Chalonda & Nkosi 3/6/22 Chalonda & Nkosi 3/6/22

Old Fitz 13yr and Parker’s Heritage Wheat Whiskey

We spotlight a pair of Heaven Hill’s most iconic brands

The starstruck look in our eyes whenever we see that Old Fitzgerald decanter. It might legit be the best looking bottle we’ve ever seen. As an anniversary gift to ourselves we scored the 13yr bottled-in-bond as the centerpiece to the north bar in 2020.

Parker’s Heritage 15th Edition is a Wheat Whiskey, not to be confused with a Wheat Bourbon like Old Fitz. In fact Parker’s 15 is the same recipe as Heaven Hill’s Bernheim Wheat.

***Parker’s Heritage Collection 15th Edition Heavy Char Wheat Whiskey***

Comparing mashbills from the same distillery is common practice on the pod. The best example of this was Parker’s Heritage Heavy Char 10yr Bourbon vs Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. It was that exam that left us honestly thinking pound for pound ECBP is as good as any whiskey, anytime anyplace.

This week’s episode payed respect to a pair of the most revered brands in bourbon.

PH 15 is the coolest whiskey in the room. Effortless with these pecan cinnamon roll and maple syrup pleasure waves. It’s almost subdued for a 122 proof point and doesn’t offer the complex vibe of Parker’s 14.

Old Fitz 13 however is punching out of its weight class offering tones of vanilla buttercream and an extended spicy oak finish that makes it clear how special a pour this is.

***Parker’s Heritage Named For Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Famer, Parker Beam Heaven Hill Master Distiller Emeritus.***

Old Fitzgerald 13yr Bottled In Bond Wheated Bourbon (68% Wheat, 20% Corn, 10% Malted Barley)

Parker’s Heritage Wheat Whiskey (51%Wheat, 37% Corn, 12%)

—The Neat Pour

Other Notes:

-The last three Parkers Heritage Releases 13th 14th and 15th Editions, (Bourbon, Rye Wheat Whiskey) have all been aged in proprietary Heavy Char Barrels

-Parker Beam is Jim Beam’s grandnephew and the Bourbon Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award is named after Parker.

Chalonda & Nkosi 1/29/22 Chalonda & Nkosi 1/29/22

I.W. Harper 15 - Anywhere, Anytime, Always A Pleasure

***15yrs Old, 86 Proof, Kentucky Straight Bourbon***

Easily the best looking bottle on either bar at the pad is this one. I.W. Harper has a 4yr offering and a 12 yr Japan release but nothing looks quite like that 15yr. The brand had been away for 20yrs as Diageo discontinued it stateside back in the 90s. During that time it became quite the household name internationally. By 1966 I.W. Harper was sold in 119 countries.

Took this for a ride over the summer at The Loyalist in West Loop as a nightcap. At 86 proof it ranks as one of the most intense, big flavor small proof offerings maybe ever. Fruit perseveres followed by bitter oak are most present on the palette. Big fan of the way vanilla seems to weave its way throughout every sip.

The story goes that Issac Wolfe Bernheim actually chose the surname Harper because he thought it was more marketable. You might recognize the Bernheim Whiskey name today as its a part of the Heaven Hill family of releases (yes, it’s named after the same guy).

With undeniable notes of pear, toffee, honey, apple and bright citrus this bottle is sure to find a home on most any bar. To be fair Buffalo Trace compares quite nicely in a head to head with this release and that bottle is $26 compared to this one which is closer $80.

—The Neat Pour

Other Notes:

Diageo is also the parent company of Captain Morgan’s Rum and Guinness in the US.

***Easily The Best Looking Bottle On The Bar***

***Pear. Toffee. Honey. Apple and Bright Citrus Notes***

Chalonda & Nkosi 9/29/21 Chalonda & Nkosi 9/29/21

Cobblestone Chicago Brunch, Cider and Cocktails

Cobblestone Chicago in North Center is the follow up to Dr. Markus Chwajol’s award winning, Bohemian House Restaurant in River North. Cobblestone, European Bistro & Cider House resides in the former location of cult favorite - The Northman, Chicago’s first cider pub. Cobblestone’s cider program is a bit of an homage to the previous concept, but this project is a completely different team and management group.

