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.

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.

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.

Fabulous Celebrations continue in Bourbon Country (we’ll bring you the Bourbon Chase next week). Buffalo Trace will toast the beginning of their distilling season with their White Dog Days event on Saturday October 17.

With a moniker derived from the new make spirit by the same name, White Dog Days promises to be a good time. With a barrel rolling contest (the prize is a Buffalo Trace barrel!) food, music, a Corn Hole tourney and of course barrel dancing— it should be a day of fun for the whole family at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort.

It’s been a busy couple weeks at Singlemalt TV headquarters! By now you’ve surely had a chance to check out some of our video from the Kentucky Bourbon Festival (September 15-20), and if you’re ready for more you’ll be in luck this weekend.

A screen grab from the Maker’s Mark Booth at the KY Bourbon Festival Gala 9/19.

We’re sending a crew back to Kentucky to shoot the FIRST EVER Bourbon Chase—and we couldn’t be more excited.

In case you hadn’t heard about this innovative event, the Bourbon Chase is a 36-hour, 200-mile relay along the Kentucky       Bourbon Trail. Beginning Saturday teams of runners will head from Jim Beam east to Bourbon Capital Bardstown, through Heaven Hill Distillery and onward to scenic Maker’s Mark in Loretto. The route takes runners through some of Kentucky’s most historic and ogle-worthy regions. After leaving Maker’s Mark runners head past a famed Civil War battlefield and south through the Bluegrass’ second oldest city, Stanford. North to Danville and on through Harrodsburg—runners will pass through some of the most significant locations in the rich history of the Southeast.

Runners  will begin the Bourbon Chase at Jim Beam

This sign will greet runners at Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto.

Stops at Four Roses and Wild Turkey in Lawrenceburg are first as the route re-enters Bourbon Country. Runners will then cross the Tyrone Bridge suspended high above the Kentucky River as they head into Horse Country and some of the most gorgeous visuals imaginable. The natural progression lends itself to a stop at Woodford Reserve, the home of the Derby’s official bourbon.

Bourbon barrels at Woodford Reserve.

Onward to Frankfort, past the remains of the Old Taylor Distillery now relegated to nary more than a landmark. Through The Capital and on to Buffalo Trace Distillery, another gem in the bourbon history books.

Finally runners will head for Lexington—miles on exquisitely beautiful countryside will eventually giveway to the buzz of the city—and (of course) the finish line.

The famous water tower at Buffalo Trace.

The event has been HUGELY popular in its inaugural year—with over 200 12-person teams participating and a fantastic party to end the race in Lexington (trust us, the folks in Kentucky are some of the best hosts on earth) you WILL NOT want to miss SMTV’s coverage of the Bourbon Chase.

Cheers.

The bottling line at Heaven Hill in Bardstown, the largest family-owned distillery.

The best exclusive coverage of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival is available at www.singlemalt.tv—check it out!

Once you’ve seen our coverage of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival head on over to our facebook page and leave us your thoughts, as always you can reach us through the blog as well!

Cheers and enjoy the videos!

In recent weeks I’ve noticed a bit of an interesting phenomenon: everywhere I go young people are drinking whisk(e)y. To clarify, the travels I’m referring to are those of the social nature,  and at every bar and event a quick glance around the room always reveals a pleasing number of hands clutching rocks glasses of that tell-tale amber spirit. When I first came to work at Singlemalt TV I did so with an open mind, and a penchant for work-related “research.”  My friends would raise their eyebrows when I ordered a (insert whisk(e)y of the night) on the rocks, and would keep those brows raised as they watched me sip (and enjoy) the drink, savoring its nuances and relegating them to my mental log of tasting notes. I wrote in an earlier post about ordering a Blanton’s at a local establishment and watching the waitress deliver it to my male companion, assuming that his vodka/grapefruit was (naturally) my order. Though I’m not sure who was more embarrassed I can assure you that I knew she was wondering about a girl like me and a drink like that. It was hard to refrain from smiling.

Last night I ventured out to see a fairly hip Boston area band, as the driver I sipped water and observed (often a great point of view for a writer!), lo and behold whisk(e)y was the drink of the night. In the mostly 24 to 35 year old crowd I’d estimate one out of three was sipping a whisk(e)y. Though the pickings were slim at this establishment everyone seemed content with a Jameson or Glenlivet (they kind of had to be!). I was floored.

It seems that whisk(e)y, in all its glory is working the young crowd with ease. The next time, when it’s not my turn to drive, I’ll be looking forward to clinking glasses with my fellow whisk(e)y drinkers—hopefully somewhere with a wide variety of great drams to choose from.

What do you think? Leave us your feedback.

We’ve talked a bit about food and whiskey pairings….but after interviewing Franz Scheurer and Jared Ingersoll about the American Whiskey tasting dinner they’re hosting next week in Sydney I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept. With the Kentucky Bourbon Festival around the corner I’m sure I will have the opportunity to taste some incredible bourbon and incredible food. Needless to say I wish I could be in Sydney to see the magic happen at next week’s  dinner.

Australia’s premier food and wine writer Scheurer and celebrated Chef Ingersoll have put together one tantalizing menu:

When the Fedex driver walks into our studio it usually means a new piece of camera/computer/broadcast equipment has arrived, but yesterday when I saw the tall skinny box, distinctly marked “this side up,” I knew immediately that it was no high tech gadget (don’t get me wrong, that’s exciting too). In fact, it was wholly the opposite. Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey is distilled in Denver and was created in a truly bizarre lemons-to-lemonade situation.

Neighbor’s George Stranahan and Jess Graber bonded over a shared passion for fine distilled spirits…as they watched Stranahan’s barn burn before them. Volunteer firefighter Jess Graber has responded to a report that Stranahan’s barn was on fire and in his attempt to control the flames I’m sure he could never have imagined the outcome of the seemingly horrible night. As the fire settled to embers the men discussed their appreciation for good drink, (and judging by the circumstances of their meeting I sincerely hope they were privy to a few choice libations). Of the rubble, literally, Colorado’s first and only microdistillery was born. Aged in new charred oak barrels for at least two years (our bottle was distilled on June 4, 2007 so presumably it’s spent relatively little time in the bottle) Stranahan’s has found its niche. They don’t advertise it but this whiskey is a single malt, actually made from locally produced Rocky Mountain barley. Stranahan’s is a proud one-trick-pony, producing this lone product with a remarkable level of success. Each bottle bears the barrel number and has a note, ours says, “barrel sampling today,” at 47% ABV and unchillfiltered that was probably all the commentary necessary. I will say this whiskey is one of the smoothest drinking I’ve had in a while, to me it tastes leafy and a bit botanical, but also substantial…sort of a dried-leaf and occasional hint of fruit with very earthy notes dominant to me at least ( in the interest of full disclosure I watch videos of Master Distillers passionately describing their whiskies as part of my job).

If you’ve had (or have) a bottle of Stranahan’s take a minute to submit whatever quip appears on your label, I bet there are some good ones!

….Wolffie will be presenting Stranahan’s with complete tasting notes a’la Wolffie next week on Singlemalt TV News, we’ve just got to make sure there’s some left….