SPIRITS

UncommonGreen

Leave a reply

Explore the World this Summer with City Maps Barware from UncommonGreen

Remember your favorite vacation? Maybe it was that long-awaited trip to London, Dublin or Sydney; walking the streets, seeing the sights, living the culture. Or maybe it was a getaway closer to home in San Francisco or Boston. Feel like you’re right there again gazing at the Golden Gate Bridge or exploring Quincy Market every time you pick up a glass from UncommonGreen.

Each piece of this unique barware is engraved with maps from the great cities around the globe. You’ll see streets, neighborhoods and landmarks in stunning detail with maps that wrap around the glass and extend from top to bottom. UncommonGreen designs glasses for wine, pints, coffee and more, featuring nearly 100 cities and counting.

UncommonGreen’s glassware may transport you to far-away places, but they’re made right here at home in the USA. Because each design is etched into the glass, these timeless works of art are designed to last a lifetime.

They make one-of-a-kind gifts, fun conversation starters and essentials for your own glass collection. UncommonGreen’s glasses conjure up memories of adventures in far-away places and you won’t even have to buy a plane ticket!

Fun Picks From UncommonGreen:

City Glassware – From weddings in Washington to graduations in Gainesville, these glasses make unforgettable gifts. Choose from stemless wine glasses, rocks glasses, carafes and more, and add a personalized touch with custom-engraved text.

Island Collection – Relive the cool summer breeze from your Nantucket honeymoon or the magic of Martinique in the moonlight. Every time you pick up a glass from UncommonGreen’s Island Collection you’ll be transported to a place you won’t want to leave.

Hometown Collection – You can travel the world, but there really is no place like home. This collection enables customers to order custom glasses from ANY city, town or locale in the US!

About UncommonGreen: UncommonGreen began in 2009, when designer Brian Johnson wanted to make everyday products that featured artistry paired with functionality, practicality, sustainability, and style. When his three college friends, Dave Reddy, Neil Angis, and Colin Woodworth came onboard, they decided to focus their vision on great design that can make the world a better place to live. Creating exceptional goods with a conscience, UncommonGreen uses materials and packaging from the US, and employs Earth-friendly practices to create their unique form of art.

TEQUILA CAZADORES × MISTER CARTOON

Leave a reply

In honor of Dia de los Muertos, Tequila CAZADORES, a 100% pure agave tequila from Bacardi, has partnered with legendary tattoo artist Mister Cartoon (whose work can be found on the likes of Beyoncé, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Kobe Bryant and more) to create a limited-edition bottle design.

Cartoon has also created a set of skull bandanas – inspired by illustrations from the bottle – that will be available through MisterCartoon.com/shop. The three bandana designs are custom for California, Texas, and New York. All proceeds from the bandana sales will be donated to earthquake disaster relief efforts in Mexico.

The Mister Cartoon X Tequila CAZADORES Día de los Muertos bottle is adorned in symbolic black, white and gray artwork, with illustrations of a skull to honor the memories of lost loved ones, a rose to welcome new beginnings and a woman to represent love and the importance of celebrating the good times. The Tequila CAZADORES iconic stag is part of the design as a reminder to be bold and fearless in the pursuit of dreams.

—

Here are signature cocktails for the holiday!

Dia de los Muertos Cocktails
Blood Orange Margarita
• Ingredients:
• 1 ½ oz. Cazadores Special Edition
• ½ oz. Orange curacao
• 2 oz. Blood Orange juice
• 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
• 3/4 oz. Agave nectar
Ice, shake. and serve over the rocks with Manny’s salt

Stormy Soul
• Ingredients:
• 1 ½ oz. Cazadores Reposado
• 1oz. Perfect Puree Prickly Pear
• ½ oz. Agave nectar
• 2 lemon wedges
• Top with ginger beer
• Chipotle powder
Garnish with mint & chipotle powder. Serve in a cooper mug.

