Indiana might soon blaze its own bourbon trail

[MacinJosh]

http://www.indystar.com/article/20130326/NEWS05/303260057

*Edit* - If the Star blocks you and asks for you to subscribe, just clear your history and cache and cookies and relaunch your browser. Presto!

[Old Dusty]

Very interesting especially the tasting rooms. The article is slightly misleading on the reference to Heartland Distillers. They may in fact be distilling bourbon but obviously aren't able to sell their distillate yet. The stuff they are currently putting out is from the former LDI.

[MyOldKyDram]

Is one stop a trail?

[callmeox]

Kentucky Bourbon Trail/Indiana Bourbon trail is like Disney World/Disney store.

[Old Dusty]

Kentucky Bourbon Trail/Indiana Bourbon trail is like Disney World/Disney store.

Ox more like Disney World/Guy in the alley selling counterfeit Disney DVD's

[Josh]

This is a nice idea, but they need more actual stills operating and producing bourbon. There's already a wine trail, maybe turn it into a wine & spirits trail.

[TomH]

Ox more like Disney World/Guy in the alley selling counterfeit Disney DVD's

I don't think that I would be quite so dismissive of the potential of this new initiative. If Sun King and Three Floyds get into micro distilling I would suspect they will produce as much of a quality product as any other micro. While these places won't offer the history of KY bourbon making, the idea of touring high quality distilling and brewery facilities at the same location could definitely be considered unique attractions. Obviously it will take some time before anything comes from this, but at least it lays the foundation.

BTW, speaking of them parks, don't forget that Indiana had the first amusement park built around a THEME.... 9 years before Disney did his thing....we had Santa Claus Land (Now expanded into Holiday World).

[squire]

I see this as a plus, a micro is a natural extension of a brewery. Sign me up for the tour.

[Old Dusty]

Tom, not dismissive just a little humor. As my first post in the thread indicated I am excited especially about the tasting opportunities. And if you make the Indy gathering in May I will bring Spring Mill Indiana Bourbon.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

I don't think that I would be quite so dismissive of the potential of this new initiative. If Sun King and Three Floyds get into micro distilling I would suspect they will produce as much of a quality product as any other micro. While these places won't offer the history of KY bourbon making, the idea of touring high quality distilling and brewery facilities at the same location could definitely be considered unique attractions. Obviously it will take some time before anything comes from this, but at least it lays the foundation.

BTW, speaking of them parks, don't forget that Indiana had the first amusement park built around a THEME.... 9 years before Disney did his thing....we had Santa Claus Land (Now expanded into Holiday World).

From what I have seen, breweries that experiment with distilling do so because they have the time/capacity/ability to. 3 floyds cant make enough beer for their own state not to mention the other 4 or 5 states they dabble in. They could triple production and still not reach 1/5 of the United States population. They have a great thing going with beer. They sell every drop that they make. To get into distilling would be foolish IMO.

[squire]

I expect the two operations could exist side by side, presumably staffed by different employees.

[Peter_Pogue]

For those interested, the Summer 2012 Whisky Advocate has a very good article on craft brewers transitioning to microdistillers. The article highlights Brett VanderKamp of New Holland Brewing/Distilling, Bruce Joseph of Anchor Brewing/Distilling, Rogue Brewing/Distilling, and Ranger Brewing/Distilling. All make great beers and the distilled products they are putting out are equally as good. As whiskey starts as beer many of them see this as a natural transition. I also suspect that, for many of them, it is a much bigger challenge for their brewing/distilling skills to get into distilling. As one microbrewer turned microdistiller described to me microbrewing is the jv and distilling is the varsity. I suspect the Three Floyds folks will make very good distilled products and I know Omar's group at Sun King will, but realistically, with the current laws in Indiana, they are both probably at least 1 if not 2 years away from getting their DSPs to produce let alone get product on the market. But, I can't wait for that to happen.

[MacinJosh]

Very interesting especially the tasting rooms. The article is slightly misleading on the reference to Heartland Distillers. They may in fact be distilling bourbon but obviously aren't able to sell their distillate yet. The stuff they are currently putting out is from the former LDI.

[Josh]

Really? I thought Heartland's Bourbon was their own.....around 3-4 years old.

Nope it's MGPI. I heard to right from one of their PR guys. They do rebarrel it for a period of time. Adds a nice extra layer of depth.

[MacinJosh]

Nope it's MGPI. I heard to right from one of their PR guys. They do rebarrel it for a period of time. Adds a nice extra layer of depth.

Copy that. Thanks!

[Old Dusty]

Copy that. Thanks!

[MacinJosh]

Josh, I am in charge of the Spring Mill samples at the Indy gathering. If you can make it we can evaluate it then!

[Bourbon Boiler]

The Southern Indiana wine trail does very well. At least Huber's has added a still and makes a very good apple brandy. I think this is a more natural extension in Indiana for distilled product that the brewers, which of course means brandy would be the emphasis instead of whiskey.

[Bourbon Boiler]

Looks like the star moved the article, updated link below:

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013303260057