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Hulk Hogan Set to Visit Metro Detroit and Launch New Beer Following Memorable RNC Speech
A little less than a week after WWE legend Hulk Hogan tore his shirt off in honor of former President Donald Trump and earned a rousing chant of “U-S-A” at the Republican National Convention, he’s bringing his “Real American Beer” to Michigan.
Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, launched the American-style light lager earlier this month and plans to appear in metro Detroit this week as part of the beer’s rollout.
“If the Great Lakes State is anything like what we experienced last week in Missouri, Michigan better get ready brother,” Hogan said in a news release announcing the plan.
Hogan is expected to make an appearance at all 11 events scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, said Kameron Baetge, a public relations representative for Real American Beer.
The Wednesday stops, as released by the beer team, are at:
The Thursday stops are at:
The beer is 4.2% ABV and is described as having a light body and crisp, clean finish while using 100% North American ingredients.
Embark on a Unique Whiskey Tasting Adventure Aboard the World-Famous Skunk Train
A SPIRITED SYLVAN ADVENTURE: The World-Famous Skunk Train, or “Skunkie” if you prefer to be more familiar when addressing the legendary locomotive, is known for whisking adventuresome riders deep into the beautiful forest as it wends its scenic way from Willits or Fort Bragg. Call the celebrated Skunkster one of the best ways to connect with the seasons while in Mendocino County; you’ll enjoy the outdoors while also savoring, quite frequently, a special seasonal theme. And while the holidays always inspire the Skunk Train team to create seasonally inspired trips on the choo-choo, there are, on occasion, popular pop-ups created just for grown-up guests. Raise a dram, for one of those special events is just ahead: It’s the Whiskey Train.
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WILLITS… is where your experience will begin, an outing that will involve a trip to the line’s summit as well as beautiful Noyo River Canyon. Along the way, a whiskey expert will lead the tasting of four whiskeys from Tamar Distillery/Mendocino Spirits. And the tasting glasses? You got it: They’re keepers, and they’re customized, too. The price for the two-hour tasting is $124.14 and you’ll want to book your spot soon. But perhaps you are eager to know more about special trains on the Skunkie, which can “track” its history back to the 1880s? Check out the calendar here, which includes information about the attraction’s popular railbikes.
Unlocking the World of Whiskey: How Subscriptions Work and Why They’re Worth a Try
These days, there are subscription services/boxes for just about everything. You can even build a day around them, starting with coffee in the morning, some cheese for an afternoon snack, then some spirits for a delightful nightcap. There are also subscriptions that focus on one specific spirit — whiskey. Despite all falling under the broad category of whiskey (or whisky), there is actually a large range in whiskies (such as Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, Japanese whisky, bourbon, and rye, among others). In the same vein, there are many different whiskey subscriptions. So how exactly do they work and should you try one?
If you enjoy whiskey and are interested in expanding your palate, knowledge, or collection, then the answer is yes, you should try a whiskey subscription. Most subscriptions will send either a full bottle or sample size bottles at a set interval (like monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly) throughout the subscription period (which could be a quarter, half-year, or year). These bottles are sometimes accompanied by tasting notes or cocktail recipes. Certain subscriptions also offer additional perks such as special discounts, access to limited releases, early or priority access to new releases, virtual tastings, exclusive events, and more.
Read more: The 27 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked
First, it’s important to narrow down your taste preferences. Are you open to trying different types of whiskies or are you just interested in one type, say Scotch whisky (try the Scotch Malt Whisky Society), Irish whiskey (try Irishmalts), or artisan whiskies (try Craft Whisky Club)? Next, you should decide how frequently you want to receive bottles, and whether you would prefer full-sized bottles, samples, or both. Some subscriptions are month-to-month while others lock you in to a six- or 12-month period.
Price is also a consideration, and subscriptions can range from under $50 to more than $500. Another consideration is whether you want the bottles to be curated by someone else (which is usually the case) or customized for you (as in the case with Bounty Hunter). Some subscriptions (such as Pour More) offer different tiers for different levels of expertise while others (such as Spirited Gifts) are more beginner friendly. Also consider how important factors such as community (both virtual and in person) and access to certain releases (such as private barrel and limited editions) are to you. Finally, bear in mind that certain subscriptions only deliver to certain states, so be sure to check whether your state is included.
Also be sure to check out our round-up of the 10 Best Whiskey Subscriptions for more information and to help narrow your choice now.
Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Stuga Vodka Makers Return ‘Home’ to Kansas, Craft Corn-Based Spirit
LINDSBORG — Meaning small house or cottage in Swedish, the word “Stuga” is all about home.
Now the word has taken on a new meaning, as a brand of homegrown and crafted, corn-based Kansas vodka.
The idea for a corn-based vodka came from husband and wife Hilary and Erin Condren after finding themselves back “home” to the family farm in Lindsborg during the height of the COVID pandemic.
