Bourbon

Here is more detail about the bourbon shortage discussed here on Wednesday, courtesy of Sazerac President Mark Brown. (Sazerac owns the Buffalo Trace and Barton 1792 distilleries.)On pricing: "Costs have been increasing for energy and raw materials like corn," says Brown. "Any price increases we are implementing, or contemplating, are primarily tied to recovering those cost increases, as opposed to changing any brand’s position."On brands: "Each and every brand has a specific sales forecast out through its product age plus several years and therefore has its own allocation of whiskey," says Brown. That means for, let's say Eagle Rare Single Barrel, a 10-year-old, that they have allocated existing whiskey stocks based on meeting sales forecasts for 10+ years. If actual sales exceed the forecast in any of those years, shortages could occur, but since forecasts and inventory allocations are periodically adjusted based on actual sales, adjustments to production are made the only place they can be, in the current year.On staffing: "We are actually ahead of the curve since we anticipate the need to manage sales, allocations and stocks increasing more so in a year’s time from now," said Brown in response to comments here and elsewhere that Buffalo Trace should have hired its new inventory manager sooner.On the press release itself: "We felt it was time to explain why folks are already seeing gaps on the shelves (i.e. Weller 12) and from our vantage point why those gaps will be occurring on various brands for some time to come," says Brown. "We have had extensive debates about what to do about the supply / demand imbalance and our conclusion is that the best thing to do is stay the course with each brand’s position in the market and spread the available supplies out as evenly as we can." It should be noted that this is an issue throughout the entire whiskey industry. Sazerac is now on-the-record as to how it intends to deal with the matter. If any other producers decide to weigh in on the subject, you'll read about it here.

Bode Miller BourbonBlog.com interviews is American World Cup alpine ski racer Bode Miller in the video above. He says he has taken a year off and has been supporting his wife’s volleyball career, but his season will start back up soon. Bode says he is a fan of Fireball and honey flavored whiskies, but has a hard time drinking Bourbon and mint juleps. Interview filmed at the Barnstable Brown Gala: The celebrity packed gala, which has raised and donated approximately $9,000,000 to the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Research Center at the University of Kentucky over the past seven years, is in its 25th year. Founded by twin sisters Patricia Barnstable Brown and Priscilla Barnstable, along with Patricia’s late husband Dr. David E. Brown Watch more of BourbonBlog.com’s Derby coverage on this link: Kentucky Derby . Bode Miller and Morgan Beck Like this article? Here are some other articles of interest: Smokey Robinson Interview Emilio Estevez at Barnstable Brown Kentucky Derby Eve Gala Marisa Miller at Kentucky Derby 137

BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer interviews Miss Kentucky Jessica Casebolt in the video above at Kentucky Derby 139′s Steamboat Race. As a native of Pikeville, Kentucky, Jessica says she is proud to call Kentucky home and is taking a year off from studies at Georgetown College with a lot planned for her time as Miss Kentucky. This includes partnering with the American Heart Association for her platform of “Heart Health Awareness,” with efforts to educate youth on how to live healthy. Watch more of BourbonBlog.com’s Derby 2013 coverage on this link: Kentucky Derby . Video filmed edited and by Tyler Gater and Andy Freudenberg. Current Derby Photos by Tyler Gater and Andy Freudenberg.  Miss Kentucky Jessica Casebolt Miss Kentucky Jessica Casebolt and BourbonBlog.com’s Tom Fischer Miss Kentucky Jessica Casebolt We only encourage responsible drinking by those of legal age. Never drink and drive. Like this article? Here are some other articles of interest: Valerie Harper Interview Gorgui Dieng, NBA Draft Pick and U of L Basketball Player, Interview at Kentucky Derby 139 Smokey Robinson Interview

