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The Whiskey Ledger with Bourbon Apprentice
Back in April of 2020 and amidst the height of the pandemic, a number of NC bourbon enthusiasts were brought together by my buddy Cam to establish what is now known as the NCBurbCrew. I could honestly write a full article on the group’s inception (and I might), but for now, you can just follow that hashtag on social media to find out more about it. One of the mainstays of the group, affectionally called the “Crüe,” is Daniel Spivey, who is @Tipples_And_Drams on Instagram. Daniel knows more about whiskey in his eyelashes than I’ll likely ever know. I’ve learned a ton…
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The Whiskey Ledger with Bourbon Apprentice
Last March – 2019…the year before COVID that sadly seems like a distant memory – I took a trip to Kentucky with my wife and another couple. Although it was only for three days, and there were no beaches or waves to be seen, it still ranks up there as one of my all-time favorite vacations. After all, it’s an adult Disney World of sorts. I’ve gone back and forth in my head about where to take this entry of the Ledger…do I want to go the history route, or do I want to reminisce? If you’ve read any of my previous columns, I think you know what direction we’re…
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The Whiskey Ledger with Bourbon Apprentice
“Dad, what are you doing? Why do you do that?” This is a pretty regular question from my 11-year-old daughter as I’m nosing my bourbon one nostril at a time. “Because he’s a ______,” answers my wife before I can respond (you can insert, “nerd,” “idiot,” “tool” or other descriptive noun of your choosing). No matter how much grief I get, there will be no quit in my game.
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The Whiskey Ledger with Bourbon Apprentice
Some people may think bourbon heads and whiskey nerds are a bunch of drunks. I think it’s extremely important to dispel that rumor every chance I get. The reality of it is that we are like-minded individuals that enjoy getting to know people better through sharing the spirit we all love. And there are many ways to turn that passion into a way to help others as well through charitable efforts. My third entry into the Whiskey Ledger is a great example of that told through an interview with Brent Hamby from the North Carolina Bourbon Society.
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The Whiskey Ledger with Bourbon Apprentice
One of the biggest challenges with getting deep into bourbon is the intimidation factor – there’s a lot to learn, a lot to take in. You may find yourself enjoying a glass at a bar only to have your night ruined by some bourbon snob ensuring that everyone on a stool gets to hear him pontificate everything he knows when you’re just trying to watch the game or connect with friends. The silver lining is that for every jerk like that, there’s at least one hundred people sharing their respect for the craft or looking to learn what little bit of information…
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The Whiskey Ledger with Bourbon Apprentice
I can distinctly remember wanting to try something different – not a beer, not a cocktail. I scanned the restaurant menu and a descriptive caption caught my eye, “Notes of caramel, cinnamon, and fruit.” SOLD! The drink I ordered that night was Buffalo Trace bourbon, and that was my gateway into whiskey.
