bourbonmed Posted March 21, 2004 Share Posted March 21, 2004 Conecuh Ridge Whiskey is making big news in the state of Alabama. They want to make it the official state whiskey, but Governor says no. http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2004-03-19-whiskey_x.htm Omar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowdery Posted March 21, 2004 Share Posted March 21, 2004 That's funny. Am I correct in remembering that this product is actually made in Kentucky? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paradox Posted March 21, 2004 Share Posted March 21, 2004 That's funny. Am I correct in remembering that this product is actually made in Kentucky? Yep you're right Chuck. On the left side of the bottle it says "Handcrafted in Kentucky in small batches" and on the right it says "Bottled by Conecuh Ridge Distillery, Bardstown KY" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNbourbon Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 Even if it were made in Alabama, I'm afraid I'd have to side with the Guv on this one. What happens if the label goes belly-up. Or, worse yet, is bought by some Hong Kong outfit who makes it export-only. Or, somebody starts making Old Coon Dog or some other locally-monikered brand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bourbonmed Posted March 22, 2004 Author Share Posted March 22, 2004 Tim, good point. Here is an editorial that ran in an Alabama paper over the weekend.http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWS/StoryOpinionedbooze320w.htmOmar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornsqueezins Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 I think Kenny May has been looking at potential distillery sites in Alabama so that, ultimately, he can make his whiskey within the state. Concerning Riley's veto, I agree with those who support it. But it would be sort of funny to see a bottle of Conecuh Ridge on the Great Seal of Alabama... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowdery Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 The main thing is the publicity and in that regard, everyone played their part perfectly. The fact that it looks like a controversey is what got it in the papers. Well done, everyone. I'll bet he got a very nice sales bounce out of this. Exactly what you need at this stage in a product's development is sampling and this is just the thing to generate it.This guy is good at generating publicity. I think the original stories about it were in the Wall Street Journal. At that time he did say he intended to make it in Alabama eventually.Has anyone had the stuff? How is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdelling Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 > Has anyone had the stuff? How is it?I love it!Check out my tasting notes (and the discussion that follows):http://www.straightbourbon.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=General&Number=14806 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrel_Proof Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 Has anyone had the stuff? How is it? I'm heeding the advice of Thumper's father: <font color="brown">If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all. </font> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowdery Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 Interesting. Thanks for the link. I thought there had been a thread about it before.How would you say it compares to an American blended whiskey, such as Seagram's Seven Crown or Kessler's? That sort of sounds like what you're describing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillman Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 I don't agree with the producer's statement that the product is made from a "bourbon mash" when a defining element of bourbon is aging in new charred barrels. The strong marketing focus that has been mentioned seems evident here no less..The concept of aging a low proof corn-based distillate (that's what bourbon mash must mean in this context) in used barrels is an interesting one. It is one up on blended whiskey because the neutral spirit component of the latter has no counterpart, I presume, in this product. It sounds like they have taken an approach similar to the recent Michter's unblended whiskey and the two would make an interesting comparison.If it is true that parochial lobbying interests dictated the exclusive use of new cooperage for aging of bourbon - not quality considerations per se - the appearance of these new whiskeys that are similar to bourbon except not aged in new charred wood is a chance to see if there really can be a quality product in this category. But I think that back in '38 it was probably understood that aging in new charred barrels lent the signature note to American straight whiskey derived from corn. And therefore, while these alternative whiskey products may be good, their like were probably never regarded traditionally as a prime example of U.S. aged whiskey made mostly from corn and associated in particular with Kentucky.Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paradox Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 How would you say it compares to an American blended whiskey, such as Seagram's Seven Crown or Kessler's? That sort of sounds like what you're describing. In this post, I compared it to Michter's Unblended American Whiskey Chuck, and I found it to be VERY similar... Though the Conecuh Ridge, in my opinion, was a bit better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdelling Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 I have to confess that I have practically no experience withSeven Crown or other blended American whiskies, so I can'treally compare them to Conecuh Ridge. Perhaps I'll pick upa few in the next couple of weeks to add to my, ummm..."reference library".Oh, and add them to my "bourbon curriculum"... which probablyneeds updating anyhow:http://www.straightbourbon.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=General&Number=8611Tim Dellinger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowdery Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 I don't think there is anything wrong with the statement that Conecuh is made from a "bourbon mash," a term which has a very specific meaning. A bourbon mash is a mixture of grains including corn and malt, and either wheat or rye (or, conceivably, both), with corn being at least 51 percent. When that combination of grains is mixed with water and cooked, you have "bourbon mash." The barrel isn't implicated at the mashing stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillman Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 I had the impression - this can only be subjective - that the producer was trying to link this product to a bourbon tradition.Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratcheer Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 I may have missed it in this thread, but my memory of the earlier Conecuh Ridge publicity is that May is attempting to reproduce the taste experience of "good" homemade whiskey. That is to say, not what moonshiners made to sell, but what small scale rural distillers made for themselves and their close friends. I think he was referring back to the post-prohibition times of the 40's and 50's, but when so many southern counties were "dry" and the only way to get a drink was to make it yourself. Like Granny on The Beverly Hillbillies.Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cas Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 It's official now. See CNN link below:http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/04/07/whiskey.ap/index.htmlCraig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boone Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 This clip came from the Lexington Herald, (Monday's paper). Bettye Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeNell Posted May 2, 2004 Share Posted May 2, 2004 I agree with you, Mark. I like this better than Michter's, too, and I really enjoy Michter's. I had a sales rep drop a bottle by to try. His company is considering distributing it here in NY. I encouraged them to definitely do it.I like to think of this whiskey like drinking a caramel macchiato hazelnut latte. You know it ain't the real thing, like drinking a shot of espresso or good ole American style black coffee, but every now and then you just do it cuz you like the sweet taste of it.Being a "sweet home Alabama" gal, I find it kinda funny that they made this the official state spirit. I grew up in a dry county! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNbourbon Posted December 15, 2004 Share Posted December 15, 2004 Even if it were made in Alabama, I'm afraid I'd have to side with the Guv on this one. What happens if the label goes belly-up..? I told you so. Kenny May, the originator and driving force behind making Conecuh Ridge Alabama's 'official' whiskey, was arrested Friday on felony charges that likely will put him out of business if convicted. Seems he was importing, marketing, selling and distributing his wares outside the state-controlled retail apparatus, and to minors, to boot -- in a dry county! Here're details: Conecuh Ridge founder arrested -- Montgomery Advertiser Legislative sentiment is that if May gets a felony conviction, Conecuh Ridge will be 'denounced' as Alabama's official pour. In the meantime, snap up those bottles! Instant collectible! (Can you say 'Ridgewood Reserve'?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrel_Proof Posted December 15, 2004 Share Posted December 15, 2004 I told you so. Wow, Tim. You sure did. Well done, o prescient one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesbassdad Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 Yeah, Tim, given your demonstrated psychic powers, maybe I'd better take another look at the Aveo (even though my wife actually wants me to consider the RAV4 rather than my favored Vibe, just because it's bigger). Yours truly, Dave Morefield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gr8erdane Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 Yeah Tim, and what are the winning numbers in this week's multistate powerball lottery? (Not that I'd play them unfairly....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowdery Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 The AP story mentioned that one of his offenses was selling directly to consumers, which is prohibited under the mandatory 3-tier system. Even more offensive is that he was offering as a "deal" a six-bottle case for the bargain price of $240. That's about you'd pay for a case of Stagg!!!!! Maybe he should plead insanity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepcycle Posted December 21, 2004 Share Posted December 21, 2004 What say we get a consortium to buy and relabel the product? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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