Philly Food and Whisky News for May 18, 2013

Third Annual Philadelphia Vendy Awards Announce the Judges and a New Category

“Messy Yet Tasty” Category Sponsored by The Tide Stain Eraser®

Philadelphia, PA – May 16, 2013 – A diverse panel of judges have been chosen to determine the winners of the coveted 2013 Vendy Cup. Along side the esteemed judging panel, attendees will pick the winners of the Best Dessert, Messy Yet Tasty and People’s Choice awards at the Third Annual Philadelphia Vendy Awards. Taking place Saturday, June 8th at Penn Treaty Park, the competition begins at 2:00 p.m. and runs through 6:00 p.m. where the new, winning Vendy Cup truck will take its place as rightful owner of ‘The Cup’ and take their place in Philadelphia street food history. Tickets are available here. Ticket price includes day-of judging rights, all you can eat from each participating truck (inclusive of beer lovingly provided by Brooklyn Brewery) and an unforgettable day in Philadelphia food history.

This year, the new “Messy Yet Tasty Award,” category is appropriately being supported by the Tide Stain Eraser® – a product that has been expertly removing splats, splatters and soils for years. Tide® is asking Philadelphia’s passionate street vendor patrons for help in finding the best messy food truck fare. Nominations for “Messy Yet Tasty” and best sidewalk chef can be made here.

Meet the Judges:

• Paul Kimport – chef/co-owner of Johnny Brenda’s and co-owner of Standard Tap
• Emilio Mignucci – third generation owner of Philadelphia’s iconic Di Bruno Bros
• Lauren Purcell – Editor-in-Chief, Every Day with Rachael Ray
• Andrew Gerson – Philly native and Executive Chef for Brooklyn Brewery

Meet the Emcee:

Beth Beverly, both a champion and leader of a new breed of preservers called “rogue taxidermists,” is a wildly popular rogue taxidermist with her shop, Diamond Tooth Taxidermy based in Philadelphia. Upon winning several national contests and being featured in press ranging from Philadelphia Weekly to The New York Times, she was also one of the stars of Immortalized, AMC’s new taxidermy competition reality show, making her a sought-after talent throughout the country.

The Vendy Awards are an annual event organized by The Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center, a membership-based organization of more than 1,300 vendors. SVP’s famed Vendy Awards have determined New York City’s top street chef for eight years, becoming one of the most beloved and widely anticipated food events in New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, the Vendy Awards will serve as a fundraiser for The Food Trust, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization that strives to make healthy food available to all.

Follow the Vendy Awards on Twitter for the latest news and announcements @vendysphilly and like them on Facebook at Vendy Awards.

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Click the pic to visit the World Whisky Day Facebook page.

Celebrate #WorldWhiskyDay!

According to the interwebz, today is World Whisky Day. In my mind, every day is World Whisky Day, and I don’t need a website to tell me that today is a good day to drink whisky. Then again, if World Whisky Day is the excuse that everyone needs to get together and share some drams, then all I can say is “Slainte! Slainte! SLAINTE!”.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with the internet phenomenon that is World Whisky Day, here is a bit of information that I found on the organizer’s website:

The inaugural World Whisky Day was held in 2012 and saw over 20,000 people attend over 200 events all over the world.

In 2012 #WorldWhiskyDay was a global trending topic on Twitter and WWD was also on the front page of the BBC News Website.

World Whisky Day has been welcomed by the Scottish Parliament and is endorsed by VisitScotland, Scotch Whisky Experience and Heritage Centre and Scotland Food & Drink.

World Whisky Day was created by Blair Bowman a Senior Honours student at the University of Aberdeen. Blair’s passion for whisky started when he co-founded a whisky society in 2008. Since then he has built up a strong network within the whisky industry and gained industry qualifications.

Now that you know a bit more about this event, just one question remains. How will you be celebrating #WorldWhiskyDay? Let us know in the comments below!

Whisky Review – Chivas Regal 18

Way back in August of 2011, I took part in the very first WhiskyCast Virtual Tasting. During the recording session, the four panelists that took part in this tasting were given the following three whiskies to sample and score: the AnCnoc 12, the Powers Gold Label 12, and the Chivas Regal 18. While we knew the names of the first two whiskies, the third whisky (the Chivas Regal 18) was essentially tasted blind. This blind tasting proved to be a very important lesson in my whisky education.

Prior to this tasting, I tended to view blended whisky as an inferior product, but after trying the Chivas Regal 18, and preferring it to the other two whiskies that I tried during this Virtual Tasting, I quickly realized that I still had plenty to learn about whisky. I was so humbled by this experience that I soon started digging deeper into the world of blended whiskies via reviews of the Chivas Regal 12, the Johnnie Walker Red and Black, and several different Compass Box expressions.

Since I finally received a full bottle of the Chivas Regal 18 this past Christmas, I thought that I would revisit this whisky to see if I enjoyed it as much the second time around. But before I get into my review of this whisky, here is what Chivas Brothers has to say about their Chivas Regal 18:

Chivas 18 is a uniquely rich and multi-layered blend that includes over twenty of Scotland’s rarest single malt Scotch whiskies. With 85 flavour notes in every drop, each sip is a new discovery.

Let’s find out if my feelings about this whisky have changed…

• Appearance: Molten bronze.
• Aroma: Fruit and spice and everything nice! Brown sugar, dried ginger, ripe bananas, vanilla, cinnamon, dried fruit, and a hint of sweet pipe tobacco.
• Taste: A bit on the watery side with regards to mouthfeel. All of the flavors are on the front half of my tongue. From the beginning to mid-palate, I’m getting brown sugar and cinnamon. Definitely has some spice to it, but not overly so. As we approach the finish, that pipe tobacco sweetness makes an appearance. Medium finish with vanilla, brown sugar, and the slightest hint of sweet smokiness.
• ABV: 40%

As I said at the beginning of this review, the Chivas Regal 18 is the whisky that changed my mind about blended Scotch whisky. While I am definitely enjoying this whisky the second time around, I can’t say that this is my favorite blended Scotch whisky (that honor goes to the Compass Box Spice Tree which I absolutely adore). As is, the Chivas Regal 18 is beautifully balanced and infinitely drinkable, but as I have said in reviews of other whiskies, I am wishing that it was bottled at a slightly higher ABV.

#WhiskyFabric News Flash: Book Review and Twitter Tasting with The Godfather of Canadian Whisky!

Earlier this week, I received an email from our #WhiskyFabric friend Johanne McInnis, asking if I would help her promote a Twitter event that she is working on with The Godfather of Canadian Whisky, Davin de Kergommeaux. For those of you that aren’t familiar with him, Davin is the author of Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, which is the definitive guide to the wonderful, and often misunderstood world of Canadian Whisky (I am currently half way through the book and am enjoying it immensely!).

If you love whisky and want to learn more about all things Canadian Whisky, below is the information that Johanne sent us about this very unique event. Cheers!

Canadian Whisky Book Review and Twitter Tasting

Be a part of the world’s first ever whisky book review/twitter tasting. Social media are changing the way we read and the way we taste whisky. We’ve decided to integrate the two! Each Sunday for the next four weeks we will review several chapters from the book Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert and discuss them on Twitter. And we will do this while we taste a representative whisky from that chapter.

If you wish to comment on the book, interact with author, Davin de Kergommeaux, or discuss a Canadian whisky you are tasting, please join us each Sunday at 3:00 pm Eastern time, on Twitter at #DavinTT.

The twitter reviews and tastings begin this Sunday, May 5^th at 3:00pm EST when we will be talking about chapters 10 – 13. Davin will join us to answer questions, and contribute to discussion among the participants, etc.

After chatting for about 30 minutes about 15 participants from around the world will open a mystery bottle that we have sent to them. You didn’t get a bottle? Feel free to join in anyway. The more the merrier. After tasting the sample and talking about it we’ll reveal which distillery it came from and which whisky we tasted. Sound like fun?

This Sunday we’ll begin with chapters 10 – 13. Then, Sunday May 12^th we will discuss chapters 14 – 17; Sunday May 19^th, chapters 18 – 21; and Sunday May 26^th, chapters 22 – 25.

