I got a book in the mail this week—I get a lot of books (and I’m definitely not complaining!) and I am particularly excited about this one. Whiskey & Philosophy A Small Batch of Spirited Ideas (Wiley 2009) is one of the most conceptually interesting whiskey books I’ve encountered. Editors Fritz Allhoff and Marcus P. Adams (Allhoff is a philosophy professor and Adams is a PhD student in philosophy) have divided this collection of essays into five “units,” adding definition to this multifaceted exploration of whiskey that runs the gamut from history to ethics. The collection includes equally broad perspectives from a diverse group of authors, including a foreword by our friend (and Master of the Quaich) Charlie MacLean.

I’m hopeful about this combo of tasting notes and history, often intermingled with personal vignettes. I’ve always maintained that the complicated and strikingly finite aspects of whiskey are  profoundly  illuminated by context. Though the contributors’ backgrounds and nationalities attest to the global significance of whiskey, both editors are American and have chosen to use the “whiskey” spelling throughout the book. Such a decision is always a defining moment in whisk(e)y literature, and it interests me to read how various authors negotiate the slippery slope of “whisky” versus “whiskey.” In their introduction Allhoff and Adams defend American whiskey, paying homage and leveling the playing field.  An excerpt on page 4 caught my attention:

” Most important we think that American whiskey is really, really outstanding. Why is it that single malt Scotch is so celebrated and American whiskey is so routinely denigrated, at least comparatively? The biggest reason, it seems to us, is consumers’ lack of exposure to high-quality American whiskey.”

I’m looking forward to sitting down with this book tonight—and in keeping with the editors’ request at the start of the introduction—I will pour myself some whiskey as I sit down to read further.  Allhoff and Adams recommend bourbon—my only dilemma will be choosing which one.

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.

Great news for Formula One fans: Singlemalt TV will be periodically publishing video and news updates from the Brawn GP Formula One Team. The team secured the 2009 Constructors’ and Drivers’ World Championships in Brazil on Sunday October 18.

Jenson Button celebrates with the team following Brawn GP’s duel World Drivers’ and World Constructors’ Championships in Brazil.

The latest news from Brawn GP:

Jenson Pays Tribute to the Team at Brawn GP

Jenson Button made an emotional return to Brawn GP’s factory in Brackley today to pay tribute to the team which won the 2009 FIA Formula One Constructors’ and Drivers’ World Championships in Brazil on Sunday.

After a hectic forty-eight hours following Sunday’s race which saw Jenson fly back from Brazil on team-mate Rubens Barrichello’s plane and go straight to Bluewater Shopping Centre for a fan and media appearance, Jenson’s priority was to get to the factory and speak to his team.

Champagne glass in hand and in front of his six race-winning trophies from the 2009 season, Jenson led a toast to the team’s successes, gave his own heartfelt thanks for the team’s contribution to his Drivers’ title and paid tribute to those people who were no longer with the team after the difficult winter.

Entering the auditorium at the factory to the sound of his post-race ‘We are the Champions’ radio rendition Jenson received a resounding welcome from the 450 staff gathered to congratulate him.

Jenson Button celebrates with the Brawn GP staff.

Jenson said: “That’s why I didn’t have a voice for two days after the race! I’m really here today to say a massive well done and thank you to everyone at the team. We’ve worked so hard for these achievements for so many years. Some of us were here from the beginning back in 1998 and I arrived halfway through our journey in 2003 but everyone has put so much work in. I know that there have been a lot of very difficult times and over the winter there were times when we didn’t think that we would be here at all. It’s very sad that not everyone can be here who worked on this fantastic car. But the team had to become smaller to continue and together we produced a car that has been exceptional this season.

To be able to achieve the Constructors’ and the Drivers’ Championships in our first year, especially after such a difficult winter, is an amazing achievement. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions. The first few races were magnificent. It looked like it was a walk in the park but it really wasn’t. Then we had some difficult races, especially myself but also as a team where we struggled. But we fought back hard and when we needed to improve the car, you guys did it. Rubens gave us two more wins in Valencia and Monza at an important time to boost our morale and prove just how quick the car was. We have a great leader, a fantastic leader, in Ross. The Big Bear can’t be here today but I know that when he gets back, he’ll be celebrating with you!

