Liquor and Liqueur Connoisseur

Episode 121 features Bénédictine. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof and it retails for about $40.

Enjoy this episode with a Béné & Hot, or just sip on it neat.

Bénédictine's official website: https://www.benedictinedom.com/

Brief Historical Timeline:

• 1510 - Dom Bernado Vincelli, a monk at the Abbey in Fécamp, Normandy, France, creates an elixir intended to revie tired monks.
• 1789 - The Abbey is destroyed during the French Revolution and the monks gift documents to secular benefactor Prosper Couillard.
• 1863 - Alexandre Le Grand creates Bénédictine based upon a manuscript he finds in his grandfather Prosper Couillard's collection.
• 1864 - Bénédictine is commercialized and the bottle trademarked.
• 1882 - Alexandre Le Grand purchases the site of the old Abbey and builds a distillery.
• 1888 - Bottles are first available in the United States.
• 1904 - The new Le Palais Bénédictine opens after the original distillery was destroyed by arson.
• 1905 - An outpost for the brand is opened in Paris.
• 1917 - British soldiers during WWI get a taste for Bénédictine and begin drinking it mixed with hot water post war back home.
• 1937 - B&B, a version of Bénédictine mixed with Brandy, is first produced.
• 1984 - The La Grand family sells the brand to Martini-Rossi.
• 1992 - Bacardi purchases Martini-Rossi, becoming owner of Bénédictine.

Key Cocktails:

Bénédictine has been around for ages and prominently features in the Vieux Carré and Singapore Sling. But, you can also enjoy it like the patrons of the Burnley Miner's Club in England and drink it mixed with hot water.

References:

Wikipedia Article on Bénédictine

YouTube Video Featuring Le Palais Bénédictine - French language

The Spruce Eats Article on Bénédictine

Diffords Guide Article on Bénédictine

The Culture Trip Article on Bénédictine

Epicurious Article on Bénédictine

Liquor.com Article on Bénédictine

BBC Article and Video on the Burnley Miner's Club

Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails - Book

Contact Information:

Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com

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This is a special guest episode featuring B&B - Bénédictine & Brandy, courtesy of My Tiny Bottles hosted by Tammy Coxen.

Tammy and I are on similar paths, diving into the world of distilled spirits, though Tammy is doing this by exploring her grandmother’s legacy of miniature liquor bottles, one tiny bottle at a time. She has hundreds of bottles waiting to be discovered, and with each she’s telling the story of them and then opening & tasting many of these vintage, collectible bottles! Later this year Tammy and I are planning to get together to taste some tiny bottles, but in the meantime, here’s the story of Benedictine as told through bottle #17 in her collection, B&B.

Enjoy this episode while I work on more of my regular content, including an episode on Bénédictine to follow shortly!

Episode 120 features Everclear Grain Alcohol. Bottled in 750ml at 95% ABV, or 190 proof and it retails for about $21.

Enjoy this episode with something you've made with Everclear.

Everclear's official website: https://diywitheverclear.com/

Brief Historical Timeline:

• 1922 - Everclear is mentioned in various issues of the Druggists Circular as a product of American Distilling Company.
• 1936 - Article lists Everclear alongside whiskey, gin and rum.
• 1950 - Everclear is registered as a trademark.
• 1981 - American Distilling Company sells the Everclear brand to David Sherman Corporation.
• 2006 - David Sherman Corporation rebrands as Luxco.
• 2015 - First marketing campaign for Everclear, the "Make It Your Own" is launched.
• 2018 - New packaging, labeling is introduced.
• 2021 - Luxco is purchased by MGP Ingredients.

Key Cocktails:

Everclear is described as a blank canvas, a clean slate and open invitation to make it your own. Everclear will add more "Punch to your Punch." Ample recipes are featured on the brand's website.

References:

Luxco Website

Vinepair Article on Everclear History

Vinepair List on Everclear

The Druggists Circular

Punch Article on Rebrand

Press Release on Updated Packaging

Wikipedia Article on Everclear

MGP Purchase of Luxco

Art Alexakis Quote on Everclear as his Band Name

Contact Information:

Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com

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Episode 119 features Kentucky Owl, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Maighstir Edition. Bottled in 750ml at 50% ABV, or 100 proof and it retails for about $134.