We invite the whisky bloggers among us to blog about the book, the experience, the whiskies and/or Davin. Let the fun begin!

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with me, @WhiskyLassie on twitter.

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert is available at Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo, and many other fine bookstores, or on-line at Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.

Whiskey Review – Concannon Irish Whiskey

There is no weird or convoluted back story with regards to the acquisition of this bottle of Concannon Irish Whiskey. I received an email from a New York Public Relations firm asking if I’d like to try this whiskey. I immediately said yes, and a few days later, a bottle arrived on my doorstep.

Prior to receiving this email, I had never heard of Concannon Irish Whiskey, so I paid a visit to their website, and here is what I was able to find out:

A refined blend of malt and grain whiskeys, Concannon Irish Whiskey is craft distilled for proper balance of character and purity, then matured in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and Concannon wine barrels for a minimum of four years.  With a full, clean taste delicately balanced between honey sweet, citrus and malt flavors, and a fresh oak finish, Concannon Irish Whiskey can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in a variety of premium cocktails.

Let’s get on with the review…

• Appearance: Golden yellow, but with a very slight pinkish hue.
• Aroma: Quite sweet and fruity on the nose. Freshly pulled taffy, vanilla nougat, grape juice, and perhaps even a hint of fresh berries.
• Taste: A bit on the watery side with regards to the mouthfeel. A surprising burst of alcohol heat when it first hits your tongue given it’s relatively low ABV. Once you get past the alcohol, all of that fruity sweetness starts to come through which is probably due to the time spent in Petite Syrah barrels. Intensifies a bit at mid-palate with a bit of sweet cinnamon heat coming through. The finish is quite dry with a vanilla nougat and mild cinnamon spiced aftertaste that doesn’t last for very long.
• ABV: 40%

I am pleasantly surprised by the Concannon Irish Whiskey. While it lacks the depth and complexity of some of my favorite Irish whiskeys (Redbreast and Yellow Spot immediately come to mind), I found plenty of good things going on in this whiskey to say that I truly enjoyed it. My only real complaint is with the finish which I found to be a bit ho-hum. I’m sure more time spent in the barrel can correct that.

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Many thanks to The Baddish Group for sending us this very generous sample!

Whisky Review – Old Pulteney 21 Year Old

Back in early December, Limpd received an email from Master of Malt announcing their 2012 Whisky Advent Calendar. Since Limpd’s Pappy is a fan of the brown spirits, he decided to purchase the Whisky Advent Calendar as an early Christmas present for him.

While Limpd’s Pappy is a fan of most brown spirits, he has been known to turn his nose up at a dram if it has even the slightest whiff of smoke. Since this sample of the Old Pulteney 21 Year Old eventually found its way to one of my whisky hiding places (along with several other wee drams), I can only assume that Limpd’s Pappy found the aromas in this whisky to be not to his liking.

We will soon find out if this whisky is to my liking, but first, here is what the Old Pulteneny Distillery (located in Wick, Scotland) has to say about their 21 year old expression:

Old Pulteney 21 Year Old has been voted 2012 World Whisky of the Year by the prestigious “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.”

Scoring a record-equalling 97.5 points out of 100, it is only the third time that a single malt has ever won the prestigious award, and we are just the second Scottish distillery to do so.

As with the 17-year-old, with this expression we marry together Old Pulteney matured in ex-bourbon wood with spirit from ex-sherry wood casks. The crucial difference, however, is that the ex-sherry wood in this case is made from American Oak (mostly Fino sherries). This adds yet another layer of complexity, depth and character to this truly superb malt whisky.

And now for my impressions of this whisky…

• Appearance: Pale copper color
• Aroma: If there’s such as a thing as Salt Water Caramel, then this would definitely be it. The maritime influence is readily apparent, but with a definite caramel backbone. Also getting some ginger, cardamon, fresh fennel, and just a hint of pipe tobacco.
• Taste: Lightly oily mouthfeel. Cinnamon and white pepper heat at the onset with a touch of that saltiness coming through. At mid-palate, that caramel sweetness makes an appearance. It all comes together at the finish, i.e. sweet and spice, and everything nice! Warm, medium finish that lingers for a minute or two with some of that sweet pipe tobacco showing up in the aftertaste.
• ABV: 46% and Non-chill Filtered

Once again, the trouble with reviewing whisky samples rears its ugly head! I really enjoyed the Old Pulteney 21, but alas, I only had enough for just one dram. I suppose it could have been worse. I could have not tried it at all. I will definitely be on the look out for more from Old Pulteney.

Booze News Flash: A WhiskyCast Virtual Tasting, a Bit of Beertography, and a Blogging Birthday!

This week’s news post is all about us…

The WhiskyLIVE NYC WhiskyCast Virtual Tasting Is Online!

Last Wednesday I posted my review of the 2013 WhiskyLIVE NYC. If you managed to make it to the end of my review, then you already know that I took part in a WhiskyCast Virtual Tasting along with our good friend Miracle Max, Susannah Skiver Barton of the What Tastes Good blog, Ian Chang of Taiwan’s King Car Distillery (makers of Kavalan whisky), Hana Choi of the Style Fare blog, and Hana’s husband Olaf Asprink. Five of us were incredibly eloquent, and one of us was a slurring and babbling mess. If you want to figure out which panelist had a bit too much to drink (hint: they suggested fruiting up a whisky), click here to listen to the podcast on the WhiskyCast website. Please let us know your findings in the comments below.

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Beertographer of the Week

As some of you already know, I’m a bit of an Instagram addict, and two of my favorite things to photograph are Craft Beer and Whisky. Our buddy John Kleinchester runs the Beertography blog and has featured several of my Instagram photos on his website over the past year and a half.

Two weeks ago, John sent me an email and asked if I would like to be featured as his next “Beertographer of the Week”. Since I was incredibly flattered by his offer, I of course said yes! Click here to visit John’s blog, and to find out why I enjoy Beertography so much.

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“It’s just the booze dancing…” Turns Three!

Much like year two of “It’s just the booze dancing…”, year three has been booze infused and action packed! In addition to the usual beer and whiskey reviews, here is a list of some of the other things that we’ve experienced and shared with you over the past twelve months…

• Found out that there’s a bigger and bolder Guinness out there
• Discussed the merits of the Dogfish Head Randall Jr.
• Attended our first NYC whisky event
• Helped recover the Philly Beer Week Hammer of Glory.
• Celebrated Ardbeg Day
• Discovered that Old Engine Oil does NOT come out of a car or a locomotive
• Learned the fine art of trading whisky samples
• Spent some time with the family in Maine and even got to do a bit of beer hunting
• Acquired a much sought after Craft Beer through the magic of Twitter
• We were interviewed by our good friend The Whisky Woman
• Were paid a visit by The Green Fairy
• Paid tribute to The Whisky Dog
• Visited the Emerald Isle with the family
• Attended a Philly Whisky event
• Purchased a very special Christmas present
• Built a bar
• Crafted some crafts, ate a lot of food, drank a lot of booze, and spent some quality time with friends
• Created the Pamplemousse Maltées
• Prepared for Armageddon
• Made friends with Canadia via a whisky trade
• Discovered a great way to “get your drink on” at work without getting caught
• Took the Weekly Photo Challenge
• Determined that the Department of Justice likes Craft Beer
• Reluctantly reviewed a restaurant
• Met some local celebrities and tried some delicious cocktails
• Learned the secrets of a great bar tour
• Earned a spot on the Mexican Cartels “Most Wanted” list
• Took part in the first ever #FlashMobBlog Whisky Review
• FINALLY made it to a WhiskyLIVE event

As you can see, it’s been a very busy year, and the fact that our livers still function (as far as we know) is a complete miracle!

Thanks to all of you for tolerating yet another year of our booze infused nonsense, and for making this whole blogging adventure an incredibly good time. And please let us know in the comments below what you’d like to see more of over the next twelve months.We’d love to hear your ideas!

