It’s Fall. The leaves are turning, and somehow the Cowboys are possibly, the worst team in football. Not that anyone would think that 2020 would be done, by any fashion, dishing off unpleasant surprises. Yet, as each day goes by, the year’s impressive list of surprises continues to grow.
As it’s been since the beginning of the pandemic, whiskey has been providing a bit of relief for life’s often unpleasant turns, and I’m sure America’s team supporters have found themselves pouring one or two after that horrible showing in the four corners around the socially distant stands of AT&T Stadium.
Now there are way worse things than the Cowboys losing and having to endure an Andy Dalton season, but it undeniably made me think of just how much uncertainty we’ve faced this year and just how much more of it is likely still yet to come from it all.
MNF Fiasco
I still remember a few Monday Night Football gatherings with great friends in some remote dive back in Columbus a few years back. Back in 2003, the Cowboys were supposed to be good again, under Bill Parcells, to begin a legendary comeback to the top. As Dak went down, so did the dreams of winning anything else in 2020. “Shut it down,” they say.
The sad reality, which tends to creep up once the game goes blank or uncompetitive like in this Cowboys’ pathetic defeat, is that most of these small joints where we once watched these sports moments that somehow spilled into your week will likely not be there when the Coronavirus crisis ends. The irony of it is that they typically stayed open on Monday to support the industry itself with ridiculous deals just to pay the bills. Then Tuesdays would sure follow with Industry night. Then Wednesday was back to business and usual.
Food For Thought
Now, each of these small, often family-owned, immigrant-employed businesses may never reopen again, or, much like another Cowboy’s championship, it may not come for a very long time. Monday night deals at these local dives were a staple to “keep the doors open” and service people getting paid. For that reason alone, in times of crisis, it certainly seems a bit petty to let small businesses perish while most of the alcohol industry thrives under Covid-19.
In the meantime, we hope our lovely government can strike some sort of deal for any hospitality venue who is losing the economic battle. Otherwise, it may be up to alcohol brands themselves to rescue the places that once kept them in business. It certainly seems like they have the tools to help.
So without further delay, here’s our weekly whiskey round-up of articles around the whiskey world.
Grab your favorite whiskey in these special Fall releases
Liquor companies and brands have been releasing several whiskeys this fall, including ryes, bourbons, and single malts. Many of them, going after the specialty markets, dominated by cask finishing and longer aging. This essential list from The Manual provides us with a feel-good taste of nature’s crafted bottles for Fall. Many of them are sold as limited editions, so we don’t expect stocks to last.
It’s a killer list that also includes reviews on the Pinhook Bohemian Bourbon, Bruichladdich Octomore 11, and Hudson Whiskey, to mention but a few.
Among our favorites, the Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel, The Maker’s Wood Finishing Series, and the Templeton Caribbean Cask. All winners, inspired to provide consumers with a liquor of all time in the shape of Fall special releases to enjoy with families and friends.
When it comes to selecting a bottle of whiskey for you to enjoy with both your family and friends, you need to consider a lot of different things. You’re typically looking for whiskey that meets your tastes, needs, and preferences. Quality and smoothness go hand in hand, and in whiskey, it typically makes all the difference.
Watershed distillery business owner successfully pivot’s its business
Watershed Distillery owner and co-founder Greg Lehman’s dream was to have customers flocking into his distillery shop to seek his services. Though the distillery was already celebrating success in early March, the business was adversely affected by the covid-19 pandemic, leaving Lehman to think through ways of surviving the rough times.
During the pandemic’s heydays, the businessman decided to improve and protect the business by quickly shifting production to hand sanitizers. Greg was amazed by how customers lined up in his watershed kitchen and bar. Not how he’d imagine this story to end but an incredible way to navigate a challenging time while gaining the community’s trust.
Examples like the Watershed distillery are everywhere around us. The good ones mainly inspire us to generate friendship, togetherness, and greatness. They will keep us sane and working, striving to survive the pandemic.
All The Wheated Talk
These days, wheat is all the rage in the whiskey community, like in this list by InsideHook. Most wheated whiskeys fly off the shelves, these days triggered by the Pappy – Weller aficionados looking for a comparable dram. Here’s a quick guide on all things wheated whiskey that goes along with the list:
What is wheated whiskey?
Wheated whiskey is a whiskey that primarily consists of wheat. It’s also a whiskey kind in which at least 51 percent of the mash bill is wheat.
What is wheated bourbon, particularly?
A wheated bourbon contains wheat in high proportion being the secondary ingredient in the mash bill. Wheated whiskeys are a bit milder, a little drier, gentler, and includes a smooth finish.
What are some of the bottles to try in this category?
Some of the most incredible wheated whiskeys that you should go out to look for include the Larceny Barrel Proof, Old Elk Wheated Bourbon, Old Elk Wheat Whiskey, and the Maker’s Mark 2020. These are all wheated blended with other spicy and smoother whiskeys you can find typically in the market today, all great ways to get into the wheated fever.
Celso Oliveira 