Valerie Harper became known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, photo courtesy Getty Images BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer interviews actress Valerie Harper at Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala 2013 in the video above. She attends Derby shortly after her announcement of her terminal brain cancer which was in March 2013. Valerie Harper,  age 73, most known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, she says isn’t letting her condition get her down. Valerie tells BourbonBlog.com that she is currently “feeling good and has no symptoms.” She says she is grateful for the outpouring of love and support from her fans who are concerned about her battle with cancer. They  have sent her letters, gifts, pills, and “everything you can imagine to help me get better, she says. Valerie says she is happy to be back at Kentucky Derby and calls it true American tradition and one of the few of its kind in America. She attends Kentucky Derby with husband Tony Cacciotti. To bring back some memories, we’re sharing video of The Mary Tyler Moore Show theme song and TV intro below. Interview filmed at the Barnstable Brown Gala: The celebrity packed gala, which has raised and donated approximately $9,000,000 to the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Research Center at the University of Kentucky over the past seven years, is in its 25th year. Founded by twin sisters Patricia Barnstable Brown and Priscilla Barnstable, along with Patricia’s late husband Dr. David E. Brown Watch more of BourbonBlog.com’s Derby coverage on this link: Kentucky Derby . Valerie Harper with Tom Fischer The Mary Tyler Moore Show Video filmed edited and by Tyler Gater and Andy Freudenberg. Current Derby Photos by Tyler Gater and Andy Freudenberg.  The Mary Tyler Moore Show Theme Song and Inro Like this article? Here are some other articles of interest: Smokey Robinson Interview Emilio Estevez at Barnstable Brown Kentucky Derby Eve Gala Stephen Amell Interview

Last summer, part of the former Vermont American Corp. complex in downtown Louisville was razed to make way for the downtown portion of the Ohio River Bridges Project. At the time, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear announced that the remainder of the complex would be redeveloped and that negotiations with a prospective developer were underway. The site is just south of Louisville Slugger Field, home of the Louisville Bats, a minor league (AAA) baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. It is at the easternmost end of the Whiskey Row district that Louisville has been trying to revive. The Vermont American property has been vacant for decades. The site is heavily contaminated. Vermont American's parent company, Robert Bosch Tool Corp., has agreed to pay for environmental cleanup of the grounds and courtyard.Meanwhile, Louisville Distilling Company has been talking about opening a distillery in downtown Louisville since before it launched its Angel's Envy brand two years ago. The bourbon whiskey for Angel's Envy is made by an undisclosed distillery, then finished in port casks by Louisville Distilling. The company is owned by Chicago entrepreneur Mark Bushala but Lincoln Henderson, former master distiller at Brown-Forman, is responsible for the whiskey. His son, Wes, and grandson, Kyle, run the day-to-day operation.Rumors swirling around Louisville are now connecting Louisville Distilling to the Vermont American site. A few blocks west, Heaven Hill is nearing completion of its Evan Williams Experience and another non-distiller producer, Michter's, is trying to develop another old building into a micro-distillery and brand homeplace.Earlier this week, the rumors gained credence by being reported at Insider Louisville. Asked about the rumors, Kyle Henderson did not confirm the Vermont American site but did announce which Louisville architects won the redevelopment job. He also hinted that an official announcement about the company's future plans would be made by the end of the month. Other sources at Angel's Envy/Louisville Distilling are making no effort to distance themselves from the rumors.The Angel's Envy brand is doing well and doesn't need the buzz, but the distillery project has increasingly seemed like a pipedream. Since several recently announced new distilleries, including Michter's, have failed to materialize, the Hendersons need to manage expectations.Even if the location is announced next week, realization of the distillery dream is still a long way off. Environmental remediation of the site has yet to begin. Construction will take about a year. Finally, the distillery equipment will need to be built, installed, and tested.Louisville's Vendome Copper and Brass, which is nearby, will no doubt make the equipment. Vendome recently increased its estimated time from order to delivery to nine months.Assuming distillation begins by the end of 2014, an optimistic projection, nothing will be ready to sell before 2019. It's also not known what Louisville Distilling intends in terms of scale. Will it be a small, demonstration distillery like Evan Williams is planning, or large enough to allow the company to stop relying on bulk whiskey purchases? Transitioning a bulk-based brand to home made has never been accomplished but if anyone can do it, Lincoln Henderson can.Louisville city boosters praise the idea of a craft distillery on the Vermont American site because it will provide another tourism-friendly business across from the ballpark, as well as anchoring the Whiskey Row redevelopment with a whiskey-oriented attraction. Coincidentally, the western end of Whiskey Row is anchored by the Louisville Slugger Museum. The Michter's site is right across the street.The recently-opened Yum Center arena is also on Main Street, in the approximate center of the redevelopment area, which is also adjacent to the Ohio River. During Louisville's recent Kentucky Derby festivities, Angel's Envy hosted a temporary 'pop-up' bar close to the Vermont Ame