We proved in Brazil last weekend that we deserve these Championships. We’ve fought so hard and a Championship season is about achieving the results when you need to. We’ve had some difficult races but we always did the best job that we could. So we should raise our glasses as the new Formula One World Champions of 2009. We’ve done what we set out to achieve. It really is going to take some time to sink that we are there. Celebrating our victories here with you today means so much to me and we are really going to enjoy this moment. Thank you so very much for your amazing contribution to our successes.”

Jenson Button in action.

All images and news release courtesy of Brawn GP.

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.

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.

There’s been a serious buzz about bourbon for a while now, and tonight it will all come together in the launch of Kentucky’s monumental “Team Bourbon.” The brainchild of a group of spirited Kentuckians—all invested in the tourism and economic stability of the state—Team Bourbon will combine the efforts and offerings of a number of agencies interested in promoting the “Bourbon Lifestyle.”

The logo for newly formed Team Bourbon, Singlemalt TV will bring you the launch live from Lexington tonight.

Having experienced astounding growth in the past year (the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is ticking off passports left and right, as is Louisville’s restaurant-based Urban Bourbon Trail) there is no better time for Bourbon to enter the limelight. Team Bourbon members include the Anderson County Tourism Commission, Bardstown-Nelson County Tourist & Convention Commission, Frankfort Tourism Commission, Lebanon Tourist & Convention Commission, Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau, Shepherdsville/Bullitt County Tourist & Convention Commission, Woodford County Tourist Commission, Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Kentucky Department of Travel and (of course) The Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

Team Bourbon will officially kick off tonight at the Hilton in Lexington, and will be accompanied by a reception for the runners participating in this weekend’s inaugural Bourbon Chase.

…and Singlemalt TV will be there to bring you the event LIVE at 7pm (broadcast may begin shortly after 7 depending on actual the start time of the event).

You won’t want to miss this truly historic event, the who’s who of the Bourbon industry will unite catalyze an effort that will continue to celebrate and  promote America’s Native Spirit and the Bluegrass State. Look out Napa Valley, from all forecasts Bourbon Country is looking like the next hot destination, and we’re positive Team Bourbon has some great ideas in store.

Stay tuned to Singlemalt TV on Facebook and Twitter. For updates throughout the day—we’ll keep you posted on the happenings as Team Bourbon prepares to make it’s debut! And mark your calendars for a weekend rife with Bourbon Country fun—SMTV crews will be on the scene around the clock to bring you full coverage of the Bourbon Chase beginning Saturday morning.

I was just reading Richard Paterson’s blog.

He shares an email he received recently about a Whyte and Mackay whisky bottle found off the coast of Nova Scotia by a fan enjoying an afternoon of snorkeling. The bottle is described as having a raised Whyte and Mackay insignia on the front and is also marked on the back—miraculously, after what one would assume was some length of time in the ocean–the bottle is intact.

Richard is taking guesses as to the age of the bottle, the blog promises that a reader who guesses correctly might receive a little something special from the legendary Master Blender.

Here is a photo of the front view of the bottle , courtesy of Richard’s blog. You can see more photos and submit your guess pertaining to the age of the bottle by visiting his blog.

Suggest a whisk(e)y that would be a perfect compliment to one of Wolffie’s Spam Rolls. The funniest entry….judged by Wolffie will be the winner.

You’ve seen our Singlemalt Sushi News Host Wolffie make some fine sushi—from beautiful tuna nigiri to last week’s fine tempura fried spam roll, and now you could use your love of whisky and sushi to win a Glencairn Water Jug and Glass Set.

Singlemalt TV wants to know what whisk(e)y you think would pair best with SPAM SUSHI!

We were skeptical ourselves at first…canned ham sliced, diced and rolled with all of the light, fresh ingredients we typically associate with sushi. It almost seemed sacrilegious! Lo and behold Wolffie had the crew pretty smitten with spam sushi by the end of the shoot. We want to hear from you! Leave us your suggestions as comments here and Wolffie will pick the winner and announce his choice on Thursday August 13. We will be accepting your entries until Monday August 10—Good Luck!

I caught up yesterday with Mark Reynier—Managing Director of Bruichladdich a fiercely independent distillery on Islay, about the state of the Scotch Whisky Industry and the implications of the Johnnie Walker plant closure slated for Kilmarnock.

Mark talks candidly about large conglomerates, mircrodistilling and the direction of the industry. Needless to say it was a thought provoking interview for me and I think you’ll enjoy it.