The Good The Bad & The Ugly
• 1 ½ oz. Cazadores Blanco
• ½ oz. Mezcal
• ½ oz. Aperol
• ½ oz. Agave nectar
• ¾ oz. lime juice
• ¾ oz. Perfect Puree Red roasted bell pepper.
Combine all the ingredients with ice, shake & serve over the rocks. Garnish with bell pepper

The Hilhaven Lodge × Charles Joly

Leave a reply

Award-winning mixologist Charles Joly mixes up The Hilhaven Lodge Fireside, the official cocktail of Emmys Governors Ball on September 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.

About The Hilhaven Lodge

The Hilhaven Lodge is an award winning whiskey created in partnership with Producer/Director Brett Ratner in 2016. Inspired by Ratner’s luxurious estate, Hilhaven Lodge, The Hilhaven Lodge is a blend of three whiskeys, from three different decades, commemorating some of Hollywood’s most star-studded celebrations – many of which have taken place at the historic home. The brand’s Hollywood ties will be brought to light on Emmys night with some of television’s biggest stars in attendance.

JAMESON × NYRP

Leave a reply

JAMESON® IRISH WHISKEY AND NEW YORK RESTORATION PROJECT LAUNCH JAMESON LOVE THY NEIGHBORHOOD BREWERY FEST TO SUPPORT NEW YORK RESTORATION PROJECT, A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND CRAFT BEER AND WHISKEY FESTIVAL

New York Restoration Project, Jameson® Irish Whiskey and 16 American Brewers Celebrate the Launch of a Craft Beer and Whiskey Festival and Limited-Edition Beers, with 100% of Event Proceeds Supporting NYC

Jameson® Irish Whiskey is going where no whiskey has gone before. Today, the brand and New York Restoration Project unveil the first-of-its-kind, craft beer and whiskey festival – Jameson Love Thy Neighborhood Brewery Fest – which supports New York Restoration Project and brings together 16 American craft brewers from across the country to celebrate the people, places and things Jameson loves about local neighborhoods.

On Saturday, October 14th from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at The Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn, New York Restoration Project will host Jameson’s Love Thy Neighborhood Brewery Fest featuring the craft brewers who are part of Jameson’s established Drinking Buddies program and Jameson Music emerging artists, Eve And The Exiles, J-Council, Julia Haltigan, Kristin Diable and more.

Consumers will see first-hand Jameson’s commitment to neighborhoods through live music, Jameson Caskmates and beers that are unique to some of the brewery partner’s local communities with their Jameson limited-edition beers becoming available in their neighborhoods at a later date. Officially on sale today, tickets are $30 and available for purchase at http://www.nyrp.org/LTNBreweryFest. One purchased ticket covers admission into the festival, and includes food and a tasting experience.

“We are excited to show Jameson’s love for local neighborhoods with this first-of-its-kind festival that brings together 16 craft brewery partners from our Jameson Drinking Buddies program who represent the unique qualities and tastes of their respective neighborhoods,” said Paul Di Vito, Vice President of Marketing, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Pernod Ricard USA. “This craft beer and whiskey fest benefits the New York Restoration Project and celebrates all the great things and people that make up the local neighborhoods around the country.”

As part of Jameson Love Thy Neighborhood Brewery Fest, Jameson is partnering with New York Restoration Project with 100 percent of the proceeds from the festival helping to create a greener, more sustainable community. Like Jameson, New York Restoration Project is passionate about cultivating healthy and thriving neighborhoods and collaborating with partners who give back to members of the community.

“As an organization that focuses on cultivating sustainable growth in our communities, we are thrilled to host Jameson Love Thy Neighborhood Brewery Fest,” said Deborah Marton, Executive Director of New York Restoration Project. “It’s great to see Jameson’s passion for community and how this festival is bringing neighbors together for a unique collaboration that will benefit New York Restoration Project’s community greening efforts across New York City.”

The Jameson Love Thy Neighborhood Brewery Fest is the culmination and celebration of the latest progression of Jameson’s long-standing Drinking Buddies program. Inspired by the creation of Jameson Caskmates, which was the end result of a collaboration with local Irish craft brewery, Jameson worked with each of the 16 craft brewers to create limited-edition beers featuring hints of its beloved whiskey. Jameson provided each brewer with Jameson barrels to age their craft beer for a select period of time. Each brewery in the program has produced a limited edition beer, only available in their local market that features hints of Jameson Irish Whiskey incorporated with their already distinct craft beer flavors.

