Our slogan–exploring the whiskies of the world—truly sums up this week’s programming. Needless to say, we’ve been busy lately! We’ve added LOTS of new videos this week, all shot on location by SMTV crews.

Join us on Louisville’s newly-expanded Urban Bourbon Trail (the new passports look great!) for extended coverage of each of the UBT’s nine eateries. These establishments are complimentary in their diversity—from the best pork chop we’ve ever tasted at Baxter Station, to the cheerful red penguins that assume a life of their own at Proof on Main- representing “Urban” and “Bourbon” intermingled with history and Kentucky hospitality.

Ali Mutch mixes it up at Jockey Silks on the Urban Bourbon Trail.

The newly expanded Urban Bourbon Trail Passport includes new additions Z’s Fusion and Baxter Station.

In a land far, far away from the rolling pastures of the Bluegrass–on Orkney, off far Northern Scotland– is Highland Park.

In addition to holding the distinction of Scotland’s Northernmost distillery, Highland Park is the backdrop for a plethora of remarkable stories. Gerry Tosh, Head of Brand Education at the Edrington Group owned distillery, is a master at weaving Highland Park’s rich history into his tastings. Singlemalt TV’s live webcasts from Highland Park have attracted live viewers from all over the world, eager for Gerry’s input on their questions regarding the storied malt.

This week SMTV brings you two very special Highland Park tastings with Gerry,  Highland Park 1977 and Highland Park Ambassador Cask. You won’t want to miss these exceptional tastings shot on location at the distillery.

Gerry Tosh discusses his tasting notes on Highland Park Ambassador Cask.

And another treat for Bourbon Lovers–our brand new mini-distillery profiles from each of the eight distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Also on the docket this week—the launch of our video podcast check us out in the iTunes store and subscribe to our free podcast. We’ve got some great stuff available now (including the mini-distillery profiles) and we’ll be adding more regularly.

Pour a dram of whatever whisk(e)y of the world you prefer and enjoy our new videos. Subscribe to our podcast and leave your thoughts on the SMTV videos you think would be great podcasts. Cheers!

I recently read a great Associated Press Story by Bruce Schreiner (Master Distillers Take Star Turn in Bourbon World, October 30, 2009)  about the master distillers of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. I pounced on the piece eagerly, thrilled about the national acclaim for Kentucky Bourbon, and the homage to the phenomenal characters that grease the wheels of this vital American industry each day. The story did not disappoint. Just like my own experience in the Bluegrass, Schreiner locked into the the genuine passion and humanity of these bourbon-making legends, something unique and difficult to reconcile with the stardom that goes hand-in-hand with their profession.

Chris Morris conducts a tasting at Woodford Reserve, for all of our bourbon tasting videos visit the “Whisk(e)y Tastings” tab on the Singlemalt TV video player.

The AP piece features some great quips from the master distillers, taking readers to the Kentucky Bourbon All-Star Sampler (SMTV’s full coverage from the event can be seen by clicking this link), a premiere event sponsored by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association that kicked-off the bourbon-centric evening festivities during the 2009 Kentucky Bourbon Festival. 2009 was the first go for the All-Star Sampler and (trust me) it was a good time. Prior to arriving at the Sampler we has an idea of what to expect (thanks in part to the schedule, and in part to one of our crews who arrived on the scene to begin shooting in advance). Long tables lined the massive perimeter of the formidable tent where the Sampler was held (near JIDECO Hall in Bardstown),  and each of the distilleries had set up shop–with the master distillers serving up (characteristically generous) samples of their wares and signing fan memorabilia including made-for-the-occasion baseball cards featuring each master distiller.

Though most of my colleagues have had ample meetings and chats with the majority of these icons of the amber elixir, I arrived that Wednesday evening in September a star-struck rookie. The fabulous lights, crowded dance floor and projections of distillery logos above each respective table furthered my mild awe at the whole concept, adding to the festive, even glitzy ambience.  Though there were many new faces (though our camera crews were constantly shooting on location to capture the KBF I was working behind the scenes in Bardstown) I was almost immediately whisked off to make introductions, and I quickly learned that Kentuckians (master distillers included) are without a doubt, some of the most welcoming people on earth.

Jimmy Russell.

