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Home / Travel / 20 Most Zen Places on Earth
20 Most Zen Places on Earth
Embrace the "om" at these tranquil travel destinations.
By Sarah Crow
After a long day at work, everyone could use a little rest and relaxation. However, instead of heading home to veg out on the couch, imagine being transported somewhere so tranquil and magical that your troubles simply melt away.
Around the globe (and miles away from the stresses of your day-to-day life), these idyllic and serene locations are the perfect antidote for what ails you. So relax, take a deep breath, and read on to discover the best places in the world to unwind and reflect. And when you're in the mood for a more invigorating trip, hit the slopes at one of the 9 Best Luxury Ski Resorts in America!
Angel Falls; Auyán-tepui, Venezuela
Located in Canaima National Park in Venezuela's Bolivar State, visiting Angel Falls is a life-changing experience. Standing 3,212 feet tall, Angel Falls is the tallest uninterrupted waterfall in the world. Despite the roaring waters cascading down the Auyán Tepui mountain, Angel Falls is undeniably serene, the perfect place for a contemplative hike.
Loch Lomond; Scotland
While Scotland's Loch Ness may be its most famous lake, if it's serenity you're seeking, head to Loch Lomond. This placid, island-filled 27-mile lake, located in the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, offers stunning views of the lush vegetation the Scottish Highlands are known for. And for more great travel advice, don't miss these 30 Airport Secrets Only Insiders Know.
Periyar River; Kerala, India
The longest river in the South Indian state of Kerala, the Periyar River is known for its tranquil waters and breathtaking natural surroundings. A popular destination for boaters, this gorgeous river, surrounded by the dense vegetation that fills Kerala's rolling hills, is as peaceful as it is picturesque.
Denali; Alaska, United States
Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, has the highest elevation of any mountain top in America. Located in the six-million-acre Denali National Park and Preserve outside of Healy, Alaska, this frozen wonder is equal parts stunning and serene. And wherever you're traveling, make the journey more zen with these 20 ways to make travel less stressful.
Namib Desert; Namibia
The Namib Desert, which spans the coast of Namibia, Angola, and South Africa remains amazingly untouched by human hands. Although it stretches for over 31,000 square miles, the Namib Desert is virtually uninhabited by humans, with only sand, ocean, and wildlife to greet you as you journey through its vast expanses. How's that for getting away from it all?
Redwood National Park; California, United States
This assemblage of northern California state and national parks is one of the most peaceful places on earth. Home to some of the world's tallest trees, this coastal paradise, perfect for a meditative hike, feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. And are you traveling this holiday season? Make sure to check out these beautiful beach towns this Christmas.
Khor Virap; Armenia
In the shadow of Armenia's Mount Ararat, this monastery, originally built in 643 A.D., is, without a doubt, one of the most peaceful places on earth. Surrounded by vineyards, with the tranquil landscape of the Ararat plain below, a trip to Khor Virap is as peaceful as it gets. And if you're looking to go, don't miss out on this secret trick that will save you on airfare.
Lumahai Beach; Kauai, Hawaii
While all of Hawaii is known for its picture-perfect scenery, few places are as serene as Lumahai Beach in Kauai. This white sand beach on Kauai's north shore is perfect for experienced surfers who find themselves at peace on the water, or anyone apt to lose themselves in the music of waves crashing on the shore.
Lake Atitlan; Guatemala
When's the last time you boated through a volcanic crater? At Lake Atitlán Guatemala, topped by clear sky and surrounded by the Sierra Madre mountains, the only thing you'll have to worry about is charting your course.
Ghost Ranch; New Mexico, United States
Just outside of the Abiquiú village in New Mexico lies one of the most beautiful and peaceful retreats in the United States. Occupying 21,000 acres full of red rock cliffs in the Piedra Lumbre valley, this tranquil area is truly transformative, embodying the true spirit of the American Southwest.
Koh Lipe; Thailand
Far from the frenetic pace of Bangkok and Nonthaburi is Koh Lipe, Thailand's best-kept secret. This island, surrounded by the Andaman Sea, is known for its pristine white sand beaches, tranquil gem-toned waters, and cloudless blue skies.
Serengeti National Park; Tanzania, Africa
If you want to experience the true majesty of the natural world, there's no place like Serengeti National Park. This Tanzanian national park, best known for its safaris, is home to millions of native African animals that roam its 5,700 square miles. If you're planning a trip, make sure to stay until dusk—the sunsets over the plains of the Serengeti are legendary.
Blue Lagoon; Grindavik, Iceland
Bhushan Raj Timia/Shutterstock
This peaceful natural geothermal spa is a tranquil place to watch your troubles melt away. Known for its milky blue water and stunning views of the lava field in which it's located, this relaxing spa is world-renowned for its supposed healing powers.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
Shwedagon Paya; Myanmar
Located atop Singuttara Hill in Myanmar's Yangon Region, this Buddhist monastery is among the most peaceful places on earth. Guarded by giant leogryphs and full of relics, including hair presumed to belong to Siddhārtha Gautama, this gilded monastery is about as peaceful a place as you'll find anywhere. Even if you have a long journey ahead of you, you can make your trip less stressful and more fun with these travel hacks you won't find in any guidebook.
Plitvice Lakes; Croatia
Croatia is known for its natural beauty, and no place embodies the enchantment you'll find here like Plitvice Lakes. This national park is as calm as they come, with nothing but waterfalls, mountains, and glass-like lakes to relax among.
The Stone Forest; Yunnan Provence, China
Lose yourself among the limestone formations that make up China's Stone Forest and find greater peace in the process. Also known as Shilin, this unique destination is rife with Chinese mythology, having been allegedly created when folk character Ashima turned to stone after being told she could not wed her true love.
Machu Picchu; Machupicchu District, Peru
One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, this former Incan citadel is truly a sight to behold. Thought to have been built for emperor Pachacuti in the 15th century, Machu Picchu is home to some of the most stunning views of the Sacred Valley below.
Halong Bay; Vietnam
Tranquil waters and islands at every turn make Halong Bay in Vietnam a worthwhile sight for any intrepid traveler. A popular boating destination, Halong Bay offers freedom from the disturbances of modern life, with just land and sky to occupy your thoughts.
Drepung Monastery; Lhasa, Tibet
Situated at the base of lush Mount Gephel in Lhasa, Drepung Monastery is one of earth's most peaceful places. This Tibetan Buddhist monastery, founded in the 1400s, has been meticulously maintained over the years, offering beautiful views both inside and out, perfect for the contemplative traveler.
Kopan Monastery; Kathmandu, Nepal
High on a hill outside Kathmandu is Kopan Monastery, one of the most holy places in Nepal. Inhabited by Tibetan monks and surrounded by the breathtaking natural beauty of the Kathmandu countryside, a trip to Kopan is sure to relax even the most tightly-wound traveler. Need to relax but don't have the funds for an international trip? Try these 30 Easy Ways to Fight Stress right at home.
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Sarah Crow
Sarah Crow is a senior editor at Eat This, Not That!, where she focuses on celebrity news and health coverage. Read more
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Forms are a big subject in Django. We have run through a lot when it comes to forms. We are concluding our series with Form Validation. This simple video will finalize everything we have done so far by allowing us to give feedback to our users when our form validation goes wrong.