Returning and new breweries for Jameson’s Drinking Buddies program and Jameson Love Thy Neighborhood Brewery Fest in Support of New York Restoration Project are:

· BOSTON, MA: Harpoon Brewery

· BROUSSARD, LA: Parish Brewing Company

· CHICAGO, IL: Revolution Brewing

· CLEVELAND, OH: Fat Head’s Brewing

· DENVER, CO: Great Divide Brewing Company

· EWING TOWNSHIP, NJ: River Horse Brewing Company

· HALENTHROPE, MD: Heavy Seas

· LAS VEGAS, NV: Big Dog Brewing Company

· MINNEAPOLIS, MN: Fulton Brewery

· NASHVILLE, TN: Black Abbey Brewing Company

· NEW YORK, NY: Captain Lawrence Brewing Company

· POTTSTOWN, PA: Sly Fox Brewery

· SAN DIEGO, CA: Green Flash Brewing Company

· ST. LOUIS, MO: 4 Hands Brewing Co

· TAMPA, FL: Cigar City Brewing

· YAKIMA, WA: Bale Breaker Brewing

For more information on these unique collaborations with local American brewers, please visit http://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/us/our-culture/drinking-buddies. The limited-edition beer aged in Jameson casks from the 16 craft brewers will only be available for a limited time in their local markets.

TASTE RESPONSIBLY.

About Pernod Ricard USA®
Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA. The company’s leading spirits and wines include such prestigious brands as Absolut® Vodka, , Avión® Tequila, Chivas Regal® Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson® Irish Whiskey, Kahlúa® Liqueur, Malibu®, Martell® Cognac, Olmeca Altos™ Tequila , Beefeater® Gin, Del Maguey® Single Village Mezcal, Monkey 47® Gin, Plymouth® Gin, Seagram’s® Extra Dry Gin, , Hiram Walker® Liqueurs, Lot No. 40® Canadian Whiskey, Midleton® Irish Whiskey, Powers® Irish Whiskey, Redbreast® Irish Whiskey, Smithworks® Vodka, Smooth Ambler® Whiskey, Pernod®, and Ricard®; such superior wines as Jacob’s Creek®, Kenwood® Vineyards, Campo Viejo® and Brancott Estate®; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouët® Champagne, G.H. Mumm™ Champagne and Mumm Napa® sparkling wines.

Pernod Ricard USA is based in New York, New York, and has roughly 650 employees across the country. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and has an active campaign to promote responsible drinking. For more information on this, please visit: www.responsibility.org.

About New York Restoration Project

New York Restoration Project (NYRP) is a nonprofit organization driven by the conviction that all New Yorkers deserve beautiful, high-quality public space within walking distance of their homes. Since its founding in 1995 by Bette Midler, NYRP has planted trees, renovated gardens, restored parks, and transformed open space for communities throughout New York City’s five boroughs. As New York’s only citywide conservancy, it brings private resources to spaces that lack adequate municipal support, fortifying the city’s aging infrastructure and creating a healthier environment for those who live in the most densely populated and least green neighborhoods.

THE COCKTAIL GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

1 Reply

For the first time ever comes a book that unites two of the best things in the world: nerd culture, and booze. Because if anything is true, it’s that nerds are awesome, and many of us like to throw back an adult beverage or two while re-watching Firefly for the seventeenth time. The Cocktail Guide to the Galaxy, by Andy Heidel, the notable owner of The Way Station in Brooklyn, NY; will be on-sale September 26, 2017. A true mecca for nerd culture, The Way Station has found its way on to numerous lists of the best sci-fi bars and is even complete with a TARDIS themed bathroom.