**Sweet & Savory Brunch Options in North Center**

Cobblestone’s Executive Chef, Michael McCloud studied under the legendary Wolfgang Puck for four years in Dallas. The brunch menu is a welcomed Czech interpretation with portions that don’t look to overwhelm your Sunday Funday.

Andy and team have over 30 ciders in house. The selection varies between dry, sweet and down the middle. Most are on draft, the cider flight is what you should order on your visit.

You absolutely cannot go wrong with a seat on the patio and an order of Pecan Pie French Toast. Salted Carmel Glaze is sprinkled over golden Texas Toast. The sweet pecan and custard flavors on this super impressive dish are undeniable. That maple syrup soaks in to create an incredible taste and texture.

***Cider Flight + Pecan Pie French Toast***

The Farro Arugula Salad was simple and just right but it was the Bistro Burger (50/50 lamb +beef) that captured the brunch vibe perfectly.

A lamb burger with pepper jelly and goat cheese makes you think twice when reading it aloud. Then we took a bite and wanted to hug. This item is a brunch essential, easy to see why it was our host’s favorite.

We love everything about this place from well executed menu items down the staff’s attention to detail. A separate entrance takes you upstairs to a pair of Air BnB’s located above the restaurant avialable for rentals. It’s the perfect setup for a staycation.

—The Neat Pour

***Classic European Bistro + Air BnB Located Upstairs***

***Bistro Burger + The Bourbon Renewal (bourbon, fresh lemon juice, crème de cassis, angostura)***

Other Notes:

-After a five year run of renting the BoHo location in River North, Andy and crew own the building that Cobblestone is located.

-All brunch cocktails are $12.

-Cocktails, The Neighborhood Bully, Bourbon Renewal and First Love were all curated by GM Andy Knuth.

-Flights are available for cider and mimosas.

-Cobblestone Chicago is located on the corner of Lincoln and Pensacola Ave. 4337 N. Lincoln Ave. in North Center.

-Bohemian House was Central European-inspired favorite that earned four consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmand Awards.

***Farro Arugula Salad - cherry tomatoes. farro crunch. fig vinaigrette. goat cheese croutons.***

Chalonda & Nkosi 9/14/21 Chalonda & Nkosi 9/14/21

The Ballad of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release Tennessee Rye

For most collectors, the idea of Jack Daniel’s making a whiskey that gets the nerds excited is not even comprehensible. But here we are with an absolute hitter of a cask strength rye from the top selling whiskey producer on the planet. For those keeping score at home Jack Daniel’s is the most sold whiskey worldwide by volume.

The top selling bourbon worldwide is Jim Beam white label. The top selling bourbon in the U.S. alone is Evan Willams white label. So Brown Forman’s Jack Daniel’s Old Number 7 (black label) is top of the food chain overall for whiskey sales.

Now that we’ve got that out the way, this is very much a well crafted rye. The charcoal mellowing, Lincoln County Process that Jack is famous for actually strips corn aromas and barrel astringency from the finished product.

It’s very much akin the ‘beechwood aging’ Budweiser is known for..these steps are design to remove flavor from the finished offering. Jack Daniels reps refer to it as ‘removing the peanuts from the Snickers to create a Milky Way’.

JDSBSRBPR is the Lynchburg, TN crew’s fifth rye release. Unaged Rye (2012, Rested Rye (2014) Single Barrel Rye (2016) and Tennesee Rye (2017) This 2020 release is in single barrel form with proofs ranging from 125-140. Barrels were aged at the highest floors in the rickhouse.

For what it’s worth, the Four Gate Whiskey Company’s River Kelvin Rye Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey by comparison is a much more well integrated product. Theres no sharp edges of oak or decadent fruit cake notes like the JD Rye.

The 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley of the Four Gate is more about mint, lemon zest, and slight hints of dill in a very balanced and seamless offering.

