From Maryland Rye to New York Cocktail Culture to Navy Strength Gin with Allen Katz of NY Distilling

Join me as I jump into a discussion with New York Distilling's co-founder Allen Katz. Starting out in Baltimore, it's no surprise that Allen would find rye whiskey as his passion, but the surprise was - he went to New York City to start a distillery. But before then, he spent life as a bartender in the revitalized cocktail culture of New York. So today we'll talk rye whiskey, cocktails and even find out why the British used to have a different proofing system that we do in the US. Items we'll discuss: How a heist helped choose Allen's destiny Bringing Maryland to New York City Working with farmers and specific rye varietals Does a cocktail need a complex rye? The early days of the New York cocktail culture The staple rye whiskies for any bartender Differences in character between warehouses Tasting Ragtime Rye The winter hot toddy The Empire Rye designation The idea of an urban distillery in New York City Getting help from others Gin and New York's other Matthew Perry Navy Strength gin's history and gunpowder The basis for the old British proofing system Tasting Ragtime Rye Bottled-in-Bond The origins of Rock and Rye Tasting the Single Barrel