Cheers!

WhiskyLIVE New York 2013 – Ten Hours of Fantastic Whisky and Wonderful People!

I’m not much of a sports fan, but I do love auto racing, so whenever I approach an event like WhiskyLIVE, I try to formulate a “race strategy” beforehand, and then try my best to stick to that “race strategy” (this helps to avoid those “I’m never drinking again!” moments). Since we decided to arrive in New York by early afternoon for some pre-game activities, and since WhiskyLIVE would be from 5PM to 10PM, my initial plan was to think “24 hour of Le Mans“, i.e. it’s a long race, so pace yourself and try not to burn out too quickly. While I managed to stick to that strategy for about an hour or two, the rest of the day felt more like an F1 race, and the final laps (from 8:30 to 10PM) were like Kimi Raikkonen at Spa-Francorchamp going flat out and ignoring orders from the Pit Wall (no lifting off the throttle through Eau Rouge!). In my head, it sounded something like this…

Pit Wall to Kimi: “Kimi! Save your tires! Cut back on the RPMs! Conserve some fuel for the final laps!”

Kimi back to the Pit Wall: “I’m three seconds down. I can win this! Just let me race!”

Am I exaggerating? Perhaps a tiny bit, but the point is that I had every intention of taking it easy, i.e. to stop drinking by 9:00 so that I wouldn’t fall asleep on the train ride home, but sometimes, momentum gets the best of you.

Nailing Down The Details

As is usually the case, there was a slight change in plans before we even got started. Limpd was supposed to join me for this mid-week excursion to NYC, but due to a sudden illness, he wasn’t able to make it. Thankfully, Limpd hates to see tickets to go to waste, so he offered up his VIP ticket to our friend Miracle Max.

Max didn’t need much convincing to join me, so once I knew that all systems were go, I emailed a couple of people that I’ve been trying to get together with for quite some time (Joshua Feldman aka The Coopered Tot, Allison Patel aka The Whisky Woman, and Susannah Skiver Barton of the What Tastes Good blog) to arrange a meet and greet. As luck would have it, all three would be at the event, so it was decided that we would meet Josh at The Morgan Library for a quick tour and a couple of pre-event drams, and we would meet Allison and Susannah at the Chelsea Piers during the actual event.

Pre Event Action

1PM to 2PM – As far as I’m concerned, no visit to Midtown Manhattan is complete without a visit to Keen’s Steakhouse, so that’s where we decided to have lunch before meeting up with Josh. I had a cheeseburger and fries along with an Anchor Steam beer, and Max had a hamburger and fries along with a Leffe Blond. After looking over the massive whisky list, Max decided that he would also have a Bowmore 15 to go with his meal. He asked if I wanted to join him, but since I was trying to stick with my initial strategy, I declined. Once we finished our meal, we moved on to our meeting with Josh at The Morgan Library.

2PM to 2:15PM – On our way to The Morgan Library, I noticed that we were walking past The Ginger Man. The Ginger Man specializes in Craft Beer, and since I had heard many great things about the place from our good friend The Alemonger, I just had to pop in for a look around (we’ll refer to this stop as The Ginger Man Chicane). Once again, in an attempt to stick with my Le Mans strategy, I declined a drink, and in just a few minutes, we were back on course.

The Great Coopered Tot aka Joshua Feldman

Very generous Balcones Texas Single Malt samples courtesy of Joshua Feldman

2:15PM to 4:15PM – As promised, Josh met us at the side entrance to The Morgan Library. After a brief tour of the main building and a short history lesson, Josh led us to a private room where he had arranged for us to have a little whisky tasting. Although this was in direct conflict with my Le Mans strategy, there was no way that I could refuse Josh’s offer since I knew that he would have some special whiskies lined up for this tasting. I quickly learned that Josh is not only incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgable about his whisky, but he is also incredibly generous. For our mini tasting session, he poured us some samples of a 23 Year Old Port Ellen and a 37 Year Old Glen Grant (both were single cask, independent bottlings, and both are incredibly rare), and since the main event was fast approaching, we didn’t waste our time trying to pick them apart. Instead, the three of us just talked and enjoyed our delicious drams.

4:15PM to 5:15PM – As soon as we finished up our tasting, the three of us shared a cab to the Chelsea Piers which is where WhiskyLIVE was scheduled to take place. Josh would be pouring for Gordon & MacPhail during the event, so he went in to set up while Max and I waited for the official start.

THE Whisky Woman (Allison Patel) and Rose Robinson of Brenne

Two of the brilliant guys behind the Jewish Whisky Company and Single Cask Nation

Chip Tate, Master Distiller and Owner of Balcones Whisky

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

5:15PM to 6PM - Although I wasn’t too impressed with the choice of venue at first (walking through a huge parking lot to get to the main entrance wasn’t very pleasant), I completely understood why they picked this location when we entered the main room, because once the sun started to set, the views of the Hudson River and North Jersey were spectacular.

One more thing happened when we entered the main room and took a quick walk around: my Le Mans strategy went right out the window!

Our first stop would be the Single Cask Nation table where we spent a few minutes talking with our friend Joshua Hatton and his business partner Seth Klaskin. Much like Josh Feldman, Josh Hatton and Seth Klaskin are super knowledgable and super enthusiastic about their whisky. They are also really good guys, so we chatted a bit and sampled their current offerings: an Isle of Arran Pinot Cask, a Kilchoman, and a Benriach. Fantastic stuff all around!

As we started walking towards the front of the room, I spotted Allison Patel of Brenne French Single Malt Whisky. There was quite a bit of activity when we arrived, so it took a minute or two before I could say hello. While we waited, we looked around to see what all of the other tables were pouring. Once we finally got to meet, we chatted briefly and Allison immediately poured us some Brenne (we tried samples from two different cask bottlings). Since there was a flurry of activity, we didn’t linger very long and decided to stop back later. We tried to say hello to Chip Tate from Balcones (his table was right next to the Brenne table), but since it was incredibly busy, we decided to stop back later.

This is where we start to pick up the pace…

Right next to Balcones was Corsair Distillery where we managed to try their Triple Smoke and Quinoa expressions.

Right after that, we turned around and walked over to Redemption Distillery. Since their regular line-up gets fair to middling reviews, I wasn’t particularly motivated to try their whiskies, but as I was looking over the selections, I noticed a bottle with a hand written label. It turns out that it was a 16 year old Rye whiskey, so I just had to try it.

Some of the hard working people that helped make WhiskyLive truly special

Live music to make things extra festive

Oodles of people and oodles of fantastic booze!

6PM to 8:00PM – Since we hadn’t eaten in a few hours, and since there were four hours left in the event, Max and I decided to take advantage of the slightly smaller VIP crowd and worked our way to the back of the room for some dinner. On our way to the buffet, we ran into Mark Gillespie of WhiskyCast. During our brief conversation, he invited us to take part in a WhiskyCast Virtual Tasting at around 8PM. We of course accepted his offer, and since I knew that Susannah would be arriving shortly, I asked Mark if she could join the tasting panel as well. He said yes immediately, which resulted in the following string of text messages between Susannah and myself…

G-LO: You’re on a virtual tasting panel with Gillespie.

Susannah: What’s that now?

G-LO: WhiskyCast Virtual tasting panel with Mark Gillespie if you want.

Susannah: Um yeah!! What do I need to do/where/when?

G-LO: Just be here. He’s gonna do it at 8. I’ll be worthless, but whatever. Mark is a great guy.

Susannah: Lol. Awesome. I’m waiting for a crosstown bus but I should be there soon.

Now that the the Virtual Tasting was all set, Max and I resumed our stroll to the buffet, but stopped at the Glen Garioch and Suntory tables for some quick whisky samples. Given the size of the crowd that they were expecting, I was very impressed with the quantity and quality of the buffet. Flank steak, chicken, several pasta dishes, roasted vegetables, salad, and an assortment of cheeses and flat breads were on offer. There was also a band playing, so that added even more to the already festive mood (Max also started throwing out the occasional bird call, but that’s a story for a completely different blog post).