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Home » MTN urges NCC to release Visafone spectrum
MTN urges NCC to release Visafone spectrum
Despite the grim challenges arising from the N330 billion fine imposed on it by telecommunication regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) last year, MTN Group has implicit confidence in its Nigerian operations.
This was the declaration of its Group Chairman/Chief Executive, Phuthuma Freedom Nhleko, when he led a high level delegation to the NCC Headquarters in Abuja.
The telecommunications firm, which was fined by the NCC in 2015 for contravening regulatory authorities as regard registration of subscribers Identification Modules (SIM) cards, agreed to a staggered payment pattern. The company is expected to pay N30 billion by March ending, which will put money paid for the fine so far at N110 billion.
The firm, which is expected to complete the fine payment by May 2019, had earlier paid N80 billion.
Meanwhile, Nhleko, who was received by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta and top management of the Commission said the Group has faith in Nigeria and will be willing to invest more in the sector in the years to come. "We had challenges in the past, during the period of the fine, and we are grateful for the role, the Commission played towards an amicable resolution".
According to a statement signed by NCC's Director of Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, and made available to journalists, yesterday, Phleko whose visit to the commission is a valedictory one as he steps down as Group Chairman in March, 2017, said MTN Group has injected over $16 billion into the Nigerian operations and "we have a very long way to go and so ask for spectrum which is the oxygen and life blood to navigate this long and tedious investment journey, without spectrum, the sector will suffocate".
Nhleko specifically solicited for more spectrum allocation and a release of the one that belonged to Visafone, whose equity shares MTN acquired in 2015.
He also canvassed for a more level playing field "despite being dominant player".
According to him, MTN has made its mark in voice and data services and that more services like mobile financial services are underway.
Responding, Prof. Danbatta welcomed the delegation and assured them that the Commission will always play by the rules and support every operator within the ambits of the law.
"I like to state that our word is our covenant. When we take decisions, we are concerned about the stability of the industry and there is no way we can guarantee it without considering the dominant status of MTN and its obligations and if the dominant status is becoming stringent, we are open to engagement, we will be guided by what is happening in the market, to ensure the growth and development of the sector".
Danbatta said "the sector has contributed very well to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and has shown remarkable resilience in this recession"
The NCC boss said the commission made a case for relaxing fiscal policies towards the sector to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) "and the CBN Governor is favourably disposed to our request and further engagement especially towards major players who desire to import equipment to aid deployment of broadband infrastructure services and others".
The Commission, he explained, will always carry out interventions to cushion the operators request to provide necessary services.
On spectrum assignment, Danbatta, said MTN got six slots in the 2.6 GHz auction and full utilization of that spectrum is envisaged.
"We are open to further discussion on the areas of spectrum assignment." He advised MTN to put across request for spectrum of interest and "we will check its availability".
The Commission "is here to protect the interests of the operators as well as consumers, consistent with our mandate, the trust reposed on us by the government and people of Nigeria; protecting their interests and ensuring a level playing field and respect for our laws".
The EVC said the Commission only resorts to sanctions as a regulatory action of last resort after allowing time for checking compliance.
MTNNCCVisafone
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Falls series of photographs is a look at Niagara Falls as one might not normally see it. Using the technology of the camera frame, the images make an icon — the Falls — less familiar and more abstract.
100 Birds is a meditation on the nature of birds. While investigating the landscape of the area around Buffalo, NY, I began to wonder about how birds can be detached from that ground.
With a nod to Joseph Kosuth, One and Three Waters investigates the meanings of the three physical forms of water.
One and Three Waters from Brooke A. Knight on Vimeo.
The idea of something being out of focus is a byproduct of a monocular, technical vision. The lens allows us to "focus" on what's out of focus. This suite of videos is from Western New York State.
Nearsighted I-V from Brooke A. Knight on Vimeo.
The Video/Still (2011) series employs high-definition videos that look like still images. Recent technology has blurred the distinction between the equipment used to capture video and still imagery, and the best digital SLRs are also among the best HD video cameras. This series considers the shifting relationship we have with digital imagery, and looks at our perception of time in its multiple modes: photographic time, video time, the time of day, and even geologic time. While everything looks completely still, like a landscape painting of yesteryear, in fact everything moves, each within its own time.
Video/Still: Mohawk Pool from Brooke A. Knight on Vimeo.
Video/Still: Letchworth Woods from Brooke A. Knight on Vimeo.
Video/Still: Genesee River from Brooke A. Knight on Vimeo.
Video/Still: Great Salt Lake from Brooke A. Knight on Vimeo.
Video/Still: Double Arch from Brooke A. Knight on Vimeo.
The Landscape (2009) investigates how we choose to depict the world around us by using Creative Commons-licensed images tagged as 'landscape' from Flickr. The images are super-imposed on one another, very slowly shifting from one composite to the next. In some ways, all landscapes are the same – sky, horizon, and ground. We, as the viewers, create the landscape as we look at it.
The Landscape from Brooke A. Knight on Vimeo.
Up/Down (2005) is a series of diptychs based on the confluenece of latitude and longitude minutes in Boston, which form a nice rectangle around downtown. Precise points were determined by a handheld GPS receiver. The top image is of the sky above that point; the bottom is a rubbing of the ground. What are these arbitrary points marked on the globe? How do we interface with them?
Environment is Text-Rich: Framingham (2006) was a live video installation at the Danforth Museum in Framingham, Massachusetts. Projected onto one wall of the gallery space was a live video image of downtown Framingham, showing people in their cars and walking as they went about their everyday lives. However, the image was not static – the camera moved up and down in an awkward dance.
Upon first watching the archived video, the motion seems to be random. If one looks closer, patterns emerge. The robotic camera is panning and tilting to spell out letters; those letters form words; those words tell of a little known part of Framingham history.
Every Environment is Text-Rich: Framingham from Brooke A. Knight on Vimeo.
Every Environment is Text-Rich #4 (2003) is an interactive, web-based artwork that takes images from around the World and presents them in one frame. Viewers determine which images they would like to see layered on top of one another, but can only do so by their verbal description. They have no way of knowing what the images will look like, as the sources are live webcams, dependent on weather conditions and the time of day. Some cams change their positions, so even a selection of the same sources in quick succession may not lead to a similar combined image. The work allows the viewer to see the whole world at once, live.
An Hour of Your Time (2003) is a collection of 3600 suggestions about how to use your time rather than watching the piece. The suggestions come at a frantic pace, one per second, that pass by faster than you can read. I became interested in how we 'spend' our time, specifically viewing art as leisure time.
Command-Control (2002) combined my interest in both webcams and our notions of labor. Determining the exchange value of actions done – none of which has a product beyond the video of the action – brings into question how we engage in 'work' in a scopophilic society. The video below is from a performance during the 2002 College Art Associaton Conference.
Command-Control from Brooke A. Knight on Vimeo.
Shortly after the fall of the World Trade Center towers, I travelled to New York, and was overwhelmed by the number of American flags I saw – they were everywhere. Whenever I tried to get work done (invariably on a computer), it was difficult for me to move beyond the tragedy of that day. One Day in New York, Shortly After the Attacks (2001) forces the viewer to close the multitude of windows to get back to work.


Capital growth or rental income?
Getting your investment strategy right from day one gives you the best chance at investment success. It's important to know what assets and liabilities you have, like an existing property or any outstanding debt. This will give you a much better understanding of your financial situation, and consequently will allow you to determine what the best investment opportunities are for you.
Additionally, make sure you start by asking yourself why you want to invest in the first place. What do you hope to get out of it? Setting goals based on what you want to achieve will make sure you stay on track as your investments grow and change in the future.
Setting out your goals can determine which investment strategy you take here. If your aim is to achieve long term gains from your investment, then focusing on capital growth, or the increase in your property's value over time, might be the way to go. However, if you're looking for your investment to take the form of regular income, you may want to think about renting out your property. Regular contributions from your tenants may mean you won't have to borrow as much resulting in lower repayments.
Research is key here. No matter what your investment strategy is, the best way to make your investment a success is to buy at the right place and the right time. And most importantly, at the right price. You need to understand not only the location of the property you're looking at, but the relevant market too. Is the suburb on the rise? Is the demand for rental properties in that area high or low? Is the population set to increase? Are there any developments planned that may impact your investment or the desirability of your area? These are all very important things to consider, as each one will have an impact on the success of your investment.
It's just as important to find the right investment loan as it is to find the right home loan for you. Just like your residential loan, you can choose from fixed, variable or split rate loans. You can also benefit from flexible features like redraw and offset accounts. Most investors prefer interest only and line of credit loans, but you can speak to your local lending expert to discuss the investment loan options that best suit you.
If you're investing in a rental property, you should also think about the kind of tenants you'd like. Are you looking for a family, a student, a young couple? You should feel 100% comfortable having them in your home. More often than not, the type of tenant your property attracts is dictated by the size and location of your property, so it's worth having your ideal tenants in the back of your mind whilst searching for your property too. The best way to manage your rental property is by finding a real estate agent that knows your area well. They'll be able to help you with ongoing management of the property and of the tenants too. It just depends how involved you want to be in the whole process.
Repay interest only on your investment loan to free up your cash so you can maximise the repayments on non-deductible debt like your residential home loan.
Repay interest only as a yearly sum in advance to help you bring forward your tax deductible interest payments, thereby reducing your taxable income.
Use debt recycling to build wealth by using the savings you make on your tax or income to repay your non-deductible debt first. This allows you to free up more of your equity.
Additionally, you may wish to consider negative gearing, which refers to when the costs of owning a property are greater than the income you make from it. Negative gearing produces a book loss, in the same way a struggling business may record a loss for the year, allowing you to offset this loss against your other income and reducing the tax you pay.
The Australian Tax Office website will give you some more helpful information on negative gearing, as well as what expenses you may be entitled to claim.
Something to consider when buying an investment property is how you're going to protect it. Landlord Insurance will help protect you against incidents such as loss or damage by a tenant or their visitors. You can also add optional covers such as loss of rent, rent default, and theft or attempted theft by a tenant including legal costs. View our insurance products.


