Mr.L

Meeting #1 was a great success. I want to thank everyone for the great suggestions. I had about 8 guys over and they really appreciated the whiskey and the pairings. I ended up going with: Buffalo Trace - White Dog - Sour Mash #1 (tricky to start with this - but we had a nice break in between) paired with: dried fruit and salted nuts Bernheim Wheat Whiskey - One of the favorites paired with: a selection of cheeses, smoked meats (cold cuts), and fruit Templeton Rye - Another favorite of the group paired with: rye bread with smoked salmon and sour cream Dickel #12 (Tennessee whiskey) paired with: blue cheese and almond stuffed dates wrapped in bacon along with spicy deviled eggs Elijah Craigh 12 Bourbon - Other favorite of the group paired with: pulled pork on small potato rolls topped with a vinegar slaw. Balcones smoked whiskey - Everyone wanted to like this but most felt that the smoke overpowered the drink. Perhaps it would have paired better with the pulled pork paired with: pecan pie I never even got to the three mini-cocktails I intended to: Manhattans, Mint Juleps, and Old Fashioned. Next meeting: Rum (I can't wait)

As I continue to prepare - I still have a few questions - Let me start with one pressing concern - First, I'd like to begin with an educational portion of the tasting. 1 - A brief explanation of what is a "spirit" vs wine, liqueur, or beer. 2 - A brief explanation of what makes a "whiskey" and how is it produced. Should I use Youtube clips or should I explain orally? Perhaps pre-printed cards? What do you think? Thanks, Mr. L

Thanks everyone for the awesome feedback! I'm busy sorting through the information, budge, and availability. I will definitely update on how things go.

Hi Friends, Long-time admirer. I have learned much from all of you and hope to participate in future conversations. In the last few years I have become an avid cocktail fan. I've amassed a respectable home bar, made my own bitters, cordials, beer, and syrups, started exploring the tiki landscape, and tried my hand at many different types of cocktails - classic and new. I wanted to expose some of my friends to this world and have begun putting together a spirits club. Ideally, we'll meet once every three weeks (here in Long Island), we will focus on a group of spirits, a spirit, or a style. We will watch some informative and short videos, do some comparison tasting, have some minor food pairings, and try some cocktails. For the first meeting, I've settled on American whiskeys. My thinking is: Bourbon - 2 types ( at a later time we will do an all-bourbon tasting ) Tennessee - Wheat Rye Corn Something interesting I could really use some input regarding brand suggestions and possible food pairings - just light bites - not dinner. Any other suggestions for the club in general? Thanks, Derek