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Whiskey: A Global History
by Kevin R. Kosar
London: Reaktion Books, 2010
144 pages; 50 illustrations
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SOME FUN WHISKEY BITS
Whiskey Distilling in New York City
Many of the earliest distilleries in the United States were in New Amsterdam (New York City). Some turned out gin, others turned out an early form of whiskey from a variety of grains---corn, rye, wheat, oats.
The distilleries of New York City vanished long ago. In the late 1990s, I often visited the moth-balled Fernet Branca liqueur distillery. It was like stepping back in history---the factory just shut down some time in the 1970s (if I recall correctly). Tools remained scattered about, workmen's coveralls hung in the lockers. It was surreal.
Anyhoo, it seems a small whiskey distillery is opening in Brooklyn, the Kings County Distillery. Reportedly, it will be making corn whiskey and Bourbon.Labels: Bourbon, Corn Whiskey, Kings County Distillery
 Bob Edwards Interviews Susan Reigler on the Subject of Bourbon
In this interview, Susan Reigler offers listeners a good overview on the basics of Bourbon. Reigler lives in Kentucky and written books about the state and its food and drink.
Reigler served Edwards some Old Forester, one of my favorites, along with Four Roses, Maker's Mark, and Pappy Van Winkle.Labels: Bourbon, Four Roses, Kentucky, Maker's Mark, Old Forester, Pappy Van Winkle
Interview with Bill Samuels, Jr., Maker's Mark Distillery
Bill Samuel's, Jr., head of the Maker's Mark Distillery of Loretto, Kentucky, was in Washington, DC today. Bill kindly made some time to sit with me at the Hawk n' Dove bar, a beloved watering hole just a couple blocks from Congress. Bill then entertained about a dozen friends of yours truly.
Bill has been at the helm of the distillery for 35 years. Oh how times have changed. Maker's Mark has boomed, going from 60-some thousand cases per year to over 900,000. We discussed the changes that happened at Maker's Mark, and in the Bourbon industry generally.
You can listen to our chat by clicking here. Fair warning---it's 20 minutes long and therefore a rather hefty 18 megabyte file, so your download may take a little time.Labels: Bill Samuels, Bourbon, Interview, Maker's Mark
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