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Handheld Game Consoles
Handheld game consoles are a form of portable video gaming that can be carried and played without the need for an additional screen or stationary setup. In order to be truly mobile entertainment options, handheld consoles integrate built-in screens, controls, and speakers within the handheld unit and can often be augmented with additional optional accessories and add-ons. Popularized by Nintendo's release of the standalone Game Boy console in 1989, handheld game consoles continue to be reinvented and improved with greater capabilities including internet connectivity, higher resolution displays, touchscreens, and can even double as hybrid home consoles—as demonstrated by the Nintendo Switch.
Handheld Game Consoles Common Questions
What is the best-selling handheld game console in history?
Nintendo has long dominated the handheld gaming industry with both its best selling Nintendo DS line at 154 million units sold, and the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color lines at 118.7 million units sold worldwide. The Nintendo DS is the 2nd most sold console behind Sony's PlayStation 2 console, with the Game Boy and Game Boy color at 3rd place all time.
What is the best-selling handheld game of all time?
Nintendo's original Game Boy handheld game console boasts many titles that compete for the best-selling game, with the standalone Tetris (1989) selling 35 million units, while Pokémon Red/Blue/Green/Yellow (1996) sold a total of 47.5 million units combined. Pokémon Gold/Silver comes in 3rd place having sold 23.1 million units on the Game Boy Color.
What is the best handheld game console?
Because the competition in the handheld gaming market has long been dominated by Nintendo's line of consoles and games, the current Nintendo Switch is easily the best handheld game console on the market. Offering both the Nintendo Switch hybrid console and the Nintendo Switch Lite for purely handheld experiences, the Nintendo Switch lineup offers the best graphics, gameplay, and library options for handheld gaming today.
Wikipedia - Handheld Game Console
Video Game Consoles
Handheld Game Consoles Guides
Browse through our curated Handheld Game Consoles Guides for additional categorizations, tips, details, variations, styles, and histories of Handheld Game Consoles. Guides provide additional insights into the unique properties and shared relationships between elements.
5.8" | 148 mm
3.5" | 90 mm
7.76 oz | .22 kg
.96" | 24.5 mm
New Nintendo 3DS
3.17" | 80.6 mm (Closed); 5.89" | 149.5 mm (Open)
5.59" | 142 mm
New Nintendo 3DS XL
3.68" | 93.5 mm (Closed); 6.81" | 173 mm (Open)
11.64 oz | .33 kg
5" | 127 mm
.8" | 20.3 mm
9.2 oz | .26 kg
3.4" | 86.4 mm (Closed); 6.4" | 162.6 mm (Open)
3.33" | 84.7 mm (Closed); 6.3" | 160 mm (Open)
5.85" | 148.7 mm
1.13" | 28.9 mm
9.7 oz | .275 kg
2.9" | 74 mm (Closed); 5.47" | 139 mm (Open)
.547" | 13.9 mm; 1.13" | 28.7 mm (Total)
.88 lb | .4 kg
3.58" | 91 mm
.55" | 14 mm; 1.12" | 28.4 mm (Full)
9.77 oz | .277 kg
.9" | 23 mm
Wii U GamePad
10.2" | 25.9 cm
1.6" | 40.6 mm; 1.98" | 50.2 mm (Total)
17.3 oz | .49 kg
The New Nintendo 3DS, the fourth system of the Nintendo 3DS family of handheld consoles, was released in September of 2015. Changes in design and new features included: colored face buttons, face recognition, additional control options, a screen size 1.2 times bigger than its predecessor, and an improved 3D image quality due to an added feature called "Super Stable 3D." Production ended for the New Nintendo 3DS in July 2017 leading up to the release of the Nintendo 2DS XL.
The New Nintendo 3DS has a closed height of 3.17" (80.6 mm), open height of 5.89" (149.5 mm), width of 5.59" (142 mm), depth of .85" (21.6 mm), and approximate weight of 8.82 oz (.25 kg). The upper display size of the New Nintendo 3DS is 3.5" (88.9 mm) with a resolution of 400 x 240, while the lower size is 3.02" (76.7 mm) with a resolution of 320 x 240 px.
The New Nintendo 3DS, the fourth system of the Nintendo 3DS family of handheld consoles, was released in September of 2015. Changes in design and new features included: a screen size 1.2 times larger and improved 3D image quality due to an added feature called "Super Stable 3D."
3.5" | 88.9 mm (Upper); 3.02" | 76.7 mm (Lower)
400 x 240 px (Upper); 320 x 240 px (Lower)
New Nintendo 3DS front elevation (open), front (closed), top, side
Wikipedia - New Nintendo 3DS
The Nintendo Switch Lite was released by Nintendo on September 20, 2019. It is a handheld game console and is the more portable version of its predecessor, the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Switch Lite is an eight-generation console and runs on the Nintendo Switch operating system software. The Nintendo Switch Lite features an integrated joy-con, lightweight design, and is compact. It is perfect for the gamers that are constantly on the go and is compatible with more than 2,000 games. The Nintendo Switch Lite is available in the colors yellow, gray, turquoise, and coral.
The Nintendo Switch Lite has a height of 3.58" (91 mm), width of 8.18" (208 mm), total depth of 1.12" (28.4 mm), and approximate weight of 9.77 oz (.277 kg). The display size of the Nintendo Switch Lite is 5.5" (139.7 mm) with a resolution of 1280 x 720 px.
The Nintendo Switch Lite was released by Nintendo on September 20, 2019. It is a handheld game console and is the more portable version of its predecessor, the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Switch Lite is an eight-generation console and runs on the Nintendo Switch operating system software.
5.5" | 139.7 mm
Nintendo Switch Lite front elevation, top, side
Wikipedia - Nintendo Switch Lite
The Wii U GamePad is a single-touch LCD gamepad designed by Shigeru Miyamoto for Nintendo's Wii U home video game console. Unlike the original prototype which resembled a cellphone and had circular pads, the revised gamepad features ideas from tablets such as touchscreen controls, upfront facing cameras, and dual analog sticks.
The gamepad touchscreen provides users an option to play games on the Gamepad screen or supplement a game by using a second screen. Besides, the gamepad can work with other controllers such as the Wii Balance Board and Wii Remote Plus. The Wii U Gamepad can also function as a remote control for television with the Nintendo TVii app, provide other content or even send handwritten messages.
The Wii U GamePad has a height of 5.3" (13.5 cm), width of 10.2" (25.9 cm), total depth of 1.98" (50.2 mm), and approximate weight of 17.3 oz (.49 kg).
The Wii U GamePad is a single-touch LCD gamepad designed by Shigeru Miyamoto for Nintendo's Wii U home video game console. Unlike the original prototype, the revised gamepad features ideas from tablets such as touchscreen controls, upfront facing cameras, and dual analog sticks.
Display Size: 6.2" | 157.5 mm
Wii U GamePad front elevation, top, side
Wikipedia - Wii U GamePad
Wikipedia - Wii U
The Game Boy Advance is 32-bit handheld gaming console developed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. The Game Boy Color was released in 2001 and is a sixth-generation gaming console. It originally did not have an illuminated screen, but Nintendo later incorporated it into the design. The Game Boy Advance offered portable entertainment with a classic design, had a headphone jack, used a pair of AA batteries. The Game Boy Advance was available in the colors Artic, Black, Orange, Fuchsia, Glacier, and Indigo. Later additional colors were released. The Game Boy Advance was discontinued in 2006.
The Game Boy Advance (GBA) has a height of 3.2" (82 mm), width of 5.7" (144 mm), depth of .96" (24.5 mm), and approximate weight of 4.94 oz (.14 kg). The display size of the Game Boy Advance (GBA) is 2.9" (74 mm) with a resolution of 240 x 160 px.
The Game Boy Advance is 32-bit handheld gaming console developed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. The Game Boy Color was released in 2001 and is a sixth-generation gaming console. The Game Boy Advance was discontinued in 2006.
Game Boy Advance front elevation, top, side
Wikipedia - Game Boy Advance (GBA)
The Nintendo DS is a dual-screen handheld gaming console developed by Nintendo. The device was released globally from 2004 to 2005 and is a seventh-generation gaming device. The DS in the name stands for 'developers' system' or 'dual screen'. It features that ability to connect multiple DS devices to interact with one another over WiFi within a short range. The Nintendo DS is a competitor to Sony's PlayStation Portable. The Nintendo DS was marketed as a 'third pillar' to complement the Game Boy Advance and GameCube. The Nintendo DS is available in 9 color finishes. The Nintendo DS was discontinued in 2013.
The Nintendo DS has a closed height of 3.33" (84.7 mm), open height of 6.3" (160 mm), width of 5.85" (148.7 mm), depth of 1.13" (28.9 mm), and approximate weight of 9.7 oz (.275 kg). The display size of the Nintendo DS is 3" (77 mm) with a resolution of 256 x 192 px.
The Nintendo DS is a dual-screen handheld gaming console developed by Nintendo. The device was released globally from 2004 to 2005 and is a seventh-generation gaming device. The DS in the name stands for 'developers' system' or 'dual screen'.
3" | 77 mm
Nintendo DS front elevation (open), front (closed), top, side
Wikipedia - Nintendo DS
Related Digital Collections
Apple iMacs
Samsung Laptops


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5 – You've got me – Scuba – Hotflush rec.
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Minister booed as Oughterard rejects direct provision centre
Up to 700 people attend public meeting where there was near unanimous opposition
Wed, Sep 11, 2019, 23:37
Bernie Ní Fhlatharta
Minister of State Seán Kyne was booed and heckled at a public meeting in Oughterard over a direct provision centre.
A Government Minister was booed and heckled as up to 700 people attended a public meeting in Oughterard, Co Galway, on Wednesday, and vowed to fight any plans to provide a direct provision centre in their community.
Speaker after speaker expressed anger at the lack of consultation, information and clarity which they say has fuelled rumours in recent weeks concerning refurbishment works at the Connemara Gateway Hotel in Oughterard, which has been closed for a number of years.
Cllr Tom Welby chaired the meeting on behalf of an ad hoc Facebook group which is campaigning to stop any plans to accommodate asylum seekers in the town.
Cllr Welby said neither he or any of the public representatives attending the meeting, including Minister of State Seán Kyne and TDs Catherine Connolly and Noel Grealish, had knowledge of any plans for the future of the building.
However, Mr Kyne told the angry meeting there was a tender process ongoing in the west to find locations for new asylum seeker centres but that this was under the remit of the Department of Justice and neither he nor his colleagues were privy to information about any applications.
He was booed and heckled when he reminded those assembled that Ireland was obliged under EU and United Nations laws to accept and process anyone who could prove they had fled persecution and injustices in their own country.
Many of the speakers accused the Government of ignoring rural towns such as theirs which had only one doctor for a population of 1,600, full to capacity schools, an intercom instead of a Garda station and a social housing waiting list with no sign of any new schemes being built.
Video of 10 beds in room not staged, insists asylum-seeker lobby
Video showing asylum seekers in room with 10 beds 'appears to have been staged' - Department
Fifty Syrian refugees arrive at Mosney Direct Provision centre
One of the main organisers of the meeting, Patrick Curran, said time and again in the course of the night that if the politicians would not stop the centre, the people would.
Businessman Rory Clancy said the town had started to rejuvenate in the past few years and that they needed support from the Government to continue that work.
He said the town was a beautiful, welcoming one that would be more than happy to take its quota of refugees in the form of a few families properly accommodated and integrated, but not housed in a direct provision centre.
Ms Connolly agreed that direct provision was wrong because it was inhumane but disagreed with some of the reasons given by people at the meeting.
She agreed it would be much better to integrate refugees among local communities but she said the Department of Justice had not learned from its previous mistakes.
"They are known for their secrecy and how they have treated people badly in the past with no accountability," she said.
"Their lack of communication with people causes hatred and division towards people who have already fled persecution in their own country," she said.
A ballot held before, during and after the meeting showed an overwhelming majority were against the potential centre and a show of hands earlier in the meeting was unanimously against it too.
The meeting decided to form an action group to demand clarity, openness and transparency from the department as well as strongly opposing any plan to provide such a facility in Oughterard.
There are almost 7,000 people accommodated in 39 centres in 17 counties with a handful of them described as oversubscribed.
The State owns seven of them and in 2017 paid €55million to private contractors to operate the rest of them.
Noel Grealish
Sean Kyne
Direct provision: Group to review community engagement
Medics call for end to direct provision over child welfare concerns
How a Leitrim town resolved its direct provision row
Report calls for replacement or overhaul of direct provision system
Direct provision: What should happen next?
Refugee council seeks funds to support workers dealing with trauma
How does asylum-seeker process work from a legal perspective?
In 20 years, Direct Provision has cost Ireland €1.3bn: Is there a better alternative?
Direct provision in Ireland: How and why the system was introduced
Where do Ireland's asylum seekers come from?
Reality of deportation: 'I plead with my life... to be allowed to remain'
Life in direct provision: 'I felt like I didn't fit in'
Direct provision: Senior official disagreed with payment rise proposal
Children in direct provision: 'Many are locked in their rooms'
Alt-right groups stir local unease about immigrants
Women in direct provision being 'pushed into prostitution'
State-owned land may be used for direct provision
Direct provision: The controversial system turns 20
Long stays in direct provision centres are 'wrong,' says Martin
No workable alternative to some form of direct provision
Fintan O'Toole: Life in Direct Provision limbo is cruel and shameful
Racist direct provision system a time bomb for Irish society
Twenty years of direct provision
Garda who shot Mark Hennessy believed he was about to slit Jastine Valdez's throat 15:35
Labour 'certain' extending temporary rent freeze not unconstitutional 14:59
5 Irish Times poll: Large majority want change of government


The Appoquinimink Friends Meetinghouse, 616 W. Main St., Odessa, will host its third annual open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 9.
This Quaker meetinghouse recreates a freedom seeker hiding place under the eaves of the loft above the 1785 worship space. The clerk of this meeting will describe the role played by local Quakers in hiding runaway slaves and show how they were hidden.
The program is suitable for elementary and middle school students who have an understanding of the Underground Railroad. Key players John Hunn and John Alston's work is commemorated by the bench at the side of the road on the nearby grounds of Middletown High School.
This meetinghouse is an active place of Quaker worship and is on the National Register.


text:
========
Usage
========

Get the package:

.. code-block:: python

    pip install django-blarg

Wire into your project's root URLConf:

.. code-block:: python

    from blarg import error_500, error_404

    urlpatterns += patterns("",
        url(r"^500$", error_500, name="error_500"),
        url(r"^404$", error_404, name="error_404"),
    )

Fire up the Django test server

.. code-block:: python

    python manage.py runserver

Test it out!

