Liquor and Liqueur Connoisseur Matt Birchard

Episode 120 features Everclear Grain Alcohol. Bottled in 750ml at 95% ABV, or 190 proof and it retails for about $21.
Enjoy this episode with something you've made with Everclear.
Everclear's official website: https://diywitheverclear.com/
Brief Historical Timeline:
1922 - Everclear is mentioned in various issues of the Druggists Circular as a product of American Distilling Company.1936 - Article lists Everclear alongside whiskey, gin and rum.1950 - Everclear is registered as a trademark.1981 - American Distilling Company sells the Everclear brand to David Sherman Corporation.2006 - David Sherman Corporation rebrands as Luxco.2015 - First marketing campaign for Everclear, the "Make It Your Own" is launched. 2018 - New packaging, labeling is introduced.2021 - Luxco is purchased by MGP Ingredients.
Key Cocktails:
Everclear is described as a blank canvas, a clean slate and open invitation to make it your own. Everclear will add more "Punch to your Punch." Ample recipes are featured on the brand's website.
References:
Luxco Website
Vinepair Article on Everclear History
Vinepair List on Everclear
The Druggists Circular
Punch Article on Rebrand
Press Release on Updated Packaging
Wikipedia Article on Everclear
MGP Purchase of Luxco
Art Alexakis Quote on Everclear as his Band Name
Contact Information:
Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com
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Episode 119 features Kentucky Owl, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Maighstir Edition. Bottled in 750ml at 50% ABV, or 100 proof and it retails for about $134.
Enjoy this episode with a pour of Kentucky Owl as you like it.
Kentucky Owl's official website: https://kentuckyowlbourbon.com/
Brief Historical Timeline:
1879 - Kentucky Owl is founded by C.M. Dedman.1916 - Production ends and aging stocks are confiscated by the US government, they are then all "lost in a fire".2014 - Dixon Dedman, great-great-grandson of the founder, releases Batch #1, resurrecting the brand.2017 - Stoli Group purchases Kentucky Owl.2018 - Groundbreaking of the 420 acre distillery complex and brand home.2023 - Maureen Robinson collaborates with John Rhea in the release of the Maighstir Edition.2023 - Maureen Robinson is named Master Blender for Kentucky Owl.
Key Cocktails:
Simply drink Kentucky Owl as you like it. Neat, on the rocks, with water, or you could mix it if you like.
References:
Interview with Kentucky Owl’s Master Blender, Maureen Robinson
Stoli Group Website
Coverage of Stoli Group's Purchase of Kentucky Owl
Kentucky Owl's Distillery Complex Announcement
Press Release on Maureen Robinson Becoming Master Blender
Press Release on Maighstir Edition Release
Maureen Robinson Background
Keepers of the Quaich
Story of Kentucky Owl in American Whiskey
The Whiskey Wash Article on Kentucky Owl
Forbes Article on Kentucky Owl
The Beaumont Inn Website
Contact Information:
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Episode 118 features St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram. Bottled in 750ml at 22.5% ABV, or 45 proof and it retails for about $30.
Enjoy this episode with a tiki cocktail using "Pimento Dram" if you like.
St. Elizabeth doesn't have standalone brand website, but here's the producer's website: https://alpenz.com/product-allspice.html
Brief Historical Timeline:
1850s - Pimento Dram is thought to have been invented.1862 - First written reference to Pimento Dram as a commercial product.1900s - Pimento Dram is fairly common, and finds use in Tiki cocktails.1980s - Pimento Dram leaves the US market.2008 - Haus Alpenz creates St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, bringing Pimento Dram back to the US.
Key Cocktails:
St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram works in many tiki cocktails, but try this British concoction from 1937, the Lion's Tail.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Bourbon0.5 oz. of St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram0.5 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice1 teaspoon simple syrup2 dashes Angostura bittersOrange twist
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake until well-chilled, then strain into a coupe or cocktail glass. Express oil from the orange twist over the top of the drink and discard (the twist, not the drink!).
References:
Book: Vintage Spirits & Forgotten Cocktails by Ted Haigh, copyright 2009 revised edition.
Wikipedia Article on Allspice
Wikipedia Article on Saint Elizabeth Parish
What is Pimento Dram by The Spruce Eats
2008 Article from the San Francisco Chronicle discussing the launch of St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
2015 New York Times Article
Cocktail Society Article on Allspice Dram
Liquor.com Article on the Lions Tale Cocktail
Contact Information:
Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com
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Episode 117 features Four Roses. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof and it retails for about $25.
Enjoy this episode with a pour of Four Roses however you like.
