After spending time in Gascogne, falling in love with the people and products made here, I imagine that this would be the ultimate destination for any foodie craving an authentic experience. It’s certainly not an easy place to get to, and, beyond the Chemin de St-Jacques that meanders its way through the region, there’s very little tourism. I discussed the reasons for that with my friends Bernard and Vero in Montréal-du-Gers on Sunday.
Read MoreLast week we discussed bourbon myths, but there are rules for more than just bourbon. Here are a few you might not know
Read MoreWell the title says it all. Some sort of SNAFU at the NorCal distributor means we won't have the new Grooves and its trippy box in time for Ardbeg Day. Instead we will give you another absolutely unobtainable peater. This whisky was recently subject of a country wide manhunt thanks to a massive media blitz about its imminent disappearance. Honestly it’s always been my favorite of the “affordable” Suntory line and I think it does a lot that the Yama 12 does not.
Read MoreThe new release of Balvenie's Peat Week is upon us. Perfectly timed with the release of another extremely smoky whisky tomorrow (you Ardbeg heads know what I'm talking about), the Balvenie is unique in the Highlands for continuing to hand malted barley in their production process. The standard whiskies do include a tiny amount of peated malt as its subtle influence is key to the ultimate complexity of the Balvenie, but every year for exactly seven days, the distillery reverts to the old ways of doing things. At one point in history is was not possible to get Scotch without some peaty element included in the distillation.
Read MoreThere is still plenty of bourbon misinformation out there though. I read something incorrect about bourbon on an almost daily basis. Given that the bourbon regulations are written out in the United States Code of Federal Regulations, which are published on-line, you would think that there wouldn't be so much confusion about the rules, but some of these just seem to endure. So here are some of the most persistent bourbon myths.
Read MoreWe've got a few new weird wonderful little malts from the beautiful Isle of Mull on the western coast of Scotland.
Read MoreUpon arriving at the headquarters of Maison Ferrand, one is greeted by a lovely 18th century chateau set against the bucolic scenery of Cognac. The fields, vineyards, and country lanes, all give a distinctly old world feel. This staid environment, which is imbued with centuries of history, conveys an inescapable air of stodginess. But, as it turns out, looks can be deceiving. While Maison Ferrand certainly pays due respect to the great traditions and history of the property (as is evidenced by countless paintings and references to the founder throughout), the current team, led by Alexandre Gabriel, have made great strides in infusing this historic estate with a new vitality.
Read MoreLous Pibous Gascogne seems like a land lost in time. Time simply stops here. A few days can seem like an eternity, while a few years disappear in the blink of an eye. That’s how the locals describe it. It’s an old place, not only historically, but there are simply not a lot of young people around. They move away to Toulouse, Bordeaux or Paris for school or to find work. There seems to be plenty of work around here, but not the type of work most young people want.
Read MoreIt is always a thrill and a treat for me when I get a chance to learn more about the history and connections of things that I am passionate about. In Glasgow, at the start of our whisky trip, I was fascinated to learn how important this city is to the story of Scotch. Somehow, I had completely missed the relationship that this city, and its placement on the Clyde, has both with familiar brands and with the export of the Scottish “Water of Life” across the globe.
Read MoreEvery so often we get that special little email from our suppliers with the magic words in the subject line: INVENTORY REDUCTION. It's never usually worth getting excited for since the list typically consists failed types of flavored vodka, schnapps or some goofyball shimmery liqueur. But, every so often we open them up to find prices for serious products so ridiculous that we just can't hold back. The deals below make us question just how much margin these guys are taking to begin or who's losing their shirt on this deal.
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