Hello from Minnesota!

Nice to have found this site! I have been an avid Bourbon drinker/collector since my days as a undergrad at University of Georgia (gotta love the SEC!). Have well over 200 selections on my back bar, the most-recent addition being a bottle of Very Old Fitzgerald distilled in 1962 @ Stitzel-Weller.

Have been in the wine & spirits' business for 30 years, having owned retail shops, wine bars, import companies and making wine in the U.S. and abroad. Managed a number of California wineries...and ended up owning my own winery (and did a bit of distilling, too) for over 12 years. Got tired of the travel, and sold off the winery in early 2009. Moved to MN with my family, and now run one of the state's largest wine & liquor wholesalers.

Great thing about selling liquor in MN is that I have access to every Bourbon available in the state. Favorite Bourbons include Van Winkle, Stagg, Black Maple Hill, Weller and the older Hirsch bottlings. Really enjoy rye whiskey as well.

Looking forward to learning a thing or two from this site!

Mat Garretson

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrviognier

the most-recent addition being a bottle of Very Old Forrester distilled in 1962 @ Stitzel-Weller.

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I'm sure you meant Old Fitzgerald.
I saw a TV show yesterday that featured the Northern Waters Smokehaus in Duluth.
If I were in the state I'd be there.
And yeah, Roll Tide! (no offence to Georgia)

Thanks...just changed it. Still on my first cup of coffee. :grin:

Gotta admit, I like 'Bama, too. The world needs ditch-diggers.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Jk7oRafkf9...h/bamanavy.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrviognier

Gotta admit, I like 'Bama, too. The world needs ditch-diggers.

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:slappin: yeah, good one.:slappin:

I heard Georgia coach Richt asked the NCAA if free bail money for his players would be a violation.

Can't seem to get this photo into my response...

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Jk7oRafkf9...h/bamanavy.jpg

:grin:

Yep, great pic, we are proud of our service men from 'Bama.
But seriously, I think the Detroit Lions got a good one with Matthew Stafford.

They DID. Saw Matt when he played the Vikings this last season. Best part of it was when defensive back Asher Allen (also from UGA) would come in for a sack. The two of them would laugh and talk smack.

Mat, welcome to the site! I recently relocated to Minnesota myself, so hopefully some day we can meet up.

Welcome to the site from another fellow Minnesota bourbon drinker!

Nice to see there's a MN contingency here! What are your favorite restaurants/bars? Given my job, I spend a lot of time in both. I assume you've been to the Happy Gnome? How 'bout Haute Dish? And some of the folks from the Gnome have opened a new concept called The Hangar Room.