“The world’s falling apart, we’re in California … and we decided to go home to Lindsborg, Kansas, embrace our roots and figure out what in the world is happening before we make any next decisions,” Erin Condren said.
Condren is the fifth-generation owner of the farm after her family left Sweden in 1869 and found themselves staking claim in Lindsborg under the Homestead Act.
The Condrens decided that if they were going to take over and steward the family farm, they wanted to find a unique way to make use of the crops that helped her ancestors flourish.
At the same time, the Condrens also partnered with Dani Greene to take over the Öl Stuga bar in Lindsborg, and things started aligning to begin this new adventure into distilling.
“It all sort of came together where we took over the bar, took over the farm, took over the crops,” Condren said, “and we thought let’s do something cool.”
Lovers of vodka, the Condrens realized that Tito’s was really the only brand that was using 100% corn, and decided it could be something they could do to add to the market, using Kansas ingredients.
“We knew we wanted to be Kansas-made,” Condren said. “We knew that we had Kansas corn (to use) and even if our farm didn’t produce enough Kansas corn we wanted to align ourselves with others who had Kansas corn.”
They also wanted to make sure Stuga would be made in Kansas, so they looked around the state and eventually partnered with Boot Hill Distillery in Dodge City to house the operations.
“We felt immediately a connection to Hayes Kelman and his team at Boot Hill,” Condren said. “We walked through, legally, how we were going to create an alternating proprietorship.”
She said the two are distinct companies, but Boot Hill and Stuga share facilities and teams.
“We worked through renditions and formulas until we came up with what we wanted to put out into the world that Kansas could be proud of,” she said.
More: See ‘Kansas from Above’ with drone footage documentary at the Salina Art Cinema
After refining the product, she said they wanted to find a Kansas distributor to get their vodka on shelves and they found that with Lenexa-based Worldwide Beverage Group, and the product launched in May 2024.
Though they have a distributor, Erin Condren mentioned that she and her husband still prioritize personal interactions, often calling and visiting stores to pitch their vodka in person. Their product is now available in 132 stores across the state.
“There has not been one store that has said no to the product,” she remarked.
Beyond their straight 80 proof, six-times distilled corn vodka, Stuga also offers canned vodka soda cocktails. These come in five variations: Rain, an unflavored vodka soda with sparkling water; Farm, which includes grapefruit juice; Harvest, featuring blood orange; Lake, with lime flavor; and Sun, which utilizes lemon juice.
“We’re releasing a sixth canned cocktail this fall called ‘Hunt’ with cranberry,” Erin added. “It will be available in October or November.”
For more information about the company, visit its website at www.stugaspirits.com. Stuga also regularly posts information and updates on its Facebook and Instagram pages.
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Stuga Vodka finds a ‘home’ in Kansas, making spirits with local corn
What’s Hitting the Shelves? Exciting New Beverage Launches: From Rum to Coffee
22-Jul-2024
– Last updated on
22-Jul-2024 at 08:42 GMT
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Rum Co. of Fiji is rejuvenating its presence in Australia with a rebrand of its RATU and BATI ranges (pictured above).
Now available on Australian shelves, the updated look transitions from tribal to tropical, encapsulating the spirit and heritage of Fiji.
Produced in Fiji, Rum Co. of Fiji honours its heritage through a distinctive Fijian style of rum-making. This process respects the tropical landscape, from hand-cutting sugar cane grown in volcanic soil to distilling it at the foot of the iconic Sleeping Giant Mountain.
The rebrand pays homage to the brand’s deep connection to Fiji: with the new design pack featuring cultural patterns, the iconic Sleeping Giant Mountain, and a bright tropical palette. A new logo, now featuring sugar cane and a cane knife, also incorporates the fitting slogan “Paradise Distilled” symbolizing the essence of the island and craftsmanship for the rum.
Both BATI and RATU ranges are now on Australian shelves at Dan Murphy’s, First Choice Liquor, and independent bottle shops.
Rum Co. of Fiji is owned by Paradise Beverages, part of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
BODYARMOR Sports drink has teamed up with the sports and comedy group DUDE PERFECT to launch an exclusive new flavor and bottle, available for a limited time in US stores this summer.
Perfect Pop is a nostalgic, refreshing flavor inspired by the classic cherry and berry ice pops, maintaining BODYARMOR’s commitment to real ingredients, real flavor, and nothing artificial.
The Dudes were actively involved in the creation of this new launch – from testing flavors and designing labels to collaborating with the BODYARMOR team on developing a go-to-market strategy for Perfect Pop.
Perfect Pop is available now through the end of August (or until supplies last) and can be found online or at major retailers, including Walmart, Sam’s Club, Albertson’s, and more.
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BrewDog Distilling Co. has announced the addition of five new RTD cocktails to its Wonderland Cocktail line-up.