    * http://127.0.0.1/404
    * http://127.0.0.1/500

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Vermont winemakers are hosting their eighth annual statewide Wine and Chocolate Weekend February 9 and 10, 2019.
Wineries around Vermont will feature samples of their wines with a chocolate confection or another dessert. Many partner with local chocolatiers to offer homegrown pairings — flavors only found in Vermont.
Some wineries specialize in grape wines made from northern grape varieties like Marquette, La Crescent, and Traminette. Others produce black currant cassis, honey mead, ice cider, raspberry wine, and apple wine.
The participating wineries will be open from noon to 5 p.m. each day during the Wine and Chocolate weekend. Visitors can also purchase a bottle of the featured wine with the accompanying chocolates for Valentine's Day gifts. The weekend is organized by the Vermont Grape & Wine Council.


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Recently, I heard a touching story which illustrates the power that words have to change a life -- a power that lies right in the hands of those reading this article. Mary had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and stares of cruel children who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip, crooked nose, and garbled speech.
With all the teasing, Mary grew up hating the fact that she was "different". She was convinced that no one, outside her family, could ever love her ... until she entered Mrs. Leonard's class. Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny brown hair. While everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard.
In the 1950's, it was common for teachers to give their children an annual hearing test. However, in Mary's case, in addition to her cleft palate, she was barely able to hear out of one ear. Determined not to let the other children have another "difference" to point out, she would cheat on the test each year. The "whisper test" was given by having a child walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and then repeat something which the teacher whispered. Mary turned her bad ear towards her teacher and pretended to cover her good ear. She knew that teachers would often say things like, "The sky is blue," or "What color are your shoes?" But not on that day. Surely, God put seven words in Mrs. Leonard's mouth that changed Mary's life forever. When the "Whisper test" came, Mary heard the words: "I wish you were my little girl."
Dads, I wish there was some way that I could communicate to you the incredible blessing which affirming words impart to children. I wish, too, that you could sit in my office, when I counsel, and hear the terrible damage that individuals received from not hearing affirming words -- particularly affirming words from a father. While words from a godly teacher can melt a heart, words from a father can powerfully set the course of a life.
If affirming words were something rarely spoken in your home growing up, let me give you some tips on words and phrases that can brighten your own child's eyes and life. These words are easy to say to any child who comes into your life. I'm proud of you, Way to go, Bingo ... you did it, Magnificent, I knew you could do it, What a good helper, You're very special to me, I trust you, What a treasure, Hurray for you, Beautiful work, You're a real trooper, Well done, That's so creative, You make my day, You're a joy, Give me a big hug, You're such a good listener, You figured it out, I love you, You're so responsible, You remembered, You're the best, You sure tried hard, I've got to hand it to you, I couldn't be prouder of you, You light up my day, I'm praying for you, You're wonderful, I'm behind you, You're so kind to your (brother/sister), You're God's special gift, I'm here for you.
John Trent, Ph.D., Vice President of Today's Family, Men of Action, Winter 1993, p. 5.
Andor Foldes is now seventy-two, but he recalls how praise made all the difference for him early in his career. His first recollection of an affirming word was at age seven when his father kissed him and thanked him for helping in the garden. He remembers it over six decades later, as though it were yesterday. But the account of another kiss that changed his life says a great deal about our inner need for purpose. At age sixteen, living in Budapest, Foldes was already a skilled pianist. But he was at his personal all-time low because of a conflict with his piano teacher. In the midst of that very troubled year, however, one of the most renowned pianists of the day came to the city to perform. Emil von Sauer was not only famous because of his abilities at the piano, but he could also claim the notoriety of being the last surviving pupil of Franz Liszt. Sauer requested that young Foldes play for him. Foldes obliged the master with some of the most difficult works of Bach, Beethoven, and Schumann. When he finished, Sauer walked over to him and kissed him on the forehead.
"My son," he said, "when I was your age I became a student of Liszt. He kissed me on the forehead after my first lesson, saying, 'Take good care of this kiss -- it comes from Beethoven, who gave it me after hearing me play.' I have waited for years to pass on this sacred heritage, but now I feel you deserve it."
Tim Kimmel, Little House on the Freeway, pp. 41-42.


For those of you who may not be quite heading over the edge with regards to your reading lists, I have another one for you.
Ouch. My eyes just crossed.
Take a look and see how many you may already have read, and let me know if you are crazy enough to be working your way through it.


text:
package org.onepf.opfiab.model.billing;

import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
import android.support.annotation.Nullable;

import org.json.JSONException;
import org.json.JSONObject;
import org.onepf.opfutils.OPFLog;

import static org.json.JSONObject.NULL;

/**
 * Model class representing purchase made by user.
 */
public class Purchase extends BillingModel {

    private static final String NAME_TOKEN = "token";
    private static final String NAME_PURCHASE_TIME = "purchaseTime";
    private static final String NAME_CANCELED = "canceled";

    @Nullable
    private final String token;
    private final long purchaseTime;
    private final boolean canceled;

    protected Purchase(@NonNull final String sku,
                       @Nullable final SkuType type,
                       @Nullable final String providerName,
                       @Nullable final String originalJson,
                       @Nullable final String token,
                       final long purchaseTime,
                       final boolean canceled) {
        super(sku, type, providerName, originalJson);
        this.token = token;
        this.purchaseTime = purchaseTime;
        this.canceled = canceled;
    }

    public Purchase(@NonNull final String sku) {
        this(sku, null, null, null, null, -1L, false);
    }

    /**
     * Gets unique token identifying the purchase.
     *
     * @return This purchase token.
     */
    @Nullable
    public String getToken() {
        return token;
    }

    /**
     * Gets date of the purchase in milliseconds.
     *
     * @return Date when this purchase was made.
     */
    public long getPurchaseTime() {
        return purchaseTime;
    }

    /**
     * Indicates whether this purchase is still valid or not.
     *

     * This will return true if this purchase represents a subscription and it's expired.
     *
     * @return True if this purchase is no longer valid, false otherwise.
     */
    public boolean isCanceled() {
        return canceled;
    }

    @NonNull
    @Override
    public Purchase copyWithSku(@NonNull final String sku) {
        return new Builder(sku).setBase(this).build();
    }

    @NonNull
    @Override
    public JSONObject toJson() {
        final JSONObject jsonObject = super.toJson();
        try {
            jsonObject.put(NAME_TOKEN, token == null ? NULL : token);
            jsonObject.put(NAME_PURCHASE_TIME, purchaseTime);
            jsonObject.put(NAME_CANCELED, canceled);
        } catch (JSONException exception) {
            OPFLog.e("", exception);
        }
        return jsonObject;
    }

    /**
     * Builder class for {@link Purchase} object.
     */
    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
    protected abstract static class PurchaseBuilder
            extends BillingModel.Builder {

        @Nullable
        protected String token;
        protected boolean canceled;
        protected long purchaseTime = -1L;

        public PurchaseBuilder(@NonNull final String sku) {
            super(sku);
        }

        /**
         * Sets unique token to use in a new Purchase object.
         *
         * @param token Token to use.
         * @return this object.
         */
        public B setToken(@Nullable final String token) {
            this.token = token;
            return (B) this;
        }

        /**
         * Sets canceled status of a new Purchase object.
         *
         * @param canceled Canceled status to set.
         * @return this object.
         */
        public B setCanceled(final boolean canceled) {
            this.canceled = canceled;
            return (B) this;
        }

        /**
         * Sets the time for a new Purchase object.
         *
         * @param purchaseTime Time in millisecond when purchase was made.
         * @return this object.
         */
        public B setPurchaseTime(final long purchaseTime) {
            this.purchaseTime = purchaseTime;
            return (B) this;
        }

        @Override
        public B setBase(@NonNull final M billingModel) {
            setToken(billingModel.getToken());
            setPurchaseTime(billingModel.getPurchaseTime());
            setCanceled(billingModel.isCanceled());
            return super.setBase(billingModel);
        }
    }

    public static class Builder extends PurchaseBuilder<Builder, Purchase> {

        public Builder(@NonNull final String sku) {
            super(sku);
        }

        @Override
        public Purchase build() {
            return new Purchase(sku, type, providerName, originalJson, token, purchaseTime,
                                canceled);
        }
    }
}


Copenhagen Advisors is all about understanding the factors that influence decisions: The rational as well as the irrational. On behalf of our clients we map the factors in the decisions, understand their relative importance and how they are perceived by the decision makers. We help our clients develop the right strategy to influence decisions and we help them reach the stakeholders. We connect the dots and make sure that the factors of the decisions are seen in the right context. Most of our clients are international corporations that are doing business in Denmark and the Nordic region and major Danish companies with an international outlook.