Enjoy this episode with a pour of Kentucky Owl as you like it.

Kentucky Owl's official website: https://kentuckyowlbourbon.com/

Brief Historical Timeline:

• 1879 - Kentucky Owl is founded by C.M. Dedman.
• 1916 - Production ends and aging stocks are confiscated by the US government, they are then all "lost in a fire".
• 2014 - Dixon Dedman, great-great-grandson of the founder, releases Batch #1, resurrecting the brand.
• 2017 - Stoli Group purchases Kentucky Owl.
• 2018 - Groundbreaking of the 420 acre distillery complex and brand home.
• 2023 - Maureen Robinson collaborates with John Rhea in the release of the Maighstir Edition.
• 2023 - Maureen Robinson is named Master Blender for Kentucky Owl.

Key Cocktails:

Simply drink Kentucky Owl as you like it. Neat, on the rocks, with water, or you could mix it if you like.

References:

Interview with Kentucky Owl’s Master Blender, Maureen Robinson

Stoli Group Website

Coverage of Stoli Group's Purchase of Kentucky Owl

Kentucky Owl's Distillery Complex Announcement

Press Release on Maureen Robinson Becoming Master Blender

Press Release on Maighstir Edition Release

Maureen Robinson Background

Keepers of the Quaich

Story of Kentucky Owl in American Whiskey

The Whiskey Wash Article on Kentucky Owl

Forbes Article on Kentucky Owl

The Beaumont Inn Website

Contact Information:

Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com

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Episode 118 features St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram. Bottled in 750ml at 22.5% ABV, or 45 proof and it retails for about $30.

Enjoy this episode with a tiki cocktail using "Pimento Dram" if you like.

St. Elizabeth doesn't have standalone brand website, but here's the producer's website: https://alpenz.com/product-allspice.html

Brief Historical Timeline:

• 1850s - Pimento Dram is thought to have been invented.
• 1862 - First written reference to Pimento Dram as a commercial product.
• 1900s - Pimento Dram is fairly common, and finds use in Tiki cocktails.
• 1980s - Pimento Dram leaves the US market.
• 2008 - Haus Alpenz creates St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, bringing Pimento Dram back to the US.

Key Cocktails:

St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram works in many tiki cocktails, but try this British concoction from 1937, the Lion's Tail.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Bourbon
• 0.5 oz. of St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
• 0.5 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1 teaspoon simple syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange twist

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake until well-chilled, then strain into a coupe or cocktail glass. Express oil from the orange twist over the top of the drink and discard (the twist, not the drink!).

References:

Book: Vintage Spirits & Forgotten Cocktails by Ted Haigh, copyright 2009 revised edition.

Wikipedia Article on Allspice

Wikipedia Article on Saint Elizabeth Parish

What is Pimento Dram by The Spruce Eats

2008 Article from the San Francisco Chronicle discussing the launch of St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram

2015 New York Times Article

Cocktail Society Article on Allspice Dram

Liquor.com Article on the Lions Tale Cocktail

Contact Information:

Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com

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Episode 117 features Four Roses. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof and it retails for about $25.

Enjoy this episode with a pour of Four Roses however you like.

Four Roses official website: https://www.fourrosesbourbon.com/

Brief Historical Timeline:

• 1860s - Paul Jones Sr. and Paul Jones Jr. get into the whiskey business in Atlanta, Georgia
• 1883 - Paul Jones Jr. moves to Louisville, Kentucky and builds his whiskey business there.
• 1888 - The brand of Four Roses is founded with a legend of a southern belle and a corsage of four red roses.
• 1894 - Paul Jones Jr. makes his nephews Lawrence Lavelle Jones and Saunders Paul equal partners in the Paul Jones Company.
• 1895 - Paul Jones Jr. dies.
• Circa 1910 - Lawrence buys his brother Saunders out of the business
• 1922 - Lawrence buys the Frankfort Distilling Company during Prohibition and securing a rare license to sell whiskey for "Medicinal Purposes Only."
• 1941 - Lawrence dies, leaving the company to heirs would almost immediately sell it.
• 1943 - Seagrams headed by Samuel Bronfman purchases Four Roses and Frankfort Distilling Company for $42 million.
• 1950s - Seagrams converts Four Roses to a blended whiskey for the US market, reserving straight bourbon versions for export markets.
• 1990s - Master Distiller Jim Rutledge convinces Seagrams to bring the straight bourbon back to the USA, in Kentucky only.
• 2001 - Seagrams goes bankrupt and the beverage alcohol brands are sold off. Kirin Brewery Company, Ltd., Four Roses' Japanese distributor buys the brand.
• 2002 - Four Roses Straight Bourbon Whiskey is bak on US shelves.
• 2015 - Brent Elliott is named Master Distiller and a $55 million expansion of the distillery begins.
• 2019 - Distillery expansion is complete, doubling capacity to 130,000 barrels a year.

Key Cocktails:

Drink Four Roses as you like, it mixes well in any cocktail calling for bourbon.

References:

Book: Four Roses - The Return of a Whiskey Legend by Al Young, copyright 2013

Wikipedia Article on Four Roses

Wikipedia Article on the Language of Flowers

Wikipedia Article on the Pure Food and Drug Act

Wikipedia Article on V-J Day in Times Square

Four Roses History Article

Four Roses History Article on SippingHistory.com

Difford's Guide Listing for Four Roses

Contact Information:

Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com

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Episode 116 features Herbsaint. Bottled in 750ml at 50% ABV, or 100 proof and it retails for about $31.

Enjoy this episode with an Herbsaint Frappe, or any cocktail that calls for absinthe.

Herbsaint doesn't have it's own website, so here's the Sazerac listing: https://www.sazerac.com/our-brands/sazerac-brands/herbsaint.html

Brief Historical Timeline:

• 1914-18 - World War I and J. Marion Legendre 's friend Reginal P. Parker learns of pastis while stationed in Marseille, France
• 1920-33 - Post war, during Prohibition, Legendre and Parker make pastis in New Orleans
• 1933 - Legendre introduces Legendre Absinthe in December, immediately following the repeal of Prohibition
• 1934 - The Federal government forces Legendre to drop Absinthe from the name, Herbsaint is chosen as the replacement
• 1949 - Legendre sells the brand and business to Sazerac & Company
• 1950 - Sazerac changes the formulation, packaging and proof
• 2009 - For the brand's 75th anniversary, Sazerac recreates the original recipe and resurrects the historical packaging, creating Legendre Herbsaint Original

Key Cocktails:

The Sazerac Cocktail is most widely cited, but it only uses Herbsaint as a rinse. Select an absinthe based cocktail as a better use for Herbsaint.

References:

Wayback Machine Archive Copy of The Virtual Absinthe Museum story of Herbsaint - This resource was invaluable in producing this episode

Wikipedia Article on Herbsaint

New Orleans Absinthe History

Imbibe Magazine Article Circa 2009

Alcademics.com Article on the 75th Anniversary Relaunch

Sazerac House Recipe for the Sazerac Cocktail, featuring Herbsaint

Barfaith.com Review

Contact Information:

Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com

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Episode 115 features Tito's Handmade Vodka. Bottled in 750ml at 40% ABV, or 80 proof and it retails for about $20.

Enjoy this episode with some Tito's and soda with a lemon wedge.

Tito's Handmade Vodka official website: https://www.titosvodka.com/

Brief Historical Timeline:

• 1992 - Tito Beveridge begins making vodka infusions for his friends
• 1995 - Tito applies for a distillery license
• 1997 - First year of production yields about 1,000 9-liter equivalent cases
• 2001 - Tito's wins a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• 2013 - United Airlines begins serving Tito's on all their flights
• 2021 - 11,070,000 9-liter equivalent cases are sold, making Tito's the most popular distilled spirit brand in the USA, and providing enough for one 750ml bottle for each third person in the country
• 2023 - Tito's runs a Superbowl commercial named Dry January that features Martha Stewart

Key Cocktails:

Mix Tito's as you like.

