Westport Whiskey and Wine is a great place to buy a bottle of bourbon, but it’s also a great place to take a class about bourbon. The tasting room in the back of the store is where numerous bourbon and whiskey events are held, and August 27th Dave Pickerell will be talking about his latest project, Whistle Pig Rye Whiskey.
Pickerell was the Master Distiller for Maker’s Mark for 14 years. He joined the Whistle Pig team as the Master Distiller just a few years ago, and already Whistle Pig has received high marks. The Whistle Pig distillery in Vermont is still under construction, so this 100% Rye Whiskey is being distilled in Canada and Indiana for the time being.
Pickerell is sure to explain the intricacies of starting a brand from scratch during this lesson. Whiskey is a very different business from other spirits, because you can’t sell tomorrow what you produce today. When starting a new brand, there are two main options. Start with a clear product such as moonshine or vodka while you are waiting for your whiskey to mature, or contract out your distillation until you have your own mature whiskey to sell. Whistle Pig chose the latter option.
Join the Stave and Thief Certified staff of Westport Whiskey and Wine in the Tasting Room August 27th from 7-8:30 p.m. to learn all about Dave Pickerell’s industry experience as well as his journey to create a top shelf 100% rye whiskey unlike any other product on the market.
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