Happy World Whisky Day

Happy World Whisky Day ! Let’s raise a glass to the literal world of whisky (whiskey), a distilled spirit made from fermented grain mash. Strictly regulated with many styles and types, whisky is made around the world with unifying elements based on grain fermentation, distillation, and wood-barrel aging. Most common types are scotch, irish, islay, peated, and of course, America’s native spirit, bourbon . As a wine/spirits educator, I had the pleasure of teaching a bourbon class a few months back and was proud to educate on what makes bourbon unique:

• It is required to produced from at least 51% corn mash,

• The mash must be distilled at 160 proof or less,

• The distillate must be stored in charred new oak barrels at 125 proof or less, and

• It must not contain any additives.

Often considered a man’s drink, women have been shaping the world of whisky (and whiskey) since its early iterations. Some women whiskey distillers I’m loving right now are Castle & Key’s Master Distiller, Marianne Eaves in KY; Catoctin Creek’s Owner and Master Distiller Becky Harris in VA; Macallan's Master Whisky Maker, Kirsteen Campbell in Scotland;

And truth be told, I enjoy drinking a pisco sour, but these cocktails made from Peru’s national spirit originally resembled whiskey sours, one of the most classic cocktails and easily adaptable to other spirits. Cheers to all the whiskey lovers of the world today!