Master distillers are interesting people. They’re world-traveled, they’re highly accomplished chemists in their own right, and they have an incredible degree of responsibility each day. Master distillers also have some of the firmest handshakes I’ve encountered, they make eye contact and talk with the familiarity and ease of an old friend, they seemed to take genuine pleasure in pouring a good drop of Kentucky Bourbon for a Yankee gal with an eager palette and an empty glass.

Bottom line: The master distillers are delightful. Each and every single one of them, from Kevin Smith of Maker’s Mark, to Parker and Craig Beam of Heaven Hill, to the always gregarious Fred Noe of Jim Beam and each of the others these guys love what they do and they’re damn good at it. In numerous cases the craft is in their blood, honed over generations of fathers and sons. There is an overwhelming integrity about all of it and that’s what sticks with me as I write this. All of them were instantly warm and welcoming, and every encounter I had with them as the Kentucky Bourbon Festival marched on cemented my initial impression, they’re just a great group of remarkable (and remarkably low-key) Kentucky boys.  A fun piece on one of the master distillers is Singlemalt TV’s  tribute video Heaven Hill’s Parker Beam that screened at his 50th anniversary celebration at the Bourbon Heritage Center October 23,  you can WATCH IT HERE.

An excerpt from an email I received from Four Roses Master Distiller Jim Rutledge, sent just before Singlemalt TV crews headed to Bardstown for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, sums up everything I can now handily confirm:

I sincerely look forward to meeting you and talking Kentucky, Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Bourbon and about anything else you may want to know about what we do in Kentucky. You’ll find pretty quickly that it’s a lot easier initiating a conversation with a master distiller than some how bringing it to a close. So be forewarned.

I think of this email often and think about how much I appreciate Jim’s candor, I spoke to him recently and despite a packed travel  schedule (another aspect of the job mentioned in the AP piece) he was happy to chat…for a while (hey, he warned me!). As a veteran master distiller and sitting Chairman of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Board Jim is a true ambassador to the bourbon industry. Just like Fred, Parker, Craig, Chris, Jimmy, Kevin and Greg (unfortunately I didn’t get to meet Harlen Wheatley), Jim is the “Real McCoy.”

And yes, just like anyone who has ever met one of these easy-going icons of the bourbon business, I feel like I’m on a first name basis. I’d wager a guess that the master distillers probably wouldn’t have it any other way. Visit Kentucky and you’ll see too, and if you can’t get there just yet pour yourself a nice glass of bourbon and check out Singlemalt TV’s massive bourbon video selection for a virtual trip to Bourbon country, even if you’ve only got a few minutes you can check out each of the eight distilleries in under ten minutes by watching our NEW MINI DISTILLERY PROFILES HERE. Cheers!

Jim Rutledge at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival.

The Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau debuted the second edition of their Urban Bourbon Trail Passport today. The UBT has expanded to include nine premiere Louisville restaurants, each revered for great food and a great bourbon selection!

Singlemalt TV crews filmed profiles of each of the nine restaurants including Bourbon’s Bistro, Proof on Main, Baxter Station, Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar and Lounge, The Old Seelbach Hotel Bar, Blu Italian Grille, Z’s Fusion, the Brown Hotel Bar and the Maker’s Mark Bourbon House and Lounge.

Check out our segments from Proof on Main and Baxter Station.We’ll have the rest online shortly!

Curious about the UBT? Hear the Trail explained by Stacey Yates VP or Tourism Marketing at the CVB HERE. Here’s an excerpt from their press release sent this afternoon, which explains the UBT concept:

…Open to all residents and visitors age 21 and older, the Urban Bourbon Trail Passport program allows individuals to collect unique stamps from each of the nine participating stops and be rewarded with a special gift. New with this passport printing is a tiered prize system. Participants are encouraged to take their time enjoying Bourbon responsibly. The pace is entirely up to the participant as there is no time frame for completing the Passport. Those who visit all nine locations receive a t-shirt and a premium prize making them a “Trail Master,” while anyone who visits at least four locations will receive the t-shirt and be deemed a “Trail Blazer.”

Within the 60-page Passport, each location is identified on a map with its address and a short description, along with space for notes and the stamp. The booklet also includes instructions on how to use the Passport, and pointers on how to taste bourbon like an expert. The “Just a Step off the Trail” section describes additional attractions, stores and restaurants where bourbon culture is celebrated. There is also a map and guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries.