text:
Maker's Mark to Allocate 1.75 L Size
There has been a rumor going around that Maker's Mark, due to its tight supplies, is discontinuing every size except the 750 ml and 1 L. That seemed preposterous on its face, but since the shortage that fostered the ill-fated proof cut in February hasn't gone away, something might be behind the story.
Here's the scoop.
Maker's Mark is dealing with the shortage by limiting availability of the 1.75 L size. The 1.75 L size will be on strict allocation. The pipeline may run dry and stores may run out. At least for now, that should allow them to fill most orders for the other sizes.
This move hasn't been widely publicized but it is known within the industry, though as a rumor it got a bit distorted as rumors often do.
Today's two posts are related in that consumers in 2012 were buying whiskey barreled in 2007 and earlier, before the current growth spurt--first seen in 2010--took off. The record volume of bourbon being barreled now means producers expect (i.e., hope) that bourbon will still be booming in 2017 and beyond.
Kentucky Bourbon Makers Fill 1,000,000 Barrels in 2012, First Time in 40 Years
For the first time since 1973, Kentucky's distilleries filled one million barrels in 2012, further proof that the industry is enjoying a historic renaissance not seen in decades. "This is an incredible milestone that's been 40 years in the making," said Eric Gregory, President of the Kentucky Distillers' Association (KDA). "Our legendary distilleries are posting landmark production levels, investing millions in new facilities and experiencing double-digit growth in sales."
The KDA announced today that there were 1,007,703 barrels filled in 2012, the most since 1973. Just since 1999, Bourbon production has increased more than 120 percent, thanks in large part to the growing global demand for premium small batch and single barrel bourbons, and the rebirth of "cocktail culture," Gregory said.
Today, more than 4.9 million barrels are gently aging in Kentucky's warehouses, the most since 1977. Last year, more than 500,000 people visited the KDA's Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries, the first time the world-renowned tourism destination has broken the half-million mark.
The KDA is a non-profit trade association founded in 1880. It is the state's leading voice on spirits issues. Its members produce 90 percent of the world's bourbon whiskey and have invested more than $230 million in new facilities, equipment and tourism centers in the last two years alone. Heritage members include Beam, Inc. (Jim Beam and Maker's Mark); Brown-Forman Corp.; Diageo North America; Four Roses Distillery; Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.; and Wild Turkey Distillery. Craft distillery members include Alltech; Barrel House Distilling Co.; Corsair Artisan Distillery; Limestone Branch Distillery; MB Roland Distillery; The Old Pogue Distillery; Silver Trail Distillery; and Willett Distillery. The Distilled Spirits Epicenter in Louisville is an educational distillery member.
What's in a Name? If It's "Tennessee Whiskey," a Lot
Chapter fifteen in my book, Bourbon, Straight, is about Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. The chapter title is, "The Elephant in the Room."
Why? Because the best-selling bourbon in the world isn't a bourbon, which tends to set off a cascade of confusion and misinformation. Jim Beam is correct when it claims to be the world's best selling bourbon, even though Jack Daniel's sells more, because Daniel's does not claim to be bourbon, preferring instead the classification 'Tennessee whiskey.'
And yet Jack Daniel's adheres to all the rules for bourbon-making, the rules binding Jim Beam and the rest of the bourbons, every single one of them. Why then isn't it labeled as bourbon?
Because it doesn't want to be.
About 70 years ago, the federal regulators said that was okay, but they did it in the form of a letter. Since they did not write it into the rules, there is no universal legally-binding definition of Tennessee whiskey. Today, the principal federal regulator is the Tax and Trade Bureau of the Treasury Department (TTB). All it requires is that claims of geographic origin must be true, so Tennessee whiskey must be made in Tennessee and, of course, it must be whiskey. That's all TTB cares about.
The Office of the U. S. Trade Representative recently tried to fill the gap. In treaties where the U.S. seeks protection for the terms 'bourbon' and 'Tennessee whiskey,' it has defined Tennessee whiskey as "straight bourbon whiskey made in Tennessee."
Does that prevent someone from making corn whiskey in Tennessee, and calling it 'Tennessee whiskey'? Corn whiskey doesn't have to be aged. It's what many people call 'legal moonshine.' If it's whiskey made in Tennessee, TTB is satisfied. It's inconsistent with the treaty definition, but what can the Trade Representative do? Their job is to make sure other countries don't abuse the term. They have no power in Tennessee.
The Tennessee legislature, most likely at the prodding of a certain big contributor to the Tennessee economy, has decided to step in and protect the integrity of its state spirit. A new law expected to take effect in June will define Tennessee whiskey as, essentially, bourbon that has been filtered through maple charcoal before aging.
This is a good idea. It's good because it gives the term 'Tennessee whiskey' a meaning it would not otherwise have, a meaning consistent with the public's understanding of the term, and there isn't any Tennessee whiskey product that would not benefit from some charcoal filtering.
Phil Prichard, a Tennessee micro-distiller who has been making an unfiltered Tennessee whiskey, was given an exemption.
The law simply requires that the spirit be "filtered through maple charcoal prior to aging." It doesn't require the whole process JD uses. It doesn't say how much charcoal or for how long, so it shouldn't be prohibitive for small producers. They don't have to do it if they don't want to, they just can't call their product 'Tennessee whiskey' unless they do.
A more onerous requirement is the one about aging. Consistent with the TTB definition of bourbon, the Tennessee law requires that Tennessee whiskey must be "aged in new, charred oak barrels in Tennessee." Here again, it doesn't say for how long, and such aging can only help, but new barrels cost money.
The new law has teeth because the penalty for violation is a one-year suspension of the distiller's state distilling permit.
So the feds will prevent 'Tennessee whiskey' from being made outside of Tennessee, and Tennessee law will take care of producers within its jurisdiction.
Without this law, Tennessee whiskey simply means whiskey made in Tennessee. It does not, as it should, define a unique regional whiskey style. Micros in the state have been exploiting this loophole. The new law also prevents a Tennessee producer from buying bulk whiskey made outside of Tennessee, bottling it in Tennessee, and claiming that as 'Tennessee whiskey' merely because it was bottled in the state.
The new law covers the terms 'Tennessee Whiskey' and 'Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey,' whether 'whiskey' is spelled with or without the 'e.' Will the law apply if the producer makes a corn whiskey and wants to call it 'Tennessee Corn Whiskey'? That remains to be seen.
Just like the TTB's rule, this law doesn't tell any distiller what they can make or sell, it just regulates what they can call it. This is good for big producers who already comply with the law, of course, but it will be good too for any micro who chooses to make Tennessee whiskey according to the new rule.
Posted by Chuck Cowdery at 12:25 PM 18 comments: Links to this post
Labels: alcohol labeling, Jack Daniel's, Tennessee Whiskey
How Illegal Is It to Collect Whiskey?
It's been just a week since the Bourbon Exchange on Facebook was announced. It has had a lively debut, with lots of people joining and posting, and already a couple of changes brought on by legal concerns.
There can be no doubt that it is against the law to sell alcohol without a license, but what people want to know is it against the law like jaywalking is against the law, or like robbing liquor stores is against the law.
To give a good, lawyerly answer: it depends.
For the most part, laws regarding the possession, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages are entirely up to the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agency to enforce. They have their own enforcement arms, their own investigators. Infractions of the ABC's rules are not crimes as far as the police are concerned. Police don't get involved unless the ABC asks for their help.
Someone operating an unlicensed bar or selling liquor out of the back of a minivan, or a licensed retailer selling to minors, that's what they care about. Nobody is looking to bust collectors, especially if their activity is entirely non-commercial.
That doesn't make trading, buying, and selling legal, it's still illegal, but if you're doing a deal now and then, the truth is that nobody is out there looking for you.
Inspector Javert doesn't care.
What constitutes non-commercial? I know people who have hundreds of bottles in their collections. In some instances, they have cases of specific products that are now considered rare and valuable. Most didn't think they were developing an inventory, they were following a personal passion, but now they have cases of something they bought for $50 a bottle that people are paying $500 for.
This happens in other kinds of collecting too, from stamps to automobiles. Someone who knows the market better than the average collector can make out by doing better deals. They might be able to make a living at it. They might get rich.
As you can see, this isn't a simple matter.
Most collectors of most things engage in some buying and selling, sometimes in the form of trading. The object is to use pieces you don't need or care less about to obtain pieces you must have and care desperately about. This is a normal part of the collecting experience, millions of people do it, but if the thing you collect contains potable alcohol, that activity is prohibited by law.
Each state ABC is independent, answerable to its state legislature. Each state's laws are a little different. Each ABC has its own policies and priorities, and they don't exactly announce in advance what aspects of their laws they intend to enforce with vigor.
But if they post their enforcement actions online, you won't find among them, "Caught Suspect X trying to trade two 2006 Sazerac 18s and a 2009 Stagg for a 2007 Pappy Van 23."
As for the Facebook Bourbon Exchange, there probably isn't very much a state ABC can do about a page like that if it wants to and there is no reason to believe anyone wants to. It's also hard to imagine the ATF or TTB getting involved. It's not inconceivable, just unlikely.
At the most, some ABCs may be keeping an eye on the phenomenon to see if it develops into anything they need to concern themselves with.
What they care about is when they suspect (as happened in Tennessee with a Jack Daniel's collector site a couple of years ago) that the supposedly altruistic fellow running the thing is actually making money hand over fist. When a lot of money seems to be changing hands and no taxes are being collected, that's when government agencies pay attention, and call in the state police to help.
This isn't legal advice, it's legal information. Unfortunately, we have a situation where a lot of people want to do something, they don't see anything wrong (i.e., harmful) with what they want to do, but there is no way for them to do it legally. If the state alcohol regulators get interested, or if whiskey collecting grows in popularity to the point where they have to, let's hope that instead of treating it like a criminal problem, they look instead for ways to make this innocent hobby legal in all respects, so whiskey collectors finally can emerge from the shadows.
Labels: alcohol policy, alcohol taxes
What About the Maker's Mark Origin Story?