Once we were done eating, we spent some time talking to the gentleman that was pouring for Catoctin Creek Distillery. He told us a bit about the whisky and then spent some time telling us about his work in the whisky industry and all of the different events that he’s attended over the years.

At around 6:45, Susannah sent me a text to let me know that she arrived. We met up with her at the Suntory table, and after some quick introductions (she was there with a friend, but I can’t remember her name), we walked over to the Purple Valley Imports table where Raj Sabarwhal was pouring Sullivans Cove, Amrut, English Whisky Company, Still Waters, Black Adder and Glenglassaugh. I’ve been going back and forth with Raj via the interwebz for quite some time, so it was great to finally meet him. While we were there, I tried the Sullivans Cove Double Cask and the Amrut Intermediate Sherry.

From there we moved on to try some Lark Tasmanian Single Malt, Parker Heritage Collection, Bruichladdich Botanist Gin (we’ll call this an Amuse Bouche. Quite nice!), Oban 18 and Oban Distiller’s Edition, and the Crown Royal XR.

The great Jimmy Russell of Wild Turkey

It was at this point that I remembered passing Jimmy Russell at the Wild Turkey table on our way to the buffet. Since we were working our way back to the front to see what Josh, Josh, and Allison were up to, we made a quick pit stop for a sample of the Russell’s Reserve. How could we possibly pass up the opportunity to try the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel AND have it poured for us by Jimmy himself?

Since the crew was busy working the room and pouring whisky, Max and I tried again to meet Chip Tate of Balcones. He was busy talking with Gillespie, so I tried to figure out if they were pouring the new Balcones 5th Anniversary Bourbon. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to sweet talk my way to a Bourbon sample, but as Mark was leaving the area to hunt down some whiskies for the Virtual Tasting, I suggested that he ask Chip for a sample of the 5th Anniversary Bourbon. Chip agreed to Mark’s request and I just smiled. I guess it pays to know a guy.

Full Throttle To The Finish Line!

Susannah Skiver Barton of the What Tastes Good blog

Almost ready to nose and taste some whisky…

Miracle Max makes friends during our WhiskyCast Virtual Tasting recording session

Ian Chang of Kavalan Distillery

Susannah takes her whisky tasting VERY seriously!

8PM to 11PM – A little after 8PM, we returned to the back of the room for the WhiskyCasy Virtual Tasting. In addition to Max, Susannah, and myself, Mark invited three other people to join us (Ian Chang of Kavalan Distillery, and a woman that used to work with Mark along with her husband). We sampled Brenne French Single Malt Whisky, the Balcones 5th Anniversary Bourbon, an Invergordon Single Grain from That Boutique-y Whisky Company, and the cask strength version of the Redbreast 12.  Much like my last two Virtual Tasting experiences, Mark moves quickly through the nosing/tasting/scoring process while still managing to keep it fun and educational. I am really curious to hear how it all came out because the whisky was really starting to kick in mid way through the tasting. I wonder how much editing Mark will have to do to make me sound ok. I guess we’ll know soon enough.

Once the tasting panel disbanded, Max and I worked our way back to the front of the room to say our final goodbyes to Josh, Josh, Allison, and Susannah.

Did we really walk past Peter Dinklage during our walk back to Penn Station??? I guess we’ll never really know.

Since it was essentially last call, we also made a stop or two along the way. As we approached the High West table, we decided to make a quick stop so that we could try out their Campfire and BouRye expressions. When we arrived at the Brenne/Balcones area, I took the opportunity to finally say hello to Chip Tate. While we were talking, he asked if I’d like to try a Brimstone Cask 1200 aka “The Burned Barrel”. I of course said yes, and am so glad that I did. My only regret is that I didn’t try this earlier in the night so that I could truly appreciate it.

After saying goodbye to everyone and thanking them for making it a truly memorable night, Max and I walked back to Penn Station for the train ride home. On the way back, we passed a man walking his dog. I am almost positive that the man walking his dog was Peter Dinklage of Game of Thrones, The Station Agent, and Elf! Pretty cool right?

The Verdict

In case you couldn’t tell, I had an absolutely fantastic time at WhiskyLIVE NYC! While I don’t have a final count, I probably sampled 25 to 30 different spirits. Getting to try a plethora of exceptional whiskies in one day is always a fantastic experience, but as I’ve mentioned in other event reviews (i.e. The Brewer’s Plate, the SMWSA Extravaganzas, etc.), it’s the opportunity to talk with some incredibly knowledgeable and genuinely kind people that makes these events truly special.

During our wee dramming session at The Morgan Library, Josh said something that really stuck with me. While I can’t remember his exact words, he said something like this:

A great whisky isn’t something that you keep locked away in a cabinet or that you drink by yourself. It should be opened and shared with friends. It should put a smile on their faces and make them feel proud that they were able to share in the experience together.

I’m sure I screwed up the quote, but that’s how I remember it, and I think it says a lot about Josh and all of the wonderful people that we encountered that day, i.e. whisky is a wonderful thing, but without people to share it with, it’s just another drink.

I’m already looking forward to next year’s event!

The Hoppy Easter Herald For March 31, 2013

Photo courtesy of the Drink Up NY blog.

Balcones 5th Year Anniversary Dinner At Harlow

The following press release was sent to us from our blogging buddy, The Whisky Woman:

On Saturday evening, 6 April, 2012, Chip Tate, the Owner/Distiller/President of Balcones will host an intimate dinner at Harlow, one of New York’s hottest new restaurants. Chef Danny Ye has designed a special five-course menu just for the evening –  each course has been specifically created to pair with a Balcones whiskey. Reservations are required and seats are limited.  To purchase tickets, please go to: http://balconesharlow.eventbrite.com/#

Founded in 2008, Balcones Distillery has become one of the most highly awarded craft distilleries in the world. With more than 30 top awards to its name – of which more than half are gold or double gold from internationally renowned competitions – perhaps no recognition has been quite as impressive as their recent win. In a blind tasting competition hosted by a panel of British spirits experts, Balcones Single Malt was named Best in Glass, the best new whiskey in the world. Their victory is reminiscent of the famous 1976 “Judgment of Paris,” in which California wines bested their storied French counterparts. In this case, this was the first time an American whiskey has won Best in Glass.

Top Awards:

Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky – 2012 Craft Whiskey Distillery of the Year

Wizards of Whisky International Competition  - 2012 Global Distillery of the Year

F. Paul Pacult Spirit Journal

**Balcones was the first and is the only craft-made whiskey to receive a 5 point rating**

5 stars – Baby Blue

5 stars – Balcones Single Malt 

For more information and the complete list, please go to www.balconesdistilling.com

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LAST CALL! AMERICAN SPIRITS: THE RISE AND FALL OF PROHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER

Philadelphia, PA (March 28, 2013) – Only one month remains for visitors to experience American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition exhibition at the National Constitution Center, which will conclude its run on Sunday, April 28, 2013. From the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal and NBC News, the exhibition has garnered critical acclaim across the nation since making its world debut at the Center on October 19, 2012.

Currently this is the only East Coast opportunity to see the exhibition. Following its run at the Center, American Spirits will tour cities across the country including St. Paul, MN; Seattle, WA; St. Louis, MO; and Grand Rapids, MI.

Exploring the “sexy and serious sides” of Prohibition according to WHYY and demonstrating “energy and antics” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the exhibition reveals the real stories behind hit dramas like HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and also provides timely perspectives on current constitutional debates about the government’s role in our lives.

American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition features over 100 rare artifacts, including:

• Original ratification copies of the 18th and 21st Amendments
• A hatchet used by Carry Nation during one of her barroom-smashing raids
• A Prohibition Bureau Badge issued by the Department of Justice in 1931
• Temperance propaganda, including pamphlets, school lesson manuals, speeches, and hymnals
• The phone used by Roy Olmstead, the defendant in the landmark Olmstead v. United States wiretapping case, to run his bootlegging empire
• Flapper dresses, cocktail couture, and other women’s and men’s fashion accessories from the 1920s
• Original home manufacturing items used for making moonshine, homebrewed beer, and other illegal and highly potent liquor
• Prohibition agent Eliot Ness’ signed oath of office from 1926 in which he swore to “support and defend the Constitution”
• Al Capone’s guilty verdict from his conviction in Chicago in 1931
• One of the first crates of Budweiser produced after the “Beer Act,” which passed in April 1933 and changed the legal limit for “intoxicating” beverages to 3.2% per volume to allow for the return of beer production.

