flavor, when it comes to both the cheese and the whiskey. From Kentucky, to Colorado, there’s certainly a whiskey and cheese partnership for everyone to enjoy. Cheese Name: Wensleydale with Cranberries Origin: Yorkshire, UK Milk Type: Cow Age: Minimum three weeks Characteristics: Creamy-sweet followed…

Tradition is important but it isn’t everything. I began thinking about this during the Kentucky Derby festivities in Louisville this year. One Derby Day tradition that needs to be replaced is when everyone sings ‘My Old Kentucky Home’. I grew up singing ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ at school every morning and I admit I get a little teary-eyed when it comes on for the entire world on Derby Day. But we also know that it is problematic in that it celebrates slavery, and at this point there’s no real reason to keep it around. We can make a new tradition. When it comes to whiskey, the same examination is needed. The tradition of using quality ingredients and making the best product possible is one we can all agree on. Using…

There is something about Rabbit Hole Distillery and its story that makes me think everything is going to be alright. It’s a triumph of hope and passion over reason – and speaking of triumphs, the whiskey is utterly delicious. Rabbit Hole by name and rabbit hole by nature, this Louisville, Kentucky distillery truly offers you the opportunity to lose yourself in a full sensory experience – and that’s before you even sample the liquid. Kaveh Zamanian, founder, whiskey maker and CEO of Rabbit Hole Distillery, explains, “I think the idea was, how do you bring together the manufacturing of whiskey and hospitality under one roof and create what I consider to be a full sensory experience… all of the senses are essentially heightened; you’re able to see, smell, [hear] the…

When it comes to great Kentucky Bourbon regions, most people know about Louisville, Bardstown, and Frankfort, but did you know that the Northern Kentucky region right across the river from Cincinnati has a rich Bourbon history all its own? Visitors can enjoy five distilleries in the region as well as numerous whiskey bars, including Smoke Justis. “People forget that Northern Kentucky is not Cincinnati, or that it’s still just as relevant in Bourbon culture as Louisville,” says Smoke Justis bar manager and lead Bourbon steward, Jade Colwell. “People are coming to Cincinnati and they realize that they can have this entire Bourbon experience right across river. The people who live in this community are just ready to go crazy with everything, and the B-Line here and all of the new…

Sherrie Moore has had quite the interesting whiskey journey. Most recently you may know her as director of whiskey production for Uncle Nearest, yet Sherrie’s journey is one that shares a lineage with one of Tennessee whiskey’s most notable families and a career that kicks off in one of the most famous American distilleries. I asked Sherrie to help me delve further into my cocktail personality series, trying to decipher how a cocktail can embody the essence of a person. When I first sat down with Sherrie, we began by discussing her first job at Jack Daniel’s Distillery in 1975. She worked in the visitor center at the distillery while she was in college working on her chemistry degree. I should note that Miss Mary Bobo was Sherrie’s great-grandmother and…

In October of 2021, I came across several posts on social media from distilleries announcing a program created by the American Craft Spirit Association, Spirits Training Entrepreneurship Program for Underrepresented Professionals (STEPUP Foundation), seeking mentors for an internship program. Upon reading more into what this new program would entail and its mission, I knew I had to throw my hat into the ring. A few weeks later, I received an invitation to a Zoom call with Margie Lehrman, president of STEPUP, and Sharlie Ward, executive assistant for the program. I was chosen to be one of the first mentors for this program and told I would be assigned to one of the interns and that I was to create a regular schedule of checking in with that person during their…

As the best-selling author of the 2018 release Texas Cocktails Book, an elegant collection of more than 100 recipes that were inspired by the Lone Star State, and the recent Texas Whiskey Book, which is the first and only book to tell the story of Texas whiskey and its history, Nico Martini is an authority on all things Texan spirits and can be found over at texaswhiskeyguide.com. Not only does his writing grace the hardback pages, but he also writes for our very own American Whiskey Magazine. Here, he shares the stories of distilleries, whiskey makers, and the history that has led us to this point in the Texan whiskey scene. But he hasn’t stopped there – he is now also a proud co-founder of Grayson Blended Bourbon. Let’s find…

Sometime last year I wrote about the whiskey groups of Facebook, why I joined them, and the responses to various posts. Since 2022 is the season for sequels, it was time to follow up on the world of whiskey social media. Full disclosure, I’ve been on Twitter since 2008 and have just over 2,000 followers. I am by no means an influencer, never claimed to be, never aspired to be one. For those that fear social media and think it’s a wasteland of basement dwellers, conspiracy nuts, and identity-stealing robots, I have this to say: you’re half right. The other half of the social media equation is simple – you get what you put into it. Starting with Twitter, this tweet stood out and gave me a bit of pause:…

Whiskey distillers are some of the most determined and prideful artists you’ll ever meet. They’ve spent years honing their craft, and even when adjusting the flavor profiles of their spirits, they still have an absolute idea of what their whiskey should taste like. They know what they’re going for and they know which processes will achieve the whiskey they have in mind. When working on a cocktail book, one distiller told me that his favorite whiskey cocktail was “my Bourbon with two drops of water.” I understand – don’t F with your Bourbon. The mere idea of being beholden to forces entirely outside of your control determining your style and type of whiskey is enough to give any sane distiller a fever dream. Thankfully, Daniel Whittington simply doesn’t care. Crowded…

Welcome to the American Whiskey Magazine tasting pages. We guide you through a plethora of whiskeys so you are equipped to make your next purchase, whether something new or an old favorite. Whiskeys are tasted blind, with only proof and style information given to the experts. In this edition, Peggy Noe Stevens and Susan Reigler give their palates a workout. Peggy Noe Stevens Peggy Noe Stevens became the world’s first female master Bourbon taster and can trace her lineage back to some of the great Bourbon making families in Kentucky. In 2011, she created the Bourbon Women Association. Susan Reigler Susan Reigler is the author of several Bourbon books, including Kentucky Bourbon Country: The Essential Travel Guide, and is a former restaurant critic and beverage columnist for the Louisville Courier-Journal.…