Four Roses official website: https://www.fourrosesbourbon.com/
Brief Historical Timeline:
1860s - Paul Jones Sr. and Paul Jones Jr. get into the whiskey business in Atlanta, Georgia 1883 - Paul Jones Jr. moves to Louisville, Kentucky and builds his whiskey business there.1888 - The brand of Four Roses is founded with a legend of a southern belle and a corsage of four red roses.1894 - Paul Jones Jr. makes his nephews Lawrence Lavelle Jones and Saunders Paul equal partners in the Paul Jones Company.1895 - Paul Jones Jr. dies.Circa 1910 - Lawrence buys his brother Saunders out of the business1922 - Lawrence buys the Frankfort Distilling Company during Prohibition and securing a rare license to sell whiskey for "Medicinal Purposes Only."1941 - Lawrence dies, leaving the company to heirs would almost immediately sell it.1943 - Seagrams headed by Samuel Bronfman purchases Four Roses and Frankfort Distilling Company for $42 million.1950s - Seagrams converts Four Roses to a blended whiskey for the US market, reserving straight bourbon versions for export markets.1990s - Master Distiller Jim Rutledge convinces Seagrams to bring the straight bourbon back to the USA, in Kentucky only.2001 - Seagrams goes bankrupt and the beverage alcohol brands are sold off. Kirin Brewery Company, Ltd., Four Roses' Japanese distributor buys the brand.2002 - Four Roses Straight Bourbon Whiskey is bak on US shelves.2015 - Brent Elliott is named Master Distiller and a $55 million expansion of the distillery begins.2019 - Distillery expansion is complete, doubling capacity to 130,000 barrels a year.
Key Cocktails:
Drink Four Roses as you like, it mixes well in any cocktail calling for bourbon.
References:
Book: Four Roses - The Return of a Whiskey Legend by Al Young, copyright 2013
Wikipedia Article on Four Roses
Wikipedia Article on the Language of Flowers
Wikipedia Article on the Pure Food and Drug Act
Wikipedia Article on V-J Day in Times Square
Four Roses History Article
Four Roses History Article on SippingHistory.com
Difford's Guide Listing for Four Roses
Contact Information:
Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com
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Episode 116 features Herbsaint. Bottled in 750ml at 50% ABV, or 100 proof and it retails for about $31.
Enjoy this episode with an Herbsaint Frappe, or any cocktail that calls for absinthe.
Herbsaint doesn't have it's own website, so here's the Sazerac listing: https://www.sazerac.com/our-brands/sazerac-brands/herbsaint.html
Brief Historical Timeline:
1914-18 - World War I and J. Marion Legendre 's friend Reginal P. Parker learns of pastis while stationed in Marseille, France 1920-33 - Post war, during Prohibition, Legendre and Parker make pastis in New Orleans1933 - Legendre introduces Legendre Absinthe in December, immediately following the repeal of Prohibition1934 - The Federal government forces Legendre to drop Absinthe from the name, Herbsaint is chosen as the replacement1949 - Legendre sells the brand and business to Sazerac & Company1950 - Sazerac changes the formulation, packaging and proof2009 - For the brand's 75th anniversary, Sazerac recreates the original recipe and resurrects the historical packaging, creating Legendre Herbsaint Original
Key Cocktails:
The Sazerac Cocktail is most widely cited, but it only uses Herbsaint as a rinse. Select an absinthe based cocktail as a better use for Herbsaint.
References:
Wayback Machine Archive Copy of The Virtual Absinthe Museum story of Herbsaint - This resource was invaluable in producing this episode
Wikipedia Article on Herbsaint
New Orleans Absinthe History
Imbibe Magazine Article Circa 2009
Alcademics.com Article on the 75th Anniversary Relaunch
Sazerac House Recipe for the Sazerac Cocktail, featuring Herbsaint
Barfaith.com Review
Contact Information:
Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com
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Episode 115 features Tito's Handmade Vodka. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof and it retails for about $20.
Enjoy this episode with some Tito's and soda with a lemon wedge.
Tito's Handmade Vodka official website: https://www.titosvodka.com/
Brief Historical Timeline:
1992 - Tito Beveridge begins making vodka infusions for his friends1995 - Tito applies for a distillery license1997 - First year of production yields about 1,000 9-liter equivalent cases2001 - Tito's wins a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition2013 - United Airlines begins serving Tito's on all their flights2021 - 11,070,000 9-liter equivalent cases are sold, making Tito's the most popular distilled spirit brand in the USA, and providing enough for one 750ml bottle for each third person in the country2023 - Tito's runs a Superbowl commercial named Dry January that features Martha Stewart
Key Cocktails:
Mix Tito's as you like.
References:
Eater Article on Tito's
Wikipedia Article on Tito's
Statista Sales Volumes
2022 Beverage Dynamics Ranking
Grain Volumes for Vodka Making
2022 Corn Yields Per Acre
YouTube Featuring Tito Speaking on Early Failures
YouTube Featuring Tito Telling the Origin Story
Tito's Stories YouTube Videos (All 8 are referenced)
Dry January Superbowl Ad
Contact Information:
Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com
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Twitter: @LLConnoisseur