George Washington's Still

[bourbonv]

Anybody else going to Mt. Vernon on the 21st of October to see Jerry Dalton and crew fire up the replica pot still?

Mike Veach

[pepcycle]

Sounds tempting.

Can you share the rest of the details?

Time, directions etc

[bourbonv]

This is the DISCUS sponsored project to rebuild George Washington's Still House. Linn Spensor wrote a story about the beginning of the project a couple of years ago. Last year the bottled some of the whiskey that was being stored there and auctioned off the bottles to raise money for Mt. Vernon. The BATF set up special booths so the distillers could get label approval the same day and most of the distillers bottled the product as they did 200 years ago with only cheese cloth filters and barrel proof.

This year they are going to run a pot still with open fire heat to distill some rye mash that they believe is close to the Washington Mash Bill. That will be in the afternoon of the 21st. That night they have a dinner and another auction of bottles. Whether these will be bottled that day again or if they are left over from last year, I don't know, but there is an auction. The downside is that only 500 people were invited to the dinner auction and it is full. Invitation is not transferable because the place will be full of politicians. I have an invitation but politicians turn my stomach so I am not sure I want to go to a dinner that is going to have so many of them present. The big show for me is the pot still distillation. Jerry Dalton fired it up at Clermont on Friday of the bourbon festival and the paper said he made a first distillation product of about 75 proof. The still was at the press meeting at Beam on Friday and then taken to the Gala before being taken to Mt. Vernon.

Mike Veach

[bluesbassdad]

Mike,

...but politicians turn my stomach so I am not sure I want to go to a dinner that is going to have so many of them present.

C'mon, big guy, take one for the team! We'd all love to hear your account of a conversation between, let's say, Senators Clinton and Lott regarding wheat vs. rye or the benefits of barrel rotation. (Come to notice, I'm suddenly feeling a little queasy, myself. )

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[pepcycle]

I saw the still and read the promos at The Gala. I'm supposed to be in Atlanta that week. I'll have to see if my schedule will allow a change. I agree. Give me distillation over dignitaries.

[bluesbassdad]

Ed,

Give me distillation over dignitaries.

But wouldn't you just love to hear, let's say, Senators Clinton and Lott, after three or four drinks, discussing the merits of bourbon vs. rye, barrel rotation and pot stills?

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[pepcycle]

Dave,

It would be kind of interesting to hear their POV on various topics including bourbon. As long as they don't suggest sales tax or some other %^&*.

[bourbonv]

Ed,

The disgusting fact is that the Rep. from my district, Rep. Ann Northrup is the only Kentucky member of Congress not on the committee for this project. I never liked her and never voted for her. She is not a friend of the distilled spirits industry.

I have a general disgust with all politicians (both parties) and would not enjoy a dinner with so many of them around. I am afraid with today's political climate, I might say something to show my disgust and end up being in prison under the Homeland Security Act.

Mike Veach

[brendaj]

Mike,

Couldn't have said it better myself...

Bj