R.M.S. TITANIC

On this date in 1912 at 11:40pm the R.M.S. Titanic (Royal Mail Steamer) struck an iceberg, by 2:20am on the morning of the 15th it had sank to its final resting place at a depth of 12,500ft. However, 20,000 bottles of Bass and Guinness were on board.

Paul Martin to give Ozzy the Keys!!

Quote of the night-- "You look like someone who sits around the pub with a beer in your hand and a fag in your trap" -Sharon
By far one of the funniest episodes where someone spoofs Ozzy via letter and phone call into thinking he is getting the keys to Montreal. I think it actually hurt Oz's feelings. Can't wait to buy this season on DVD. And he still wants to know if someone wants to go to the cake store for him to pick up 6 of these creamy delights:)

Product testing

This Thursday we will officially be unofficially testing the Guardian Angel Personal Alcohol Test. This handy-dandy item estimates your blood alcohol content, so at least when you think you are Superman (or woman) that you will have semi-concrete evidence before you to aid you in making those "special" decisions at the end of the night. (ie. should I take her home, have that next drink, drive 30 miles home passing through 6 small towns where the PO-PO hides in the bushes frothing at the mouth while waiting to tag you for drunk driving)

Seattle Slew

Found this great pick of jockey Jean Cruguet and Seattle Slew in action. He was the last surviving Triple Crown winner with an absolute undefeated record. He died in May of 2002 at the age of 28, which is the human equivalent of about 90-100. He also sired almost 1100 foals (he was busy wasn't he)?

Maker's Fun Facts!!

^They have put up about 280,000 barrels this year with 53 Cong/barrel, only white oak charred barrels may be used and they have been charred for about 57 seconds, the majority of the barrels are then sent to Scotland and Canada to make scotch and whiskeys (remember all bourbons are whiskeys but not all whiskeys can be bourbon), In a small warehouse there are about 4000 barrels housed which is considered a small batch, 20,000 are in the large bldgs.
^Star Hills Farm is where it is made and Bill Samuels, Jr. is the 4th generation.
^There are 6 federal guidelines to be a bourbon (remebered by ABCDEF):
Aged at least 2 years, Barrels must be white oak and used once, Corn is the primary ingedient, Distilled at no more than 130 proof, Emptied barrels are at no more than 120 proof and Filtered through charcoal but nothing else must be allowed to affect color OR taste,
^Small batch distilleries are considered to be 120 barrels or less when barrelled and Maker's is done at 119, they also hold the Guinness Book in being the world's oldest bourbon distillery, 1805 (I think, I took a pic and will post them later), the vats are 12 feet deep (and they'll let you stick your finger in it!!) which the steam that is introduced into the mash kills anything that comes in contact with it, and only ladies may dip on the bottling line (they seem top have the most nimble and elicate fingers)

Back from Loretto!!

Just got back from Maker's Mark and it was fantastic. Got 2 Secretariat bottles, 2 Seattle Slew and 4 of the 50th Anniversary pints that me and Merry dipped ourselves.
>We started the day at a crisp 600am CST due to a slight error, but that error ended up going in our favor as we were allowed to be one of the first to purchase these bottles. And the booty (pirate-talk) doesn't stop there!!
>We then returned to the bottling line and hand-dipped our own ambassador bottles in the well-known Maker's firetruck red plastic and wax mix. Merry had beginner's luck with her 1st bottle as it came out amazingly perfect but as the lady "tried to adjust her swing" a bubble or 2 appeared in what I refer to as the "fat roll" bottle, in other words it looks a little uncircumcised.
>On to the mash distillery where we were able to dip our fingers into the "ferment" and taste it. By the end of it all I could have taken the circa 1980s hand-held PA system and given the tour myself.
>Then on to warehouse bldg D that held about 4000 (a small aging batch compared to the 20,000 that my barrel is sitting in) where we learned on the entire barreling process.
>Next on to the 2 year tasting out of the same batch of barrels that carries my name on one of its kin's placards. With 75-80% of its color and between 112-114 proof, it kicked you in the pants at the noon event. Just like it said on the admission ticket "strong and assertive with a slight sour taste on the sides of the tongue". I'm glad that they dilute it down a little.
>Next we met the great Bill Samuels, Jr himself and got 2 of the ambassador bottles signed. (With nothing personal against me and being the Chairman of the Board at UofL, he wasn't keen on me being from AU but realized that I shared his regards in the firing of everyone that took place in what is now known as Tubberville-gate).
>Then it was on to the gift shop for a "t" for the lady and 6 hours later we are home.

Brew Batch #1

Dry-hopped #1 this morning with 1/2 oz of Kent Goldings and it is looking good, lots of good film on the side of the fermenter. Ordering some "special" crowns today for this batch.