Including over 100 fun and easy to make recipes – these cocktails are simple to make with no crazy ingredients – The Cocktail Guide to the Galaxy features more of the themed cocktails Heidel’s patrons know and love and is filled with pop culture references from Metropolis, to Guardians of the Galaxy, to Star Wars, and everything in between. Some of the recipes include:

· Doc B’s Wakeup Juice (Back to the Future)

· Sonic Screwdrivers (Doctor Who)

· Shirley Temple of Doom (Indiana Jones)

· Jameson T. Kirk (Star Trek)

· Blue Milk (Star Wars)

We’re currently at the height of nerd culture! This year alone, we’ll see new Star Wars, Transformers, Marvel, Alien, and Planet of the Apesmovies – all which have at least one cocktail featured in this book.

About the Author

Andy Heidel is the owner of The Way Station, a bar and music venue in Brooklyn, NY. As R. Andrew Heidel he is the author of the short story collection “Desperate Moon” which features an introduction by Harlan Ellison and praise from Ray Bradbury. As a book publicist, he launched the Eos imprint and helped make Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, and Neal Stephenson bestselling authors while with Avon Books and HarperCollins. He turned to bar ownership when he was downsized, and hasn’t looked back since.

NATIONAL RUM DAY

1 Reply

Puerto Rico is regarded as the “Rum Capital of the World,” and rightfully so! The U.S. territory has been distilling rum for centuries, stemming from the start of its sugarcane production under the ruling of Spain.

With National Rum Day around the corner, on Wednesday August 16th, what better way to celebrate than with delicious rum cocktails, straight from the island? Puerto Rico requires no passport and provides an authentic rum experience that simply can’t be found elsewhere, making for an ideal weekend getaway, filled with cocktails, culture and history!

Below is a distillery tour option and selection of cocktails from rum companies on the Island.

Puerto Rico | Rum Experiences

· Bacardi – The largest premium rum distillery in the world, Casa Bacardí features historical tours, mixology classes and tastings.

Rum Cocktails + Drinks from Puerto Rico:

Don Q Rum

Don Q Bikini Colada
2 oz. Don Q Piña rum

2 oz. Coconut water

½ oz. Lime juice

One Lime wheel

Campari*

Shake rum, coconut water, juice and ice.

Strain into a coupe glass.

Garnish with lime wheel.

*Optional: Add bar spoon of Campari

Don Q Spiced Daiquiri

1½ oz. Don Q Spiced rum

1½ oz. Lime juice
¾ oz. Vanilla simple syrup*

Two Drops of Angostura bitters

Shake rum, juice, syrup, bitters and ice.

Strain into a coupe glass.
*Vanilla simple syrup: dissolve 8 oz.

granulated sugar in 8 oz. hot water.

Let cool, then stir in 1 tsp. of vanilla extract.

Don Q Rum Old Fashioned

2 oz. Don Q Gran Añejo rum

One Sugar cube or ½ tsp. sugar

Three Dashes of Angostura bitters

One Orange peel

One Maraschino cherry

Place the sugar cube or ½ tsp. sugar in an old fashioned glass.

Add three dashes of bitters.

Muddle the mixture, then swirl to coat inside of glass.

Add rum and stir.

Add ice and stir again until well chilled.

Garnish with orange peel and maraschino cherry.

Don Q Sazerac

2½ oz. Don Q Single Barrel, 2007 rum

1/8 oz. Absinthe

½ oz. Simple syrup*

Three Dashes Peychaud’s bitters

One Orange twist

Add rum, simple syrup and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.

Stir until chilled.

Strain into a rocks glass that has been rinsed with absinthe.

Garnish with a orange twist.

Don Q Añejo Manhattan

2 oz. Don Q Añejo rum

1 oz. Sweet vermouth

Two Dashes of Angostura bitters

One Maraschino cherry

Add crushed ice and club soda or water to a cocktail glass and set aside.

Add rum, vermouth, bitters and ice to a mixing glass.

Stir until well chilled.

Discard ice and club soda or water from cocktail glass.