In the early days of Maker's Mark, when Bill Samuels Junior was telling all those great stories about his parents and how Maker's Mark began, he always did it with his tongue firmly placed in his cheek. Samuels Junior officially retired last year and while he doesn't seem to be slowing down, Maker's Mark will have to get by with less of his unique personal style going forward. As he recedes and parent company Beam Inc exerts more control, the new storytellers need to be careful not to take themselves too seriously.
Which brings us to the Maker's Mark origin story and the part about Bill Samuels Senior, bored in his early retirement, discovering the virtues of wheat while baking bread.
The story is an allegory, in which characters and events represent or symbolize ideas and concepts. In this case, the idea is that as rye bread differs from regular (i.e., wheat) bread, so rye-recipe bourbon differs from Maker's Mark.
This does not mean Bill Samuels Senior 'discovered' wheated bourbon. He did not. His friend, 'Pappy' Van Winkle, had been making wheated bourbon at his Stitzel-Weller Distillery since the 1930s, decades before Samuels started to think about re-entering the whiskey business.
Van Winkle didn't invent wheated bourbon either. His recipe came from the Stitzel family. They and many other distillers had used wheat in bourbon recipes over the years. It was nothing new.
What Samuels Senior did was decide to make a wheated recipe instead of the more common rye recipe, because he thought it tasted better. That was just one of many bold decisions he made on the way to creating his unique bourbon whiskey.
See, the factually true story is every bit as good as the allegorical one.
The difference between the two recipes is not so much about substituting wheat for rye as it is about simply removing the rye and letting the corn and oak sweetness take center stage. Wheat, compared to rye, has a mild and slightly nutty flavor, whereas rye is very fruity, spicy and earthy.
None of this is meant to say that you can't have fun, especially if you like to bake, messing around with the constituent grains of bourbon. The obvious thing would be to make a loaf that is 75 percent corn flour, 15 percent wheat flour, and 10 percent barley flour (roughly the Maker's Mark mash bill) and another one that is 15 percent rye instead of wheat.
Unfortunately, they probably wouldn't have enough gluten to rise and hold together, but you get the idea.
Labels: Beam, Maker's Mark
Something Awesome Is Happening in Oregon
Unless you are in or a frequent visitor to the Pacific Northwest, you've probably never heard of McMenamin's, and certainly not their Edgefield Distillery. Yet it is quite possible that Edgefield has made some of the best whiskey of the young craft distillery era.
A few years back, a four-year-old Edgefield rye won gold at the annual American Distilling Institute (ADI) competition. According to the distiller who accepted the award, Booker Noe (Jim Beam's grandson, himself a legendary whiskey-maker) helped them with the recipe. It was superb. Asked if, when, and how it would be sold, they answered, "It won't be. We kind of drank it all."
Brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin started with a pub back in 1974. Today, McMenamins is a chain of resort hotels, restaurants, bars, music venues, golf courses, movie theaters, and probably a few other endeavors. They brew beer, distill spirits, and vint wine. They grow a lot of the food they serve in their restaurants and grow the grapes from which their wines are made. They're way into preventing waste and promoting energy savings and efficiency.
The distillery was established in 1998. It is part of Edgefield, a 100-year-old historic McMenamin's resort hotel, located about 20 miles outside of Portland.
Last month, at their annual St. Patrick's Day blowout, they released a whiskey called Devil's Bit, made from malted wheat and barley, and aged for twelve years. It is heart-breakingly good, clearly recognizable as malt whiskey, yet different from anything you've ever tasted before. The nose alone is a revelation. They could sell it by the sniff.
If you want to become a distiller, and make great whiskey, get thee to Troutdale, Oregon. If you just want to taste what the craft distillery movement can become, same advice.
Labels: ADI, American Distilling Institute, artisan distillery, craft distillery, micro-distillery
What Is Southern Comfort, Anyway?
Southern Comfort, 'SoCo' to many, traces its origins to New Orleans in 1874. My personal history with the product, like most people, began when I was shy of legal drinking age and it ended badly.
In adulthood, Southern Comfort became part of my job. Brown-Forman bought Southern Comfort (the whole company, not just the brand) in 1979. I was working for a Brown-Forman marketing agency and was part of the team that brought the brand into the Brown-Forman fold. I worked on it for the next six years. Among other things, I wrote all of the Southern Comfort Recipe Books during that period. They distributed about 10 million of them four times a year, so that's probably the most widely circulated work of mine.
Part of the strategy Brown-Forman inherited from the previous owner was to position Southern Comfort as if it were a whiskey, even though it was clearly labeled as a liqueur. It was the right color and proof (50% ABV then), and maybe tasted a little like bourbon, if you only vaguely knew what bourbon tasted like.
Sales people were encouraged to place it in the whiskey section of liquor stores and with other whiskeys on back bars. Many of the cocktail recipes we repeated from recipe book to recipe book were whiskey recipes, in which Southern Comfort was substituted for whiskey. We always said you could substitute it for any whiskey, but it most closely resembled bourbon.
One of the best cocktails was the Comfort Dry Manhattan, not that any drink made with Southern Comfort can truly be considered dry. It consists of 1 jigger (1½ oz.) of Southern Comfort and ½ oz. dry vermouth. Pour the ingredients over ice in a short glass; stir, and add olive(s) or a twist of lemon. That's how they published it but olives, I can tell you, are terrible in it. Cherries are okay. The lemon twist also good.
So what is Southern Comfort? When Brown-Forman acquired the company in 1979, it was a 100% grain neutral spirit (GNS) base, i.e., vodka. A few years after my tenure, they reformulated it to contain a little bit of bourbon, I guess so they could call it a whiskey liqueur, rather than just a liqueur.
Apparently, although no one will give me the details, they reverted back to 100% GNS a few years after that and that's what it is now.
The ingredients are mixed together and bottled at Brown-Forman in Louisville. The GNS comes from some GNS supplier like MGP or ADM, the fruit concentrate (mostly apricot) is made at a Brown-Forman facility in Puerto Rico, and the final ingredient is sugar.
I remember being in the room one time when they were bottling it. It goes through a filtration system and after a while, the filter module looks like a honey comb, with sugar syrup oozing out of it at every opportunity. SoCo is very sweet.
I didn't come up with the 'SoCo' nickname. That was after my time. My most noteworthy accomplishment was being the first to use "Comfort and Joy" as a Christmas-theme headline for the brand.
If you know your American whiskey history, compound or 'fake' whiskeys were a big problem pre-Prohibition. You might want to consider Southern Comfort as history's most successful compound or 'fake' whiskey. They didn't call it whiskey, of course. They called it "The Grand Old Drink of the South." They (we) just implied that it was whiskey.
Another funny thing about Southern Comfort, it never sold that well in the South. When I was working on the brand, its #1 state was New Jersey.
Labels: Brown-Forman, liqueur
Bourbon Exchange on Facebook Hopes to Make Collecting Easier
People collect things. There is someone who collects just about anything you can imagine. There are people who collect distilled spirits such as whiskey, but they face challenges other collectors do not.
Their hobby is illegal.
It is against the law everywhere in the U.S. to sell alcohol without a license. If you do it anyway, you're probably breaking both federal and state laws. Some states, such as Tennessee, have limits on how much alcohol a person may possess.
These laws were not intended to discourage collecting and they are rarely enforced against legitimate collectors who trade, or buy and sell, alcoholic beverages, but they could be. Every so often, such as when Maker's Mark bottle collectors started to use newspaper classified ads to buy and sell, the local Alcoholic Beverage Control board (ABC) will issue a warning.
So it's hard out there for a whiskey collector.
Maybe social media can help.
That's the hope of John Scott Bull, who just this week launched The Bourbon Exchange on Facebook.
Bull's page is non-commercial, but he is himself a frustrated collector. The idea is simplicity itself. People with something to sell can post pictures. People interested in buying something can post their wants. Everyone can view the site and contact each other via messaging. It's up to the buyer and seller to negotiate terms, navigate the legalities, and assume all risk. Unlike an auction site such as eBay, the Exchange plays no role in the transaction and, of course, receives no compensation.
"It's just a hobby," says Bull.
It's a Facebook Group page, so you have to join the group to participate. Bull says he's approving everyone. Since it's social media, the hope is that people will develop relationships and build up a network of fellow collectors whom they trust, and who share their interests.
The pitfalls of something like this are obvious. Let's see how it goes.
New Group, the American Craft Distillers Association, Is Announced
The existence of the new American Craft Distillers Association (ACDA) was announced on Tuesday, from Denver, Colorado, just four days after the conclusion of the American Distilling Institute's (ADI) annual conference in that same city.
In Tuesday's announcement, Rory Donovan, interim president of ACDA, explained that ACDA was formed "of, by, and for licensed craft distillers" in order to "promote and protect craft distilling in the United States."
It noted that craft distilling is a phenomenon that is sweeping the country. With more than 320 distilleries in existence and more on the way, products run the full gamut from brandy to bourbon, and all are gaining popularity with mixologists, restaurants, and consumers around the country.
According to Penn Jensen, ACDA executive director, "Our focus will be on brand building, public outreach, and legislative action on national and state levels to support the entrepreneur craft distillers everywhere in the U.S."
Officers and directors of the new organization are: President Rory Donovan, Peach Street Distillery; Vice President Ted Huber, Starlight Distillery; Secretary/Treasurer Brett Joyce, Rogue Brewing and Distilling; Ralph Erenzo, Tuthilltown Distillery; Lee Medoff, Bull Run Distillery; Tom Potter, NY Distilling Co.; Chip Tate, Balcones Distillery; Rick Wasmund, Copper Fox Distillery; Andrew Weber, Corsair Distillery; and (Ex Officio) David Pickerell, Oakview Consulting.
The ACDA website is AmericanCraftDistillers.org.
The elephant in the room, of course, is the aforementioned ADI, which would seem to occupy most of the same space ACDA is claiming for itself. Penn Jensen, ACDA's new executive director, just retired from a similar position at ADI. Many of the new organization's directors have been active in ADI, some since its formation ten years ago. Huber Distillery, represented by ACDA Vice President Ted Huber, has been the site of many past ADI conferences. Unless the two groups differentiate, there's probably no need for both of them. The marketplace will decide who survives.
If you've read this far expecting to get the inside skinny, you're about to be disappointed. All will be revealed in the fullness of time, perhaps.
Labels: ADI, alcohol policy, artisan distillery, craft distillery, micro-distillery