Kid Rock pours Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe a drink Do you have what it takes to hit the road and be Kid Rock’s personal tour bartender AND are you planning on seeing Kid Rock in concert this summer? Watch the video above to learn more as Jim Beam tells BourbonBlog.com that Kid Rock is searching for his very own personal bartender for his “Best Night Ever” tour this summer which will also feature Kool & the Gang, Uncle Kracker, and ZZ Top. Kid Rock has become a part of modern concert history for this tour making it affordable for all to see and capping tickets at $20 a piece. Jim Beam is giving you the enter the contest to become Kid Rock’s bartender by writing an essay through June 7, 2013 on this link: http://www.jimbeam.com/music/kid-rock. This creative contest gives Jim Beam spokesperson Kid Rock the chance to find a Jim Beam fan to master the art of mixology. If you win, you get $10,000 and the opportunity to be trained by Jim Beam’s master mixologist, Bobby Gleason plus Kid Rock on his summer tour for three concert stops during his “Best Night Ever” including  Irvine, Calif. (July 26); Detroit, Mich. (August 10); and Chicago, Ill. (August 30). The full concert tour is listed below and we’ve also included a portion of what has been reported as Kid Rock’s rider list for your entertainment, full list is on The  Smoking Gun. Best Night Ever Tour Dates – tickets $20  Jun 28 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live Kool & The Gang & Uncle Kracker Jun 29 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center Kool & The Gang & Uncle Kracker Jul 02 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center Kool & The Gang & Uncle Kracker Jul 05 Darien, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center Kool & The Gang & Uncle Kracker Jul 06 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain Kool & The Gang & Uncle Kracker Jul 09 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center Kool & The Gang & Uncle Kracker Jul 10 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center Kool & The Gang & Uncle Kracker Jul 12 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre Uncle Kracker & TBD Jul 19 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Uncle Kracker & TBD Jul 20 Dallas, TX Gexa Energy Pavillion Uncle Kracker & TBD Jul 23 Albuquerque, NM Isleta Amphitheater Kool & The Gang & Uncle Kracker Jul 24 Phoenix, AZ Desert Sky Pavilion Kool & The Gang & Uncle Kracker Jul 26 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater – Irvine Kool & The Gang & Uncle Kracker Jul 28 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Jul 31 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Aug 03 Denver, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Aug 09 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theater ZZ Top Aug 10 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theater ZZ Top Aug 11 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theater ZZ Top Aug 14 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theater Aug 24 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Aug 25 Indianapolis, IN Klipsch Music Center ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Aug 28 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Aug 30 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Sep 04 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Sep 06 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Sep 07 Pittsburgh, PA First Niagara Pavilion ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Sep 10 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Sep 14 Atlanta, GA Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Sep 15 Tampa, FL Live Nation Amphitheatre ZZ Top & Uncle Kracker Portion of Kid Rock’s Rider Matthew Shafer is Uncle Kracker Kid Rock Live on “Best Night Ever” Tour Kid Rock Drinking Jim Beam as Bobby serves him Like this article? Here are some other articles of interest: Kid Rock and Jim Beam Offer Fans Free Music Downloads of new song “Times Like These” and live Comerica Park concert Kid Rock and Red Stag TUACA’s Drinks and Ink Tour Dates with DJ Ravi Drums and

We learn about Hendrick’s Gin and what makes it so unique from  Mark Stoddard, USA Hendrick’s Gin Ambassador. Hendrick’s Gin is made at the Hendrick’s Gin Distillery in Girvan, Scotland. Hendrick’s is the marriage of two different spirits from two rare and unusual stills: the Bennet Still and the Carter-Head still. By combining the two, we are able to create an extraordinarily smooth gin that has the required character and balance of subtle flavors. This video on BourbonBlog.com was filmed edited and by Tyler Gater and Andy Freudenberg. Photos from Derby by Tyler Gater and Andy Freudenberg Two Stills at Hendricks Gin Distillery, Girvan, Scotland Tom Fischer tasting some Hendrick’s Gin Like this article? Here are some other articles of interest: Bartender John Bush of Pork Slope, Brooklyn and Hendrick’s Gin Cocktail All Aboard the Bourbon Boat Hendrick’s Gin at Taste of Derby 2013

Watch the video above as BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer joins Bartender John Bush, Owner of Pork Slope, and they drink John’s Hendrick’s cocktail. This cocktail is a riff on the Lychee Martini, and John tells us using Hendrick’s Gin makes it more complex. Here is the recipe Hendrick’s Lychee Martini BourbonBlog.com’s Tom FIscher and Bartender John Bush Owner of Pork Slope in Brooklyn, Brooklyn 2 oz. Hendrick’s Gin 1 Dash simple syrup 1 Dash citrus bitters 1 Long dash juice of Lemon 1 Long dash juice of Lime Splash of Soho Lychee Liqueur Splash of Lychee Flavored Hana Sake Shake all ingredients over ice, strain in cocktail glass Lemon twist. Pork Slope, Brooklyn, New York Soho Lychee Liqueur Lychee Flavored Hana Sake Video filmed edited and by Tyler Gater and Andy Freudenberg. Photos from Derby by Tyler Gater and Andy Freudenberg Like this article? Here are some other articles of interest: John Calipari interview about John Calipari Maker’s Mark Limited Edition Bottle Z’s Fusion, Louisville, Kentucky Plymouth Gin Bartender’s Breakfast at Tales of the Cocktail

