first new maker's mark product in 50 years

gonna snag a bottle of this soon.

Maker's Mark 46 Bourbon
It seemed like any other day at the Maker's Mark Distillery, as workers dunked tops of whiskey bottles into tubs of red wax. Only this time, the bottles were different – and so was the bourbon.

Since the late 1950s, the quaint distillery tucked into the Kentucky hills has churned out just one product – Maker's Mark. That's changing with next month's introduction of Maker's 46, a close cousin of the original but with a different aging method in the final weeks to give the whiskey a distinctive taste.

While the world of expensive spirits is rife with offshoots, Maker's was steadfast in clinging to a single product until now.

"This is our first creation in 52 years, and it really is a creation," Maker's Mark President Bill Samuels Jr. said. "It's not like it's Maker's with a couple of more years age on it."

To create the product, master distiller Kevin Smith started with Maker's and dabbled for more than a year before hitting on the recipe.

Whiskey barrels storing Maker's are emptied so workers can insert oak planks inside each. The barrels are refilled and aged two to three months longer than traditional Maker's, which ages six to seven years. As Maker's 46 mingles with the wood, it takes on stronger hints of caramel, spice and vanilla, Smith said.

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scotch scotch scotch

pretty funny, click to enlarge.

great whisky ad

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jimmy page and jack daniels

Photo taken backstage Indianapolis 1975 by Neal Preston just prior to Led Zeppelin’s intro. That’s Jimmy Page and his friend, Jack Daniel’s. Photo was taken during a period when ‘(Jimmy) went through this period where he always had a bottle of Jack Daniel’s with him.’

god bless texas

what beer should i drink?

click to enlarge

bill murray bartends at SXSW, gives everyone tequila regardless of their order

i love this guy

ladies and gentleman: the beer handle

my birthday is next week, fyi.

Beer Handle

Putting a handle on a can of beer is the beverage equivalent of tits on a bull – totally unnecessary and mostly insane – but we still love it. Keeps your beer cold, your hands warm, and comes in a six pack – just like beer.

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the economics of gettin' drunk

recession = more people buying cheap booze

i know this is true for me, i've had to go from gentleman jack back down to the regular no. 7

Cheaper Liquor Gets Boost in Downturn as Americans Drink More but Choose Less Expensive Brands
NEW YORK — Americans' love affair with top-shelf booze cooled last year as the recession took a toll on high-priced alcohol.

A new report by an industry group shows people drank more but turned to cheaper brands. They also drank more at home and less in pricier bars and restaurants.

Last year, the lowest-priced segment, with brands such as Popov vodka that can go for less than $10 for a fifth, grew the fastest, with volume rising 5.5 percent, after edging up 0.6 percent in 2008. Meanwhile, the most expensive price range, roughly $30 or more for a 750 ml bottle (think Grey Goose, owned by Bacardi), fell the most, tumbling 5.1 percent.

via huffpo

beer pong slam dunk montage

i didn't even know this move existed

Rip Torn gets wasted, breaks into bank with revolver

dude knows how to party.

Alleged Victim of Rip Torn -- Torn Himself
Rip Torn is so in need of help, even the CEO of the bank he allegedly broke into on Friday night wants to see someone stage an intervention.

Torn was arrested after cops found him drunk inside a bank in Connecticut with a loaded revolver.

Mark E. Macomber, President/CEO of Litchfield Bancorp in Connecticut, tells TMZ no one was in the building at the time Torn allegedly broke in -- and the only damage was to the smashed window cops say was Torn's point of entry.

Macomber says he didn't believe Torn was trying to hurt anyone or steal anything. Macomber spoke to authorities in Connecticut who told him Torn was found lying on the floor. He said cops believe Torn thought he was in his own house.
via tmz

I'll have a rodeo burger and a budweiser

what are my two of my favorite things in the world? beer and fast food. i hope this catches on.

Burger King plans beer-selling Whopper Bar in South Beach

Gimme a Whopper, fries — and a beer.

Those words are no longer wishful thinking. Friday, Burger King will unveil plans to sell beer and burgers at a Whopper Bar — a new BK concept to compete with casual dining restaurants — in Miami Beach's tourist-heavy South Beach. The South Beach Whopper Bar is scheduled to open in mid-February.

Don't look for beer at conventional Burger Kings. That's not in the plans. But more Whopper Bars — which offer an assortment of burgers, toppings and beer — could be on tap in tourist hot spots such as New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, says Chuck Fallon, president of Burger King North America.

A brewski at the new Whopper Bar — served in special aluminum bottles to keep them extra cold — fetches $4.25. Or, order beer as part of a Whopper combo and your bill will be $7.99 — roughly $2 more than the same combo meal with a fountain drink.

The unusual move comes as the restaurant industry is reeling. Restaurant operators reported lower same-store sales in November, compared with a year earlier, for the 18th-consecutive month, the National Restaurant Association reports. Nearly 65% of operators reported a same-store sales decline in November. December results were unavailable.

full story via usa today

England outlaws drinking games in bars

"And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free..."

Out go drinking games in booze crackdown
LONDON (Reuters) – Tough new rules for pubs and clubs -- including a ban on drinking games like the infamous "dentist's chair" -- will be introduced in Britain this year in a bid to curb a heavy drinking culture that costs the country billions of a pounds a year.

Other promotions like "all you can drink for 10 pounds ($16)," speed drinking competitions and "women drink free" nights will also be prohibited.