The McCormick Distillery in Better Days
Looks like Kentucky, doesn't it? But it's not, it's Missouri, near Weston, northwest of Kansas City. It's an old picture postcard, sent to me by a reader. Here's what the back says: "McCORMICK DISTILLING COMPANY. Here in the rolling hills near Weston, Missouri, 'The Town That Time Forgot', historic McCORMICK DISTILLING COMPANY, the Oldest Operating Distillery in America, was founded in 1856.
Then -- as now -- pure natural limestone springwater was used exclusively in production of McCORMICK BOURBON and PLATTE VALLEY CORN WHISKEY. The Ancient Cave -- build in 1839 -- was used for ageing barrelled whiskey."
They lost their 'oldest operating' title when they stopped operating decades ago, but it was dubious to begin with. The company still exists, though, as a small, regional bottler and rectifier. Today their most popular product is Tequila Rose, a combination of strawberry-flavored cream liqueur and tequila.
McCormick does have a rich history. During Prohibition, it was controlled by Tom Pendergast, the legendary political boss of Kansas City and most of western Missouri. It never stopped making and selling whiskey. Pendergast also had interests in some Kentucky distilleries during and after the drought.
One of McCormick's claims to fame is as creator of the Elvis Presley ceramic decanters, which contained McCormick bourbon of course. Many of the decanters included a music box that played a Presley hit.
Whiskey distilleries never went much further west than Weston because the railroads did and because there is no point building a bourbon distillery unless there's corn and water around. The railroads sent whiskey west and brought beef cattle east.
How Long Does It Take to Make Good Bourbon?
"How Long Does It Take to Make Good Bourbon?" he asked with the innocence of youth.
Little did he know what a slug fest asking that question can ignite. Since the micro-distiller age has dawned, much of the discussion on that question has been bullshit. This is an attempt to answer it honestly and equitably in the context of our times.
Most micro-distillers are faced with a dilemma. They rarely have enough capital, or patience, to put their product away for four years or more, so they try to come up with ways to make it drinkable at a younger age. If they tell you it's the product they want to make and not a financial decision, they are lying. If it's not money it's petulance. They just don't want to wait so long.
So we have small barrels, spirals, vacuum pumps, finishes, and rationales that remind one of the fable, "The Emperor's New Clothes." And we have a lot of very hot, harsh, white-doggy spirits.
But it's not all bullshit. Some producers have tried to solve the problem thoughtfully and stylistically, remembering that the first rule of beverage making is: "Don't try to pass off disgusting crap with a good story. Make something that, first and foremost, tastes good."
At this, some have been more successful than others, but no product has been completely satisfying. Still, it's a worthy quest and none of them have been at it for very long. They will get better. They probably hurt themselves when they call their product 'bourbon' or 'rye whiskey,' if the taste and character one usually associates with those styles are nowhere to be found.
Which brings us back to the original question: "How Long Does It Take to Make Good Bourbon?" Let's assume that by "good bourbon," the questioner means the drink most whiskey drinkers would recognize as "good bourbon." The wisdom of the families and companies who have been making bourbon for a long time--several centuries in some cases--is that in a climate similar to Kentucky, it takes a minimum of four years in new charred wood to make something you would like to drink.
There are a few three-year-olds out there from the major distilleries, and they pretty much prove the point.
And four years, in itself, is a short cut compared to the minimum ten to twelve years it takes in chilly Scotland or Ireland. The short cut Americans came up with is the new, charred oak barrel, emphasis on 'new.' That innovation was a different and shorter route to deliciousness, but it made a different style of whiskey, as did our use of corn and rye instead of barley malt. We call that style 'bourbon.' 'Tennessee whiskey' is what Tennessee producers call the same style.
In a way, American rye whiskey should be called 'rye bourbon,' since it is whiskey made in the bourbon style but with rye as the dominant grain rather than corn. Wheat whiskey could probably be called 'wheat bourbon,' using the same logic. That's because, under U.S. rules, mash bill is the only variable. All require the new, charred oak barrel.
But that's just by way of making a point. No one is proposing that nomenclature.
If you're worried about all of those used-once barrels going into land fills, they don't. They go to Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Jamaica. You get the idea.
Looked at in that broad historical context, you can say today's micro-distillers are working on their own new style of whiskey, something that's tasty after less than four years in wood, and frequently much less. It's a work in progress. Some are trying to do it the old-fashioned way, although few have anything on the market that's more than two years old.
Eventually, though, they will. And through experimentation the younger products will get better too. Either that, or there will be a lot of second-hand stills for sale.
So, again, back to the question. Traditionally, in Kentucky and Tennessee, the consensus is that four years is the minimum, five to six is better, eight to ten is optimum, and beyond ten you're again getting into a different, wood-heavy style, which is risky but can be superb.
Labels: barrels, Irish, Kentucky, maturation, scotch, Tennessee
More About Sazerac
The chief architect of present day Sazerac Company is President and CEO Mark Brown. He had some follow-ups to Thursday's post.
Although Sazerac doesn't belong to DISCUS or KDA, it is a member of The Presidents' Forum of the Beverage Alcohol Industry, a trade association made up of U.S. beverage alcohol company CEOs. Brown estimates that Presidents' Forum members account for 35 to 40 percent of U.S. distilled spirits volume. Vicky McDowell, former Deputy Administrator of the TTB, is Executive Director.
The Forum doesn't have a web site but it appears to represent its member companies primarily on regulatory issues, which is part of what DISCUS does as well.
Regarding the absence of Ten High and others from the Great Bourbon list, Brown pointed out that Great Bourbon was not meant to be all inclusive. The full list of Sazerac products is on the Sazerac site.
They're still trying to figure out whether or not to put their ryes on the Great Bourbon site.
Brown has been a fun presence on the bourbon scene. He's the kind of guy who will drive from Frankfort to Cincinnati to show up at a small, private gathering of bourbon enthusiasts, just to see what we think of something they're working on at the distillery. He's very accessible and open, to a point, but when he doesn't want to tell you something he doesn't dissemble, he just says "I'm not going to tell you that."
Labels: Buffalo Trace, Sazerac
Buffalo Trace Takes Experimentation to New Level with Warehouse X
Buffalo Trace Distillery broke ground Friday on an experimental barrel warehouse that will allow the distillery to take its quest for the "perfect bourbon" even further.
Named Warehouse X, this warehouse is the first new building Buffalo Trace has added to its 130 acre complex in more than 60 years. Comprised of brick, concrete block, and skylights, it is no ordinary barrel warehouse. With a small footprint of only 30 feet by 50 feet, Warehouse X will have a capacity of around 150 barrels.
Its most compelling feature, however, is four independently operating chambers that will allow specific variables to be tested, in order to determine their effect on aging barrels. There will also be a barrel breezeway with an open air rick, underneath a roof, that will allow a small number of barrels to age while being exposed to the natural elements.
The first four variables Buffalo Trace plans to experiment with are natural light, temperature, airflow, and humidity. Warehouse X will test one variable at a time. For example, the first experiment will focus on the effect of natural light for at least two years. Each chamber will have varying degrees of light, ranging from 100% natural light to complete darkness.
After the natural light experiment is concluded, a new experiment will start on temperature, and then studies will start on the effects of humidity, and so on.
Warehouse X is projected to be finished by August 2013, but everyone can track the progress and view pictures of the construction through a blog updated frequently: www.experimentalwarehouse.com.
Upon completion, visitors to Buffalo Trace Distillery will be able to walk around Warehouse X and learn about the current experiment occurring inside. "It's no secret that we're on the hunt to find the Holy Grail of bourbon," said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller. "By building this experimental warehouse, we'll be able to keep a tight control on the variables that affect the barrel aging process and can make changes along the way to the aging environment that will hopefully allow us to one day come up with the perfect bourbon."
The whiskeys aged inside Warehouse X will be bottled under the Experimental Collection line. It will be a minimum of eight years after the warehouse is completed before any whiskey will be bottled from Warehouse X.
Beam Launches $200 Bourbon; Everything Is Not for Everyone
A robust American whiskey industry, which we all want, means there will be products for certain audiences, whether they be people who like cherry-flavored whiskey, or people who can and care to spend $200 or more for a bottle of bourbon.
It's a big tent. Not everything is for everyone.
On Wednesday, Beam announced that it will release on Kentucky Derby Day (Saturday, May 4) a new edition of Jim Beam Distiller's Masterpiece. It is an extra-aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, barrel-finished in Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks, and bottled at 50% ABV (100° proof). It will be sold only at the distillery gift shop in Clermont, Kentucky. The price is $200 a bottle.
If $200 sounds like a lot for a bottle of whiskey, even if it does come in a wood box, consider that Heaven Hill has a bottle of 23-year-old Evan Williams it sells only at its gift shop for $300. It comes in a leather bag.
And Kentucky has some catching up to do. Last week The Macallan (that's a single malt scotch) announced their latest expression, a single cask whisky aged in American Oak for 22 years, sold in a package with a bombproof flask for $1,500. Yes, bombproof.
Has whiskey loss due to bombs become a problem?
For a measly $200, Beam won't even tell you how old the whiskey is ('extra-aged' tells you zip) nor how limited the edition is (The Macallan 22 is 550 bottles), although they imply that if you're not there bright and early on May 4, you won't get one.
This is actually the third release in the Distiller's Masterpiece series, but it's been more than 10 years since the first two came out.
If you are a person of more modest means, you might want to hold out for the Jim Beam Signature Craft Series 12-year-old bourbon, finished in the same new American Oak barrel it was born in, which should be coming out soon for about $40 a bottle. And that cherry-flavored stuff costs about $20. Something for everyone.
If you're interested in the new Distiller's Masterpiece, go to the American Stillhouse website for more information. The gift shop opens at 9:00 AM on Saturdays, which gives you plenty of time to buy your bottle and get to Churchill Downs in time for the Kentucky Derby.
More About MGP
In bourbon country, it's rare for a distillery to launch a new recipe, so to launch six at once--as MGP will do this month--is unprecedented. How do you do it? Here is an explanation from Don Coffey, Ph.D., MGP's Vice President of Research, Development and Innovation.
