February 2012
2 posts
The Whiskey Rebellion
Farmers during the colonization of the US were very big in to fermenting and distilling their crops. It made sense, when farmers distilled their produce into whiskey they didn’t have crop spoilage, the load to take to market was much smaller and to top it all they gained a much higher profit. Farmers were able to receive 10 times more by selling whiskey compared to selling their unprocessed...
The Future of Aging Spirits?
An alcohol cleaning process called TerrePURE is growing in popularity recently. TerrePURE is a technical cleaning process that takes out unwanted minor alcohols in spirits such as isoproponol. For example in whiskey distillation, distillers use pot stills which leave a lot of good tasting flavor in the final whiskey product but it is necessary for the spirit to sit in barrels for a few years to...
January 2012
4 posts
Apple Pie Moonshine
This weekend I was able to get up into the mountains and distill myself a batch of corn whiskey. For this recipe I decided to cheat a little and add a little bit of sugar to my mash and go all out and make moonshine rather than try to age my whiskey into a bourbon. After watching the show “Moonshiners” I was inspired to try out a recipe for apple pie moonshine. The recipe was okay after I made...
Why does bourbon taste like vanilla?
If you have drank enough whiskey to notice the all the unique flavors, you might wonder why does most aged bourbon taste so much like vanilla?
It all starts with White American Oak barrels and the char that each distillery uses to make their distinct bourbon taste. For bourbon to be legally called bourbon, it needs to be aged in new charred oak barrels for at least 3 years. The wood, American...
Scientists re-create 100 year old whisky →
How moonshine formed modern day NASCAR
Back during prohibition moonshiners were making a hefty profit selling their illegal alcohol to thirsty speakeasy patrons. The demand for moonshine increased drastically during prohibition and tripled in price. Before prohibition the standard price of moonshine was $1.50/gallon but after prohibition the illegal moonshiners were able to fetch $4.50/gallon. Suddenly moonshining turned into a...
July 2010
3 posts
What is Bathtub Gin?
A wonder for some and an upturned nose for others. Bathtub Gin appears to be a mythological legend but the idea of gin made in a bathtub doesn’t seem too far fetched for the swinging times during prohibition. There are definitely disgusting things that can be done in your bathtub but making gin is not one of them.
People believe that the legend started because of the viability of being...
The Skinny Girl Margarita →
How do they make whiskey barrels?
The interaction between whiskey barrels and unaged whiskey is one of the most important parts in the whiskey making process. It turns the whiskey from a clear liquid to an brownish amber color, it smooths out the strong rough taste of the spirit and gives it the majority of the flavor to the whiskey such as notes of caramel and vanilla.
Whiskey barrels started out as toasted wooden barrels...
June 2010
8 posts
Logical Ag Business Drove Whiskey's History
As our European ancestors started immigrating to America, they moved on from the eastern coast into the Appalachian Mountains into states such as: The Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and The Virginas. As the settlers moved out into the backwoods of America, it was first necessary to clear enough land for their new home and a spot for a cash crop, usually corn, which was easy to produce...
Blackjack Whisky
Here is a new whisky from Mystic Mountain Distillery called Blackjack Whisky. I got a chance to snag a sample and decided to write a review on it. It is a unique tasting whisky that is produced right here in Colorado.
Nose: Fruit, Flowers, very light smelling
Palate: Granny Smith Apples, some Vanilla
Finish: Most flavor is in the finish, blueberries, vanilla, mint, bit of a bite
Comments:...
What is Pruno?
Pruno is a type of wine secretively made in prison by the inmates. The recipe can be made from almost anything that has sugar in it such as: fruit juice, apples, oranges, sugar, and in some instances ketchup. The alcohol can be made using any type of fermentation vessel such as a plastic bag, ziploc bag, milk carton or even the toilet bowl! The flavor of these drinks as you can imagine...
3 Days in Bourbon Country →
My local brewery from Fort Collins, Odell’s Brewing Co., took a 3 day trip to Kentucky to learn more about the barrels they use in their bourbon barrel aged stout . Check out their great beers at your local liquor store.
A Writer's Guide to Moonshine →
A great article by the author of the book Moonshine!
WatchTactical Nuclear Penguin: One of the Worlds Strongest Beer at 32% ABV
"Farmer Spoken Here"
I recently recieved an article from the Bardstown Whiskey Society and thought I might put it up for everyone to read. It was written by the Master Distiller Parker Beam himself.
