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Everybottle has astory to tell...

Fermentation 101Alcohol is the byproduct created when YEAST eats SUGAR. This process is natural when using fruit.Grains contain STARCH that has to get converted into sugar first.The yeast feeds on all of the sugars, reproduces, and eventually dies off when the available sugar isgone. This yields 15-16% ABV for a fermented beverage.

Distillation involves separating alcohol from a liquid by heating it upinto a vapor and then condensing it back into a liquid.Distillation 101PotStillColumn-Still<-- Concentrates Flavorand adds Character butLabor-IntensiveMore Efficient andStrips Impurities butCleaner Flavor-->

DistillationHistory

Dark Ages

--> "Divine Secret" --> Massive Exchange of Ideas 1100 AD- Distillation used by physicians/philosophers in Salerno, Italy.1100-1600s- "Age of Exploration"1830- Aeneas Coffey designs his Continuous Still"That's Coffey still NOT COFFEE still!"Modern Day- Liquor Distillation is a massive industry that spans the globe andranges from the largest commerical distillers all the way down to the smallest,local craft distillersDistillation History

After a few times through the still most of what you haveis alcohol (75%.) The remaining slice will play a largerole in the final product's flavor.Adding Layers of Flavor75%AlcoholWaterAldehydesPhenolicsEstersCogeners*25%

Flavor Contributors

Maturation-Big, heavy, fragile, difficult totransport -Mellows spirit-Clay Amphorae-Switch to barrels out of necessity-Maturation-Adds Flavor (up to 80%)-Type, Size, Location, & Time in Barrelaffect flavor

SipTasting Spirits#TasteForTheMemoriesSee Sniff Sip SavorThe MORE you taste, the more your palate develops.

VodkaWhat?Usually made from wheat,potatoes, grapes, corn, or othergrainsNeutral spirit withoutdistinctive character, flavor,aroma, or color. Made From?

VodkaTexture is keyClean, smooth, gentle, oily, rich.Should taste like its ingredients. Tastes Like?"Neutral" profile makes it aperfect vehicle for flavors.Moscow Mule, Cosmopolitan,Bloody MAry, Martini.Cocktails?

ABG Vodka

GinWhat?Can be pot or column-distilled. Botanical blendoften kept secret bymaker. Neutral spirit flavored withjuniper berries and aromatics.Process?Styles?-Holland/Genever-(London) Dry-New Western

GinTastes Like?Great substitute for vodka-just pay attention tobotanicals.Typically clean,crisp, and reflectiveof boatanicals used. Cocktails?

ABG Gins

Mezcal is an alcoholic spiritdistilled, only in certain mexicanstates, from the cooked heart ofthe agave plant. Tequila is aspecific type of mezcal.Agave Spirits"All tequila is mezcal but not all mezcal is tequila!"

TequilaAgave:Blue-Weber Where:5-MexiacanStates (Jalisco)Styles:Blanco, Reposado,Anejo, Ex-Anejo,Cristilino, MixtoVaries. Most useauto-claves orstone ovens.Process:Blanco = <60daysExtra Anejo = 3yr+Anejo = 1-3yrReposado = < 1yrCristilino = ???

TequilaBlancoBright, crisp, clean,green fruit, somemineralityReposadoMore body, ripetropical fruit, vanilla,baking spicesAnejoRich, roastedfruit, heavybaking spice, oak

ABG Tequila

MezcalAgave:Any Type (Espadin)Where:8-MexiacanStates (Oaxaca)Styles:Blanco, Reposado,Anejo, Pechuga,EloteVaries. Most usecovered-fire pit toroast pinas.Process:

MezcalTastes Like:Agave choice, terroir, andproduction affect flavor.Roasted tropical fruit, earthy,savory, BBQ.Cocktails:Can be applied to 'tequila-styledrinks, plays nice with tropicaland berry notes, Can be used inspirit-forward cocktails

ABG Mezcal

RumWhat?Alcohol distilledfrom sugarBase:ANYWHERE!!!When?sugarcane juice, refinedsugar, molasses, spices,coloringWhere:Difficult to say, but1651-Barbados for newworld

->Cachaca can only bemade in BrazilPuerto Rico*, Caribbean,anywhere that can grow ormanufacture sugar.cane.Rum/Cachaca

