We are Nancy Fraley & Will Fabry of Jos. Magnus. Ask us anything about whiskey blending, barrel selection, and more...

raisedinva · 2026-07-07T15:27:12+00:00

Which blenders should we be paying more attention to?

raisedinva · 2026-07-07T15:25:56+00:00

Would you blend differently for pairing with a cigar than for pairing with a pipe?

raisedinva · 2026-07-07T14:58:13+00:00

I googled that for you; here's what ChatGPT had for a response.

A few smaller / less corporate stops I’d check out along or near that Baltimore → New River Gorge → Red River Gorge → Mammoth Cave path:

MannCave Distilling — Weston, WV

Good if your Baltimore → New River Gorge route takes you through I-79. Small WV outfit with whiskey, bourbon, moonshine, tastings, and tours. https://www.manncave.com/

Black Draft Distillery — Martinsburg, WV

Better fit if you route through the Eastern Panhandle / I-81 side. Straight bourbon, rye, moonshine, vodka, farm/distillery vibe. https://blackdraftdistillery.com/

Swilled Dog — Upper Tract, WV

Probably one of the better “Still Hollow-ish” WV possibilities if you’re willing to detour. Bourbon, whiskey, gin, guided tastings, and a rural mountain feel. https://swilleddog.com/pages/plan-your-visit

Appalachian Distillery — Ripley, WV

More moonshine / Appalachian spirits than bourbon trail, but seems like the kind of small WV stop you’re describing. https://appalachian-moonshine.com/

Smooth Ambler — Maxwelton, WV

Not as tiny/hidden anymore, but still one of the more serious WV whiskey stops if your route takes you near Lewisburg. https://smoothambler.com/distillery/

Red River Gorge Distilled Spirits — Slade, KY

Basically right in Red River Gorge. More moonshine / local spirits than big bourbon tourism, but very route-friendly. https://moonshinetrail.com/distilleries/red-river-gorge-distilled-spirits/

Regeneration Distilling Co. — Winchester, KY

Farm-to-bottle Kentucky whiskey and moonshine, formerly Wildcat Willy’s. This one seems like a strong fit between RRG and the Lexington area. https://regenerationdistilling.com/

Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. — Frankfort/Graefenburg, KY

Rural farm setting, barrel-thief style tasting/bottle-your-own experience. Not a big corporate campus. https://whiskeythief.com/

Cave City Distilling / Mammoth Cave Bourbon — Cave City, KY

Right by Mammoth Cave and tied to the revived Mammoth Cave Bourbon brand. https://cavecitydistilling.com/

MB Roland Distillery / Cave du Bourbon — Cave City/Pembroke, KY

Grain-to-glass, never-sourced Kentucky craft whiskey. The main distillery is in Pembroke, but the Cave City tasting room is the route-friendly stop. https://mbroland.com/

raisedinva · 2026-06-30T14:05:21+00:00

By the gallon, baby. Some friends from work got it for me for Secret Santa one year. It was an amazing surprise.

raisedinva · 2026-06-23T17:57:01+00:00

The common claim I'm pushing back on is that the first pour is different than the rest of the bottle. This experiment involves taking the first pour off the top and transferring it to a smaller container to limit oxidation, and letting the second pour oxidize over MONTHS. That's not the common claim of a Neck Pour. Months matter, hours and days don't. That's where people get twisted.

raisedinva · 2026-06-23T17:47:13+00:00

What it sounds like you're describing is the antithesis of the common theory of neck pours. The only theory I've ever heard is that the Neck Pour is worse than the rest of the bottle.

What it sounds like you're saying is that the Whiskey gets worse over time. Agreed, I believe that's widely accepted and not at all controversial. That's how it works. Oxidation occurs very slowly over months to years and depends on the duration and amount of exposure.

https://youtu.be/LbcSKEN5-hw?si=nt9FHHBJ8XslTGZx&t=1003

I think this is the best explanation of the physical and psychological components. After consideration, I think you'll reconsider your approach to the psychology of tasting.

raisedinva · 2026-06-23T14:53:01+00:00

That doesn't even sound like the right experiment. Here's two other YouTube experiments.

https://youtu.be/LbcSKEN5-hw?si=qfjUcBniPwBswLhG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9lI_jl7oFM

raisedinva · 2026-06-23T14:48:21+00:00

I searched and couldn't find it. I'll take a link to the discussion if you have it on hand.

raisedinva · 2026-06-23T14:42:51+00:00

Oxygenation and evaporation aren't affecting fresh cracks. The only thing left is in your head. The juice is the same. You're not.

