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I'm assuming this was B-F's attempt to capture a share of the clear spirits boom...I just wonder what barrel-aged bourbon could possibly taste like after it's been filtered clear!!?!
I suppose it's easy in retrospect to guess why Frost was such a failure--people that pour the clear stuff aren't exactly looking for aged whiskey taste!
Hi Gary,
I have a article about Heaven Hill trying a new venture...lots of rumors have circulated with this story. It was a attempt for a "light" bourbon...
I will try to find it and post it here for you.
http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...mlins/grin.gif http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...mlins/grin.gif Bettye Jo http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...mlins/grin.gif http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...mlins/grin.gif
Awesome! I'd be interested to see if it's "light" meaning clear vs. "light" meaning lighter-tasting. I wish I could have tried this Frost stuff...I suppose it'd only be a step or two above corn whiskey!?Quote:
I have a article about Heaven Hill trying a new venture...lots of rumors have circulated with this story. It was a attempt for a "light" bourbon...
I will try to find it and post it here for you.
Thanks Bettye Jo! http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...mlins/grin.gif
Is the date on that article 1963 or 1968? It's hard to tell.
Yes, "Light Whiskey" was a bit of a fiasco. If it had caught on at all, it would have faced another more subtle problem, which is the fact that "light" was coming to mean reduced calorie, which this product was not. It was lighter in color, body and taste, but contained a full portion of alcohol and, therefore, calories.
The worst part about light whiskey was that it wasn't a product that could be made with exisiting equipment. It required a fairly expensive capital investment. I would bet that when the HH distillery burned down, that equipment was still sitting there unusued.
Mark Brown of Buffalo Trace told me a story about touring the place one day with Elmer Lee. They came across what appeared to be an unusued column still. Mark asked about it and Elmer replied, with barely concealed contempt, that it was the still for making light whiskey. Mark, being the good businessman, asked if it could be used for anything else. Elmer replied, again with barely concealed contempt, "I guess you could make vodka with it."
And thus Rain Vodka was born.
It's 1968...The article is from The Kentucky Standard.
http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...mlins/grin.gif http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...mlins/grin.gif Bettye Jo http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...mlins/grin.gif http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...mlins/grin.gif
That's a great story! I love selling the Rain at LeNell's so I'll have to remember this. When Light Bourbon goes flop...fabulous vodka!