The new flavors – Cosmo, Whisky Sour, Strawberry Daiquiri, Watermelon Margarita and Long Island Iced Tea – are available to purchase online in the UK at £3.90 each or from BrewDog bars.
The drinks come in 125ml cans and have an ABV of 10% – 14%, depending on the flavor.
Steven Kearsley, Managing Director of BrewDog Distilling Co., shared: “We launched Wonderland Cocktail Co. in October 2023, and since then we’ve achieved over 3,000 new distribution points for our bar-quality canned cocktail range. A few months back, we ran a poll on Instagram giving people the chance to vote for the serves they want to join the range – and we’re responding by making them!”
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These new cocktails join the existing Wonderland Cocktails range: Mojito, Cantarito Paloma, Espresso Martini, Passionfruit Martini, and Margarita.
Food and beverage company Agus is launching Hello Day! Magico – a drink that combines natural fruit juice and crunchy coconut chunks (nata de coco) across Europe this month: starting in Netto, Kaufland and other retailers and distributors.
The new drink is currently available in three flavors: mango, lychee, and coconut.
Warsaw-headquartered Agus – whose portfolio includes beverages, snacks, and dairy – says the new launch illustrates its strategy to grow, develop, and think outside the box: “Biting into and chewing springy coconut bits is at the heart of the beverage’s pleasure, providing unexpected experiences,” notes the company.
The drinks branding has been created by Italian agency Break Design: with ‘magico’ coming from the English words ‘magic’ and ‘coconut’ – or, quite simply, the word for magic in Italian.
The drink contains less than 5g/100ml of sugar, aligning it with health recommendations and minimizing exposure to sugar taxes (depending on market).
Lewis Hamilton’s alcohol-free spirit brand Almave has launched its second expression: tying in with his British Grand Prix win at Silverstone earlier this month.
The brand is the creation of the Formula 1 superstar and Mexican spirits group, Casa Lumbre, and is distributed in the UK by Mangrove Global.
New launch Almave Blanco complements its sippable predecessor as a liquid that’s designed to be mixed. It captures a naturally balanced sweetness against herbaceous flavors from the agave and a refreshing acidity. Where Almave Ambar reflects the same qualities as a reposado or Anejo tequila or mezcal, Blanco is designed as the ideal base to mix into alcohol-free cocktails.
Agave flavors are captured thanks to the uniqueness of Almave’s distillation: much like tequila, the liquid is distilled from real agave in the Jalisco region of Mexico and is created using an entirely new process that’s based on age-old Mexican traditions.
According to research carried out by the IWSR, the UK’s low and no-alcohol market is expected to see a volume growth of 10% between now and 2026.
Almave Blanco will RRP at £24 and is now available to the on and off-trade through Mangrove Global.
V Rum, a new premium, sustainable British rum brand, is launching in the UK with two expressions.
Founded by British husband-and-wife entrepreneurs, Nicole and Carl Churchill, the brand made its debut on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, championed by Ian Burrell, The Rum Ambassador.
The spirit is made from scratch using locally sourced, premium natural ingredients; and brought to life by Head Distiller, Mikey Melrose, at the brand’s sustainable distillery in Hampshire.
V Rum’s founders launch with the intention of becoming a mainstream British rum brand, while championing a focus on sustainable production. Entrepreneur Carl Churchill launched his first internet business aged 12 and was later tipped as ‘one to watch’ by the Sunday Times Rich List in 2003.
V Rum launches with a Premium White Rum (40% ABV) and an Overproof White Rum (60% ABV), designed for cocktail mixing or sipping neat.
The brand’s cosmic theme and unique recipes come from a 2009 discovery by astronomers and astrobiologists that ‘space smells like rum’.
V Rum’s distillery uses 100% renewable electricity, green gas provided by Ecotricity, an advanced heat recovery system to mitigate emissions, and uses molasses from UK sugar production to limit air miles. The emissions that V Rum cannot avoid are offset via Ecologi’s carbon avoidance initiative, which contributes to tree planting to support future mitigation. Future plans include solar panels and lighter packaging options.
UK coffee company Little’s is launching a new Chocolate Coffee Pod Variety pack, retailing at £4 per pack of 10 Nespresso compatible capsules.
The new pack contains two flavors for mocha lovers: with Mexican chocolate and rich mocha capsules.
Little’s mission is to ‘get you as close to a cup of specialty coffee as possible from the comfort of home’, for as little as 64p a cup: with a range of premium instant coffee, coffee capsules, and ground coffee. It hopes to appeal to Gen Z with the same agility, novelty, and sense of fun as coffee shops; but via the grocery aisle, which is still dominated by instant coffee.
In 2022, it moved its coffee capsule manufacturing from Europe to the UK to reduce transportation and is the only brand to manufacture capsules in the UK.
The brand uses fully traceable specialty grade Honduran coffee for all flavored ground and capsules and is en route to becoming carbon neutral.