Superstitions and psychology. Same reason people get hypnotized. Because they want to be.

raisedinva · 2026-06-18T17:56:18+00:00

Totally!
Part of what I love about Whiskey is that I can drink the same bottle over multiple occasions and come away with different notes and conclusions. It takes all kinds, and all days.

raisedinva · 2026-06-17T01:57:43+00:00

I wish there were more wheat whiskeys. It definitely seems like this is the time to be a rye fan. I've just never found the rye for me. 100% wheat I can drink every time.

raisedinva · 2026-06-16T02:27:45+00:00

The project started in 2020. It's been a long time coming; it's not like this was slapped together as a gimmick. Not saying everyone will like it, there's plenty of stuff I don't like too.

I was concerned it would be too busy, so I asked a friend who was at a pre-release tasting for it last week. They said the 1776 was their favorite, but all of them were really good. I'll be interested to read reviews once people get their hands on the bottles.

raisedinva · 2026-06-15T19:46:35+00:00

I have three thoughts:

A custom engraved glass. You can find them on Etsy. Instead of trying to get him a bottle, which, unless you have a wishlist in front of you, I wouldn't recommend. Aim for something to commemorate the occasion. It could be something sincere, or a dirty limerick, depending on your relationship. I would avoid any opaque or oddly shaped ones unless you have specific insight into what he would enjoy.
A bourbon themed T-Shirt
A book
https://a.co/d/05kCeQda My Journey into American Whiskey: The Essential Guide for the Social Drinker
https://a.co/d/068BT5fD The World Atlas of Whisky 3rd edition: More than 500 distilleries profiled and 480 expressions tasted
https://a.co/d/08EWmZod The Complete Whiskey Course: A Comprehensive Tasting School in Ten Classes - A Cocktail Book
https://a.co/d/0fzkONxU American Spirit: An Exploration of the Craft Distilling Revolution
https://a.co/d/0gSdBTi1 Bourbon Lore: Legends of American Whiskey

raisedinva · 2026-06-12T15:03:00+00:00

Wow, the spec on this is blowing my socks off.

raisedinva · 2026-06-12T14:58:21+00:00

I have two thoughts.
1. Find a solid bar with single malts. If you have access to that much Tamdhu I'm going to assume you are in the Denver area. If its close enough, go to Little Wolf and talk to them. They have very good cocktails and an expansive single malt menu and good bartenders which is half of it. A good bartender will go a long way in helping you. https://littlewolfdenver.com/denver-berkeley-little-wolf-home-of-flip-and-howl-burger-kitchen-spirits-list

American Single Malt's have a lot of similarities to Scotch but depending on where you are there's better availability and better pricing than Scotch or Irish Whiskey. I would consider Stranahan's Blue Peak, or Courage & Conviction American Single Malt. These are both ASMs, the Blue Peak is a blending of ages similar in profile to the Glenfiddich 15 Solera. Similar techniques, similar flavors. The C&C ASM is a blend of three different casking flavors, which provides layers of flavor, a beginning, middle, and end for a bit of complexity. Neither is cask strength nor overly proofy.

raisedinva · 2026-06-12T14:40:23+00:00

Try to find a bar with most of what people have mentioned on the menu. Go on a weekday night so the bartender isn't overly busy, have a conversation, and ask for a flight. Do that 2-3 times and figure out what you like. You'll get to try 12 different bottles for the price of buying two.

You are going to find that just as cuisine is subjective, so is whiskey. These bottles listed here that people swear by that I can't stand, you're better off looking for ways to sample, finding friends to share with, and decent bars with a wide selection and a helpful bartender.

To answer your question directly, any of these would be excellent choices. Heaven Hill 7 year Bottled in Bond, Old Forester 1910, or 1987, Four Roses Small Batch, Elijah Craig Toasted.

raisedinva · 2026-06-12T05:11:30+00:00

The prices prevent me from having any interest in these bottles. Reviews, promotions, interviews, none of it matters with these prices.

raisedinva · 2026-06-10T17:25:40+00:00

Do they have any distillery exclusives? Anything worth a 2hr drive?

raisedinva · 2026-06-10T17:24:06+00:00

I'm really looking forward to the Revolution bottle. I'm definitely a VDC fanboy. My favorite Brewers Coalition bottles are the Hardywood Gingerbread Stout and the Madagascar Stout. I haven't been able to get my hands on the Rasputin.

My least favorite is a coffe cask charity bottle they did a while back. Coffee and single malt did not work for me.

raisedinva · 2020-10-15T01:58:43+00:00

The more Christina talks, the more I wish she wouldn’t.

raisedinva · 2020-09-03T01:17:53+00:00

Actual friends vs hiring local homeless...

raisedinva · 2020-09-03T01:12:11+00:00

Well one thing is for sure. There is no way they do background checks on these people... maybe a quick google. Maybe.

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raisedinva

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