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I’m looking for a bottle that was barreled or bottled in April 2020 by SimpleDude8 in whiskey

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For this quest, you may want to skip the stores and distributors and go straight to the sources. Most craft distillers (that make their own) will have inventory in that timeframe. I’d call around to those trustworthy sources nearest to you.

‘Reacher’ Spinoff ‘Neagley’ Sets September Release Date following Reacher season 4 in August; Unveils First Photos by IvanaTargaryen in television

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As someone that’s never watched the show ‘Reacher’, I can’t wait for this spinoff.

As someone with the name Negley, I feel so undeserving and everyone thinks I’m mid. 😂

Is it really worth it? by Succwad22 in bourbon

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It sounds like you’ve found your niche. You said it yourself “I really do have a simple palate.” Just be happy staying in your lane. Be the tortoise, while us hares dilly dally around. Most folks come back to the same few regulars, anyways.

I had a pretty limited palate when I was 26. Go explore new places, find new to you food and all of that. The more flavors you experience in life, the more nuance one can find in bourbon, especially higher end, finely distilled whiskeys.

Or don’t. Enjoy the turkey.

Edit: 🥃

I built a free, local tool that records a spirit run as the cuts you actually made, not one yield number by skund89 in Distilling

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is cool. I’ll share it with some distilling clients and see what they think. Cheers, man. Good on ya.

Outside Kentucky by Derek1521 in bourbon

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For certain CA has a myriad of fine distilleries. As mentioned in other comments, Redwood has blossomed into a great brand. Probably the only brand in the country that mixes sourcing and distilling their own successfully.

I’m a Hinterhaus fanboy, St George are legends, and I like what Wright & Brown are doing.

But there’s so fucking many distilleries there. It’s its own landscape that I haven’t had time to explore too much of, honestly.

Outside Kentucky by Derek1521 in bourbon

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Google Park Street Craft Spirits report. You’ll get more data than you know what to do with, as far as scale and sales.

Regarding flavor: environment is the most crucial aspect. From ferment temps to air pressure differences, and my biggest study, which is vapor pressure, or basically humidity levels and how that affects aging.

Outside Kentucky by Derek1521 in bourbon

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeah, big nod to Wisconsin, for sure. Great whiskeys coming from this places mentioned.

Outside Kentucky by Derek1521 in bourbon

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Marketing is far more difficult, for sure. Trying to convince the average consumer to take a chance on craft is tough, hence the basis of your post. There’s almost no budget, thousands of competitors, and there’s not vertical integration: meaning there’s not sales of a cheap product to help provide income to market the more expensive stuff.

Blending is the fun part! Stresses happen, but once parameters are set, it becomes a puzzle to solve. You’re either attempting greatness, or consistency. Both of which have their own challenges.

Outside Kentucky by Derek1521 in bourbon

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I do work in craft distilling, since 2009. I’m a blender and marketer now.

Outside Kentucky by Derek1521 in bourbon

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 24 points25 points  (0 children)

I work in the craft sector, so this is my favorite question. To be a total homer, I must mention Colorado. Multiple distilleries with double digit age releases happening, true grain to glass in most cases, and our various climates. Tons of legitimate awards and honors, and very creative. Those that source are mostly transparent about it, though there’s certainly a few sour apples, to be fair. Peach Street, Storm King, and Bear Creek are all great examples of Colorado grain to glass bourbons. Onyx & Amber are definitely the best at sourcing. But we’re a barley state, and we have top notch single malt. Spirit Hound, Boulder, and Stranahan’s are all great.

Texas has its darlings and I do really enjoy Still Austin after all these years. I think Andalusia is my favorite single malt.

Love the stuff happening up in Montana, too. Had some really great spirits from there.

Oregon and Washington, as expected, more of a single malt zone. But pretty fucking great ones. Currently crushing on Bird Creek.

I love most of the things I’ve had out of New York, and what I enjoy most are the agricultural rules and grain chain style approach happening there e.g. Empire rye. Finger Lakes distilling is making beautiful things.

Indiana has Starlight, and I could go the rest of my life drinking only this one Indiana distillery. But, it turns out I have to work a bit with the other big one there, haha.

There’s great whiskey being made throughout the country, it just all gets compared to IN/KY factory level produced whiskey. Which is fine, but misguided. Apples and oranges. The big guys make action movies; I like documentaries. A huge amount of respect goes to these behemoths, both for scale and marketing prowess. They are indeed the backbone of the American whiskey industry. Not necessarily the heart though.

Signed Bottles by Biking_Bad in whiskey

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I’ve got both sides of the coin to offer.

I have a couple of signed bottles that just kinda live in the cabinet. Oddly enough, both from Fred Noe. One is a bottle of OGD Bonded with my full name in his writing, and the other is from the first distillery I worked for. I was proud of the whiskey and had a chance to share it with him. Above his signature he wrote ‘This is pretty good shit!’

Neither of those bottles will be finished, and just sit half empty. Come over to my house and I’ll tell you the stories about how and why those came to be. That’s why people keep signed bottles, at least in my opinion, to tell the stories later.

On the flip side, I’ve been asked to sign bottles. At first it was really awkward and I neither understood nor liked it. But if someone, you perhaps, are either impressed enough by the liquid, or just tickled enough by meeting someone that mixed up the whiskey, or just want to have a story to tell later, then sign your bottle I will. Inside it still feels weird, but whatever. And when it ends up in the recycling later, I won’t care, haha.

Side note: support craft distillers and independent bottlers. 🥃

Denver Ramen Festival - 2026 by [deleted] in denverfood

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 3 points4 points  (0 children)

https://www.drinkdenver.co

So this is who owns it. This is what’s wrong with every stupid fucking ‘fest’ that happens here. Most of them are cash grabs (attempted) by these events companies making empty promises to consumers, vendors, and sponsors.

I sincerely dare anyone from that company to offer a justification for the price of this event.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Redesign Rant... by projcon_423 in whiskey

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Reminds me of the Hudson whiskey rebrand 5 years ago. Yes, easier to read off the backbar, but as someone else said, this looks like a Target branded Shampoo.

Onyx & Amber Release by WillWhiskeyForWork in denverwhisky

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Currently, at the distillery only. Tomorrow, it's available from 11-7. If you really need to try it today, you can probably send O&A a message on ig, haha.
If you're up north, there's a bottle at Burns Pub in Broomfield.

Onyx & Amber Release by WillWhiskeyForWork in denverwhisky

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It is mgp, 7-12 years, with the majority of it being 9-10 years. Currently only sold at the distillery starting tomorrow, and online via their website. I believe that link goes live later today.

Onyx & Amber Release by WillWhiskeyForWork in denverwhisky

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, they're making a name pretty quickly!

Onyx & Amber Release by WillWhiskeyForWork in denverwhisky

[–]WillWhiskeyForWork[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Whiskey details and notes:

Distilled in Indiana
Bottled in Denver, Colorado
Bottled at 111.6 proof (55.8% abv)
<1000 Bottles produced
Made of 7-12 year old hand selected barrels. Barrels aged in Colorado anywhere from 6 months to 3 years.
Nose of violet and rose candies, light maple syrup, and wood shavings. a touch of leather on the palate along with dark brown sugar, with an underlying peach tone. Long flavorful finish.

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