Looking for more beverage inspiration?
Take a look at last week’s round-up of new beverage launches.
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East Coast Celebrity Chef Explores Oregon Wine Country and Savors Portland Pizza
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Erin French, the chef-owner of The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, is shown at a cookbook-signing event in Freeport, Maine. Portland Press Herald via Getty
Since opening her restaurant, The Lost Kitchen, in her hometown of Freedom, Maine, chef Erin French has become well-known for her cooking, her personal story of overcoming struggles to find success, and also for how difficult it is to snare a reservation at The Lost Kitchen, the mill-turned-restaurant that requires would-be diners to mail postcards requesting reservations, in the hopes that their postcard will be among those chosen at random.
The Lost Kitchen has gained national renown as high-profile figures such as Martha Stewart have visited, and French has authored books and hosted her own TV series, which airs on the Magnolia Network, the media joint venture between Chip and Joanna Gaines (of “Fixer Upper” fame) and Warner Bros. Discovery.
French’s media footprint has expanded even more with the arrival this summer of a new series, The show, which premiered on the Magnolia Network and the Max streaming platform on June 23, finds French and her husband, Michael Dutton, driving their Airstream trailer across the country to visit cities and states where French hopes to find fresh inspiration for meals served at The Lost Kitchen.
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So far, French and Dutton have visited Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, and California. In the episode that aired Sunday, July 21, the couple came to Oregon, on what they said was the first day of spring.
The couple set up camp on a site overlooking Illahe Vineyards, in the Dallas area. The winery is, French said, one of their favorites, “that we procure wines from for The Lost Kitchen.”
French said in the episode that Oregon is producing all the things that go together. “This is the week of hazelnuts and wine and pasta and open fire cooking, pizza — there’s scene here. We’ve got to check it out.”
Before all that, though, French went on a “truffle foraging adventure,” though her husband, who wasn’t feeling well, stayed behind in the trailer. French met up with Elan Hagens, owner and founder of Temptress Truffles, and Kevin McFarland, who breeds truffle-sniffing dogs and guides truffle hunting excursions.
Hagens told French that the Willamette Valley is one of the “most fruitful regions” for truffles, and the trio, accompanied by a truffle-hunting dog, walked through a wooded area, searching for black truffles and Oregon winter white truffles.
Then, French drove to Portland, where she stopped in at Pastificio d’Oro, for a lesson in preparing hand-made pasta.
“I’ve always wanted to learn how to make handmade pasta, but I’m intimidated,” French said.
French met Chase Dopson and Maggie Irwin, noting that Chase and Maggie are partners, in that he takes care of the pasta, and she takes care of everything else. Dopson demonstrated his technique, which involves using a mattarello, a handmade wooden rolling pin.
French confessed that she’s never made pasta, and has felt “mortified and embarrassed” about it. Following Dopson’s directions, French rolled out pasta dough, and said, “I can already feel my mistakes.”
Both agreed with Dopson’s observation about cooking — “your mood is in your food.”
After cooking granola, with chopped hazelnuts and Oregon honey among the ingredients for breakfast at camp, French was joined by two visiting Lost Kitchen employees, Alex Burnham and Lauren Crichton, as they went to Illahe to preview some wines they might want for The Lost Kitchen.
When they started the wine cellar at The Lost Kitchen, French said, they wanted to have wines that you couldn’t find all over the place. “We wanted it to be like it came from these small vineyards that were doing thoughtful things,” she said. “And Illahe has been on our list since then.”
Karen Richards, of Illahe, poured a number of wines for French, Burnham and Crichton, and talked about the Illahe commitment to sustainability and natural growing practices.
Sitting outside, under a cloudy Oregon sky and with lush greenery in the background, French tasted one wine, and said, “Oh, we know this. This got us through the pandemic.”
A post shared by Tournant (@tournantpdx)
French’s next stop was Tournant, where Jaret Foster and Mona Johnson told French how they went from working in “classic kitchens” to meeting at the Portland Farmers Market, to starting a “farm to fire” dining business, where food is often prepared over an open fire.
Then it was back to Portland, where French was now joined by Dutton, as they walked with the St. Johns Bridge in the background. They agreed they had to go try “some West Coast pizza.” They went to Gracie’s Apizza, where owner Craig Melillo was making pizzas with seasonal ingredients.
“Apparently, Portland, Oregon is like the pizza spot on the West Coast,” Dutton told French. He lived and worked in New York for years, Dutton said, and loves New York pizza. “Let’s see how good it is” in Portland, Dutton said, and added that he bet Melillo was from the East Coast.
Melillo served up a hazelnut pizza with balsamic vinegar; a daily pie with green garlic pesto with kale, pickled chiles and potatoes; and a tomato pie with green garlic and Pecorino cheese.
