The Backyard Distillery. It Can Be Done.

You've thought about it, especially as small distilleries have opened all around you. What if I could start a distillery part time, without quitting my job? What if instead of buying or leasing a site I could just build it in my back yard?

This is a legal distillery we're talking about, fully licensed, making a distilled spirits product that will be bottled and sold. You know, vodka, gin, rum.

Whiskey.

Is that possible or crazy?

If you've had these thoughts, 'crazy' is probably where you netted out. If you live in a typical suburb, on a quarter-acre lot or smaller, you're probably right. But what if you are out in the country, on a couple of acres, adjacent to undeveloped property, in a zoning-free zone, but still on the school bus route? Is it still crazy or can it be done?

Ask Tom and Lianne Herbruck. You've read here before about their Tom's Foolery Distillery near Cleveland. The first time was two years ago. This one talks about their acquisition of the equipment from the Michter's barrel-a-day distillery, described in the recent book, The Best Bourbon You'll Never Taste. 

The Herbrucks have checked with all of the relevant local officials, who have no problem with any of it. The neighbors? They're pretty far away. The nearest are running a Llama rescue, or something like that, so they have no complaints.

Tom and Lianne are a young couple with several young children. Tom has not quit his day job in the employee benefits industry. They now have one employee. The distillery is a family operation, with everybody -- including the extended family and many friends -- pitching in as needed.

In the picture above, the Herbrucks are receiving a new mash cooker. The1976 Michter's mash cooker is 250 gallons, half the size of the fermenters, so it took two time-consuming cooks to fill each fermenter. The distillery building, which holds the boiler, a small chiller, two stills, a cooker, and two 500 gallon fermenters, with grain and other storage in the loft, is pretty stuffed. They now have a separate barrel barn, but that's not in the family's back yard like the distillery.

It's in the front yard.

Picnic At Farnsworth House, Saturday, October 6.

Although I am no longer a docent there, I still consider Farnsworth House to be one of the great jewels of the Chicago area, and not to be missed, especially if you have a passion for art, architecture, or modern design.

Just look at the picture above. Click on it to enlarge it. Takes your breath away, doesn't it?

Better known to some as 'The Glass House,' Farnsworth House is Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's 1951 modernist masterpiece, one of the most significant buildings of the 20th century. It is located on the Fox River just outside of Plano, Illinois.

Many people, even many who live here in the Chicago area, want to see the house but have never made the trip. Unless you happen to live in that part of the metropolitan area, it takes a bit of planning and is not something you can do casually. One reason I stopped giving tours there was the cost and duration of the drive out and back from the city.

If you've always wanted to go but have never made the time, here is a great opportunity to see and tour the house, hear some informative speakers, enjoy a nice lunch, and help support the house's preservation. You can even take a relaxing bus ride out and back.

Click here for more information or click here for tickets. Click here for the Farnsworth House website (Farnsworthhouse.org). The October 6 event is identified on the website as either the 'Al Fresco Event' or 'DOCOMOMO Tour Day.' DOCOMOMO is an international organization that supports the documentation (DO) and conservation (CO) of modernist (MO) buildings, sites, and neighborhoods.

As the photograph above suggests, there is every reason to expect beautiful fall foliage at the site and on the way. If you've always wanted to tour Farnsworth House, make this your time.

Old Pogue Joins Kentucky Distillers' Association.

Old Pogue Distillery announced this week that it has joined the historic ranks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA), the Commonwealth’s foremost voice on spirits issues for more than 130 years.

“Old Pogue has a Bourbon history dating back as far as the association itself, and we proudly welcome them to the KDA,” said Jeff Conder, Chairman of the KDA Board of Directors and Vice President, Global Supply Chain, for Beam, Inc. “We couldn’t be more pleased with the work that our craft partners have done in the past year to help move the KDA forward and promote and protect our signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. We truly are stronger when we all work together.”

The H. E. Pogue Distillery was founded in 1876 in Mason County, which played a vital role in Kentucky Bourbon's early history. The town of Maysville, originally known as Limestone Landing, was the first important Ohio River port in Kentucky, back when the territory was part of Bourbon County, Virginia. While only the foundation of the original H. E. Pogue Distillery still stands, the new small batch craft distillery is on the same plot of land and is part of the historic Ryan-Pogue family home on West Second Street. Production there began in March, using Pogue family recipes dating to the late 1800s. Products include Old Pogue Master’s Select Bourbon and Limestone Landing Rye Whisky.

“As a Kentucky craft distiller, and as a family, we could not be more honored than to be invited to join an organization as esteemed as the KDA,” noted Peter H. Pogue, President of The Old Pogue Distillery. “Our forefathers were instrumental in the early days of the KDA, and to be affiliated with the KDA once again is very humbling for us.” Pogue becomes KDA’s 13th member and the seventh Kentucky craft distillery to join.

The KDA is a non-profit trade association founded in 1880.

Mr. Taxi Hailed As First Official Sponsor Of The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tour.

Mr. Taxi, an innovative taxi and transportation company serving Lexington and Bardstown, is the first-ever official sponsor of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour of distilleries.

Adam Johnson, Director of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail adventure, said it is no coincidence that a transportation company was selected as the initial sponsor. “Responsibility is the most important goal of our distillers,” Johnson said. “We receive dozens of requests every day from out-of-state visitors looking for a relaxed and responsible way to visit our legendary distilleries,” he said. “Mr. Taxi fills this need in a professional, high-quality and educational manner.”

This is the first time the Kentucky Bourbon Trail experience, created by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association in 1999, has authorized an official sponsorship.

