EmbellishPod

what’s in a name

This weeks episode is born purely out of the confusing and intertwined relationships that play within the Bourbon ancestry of Kentucky. This confusing maze of relationships is birthed from of the necessary and obstructionist nature of litigation and trademark protection. All of that however can create a degree of confusion for the end consumer. It bubbles up the proverbial question…..”What is in a name”. And no we aren’t talking about Four Roses today. The famous quote has transfigured into a much used idiom illustrating a greater weight given to the content of an objects character rather than the given name. In a Marketplace filled with history and ancestry a name can carry great significance. So much significance that they are bought and sold regularly. Large sums of money are doled out to family operations as large corporate conglomerates gobble up market presence and notoriety in service to their bottom lines. Inevitably those large corporate entities eventually start making decisions with finances in mind. Sometimes that approach works, and others….it’s catastrophically a failure. Topics/Brands Discussed:YellowstoneLimestone BranchBeam FamilyLog Still DistillingDant FamilyRolling Fork DistilleryWathen Family"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“So Glad I Found You”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com“Oh Lord”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com

state of the pod

Today’s episode is going to be more of a state of the podcast type offering. I’m going lay out some changes I’m planning to bring to the podcast hopefully for the better. I appreciate each and every person joining me on this journey. Because of your connection to what I am doing here I wanted to take a moment to talk to all 7 of you about the future of this podcast. "Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“So Glad I Found You”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com“Oh Lord”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com

covid crash

Covid and quarantine took a lot of things from us as a population. But it also brought us a new understanding of how community can be created, nurtured and grown. I’ll challenge that nothing can ever be a complete replacement for in human interaction, but with the technology at our fingertips we can continue to interact with people from across the world in a meaningful way. it even presents us with an opportunity to connect with like minded folks that may be more preferential to our tastes than what is available locally.Topics Discussed:Whiskey TribeIt’s Bourbon NightBourbon Junkies"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“So Glad I Found You”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com“Oh Lord”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com

distillHer

It feels a bit disingenuous to even try and speak with any degree of authority about women in whiskey from a male perspective. The need for groups like Female Whiskey Society and Women Bourbon Society to even exist speaks to the fact that men have largely owned the marketing and educational spaces of whiskey for eons. What has traditionally been “your father’s beverage of choice” has virtually built in a masculine language. I’ve already talked to some degree about Marianne Eaves and her innovation in the whiskey marketplace. I’ve mentioned Fawn Weaver and her instrumental work in the telling of the Nearest Green Story. Anyone would be hard pressed to find any better ambassador to this spirit. But they aren’t alone. Today’s episode is going to be about several others in this space. I’ll talk about some historical figures, some ladies that are trying to create communities for women to gather in and further their understanding of whiskey and finally some women who are actively participating in the production of the spirit. We are celebrating their achievements in a hyper-masculine marketplace. And why shouldn’t we. Women scientifically are far better suited to lead this industry. They have better palates, better organizational skills and a stronger fortitude when it comes to adversity. So today’s episode is the queens of bourbon….or maybe distillHer."Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from PagefireLicensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from PagefireLicensed under CC BY-SA 3.0https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“So Glad I Found You”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com“Oh Lord”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com

send newbs

Joining this hobby can be incredibly daunting for anyone that does not already have a tie into a mentor. It leaves you with the need to seek out some degree of guidance. Just randomly selecting a bottle off a shelf is a terrible way to explore what you want to learn. Price ranges vary greatly and if you pay attention to the news or anything online you’ll know that you aren’t really a part of the community until you start the hunt for allotted bottles. And I think that’s where it all breaks. Allotted bottles are often like unobtainium and are very expensive. It leaves someone who is new to bourbon with a search for something they might never find, and if they do find it they’ll shell out quite a few dollars without even having any remote idea of whether or not they’ll like it. Topics Discussed:Bourbon Bourbon ClassholesBourbon Hipsters"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“So Glad I Found You”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com“Oh Lord”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com

