The beginning - How I became a Whiskey drinker

I never really drank whiskey until after I was graduated from college. I was a beer, gin, vodka kind of guy. My father-in-law was a whiskey drinker. Canadian Club was his weapon of choice. He was up there in years, and was a self proclaimed 'cheapskate'. He was nearly impossible to buy him a Birthday or Christmas present. Therefor, everybody bought him C.C! Naturally, he could not drink it all, so I was the lucky recipient of his extras.

And then there was Bourbon...

Eventually, the supply of free Canadian Club ran out. May he rest in peace. Around that time, a buddy brought over a bottle of Jim Beam (white label). I immediately preferred the taste, although I really couldn’t describe why. So I became a Jim Beam drinker. On the rocks. No mixes. For many years. This all changed when I visited the distilleries in Kentucky in the summer of 2008. More about that later.

The inspiration……

The genesis for my Whiskey ‘awakening’ was an episode of a TV show called ‘Three Sheets’. My son, Blitz Jr., is a big fan. It’s a show about a guy who goes around the world experiencing the drinking culture in different countries, including the local hangover cure. One day they had a show in Kentucky. The host, Zane Lamprey, visited 'Bourbons Bistro' in Louisville, Buffalo Trace distillery, and some local watering hole. Blitz Jr and I immediatly turned to each other and said "We gotta go." The rest, as they say, is history.