The company is releasing this whiskey with no barrel finish for a reason. They plan to offer at least two different finishing styles over the next year. The plan is to let customers taste the base rye as well as finished releases in the future.

***Four Gate River Kelvin Rye. Cask Strength. Aged 7 Yrs.***

Other Notes

Only 1484 bottles of the River Kelvin Rye were produced at 113.2 proof.
We compared Jack Daniel’s Special Reserve Barrel Proof Rye to the Four Gate Cask Strength River Kelvin Rye on Episode 46 of The Neat Pour Podcast.

***Afro Beer Chick. One Half of The Neat Pour Podcast***

***Podcast Ep. 47 It’s All About the Rye***

Chalonda & Nkosi 5/15/21 Chalonda & Nkosi 5/15/21

The Illustrious FEW Spirits, Evanston, IL

We were at The Ritz Carlton Hotel on the Mag Mile in Downtown Chicago the first time we understood how serious this FEW Spirits thing was. The distillery made a barrel for them aged on Benedictine. The hotel rinses your glass with absinthe before serving…this was back in 2013!

We all know Koval to be the first Chicago distillery since prohibition but we find ourselves drinking more FEW over the calendar year than any other local spirit. The distillery and their speakeasy tasting room are a mile north of The Neat Pour Studios. This week on The Neat Pour Podcast we spotlight the Imortal Rye Whiskey from FEW. This rye whiskey is proofed down to 93 with cold extracted 8 Immortals Oolong Tea.

**Pre-Prohibition Inspired, Small Batch Spirits**

At the recent San Francisco World Spirits Competition the Evanston crew took home no less than five awards including a Silver for Immortal Rye

FEW Straight Bourbon (GOLD)

FEW Straight Rye Whiskey (GOLD)

FEW American Blended Whiskey (BRONZE)

FEW Cold Cut Whiskey (proofed with cold brewed coffee) (SILVER)

FEW Immortal Rye Whiskey (SILVER)

**200ML Sizes of Core Offerings, 3 for $100**

We love that this small operation is the definition of craft, taking chances with mind bending interpretations of whiskey styles with wonderful execution. The Immortal Rye is like nothing on the home bar. An eye opening experiences that bring excitement to the category. In Chicago all their releases are readily available at retail chains. The tasting room is literally down a nondescript alley just a few blocks from Sketchbook Brewing up in E-Town.

F.E.W, is named after the founder of the Evanston Women’s Temperance Union, Frances Elizabeth Willard. Cocktails are served in the same 200ML glass bottles that the you can purchase the spirits in.

I’d advise anyone looking to escape occupied Chicago to pay them a visit. Icons of Whisky named FEW named few the most sustainable distillery of 2021.

Cocktails we enjoyed during our visit.

Boulevardier (FEW Whiskey Italian Wine Barrel Finished, Cappelletti Italian Bitter, Dollin Sweet Vermouth)

The Dude Abides (FEW Cold Cut Bourbon, St George Coffee Liqueur, Orgeat, Chocolate Bitters)

Tropic Thunder (FEW Barrel Gin Infused w Toasted Coconut, Passionfruit Syrup, Falernum, Lemon Juice)

918 Sour ( FEW Straight Bourbon, Chai and English Breakfast Tea Syrup, Lemon Juice, Angostura Bitters)

The Last Word (FEW Breakfast Gin, Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino, Lime Juice)

—The Neat Pour

Be sure to check out Episode 38 of The Neat Pour Podcast for our full thoughts on the Immortal Rye

**Few Things In Life Are Better Than English Breakfast Gin**

**Statue of the Republic, Chicago World’s Fair 1893**

Chalonda & Nkosi 5/9/21 Chalonda & Nkosi 5/9/21

The Resurrection of Kansas City’s Largest Pre-Prohibition Whiskey Brand

**J. Rieger & Company Kansas City Whiskey**

This is a fascinating piece of Kansas City history, having it in the original family is what’s important for the legacy of the brand.

