February 5th, 2010
John Hansell
I was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, home of the Michter’s Distillery and Michter’s whiskey (which has most recently been sold under the A. H. Hirsch label). I remember buying and enjoying Michter’s whiskey for many years, while the distillery was open.
The distillery closed its doors for good on February 14th, 1990, and there’s an effort underway to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the closing of the distillery by offering tours (and more) this coming February 14th. The former Master Distiller and plant manager will even be in attendance.
I’ll be on vacation, sadly, and can’t make it. For those of you who live in (or near) Pennsylvania and would like to attend, here are the details that I have on the event as provided to me by Malt Advocate magazine’s Copy Editor (and bourbon enthusiast) Sam Komlenic. Sam will be there representing Malt Advocate.
They’re billing it as a “Toast to Michter’s.” The current owner is collaborating with Ethan Smith (the driving force behind the event), and they will offer two tours, at 10 and 1. Former plant manager and master distiller Dick Stoll will be in attendance, along with his wife Elaine, who was a tour guide. Dick is the man who locked the doors at the close of business on February 14, 1990. They are anticipating other former employees and perhaps some industry notables.
The accessible buildings have no heat, and it remains an abandoned site, so appropriate dress for winter industrial archaeology is recommended. They are encouraging folks to bring along any Michter’s memorabilia to display. More here:
http://www.bourbonenthusiast.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7137&p=30828#p30828
The distillery proper is amazingly intact. Since it was abandoned by an amorphous “holding company,” the principals of which were never identified, it was never scrapped out. Ethan has posted some photos here:
http://forgottenpa.blogspot.com/2009/11/inside-michters.html
For more information, contact Ethan directly (ethangsmith@dejazzd.com).
IMPORTANT UPDATE: As Ethan in @10 mentions below, this event has been cancelled due to the massive snow storms PA got this past week. I’ll keep you posted on the new date.
Category: Bourbon, Distillery Tours
Tags: Michter's bourbon
November 13th, 2009
John Hansell
For those of you who still have not seen this very informative show, it is running again tomorrow, Saturday, November 14th, at 7 pm on the History Channel’s “Modern Marvels” series.
There are some great distillery tours and interviews, along with some interesting historical discussions about whiskey. And yes, I am peppered throughout the show as the “independent expert”.
Be sure to watch it (or DVR it) if you haven’t seen it yet. I pasted the summary paragraph on the show from the History Channel’s website below.
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Modern Marvels “Whiskey” :
Known to Irish monks as “water of life”, visit some of the world’s finest distilleries to see how each country brews this thousand-year old spirit. Jack Daniels tells the secret of charcoal filtering, Jim Beam shows its premium bourbons and the art of blending is revealed at Canadian Club Whiskey. Cross the Atlantic to get the real deal at Jameson’s Distillery in Midleton, Ireland and in Scotland discover what gives Glenlivet its character. Meet some of the people who are lucky enough to sample whiskey for a living. Cheers! |
Category: Bourbon, Canadian whisky, Distillery Tours, Irish whiskey, Media, Microdistilleries, Scotch whisky, Tennessee whiskey
Tags: The History Channel
September 26th, 2009
John Hansell
For those of you who missed the live webcast at the Maker’s Mark distillery Friday night, here’s the video link so you can watch it now.
The live webcast featured Distillery Managers John Campbell (Laphroaig) and Kevin Smith (Maker’s Mark) and me at the Maker’s Mark distillery. We tasted some of the Laphroaig single malt scotch line (10, 18, 25) along with Maker’s Mark bourbon. We also taste some cocktails and food made with whiskies from both distilleries.
There’s lots of great stuff in this webcast. I think you’ll enjoy it and maybe even learn a thing or two.
Have a look. Let me know your thoughts. And let me know if you have any questions we didn’t answer.
Category: Bourbon, Distillery Tours, Events, Scotch whisky, Special events
Tags: Laphroaig, Maker's Mark
September 26th, 2009
John Hansell
I was there last night to do a live webcast with distillery managers John Campbell (Laphroaig) and Kevin Smith (Maker’s Mark). Before the webcast, I took some pics with my Blackberry, tweeted them, and then downloaded them to my laptop today. They’re not the clearest pictures in the world, but I thought you might enjoy seeing them.
Incidentally, did anyone watch the webcast? Your thoughts?
Category: Bourbon, Distillery Tours, Events, Scotch whisky
September 11th, 2009
John Hansell
Islay’s newest distillery, Kilchoman, released their first whisky this week. (Has it really been three years already?) All the details are here on the Islay Blog.
I toured the distillery back in 2007, and the spirit I tasted showed great potential.
Congrats to Kilchoman! I’m looking forward to trying this whisky!
Category: Distillery Tours, Events, New Releases, Scotch whisky, Special events
Tags: Kilchoman
September 3rd, 2009
John Hansell
It’s actually prepared by Morrison Bowmore Distillers to promore Bowmore whisky, but most of the video consists of beautiful aerial shots of Islay. (The Bowmore Distillery shots are pretty cool too.) Have a look here.
It makes me want to hop on a plane and fly to Islay. (Not to mention pour myself a dram or two.)
Category: Distillery Tours, Media, Scotch whisky, Travel
Tags: Bowmore, Islay
August 15th, 2009
John Hansell
Yesterday I was at the Buffalo Trace distillery for Elmer T. Lee’s 90th Birthday Party. But, in the afternoon, before the party, I had the chance to taste the new Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
While tasting the whiskeys, I posted my thoughts up on Twitter. For those of you not following me yet, you should (@JohnHansell), as I often post quick thoughts or breaking news on Twitter, in addition to posting lengthier, more formal information later on WDJK, and I don’t plan on making a practice of posting my tweets here. (You can, however, find my tweets on the right margin of WDJK.)
If you missed it, here’s a copy of my tweets on the new BT Antique Collection. (Please note that these are my general thoughts, and my formal reviews will follow later.)
Just tasted the entire new line of Buffalo trace Antique Collection whiskeys, plus 2 new experimental whiskeys. Informal reviews to follow.
William Larue Weller. A CS wheated bourbon whiskey. My favorite of the new lot. They beefed it up with some older whiskeys. Stunning!
George T. Stagg. A CS ryed bourbon whiskey. My #2 of the lot! They beefed this baby up too! Incredible balance! Another “must buy”!
Thomas H. Handy Rye. Sweet, lush, vibrant, and spicy. Perhaps my third favorite. The Rye equivalent to Cask Strength Laphroaig 10 yr old.
Sazerac Rye 18 yr. rye whiskey. The 2001-2005 vintages were the best. Aged in Stainless since 2006. Still nice, but losing some pizazz.
Eagle Rare 17 yr. Sort of got lost in the mix with these other bullies. Need a separate time to review it fairly. Last two years were great.
Category: Bourbon, Distillery Tours, Events, New Releases, Opinions, Reviews, Rye whiskey
Tags: Buffalo Trace
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