French and Dutton chowed down. “Nice thin crust,” Dutton said, approvingly. “The pizza is legit,” French said. “We got some real talent on the West Coast for pizza. Might be giving the East Coast a little run for the money.”
Dutton then shared his theory with Melillo, that Portland is gaining a reputation as a pizza place because people are bringing their skills and talents from the East Coast.
Melillo said he grew up in Connecticut, just outside of New Haven, but added that Dutton’s theory was wrong. “I don’t think that’s exactly why it’s really good here,” Melillo said. “The thing about here is the ingredients are so good. Particularly in my case. Every cheese you’re eating, except the Pecorino, is from the Pacific Northwest.”
French concluded that a theme of the week in Oregon was, it’s not about how many people can you feed, “it’s about how many people can you do something really special for.”
Back at their camp, French invited some of the locals she met to share a meal she prepared, including duck breast, onions, hazelnuts, pears, truffles and pinot noir.
“I feel like we don’t ever want to leave,” French said.
The “Oregon: Wine Country” episode of “Getting Lost With Erin French” is “The Lost Kitchen” is
— Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com or @Kristiturnquist
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The Top Pilsner: Winner of the U.S. Open Beer Championship
The best pilsners of 2024 came in a variety of sub-categories.
The best pilsners in various sub-categories were announced by The U.S. Open Beer Championship in early July. The Ohio-based beer festival is one of the most prestigious in the world and along with the World Beer Cup and The Great American Beer Festival, is one of the big three beer festivals in the U.S.
This year judges tasted more than 9,000 beers across 170 styles submitted from breweries across the U.S. and globe. Though the competition gets the majority of its submissions from the U.S., it has also seen beers submitted from countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and elsewhere.
The competition was founded by brewer Dow Scoggins in 2009 and Scoggins recently told me the festival has always prided itself in the diversity of the categories it judges. You can see that when it comes to pilsners. The festival has five pilsner categories and a sixth category that can go either to a lager or pilsner (pilsners are a type of lager so although all pilsners are lagers, not all lagers are pilsners).
This year many major beer festivals have seen an uptick in pilsner submissions reflecting growing interest in the category from consumers. Many brewers I speak to have long preferred the subtle yet complex pilsner category to the more in-your-face IPA category which had come to dominate beer sales. In part because of this, these days pilsners are starting to take some market share from IPAs, though they are not yet as popular.
The pilsners below were all gold medal winners at this year’s U.S. Open Beer Championship, meaning they were deemed the best of the best by the festival’s panel of judges.
This popular Denver brewery with several locations is no stranger to success with several previous medals from prestigious beer competitions to its name. These include a 2024 bronze medal from the World Beer Cup for a beer called Smooth Exportations, a German-Style Oktoberfest. Here it took home the top prize in this competitive light and crisp lager category.
This brewery Czechs all the marks (get it?) for lovers of Czech/Bohemian pilsners with Czech Republic ingredients including the quintessential pilsner Saaz hop. Per the brewery, this beer has “a slight honey-like sweetness and toasted cracker flavor from the lightly kilned malt and a wonderfully spicy, herbal, and floral hop aroma.”
Only a true pill wouldn’t like this pils from Riverlands Brewing Co. that is made with German pilsner yeast and a mix of American Sterling hops and German Saphir hops. The brewery’s tasting notes say this beer features “a beautiful blend of floral, spice, lemongrass, and citrus hop flavors,” and “a pleasant bitterness.”
This gets the gold medal from me for best name on this list, which is all the more impressive because the brewery that released it, Taproom Beer Co., doesn’t exactly earn creativity points for its name. Getting back to this beer, it’s made with a new experimental hop called HRC-003 from the Hop Research Council and per the brewery “boasts [a] bouquet of tropical, stonefruit, and berry qualities.”
The latest award-winning brew from this critically acclaimed brewhouse and movie theater is named for the nickname given to the main character in the iconic Rocky franchise. Not only is this beer and many others from the San Antonio beer award-winning, I’m betting it pairs well with popcorn.
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Tennessee Whiskey vs. Bourbon: Understanding the Key Differences and Similarities
What’s the difference between Tennessee whiskey and bourbon? Not much.
One common misconception about bourbon is that it only comes from Kentucky, but that’s not true.
Tennessee whiskey is a type of bourbon, explained Matthew “Moss” Morrissey, executive director of Whiskey House, a nonprofit organization that uses its extensive collection of old and rare whiskies for charitable causes like auctioning off tastings to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
What do bourbon and Tennessee whiskey have in common? They must be bottled at between 80 and 125 proof ethanol, made of at least 51% corn and aged in new, charred oak barrels.
But Tennessee Whiskey must follow two more requirements:
“One, it’s made in Tennessee and two, it goes through the ‘Lincoln County Process,'” Morrissey said. “And that’s just a fancy way of saying filtering through charcoal.”