Ryan Maybee is a James Beard Semifinalist for his tremendous bar program at Manifesto. When Ryan decided to leave his bartender role at Union Station in KC, he opened a restaurant across the street at the old Rieger Hotel. While looking for artifacts and pictures to decorate his space, he stumbled across the fact that it wasn’t just a hotel but J. Rieger & Co. was also one of the largest distilleries in the country back in the late 1880s.

The idea of relaunching the distillery became an obsession turned reality when family member, Andy Rieger came on as a partner after floating the idea around for over a year.

Ryan and crew knew they needed to release un-aged products to reach the market quickly, Midwestern Dry Gin and Cafeè Amaro Liqueur were both launched before any whiskey.

On this week’s Episode of The Neat Pour Podcast we focus on Rieger Kansas City Whiskey.

**2017 Rieger Tasting at Longman & Eagle**

KC Whiskey is a mingling of 4.5yr old bourbon, 5yr straight rye and 10yr light corn whiskey. Both the bourbon and the corn whiskey come from MGP. 100% of the rye from Alberta, Canada, same source as Whistle Pig.

The Kansas City Whiskey pays homage to history. From 1920 till Prohibition rectified whiskey was about 90% of the market. The team found a sales sheet from the original Rieger that called into question what was Rieger back in those days.

Of their 100+ products sold was an imported sherry. It turns out that the beverage alcohol manual for the TTB says sherry can used up 2% and it can still be called American Whiskey. The decision was made to go to Spain and source sherry from bodegas. Sherry is added to the tank and rectified at 2% of the final blend.

**92 Proof, Rectified With 2% Spanish Sherry**

The flavors in this whiskey cascade and balance each other perfectly. It’s a 92 proof whiskey meant to hold its own in cocktails. The sherry provides a nuttiness with dried fruits and hints of sweetness. A big part of building this brand Is how bartenders think about these spirits and how well they play in a bar setting. Retail starts around $30.

—The Neat Pour

Be sure to check out Episode 37 of The Neat Pour Podcast for our full thoughts as we pair Rieger Kansas City Whiskey with KC’s own Martin City Anniversary Stout.

**Blended WithWilliams and Humbert 15 Yr Oloroso Sherry**

Chalonda & Nkosi 5/1/21 Chalonda & Nkosi 5/1/21

Traditional Maryland Style - Sagamore Rye

Chicago’s proximity to Kentucky means brewers have long made the trip down to secure freshly dumped bourbon barrels. Chicago’s beer culture is built in many ways on depth of styles at local breweries and the love affair this town has with bourbon barrel aged beers.

Summertime is unforgettable here, but it’s a cold weather town with disrespectful wind chills blowing off the lake most of the year. You’re likely to find dark, heavy, sassy beer options over say a vast selection of local sours, saisons or wild ales. When it was time for Malt Row’s Begyle Brewing to extend the product line for their award winning BA oatmeal stout, Flannel Pajamas, they laid it to sleep in barrels from barrels Sagamore Spirit Distillery?

**Mixed 4-banger of Begyle Flannel Pajamas Aged in Sagamore Rye Barrels**

Some of the oldest whiskeys in America were probably ryes. The grain is abundant in the Northeast states. Before Kentucky became a state in 1792 rye whiskey was the popular spirit. The original Michter’s up in Pennsylvania was rye focused. Our episode on NY Distilling’s Ragtime Rye was a reminder that from the Colonial Days up until the Civil War that New York was major whiskey producer.

Compared to the Pennsylvania style, the traditional Maryland style rye uses local spring water to proof down their releases. The pleated jockey silk inspired bottle design is an instant classic. This is the most handsome bottle on the shelf now.

Binny’s Barrel Select Sagamore Rye( 6yrs, 110 proof) has that earthy type of cinnamon spice. It’s more like the Saigon or Celyon cinnamon flavors instead of the traditional red hot cinnamon notes we pick up in many featured ryes.