“There’s a machine shop in town where the guys can fix just about any kind of farm machinery you can break. It’s also a good place to spend a little time becuase you’re always running into...
May 2010
4 posts
Barley
Barley has many uses in our society being used in whiskey, beer, bread, soup and even cattle feed. Barley was the first domesticated grain in the Near East where remains were found dating back to 1500 BC along with millet and wheat. Barley became so important in these cultures that they used it as a currency in exchange for goods and services. It wasn’t long after that the Egyptians discovered...
White Dog Rising: Moonshine's Moment →
Mike Rosen interviews Max Watman: author of the...
What is the Angel's Share
If you are lucky enough to have traveled through the hills of Kentucky near their amazing distilleries, you might have noticed a wonderful smell of grain and oak. Or if you have had a chance to dive into a winery’s aging cellar in California, you would have smelled a wonderful toasty and fruity aroma. At that time you may have asked yourself why does it smell so great and where do these...
April 2010
13 posts
Stop ordering drinks like an undergrad! →
The Seelbach Cocktail
The Kentucky Derby is right around the corner, so what drink are you making to celebrate? A Mint Julep is a great start but if you would like to mix it up try a Seelbach Cocktail, inspired by the Old Seelbach bar in Louisville, KY. So bet big on your favorite horse and grab your hat, big money is a coming! Come on Devil May Care!
1 oz. Bourbon
3/4 oz. Triple Sec
5 dashes angstura bitters
4...
Why are stills made out of Copper?
Even to this day the majority of distilleries that are making whiskey prefer copper pot stills to any other metal. Why are distilleries using copper even though its a such an expensive metal. Part of the reason is to keep the tradition alive but copper as a metal has many positive characteristics that make it the preferred metal when making stills.
Stills can be made from aluminum, iron,...
A Review: Old Weller Antique 107
The more I try from the Buffalo Trace Distillery, the more I am in love with everything they have to offer. I was pleasantly surprised by this whiskey and intend on it being one of my regulars.
Nose: Vanilla, Flowers, Honey
Palate: Wheat, Subtle Spice, Grassy, Sweet
Finish: Not much heat, not much happening, finishes clean
Comments: Great tasting wheated bourbon, I am very impressed from how...
Straight from the Still (Buffalo Trace White Dog) →
What is Bourbon?
A simple question for some, a difficult question for others. What is Bourbon? What distinguishes bourbon from whiskey, whisky, scotch………etc.
The history of Bourbon is not well documented in the US and is really unknown who made the first bourbon. It is mainly unknown because bourbon has to have many characteristics to legally be considered bourbon. For bourbon to be bourbon...
Sour Mash Whiskey: A Common Misconception
A common misconception is the idea of a sour mash whiskey. The first thing that comes to a common persons mind is that the final whiskey product will taste sour. However, this is not true.
It is unclear who was the first to introduce the sour mashing technique but it is believed to have been started by either James Crow or Jason Amburgey. “Sour mashing” is the name for a process in...
A Review: (ri)1
Recently I was given a bottle of (ri)1 whiskey to try. Definetally not a bad rye whiskey but a pretty hefty price tag at $50 a bottle. It is made by Beam Global and seems to be tailored to a younger generation with a more modern look.
Nose: Soft for a rye, Honey, Flowers
Palate: Grainy, Smooth, Citrus Fruit, Pepper
Finish: Smooth, A Little Spice, Very refined
Notes: A pretty subtle tasting...
How to Get a Drink at a Busy Bar →
Luting the joints on your still
A common questions I get is “how do I make the joints on my still air tight?” My answer for you is to use a flour and water paste called lute, to effectively seal your joints so that alcohol vapor doesn’t escape. The way that it works is you slather your dough onto any part of your still that is not air tight. After about 30 minutes you will notice that your lute is now...
Using the Infamous Crock Pot Still
Supplies:
Crock Pot with plastic lid (you could use a glass lid if it works for your tubing, the larger the crock pot the better. The one in this picture is very small.)
6 ft copper tubing (1/4” I.D.)
Plastic Gallon Milk Jug
Hot Glue Gun
Drill (5/16” bit)
1. Drill a 5/16” hole in the center of the plastic lid, then bend the first 5” of one end into a 90 degree...
Mystic Mountain Distillery
Mystic Mountain Distillery is not very well known in the spirits industry outside of Colorado but this artisanal distillery has amazing quality and value for the spirits connoisseur in all of us. Based out of Larkspur, Colorado it is run by a gentleman by the name of Fred Lineman. Fred is a retired defense contractor for the military and has done a lot of military work in the Middle East. Fred...