The carbon in charcoal bonds with undesirable compounds in whiskey and removes them before aging.
Does it make a difference?
“Yes, absolutely,” Morrissey said. “That’s why it’s smooth and mellow.”
Whiskey doesn’t have to be brown; that’s the effect of barrel-aging. Unaged whiskey, for example, is called white whiskey. Many distilleries called their white whiskey “moonshine,” though moonshine by definition is untaxed and unregulated, and anything you’re buying on the up-and-up is most certainly both of those.
Morrissey, a Nashville native, said not everyone held Tennessee whiskey in high regard historically. But that’s all changed — thanks to an expansion of premium spirits.
“Jack Daniel’s, over the last four years or so, has started producing more lines of whiskey that a lot of people have fallen in love with,” he said. “Even people who didn’t care about Jack Daniel’s before.”
Suddenly, some who claimed not to like Jack Daniel’s anymore because of overindulging in Old No. 7 in college changed their tunes, he said, adding: “Including myself.”
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Coy Hill High Proof
Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey
Old Dominick Bottled in Bond Tennessee Whiskey
Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey
George Dickel Bottled in Bond (Fall 2005)
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee whiskey: Type of bourbon, spirit recommendations, more
Charleston Tragedy: Police Report Driver in Fatal Hit-and-Run Had Been Drinking at Sweet Grass Vodka Lounge
kcota@postandcourier.com
The Sweet Grass Vodka lounge, pictured Nov. 16, 2022, in The Refinery complex on Meeting Street Road in Charleston.
BY TERI ERRICO GRIFFIS and KAILEY COTA
Now that police have offered a glimpse of what happened in the hours leading up to two 20-year-olds being struck and killed on a Charleston street, more questions swirl about how one of the men accused in the fatal hit-and-run could have been served alcohol at one bar in particular.
An investigator testified in court July 17 that Seth Carlson, 33, allegedly drank several beverages at Sweetgrass Lounge — a flagship bar for Sweet Grass Vodka that had lost its liquor license a month before the fateful night in late April.
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The Charleston-based spirits business and brand has been swirling in financial and legal trouble for most of 2024.
On March 5, the state Department of Revenue sent a letter to Jarrod Swanger stating that he hadn’t filed his South Carolina personal income taxes in 2020, 2021 and 2022, and also did not have liquor liability insurance coverage for the business. The same month, the state denied renewal of his liquor manufacturer license along with permits to sell on-premises beer, wine and liquor by the drink.
Swanger needed a liquor license to sell and serve alcohol to patrons at his Meeting Street Road lounge, located in The Refinery development on Charleston’s upper peninsula.
Assets inside the lounge and backroom bottling plant, including all liquor, were then seized from the property on April 19 by a creditor owed $2.5 million.
Neither Swanger nor his attorneys could be reached to discuss how he operated a private party at the lounge on April 28.
Staff at Alchemist Wine and Spirits at Six Mile in Mount Pleasant said that liquor was bought wholesale before the private party and charged to the Sweet Grass account.
Leading up to accidents, Carlson was part of a band playing a gig at Sweetgrass Lounge on April 27, Charleston Police Department investigator Jose Bordallo said during a July 17 hearing.
A bartender remembered seeing Carlson drink an Edmund’s Oast beer and shot of tequila before performing, the officer testified. After the gig, the bartender told police Carlson took another tequila shot and finished a band member’s beer so it wouldn’t go to waste, Bordallo said.
Police also talked to a bandmate who recalled Carlson drinking several alcoholic beverages. The band member remembered Carlson drinking one beer, two whiskey drinks and a shot of tequila, Bordallo testified.
Carlson left Sweetgrass Lounge around 9 p.m. and later arrived at Henry’s on the Market, Bordallo said. Bordallo did not present evidence indicating Carlson drank at Henry’s, a longtime business next to the historic Charleston City Market.
Police reported that Carlson was driving north on Morrison Drive around 1:12 a.m. on April 28. Video footage from the scene shows a Chevrolet pickup truck swerving around a slight curve and striking Arianna Gamber and Lizzy Zito as they walked along the roadway just past an entrance ramp to the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.
The truck, which police identified as driven by Carlson, did not stop after the collision. According to police, video footage a half-mile north of the collision site showed that his front passenger headlight was no longer shining.
Carlson continued driving for 10 minutes until a witness observed him “driving erratically” and eventually saw him crash his truck into a ditch on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in West Ashley.
The concerned witness got out to check on Carlson and noticed that he smelled of alcohol and was sweating, according to Bordallo’s testimony. Carlson then fled the scene on foot, abandoning his truck.
He was “three sheets to the wind” Bordallo said the woman told police during an interview.
A private company towed the truck on April 28 before police connected it to the double hit-and-run on Morrison Drive. The tow truck driver noted an empty beer bottle inside the truck but did not preserve it, Bordallo said.