master blender

A Master Blender is a position that Scotch and Irish Whiskey drinkers know much about. It holds a much higher esteem in their ranks than currently in the world of bourbon. If the Master Distiller is a Science Degree, then the Master Blender is a Arts degree. It relies more heavily on palette and the ability to identify complimentary flavor profiles, appropriate measures to achieve an intended result and some degree of soothsaying to understand that a particular barrel has reached it’s peak and will begin to decline in quality if left alone. While the job function is essential in large scale bourbon operations the idea of buying already aged bourbon and blending it to create a new brand is rapidly growing in the US.Topics and Brands Discussed:Master BlendersMGPNevada H & C Distilling (Smoke Wagon Bourbon)Barrell Craft Spirits"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“So Glad I Found You”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com“Oh Lord”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com

lector

The common thread that seems to run between bourbon and cigars is one of craftsmanship, storytelling, and legacy. Acknowledging the legacy left behind by hand rollers is the least we can do. Lectors were such an integral part of cigar culture that even the brand Montecristo takes its name from the most popular of stories that were read. Local shops that offer demonstrations of how hand rolled cigars are even made speaks to the craftsmanship of the product and the ability to articulate what makes your product unique is pervasive in the story of cigars. Without these stories to add color to the marketplace we are left with a bland tapestry of consumer goods and no idea how to parse out which one suits your particular tastes.Topics Discussed:Nativo Cigars - 2:26Lectores - 5:06Reserve De La Guardia - 9:24"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“So Glad I Found You”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com“Oh Lord”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com

legacy revival

Revival brands tend to attract a certain amount of negative attention within the deeps seeded bourbon community. It’s becoming trendy to poke fun at the stories of discovered old recipes. And if your focus is exclusively on the contents of the bottle I’d say cheers to you. But I think that misses some of the beauty of this particular spirit. It’s one steeped in tradition with rich and wonderful stories. It’s a starting point for learning about history. It’s a true enhancement to your enjoyment of a product. While the contents of the bottle reign supreme it’s hard to dismiss the impact a wonderful label, cool bottle design or great backstory has on your individual enjoyment.Topics/Brands Discussed:Legacy Brand RevivalNelson’s Green Brier DistilleryPeerless Distilling CompanyOld Pogue DistilleryMusic Credits:“So Glad I Found You”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com“Oh Lord”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com

creating disciples

One of the most difficult things a company can do is attract a new customer. The product story they carefully craft is an intrinsic piece of their business, but what do you do once you have the story. How do you get and keep the customer. The best customers are often the most educated ones. This weeks episode is going to explore all three of these subjects. What are some unique ways brands attract new customers, how do they convert those customers to disciples and then how do they ensure the customer has the most information available to them all the time. We’ll talk about Freddie Johnson, Ambassador programs and avenues for Bourbon education. Topics discussed:Freddie JohnsonMakers Mark Ambassador ProgramStave and Thief Whiskey University“So Glad I Found You”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com“Oh Lord”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com

rediscovering the past…

In today’s episode I’ll talk about both the history and the future of minority representation within the Bourbon marketplace. First I’ll cover a brand that is forging a new path for minorities both within the Bourbon space as well as within the childhood community of the brands founders. In the second half of the episode I’ll discuss a brand that is born out of rich tradition within the foundations of whiskey in the United States and the single driving force behind re-discovering a long forgotten family of whiskey royalty.Topics/Brands Discussed:Brough Brothers Uncle NearestFawn Weaver"Grave Robbers With a Degree" - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/grave-robbers-with-a-dregree?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“Pushing The Pianist Down the Stairs” - Andri from Pagefire
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0https://soundcloud.com/nerdymetalhead202/pushing-the-pianist-down-the-stairs-free-download?in=nerdymetalhead202/sets/nerdys-creative-common-free-to“So Glad I Found You”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com“Oh Lord”Music By The Passion HiFiwww.thepassionhifi.com