We are really proud to introduce our new Dexter Straight Bourbon.  It’s the best bourbon we’ve ever made – named one of only 12 bourbons on the Ultimate Spirits list of the top 100 spirits. 

It’s named after Edmund Dexter one of the most famous pre-prohibition whiskey makers in America. 

It is most often drank neat or over ice. 

However, it also makes for luxurious cocktails each with a great story…

PRINCE OF WALES COCKTAIL

In 1860 the Prince of Wales (Future King Edward VII) stayed with the world famous Whiskey Barrel Blender – Edmund Dexter at his home in Cincinnati on fourth street.  The Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII) is credited with this cocktail in a book written by a member of the royal household. We’ve modernized it to the tastes of today. 

• 2 oz of Dexter
• 1 tsp. of Simple Syrup 
• 1 tsp. of Pineapple Juice
• Dash of Angostura or Brain Brew 1862 bitters
• 1 oz Sparkling Water or Champagne

Combine Dexter, simple syrup, pineapple juice and bitters in a shaker. Shake with ice for 12 seconds. Serve in a chilled coupe glass or in an old fashioned glass with fresh ice.  Finish with 1 oz of sparkling wine or champagne.

To paraphrase what the future King might have said to Edmund during his visit. 

“Bourbon is not only a drinking: it is sniffing, observing, tasting, sipping at and… talking about.”

Cheers,

Doug

p.s. We sold out the first edition in January in 57 minutes.  This time we have much more – but it’s selling 5 times faster :).  If you want it – I suggest you get it sooner rather than later.  

We are really proud to introduce our new Dexter Straight Bourbon.  It’s the best bourbon we’ve ever made – named one of only 12 bourbons on the Ultimate Spirits list of the Top 100 Spirits. 

It’s named after Edmund Dexter one of the most famous pre-prohibition whiskey makers in America.

It is most often drank neat or over ice. 

However, it also makes for luxurious cocktails each with a great story…

CHARLES DICKENS BOURBON SMASH

In 1842, Charles Dickens stayed with world famous Whiskey Barrel Blender Edmund Dexter at his home in Cincinnati on fourth street. Dickens was a fan of mint juleps. The recipe below is a modernized version of a recipe he shared with fellow writer Washington Irving. The drink is a cross between a mint julep and a sour (using orange instead of the classic lemon).

• 1 Orange Wedge 
• 5 Mint Leaves
• 1/2 oz of Simple Syrup
• 2 oz of Dexter

Combine the orange, mint leaves and simple syrup in a shaker and muddle firmly. Add 2 oz of Dexter Bourbon and shake with ice for 12 seconds. Serve in a chilled coupe glass or in an old fashioned glass with fresh ice.

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” 

― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Cheers,

Doug

p.s. We sold out the first edition in January in 57 minutes.  This time we have much more – but it’s selling 5 times faster :).  If you want it – I suggest you get it sooner rather than later.  

Here’s my three favorite cocktails for summer 2021. Each with a “Craft” twist. 

BOURBON SMASH our #1 Requested Cocktail

Ingredients

• 1/2 oz of Simple Syrup
• 5 to 8 Mint Leaves – depending on size of leaves
• 1/4 of a large lemon cut into wedges or 1/2 a small lemon
• 2 oz of Paddle Wheel Bourbon

Directions

First, combine and muddle the simple syrup, mint leaves and lemon in a shaker. Next, add Paddle Wheel and shake with a lot of ice for 12 seconds. Strain into a glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a wedge of lemon & mint. An optional addition is to add some Ginger Ale.

BOURBON SOUR – A craft version everyone will love

Ingredients

• 1/2 oz of FRESH Orange Juice
• 1/2 oz of FRESH Lemon Juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 2 oz of Paddle Wheel Bourbon

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a shaker ands shake with a lot of ice for 12 seconds. Next, strain into a glass with fresh ice. Optional addition is to add some zest from lemon and orange.

BOURBON SAZERAC – My Personal Favorite

Ingredients

• 2 oz of Paddle Wheel Bourbon
• 1 tsp. of simple syrup
• 3 Drops of Brain Brew 1862 Bitters – optional
• 4 sprays of Absinthe Bitters*

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake with a lot of ice for 12 seconds. Strain into a glass with fresh ice and enjoy.

ABSINTHE BITTERS (Employees Only Bar recipe*)

Mix together and bottle in small spray bottles:

• 3 cups of Pernod
• 1/2 cup of Green Chartreuse
• 1 teaspoon of Peychaurd’s bitters
• 1 teaspoon of Angostura bitters
• 2 tablespoons of Fee Brothers mint bitters

Enjoy,

Doug

When my wife asked Brian McKenzie, co-founder of Finger Lakes Distilling,“Why did you start the distillery?” His answer was simple, “Because I LOVE whiskey!”

To many his answer doesn’t make sense. There are a lot of things that people like – but that doesn’t cause them to leave a job in banking as Kevin did, put all his time, energy and money into helping change New York State distillery laws (he’s NY farm distillery #2) – and against all odds build his own supply chain, distillery and business. 

As an entrepreneur for 50 years I got what Brian felt. He’s talking about a passion that you just can’t stop thinking about. A belief that you can create something that has never been done before. 

Within “LOVE” is a quest to make the best in the world – something truly amazing. In Brian’s case, he has many great spirits.  However, his Single Malt is quite simply the most amazing “American” version of the Scottish style that I’ve ever tasted. And Brian has more amazing spirits coming with unique grains. 

At Brain Brew our LOVE comes to life three ways: 1) the JOY customers feel when they create their personal bourbon, 2) the PLEASURE consumers feel when they learn how to customize their cocktail and 3) the WOW in our fans eyes when they taste our bourbons and ryes.

To paraphrase the Apple commercial, “Here’s to the crazy ones…the ones who see things differently…… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

Cheers,

Doug

A visit to Ketchum, Idaho in Sun Valley, final resting place of writer Ernest Hemingway, sparked conversations at the Brain Brew Beach Bar.   

Papa as he was known – was a larger than life figure – writer – adventurer – drinker and a husband three times over. 

His dedication to the craft of writing – with his precision and never ending improvement – inspires me when writing AND inspires how we craft our WHISKeY at Brain Brew.

We’ve not won the Noble Prize or Pulitzer as Papa Hemingway did. But with Hemingway like dedication to our craft we have created 2 of the 20 top bourbons and ryes with scores of 97, 95  and double gold medals.

Sadly – there is a belief in the distillery world that “product doesn’t matter” – that all products are basically the same. And, that the key to success is marketing.   

My team and I disagree. We are and always will be a PRODUCT FIRST company.   I learned the power of this working for Procter & Gamble. At P&G I was taught that the secret to sustained business success is to make a product that delivers a meaningfully unique WOW and I mean WOW – then use marketing to educate the world about it. 

Some will call us old fashioned – we’re ok with that.   

And we believe Papa Hemingway would agree with us as well.  As he said…

“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master…..I rewrote the ending of ‘Farewell to Arms,’ the last page of it, thirty-nine times before I was satisfied.” 

Cheers to Papa and to all who still believe in product and service craftsmanship!