Maryland Style has its roots in triple-distillation, nowadays Sagamore partners with their friends at MGP to execute on the recipes designed by Sagamore. The current lineup includes a Double Oaked, Straight Rye and a series of finished whiskies (Cognac, Calvados, Tequilla, Manhattan bbls) etc.

The story goes that Under Armor, CEO Kevin Plank is behind the project. Kevin hired a former MGP Master Distiller to head the operation. The first batch of Sagamore was distilled and aged in Indiana. A major $25M infrastructure investment in Maryland includes a five story aging barn and 57,000 sq ft complex for a distillery and visitor center in the Port Covington neighborhood in Baltimore. Sagamore Rye is in 30 national markets as well as Japan, China and The Philippines .

We have Begyle Brewing to thank for putting this on our radar. Their criminally underrated Mixed Four Pack of Flannel Pajamas is on sale now. Sagamore Rye Cask Strength and the 80 proof offering can be found all over the city.

-The Neat Pour

Be sure to check out Episode 36 of The Neat Pour Podcast for our thoughts on Sagamore Rye.

Chalonda & Nkosi 5/1/21 Chalonda & Nkosi 5/1/21

From Bardstown To West Virginia

**Boondocks Craft Whiskey, Bardstown, KY**

You can almost drawn a straight line (a 6hr line) between these two distilleries on the map - Boondocks Craft Whiskey and Smooth Amber Spirits.

This week’s pair of cask strength whiskeys couldn’t be more different. One hails from the Bourbon Capital of The World offering an 11yr old product. The other is a crew from West Virginia that launched their distillery 11yrs ago.

Exploring options staring you in the face on the shelf is the theme of this pair. Our local shop was beyond excited to carry at trio of releases from Boodnocks in Bardstown. The project is led by a the Master Distiller that help launch the Woodford Reserve. Dave Scheurich, the 40 year veteran has a hit on his hands with Boondocks.

The barrels are second use bourbon barrels so it’s not technically bourbon. We opted for the cask strength for this ep, but the port finished was described as “an Angels Envy killer” during our visit to the shoppe.

**Fuck Around And Be My Fav 4Yr Product Of The Year So Far**

I’ll say this about the cask strength, it reminds you a lot of the non peated scotch offerings from Speyside. Sometimes we wish Scotches or Irish Whiskeys were released more often at barrel strength. The Boodocks, with less emphasis on char, and more on floral notes and orchard fruits really delivers with a unique profile. Did we mention its a goddam 11 year old cask strength American Whiskey sitting on the shelf for 50$?

Smooth Ambler Old Scout Rye is coming off a bit like a pecan pie in a glass..creamy. nutty. spicy. delicious. This whiskey is barrel proof, it’s four years old, and it’s an exercise in the understand that age doesn’t always tell the whole story in bourbon.

On the show we talk about how at a fraction of the age of the Boondocks, this Old Scout Rye is every bit as complex as the older whiskey. Never even heard of Smooth Ambler outside of their barrel picks ending up on Fred Minnick’s Best Bourbons of the Century So Far list kicking off that list at number 30. Based in Maxwelton, West Virginia, Smooth Amber Spirits has been around since 2009.

More than any previous ep. of the pod we are appreciative bourbon’s current state and the ridiculous amount of quality bottles on the shelf.

Later in the week I went back and picked up another bottle of Smooth Amble Cask Strenghth Single Barrel Rye for the vault. Outside of the Binny’s Barrel Select Knob Creek (10yr, 120 proof, 50$) this is the only time I’ve considered having a backup since we launched the show. Be sure to check out Episode 35 of The Neat Pour Pour Podcast for our thoughts on this highly recommended, easy to find, affordable pair of whiskies.

—The Neat Pour

No Cocktail of the Week (again), Chalonda too busy playing on her dumbass phone to contribute.