Pot-stillsMolassesBarrel-Aging Rum StylesColumn-stillsVariety of Sugarscharcoal filteringbarrel-agingSpanishComplex,Rich,Clean,SmoothCognac + ColumnStillsSugarcane-JuiceFrench/BrazilianLight-bodied,herbaceuous,grassyEnglishRich,Funky,Aromatic

ABG Rum

ANYWHERE- though specific style isgeographically dependentBrandyWhat?Alcohol distilledfrom fruitBase:When?grapes, berries, applesWhere:Spanish-Persia around900 AD

ABG Brandy

Part 4"What's in the Box Barrel?"A Spiritual Journey

Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beveragemade from fermented grain mash or by distilling beer. What is Whisk(e)y?

Type of Grain (Mashbill)YeastLocation, Location, Location!BarrelsWhat determines WHAT aWhisk(e)y is?

It's ALL Whiskey!Whisk(e)yRyeIrishCanadianBourbonJapaneseScotchAmericanSingle-MaltTaiwaneseIndian

American WhiskeyTennesseeWhiskeyRye WhiskeyBourbonWhiskeySingle-MaltWhiskeyTennessee = Bourbon + Charcoal + TENNESSEEBourbon = CornRye = ...RyeSingle-Malt = 100% Malted Barley***WATER will play a crucial role in ALL whiskey creation***

Bourbon•Made in USA*+Rye, Barley, Wheat•Aged in new, charred AmericanWhite oak containers•Bottled at 80+ proof (40%)•“Straight” bourbon"-2yrs• "Bottled in Bond” -4yrs @ 100proof•Mash-bill w/ at least 51% CORNIn 1964, Congress made it a law thatBOURBON is“distinctive product of the USA.”

BourbonTastes Like:Mash-bill, Age, barrel char, and barrelmanagement affect flavor the most.Vanilla, baking spices, caramel, brownsugar, chocolate are all safe.Cocktails:From sours to spirit-forward,bourbon has a purpose. old-fashioneds, manhattans, sours,highballs, and dessert cocktails.

ABG Bourbon

RichFull-bodied SweetHeartyTypically dryerSpicierHerbalFruity

Rye+Corn, Barley, WheatMash-bill w/ at least 51% RYEAmerican Rye is held under thesame restrictions as BOURBONwith ONE exception...

Mash-bill, Age, barrel char, and barrelmanagement affect flavor the most. OakSpice, citrus fruit, cinnamon, clove,florals and herbs are most commonRyeTastes Like:Cocktails:Rye can be treated the same wayas bourbon. manhattans andsazeracs are classic. Also goeswell with citrus.

ABG Rye

Scotch Whisky-bottled at 80+proof-Made in Scotland-Malted/UnMaltedBarley + other grains-Aged in oak barrels for3+ years-Age statements mustreflect youngest in blend-Flavor of Peat isoptionalmultiple single-maltsmixed together single malt/grain ONE GRAIN, fermented,distilled, barreled,bottled at 1-distillery Blended malt/grain

LowlandsThe whisky of thisregion is generallyconsidered to bemore mild, mellowand delicate.heavier, smokier,Scotch varieties.Islay generallyproduces strongpeaty, maritimearomas. They arepowerful and burstwith flavor.Islaysophisticated andelegant w/ flavors ofhoney, vanilla andfresh fruits thatdevelop dried fruitand sweet spiceflavors with age.SpeysideScotch Whiskywarm, roundedsingle malt whiskiesthat are smooth andhave floralcharacteristics. Highland

Because of the high degree ofvariety in scotch it can be served +applied to a cocktail many ways.Scotch WhiskyCocktails + Serves

ABG Scotch<- BLENDSingle-Malt ->

-bottled at 80+proof-NEW RULES (4/1/2021)-Malted/UnMalted Barley+ other grains-Aged in barrels for 3+years-Age statements mustreflect youngest in blendJapanese Whisky-Shinjiro Torii +Masataka Taketsuru-Scotch-influence

-Cherry, CEdar, and Chestnut beingexplored.-Ex-American Oak most popular-Experiment w/ sherry, madeira, etc.-Finished in umeshu or ShochubarrelsJapanese WhiskyAllowance of wooden-barrels otherthan OAK gives way to INNOVATION

ABG Japanese Whisky