"MGP's development of the new mash bills was initiated in response to customer interest combined with our desire to provide a broader selection of specially-made premium whiskeys and bourbons," said Dr. Coffey. The announcement earlier this week, that MGP will begin to make six new mash bills at its Lawrenceburg, Indiana, distillery, is the first new products announcement since MGP bought the distillery in 2011. "This expanded portfolio of product offerings enables our customers to further distinguish their brands while satisfying a growing diversity of consumer preferences and tastes," said Coffey.
The development phase required planning and teamwork among various personnel and departments, including research, development and innovation, sales and marketing, operations, sourcing and logistics, and the master distiller in Lawrenceburg, Greg Metze.
"In preparation for actual production runs, and to make certain the mash bills possessed the distinct qualities being sought, each was piloted and thoroughly checked in a laboratory setting," Dr. Coffey explained. "Scale-ups are planned to occur throughout April. However, production of the six mash bill additions will not be launched simultaneously, but are scheduled at different intervals during the month."
They have already started, with the new rye whiskey made from 51% rye and 49% barley malt.
"At this time, precise dates and the order of preference have not been assigned to production scale-ups for the remaining five mash bill formulations," said Coffey. "To make this determination requires that a number of variables, including maintaining optimum production scheduling efficiencies for all of our products, undergo thorough consideration so as not to disrupt operations as a whole, as well as our ability to effectively and consistently supply ongoing customer needs."
MGP, which sells no brands of its own, makes distilled spirits for a wide range of customers, from Diageo (the world's largest drinks company) to many of today's new micro-producers. In addition to whiskey, MGP is the largest gin producer in the U.S., and also makes vodka.
And here's a note about MGP of Indiana's two current bourbons, which they universally refer to as "25% bourbon" and "40% bourbon." Turns out, that's not the rye percentage, it's the total percentage of small grains, i.e., the percentage of the mash bill that's not corn. The mashbill for the 25% bourbon is 75/21/4 and the mashbill for the 40% bourbon is 60/36/4. I regret any confusion this may have caused and I hope they do too. (It's a weird way to state it.)
Labels: Diageo, Indiana, Lawrenceburg, MGPI
Sazerac Company Is A World Unto Itself
Sazerac Company, often synonymous with its main distillery, Buffalo Trace, is one of the largest bourbon and rye producers in the country. Due to its size and independence, it is almost like an entirely separate Kentucky whiskey industry.
This is because Sazerac is not a member of the Kentucky Distillers' Association (KDA). Consequently, its two Kentucky distilleries and other facilities are not part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tour, which is a KDA enterprise and registered trademark.
Nor is Sazerac a member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), the national trade association for the American distilled spirits industry. Asked why, Sazerac says it feels it can spend that money better on itself by itself. Sazerac is privately owned, by the Goldring family, and has additional facilities in New Orleans (where it began) and other U.S. cities.
Sazerac is not completely anti-social. It participated side-by-side with many of its KDA counterparts at the Bourbon Classic in Louisville on March 22nd and 23rd. It typically participates in events such as WhiskyFest and WhiskyLive. The company, its distilleries, and its products have won countless awards. The Buffalo Trace Distillery especially is beloved by serious bourbon enthusiasts for its in-depth tours and products such as the Antique Collection, Experimental Collection, Single Oak Project, and White Dog series.
In addition to Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Sazerac has the Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown. Both distilleries welcome visitors. In addition, Buffalo Trace frequently holds concerts and other events. In Owensboro, the company has whiskey maturation warehouses and a bottling house at the site of the old Glenmore Distillery. Although Glenmore does not now offer tours, the company has said it may in the future. Bottling is also done at Frankfort and Bardstown. Sazerac also operates A. Smith Bowman, a micro-distillery in Virginia, that welcomes visitors.
Buffalo Trace is a bourbon as well as a distillery, a very good bourbon. The name Barton 1792 incorporates the names of two of the best known bourbons from the Bardstown distillery, Very Old Barton and Ridgemont Reserve 1972, which are also terrific bourbons.
At Buffalo Trace, Sazerac produces several rye-recipe bourbons, using a separate recipe, for Age International, which owns several brands and shares U.S. sales and marketing responsibilities with Sazerac. The Age brands include Blanton's, Elmer T. Lee, Rock Hill Farms, Hancock Reserve, and Ancient Age.
Sazerac also produces the iconic Van Winkle line in conjunction with Julian P. Van Winkle III and his son, Preston Van Winkle.
Other major brands, if any Sazerac brand can be called major, include W. L. Weller, Old Charter, E. H. Taylor, Eagle Rare, George T. Stagg, and Kentucky Tavern.
And all that is just the beginning. Sazerac makes a staggering number of different whiskey brands, plus vodka, gin, liqueurs, and bitters. It imports and sells Canadian whisky, scotch, and other spirits and wines. Most of its brands are not household names, but cumulatively it's a lot of business. As a private company, they don't release sales statistics, so it's hard to tell how successful they are, but they keep expanding so they must be doing something right.
One of the ways Buffalo Trace is unusual is their marketing. They don't do very much of it, at least in terms of traditional media advertising. They have several web sites, Facebook pages, and other online activities. Most notable is Great Bourbons, a catch-all site that at least covers most of the company's bourbons. The website was recently updated and upgraded. If you're not quite sure who actually makes your favorite American whiskey, check it out.
As long a list as that is, it's not everything. Ten High is missing, so are all of the blends and (surprisingly) all of the ryes. Perhaps there is a 'Great Ryes' site in the works.
Labels: Barton, Buffalo Trace, Sazerac
MGP Adds Six New Whiskey Recipes to Lawrenceburg Distillery's Portfolio
In the current issue of The Bourbon Country Reader (Vol 15 No 2), MGP Vice President of Alcohol Sales and Marketing David Dykstra talks about his company's future plans for whiskey production at Lawrenceburg, Indiana. In that interview, he says they are "developing new mash bill formulations of rye, wheat and other grains that we expect to introduce to the marketplace in the coming years."
Six of them were announced yesterday and will begin production this month.
Two new rye whiskeys, one made from 51% rye and 49% barley malt, and the other made with 51% rye, 45% corn and 4% barley malt.
A 95% wheat whiskey.
A 100% barley malt whiskey.
Two new bourbons, one produced with 45% wheat, and the other produced with 49% barley malt.
Currently, MGP of Indiana makes a very popular 95% rye whiskey, and two rye-recipe bourbons that contain 40% rye and 25% rye, respectively. They also make corn whiskey.
"The incorporation of these additional mash bills in our product offerings is driven by our commitment and ability to satisfy a growing and diversified mix of customer needs," said Dykstra. "It enables us to provide those we serve with a wider, more distinctive selection of world-class beverage alcohol options. Furthermore, it reflects our ongoing focus on innovation while also demonstrating our capabilities to produce customized formulations."
Development of the new mash bills was initiated by the company's beverage alcohol sales team, with collaboration from MGP's research, development and innovation group and Greg Metze, master distiller at the Lawrenceburg facility.
According to Dykstra, the company's new wheat whiskey and wheat bourbon "will be among some of the more unique products of their type" in the marketplace. "The popularity of wheat-based spirits, mainly in the white goods category, has grown in recent years," he said. "We expect this to favorably impact demand for products in the brown goods category, as well, and want to be firmly positioned to help our customers in the branded packaged goods arena meet that demand."
Dykstra says the company's new rye whiskey produced from 51% rye and 49% barley malt is expected to deliver a deeper flavor than traditional rye whiskey, resulting in opportunities for customers to establish and market novel brands that possess a distinctly satisfying point of difference.
Additional details regarding each of the recently developed mash bills, along with MGP's custom formulation capabilities and complete lines of premium whiskeys, bourbons, grain neutral spirits (i.e., vodka) and distilled gins, are available at the company's booth at the American Distilling Institute (ADI) Spirits Conference and Expo in Denver through April 4 of this week.
Information can also be obtained by accessing the company's website.
The former Seagram's Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, was acquired by MGP in 2011. Previously known as LDI (Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana), the distillery has been supplying whiskey to non-distiller producers since about 2005. MGP is a leading independent supplier of premium spirits, offering flavor innovations and custom distillery blends to the beverage alcohol industry. The company also produces high quality food grade industrial alcohol and formulates grain-based starches and proteins into nutritional and highly functional ingredients for the branded consumer packaged goods industry. The company is headquartered in Atchison, Kansas.
Labels: Indiana, Lawrenceburg, MGPI
Correction: Eagle Rare Single Barrel Is Still 10-Years-Old
In the current issue of The Bourbon County Reader (Vol 15 No 2), I write that Eagle Rare was 10-years-old and is now NAS (no age statement). This is incorrect. I meant to observe (in the story "Cheapening of Legacy Products Represents a Long Term Trend" on p. 4) that a few years ago, Eagle Rare was repositioned by Sazerac. They upgraded the bottle, raised the price, made it single barrel, and cut the proof from 101° to 90°, but it remained and still is age-stated at 10-years-old.
The article points out that not all changes to legacy products are in the down direction. The Eagle Rare change was some of each. The bottle and single-barrel switch were upgrades, but the proof cut was a downgrade.
We regret the error.
Eagle Rare Single Barrel is a terrific bourbon and an excellent value at about $30.
Labels: The Bourbon Country Reader
Kentucky Bourbon Makers Fill 1,000,000 Barrels in ...
What's in a Name? If It's "Tennessee Whiskey," a L...
Bourbon Exchange on Facebook Hopes to Make Collect...
New Group, the American Craft Distillers Associati...
Buffalo Trace Takes Experimentation to New Level w...
Beam Launches $200 Bourbon; Everything Is Not for ...
MGP Adds Six New Whiskey Recipes to Lawrenceburg D...
Correction: Eagle Rare Single Barrel Is Still 10-Y...


Remote Work Archives | SureSwift Capital, Inc.
People are always shocked when I tell them that SureSwift Capital is a completely remote workplace with 75 people working across 14 timezones. That means we have no office, no set working hours, and no location requirements. Everyone always has a lot of questions about how we got here and how the whole remote work thing… works. It's a topic I'm very passionate about, so I'm dedicating this post to answering the questions I get asked most.
His SaaS Business Was Bringing in $40k a Month When He Decided to Sell. Here's Why.