Darek Bell interview in Fortune magazine, via CNN Money site

[Uisge]

With a nod to writer Ms. Shelley DuBois, Darek had the right attitude towards distilling "But from the get-go, our mantra has been, "Let's be very different and stand out with our products."

Ms.DuBois also has perfectly encapsulated Corsair's Triple Smoke Whiskey thus, " It's a smooth liquor that tastes like camping."



Campfire smoke, pine, cherries, all yummy. I STILL have to get me a bottle of this stuff (like I need another bottle of whiskey! )

[Capn Jimbo]

Thanks to the U-man...


BTW, be sure to follow his rather long link above (in blue) for a short interview with the distiller. Not surprisingly, Darek Bell has a long history of home brewing (beer), where some real innovations and a shift to creativity and quality has taken place.

"When I was home-brewing, the large American corporate lagers were just these atrocious disasters, and there was this sudden, massive explosion of creativity happening in craft beer. I'm waiting for that to happen in craft whiskey, and for the most part, it really hasn't."

As da'rum has so well noted it's pretty much the same for distilled spirits. The megadistillers have gotten so big that they are forced to attend to the lowest common denominator and are not really in a position to forge ahead with innovative and high quality products appealing to smaller markets.

This is the opening for craft distilling as - hopefully - laws loosen up and home distillers become micro-distillers. Still, the big problem is survival while you wait 6 or 8 years to find out if something worked...

[bearmark]

I was provided a sample of Triple Smoke by a friend (tasting notes here) and I am definitely in the market for a bottle. It's definitely a unique whiskey that is very different from peated Islay malts, but just as interesting. I highly recommend it!

Unfortunately, it's not available in Texas and I talked to them directly about distribution to confirm that whatever deal they were working last year eventually fell through. Online shipments into Texas are extremely limited due to our ridiculous liquor laws, so I'll be shipping to an out-of-state friend if I don't make it to some state where they distribute.

By the way, it's craft whiskey like the offerings from the likes of Corsair, Balcones, Stranahan's, Garrison Brothers, Pritchard's, etc. that really keep me interested in whiskey. These guys aren't afraid of creative approaches and pay attention to the often over-looked details to produce truly unique and great whiskey (and rum in some cases).

[da'rum]

Sounds like something I'd like to try. American craft and home distillers are at the forefront (not surprisingly) of making high quality unique spirits like Bourbon and Malt Whisky especially, although are also making some great gin and absinthe. The latter requiring less skill IMO. I just wish the yanks would get over the 40% abv barrier. It's the only point in the entire process where they settle for the lowest acheivement.