Clay Risen’s blogsite is up at clayrisen.com. He’ll be chronicling our work together on the forthcoming American Whiskey, Bourbon, and Rye and other alcohol related matters. Check it out for the good stuff and bad. Scott & Nix
Nice Garden & Gun's piece by Wells Tower on Pappy Van Winkle
This Cease-and-Desist Letter Should Be the Model for Every Cease-and-Desist Letter
***Update*** Vince Gilligan, the writer and creator of Breaking Bad gives it up for Whistlepig on the BB Insider Podcast 502. He put it in because it’s his favorite rye. “I go through two or three a day.” Ha.
Back in May, we spent the evening with four fine rye whiskies (it so happens we often spend the evening with rye) including the truly delicious Whistlepig Straight (100 proof).
Last night on AMC’s Breaking Bad (aired July 22, 2012) at the ABQ DEA, they were pouring Whistlepig into coffee mugs. Henry “Hank” Schrader (Dean Norris), Steven Gomez (Steven Michael Quezada), and Assistant Special Agent in Charge George Merkert (Michael Shamus Wiles) commiserated over the deceptive meth kingpin Gustavo “Gus” Fring (played by the astounding Giancarlo Esposito). That is seriously good product placement. And for once, it’s for a seriously good product.
Bourbon Babe: Last day to enter! -
OK, bourbon lovers, today’s the day. You have until midnight to enter the Bourbon Babe Birthday Contest marking the first birthday of this blog.
There are two great prizes: an assortment of “Just Add Bourbon” merchandise from the nice people in Bourbon Country, home of the Urban…
Last week the Tuesday tasting took on an interesting mix: Basil Hayden’s 8 YO (80 proof), Jefferson’s Very Small Batch (83 proof), Four Roses Small Batch (90 proof), and Knob Creek Small Batch 9 YO (100 proof). The theme was “small batch” apparently, but I don’t think we planned it that way. The nose and flavors ran the gamut here from butter and lemons and bananas and candy corn to bbq and leather. Not in the same whiskey, of course, but each of these excellent drinks had something to offer. Not a dog in the race.
![Four high test whiskies made the scene at our Tuesday tasting: Fighting Cock [we’re not kidding] (103 proof), Baker’s 7 year old (107 proof), Noah’s Mill (114.3 proof), and Booker’s 7 years 4 months old (129.1 proof).
Some background: By law, American whiskey must have the “proof” printed on its label. It’s a statement of what percentage of the liquid contains alcohol. For example, an 80 proof whiskey is 40 percent alcohol by volume (often abbreviated as ABV). Simply put, the ABV is half the proof statement.
So, why use the term “proof” at all and not just state the ABV? Tradition, I suppose. If you know better, please tell us. In the USA, whiskey must be a minimum of 80 proof (40 percent ABV) and less than 160 proof (80 percent ABV). Some makers dilute their whiskey with water after aging, some sell their hooch as cask strength at the proof it comes out of the barrel.
Most brands print both the proof and the ABV, so you don’t need to figure out the math after a glass or two. Whiskey helps most things in life, but definitely not others. Arithmetic and surgery come to mind.
The whiskies at the tasting last night were definitely all on the upper high end for proof, and it so happens that a few were absolutely delicious. Concentrated fruit and wood mixed with honey, butter, and toffee. Very spicy, too. Cut with a little cool water, they shined even more. Value for money. More delicious complex booze needing less water for less cash. What’s not to like?](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6bzpeEPbQ1r5mdygo1_500.jpg)
Four high test whiskies made the scene at our Tuesday tasting: Fighting Cock [we’re not kidding] (103 proof), Baker’s 7 year old (107 proof), Noah’s Mill (114.3 proof), and Booker’s 7 years 4 months old (129.1 proof).
Some background: By law, American whiskey must have the “proof” printed on its label. It’s a statement of what percentage of the liquid contains alcohol. For example, an 80 proof whiskey is 40 percent alcohol by volume (often abbreviated as ABV). Simply put, the ABV is half the proof statement.
So, why use the term “proof” at all and not just state the ABV? Tradition, I suppose. If you know better, please tell us. In the USA, whiskey must be a minimum of 80 proof (40 percent ABV) and less than 160 proof (80 percent ABV). Some makers dilute their whiskey with water after aging, some sell their hooch as cask strength at the proof it comes out of the barrel.
Most brands print both the proof and the ABV, so you don’t need to figure out the math after a glass or two. Whiskey helps most things in life, but definitely not others. Arithmetic and surgery come to mind.
The whiskies at the tasting last night were definitely all on the upper high end for proof, and it so happens that a few were absolutely delicious. Concentrated fruit and wood mixed with honey, butter, and toffee. Very spicy, too. Cut with a little cool water, they shined even more. Value for money. More delicious complex booze needing less water for less cash. What’s not to like?
Profile of the Average American Bourbon Drinker
via Frank Pratt
I am a proud American bourbon drinker.
We really hit the good stuff this week at our Tuesday tasting: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon Limited Edition (12 YO), Black Maple Hill Red Label Special Edition, Elijah Craig Single Barrel (18 YO), and Hirsch Selection Small Batch Reserve. We also had our largest group of tasters to date—twelve brave souls did their civic whiskey duty (11 men and one intrepid lady).
When the whiskey is exceptional, it can be a struggle to tease out what makes it so appealing. (When the whiskey is bad, it’s just plain fun.) One knows what one likes, of course, but capturing that perfect aspect ain’t easy. Do I smell marzipan and salted peanuts? Is that Cocoa Puffs? Why is there some sort of bubble gum and banana flavor going on? Am I drunk? With half-ounce pours, you’re not drunk (yet), but it’s like that old saw that “writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” Writing about what one tastes and smells, aside from being extremely subjective, is just challenging in and of itself. Another saying comes to mind. Goethe said “Architecture is frozen music.” Perhaps great whiskey is just music in a bottle?
(Thanks to Roman Mars and the excellent 99percentinvisible Podcast for the inspiration.)
June 19, 1964: The Senate Passes Civil Rights Act
On this day in 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Johnson on July 2.
The landmark act barred discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in public facilities — such as restaurants, theaters, or hotels. Discrimination in hiring practices was also outlawed. For more information, visit Eyes on the Prize’s “Civil Rights Movement milestones.”
Photo: Republican Senators during a meeting on amendments to the Civil Rights Act (Library of Congress).
(via theatlantic)