A half-hour after the truck struck Gamber and Zito, a second car driven by Max Gentilin, 25, also struck the women, police say.
Video from the scene at 1:43 a.m. shows a car switch lanes just past the entrance to the bridge and veer into a bike lane. It struck the curb and then bounce over the victims’ bodies.
Gentilin had been drinking alcoholic beverages he held in both hands at a bar that night, Bordallo testified before Chief Magistrate Judge Richardine Singleton-Brown. Bordallo did not say which bar that video of Gentilin came from.
A walker discovered the women’s bodies about seven hours later.
Carlson is charged with two counts of hit and run with death and two counts of reckless homicide. Gentilin is charged with two counts of hit and run with death. Both defendants are free on bond.
Reporter
Kailey Cota is a breaking news and public safety reporter for the Post & Courier’s Charleston location. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina.
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Unveiling the World’s Best Pinot Noir: Insights from the Decanter World Wine Awards
Domaine Histoire D’enfer, L’enfer Du Calcaire Pinot Noir 2019,
Six Pinot Noir wines won Platinum medals at the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). The competition is the largest wine competition in the world and is considered among the most prestigious. Over 18,000 wines were entered in the recently completed 2024 judging. Below are tasting notes on the six winners and some background on their producers. All six medalists had identical scores of 97/100 points.
Domaine Histoire D’enfer, L’enfer Du Calcaire Pinot Noir 2019, 13.9% ABV, 750 ml
Domaine Histoire D’enfer is a boutique winery in Salquenen, Valais, Switzerland. Established with a focus on high-quality, small-batch production, the winery’s name, “Histoire D’enfer,” translates to “Hell’s History,” reflecting their region’s challenging but rewarding viticulture. The winery is dedicated to expressing the unique terroir of Valais through its wines.
The vineyards are characterized by limestone-rich soils, contributing to the wines’ minerality and elegance.
This Pinot Noir reveals a stunning ruby color with a bouquet that features aromas of ripe red cherries, cranberries, and subtle floral notes. The palate is nuanced and complex, with layers of red fruit, minerality, and a hint of spice. The texture is silky, with fine, well-ripened tannins and a balanced acidity that leads to a long, elegant finish. The limestone influence is evident, adding a distinct minerality and freshness to the wine.
The DWWA Judging panel described the wine as featuring:
Enchanting raspberry, strawberry, and freshly picked cherries charm and delight with a delicious infusion of sumptuous red licorice, clove, and star anise rippling alongside. Capacious and warming with a simmering gravelly undertone of mineral tannin. Superb!
Audeant Wines, Luminous Hills Pinot Noir 2021, 12.9% ABV, 750 ml
Audeant Wines, located in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, is a small family-owned winery dedicated to crafting premium Pinot Noir wines. The winery emphasizes sustainable farming practices and minimal intervention in the winemaking process to preserve the fruit’s purity and the vineyard’s distinct characteristics.
The vineyards are situated on a mix of volcanic and sedimentary soils at an elevation of approximately 700 feet above sea level.
Luminous Hills Pinot Noir is a vibrant and expressive wine with a deep garnet hue. The nose is filled with aromas of black cherries, raspberries, and a touch of earthiness. It offers a rich texture on the palate with flavors of dark fruit, cocoa, and a hint of spice. The wine is well-structured with fine tannins and a bright acidity, culminating in a long, nuanced finish.
The DWWA Judging Panel described the wine as exhibiting:
Ripe crushed cherries and perfumed red flowers leap out of the glass and cascade over the crunchy, youthful palate; with an immersive texture, silky smooth tannins and a squeaky-clean acidity. Impressively long and memorable.
Bay of Fires, Pinot Noir 2022, 13.6% ABV, 750 ml
Bay of Fires, Pinot Noir 2022, 13.6% ABV, 750 ml
Bay of Fires is a prominent winery in Tasmania, Australia, renowned for its cool-climate wines. The winery’s location provides ideal conditions for growing high-quality Pinot Noir, characterized by intense flavors and balanced acidity. The vineyards feature sandy loam and volcanic soils, which help to produce wines with great finesse and complexity.
This Pinot Noir from Bay of Fires is elegant and refined, showcasing a beautiful translucent ruby color. The nose reveals aromas of violets, blackberries, and a hint of spice. The palate is silky and smooth, with flavors of dark cherries, plums, and subtle oak undertones. The wine has a vibrant acidity and fine-grained tannins that provide structure and length, leading to a graceful finish.
In describing the wine, the DWWA Judging Panel noted:
Prior to 2024, we’ve never had a Tasmanian Pinot in our Best In Show selection. This year we have two. Was it because 2022 was a sensational vintage? Not exactly – the east coast of the island suffered from a spectacularly cool, wet season; elsewhere on the island, though, conditions did indeed vary from good to outstanding.