“To be the first official sponsor of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail program, one of the top tourism attractions in the country, is a true honor and compliment,” said Ray Sjogren, CEO of Mr. Taxi.

Sponsorships are available for transportation companies, restaurants and bars, hotels and inns, tourism attractions and convention and visitors’ bureaus. Prospective sponsors must have a link to the Bourbon industry or the responsible consumption of spirits.

Using state-of-the-art booking, applications and tracking technology, Mr. Taxi offers flexible and affordable Bourbon packages to all seven distilleries that participate in the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Mr. Taxi guests are treated to gourmet lunches with Bourbon and Kentucky inspired themes. Drivers are educated on the history of the Bourbon industry and the various distilleries. Mr. Taxi drivers all are Certified Tourism Ambassadors through the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, a specialized hospitality program that offers in-depth training in local attractions, history, events and more.

KDA President Eric Gregory applauded Mr. Taxi’s support and said the sponsorship program is a result of the skyrocketing global popularity of Kentucky Bourbon and the historic tour. “Kentucky is the only place in the world where visitors can enjoy the one, true authentic Bourbon experience,” he said. “We have two centuries of rich tradition and proud heritage that can’t be duplicated anywhere else.”

Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries have logged more than 2 million visits in the last five years, with 450,000 in 2011 alone.

“September is Bourbon Heritage Month and we welcome all visitors who are coming here to celebrate America’s only native spirit,” Johnson said. “And if you want someone else to do the driving, we encourage you to call Mr. Taxi.”

Chuck Cowdery Bourbon Festival Book Signing, Saturday, 9/15, 3 to 4 PM, Spalding Hall Lawn.

If you are attending the Kentucky Bourbon Festival next week, stop by and say hello on Saturday, 9/15, between 3 PM and 4 PM. I'll be signing books at the Fine Bar Art booth, on the lawn in front of Spalding Hall. We'll have copies of Bourbon, Straight and The Best Bourbon You'll Never Taste to sell and sign.

If you're going to the Master Distillers Auction, that is supposed to end at 4 PM, the same time the signing is supposed to end, but I'm sure Lisa won't mind if I hang around a little longer. The auction is in Spalding Hall, the signing is right out front.

Also on hand at the Fine Bar Art booth will be Henry Preiss. His former company, Preiss Imports, bought A. H. Hirsch from the Hue family, then managed the brand until they finally sold it all a few years back. He will sign your books too. This could be a one-of-a-kind opportunity to get both of our autographs at the same time, since we aren't planning to do this again.

Kentucky Bourbon Festival activities occur throughout the Bardstown area starting Tuesday, but swing into a different gear at 4 PM on Friday afternoon when the Spalding Hall lawn opens. The distilleries all have booths on the lawn in front of Spalding Hall and that's where the Fine Bar Art booth will be too. There's a lot going on, including booths selling Kentucky arts and crafts, a classic car show, live music, a midway with rides for the kids, and tons of carny food.

The Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History is on the first floor of Spalding Hall. It will be open until 6 PM on Friday and Saturday, and 4 PM on Sunday.

Spalding Hall is on Fifth Street just north of Stephen Foster Ave. Local youth groups have the parking concession at various lots surrounding the Spalding Hall grounds. The lawn activities run Friday from 4 PM to 10 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Print Edition Of The Best Bourbon You'll Never Taste Is Now Available.

The Best Bourbon You'll Never Taste. The True Story of A. H. Hirsch Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Distilled in the Spring of 1974, by Charles K. Cowdery, is now available in a print edition.

This is the story of the now legendary A. H. Hirsch Reserve bourbon that recently sold at auction for $500 to $800 a bottle. As good as this whiskey is, its story is even better, and it has never been fully told until now.

The original, ebook edition, published in April, is still available in both the Kindle and Nook formats. Suggested retail price is $7.99.

The print edition is a trade paperback, 108 pages, $22.95 plus $3 shipping, $25.95 total, and is available now directly from the publisher.  Click here to order the print edition using PayPal or any major credit card.

Although the print edition is not yet available on Amazon.com, it will be shortly. When it is, it will be announced here.

Click here for more information about the book. Email for information about quantity discounts.

Whiskeys Top Shanken's 'Hot Prospects.'

For the first time ever, the whiskey category has the highest number of brands in Impact’s spirits 'Hot Prospect' rankings. Seven whiskey brands earned Hot Prospect honors for 2011, narrowly edging out vodka, which had six.

The winning whiskies are Woodford Reserve Bourbon from Brown-Forman, Pendleton Canadian whisky from Hood River Distillers, Bulleit Bourbon from Diageo North America, Glenmorangie single malt Scotch from Moët Hennessy USA, The Balvenie single malt Scotch from William Grant & Sons USA, Devil’s Cut Bourbon from Beam Inc. and Seagram’s 7 Dark Honey from Diageo North America.

The Hot Prospects designation is for brands that posted at least 15 percent depletions growth in 2011, while also showing consistent growth in 2009 and 2010. Brand volume must be at least 50,000 cases but not more than 200,000 cases. New products can also qualify as Hot Prospects if they pass the 50,000-case mark in their first year.

Also on the list, as a liqueur, is Evan Williams Honey Reserve from Heaven Hill. It is through only the narrowest of technical distinctions that Evan Williams Honey is considered a liqueur while Seagram's 7 Dark Honey is considered whiskey. Both can be found in the American whiskey section of most liquor stores.

That the list includes more bourbons than single malt scotches is notable. That it includes flavored whiskeys at all raises worries about category confusion, but also shows that these products have developed a strong following in a short time. Seagram's 7 Crown, the #1 American Blended Whiskey, has been a moribund brand in a moribund segment, making the rise of Dark Honey a surprise.