Passports can be picked up at any of the stops on the Urban Bourbon Trail or at the Louisville Visitors Center, located at 301 S. Fourth Street. Visitors at the Center can explore an introductory exhibit of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and purchase Bourbon Country merchandise, including the popular “Just Add Bourbon” line. For more information about planning a vacation to Louisville…The Gateway to Bourbon Country and the Urban Bourbon Trail visit www.JustAddBourbon.com.

The new UBT Passport.

As promised the youngest of the Knob Creek stocks have just come of age in Clermont, KY and bottling is set to begin next week.

It was earlier this summer when Beam Global Wine and Spirits realized they would encounter a shortage, and decided to act quickly to preempt the drought. The marketing team at Beam Global sent out t-shirts and ran a large-scale PR campaign thanking whiskey press and Knob Creek loyalists for (you guessed it) nothing.

Fred Noe and Jim beam President Bill Newlands prepare to taste a barrel sample of Knob Creek. (photo courtesy of the AP)

At the time of the shortage Beam Global anticipated that Knob Creek would once again flow in November, they have announced that the very first barrels were emptied today and Knob Creek should be back on the shelves by Thanksgiving (it has been absent some places since early September).

Now that is news we can raise a glass to!

The Jim Beam Distillery in Clemont, KY where Knob Creek is made.

Proof on Main was SMTV’s first stop on Louisville’s Urban Bourbon Trail, so it seems only fitting that it would also be our first segment to hit the channel in full. Proof on Main and the attached 21C Hotel made international waves earlier this month when Conde Nast Traveler Magazine announced that the 21C hotel was their 2009 Readers Choice Award for Best Hotel in the US. WATCH THE FULL PROOF ON MAIN SEGMENT HERE!

Having visited 21C  and Proof just last month we have no questions about why Conde Naste Readers would favor the unique destination. Situated in renovated Tobacco and Bourbon warehouses in the heart of Louisville, this industrial space has been transformed into a restaurant/ art museum and 90 room boutique hotel. The light-and-art filled space attracts travelers from throughout the world who are drawn to the unusual and conveniently located establishment which opened in 2006.

Sarah Robbins of Proof gives Ali Mutch a tour of the gallery as one of the famous penguins looks on.

One of the most popular and identifiable characteristics of both Proof and 21C are the big red penguins—these beloved statues are a permanent fixture in the art museum and can often be found in peculiar places (guest’s rooms, bathrooms…etc.) so renowned are these unmistakable creatures that guests often request them as props in playing practical jokes (a penguin in the bed? no problem at the 21C).

Sarah Robbins shows Ali Mutch around Proof on Main.

Hear from Sarah Robbins, Proof on Main Director of Operations as she regales the Singlemalt TV crew with tales of the penguins, the great food, art and some TERRIFIC bourbon cocktails (courtesy of bartender Jenny Pittman). See it all on Singlemalt TV as we take you to Proof on Main in the first installment of our full coverage from the Urban Bourbon Trail in Louisville, KY.

Proof on Main Bartender and bourbon cocktail Maven Jenny Pittman.

Singlemalt TV fans who happen to also be iphone users can now get a Singlemalt TV button right on the home screen of their iphone, how cool is that? It’s simple too, here’s how it works:

Step 1: launch Safari on your iPhone,
Step 2: Navigate on over to www.singlemalt.tv
Step 3: Tap the “+” at bottom of your screen, tap “Add to Home Screen”

Just like that you’ll have an SMTV button right on your home screen for easy access to your favorite whisk(e)y website. Enjoy!

Parker Beam: Heaven Hill Master Distiller since 1975.

Tonight Heaven Hill Master Distiller Parker Beam will celebrate 50 years making bourbon. Surrounded by his friends and family Parker will toast the occasion in Bardstown, Kentucky at Heaven Hill’s award-winning Bourbon Heritage Center. Singlemalt TV crews have had the honor of working with Parker quite a bit in the past year, you can catch Parker discussing his amazing career in our interview, WATCH PART ONE / WATCH PART TWO. You can also read about Parker’s Golden Anniversary in our news section HERE.