March 2010
7 posts
A Boxed Wine Blog →
Here is a cool website to look at. They rate different boxed wines and tell all the info about them. Very fun to look at.
These are a few of their favorite brands:
Killer Juice
Angel Juice
Delicato
Wine Block
A Review: The Hangover Cure
Recently I was shipped a vial of the Hangover Cure (THC) and recently got to try the product. It took me a while to come up with a great time to try it, but this weekend I invited some friends down and we decided to drink until we couldn’t feel feelings. I took the vial as directed, with one glass of water before I went to bed. Now normally I suffer from brutal hangovers, and if I am...
What kind of whiskey glasses do they use on Mad...
If you are looking for the glasses that the infamous Don Draper uses in the show to knock back a delicious bourbon then you came to the right place.
The type of glasses that he uses are actually made by a glass artist from Los Angeles by the name of Dorothy Thorpe who has since died in 1989. Her glasses and art where very popular around the time when the show Mad Men takes place. The type of...
$5 Dollar Coupon for Evan Williams Single Barrel →
Booze by the Calories
Here are some calorie numbers for those of you on diets. Whiskey comes in at third closely behind vodka and rum. These calories are based on the standard serving for that drink. Hard alcohol = 1.5 oz.; Wine = 5 oz.
Vodka: 97 calories (80 proof) Rum: 97 calories (80 proof) Whiskey: 105 calories(86 proof) Gin: 110 calories (90 proof) White Wine = 121 calories Red Wine = 125 calories
...
Kentucky Bourbon Among Best New Whiskies →
Porter Stew
Here is an interesting recipe that I would like to recommend. This recipe comes from the Boulder Beer company and is served at their brewery where you can sit and relax in their pub that sits under the famous Flatirons in Boulder, CO.
Ingredients:
· 2 tbsp. Vegetable oil
· 1 Large Red onion, chopped
· 6 cloves of garlic
· pinch of salt and pepper
· 2 tbsp....
February 2010
8 posts
What does "Bottled in Bond" mean?
If you have paid attention to some bottles you might see that is it says “bonded in bond” or “bonded whiskey”. The term bottled in bond refers to only American made whiskey that has been made according to provisions made by the government in 1897.
The Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 states that whiskey must be straight whiskey, made in one distilling season and made by one...
Are you a good Bartender?
Bartender: The Right Mix Click here to play this game
Whiskey Review: Bernheim Kentucky Straight Wheat...
Bernheim is considered the only wheat whiskey available and is relatively a newer whiskey coming out in 2005. So I thought I would give it a try. A very good whiskey in my opinion. It has a very unique taste to it that everyone can appreciate. I would not recommend mixing it with anything, not even water. It is great by itself and is one of the most drinkable whiskeys around.
Nose:...
Mixin' it up - Bourbon and Ginger →
Whiskey Review: Ten High
Lately, I have been on a cheap bourbon binge and Ten High seem to tickle my fancy at $10 for a liter. However, I may have found the bottom for the worst bottle of whiskey I have ever bought.
Nose: Hairspray, Sherry
Palate: Wheaty, Hairspray, Somewhat sweet, Wine (a weird sour wine taste)
Finish: Still tastes like hairspray, Tartness
Notes: Tasted like hairspray throughout the entire...
A Gentleman's Guide to Whiskey →
Whiskey Weenies
Since everyone is getting ready for the super bowl I figured I might as well give out my top secret lil’ smokies recipe. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
2 packages beef lil smokies
3/4 cup bourbon
1.5 cup brown sugar
1.5 cup ketchup
Mix ingredients together in a large crock pot. Heat for 2 hours, stir occasionally. So easy a guy could do it!
January 2010
5 posts
Whiskey Apples
· 3 cups granny smith apples peeled and sliced into wedges
· ¾ cups of sugar
· 1 tsp. cinnamon
· 3 tablespoon of butter
· 1/4 cup whiskey
In medium sized pot, melt the butter. After butter is melted mix in sugar and cinnamon. Stir for one minute and then add the apples. Stir occasionally while cooking on medium heat with a lid on the pot. When the mixture comes to a boil, simmer...