Interactive elements and immersive environments bring to life the sights, sounds, and experiences of the time period. Wayne Wheeler’s Amazing Amendment Machine, a dazzling 20-foot-long, eight-foot-tall carnival-inspired contraption, traces how the temperance movement culminated in the 18th Amendment.

In addition, visitors can:

• Sit in a pew of a recreated early 1900s church to learn about the rise of the Anti-Saloon League and take a quiz to find out if they would have been a “wet” or a “dry”
• Test their knowledge of what could and could not be consumed under the rules of the 18th Amendment during the “Is it Legal?” interactive touchscreen game
• Explore a re-created speakeasy complete with a bar, dance floor, bandstand, and powder room and learn how to dance the Charleston
• Play the role of a federal Prohibition agent chasing rumrunners in a custom-built video game where you drive your own speedboat
• Join gangsters in a criminal lineup for a memorable photo opportunity.

To complement the exhibition, the Center developed a variety of engaging activities and resource materials for students, teachers, and families that illuminate the amendment process, the role of liquor in American history, and the cultural revolution of the 1920s.  Daniel Okrent, Ken Burns, and Lynn Novick provided their voices and commentary to a special iPod audio tour that guides visitors through the exhibition.

Admission to American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is $17.50 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, and $11 for children ages 4-12. Active military personnel and children ages 3 and under are free. Group rates also are available. Admission to the Center’s main exhibition, The Story of We the People, including the award-winning theatrical production Freedom Rising, is included. For ticket information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.

American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is created by the National Constitution Center and curated by Daniel Okrent, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. Okrent collaborated with filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick on the documentary Prohibition, which aired on PBS in fall 2011. The exhibition has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.

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Devil’s Den Celebrates Five Years with Wood-Themed Anniversary Party

Philadelphia, PA—Devil’s Den has been a craft beer lover’s destination for the past five years and the Devil’s crew is ready to celebrate with a 5th Anniversary Party on Saturday, April 6^th starting at 1pm, and the traditional gift for five years is wood—hence a playful and carefully selected rare and wood-themed draft list and tapas menu with $1 off drafts until 5pm.

Devil’s Den thinks the best way to thank the fans and patrons for five years is with an amazing draft list of special, rare and limited beers, along with some house favorites from owner Erin Wallace’s cellar. The traditional gift for a fifth anniversary is wood, and Devil’s Den is giving the gift back in the shape of wood-aged rarities on draft and as a very special thank you all drafts are $1 off until 5pm. Draft list includes:

• Monarchy Of Musselland Son of a Batch Gose (Hickory Wood)
• Bruery White Oak
• Stillwater Red Wine Barrel Aged Debauched
• Dochter Van De Korenaar Embrasse Peated Oak Aged
• Shawnee Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter (Nitro)
• De Struise Pennepeut
• Neshaminy Creek Coconut Mudbank Milk Stout
• Against the Grain Gungle Gem
• Ommegang Iron Throne
• Founders All Day IPA
• Ommegang Witte
• Great Lakes Dortmunder
• Along with other favorites, limited & seasonal beers from the cellar

Additionally, Devil’s Den will have a firkin of Round Guys K-I-N Tucky Saison (7/1% ABV, 35 IBU). This Saison is the only firkin of its kind and the beer will not be released again until Philly Beer Week. Round Guys grabbed a bourbon barrel instead of an apple brandy barrel and this rare gem was born, and unlike the other barrel-aged beers, this beer was not blended with fresh saison.

Chef Paul Trowbridge will also prepare special tapas dishes that will be available all day during the anniversary party. Trowbridge has been with Devil’s Den since December 2010 and has added cool flavors and fresh recipes to the menu. He began his culinary career at Dockstreet Brewpub in 1992. His accolades and influences throughout his career have led him to Devil’s Den—back to creative beer-driven cooking.

With this milestone anniversary also comes new menu items. In addition to Devil’s Den’s menu of delicious plates, Chef Trowbridge has added Pork Belly Mac & Cheese with crispy pork belly, pamesan, and gruyere; and Shrimp & Chorizo with lemon aioli & tomato jam to the Small Plate Section. New entrees include Crispy Duck Legs with an orange glaze, grilled radicchio and yams; Fish & Chips with curry mayo & wasabi mayo; along with other new entrees, flatbreads, and sandwiches.

Devil’s Den is also open for brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am-3pm. New brunch plates include Bread Pudding French Toast; Eggs Ranch Style with spicy beef sauce and queso fresca; and Croque Maison. Devil’s Den brunch provides beer lovers with unique dining options along with the amazing beer selection like the signature BEERMOSA made with Ommegang White.

“When we opened the Den we were looking to create a place that we wanted to go to,” owner Erin Wallace says. “We wanted to make sure that we covered a variety of styles– that we weren’t just a Belgian or German beer bar– that no matter what style you preferred we would have something to accommodate you. We wanted an atmosphere that would be comfortable and a space that feels like home”.

 Devil’s Den has accomplished just that—it’s comfortable, cutting edge and there’s something for everyone. Seventeen rotating drafts, over 200 bottles, and a wide variety of cans make Devil’s Den an enticing beer haven, but add in a non-stop events calendar of tongue-in-cheek thematic beer-centric events and you have a notable mainstay in the nation’s self-proclaimed craft beer capital—Philadelphia. This 5^th Anniversary Party with its super rare and limited wood-aged beers is a perfect example of clever and entertaining events that Devil’s Den does best.

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Devil’s Den is one of Philadelphia’s best destinations for import and craft beers, with 17 rotating drafts and over 200 bottles.  Chef Paul Trowbridge offers homemade comfort food and stepped-up fare in a warm and enveloping setting. Popular favorites include house signature Duck Fries, Salmon BLT, and several tempting mussel renditions.  The elevated gastropub has knowledgeable and friendly staff, popular happy hour specials, and an unparalleled beer selection. A dominating architectural feature is the wood-burning fireplace, which offers ambiance and warmth in colder months in both the dining room and the extensive bar. Outdoor seating creates a spirited street scene when weather permits.  A lively events calendar adds to the fun. Devil’s Den is open daily from 11am to 2am.

Devil’s Den | 1148 South 11^th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 | (215) 339-0855| http://www.devilsdenphilly.com

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Ardbeg Rockets to the Top!

Ardbeg is the star at the World Whisky Awards in London with hat-trick of wins

Iconic Islay malt is named ‘World’s Best Single Malt’, ‘Best Islay Single Malt’ and the ‘Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year’

Ardbeg completed a hat-trick of prestigious awards at the renowned World Whisky Awards held in London on 21^st March.

Ardbeg scooped the World’s Best Single Malt 2013 accolade and received further recognition when its latest limited edition, Ardbeg Galileo, was also declared Best Islay Single Malt.

However, two awards were simply not enough, as Jackie Thomson, Ardbeg distillery visitor centre manager, was named Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year, confirming her growing reputation in the industry.

The latest Limited Edition release Ardbeg Galileo was launched to celebrate the Islay distillery’s world-first experiment in space on the International Space Station.

Ardbeg, the Ultimate Islay Malt, has never done things by halves, and these three prestigious awards just go to prove it.

Dr. Bill Lumsden, director of distilling and whisky creation, explained: “As Ardbeg’s visitor centre manager Jackie Thomson lives and breathes Ardbeg. Her enthusiasm and passion for the Ultimate Islay Malt is clear to the thousands of smoky malt drinkers who make the pilgrimage to the distillery.

“We’re all so proud of Jackie and her achievements. She embodies Ardbeg’s commitment to providing an unforgettable experience, and everyone who meets her is inspired.”