A screen grab from Parker Beam’s interview with Singlemalt TV.

Parker Beam is a remarkable man and a remarkable Master Distiller, and having collected a ton of great footage from our times with Parker—at the distillery and numerous events—we wanted to do something special for this monumental occasion.  As an honor to Parker we’ve put together a tribute video (it includes some great unseen footage and fantastic vintage photos courtesy of Heaven Hill), and Heaven Hill will be screening it tonight at the celebration!

We’ll share the video with our viewers this evening as well, so that we can all join in the festivities and raise a glass (bourbon of course) to Parker Beam.

Heaven Hill will honor Master Distiller Parker Beam tonight in Bardstown.

Heaven Hill will unveil Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2000 tomorrow (Parker introduced Evan Williams Single Barrel in 1995) as their busy weekend continues.  You can watch Parker’s tasting notes on Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 1999 HERE.

Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 1999, Heaven Hill will unveil Evan Williams Single Barrel 2000 tomorrow.

I’ve been looking at The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book, a recently released bourbon bible of sorts written by food and drinks writer Susan Reigler and featuring the wonderful recipes of master mixologist Joy Perrine. Joy, who has been named Louisville’s Best Bartender, is a veteran of the iconic Equus Restaurant and Jack’s Lounge, is an expert on all things bourbon.

I’ve always been a fan of the Hot Toddy and figured The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book would have a tried and true recipe. I’m planning to make one as soon as I get home.

Hot Toddy Mug

5 oz boiling water

2 oz Kentucky Bourbon

1 oz Simple Syrup

Lemon Twist

Pour hot water in a mug, add bourbon and simple syrup, garnish with a twist.

Enjoy the perfect fall drink.

Do you have a seasonal bourbon or whisk(e)y drink you enjoy? Share your recipe with us!

After a great weekend in Kentucky filming the Team Bourbon Launch and inaugural Bourbon Chase Relay our crew is back from the Bluegrass and editing is underway in the studio. If you missed the launch of Team Bourbon (we showed it live from Lexington Thursday) you can watch it JUST CLICK HERE

Toasting the launch of Team Bourbon.

The Bourbon Chase was, by all accounts, an incredible success. Torrential downpours Friday morning? No problem. Lightning? Didn’t miss a stride. Tornado warnings? No biggie. Our crew captured the ‘Chase—from the sopping wet start at Jim Beam all the way to the finish line in Lexington. We’ll have full coverage coming very shortly, and you can check out a few teasers from the race online now.

Many of the more than 150 teams went the extra mile (no pun intended) creating special t-shirts and accessories for the Chase.

“Team Winning Colors” heads for the finish line in Lexington Saturday.

Congrats to all the Bourbon Chase Runners for a brilliant inaugural event. Stay tuned to Singlemalt TV for full coverage coming soon.

Singlemalt TV crews are out location as a wet, albeit spirited relay is underway on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The race started this morning at the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont. I hear that despite the inclement weather the Bourbon Chase is going wonderfully and runners are taking the showers (and torrential downpours!) in stride.

A quick recap: Last night in Lexington the Bourbon Community congregated at the Hilton Downtown to toast both the launch of Team Bourbon and the inaugural Bourbon Chase Relay. Singlemalt TV covered the event live from the Hilton, as speakers including Kentucky Distiller’s Association President Eric Gregory, Bourbon Chase Founder/ Organizer Mike Kuntz, Kentucky Tourism Commissioner Michael Cooper and Lexington CVB VP of Marketing and Tourism Mary Quinn Ramer. Each of them discussed the importance of bourbon to the culture and heritage of the Bluegrass, while explaining the new Team Bourbon initiative which will focus heavily on innovative marketing of the Bourbon Lifestyle, a blend of Bourbon-centric culture and tradition that characterizes a way of life unique to Kentucky.

Through a variety of innovative marketing campaigns Team Bourbon, which unites numerous tourism groups across Kentucky, will showcase the Bourbon Lifestyle and the many attractions along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

If you missed our live coverage last night you can catch it all on the channel Monday. Stay Tuned throughout the weekend for video updates as the Bourbon Chase continues!

A statue of bourbon icon Booker Noe receives a tipple of Jim Beam as the Bourbon Chase begins.