About 18 months ago, I received an email from Herman Mihalich, the owner of Dad’s Hat Distillery. I met Herman a few years ago at a whiskey dinner in Washington D.C. I had been invited to the dinner by Bill... Continue Reading →
I recently received an email from Herman Mihalich of Dad’s Hat Rye. I have always liked Dad’s Hat Rye since John Lipman brought back a bottle from Pennsylvania soon after they started distilling. Their Bonded Rye is a very good... Continue Reading →
About seven years ago, John Pogue told me that the rye whiskey being made in Lawrenceburg, Indiana was the best thing and the worst thing that ever happened to the category. I understand what he meant in that it made... Continue Reading →
About six years ago, John Pogue told me that MGP selling barrels of rye to rectifiers was the best and worst thing that has happened to rye whiskey in decades – the best thing because there was an explosive growth... Continue Reading →
I was looking at a document from the first decade of the 20th century the other day that was a study of barrel aging and saw the reference to “Bourbon Style Corn Whiskey”. I thought to myself that Bourbon really... Continue Reading →
The first recorded history of whiskey in America was a rye whiskey. In the year 1640 William Kleft, The Director of the Dutch Colony of New Amsterdam, ordered distillation of a rye whiskey. Rye was the grain of choice in... Continue Reading →
James E. Pepper was a 19th century distiller that was a marketing pioneer. He used the slogan “Born with the Republic” and claimed that his grandfather Elijah Pepper started distilling in Versailles in 1776. The fact is his grandfather started... Continue Reading →
Last spring, Michael, Wayne Klawier, and I began meeting at Wayne’s house to study the pairing of bourbon and cigars. Throughout that time we have studied numerous cigars from numerous manufacturers, and we’ve even branched out to include brandies from... Continue Reading →
Highspire Rye Whiskey is the brainchild of Austin Hope of Kindred Distilled Spirits. He owns a winery in California and wanted to make a whiskey that would appeal to wine drinkers. He wanted a spirit that showcased the grain flavors... Continue Reading →