Strain into the chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

19 secret local drinks to uncover around the world

Leave a reply

Drinking Kvass and then we talk Sloe – 19 local drinks you need to try

What’s your signature drink? Everyone knows vodka, wine, whiskey, beer – but what about feni, amaro, or aragh sagi? A new graphic from JohnSlots offers a shot of knowledge about the drinks from around the world you won’t have tried.
There are more drinks out there than the lager you’ll find on tap at a chain pub. Aperitif to digestif, Anglo-Saxon hero drinks to chasers for beer, you’ll only find a truly unique drinking experience if you’re willing to travel for it.

A new graphic from JohnSlots reveals the international drinks you’re less likely to have heard of, ranging from the rice drink brem from Bali to makgeolli in South Korea – and covering a few more familiar names along the way, like mead (and maybe gløgg).

The infographic offers the ingredients involved in each drink, including everything from spirits and spices to fruit and vegetables. There are flavours like cashew and coconut, dates, carob, or even artichoke, so whatever your taste and wherever you go, there’s bound to be something to tantalise your taste buds.
Wine Bright Lakka Diamond

As well as the name and flavour of the drink, you can find out a bit about their backgrounds, and how they stand out as a symbol of the local identity. After all, to find the heart of a culture, go straight to the food and drink!

Some of the more curious beverages include:

Patxaran – comprising both coffee and either cinnamon or anise flavours, this Spanish drink has a lot going on. It’s usually served after meals, in theory to to aid digestion.

Akvavit – flavoured with spices and built on spirits (mostly Brännvin), the Swedish drink “akvavit” literally translates as “water of life”, and is often drunk after a traditional song has been sung.

Gløgg – a hot and fruity mulled wine, gløgg is generally served around Halloween and Christmas, often with a Norwegian rice pudding called risgrøt.

Lakka – cloudberries are an amber-coloured fruit similar to raspberries and blackberries. They’re the key ingredient in lakka, a Finnish liqueur.

Jenever – Jenever is the Dutch drink that eventually gave rise to gin. Flavoured with juniper, it comes in two variants: oude (old) and jonge (young), where the former contains at least 15% malt, and the latter less than 15%.

A drink is more than the sum of its parts. It’s a distillate of its culture – these are the drinks you’ll struggle to get outside of the regions where they’re made. They’re made for the locals, and it’s the best way to get a taste of the local heritage.
To see the rest of the unusual drink options and find an curious shot or sipper to try on your next holiday, have a look at the full infographic on the JohnSlots site here.

Black Cow Vodka

Leave a reply

By Ilona Thompson

Vodka is the most popular spirit category around the world, and by a large margin. It has found favor with both genders and reaches across all demographics.

Enter Black Cow, the world’s only super premium vodka made entirely from milk. It was launched in May of 2012, by British dairy farmer Jason Barber and artist, turned commercials director, Paul Archard.

Jason certainly has been creative with getting the most from the milk of his 250-strong herd. The milk is separated into curds and whey. The curds are used to make the award-winning “1833” cheddar; whey, which contains the sugars necessary to produce alcohol, is used for this innovative, super premium product. While other vodkas are predominantly grain-based, and fermented using a yeast that converts fructose into alcohol, Black Cow uses a strain that converts the lactose into a type of “milk beer” that is distilled and blended using Barber’s secret method.

It turns out that the inspiration came from the culture of Mongolian, Siberian and Tibetan nomadic tribes, who have been producing alcohol from cow, mare and yak’s milk for generations. In cold, barren climates it is impossible to cultivate crops, so people who live in such environments survive on their livestock. Milk, which is rich in sugar, was the only thing available to make alcohol from. For hundreds of years, milk, collected from the animals, was turned into all sorts of sustenance and, notably, alcoholic drinks, using up every last bit of it.

All great ideas are born on a napkin at an airport bar or kitchen table. The new business partners, brainstorming at the latter, came up with a plan. Four years later, Black Cow vodka is sold around the world.

This small batch vodka is very bright, vibrant and fresh in character with a soft, rounded, smooth and creamy texture, and a lovely finish. Subtle notes of baking spices, cinnamon and vanilla waft from the glass. It is certainly distinctive; it’s high-quality is ensured by the fact that it is made entirely from the milk of grass-fed cows with no additives or preservatives. Its single ingredient guarantees a unique and subtle flavor profile. The best part? Move over, wine. It is recommended to be enjoyed with cheese.

