Folk songs are usually far older than the singers we associate with them. Like all oral traditions, folk songs evolve over time, often incorporating bits and pieces of stories belonging […]
The Value of Maple Syrup in Distilling
I felt a touch of autumn in the air this morning and my first thought was…pancakes with maple syrup. (And a giant cup of coffee!) I make my own maple […]
The Truth Behind the “Bottled-In-Bond Act” of 1897.
Let’s clear up a few things about the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. I know the “BIB Act” has been written about an ENDLESS number of times, but there […]
Venus, and a Little Barrel.
Most people have seen the Birth of Venus, by Sandro Botticelli- It’s very famous. The first full length nude exhibited in Europe since antiquity was bound to cause a stir. […]
Whiskers and Whiskey…and Wild Animals!
I don’t even know where to start with the article below! “Whiskers and Whiskey” was printed in The Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine) on March 2, 1933, but it describes […]
Who was George T. Stagg?
Part 1. I have always wanted to know more about the man behind the marketing myth. George T. Stagg’s name has had quite an impact on the bourbon industry- and […]
Salt and Whiskey.
During the late 1700’s, there was a trade imbalance between the East and the West; The west needed goods from the east more than the east needed goods from the […]
How Population Density Affected Whiskey Production in 1775
The map below roughly estimates our nation’s population density in 1775. It also gives insight into where those populations were centered. Larger populations consumed more beer and liquor, so brewers […]
Thoughts After the Passing of a Whiskey Legend.
Most people think of whiskey legends as having been distillers or distillery owners, but I would argue that America’s “whiskey historians” deserve some of that praise, as well. After all, […]
The Origins of the Word “Congener”
I was listening to a podcast recently* where the interviewee kept saying “congeners” to describe the specific chemicals produced during fermentation, and I kept thinking- I wonder how many people […]