Libations

Sorry that it’s been a minute since my last post. I’ve been doing a lot of traveling with my good friend Tom Cruise (He’s great to travel with…he gets everything half-off!). But I have many stories and lots of  new things to share with you.

The Jim Beam distillery just celebrated a birthday. I wasn’t invited after last years party! Starting out at a party without your pants on seems to be frowned upon at most establishments. It doesn’t matter…

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, the premium spirits business of Fortune Brands and maker of the world’s number one-selling Bourbon whiskey Jim Beam, today celebrated the 75th anniversary of its historic Clermont, Ky., facility. Together with seventh generation Jim Beam family distiller Frederick “Fred” Booker Noe III and more than 500 employees, the company recognized the site’s important link to the past and its vital connection to the future.

“For 75 years, the Jim Beam Clermont Distillery has stood strong amidst the Kentucky landscape,” said Jeff Conder, Vice President, Americas Operations, Beam Global Spirits & Wine. “Today we celebrate the role the Distillery has played in shaping Jim Beam Bourbon into the world’s number one-selling bourbon and its continued significant contribution to Kentucky Tourism through our commitment to a multi-million dollar tourism development project.”

As the first stop from Louisville on the west side of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the Jim Beam Clermont facility employs more than 300 people and welcomes more than 80,000 visitors annually. The Jim beam tourism development project, which is scheduled for completion fall 2012, will further enhance visitors’ experience with Jim Beam and celebrate the history and heritage of the historic Clermont plant. A new state-of-the-art Welcome Center complex will be able to accommodate approximately 200,000 visitors annually. Guests will become a part of the Jim Beam family by taking an up-close and personal look at the family’s business in the bourbon industry.

The Distillery History

The property originally was the site of the Murphy Barber Distillery and sat adjacent to a rock quarry owned by the legendary bourbon distiller, Jim Beam. Beam purchased the defunct distillery in 1920, just as Prohibition was going into effect.

After Prohibition, Jim, his son Jeremiah, and his nephew Carl Beam renovated and rebuilt the plant in a mere 120 days, razing most of the old Murphy Barber buildings and constructing new ones.

On an early spring day in 1935, the Beams proudly hosted an open house for the local community; after a 17-year break, they were back in the bourbon business.

“My family had been making bourbon for more than 100 years before the distillery opened,” said Fred Noe. “Prior to the Clermont location, we had distilleries in Bardstown and before that, in Washington County. This one was the special one though because this is where we got back to work.”

The Distillery Today

The Distillery today produces a number of leading bourbon brands including, most notably, Jim Beam Bourbon. In addition, Jim Beam Black® and the ultra premium Small Batch Bourbons, Basil Hayden®, Knob Creek®, Baker’s® and Booker’s®, are also distilled there today.

More than 600,000 barrels of bourbon are aged in the 27 rack houses on the distillery grounds. In addition, approximately 90 million bottles of spirits are bottled here annually and shipped to more than 200 countries worldwide.

“Technology has obviously helped our production capacity,” says Noe. “We produce a lot more whiskey than we did back in 1935. But the formula of our family bourbon has stayed true. It’s been a standard since 1795.”

Visitors to the distillery can tour the T. Jeremiah Beam Master Distiller’s Home on top of Beam Hill and see where a number of Beam family distillers lived. Gifts, souvenirs and samplings of bourbon are available in the adjacent American Outpost Bourbon Tasting and Retail Shop. And a self-guided walking tour offering background on the century-old distilling process is also available to the public.

Happy 75th Birthday Mr. Jimmy Beam distillery. We like our bourbon’s a little older and more mature!

The fall season is upon us. The air begins to feel crisp, the leaves begin to change and the seasonal beers begin to flow out of every brewery.

Everyone has their own little rituals they start to follow. My family and I like to put out all of our Halloween themed items. Candles that smell like nutmeg and vanilla start getting lit. My friend Tom Cruise likes to break out his garden gnome costume. Last year we both dressed up like gnomes and stood in my neighbors yard. They figured me out after the first day. Tom stood there for 3 weeks before they noticed him (they caught him peeing on their rose bushes).

I like the thought of seasonal beers, but unfortunately they rarely live up to expectations. How do you capture the essence of a season and put it in a bottle?  I am determined to find a seasonal beer that is worthy of the term “seasonal”.

After much research and debate I have put 3 beers to the challenge:

Saranac Pumpkin Ale

Shipyard Brewing Co. Pumpkinhead

America’s Original Pumpkin Ale courtesy of Buffalo Bill’s Brewery

All of these beers had very original and distinct flavors. I honestly thought, “They’re all gonna taste like pumpkin!”

I was wrong.

The Shipyard Pumpkinhead had the strongest pumpkin flavor out of all of them. It’s finish was confusing. Full of pumpkinny goodness, but with a very light finish. This is one the  non-beer drinkers will like and still be able to talk “beer” with the  cool kids. Light beer fans should put this on their “must try” list.

Saranac Pumpkin Ale was exactly what I wanted it to be. This isn’t a bad thing! Pumpkin, nutmeg and hints of vanilla. Very smooth, very drinkable and very reminiscent of the season. It’s a little stronger in its finish and damned tasty.

Finally, America’s Original Pumpkin Ale. I didn’t like this beer after my first sip. After a couple of minutes I still had the hint of pumpkin on my tongue. I went back  for a second sip, even more flavor started showing up. This bottle didn’t last long in my house. Don’t make the mistake of chugging this beer. Put a beer mug in the freezer for a couple of hours. Open the beer bottle, then put it back in the fridge for 15 minutes. Pour the beer into the glass and just…enjoy!

