Fall 2015 Book Reviews
Bourbon Curious: A Simple Tasting Guide for the Savvy Drinker
Fred Minnick
Zenith Press, 2015
240 pages
ISBN 978-0760347409
$22.99
Fred Minnick writes for the Wall Street Journal and other publications, and he is the author of Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How...
The History of 125
How does the proof that whiskey is entered into a barrel affect the final outcome of its character and flavor? Is there an ideal proof for whiskey? These are questions frequently asked by clients or students who take my...
From Bark to Bourbon
Yeast is an amazing organism. It’s a fungus, one we encounter every day—not only through the fermented beverages we drink and the bread we eat, but also in the very air we breath. For millennia, humankind collaborated with wild...
Whiskey vs Whisky
Have you ever noticed that there are two different spellings for whiskey? To be honest, I had not until I began working on the book A World Guide to Whisk(e)y Distilleries. Research for the book revealed that no distilleries...
What is a Master Distiller?
In the rapidly growing craft distilling industry, no other question — save the definition of the term “craft” — triggers as much heated debate as the meaning behind the title of “Master Distiller.” Much has been discussed or written...
The 500-Year Flood
It had been a hot and dry summer. Colorado was in the midst of a drought that had drained reservoirs and shriveled crops. As a result, the Front Range of the Rockies had experienced several of the worst fires...
Tales from a Ghost Blender
One day last winter, I visited a local craft distillery to collect samples of barrel drippings for use in my blending lab. The distiller, taking a much-needed break from his work, followed me around from barrel to barrel as...
If You Got ‘em, Smoke ‘em
Blazing New Trails
The goal of Corsair Artisan is to make unique and innovative spirits. The motto is simple: If it has been done before, we don’t want to do it. Corsair also has a lofty vision: to expand the...
So you want to make a Gin?
There are two main factors to consider when it comes to making gin: One, The Base Spirit; and two, the Botanicals.
The Base Spirit
There are two main choices here: one is to buy in Neutral Grain Spirit from a third...
Not So Fast
Once thought of as almost extinct, aged gins have begun a tentative reemergence in the American market. Some consumers are puzzled by shades of honey and leather in what for many is the quintessential white spirit, but vintage spirits...
