Remember when you were a new bourbon consumer? Ah, the good old days. You walked into a store, chatted with the liquor store owner and grabbed a bottle in the perfect price point for your wallet. Then, you started reading about bourbon, maybe found a … Continue readingThe Cycle of Bourbon Geeks
Since Jim Beam workers went on strike, I receive a common question: “Will this lead to other distilleries going on strike?” The answer is no. As labor relations go, unions make agreements with the companies they work for. Every distillery reaches collective bargaining agreements with … Continue readingBourbon Distilleries and Their Union Status
In celebration of #BourbonRebirth, I’m ranking the most-influential bourbon brands since 1980, when bourbon mattered little on the national scene. Bourbon made its comeback because of passion, good bourbon and great effort. Meet brands 10 through 6. Read Part 1. 10. Willett An argument could be … Continue readingBourbon Rebirth: The Brands That Saved The Spirit, Part 2
Several bourbon industry stalwarts were elected into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, and one bourbon giant earned the even more rare honor of the Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement award. A joint effort between the Kentucky Distillers’ Association and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival since 2001, … Continue readingKentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Inductees 2016
In my new book, Bourbon: The Rise, Fall & Rebirth of An American Whiskey, I pay tribute to the men and women who built bourbon and brought it back from near extinction. These are the most important groups for bourbon’s rebirth. Next week, I detail the … Continue readingWho Brought Bourbon Back?
Bourbon distillers are about to go into shutdown mode. At least once a year, distilleries shut down for anywhere from two weeks to a month to make scheduled repairs. Just as your mechanic replaces certain car parts based on mileage, distillery maintenance crews and vendors repair … Continue readingBourbon Distillers Prepare to Shut Down