Farmers of the Catoctin Mountain area were faced with a number of problems in marketing the crops they produced. The most profitable market for their goods were in the more populated areas of cities and towns. In the days before good highways and before rails had been laid, the rugged mountains presented a barrier for horse-drawn transportation. Products such as grain, meat and lumber were too heavy to be transported to the more profitable markets in the larger cities. Corn and rye were also very bulky to transport but when converted to whiskey, they became more profitable.
While the average horse was capable of hauling only 4 bushels of corn at a time, the same horse could haul the equivalent of 24 bushels if the grain was manufactured into whiskey. The liquid whiskey occupied less space and was easier to carry to market. The price of whiskey depended on a number of other factors, as well. The better the grade of corn, the better the whiskey. The more plentiful the spring water happened to be, the better the whiskey produced with it. Finally the more skilled the distiller, the finer the blend of whiskey he could manufacture.
Conversion of rye and corn into liquor probably began in Frederick County with the harvest of the first crop, somewhere around 1734. Until Congress passed the 1791 Excise Tax, many farms had their own stills. For the next 128 years, it was legal to own a still--provided you paid the tax. Not until the adoption of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution was possession of a still an offense.
The problem with the 1791 Excise Tax was that it took the profit out of making liquor. For mountain people, the liquor concentration of rye and corn was the most practical way to get crops to market. So rather than pay the tax they went underground, operating by the light of the moon.
Blue Blazes Whiskey Still On July 31, 1929, Deputy Sheriff Clyde L. Hauver was fatally wounded in a raid on the Blue Blazes Still. It was a large commercial operation, a "steamer" still. More than 25,000 gallons of mash were found in 13 vats of 2,000 gallon capacity each. Police eventually tracked down several suspects, and two moonshiners were convicted in connection with the murder after several days of conflicting testimony.
Today another still sits on the banks of Distillery Run. It's quite different than the set up found that day. The new Blue Blazes still is more typical of the smaller moonshine still of an earlier day. Even more different -- visitors are welcome -- not challenged.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle. This is a little too young for me to drink often but this is a promising pour. At three years+ this has a better mouthfeel and body than many other young whiskeys but needs some more time in the wood to be a neat pour at my house.
OVERALL: The first time I experience a new whiskey, I look for authenticity in the label and something other than creative writing and graphic design to justify the cost of a pour at a bar or the MSRP at a retail store. I appreciate the bottle design and a synthetic cork with a simple label concept that is not ostentatious.
The MSRP and design are attractive, but I still want a few more years on this product before I seek it out for regular rotation on my home bar. The mouthfeel and viscosity are what really separates this product from similarly priced competitors, but it is still too much of a one note product, even if that note is blue. Given the age, I would assume this is a contract distilled by Castle & Key or Bardstown Bourbon Company
"Blue Note Juke Joint is born from the Blues and named after the places where blues made its name. A juke joint is a bar, tavern, or roadhouse featuring music played on a jukebox or live bands (associated with the blues) with space to dance.
Our bourbon barrels are cooked low and slow like Memphis barbecue as they age near the banks of the Mississippi River. The deep Delta heat and humidity forge an unforgettable rich flavor resulting in a full bodied bourbon with bold notes of caramel, oak, vanilla, and spice that lingers on the palate. At 93 proof, Blue Note Bourbon is not chill filtered, resulting in a rich, savory mouthfeel.
Disclaimer: B.R. Distilling Company, LLC provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: I will be buying a bottle. Definitely a fun dram to try at a bar if the price tag is too much for you. With 92 barrels hitting the market, there should be plenty to go around.
If you are a rye fan, I highly recommend trying this one. Oddly enough, after my initial tasting, I paired this with Chesapeake Snacklins (aka Old Bay flavored vegan pork rinds) and the flavor combination was INCREDIBLE.
I feel the rye whiskey mash bill is probably just barely legal (51% or just a bit higher) as the rye spice is very demure and plays well with other bolder spices. This rye would go amazingly paired with Old Bay peel n' eat shrimp or in a Rye Bloody Mary. This would also be a great wild card in a rye blind tasting flight.
