Recently Rosemary, Maggie and I made a trip to New York City to do some research. I decided that I was going to have a Manhattan cocktail at every bar I went to and find the best Manhattan in Manhattan.... Continue Reading →
The first Brandy cocktail I ever had was a Wisconsin Old Fashioned, and I quickly learned NOT to try to order one in Minnesota - they don’t take kindly to regional generalizations. The Brandy Old Fashioned is pretty classic, but... Continue Reading →
Recently Copper & Kings Distillery managed to purchase Pear Brandy from some Oregon distilleries. It was all 10 years old and aged in a variety of cooperage. A portion of the cooperage was Oregon oak but others were French and... Continue Reading →
Brandy distillation was an important part of Kentucky’s distilling industry before prohibition. In the early days of settlement, apple, peach and pear brandies were the premium spirits in the local taverns. A drink of these brandies would cost you twice... Continue Reading →
I first met Elmer T. Lee when he visited me at the United Distillers Archives and I like to think we became friends. He had a real love of the history of the industry and shared many of his experiences... Continue Reading →
Several months ago Rosemary and I were asked by the Louisville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to join them for dinner and drinks with a well-known whiskey writer. I won’t mention his name since I have not asked his permission to... Continue Reading →
There’s no shortage of things to do in New York City - unless you are planning to smoke a cigar. Existing cigar lounges are grandfathered in to the smoking ban there - unlike in Louisville - so the few cigar... Continue Reading →
Uncle Nearest is named for Nearest Green, the African-American distiller who taught Jack Daniel the art of distilling Tennessee Whiskey. The brand was created by Fawn Weaver who did extensive research on Nearest Green. She decided to get some sourced... Continue Reading →
In the 19th century the Dedman family entered the Bourbon business in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. The C.M. Dedman Distillery, DSP 16, 8th District, was not a large distillery. The Mida’s Financial Index of 1909 gave the distillery an “F” ranking with... Continue Reading →