But, controversially, bulk offers of cheap alcohol in supermarkets -- widely regarded as one of the main sources of Britain's problems with under-age and excessive drinking -- will not be affected.

The dentist's chair, where drinks are poured directly into the mouth by others, was made famous by the celebrations of footballer Paul Gascoigne at Euro '96. It will be banned from April and publicans will have to ensure free tap water is made available to revelers.

The government says excessive boozing costs Britain up to 12 billion pounds a year and has vowed that any premises that breach the new mandatory code will face stiff penalties. Publicans and vendors could lose their licenses, be fined up to 20,000 pounds ($32,750) or face six months in prison.

via reuters/yahoo

essential whiskey facts every man should know

Essential whiskey facts every man should know
Whiskey was first made in Ireland by missionary monks as early as the sixth century. Along with spreading The Word of The Lord, they also began distilling whisky, or as it's called in Gaelic, uisce beatha, meaning "water of life." Occupying British soldiers in the 12th century bastardised the pronunciation and it eventually came out "whiskey".

The four major types are Irish Whiskey (with an 'e'), Scotch Whisky, American Whiskey (again with an 'e'), & Canadian Whisky. The Irish & Americans spell it with the 'e'; the rest of the world leaves it off to save on printing costs. Let's break it down:

Irish Whiskey
Distilled three times. Uses pure-malted barley as the grain. Aged at least three years in oak casks.

Scotch or Scottish Whisky
Distilled twice. Also uses barley, which is dried over peat fire, giving scotch it's characteristic smoky flavor. Aged at least two years in oak.

American Whiskey
Made from a mash (mixture) of cereal grain. Aged at least two years in charred, unused oak.

Canadian Whisky
Uses at least 51 percent malted rye as the grain. Aged at least three years in oak.

Other Fun Facts:
A whisky stops maturing after it's bottled, so it won't get "better" over time.

A closed bottle can be kept for more than 100 years and you'll still be good to go. So, raid your parents' liquor cabinet and grab that sealed Jameson from Christmas of '87.

An opened bottle is all right for five years. This is good to know for nicer bottles, but you should be drinking that handle of Beam way quicker than that.

The oak barrels give the whisky its caramel colour.

Whisky gains as much as 60 percent of its flavour from the type of cask used in the aging process.

Bourbon is an American Whiskey made from at least 51 percent corn. It no longer has to be made in Bourbon, Kentucky, but 90 percent of it is.

Bourbon County, is a dry county. Which is just stupid.

The reason Jack Daniel's is not considered bourbon is because they filter it through sugar-maple charcoal ("mellowing") prior to aging.

While most people think that adding ice or water to whisky is sacrilegious, it is all about taste. One person might prefer his whisky neat (straight up), but a small amount of water or ice will bring out more subtle, nuanced flavors. Give it a try ... just stay away from the mixers. You're a man now.
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maynard james keenan makes wine

this is amazing, never knew this guy had been making wine in arizona since the 90's. the documentary about this (trailer below) comes out in february and looks awesome.

check out the wine's website here

beer map

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via thetalkinghead

what people's drinks say about them, from bartenders

well i do drink a lot of whiskey.
Drinks as personality pointers
Seven New York City bartenders were asked if they could nail a woman's personality based on what she drinks (and how you approach them if you're interested in them). Though interviewed separately, they concurred on almost all counts. The results:

Girl Drinks

Drink: Beer
Personality: Casual, low-maintenance; down to earth.
Your Approach: Challenge her to a game of pool.

Drink: Blender Drinks
Personality: Flaky, annoying; a pain in the ass.
Your Approach: Avoid her, unless you want to be her cabin boy.

Drink: Mixed Drinks
Personality: Older, has picky taste; knows what she wants.
Your Approach: You won't have to approach her. She'll send YOU a drink.

Drink: White Zin
Personality: Easy; thinks she is classy and sophisticated, actually has no clue.
Your approach: Make her feel smarter than she is...

Guy Drinks

Then there is the male addendum .... The deal with guys is, as always, very simple and clear cut.

Domestic Beer: He's poor and wants to get laid.

Imported Beer: He likes good beer and wants to get laid.

Wine: He's hoping that the wine thing will give him a sophisticated image to help him get laid.

Whiskey: He doesn't give two shits about anything but getting laid.

White Zin: He's gay.

see all the rest here

Ron Artest drinks Hennessy @ halftime

Ron Artest's Drinking: Laker Admits He Drank Hennessy During Halftime
Ron Artest drank cognac during halftime of Chicago Bulls games, the Lakers forward tells the Sporting News.

According to Artest, "I used to drink Hennessy ... at halftime. I (kept it) in my locker. I'd just walk to the liquor store (near the stadium) and get it."
full story via huffpo

russians invent booze pill

of course it's the russians.
Scientists Invent Useless Alcohol Pill, Drinking Gets Less Fun
Leave it to the Russians to invent a much more efficient way to consume alcohol and reenforce bad social stereotypes. Satisfied that all disease has been cured, the world’s energy problems are a thing of the past and our lives are about as perfect as they can possibly be, Russian scientists have figured out a way to transmografy booze in to pill form.

The new pills can be made from any kind of alcohol, be it vodka, whiskey, cognac, brandy or what ever you’d like your pills made out of, although it doesn’t really make a difference since you won’t be tasting your hooch.
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