How will import/export tariffs between the E.U., U.K. and U.S. and the resumption of on-premise eating affect what will people be drinking in the months ahead?
Erie Distillery in Erie, Pennsylvania. This image — from the company’s website — shows the full line of distilled spirits.
I love it when things come full circle. When I began my journey in distilled spirits in 2013, the first major brand I worked with was Jim Beam. So when I recently had the opportunity to dust off some of my notes and write some copy about Jim Beam – and other brands – for…
And for a year like 2020… Where does one begin? The spirits industry — like the American and global economies — has been affected by the pandemic, but in its own unique way. All across the country, the loss of on-premise sales through restaurants and bars has had a devastating effect on distilleries. In Pennsylvania,…
American Brandy is having a bit of a moment. Over the past few months, a number of publications focused on this spirit made from distilling hard apple cider. Sales volumes are growing, and the category shows promise as two related categories — hard apple cider and American whiskey — continue to mature. As the American…
I have been aging spirits at home for three years now and am on my second barrel. Currently, I’m using a 1.25 liter new-charred oak cask. It has a level-4 ‘alligator’ char.[1] A typical bourbon barrel is about 55 gallons. Surface area plays an important role in maturation. The larger the vessel, the more time…
The only thing better than drinking great spirits is sharing great spirits with close friends. So, this post will explore creative ways to share one-of-a-kind offerings that are unavailable anywhere else on the planet – without having to shell out a fortune for a rare bottling. In the past, Bodacious Booze has written about specialty cocktail…
O’Begley Distillery is a small outfit located in Pittsford, N.Y. The selection for review, O’Begley Dubh Reserve Whiskey, was given to me as a gift by my mother. She picked up a bottle at the Flour City Market while visiting family in Rochester. According to the O’Begley Website, the distillation of their spirit is conducted…
While wine and beer lovers are able to pursue their craft by fermenting beverages for themselves, it is a bit harder for aficionados of whiskey and other spirits. Partially due to the fact that the distillation practice is incredibly explosive and because improper cut-points can lead to methane poisoning and blindness, the federal Government frowns…
Recently, I wrote about the idea of creating custom cocktail menus for your guests [link]. After all, spirits writers have mentioned home entertainment as a top cocktail trend for 2016. If you’re going to drink sophisticated cocktails with your friends, why deal with pretensions that can come along with craft cocktail bars? So, when I…