Archives for September 2013

Do you know the difference between whiskey, whisky, bourbon and Scotch? Ingredients?  Where it’s made?  Who made it?  Bad spell check?  Let’s find out.

Saying “whiskey” is like saying beer.  There are a bunch of varieties, depending on where it’s distilled, and what grains are used.  Tennessee whiskey, bourbon whiskey, Scotch whisky – there’s even one made from quinoa.  Today’s craft distillers are nothing if not creative and willing to try new things. [Read more…]

Welcome to the 21^st century!  Craft beer is popular and getting more popular each year.  Names like Stone Brewing and Dogfish Head are known nationally, and maybe even internationally (if you count Canada).  While the economy hasn’t been exactly stellar the last few years, alcohol sales have held steady. That means people are still making room in their budgets for an evening out or a bottle of their favorites brews or liquors.  With its positioning as a premium item combined with the personable stories behind the spirits, enter craft distilling into the market at the perfect time! Did you know?  Beer and liquor start the exact same way, with grains and hot water, basically.  Once the mash is ready, you can send it off to be hopped and make it beer, or send it through a distillation process and it becomes liquor.  Yes – for those of you reading this, that’s a huge simplification of the distilling process, but I’ve gotta save something for future posts, right? So what is “craft” distilling? The laws that govern distilling don’t acknowledge the distinction between a small distillery and an international conglomerate like Diageo (the peeps behind Johnnie Walker, Ketel One and Bushmills, to name a few of their brands). Hence the prohibitively expensive licenses and annual taxes for a small distillery.  State by state, it’s being worked on, but it’s a slow, legislative process (I’m looking at you, New Jersey).  In the meantime, distillers are still doing what they do best, making unique, interesting and ultimately drinkable whiskies, vodkas, rums – you name it, you can likely find it. Which brings you to this site – you’ve come to the right place to find your new favorite craft spirits!