I’m not familiar with Buffalo Bill’s Brewery, but they know what they’re doing. This beer is complex, friendly, engaging and damn near perfect. They truly caught the fall season in a bottle and did it justice! After drinking this beer I had a pumpkin smile on my face (Ben Affleck said it best…”Look at the smile on my face. Ear to Ear Baby!!!).

Make sure this fall season you go out a pick up some of these great beers. Maybe one of them will become a staple in your house (If not, I can send over Tom Cruise in the gnome costume!). Remember, it’s never too late to start a holiday tradition.

Every fall, Epcot Food and Wine Festival has been a part of my families vacation plans. No BS ..my family has set their clock around sampling french pastries, German beer and a Canadian steak house that is practically perfect. After a few years you start to yearn after something different. As a bartender, I love the Sam Adams tasting Epcot does every year. Informative, fun, but I would like  to try some other beers. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel is offering guests a chance to indulge at the first annual Food & Wine Classic at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Oct. 8 and 9, 2010.

Each evening will feature beverage seminars and a culinary festival with live music and tastings from the hotel’s award-winning restaurants and lounges.

Guests have the opportunity to choose from six hands-on beverage classes taught by certified wine sommeliers and beer and cocktail specialists from the hotel’s team. Attendees will learn about their topic of choice – ranging from a wine-blending seminar to a sake hour – through watching, listening, touching and of course, tasting!

Immediately following the lessons, guests can wander the causeway while being serenaded by live musicians and savoring numerous tasty offerings. The food samplings will include “Steamrollers,” a creative take on molecular cuisine, from celebrity chef venue Todd English’s bluezoo; “Pick Your Own Filet” from Shula’s Steak House; a simple yet flavorful hand-crafted pasta from Il Mulino New York Trattoria and more. Each day of the event will feature a different selection of food.

Beverage stations will offer mini-learning experiences and feature offerings such as wine, sake, beer and cocktails using liquid nitrogen. Finally, guests can delight in a selection of desserts from the only two-time World Pastry Champion, Laurent Branlard, the hotel’s executive pastry chef.

With 17 restaurants and lounges, a distinguished culinary and beverage team and unmatched customer service, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel continually receives national recognition for its food and beverage program.  The hotel features more than 70 certified wine sommeliers and 1,400 wine selections, including organic and rare vintages, plus tastes from unique regions such as Greece , Turkey and Israel .

Tickets to the Food & Wine Classic at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are available as part of a hotel package or individually.  For more information or to book, please visit www.SwanDolphinFoodandWineClassic.com or call 1-800-227-1500.

What: Food & Wine Classic at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin

Who: Food & Wine Enthusiasts

When: Friday, Oct. 8 and Saturday, Oct. 9

4:30pm – 5:30pm – Beverage Classes

5:30pm – 9:30pm – Tasting Stations Open on Causeway

Location

Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel

1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd.

Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830

Ticket Information

– One and two night packages are available starting at $169 per night and include a beverage seminar for two plus unlimited food and beverage samplings

– Advance purchase event-only tickets are available for $50 and include one seminar and unlimited food and beverage samples on the causeway

-Food and wine samplings also can be purchased a la carte on the day of event. Tickets are $2 each or 25 tickets for $45; or a bracelet for $50 which allows unlimited food and beverage samples can be purchased

For more information or to book, please visit

www.SwanDolphinFoodandWineClassic.com or call 1-800-227-1500 and refer to rate code FWCLAS.

I’ve always loved the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. But it’s great to see the Swan and Dolphin going that next step further, culinary tastings, musical delights-+

This summer I was again caught up in one of my favorite TV shows, HBO’s Entourage. The adventures of Vince, Ari and the rest of the gang has been a staple in my house since the very first episode.

This season had the guys moving in different directions, doing that growing up thing we are all forced to do (that’s why my wife makes me wear pants around the house..really…pants around the house is a prerequisite for growing up? Growing up sucks!) One story line had Turtle looking for a business opportunity that would help him strike out on his own…enter Avion Tequila.

While watching Entourage, the characters are doing shots of Avion, talking about how much they loved Avion. I started saying to myself, “Damn, I want some Avion”. But you can’t drink a tequila that only exists on TV. WRONG!! Avion is real! Not only is it real…it’s real good. I had the pleasure of sampling the Avion Reposado and it blew me away! It is very rare that a tequila is smooth enough to be enjoyed just on the rocks, so I put Avion to the test. Nailed It!!  Smooth doesn’t begin to explain it. There’s not much I would mix with this tequila. If you are going to make margaritas…fresh squeezed lime juice only! If you want to top it off with a little O.J…less is more with this tequila.

I read the article in the New York Post of how Avion got into the storyline of Entourage…very cool! I actually have seen how agave is grown, my friend Tom Cruise grows it. Watching him walk through his garden, is like watching a scene  from “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”. He should remake that movie, they would save a ton of money by not using CGI effects.

One downside to Avion, it’s only available in LA and New York City. Just go on their website and they will let you know how to get it. I want to send a big shout out to Avion Tequila for sending me a bottle on their dime!  Don’t hesitate to send another bottle- nudge nudge, wink wink.

So if you want to party like a movie star, albeit a fake one, pick up some Avion. You’ll toast me later.