CMDK is the abbreviation for Charles Medley Distillers Kentucky, the name of the old Owensboro distillery purchased by Angostura Limited in 2007. Derek Schneider is the plant manager. CMDK isn't making any whiskey yet, as its restoration still has a way to go. That means there won't be any whiskey ready to drink for several years, but that hasn't stopped Schneider from getting the name out there.
It's basically a one-man operation right now, but that one man is something special. In addition to managing the distillery restoration, he has become a PR juggernaut. Schneider recognizes that the American whiskey enthusiast community is almost as hungry for information as it is for the drink itself. Working on a shoestring budget, Schneider is doing whatever he can to oblige. I heartily approve.
So take that into consideration as you view the video below, or visit the CMDK web site. Neither is the kind of slick production you might expect from a Jack Daniel's or Jim Beam, but it gets the job done.
Below the CMDK History and Origins video Schneider put together is a report about the distillery from Fox News, which features shots of Woodford Reserve, and comments by Woodford Master Distiller Chris Morris and Brown-Forman PR chief Phil Lynch. Morris had an association with CMDK 20 years ago when he worked for the distillery's previous owner.
I have some friends who are divers and whenever video footage shot underwater appears on TV, no matter what it is, they perk up. I saw it happen once during a Red Lobster commercial. I'm the same way if I see whiskey barrels. If you are like me and can't get enough of this sort of thing, here you go.
(Note, 9/16/09. I had embedded the videos here, but that no longer seems to be working, so here are the links. The history video is here. The Fox video is here. If that doesn't work, go to YouTube and search for posts by CPTDerek.)
No comments:
Post a Comment