…at the American Distilling Institute’s Spirits competition, Silver shined on all three of my entries. While not gold, it’s not too shabby for my first rodeo.
Kings Code Batch 1 Riona
Boston Harbor Distillery Lawley’s Barrel Aged Gin “Je Ne Sais Quoi”.
Locke+Co Landmark Series Rye “Pikes Peak”.
I created three different categories of spirits. They all made an impression on the judges. To say I’m pleased with the results is an understatement. But I already knew that from the positive feedback from my loyal customers.
About 2 years ago, after purchasing over 100 single barrels of spirits for my store, Canterbury Liquors, I started to think that there must be a better way than just “stealing’ the top one percent of spirits from a distillery. Picking a great single barrel is like shooting fish in a barrel if you have a good palate and nose. In the process, I felt like I was robbing the distillery of the ability to make their core products better by taking away the “best” barrels.
So I started a personal mission to “Make whiskey better by blending”. Word got out that I was doing this and before long, it was no longer a hobby or a personal mission. Albeit part time, I have a handful of distilleries that I am working with to make their core whiskies better and to create special releases.
During a recent email exchange with John Glaser of Compass Box, the GOAT of whiskey blending, he asked if he could steal my line about making whiskey. He’s certainly been an inspiration for me in my blending endeavors.
One Last Word, pun intended, the gin projects I’m working on have their own line – “Making Gins with a Purpose”. Je Ne Sais Quoi is the first in the lineup. A barreled aged gin crafted to be in an Old Fashioned Cocktail in place of whiskey. If you still claim you don’t like gin but you like Old Fashioned cocktails, just come see me. I will break your “Gin Aversion Meter”.. I have been known to break “Peat Meters”. Just ask my crew.
Where to buy:
Kings Code Batch 1 is available in Canterbury Liquors, CT, RI, MA and at kingscountydistillery.com.
Boston Harbor Distillery Lawley’s Barrel Aged Gin “Je Ne Sais Quoi”. is available at Canterbury Liquors and at Boston Harbor Distillery
Locke+Co Landmark Series Rye “Pikes Peak”.is available in CO and at Canterbury Liquors this summer. Stay tuned.
#ADIISC @americandistilling @kingscountydistillery @lockecodistilling @bostonarbordisti @drinkwithfood