Allan Little, Ardbeg senior brand manager, said: “Receiving these awards is amazing. We’re over the moon to be recognised as the World’s Best Single Malt 2013, Best Islay Single Malt and Jackie is an inspiration to us all every day.

“We are thrilled she has been acknowledged as the Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year, as she’s the ultimate visitor centre manager.”

Ardbeg prides itself on being the ‘Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky’. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.

Ardbeg Galileo is the limited edition 12 Years Old Single Malt Whisky, which is a special vatting of different styles of Ardbeg laid down in 1999. The spirit has been matured in ex-Marsala wine casks from Sicily that add fruity aromas to Ardbeg’s famed smooth and peaty house style.

Philly Food and Drink News For March 25, 2013

Drink, Learn and Linger at Village Whisky’s 1st Whisky Social

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Thursday, April 18 beginning at 9:30 p.m., Chef Jose Garces’ sexy cocktail bar and brown liquor library, Village Whiskey (118 South 20^th Street, 215-665-1088), will host their first-ever Whiskey Social.  For $60 per person, including tax and gratuity, guests will enjoy an informative yet relaxed class on classic whiskey cocktails, followed by passed bites and a cocktail hour during which they may sample the drinks from the evening’s lesson.

“Whiskey is at the root of so many good, classic drinks,” says General Manager Paul Rodriguez, a whiskey enthusiast and connoisseur who will lead the social.  “We’re looking forward to a casual evening with our guests and the chance to get to know them a bit more over a few straight up, or rocks, cocktails and good food.”

Featured cocktails, including the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Whiskey Sour and Sazerac, will be poured and served by Village Whiskey’s skilled bartenders, while guests are encouraged to ask questions and learn more about what distinguishes each cocktail and why specific whiskeys are used in each.  Guests will receive drink recipe books so they may take what they’ve learned and apply it to their home bar.

In addition, a sampling whiskey will also be passed along with a variety of snacks, such as Pickled Cherry Tomatoes and Beets, Deviled Eggs, Duck Fat Fries with Sly Fox Cheddar Cheese Sauce and a Variety of Sliders.  Guests will mix and mingle, getting to know each other as they learn more about the bar’s 80-plus whiskey selection.  The restaurant will be closed for this exclusive event, offering guests a rare chance to casually stroll throughout the space.  Tickets must be purchased in advance at villagewhiskey.com/social.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has called Village Whiskey “the ultimate height of low-down American decadence,” praising their “awesome parade of bottles” and the Village Burger, “my single favorite Philly burger,” according to food critic Craig LaBan.  Philadelphia Weekly gushed over their “cool and composed” service, “very good cocktails” and “rapture on a roll” burger, while Philadelphia magazine admired the “gorgeous bar,” “understatedly cool” vibe and “over the top” food.

Village Whiskey is open Sunday and Monday from 11:30 a.m. until 11 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until midnight and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until 1 a.m.  For more information, please visit www.villagewhiskey.com, follow them on Twitter (@VillageWhiskPHL) or call (215) 665-1088.

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A Bit of Cheese Talk With The Alemonger

About a week or so ago, G-LO agreed to answer some cheese related questions from our good friend The Alemonger. Click the above photo to read it for yourself. Proceed with caution! Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

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National Constitution Center’s “Cheers To Beer” Tasting Event

Don’t miss the final evening event for critically acclaimed American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition 

Philadelphia, PA  –  Toast the “Beer Act” of 1933, which legalized beer prior to Prohibition’s repeal, during the National Constitution Center’s suds-filled Cheers to Beer tasting event on Thursday, April 4, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $30 for museum members and $35 for non-members (ages 21+) and includes live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres, samples from local Philadelphia breweries, a commemorative souvenir tasting mug, and one of the final opportunities to tour American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, before it closes on April 28. Reservations can be made by calling 215.409.6700 or at constitutioncenter.org. Guests are encouraged but not required to attend in their best Roaring ’20s attire!

Participating breweries/distributors include: Batch 19, Dock Street Brewing Company, Prism Brewing Company, River Horse Brewing Company, Sly Fox Brewery, Stoudt’s Brewing Company, Triumph Brewing Company, Weyerbacher Brewing Company, and Yards Brewing Company. Specialty whiskey cocktails made with Jim Beam Devil’s Cut and Canadian Club Dock No. 57 also will be served.

Guests will tap their feet to live jazz music by the acclaimed Blue Vipers of Brooklyn, whose upbeat repertoire consists of tunes from the ’20′s and ’30’s, paired with classic blues and original works. For a memorable keepsake, guests can strike a pose in front of a ’20s era backdrop and have their photo taken by Peter van Beever Photography.

Beverages will be paired with an all-American menu prepared by Brûlée Catering including boneless buffalo chicken bites, BBQ pulled pork sliders, macaroni & cheese bites, crab tots, and a flatbread station. Vegetarian options also will be offered.

The Cheers to Beer event is the final of three exciting parties held throughout the run of the American Spirits exhibition.

Throughout the evening, guests can watch as the era of flappers and suffragists, bootleggers and temperance lobbyists, and real-life legends like Al Capone and Carry Nation come vividly to life in the National Constitution Center’s world-premiere exhibition American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. Spanning from the dawn of the temperance movement, through the Roaring ’20s, to the unprecedented repeal of a constitutional amendment, this first comprehensive exhibition about Prohibition explores America’s most colorful and complex constitutional hiccup. Featured artifacts include a Budweiser beer bottle and case from 1933, one of the first produced by Anheuser-Busch after Congress redefined “intoxicating liquors” to make beer legal.

American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is created by the National Constitution Center and curated by Daniel Okrent, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.  Following its debut at the Center, the exhibition will embark on a nationwide tour.

During regular museum hours, admission to American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition is $17.50 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, and $11 for children ages 4-12.  Group rates also are available.  Admission to the Center’s main exhibition, The Story of We the People, including the award-winning theatrical production Freedom Rising, is included.  For ticket information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.

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Root for the Home Team at Iron Hill with the Release of “Phightin’ Phils Pils” and a Menu of Phillies-Inspired Hot Dogs for Opening Day

WILMINGTON, DE – On Opening Day, Friday, April 5, beginning at 12 noon, all nine Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant locations will celebrate the return of baseball with the release of Phightin’ Phils Pils and a menu of Phillies-Themed Hot Dogs as the Phillies take on the Kansas City Royals.  Each restaurant will be showing the game live on TV and all specials are available on a pay-as-you-go basis.

“Phightin’ Phils Pils has become a game-day tradition for us,” says Director of Brewing Operations Mark Edelson.  “We’re thrilled to bring back this bright, refreshing beer and to welcome our Philadelphia Phillies back for another exciting season.”

Phightin’ Phils Pils is a Northern German-style pilsner that is brewed with traditional German noble hops for magnificent hop aroma and flavor.  It is a perfect spring-and-summer beer that also pairs beautifully with any of their baseball-centric hot dogs.  Phillies dogs will include:

• The Chili Chooooooch Dog, topped with beef and bean chili, cheddar cheese and chopped onions.
• The Reuben Amaro Dog, topped with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and thousand-island dressing.
• The J-Roll Dog, with smoked pork, creamy coleslaw and sweet mustard sauce.
• The Papelbon Dog, with smoked bacon-tomato jam, chopped red onion and cheddar cheese.
• The Galvis Dog, wrapped in bacon and topped with pico de gallo, avocado, jalapeno peppers and crema.
• Harry the K-Dog, with sauerkraut, chopped onion and spicy brown mustard (“outta here” good!).
• The Ruf Ruf Dog, with egg salad, crumbled bacon and roasted long hot peppers.
• The Hamels Dog, with coleslaw, chopped bacon and spicy mustard.
• The “Chase Utley, You are the Man” Dog, with avocado, tomato, red onion and bleu cheese sauce.
• The Charlie Dog, with chopped onion, tomato, relish, mustard and ketchup.
• The Bull Luzinski Dog, with barbecue onions, smoked bacon and cheddar cheese.