It’s easy to see how “what grows together, goes together.” In this case, since the origin is identical, milk vodka can work well with cheese. Barber makes 1833 cheddar, which won awards at the World Cheese Fair, utilizing the same milk used to make Black Cow vodka. A pairing made in a cheese-lover’s paradise.

Barber himself is a big fan of the beverage – part of his quest was motivated by personal consumption. “If you want to drink well, do it yourself” philosophy paid off.

This unique, ultra-smooth vodka has achieved wide critical acclaim, won awards and gathered a host of celebrity followers including the likes of Stephen Fry, Jamie Oliver and Cate Blanchett. Mark Hix, the celebrated British chef, maintains that it makes the world’s best martini.

Try it for yourself, and experience how “moo-gnificent” it is.

WhistlePig

Leave a reply

By Ilona Thompson

Rye has a long history with American palates. George Washington was no stranger to its distillation and distribution, becoming the largest purveyor of his time. And who isn’t familiar with cocktail staples such as the Old-Fashioned and Manhattan that made rye a popular pastime?

WhistlePig was launched in 2007 on a 200-year old farm in Shoreham, Vermont by Raj P. Bhakta. Alongside prominent former Maker’s Mark Master Distiller, Dave Pickerell, Raj is on a mission to craft the finest Rye in the United States. In 2010, Bhakta acquired some top-notch aged Canadian rye and bottled it to rave reviews (Wine Enthusiast 96pts). They soon moved on to developing an on-site rye production process, from grain to glass. With the first harvest in 2013, they are well on their way.
The boutique 1,000 case brand has enjoyed enormous favor with critics, trade and consumers. However, they never rest on their laurels. Fascinated by the Old World classics, Pickerell decided to finish the American oak aged 12yr old rye in Madeira, Port and Sauternes casks. Merging the best of the Old and New World, this aging process is one of its kind. Insanely flavorful and ultra-refined, these whiskies are whimsical in the best possible way. Critics agreed, awarding the Old World Series 2015 Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The inspired and innovative ideas that flow from the minds of Bhakta and Pickerell challenge the ordinary, and result in exhilarating and delectable spirits.
George Washington would be proud.

George Dickel

Leave a reply

By Ilona Thompson

George Dickel is an accessible domestic whiskey distilled and aged in Tennessee. Although now owned by Diageo, it doesn’t present as a corporate entity. If anything, it feels like a small, family-run operation, with centuries-long history. And as it happens, it is.

Founder, George Dickel, believed that his whiskey was on par with the world’s finest Scotches, so he insisted on the traditional Scottish spelling of whisky on his labels. To this day, it remains one of a handful of domestic distilleries that spell it that way.

George Augustus Dickel, a German-born merchant, immigrated to the United States in 1844, at age 26. He ended up running a liquor store in Nashville and subsequently founded George A. Dickel and Company. It became a wholesale operation that bought whiskey from regional distillers and distributed it in bulk. Their reputation quickly spread for choosing only the finest spirits around. When Dickel passed away, he handed his holdings to his wife, who subsequently willed it to his business partner, Victor Schwab.

Victor quietly acquired shares of their favorite whiskey supplier, Cascade Hollow. Having both supply and distribution channels locked, he acquired a saloon. In the following years he expanded production and sourced additional whiskey from neighboring Coffee County. Eventually he started advertising the whiskey nationally, and then internationally. The distillery continued to grow and gain momentum. With media support and public adulation the company seemed unstoppable… until, in 1910, Tennessee outlawed the production of whiskey. Forced to leave the state, Schwab, relocated to the Stitzel Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. He crafted his Cascade whiskey there, utilizing what came to be known as the Lincoln County Process, a charcoal mellowing vat, that ensured the continuity of flavor. In January of 1919, Prohibition became the law of the land and shut down the alcohol industry.

A loophole allowed Stitzel distillery to stay alive, as the law permitted the distillation of medicinal spirits. Cascade whiskey began to be sold as medicine in 1920. By the time Prohibition had been repealed in 1933, the brand had undergone several incarnations. It ultimately became Cascade Hollow Bourbon.

