Author: Camper English

  • Heaven Hill Distillery Visit

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    Camper English
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    This spring I visited 8 American whiskey distilleries, including Heaven Hill. Heaven Hill makes whisky brands Evan Williams (the second largest bourbon after Jim Beam), Elijah Craig, Bernheim Wheat Whiskey, Old Fitzgerald, Rittenhouse Rye, and Georgia Moon Corn Whiskey, plus they make and/or own Burnett's vodka, Hypnotiq, Lunazul tequila, and many other brands. They are…

  • Noilly Prat Vermouth: The Differences Between Original Dry, Rouge, and Ambre

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    Camper English
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    In yesterday's post I discussed how Noilly Prat vermouth is made, as learned on my visit to the vermoutherie in Marseillan, France. Today I want to talk about the differences between the types of vermouth they make.  In most parts of the world, Original Dry is the only Noilly Prat. The Rouge is primarily for the…

  • Making Vermouth: A Trip to Noilly Prat in Marseillan, France

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    Camper English
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    Though vermouth as an essential ingredient in cocktails, I never gave much though to its production, figuring it was just a simple infusion of herbs in fortified wine. It turns out there is a lot more to it than that.  This June I visited Marseillan, France, the home of Noilly Prat vermouth. There, it is…

  • A Sneak Peak at Jim Beam’s New Visitors’ Center

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    Camper English
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    I previously visited the Jim Beam distillery in Kentucky and got a great in-depth tour of the facilities (read about it here), but until recently regular tourists have only had a pretty mediocre visitor's experience. They didn't get to see the actual distillery as it's a very industrial workplace.  Now they're greatly expanding the visitors'…

  • Maker’s Mark Distillery Visit 2012

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    Camper English
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    This spring I visited the Maker's Mark distillery, along with seven other American whiskey distilleries in Kentucky and Tennessee. I had previously been to Maker's Mark and wrote about my visit here. As you'll read, I learned a lot of different stuff on this trip.   Maker's Mark uses a mashbill of 70% corn, 16% soft…

  • Woodford Reserve Distillery Visit

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    Camper English
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    This spring I visited eight American whiskey distilleries, including Woodford Reserve.  Woodford Reserve's distillery is in a charming setting, nestled down next to a stream in a little valley. The distillery is in a grey stone building dating to 1838, though everything inside it is new. Like most American whiskey distilleries, it changed names and…

  • Best Business Bars in Entrepreneur Magazine

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    I contributed a few write-ups to Entrepreneur Magazine's annual Best Business Bars story. It is the July issue, hitting newsstands now. I wrote about Azucar Lounge in San Francisco, Drago Centro in Los Angeles, and ROOF at TheWit in Chicago.  Pick it up at the newsstand or read it online here.  

  • Wild Turkey Distillery Visit

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    Camper English
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    This spring I visited eight American whiskey distilleries, including Wild Turkey.  The Wild Turkey brand has been around a while, but the current distillery is just three years old, having moved across the street from the old one. It's clean, modern, and spacious.  Wild Turkey uses all non-GMO grains in their bourbon and rye, but…

  • Jack Daniel’s Distillery Visit

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    Camper English
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    This spring I toured eight American whisky distilleries, including Jack Daniel's.  As you'd expect, Jack Daniel's is a huge operation with a very slick tour. You start with a video at the visitors' center, then take a shuttle up to the top of the hill. There, they burn sugar maple wood into charcoal for the…

  • Distillery Visit: George Dickel

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    Camper English
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    This spring I visited the George Dickel distillery, located in Cascade Hollow, Tennessee.  Dickel and Jack Daniel's are the two defining Tennessee whiskies: both employ the "Lincoln County Process" of running the new spirit through 10+ feet of charcoal before it is aged. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a requirement of Tennessee whisky,…