The first wine in our pair is a pan-Tasmanian blend with source fruit from several regions. It is a translucent dark red in colour, with warm, settled aromas of plum, cherry, and raspberry just teased towards sweetness with subtle oak. It is warm, soft and mouth-filling, built on the same core of subtly mingled fruits with muted, natural acidity and fine tannins, the combination giving an almost silky charm to the wine. This considered, restrained winemaking lays the groundwork for a Pinot which is hugely easy to drink yet at the same time deeply satisfying and highly amenable – a Pinot to sip on its own, to chill with fish or to serve at a cool room temperature for white meats and salads.
Yarra Yering, Pinot Noir 2022, 13% ABV, 750 ml
Yarra Yering is one of the most iconic wineries in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1969, it has a long history of producing exceptional wines that reflect the region’s terroir.
The vineyards are planted on a mix of sandy clay loam and volcanic soils, which enhance the aromatic complexity and structure of the wines.
The Yarra Yering Pinot Noir is a wine of great elegance and complexity. It is a light ruby color. It features fragrant aromas of red berries, roses, and a hint of forest floor on the nose. The wine is finely textured on the palate with flavors of strawberries, cherries, and delicate spice. The tannins are soft and silky, complemented by a refreshing acidity that enhances the wine’s length and balance.
The DWWA Judging Panel described the wine as being:
Alive with bright red cherry, raspberry and strawberry fruit with just a subtle hint of five spice oak. Solid and smooth with velvety tannins and a melting spine of acidity. Long and lingering with a vanilla plum finale.
Lowestoft, Single Vineyard Jacoben Pinot Noir 2022, 13.5% ABV, 750 ml
Lowestoft, Single Vineyard Jacoben Pinot Noir 2022, 13.5% ABV, 750 ml
Lowestoft is a premium wine producer in the Derwent Valley, Tasmania, Australia. The winery focuses on single-vineyard expressions that highlight the distinct characteristics of their unique terroirs. The vineyards are characterized by sandy loam over clay, which helps to produce wines with depth and complexity.
This Single Vineyard Jacoben Pinot Noir is a testament to the exceptional quality of Tasmanian Pinot Noir. It displays a brilliant ruby color with a bouquet of red cherries, wild strawberries, and subtle floral notes on the nose. The palate is rich and layered, offering dark fruit flavors, earthy undertones, and a touch of spice. The wine is well-structured with refined, well-integrated tannins and vibrant acidity, leading to a long, elegant finish.
In describing the wine, the DWWA Judging Panel observed:
The second of this year’s outstanding 2022 Tasmanian Pinot Noirs comes from the Derwent Valley, just north of Hobart and in the rain shadow of Mount Wellington. The region can be drought-susceptible in warm summers, but in the wetter season of 2022 its site stood it in good stead.
This is a darker wine than its pan-Tasmanian peer, but beautifully crafted: singing red fruits without any shadowing from oak and with the intrinsic grace and charm of the Derwent Valley’s fruit well to the fore. On the palate, it is pure, bright, and mouth-filling, packed with juicy raspberry; both tannins and acids are soft and sustaining. They nourish and ease the gorgeous fruit core through the palate to a gently subsiding finish. There’s just a touch of tarry complexity behind those fruits. Virtuoso work from a Pinot region of extraordinary promise.
McArthur Ridge, Southern Tor Pinot Noir 2022, 13.5% ABV, 750 ml
McArthur Ridge is in the Alexandra Basin, Central Otago, New Zealand. The winery is known for its high-altitude vineyards, which produce Pinot Noir with distinctive character and depth. The vineyards feature schist, gravel, and sandy loam soils, which contribute to the wines’ concentration and minerality.
Southern Tor Pinot Noir is a beautifully crafted wine with a deep ruby color. The nose is expressive, with aromas of blackberries, dark cherries, and a hint of spice. The palate is rich and concentrated, featuring layers of ripe fruit, earthy notes, and well-integrated oak. The tannins are firm yet velvety, and the wine’s bright acidity provides balance and length, resulting in a complex and satisfying finish.
In commenting on the wine, the DWWA Judging Panel noted:
We may not have found any Burgundian Pinot Noir wines to feature in this year’s Best In Show selection, but three Pinots from the Southern Hemisphere goes some way to compensate. This example from the Alexandra Basin sub-region shows why there is so much excitement about Central Otago.
It’s translucent dark red in color, with articulate aromas of warm red berries, red cherries, and root spice. It’s softly articulated on the palate and sweet-fruited, with great grace and poise. The wine’s structure comes more prominently from its acidity than from its relatively discreet tannin profile. In just two years, it has already begun to soften and open; look out for stones and an herbal complexity, as well as root spice, on the finish.
These six wines have been recognized for their exceptional quality, reflecting their respective producers’ unique terroirs and winemaking expertise. They are, without question, among the very best Pinot Noir wines in the world.
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