**A Pair Of Recommended Shelf Offerings This Week**

Chalonda & Nkosi 3/28/21 Chalonda & Nkosi 3/28/21

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Holds It’s Own Next To Parker’s Heritage

**Top Tier Cask Strength Releases From Heaven Hill**

For six generations every Master Distiller at Heaven Hill since their inception back 1935 has been a member of the Beam family. Parker’s Heritage is of course the annual release named after long time Master Distiller, Parker Beam. The Parker’s Heritage Collection speaks to his preference of barrels in the warehouse, with a different focus every release.

It also serves as a fundraiser, bringing awareness to ALS, the condition that Parker battled until he passed in 2017. This is the 14th edition of Parker’s Heritage, on the show we focused on the latest release, 10 yr Heavy Char along with an all-time favourite, the instant classic, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof.

It’s a tall tale of sorts to call Elijah Craig ‘The Father of Bourbon’ but bourbon is loaded with these types of larger than life narratives.

My first dance with EC was back when Goose Island Pub Brewmaster, Jared Rouben explained that it was his barrel of choice for BA release he entered into FOBAB. Jared love that bourbon because it was the first one that he shared with his father.

**Named For 6th Generation Heaven Hill Master Distiller, Parker Beam**

Elijah Craig barrel strength all things considered might be the best whiskey in the Heaven Hill lineup. They are affectionately known as the ‘kings of the bottom shelf’ in some circles for their presence on the lower shelves at every liquor store ever with solid, budget friendly screw top options that always taste pretty fucking good.

JTS Brown is my go to on Sundays when I Zoom with mom. That whiskey was also featured in The Hustler starring Jackie Gleason back in ‘61.

There’s JW Gant, Evan Willams (top selling bourbon in the U.S.) and of course Rittenhouse Rye. The rye is actually where the L5 char story begins. Heaven Hill whiskeys usually all enter Level 3 barrels for aging with the exceptions including Rittenhouse Rye and this last Parker’s Heritage Heavy Char.

**Entry Number 14 in the Parker’s Heritage Collection**

The process refers to barrels that are torched for 1 min, 30 seconds (Level 5) compared to the traditional 40 seconds (Level 3). Heavier barrel charring means a deeper penetration of the liquid into the wood creating richer flavors.

Much like wanting to understand premium offerings from Michters and Old Forester, we feel its our duty to compare limited releases to their more widely distributed counterparts.

On the show we tried relay that as much as we enjoy the leather, toasted pecan and cinnamon spice of Elijah Craig, the PH just takes that idea and remasters it. So hints of ginger, more sweet oak, big Red Hots candy spice, these layers of complexity that don’t reside in the Elijah Craig are present. It’s one of the few examples where the limited release is clearly more pronounced with more depth than the standard.

PH is worth hunting down as it captures the essence of Heaven Hill’s ethos by executing on classic bourbon flavors but with an unexpected concentrated profile of those notes that you love.

—The Neat Pour

Other Notes:

-Be sure to check out Episode 31 of The Neat Pour Podcast our thoughts on these massive releases from Heaven Hill.

Chalonda & Nkosi 2/6/21 Chalonda & Nkosi 2/6/21

Buffalo Trace’s Most Awarded Bourbon

When you hear bourbon dignitaries like Jimmy Russell or Booker Noe talk about Elmer T. Lee and their relationship with him, its always “Elmer over at Ancient Age”. That was the nickname of the Frankfort, KY facility when their Master Distiller Emeritus was in charge during the Age International era.

It was Elmer who had convinced ownership to invest into the infrastructure and consider entering foreign markets. Blanton’s was born in that time as the world’s first single barrel named after his mentor Albert Bacon Blanton..the space was known as the George T. Stagg Distillery when Albert Blanton ran the show.

Stagg Jr and George T. Stagg were the features this week on Episode 25 of The Neat Pour Podcast. Stagg Jr. is oddly a higher proof than it’s Antique Collection sibling GTS. Every week for whiskey Wednesday Master Taster, Drew Mayberry and Master Distiller, Harlan Wheatley often describe George T. Stagg as the finest example of what they are capable of producing as a distillery. As well as referring to it as the most awarded whiskey in their legendary lineup.