TASTING NOTES: Honey baked graham cracker aroma surrounded by sweet grains and wood sugar. Easygoing finish resting with honey and a dash of pear syrup, with touches of ginger that add just the right tingle.
Disclaimer: Blue Run provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.
Here at B.R. Distilling Co., we focus solely on crafting, aging, bottling, and distributing the finest whiskey possible. Our products can be found in fine liquor stores, restaurants, and bars across the United States, as well as in a host of private-label bottles.
Muddle the 100g raspberries and mix thoroughly with 200g of sugar. Let sit for 2-3 minutes until the mix becomes thick and syrupy. Add 100g water and stir until all of the sugar is dissolved. Strain through a fine mesh strainer. Store in fridge in a sealable container.
Rinse a glass with a peated whiskey. Set aside. Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin. Add ice. Quick hard shake to combine. Double strain over freshly cracked ice in the rinsed double old fashioned glass. Garnish and enjoy!
Heather Wibbels is a whiskey and cocktail author (Executive Bourbon Steward, no less) with a passion for cocktails. She loves researching and designing cocktails, drinking cocktails, and teaching cocktails. Mostly whiskey cocktails, given her Kentucky location.
This blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. All our thoughts and opinions are our own and we are not paid for or mandated to provide a positive review.
Awesome whiskey which honors our under appreciated law enforcement officers. This whiskey is delicious and a steal at this price. All my friends love it. Great customer service from backroads too. FJB, America 1st, and MAGA ???
Our Blue Dog Corn Whiskey is made from triple distilled Hopi blue corn. Using only the flavorful tails from our small batch runs, this unique corn makes sweeter and nuttier moonshine than other grains. Refined in the small stills of our artisan shop and hand bottled, we bring this to you from the rolling hills and sweet waters of the Allegheny Highlands.
Wood Hat Spirits was founded in 2012 by Gary Hinegardner, a local agronomist and businessman, located right by the side of the highway in New Florence, Missouri. Gary is also a wood turner and creates, among other things, the wooden hats after which the distillery is named. More pertinent to this website, Gary also creates whiskies and cordials. The Wood Hat Aged Blue Corn Whiskey uses Hopi blue corn and is aged in toasted chinquapin oak barrels, a specials of white oak native to eastern and central North America.
We are a small batch distillery that crafts whiskey using Oregon oak from our family farm that was established in 1908 and iron-free water from the foothills of the Oregon Cascade Mountain Range. This creates the smooth, rich flavors found in every batch. Join us in raising a glass to our men and women in uniform.
Throughout much of the 20th and early 21st centuries, the range was limited to Green Spot alone due to production issues and decreases in demand. This latest global market boom has allowed for the reintroduction of the other colors in the series along with new special editions and limited offerings.
When it comes to whiskey, Chris Perugini has seen it all. As a long-time whiskey writer and educator, Chris has been completely immersed in the whiskey world for over 15 years. He curates and hosts corporate and private whiskey tastings across the United States and leverages his extensive knowledge of whiskey to educate groups of all sizes and all levels of experience. As the creative force behind Single Malt Savvy, he regularly reviews new releases, writes in-depth articles about the whiskey industry, and fosters meaningful whiskey discussion on social media. Chris is also a spirits contributor for Forbes.com.
HOLD YOUR HORSES! While galloping through the Texas foothills, our roving band of outlaw brewers came upon one heck of a fine distillery, serving up some of the tastiest blue corn mash liquid gold this side of the Rio Grande. After a few drams and a handshake, we parted ways with a handful of their empty casks & made for Caleeforniay. We added our favorite imperial stout and let it rest for almost two years. The result will leave you hollerin' yee-ha!
Shaylyn Gammon, recently named Whiskey Director for Blue Run spirits, has moved from working with one whiskey legend (Jimmy Russell at Wild Turkey) to another (Jim Rutledge at Blue Run Spirits), and her new role as Whiskey Director at Blue Run soun
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