tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post1036559102824776776..comments2024-03-19T20:31:23.141-05:00Comments on The Chuck Cowdery Blog: Who Makes America's Whiskey?Chuck Cowderyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-32507360643785173032018-08-06T15:41:30.274-05:002018-08-06T15:41:30.274-05:00Robert Parker? Anthony Bourdain?? Pull the other...Robert Parker? Anthony Bourdain?? Pull the other one.<br /><br />There are three people responsible for the "bourbon boom." They share the last name of Samuels. Two of them are deceased; one is still very much with us. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-4756215297911331222018-05-17T18:21:32.059-05:002018-05-17T18:21:32.059-05:00Kudos to the passion and commitment craft distille...Kudos to the passion and commitment craft distillers put into their products. And in time hopefully this country will have quality regional craft producers in every state. That said, I have spent so much money on craft whiskey and to date found precisely one producer that made something better than a standard mid-shelf Kentucky bourbon. <br /><br />They all have great stories, fun and often strikingly beautiful labels, and high aspirations. I wish them all success. However, I have swallowed down too many bottles of turpentine, all while being told that the horrible taste was in fact an indicator of unique craftsmanship. I simply cannot accept that craft distillers are the engine instead of the caboose of the whiskey boom when I know what their products currently taste like and see the reactions when the average person tastes them. <br /><br />Credit to craft brewers (not distillers) in developing an approach to marketing that the alcohol industry has cribbed across the board. But it is the marketing together with the product generated by the bigger players that has won hearts and minds for whiskey. <br /><br />If you want to create lifelong whiskey hater give a newbie a massively overpriced glass of no age statement, poorly integrated craft firewater and watch a vodka/gin/tequila drinker be born.James Melonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-71567240748229762402018-05-07T09:52:04.417-05:002018-05-07T09:52:04.417-05:00I am always glad to see craft distillers succeed, ...I am always glad to see craft distillers succeed, but let us not forget that craft distillers aren't responsible for the bourbon boom. They got into the business because of it. <br /><br />They would not exist for very long, if at all, if not for large producers selling them aged quality whiskey at a low price allowing them to make a profit while they wait on their own product.<br /><br />No question as to which came first with this chicken and egg.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-40290942278080523482018-05-06T19:40:54.449-05:002018-05-06T19:40:54.449-05:00Yeah, mister "one of those small distilleries...Yeah, mister "one of those small distilleries" I don't believe you can take credit for this bourbon marketing bonanza. That would be one Robert Parker, the wine critic, and one Antony Bourdain, the celebrity chef who anointed Pappy Van Winkle the thing people should want...and then people wanted it. The big guys took it from there.<br /><br />I'm going up to New Riff to pick up a bottle of their first 4year old bourbon in August. I don't expect it will be better than anything I get from the long established distillers. You new guys are standing on tall shoulders and your arrogance adds nothing to make me think I want your fledging whiskey. Stay humble, work hard and maybe one day you will be so good as those who've established the art of making whiskey. Shane Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17382147967179403091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-26281814373192848672018-05-05T01:57:28.799-05:002018-05-05T01:57:28.799-05:00If those 15 haven't been pounding out high qua...If those 15 haven't been pounding out high quality, consistent, long aged whiskey for the past 70 years or so, you'd still be making bathtub beer in your Mom's basement.Crown Point Marchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11954073193405396961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-23325966111507816012018-05-04T23:32:06.167-05:002018-05-04T23:32:06.167-05:00As one of those small distilleries responsible for...As one of those small distilleries responsible for the marketing bonanza that has allowed literally millions of bottles of bulk produced same old tired spirits to be sold at prices previously unheard of by claiming they are "craft" , you're welcome. <br /><br />Those big 15 should compile a slush fund and write a check for a million a year to each of the real craft distillers the US, that continue to make the bulk ethanol "craft scam" viable. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com