References:

Eater Article on Tito's

Wikipedia Article on Tito's

Statista Sales Volumes

2022 Beverage Dynamics Ranking

Grain Volumes for Vodka Making

2022 Corn Yields Per Acre

YouTube Featuring Tito Speaking on Early Failures

YouTube Featuring Tito Telling the Origin Story

Tito's Stories YouTube Videos (All 8 are referenced)

Dry January Superbowl Ad

Contact Information:

Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com

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Twitter: @LLConnoisseur

Episode 114 features Jeppson's Malört. Bottled in 750ml at 35% ABV, or 70 proof and it retails for about $22.

Enjoy this episode with a shot of Jeppson's Malört straight.

Jeppson's Malört official website: https://www.jeppsonsmalort.com/

Brief Historical Timeline:

• 1880s - Carl Jeppson immigrates to Chicago, Illinois, USA from Sweden
• 1920s - Carl Jeppson begins making and selling door to door his own bask brännvin, later to be named Malört
• 1933 - Carl Jeppson sells Malört to Bielzoff Products
• 1945 - George Brode buys Bielzoff Products, eventually renaming the company Red Horse Liquors
• 1953 - George Brode sells Red Horse Liquors, except for Malört
• 1986 - Mar-Salle Distillery in Chicago, who had been making Malört since 1953, closes so production moves to Kentucky
• 1999 - George Brode dies, leaving Jeppson's Malört to his friend and long-time secretary Patricia Gabelick
• 2007 - The hastag #malortface catches on in Chicago with photos shared online
• 2011 - Chicago comedian Sam Mechling begins promoting Malört on Twitter and Facebook, eventually raising the ire of Patricia Gabelick
• 2012 - Sam Mechling officially joins the Carl Jeppson Company
• 2018 - CH Distillery in Chicago buys the Carl Jeppson Company and Jeppson's Malört bringing production back to Chicago
• 2020 - The brand was selling about 20,000 9-liter equivalent cases annually

Key Cocktails:

Don't mess around, you just take shots of Jeppson's Malört.

References:

Chicago Tribune Article on the History of Jeppson's

Thrillist Facts List

Food and Wine Article

Serious Eats Article

YouTube Video Featuring Production at CH Distillery

YouTube Video Featuring an Interview with Sam Mechling

YouTube Video: "Chicago's Grossest Drink, Explained"

YouTube Video: "The Worst Liquor Ever"

Contact Information:

Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com

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Twitter: @LLConnoisseur

Episode 113 features John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum. Bottled in 750ml at 11% ABV, or 22 proof and it retails for about $22.

Enjoy this episode with a pour of John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum mixed in a tiki cocktail if you like.

John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum doesn't have a website I can find, so here's the US Importer's website: https://alpenz.com/product-falernum.html

Brief Historical Timeline:

• Pre-1800s - Falernum is likely being made in Barbados on sugar estates alongside rum
• 1821 - The first printed reference to Falernum is found
• 1890 - John D. Taylor is said to have refined the Falernum recipe into this award-winning liqueur
• 1934 - Falernum is used in tiki cocktails by Donn Beach at Don's Beachcomber
• 1970s - Falernum is gone from the US market and global sales decline along with tiki
• 1993 - R. L. Seale & Co. Ltd. purchases blender Alleyne Arthur who had previously purchased John D. Taylor, bring this version of Velvet Falernum under R. L. Seale & Co. Ltd.'s ownership
• 2009 - Haus Alpenz begins importing John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum into the US

Key Cocktails:

Try the Corn 'N Oil listed on the back label.

Corn 'N Oil

• ½ oz. John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum
• 2 oz. Aged Barbados Rum

Stir in an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime slice.

References:

Presentation by Richard Seal of R. L. Seale & Co. Ltd. on the history of Falernum

Wikipedia Article on Falernum

Difford's Guide listing for John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum

John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum Instagram Account

Teakwood Tavern Article on John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum

Punch Article on Rediscovering John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum

Contact Information:

Official show website is: www.liquorandliqueurconnoisseur.com

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