CLICK ABOVE TO PLAY PODCAST Listen to our podcast above as BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer interviews Blair Bowman, Founder of World Whisky Day, to celebrate World Whisky Day which is this Saturday, May 18, 2013. Blair encourages all whiskey lovers to drink any kind of whisk(e)y at a party, bar, or simply their home (no matter how many people gather together) and to log onto this link now to officially register their event ahead of time. Whether you’ll drink a glass of Bourbon, Scotch or any whiskey, Blair wants to include YOU and your event on the official map during the second annual World Whisky Day to show the world we’ve all come together to celebrate our favorite beverage! BourbonBlog.com interviewed Blair last year on the first World Whisky Day, check out that interview on this:World Whisky Day  Blair says he came up with the idea of creating a day of celebration to toast Scotland’s national drink and major export and he could never have dreamt it would prove so popular. This soon to be graduate of Hispanic Studies found himself being hailed as one of the country’s brightest young entrepreneurs as his creation prompted more than 20,000 people to attend one of more than 200 whisky events held in 30+ countries as far afield as Kuala Lumpur to New Zealand and Alaska to Argentina. Since then the idea and the brand have grown stronger and ahead of this year’s event www.WorldWhiskyDay.com (Saturday May 18) he shared the life-changing effects it has had on him. “Last year I was thinking, I must start getting a CV together for when I finish my degree and this year people have been sending me their CVs wanting to come and work for World Whisky Day!” Blair said.  “I’ve had guys from Hong Kong and Australia getting in touch asking if there are job opportunities. It’s just mad. “After I finish my studies World Whisky Day is going to be my full-time job. I really believe it has such massive potential that it will be a viable business and I’m so excited about it. Blair Bowman, Founder of World Whisky Day “I’ve been getting recognised a lot more as well, in public but also within the Scotch Whisky industry which is great. I suppose last year I might have been dismissed by some in the business as just some young guy with no clue but now distributors and distilleries are seeing the potential that the event has and they’re keen to be involved.” Indeed whilst Blair was begging and borrowing to get the event off the ground last year, this time around established firms have come to him to offer support and discuss joint promotional opportunities. “Last year the website couldn’t cope with the traffic it received on the day but this year cloud computing firm iomart got in touch to offer a dedicated server so the site won’t go down this time,” he explained. “BrewDog contacted me and they’re planning to do some taster events at their bars across the UK on the day and also the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Edinburgh and London, which are usually members-only clubs, will be open to the public which is just fantastic. “I’ve been overwhelmed by the response in terms of people’s passion to celebrate our national drink but also by the industry to get onboard and get involved and to grow its reputation. “I think distilleries are seeing it as a good opportunity to all come together under an independent umbrella group which can be mutually beneficial for everybody. And as they get involved, they’ll be able to influence and decide the direction of how the event should evolve.” With well over 100 events already confirmed worldwide for World Whisky Day 2013, Blair is confident this year’s celebration will top the inaugural event “This year we have events in every continent – except Antarctica. That would be great if we could get something happening in Antarctica! Someone tweeted us to say they were coming over to Scotland from Perth in Australia to celebrate World Whisky Day, which is almost difficult to comprehend but it shows how far

Woodford Reserve Bar at Fort Knox Woodford Reserve Room Fort Knox The first ever Woodford Reserve branded room in the Army opened today at Fort Knox. On May 15th, The Woodford Reserve Room was revealed at the Saber and Quill Club at Fort Knox during an opening ceremony and an evening reception. “Even though Fort Knox is an Army installation, we really consider ourselves part of the community and the Commonwealth,” Fort Knox Garrison Commander Colonel Bruce Jenkins tells BourbonBlog.com. “It’s an honor to have an important piece of Kentucky heritage – bourbon – showcased here on the installation.” The grand opening included a ribbon cutting followed by a celebration offering a live band on the verandah, hors d’oeurves, and tastings of Woodford Reserve and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. In addition, a limited number of event-specific, commemorative Woodford Reserve engraved bottles were sold to the first 100 guests with all proceeds benefiting the Army Emergency Relief Fund, a fund to he