George T. Stagg is regarded as the man responsible for expanding E.H. Taylor’s Old Fire Copper Distillery (now known as Buffalo Trace)and making it a financially stable operation.

It’s quite literally the flagship bourbon over there. Buffalo Trace Bourbon is a 90 proof, 8yr expression of Stagg Jr. You don’t often think of those two brands as being the same mashbill but it speaks to the variables of location in warehouse, time in barrel, and proof drastically changing a flavor profile.

Buffalo Trace is and mashbill 1 mate Stagg Jr.

Where Chalonda prefers Jr at 128 proof, Nik adores the restrained excellence of Big Stagg. I’m guessing because our first dance with Jr led to her making these extra large lemonade ice cubes to tame Stagg Jr. This combo ended up being the soundtrack of the summer last year.

George T. Stagg has all the botanicals and black cherry soda vibration of its younger counterpart. Theres an underlying molasses and fig sensation that rounds out the palate in Sr. that makes it undeniable.

We talk about Sazerac products all the time on this channel. I can say without any hesitation that George T. Stagg and Thomas H. Handy, two monumental real life figures in the Sazerac/ Buffalo Trace lineage are also the only two whiskeys I don’t regret paying near secondary pricing for.

In fact they seem to either remain at that same top tier experience even as the bottle reaches below the neck, and even to the halfway point. Its still just as good as the first sip. Not all the bourbons we sample are out here making that small but much appreciated moment happen.

—The Neat Pour

Chalonda & Nkosi 1/30/21 Chalonda & Nkosi 1/30/21

Life Is Short, We May As Well Drink Smoke Wagon

Smoke Wagon Bourbon closed out 2020 with the type of viral, cult following we’ve never really seen before from a “new distillery”. It’s one the coolest bottle designs we’ve ever seen with embossed guns and roses patterned throughout the dark brown, slim wine bottle shaped silhouette.

The liquid inside is a high rye mashbill (35% rye) sourced from the good folks at MGP. The bottle features a wax coined inspired by the Morgan Silver Dollar. There’s a pair of revolver handguns on the coin along with the phrase ‘Bibamus Moriendum Est.’ (Let us drink, for we shall die).

The curation of barrels is clearly a central theme in bourbon. We’ve enjoyed several MGP offerings from Bull Run, Belle Meade, Bardstown etc. Even if the source is reportedly the same we still have excitement about exploring the next one.

Some of this is straight forward, the Lawrenceburg IN facility has 5 bourbon mashbills, 3 rye and 2 wheated bourbon. Even when hear something is sourced it doesn’t mean you’ve experienced that particular profile before.

For Smoke Wagon their Small Batch is a mingling 8 and 4 year old barrels from a specific warehouse give them their signature flavor variant. Small Batch was a Gold Medal Winner at San Francisco World Spirits Competition back in 2016.

The buzz around Smoke Wagon in Chicago rivaled that of any distillery we could think of as Single Barrel and Store Picks from Garfields, Binnys and Osito’s Tap sold out immediately.

Part of the excitement could be attributed to retailers that don’t want to play games with allocation that the big guys force on to you. Some stores refuse to sell any goddamn Fireball cases to gain the right to purchase seasonal offerings from Buffalo Trace.

The result is that you can walk into a boutique shop like Off Premise in Lincoln Park and sample Remus Reserve or Drifless Glen. Talk with a local retailer can get lost in the stories about brands you know nothing about..soon you forget about missing out on E.H. Taylor Single Barrel. The reward for tapping into a community of lushes that live near you outweighs paying $800 on secondary for Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye.

The story goes that a screenwriter from movies like Die Hard With a Vengeance and Jumanji became friends with a bar owner in Eagle Rock, California back in 2004. The pair hit it off and decided they should open a bar concept in Las Vegas in 2007. The bar project led founding partners Aaron Chepnik and Jonathan Hensleigh to open the Nevada H&C Distilling Company in 2012.

For more on our thoughts about the cult of Smoke Wagon be sure to check out Ep 24 of The Neat Pour Podcast - Who Wants The Smoke?

—The Neat Pour