In 1958, Cascade Hollow Distillery opened its doors once again, in close proximity to where the original distillery stood before prohibition. The charcoal filtering process was reinstated. The first mash was produced at the new distillery on July 4, 1959. Dickel Black Label Old No.8 and Tan Label Superior No.12 debuted in 1964.

Today, the brand is still distilled and aged in Cascade Hollow, near Tullahoma. In 1994, the original site of the George Dickel distillery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A slew of mergers and acquisitions resulted in Diageo Corporation’s ownership of the Dickel brand. Today, an extensive portfolio of traditional George Dickel whiskies is produced.

Increased production in the 1990s caused oversupply; in response, the distillery was shut down. However, it reopened in 2003 just in time to meet growing demand due to renewed consumer interest in craft whiskies.

Since 2015, Allisa Henley has filled the role of Master Distiller. She was born and raised in Coffee County, just a few miles down the road from the distillery. Prior to her role at Dickel, she traveled extensively, visiting a number of U.S. distilleries as well as several across Scotland and Ireland. She learned all about the whiskey production worldwide, prior to returning to her roots in Tennessee. Allisa completed the Malt Advocate Course in Scotland and Ireland as a part of her whiskey education. In her own words:

“In my international travels, it was interesting to see the use of different grains and the effects they have on flavor. In the U.S., we mainly use corn, while Scotland mainly utilizes malted barley. Across the world, distilleries of all sizes have processes that are unique to their site. For example, some use pot stills others column stills; some age in new charred oak barrels, others in used or rejuvenated barrels. Although there are different processes and different distillery sizes, one message is clear: we all strive to produce the best quality whisky for our consumers while staying true to our distillery character.”

One of a handful of female distillers, she is immensely talented. Allisa is truly hands on – from weighing the grains to stacking sugar maple to burn on-site for the charcoal. She is dedicated to maintaining the historic craftsmanship of this beloved whiskey. Under her leadership, the fundamentals of Dickel’s distillation process remain unchanged. Her whisky is smooth, powerful, sensually satisfying and qualitatively sound. In her own words:

“George Dickel is one of the most unique distilleries in America – our tagline Handmade the Hard Way is a way of life in Cascade Hollow. There is a human being at every stage of the distillation process. Everything is meticulously measured and recorded by hand.”

We barrel tasted a 17-year old treasure bottled as a distillery-only offering and chatted of passions past and present and the extraordinary historical context of Dickel brand. After the barrel tasting, we got into a wagon, and slowly drove with the moon lighting the path to a barn structure, where a magical evening was about to commence.

We sat down and enjoyed a beautiful Southern meal catered by Martin’s BBQ, a local hot spot, that featured mouthwatering pulled pork and brisket. They were complimented by cocktails expertly crafted by Freddy Schwenk, a top mixologist at Nashville hotspots Kreepy Tiki Bar & Lounge, Chauhan Ale and Masala House.

The drinks: “Nothing to Write Tullahoma About,” “Mellow as Moonlight” and “Cascade Hollow Mule” made with George Dickel whiskies were superb.
Below is the recipe for my evening’s favorite: Mellow as Moonlight:

· George Dickel Rye
· Landy Cognac
· Amaro di Angostura
· All Spice Honey
· Tiki Bitters
· Mole Bitters
We tasted George Dickel No.1, No.12, a 9-yr-old Hand Selected Barrel and yet unreleased George Dickel 17-year-old whiskey. The 17-year old was a show stopper. Deep, profound flavors coated the palate in an intricate dance of Tahitian vanilla, spiced nuts and honeyed apricot.

I have not necessarily thought of whisky as a hedonistic experience, yet somewhere between the outstanding cocktails and the 17-year old I realized just how decadent such a combo can be. It was touching and somewhat transformational. Sipping on history, from long ago and yet unchanged was comforting.
Dickel’s Cascade Tennessee Whisky – Mellow as Moonlight. History meets Magical Mash and together they create an incredible experience.