Founded by home brewers Kevin Finn and Mark Edelson and restaurateur Kevin Davies in Newark, DE in 1996, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant has blossomed from one restaurant and brewery to nine locations across the mid-Atlantic with a tenth location in Voorhees, NJ scheduled to open in 2013.  Each restaurant is dedicated to producing and serving top-quality hand-crafted beers and cuisine in a warm and hospitable setting, and all are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

Locations include:  Newark, DE (147 East Main Street, 302-266-9000);  Wilmington, DE (620 Justison Street, 302-472-2739);  Media, PA (30 East State Street, 610-627-9000);  West Chester, PA (3 West Gay Street, 610-738-9600);  North Wales, PA (1460 Bethlehem Pike, 267-708-2000);  Phoenixville, PA (130 East Bridge Street, 610-983-9333);  Lancaster, PA (781 Harrisburg Pike, 717-291-9800);  Maple Shade, NJ (124 East Kings Highway, 856-273-0300);  and Chestnut Hill, PA (8400 Germantown Avenue, 215-948-5600).

For more information about Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, or to make a reservation at any of their locations, please visit www.ironhillbrewery.com, follow them on Twitter (@ironhillbrewery) and like them on Facebook.

The Whisky Wednesday Tribune For March 20, 2013

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Suntory Whisky Marks 90th Anniversary

On the road to its centennial, the House of Suntory Whisky marks its 90th anniversary of whisky making. Inspired by heritage and innovation, this richly experienced House dared to make Japanese Whisky a reality by tirelessly reinventing whisky to create a true form of art.

It has been 90 years since founding father, Shinjiro Torii, built the first whisky distillery in Yamazaki, Japan in 1923, where this new “art of whisky making” was born. In 2012, Japanese whisky made another global breakthrough with Suntory being named Distiller of the Year for the third time in three years.

For the past year, the global progress of Suntory Whisky has been nothing less than outstanding. To highlight, global shipments of The Yamazaki increased by 24% while The Hakushu increased by a remarkable 187%.

None of this success has happened by chance. The same meticulous effort will be present throughout all of the ambitious projects to come in 2013.

Below are just a few of our favorite highlights from our first 90 years:

• 1923 – Shinjiro Torii, established Japan’s first distillery in Yamazaki on the periphery of Kyoto
• 1973 – Torii’s son, Keizo Saji, completes Suntory’s second distillery, Hakushu
• 2002 - Shingo Torii, grandson of Shinjiro Torii is named the current Master Blender of the House, and continues to perfect the quality of Suntory’s Japanese Whisky
• 2012 – Suntory achieves global accomplishment, when named Distiller of the Year for the third time in three years
• 2012 – Suntory’s marks impressive global growth of shipments: The Yamazaki increased by 24% and The Hakushu increased by a remarkable 187%
• 2013 and on – Looking to the future, Suntory plans to strengthen their global presence by expanding to new markets, talking to new customers, and proposing new ways of enjoying their whisky.
• In 2013 and 2014 – Suntory will be investing approximately 5 Billion Yen (US$50 Million) to increase productivity at the Yamazaki Distillery and the Ohmi Aging Cellars. This expansion and investment is to meet the increasing demand globally for Suntory whisky, specifically, in the US and UK

For more information about the Suntory Distillery, like them on Facebook, or feel free to download Suntory’s 90th Anniversary Book by clicking the following link:

90th_Anniversary_PR_US_Final_BD_coupe

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Brewery Ommegang To Host 2nd Annual Philly Hop Chef  Beer And Food Competition

COOPERSTOWN, NY – On Tuesday, April 23 at 7 p.m., some of Philadelphia’s most talented young chefs will compete in Brewery Ommegang’s second-annual Philly Hop Chef (click for tickets) for a chance to represent the city in a cook-off at the brewery’s annual Belgium Comes to Cooperstown event.  Six chefs will each create one dish showcasing their imaginative beer and food pairing skills, based on five principles of pairing.  The dishes, all paired with Ommegang beers, will be served to a panel of judges and to all attendees; each chef will be given 15 minutes to describe and defend his dish to the judges.  Co-sponsored by the prestigious food magazine Saveur, Philly Hop Chef will be held at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, 215-232-2100) and tickets are $53.50 per person, with a portion of proceeds going to support the Mural Arts Program and Groundswell.

“Beer and food belong together – whether as a thoughtful beverage pairing or as an ingredient – and this competition brings some of Philly’s best and brightest young chefs into the kitchen with our beers,” says Megan Maguire, Ommegang Market Manager.  “Last year’s dishes were inspired, and the playful rivalries that developed between the chefs drove each of them to work harder and to create even more exciting and interesting dishes and pairings.”

The outstanding line-up of competing chefs includes:  Yun Fuentes of JG Domestic;  Lucio Palazzo of La Calaca Feliz;  Nick Macri of Southwark;  Pat Szoke of The Industry;  Eli Kulp of Fork;  and Mike Deganis of Alla Spina.  The chefs will be judged based on five pairing principles:  Simple Pairing, a direct interaction between food and beer;  Incorporation, utilizing beer in the cooking process;  Mimicking, matching the flavor profile of a dish with the flavor profile of a beer;  Story Telling, tracing the history of the dish and the beer;  and Experimental, making beer the star of the dish.

“Our Great Beer Deserves Great Food and Hop Chef programs further the very Belgian idea of food and beer pairing – that there is a beer for every dish.  Starting this year’s competition off in Philadelphia is fitting as Philly is one of the centers of beer culture in the U.S. and it also has a booming restaurant scene with high quality food, both local and ethnic” said Phil Leinhart, Ommegang’s brewmaster.

The Hop Chef Competition is part of the Ommegang program known as Great Beer Deserves Great Food^®, a national initiative dedicated to the idea that fine beer deserves its rightful place at the table with fine foods.  The Philadelphia event is the first in a series of chef’s cook-offs across the U.S., including other semi-final competitions in Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; and Albany, NY, culminating in a Grand Hop Chef cook-off at Ommegang’s Belgium Comes to Cooperstown festival August 2 to 4 at the brewery.  In 2012, Philadelphia’s own George Sabatino won the national Hop Chef title in Cooperstown.  He serves as the local Hop Chef Culinary Ambassador for this year’s competition.

In the weeks leading up to Hop Chef, fans and food and beer lovers can follow the chefs on twitter (hashtag #HopChef) as they taste Ommegang beers and create their competition dishes.  For more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/eventV2/241755.  You can also follow Ommegang on Twitter@BreweryOmmegang and @OmmegangPhilly.

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March Goes Out Like A Lion At City Tap House

PHILADELPHIA, PA – From Friday, March 29 until Sunday, March 31, City Tap House (The Radian Balcony, 3925 Walnut Street, 215-662-0105) will bid a fond farewell to March with a full weekend of beer-centric events.  First, on Friday at 5 p.m., the restaurant will host Dogfish Head Good Fish Friday, featuring a vast array of the brewery’s coveted and hard-to-find beers.  Then, on Saturday at 6 p.m., guests will enjoy great beer and great music as they host the Third-Annual East Coast vs. West Coast Punk Rock Brew Tour.  Finally, on Sunday at 11 a.m., it’s Easter Sunday Brunch, featuring a special menu and of course, beer cocktails.

“At City Tap House, we really believe that beer is always the right beverage – and our end-of-March events are proof positive that no matter the time of day or the occasion, beer should be a part of the fun!” says beer steward Andy Farrell, who heads the ambitious 60-tap beer program at City Tap House, the city’s largest.  

