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Set 'em up! No curb on bourbon as Americans drown their sorrows
Journalstar.com ^ | 2-8-09` | Jerry Hirsch

Posted on 02/08/2009 7:55:37 AM PST by stan_sipple

As the economy continues to recede, are cutting back on their liquor — with the exception of whiskey.

Sales of bourbons such as Jack Daniels and Maker’s Mark are bucking a slump in sales of distilled spirits that set in during the final months of last year, according to industry officials.

It’s not clear whether in hard economic times drinkers are looking for comfort in the bottom of a glass of Wild Turkey, or whether Americans long enamored with vodka, rum and tequila have rediscovered one of the nation’s oldest spirits. George Washington had a working still at Mount Vernon.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States said that whiskey sales rose 4.3 percent by dollar value and 1.3 percent by volume in 2008. And in a trend contrary to other segments of the alcoholic beverage industry, the expensive stuff, or super premium whiskey, logged the hottest growth. In other areas of the market, consumers are trading down to less-expensive brands, analysts report.

(Excerpt) Read more at journalstar.com ...


TOPICS: Food
KEYWORDS: bourbon; liquorindustry; recession; whiskey
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To: stan_sipple; alarm rider; stump56; bcsco; PJ-Comix; kimmie7; MissDairyGoodnessVT; Paul Heinzman; ...

Late bourbon ping. I was busy entertaining family in town to attend the drowning my new grand-daughter this weekend.

Jim: Tried the Elijah Craig (12) and wasn’t impressed. I’ll try the EC-18 next.


41 posted on 02/09/2009 6:35:13 AM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

Well, we all have different tastes. That’s what’s great about Bourbon, so many varieties in taste based on the distiller’s own recipe. I’ve tried brands others have written well of and came away unimpressed myself. But thanks for giving it a try...


42 posted on 02/09/2009 6:49:57 AM PST by bcsco (Illinois politicians should be read their Miranda rights when sworn in to office...)
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To: Paul Heinzman

Thank you.

Not only is JD not distilled in Bourbon County, it’s not even in Kentucky!


43 posted on 02/09/2009 6:51:40 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

Doesn’t Kentucky have bourbon tasting for visitors at the various distilleries? That is something I would like to do.


44 posted on 02/09/2009 4:59:04 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Comedy is not pretty...most of the time)
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To: bcsco; Charles Henrickson

Jim Beam bourbon was orginially founded by Jacob Beam a German Lutheran immigrant who came to Kentucky in the late 1700s. Elijah Craig, a Baptist minister, is credited with inventing bourbon. It wasn’t until about the 1840s when there was a stigma placed upon alcohol consumption by the Baptists although they remain very fond of bourbon on the sly. Lutherans, meanwhile placed no such stigma on alcohol consumption especially since the beer breweries were mostly run by German Lutherans.


45 posted on 02/09/2009 5:12:26 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Comedy is not pretty...most of the time)
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To: PJ-Comix

Yes, many of the small-batch distilleries have tasting tours. They might be expensive and remember that there are still some dry counties in KY. That means the tour might advertise as a “tasting tour” but only transport you to few actual tastings.

Remember to spit. Not ‘cuz you’ll get drunk but because of the alcohol content, you can experience palate fatigue much faster. If the tour finishes at the right spot, you can get toasted there!


46 posted on 02/09/2009 6:11:18 PM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (FreepMail me is you want on the Bourbon ping list!)
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To: PJ-Comix; bcsco; Charles Henrickson

Another good reason to be a Lutheran (and a non-pietistic one at that!)


47 posted on 02/09/2009 6:12:17 PM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (FreepMail me is you want on the Bourbon ping list!)
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To: PJ-Comix; Cletus.D.Yokel; Charles Henrickson

There is a “tour” of distilleries. My BIL had a brochure from it a couple years ago that a friend gave him. Looked interesting. It hits all the distilleries in the major distillation area. I think there’s something about it online. I’ll look it up and provide a link later.


48 posted on 02/10/2009 5:00:59 AM PST by bcsco (Illinois politicians should be read their Miranda rights when sworn in to office...)
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To: PJ-Comix; Cletus.D.Yokel; Charles Henrickson
Well, that was easy. Here's the link to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. You'll need flash player 8 to view. There are also other information sites online as well. It's something I'd like to do sometime...as long as Julie does the driving :)
49 posted on 02/10/2009 5:23:14 AM PST by bcsco (Illinois politicians should be read their Miranda rights when sworn in to office...)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel; PJ-Comix; Charles Henrickson

My German Lutheran background meant there was always beer in the house. When I was a tyke, my dad allowed me one “airport” bottle of Mogan David Concord Wine on New Year’s Eve to celebrate. I still have beer in the house at all times but drink very little of it. It bloats me too much. I enjoy it after a round of golf, on a warm sunny day outside, or with a fine steak off the grill. Otherwise, I stick to my Bourbon. Two fingers over two cubes does me just right. And I don’t need anything to celebrate, although that always adds to the event...

Oh, have I mentioned cigars?


50 posted on 02/10/2009 5:33:42 AM PST by bcsco (Illinois politicians should be read their Miranda rights when sworn in to office...)
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To: bcsco

I hear ya RE the bloat.

What do your tastes in beer run? I’m not a fan of American pilsners and some of the big-house ales aren’t bad - Bud’s “American Ale” is passable (pun intended).

New Belgium (Fat Tire) makes a great winter ale called “2 Below”. I’m stocked with that right now.

My summer barbecues are almost always accompanied by an IPA (Goose Island). If I have company, I’ll grab some Sam Adams Lager or Leinies.


51 posted on 02/10/2009 5:49:22 AM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (FreepMail me if you want on the Bourbon ping list!)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

I usually do the Leinies. We visited a friend and his family a couple weeks ago who had some Point ale. It was pretty good. He used to bring it back from hunting trips, but says some local liquor stores near him (West Chicago) now carry it. I haven’t checked yet whether Lundeen’s in Sycamore carries it (that’s the big “everything” store I go to), but I know it’s not available here in Rochelle. I’ll also have to check out that Goose Island and New Belgium stuff...

A neighbor is kind enough to plow our driveway during snow storms, so I keep him in Heineken. I too enjoy a Heineken occasionally, but prefer to mostly stay with the Leinies. But my beer consumption comes to about 5-6 bottles a year. So I don’t spend a lot of time on varieties.


52 posted on 02/10/2009 5:58:00 AM PST by bcsco (Illinois politicians should be read their Miranda rights when sworn in to office...)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel; Charles Henrickson; PJ-Comix

Hey guys, I should have reported this earlier, but forgot. We had our bi-monthly II-District 13 Kiwanis meeting again last night in Dixon. Why I never noticed before is beyond me because there’s a big plaque on the wall outside the entry, but the meeting is held in the fellowship hall of First Christian Church in Dixon. That was President Ronald Reagan’s church from 1922 - 1940. Kinda neat I thought...


53 posted on 02/10/2009 6:05:00 AM PST by bcsco (Illinois politicians should be read their Miranda rights when sworn in to office...)
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