Dogfish Head Good Fish Friday

Beginning at 5 p.m., the bar will pour nine different Dogfish Head beers, all on a pay-as-you-go basis:  Palo Santo Marron, an unfiltered brown ale aged in handmade wooden brewing vessels for caramel and vanilla complexity;  Robert Johnson Hellhound on My Ale, a super hoppy ale that is dry-hopped with Centennial hops and accented with dried lemon peel and flesh;  Miles Davis Bitches Brew, a bold, dark beer that’s a fusion of three threads of imperial stout and one thread of honey beer with gesho root; Burton Baton, an oak-aged English-style old ale / imperial IPA hybrid;  Birra Etrusca, developed by Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione in Italy from ancient Etruscan recipes, brewed with hazelnut flour, pomegranates, Italian chestnut honey, local Delaware wildflower honey and clover honey and whole-flower hops;  Immort Ale, brewed with maple syrup, peat-smoked barley, juniper berries and vanilla;  Aprihop, a massively hopped American IPA with apricot;  60-Minute IPA, one of their standard-bearing beers that is continuously hopped for 60 minutes;  and 75-Minute IPA, dry-hopped with whole-leaf hops, brewed with maple syrup and naturally carbonated.  A menu of fish-focused small bites will complement the Dogfish Head beers. 

East Coast vs. West Coast Punk Rock Brew Tour

Not a competition, but rather, a celebration of beer and music, this event begins at 6 p.m. and will feature five draught lines for each coastal brewery, includingSmuttynose, Lagunitas, Ballast Point, Oskar Blues, Sixpoint, Sierra Nevada and Victory, as well as a soundtrack of punk and hardcore rock.  The “tour” is also making stops in Brooklyn, NY; Buffalo, NY; Rochester, NY; Syracuse, NY; Boston, MA; Providence, RI; and Washington, DC.

Easter Sunday Brunch

A full brunch menu is available for preview online at www.citytaphouse.com, including:  Biscuits and Gravy, Bilbao chorizo gravy with fried egg and Southern-style biscuits;  Tap House Omelet with grape tomatoes, asparagus tips and Italian brie cheese;  Brioche French Toast with spiced apple compote, candied pecans and mascarpone;  and Avenue Hoagie with pickled vegetables, avocado, tofu mayo, lettuces and crispy wontons.  Beer cocktails include:  Quaker Shandy, Hendrick’s gin with local lager, pear cider, fresh lemon juice and candied lemon;  Beermosa, champagne with St. Germaine elderflower liqueur, Allagash White and fresh orange juice;  and Early Riser, house Bloody Mary mix with local lager, Frank’s Red Hot sauce and a sweet-and-savory rim.  Reservations are recommended; contact Melody (mlauletta@publichouseusa.com) to book.

End-of-March Madness is the latest in City Tap House’s extraordinary line-up of beer tasting events, following their recent Bell’s Tap Takeover, winter’s exclusive Stone Vertical Epic Tasting and last fall’s wildly popular Into the Black and Pumpkin Smash.  With extensive open-air seating on two terraces and a row of five stone fire pits overlooking Walnut Street combined with the rich, rustic feel of a mountain lodge, City Tap House is one of the city’s most popular food-and-beer destinations.  It is located on the second level of The Radian, a pristine landmark building just steps from the campuses of the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.  Owners Gary Cardi, Chris Coco, Brian Harrington and Frank Falesto are also the operators of several other restaurant concepts including Chestnut 7, Mission Grill, Field House and Public House, with 11 locations nationwide, including four in the region in Philadelphia, PA; New York City, NY; and Oxon Hill, MD.  This spring, they will open Pennsylvania 6, an American brasserie.

City Tap House serves lunch and dinner seven days a week, and brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.  For more information, please call (215) 662-0105, visit www.citytaphouse.com, follow them on Twitter (@TapHousePhilly) and like them on Facebook.

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He’s Back! NEW Captain Morgan Ad, Tattooed Treasure Map

NORWALK, Conn., March 15, 2013 – Few dare to look uncertainty straight in the eyes without blinking, or set sail for a destination that’s open-ended; however, one need only look to the famed 17^th century privateer, Captain Henry Morgan, for inspiration to live adventurously. This inspiration comes to life today as the CAPTAIN MORGAN ^® brand announced the world premiere of “Perfect Getaway” – the first episode of the spiced rum brand’s new ad Trilogy that introduces viewers to the depths of Morgan’s world and his adventures aboard his flagship, The Satisfaction.

Set in 1668 Port Royal, Jamaica, “Perfect Getaway” opens with Captain Henry Morgan atop a ladder set against a battery wall. With paintbrush in hand, Morgan implements his strategy to rescue one of his crew members held captive by his nemesis, Don Alonzo. Little do viewers know that this prisoner is worth more than meets the eye.

Creating a world based on the historical accounts of the real-life Captain Henry Morgan is no small task, which is why the CAPTAIN MORGAN^® brand worked with Academy Award-nominated director Todd Field to produce the three-part commercial series.

“It’s kind of amazing how many people are unaware that Morgan’s legacy existed long before he appeared on the label of a bottle,” said three-time Academy Award-nominated writer/director Todd Field. “The job of everyone on our team was to bring Morgan’s adventurous spirit to life through this Trilogy – to try and paint as compelling a picture as possible of his world, and the people who might have really populated it at that time.”

Shot in an undisclosed exotic location, the magnitude of the project rivaled the work of many motion picture productions, from explosive special effects to constructing a replica of The Satisfaction to utilizing over 450 extras throughout the shoot. Nathan Crowley, Academy Award-nominated production designer for blockbusters including Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Rises and John Carter, also joined the team to visually bring the world of Henry Morgan to life.

“Successfully capturing the look and feel of a 17^th century Port Royal, Jamaica was integral to making this project visually impactful,” said Crowley. “Our team created a world that viewers can believe in and one that further characterizes Captain Henry Morgan himself.”

The next installment of its “To Life, Love and Loot” ad campaign, the CAPTAIN MORGAN^® brand continues to explore the depths and complexities of the man who has become synonymous with spiced rum, and emphasizes Captain Henry Morgan’s historic legacy through the new Trilogy episodes – each building on the one which precedes it.

“We continue to take great pride in the fact that the legacy of our brand is built on real-life adventurer Captain Henry Morgan, and embrace his character as the source of our inspiration for developing innovative marketing campaigns” said Tom Herbst, Vice President, CAPTAIN MORGAN^®, Brand Director in the United States. “Through the Trilogy series we hope to show that every adventure is one worth celebrating responsibly, and we hope that adult consumers everywhere will aspire to do the same.”

Created by Anomaly Advertising, “Perfect Getaway” of the new Captain Morgan Trilogy series will debut this Sunday, March 17^th during the new episode of AMC’s Walking Dead. The :30 and :60 second spots will continue to air in general rotation across sports and entertainment television broadcast affiliates, including ESPN, ESPN DEPORTES and TBS, with the remaining two episodes, “Cave” and “Fire Ship,” premiering later in 2013. In addition, each episode will be viewable on the brand’s YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/captainmorgan) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CaptainMorganUSA).

Whether tuning in to join Captain Henry Morgan in his episodic Trilogy or embarking on your own adventure with your crew, the CAPTAIN MORGAN^® brand reminds adult consumers everywhere to raise your glass – always in moderation!

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Send A Drink App Launching In Two Weeks

Last week, I received an email from Marco Aponte. He is the founder of a new smartphone app called “Have 1 On Me”. Below is the email along with their promotional video for your reading and viewing pleasure. I can’t wait to see if this thing actually works.

Hello,

My name is Marco Aponte and I am one of the founders of a company called Have 1 On Me! We’ve built a social gifting app that allows you to send real drinks to friends anywhere. We have a fun twist on gifting and are confident that our concept will resonate with your audience at Booze Dancing.

With Have 1 On Me! users can send a 6-pack of beer for a friend’s birthday, a bottle of wine to celebrate an anniversary or a cocktail to say congrats all from your mobile phone. Our drinks are redeemable at thousands of and retailers nationwide.

Check out our promo and walk-through video:

We are launching the app in less than 2 weeks and are looking to get some buzz. Would you be interested in covering us on your Booze Dancing Blog or even just giving us a shout out to your Twitter Followers? Thank you for your help and we look forward to hearing from you.

Marco Aponte
Founder
Have 1 On Me, LLC
“Send drinks and be social, Have 1 On Me!”
www.1onMe.com (Coming Soon…)
twitter: @Have_1onMe
facebook.com/Have1onMe