Scottish Born, Colorodo Bred

Show Notes and Reviews

Colorado was long a bastion of the craft beer scene, and out of that grew a now-booming craft whiskey industry. Among the first of those whiskeymakers was Boulder Spirits (part of Vapor Distillery), who imported Alastair Brogan in 2012. His vision was clear: to create the best American single malt whiskey possible, while honoring traditional methods and embracing the distinctive Colorado environment. The Colorado microclimate plays a crucial role in Boulder Spirits' unique flavor profile. With significant temperature and humidity swings, whiskey ages differently here than in Scotland or Kentucky, experiencing higher evaporation rates that concentrate flavors more rapidly.

While their American Single Malt garners the headlines, they also make a fantastic bourbon, one that despite its relatively low proof (88) was full-bodied and flavorful. It confirmed my suspicions (piqued after chatting with Chattanooga) that I love malted bourbons, where malt is the secondary grain rather than rye or wheat. It holds up at a lower proof so much better than the other two.

Education remains the greatest barrier to growth - while we whiskey nerds love American Single Malts and different mashbills, the wider audience isn't always aware that ASM is even a thing, let alone a malted bourbon. That education is helped by collaborating with folks like Lost Lantern (that's how I first heard about Boulder) and putting out high-powered releases like hazmat single malt in armagnac casks.

I missed them by just a day while in Denver, but won't miss them the next time. Thank you to Alastair for entering the whiskey ring!

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Boulder Spirits

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Why Not, What If?

Georgie Bell and husband Fabrizio Leoni co-founded The Heart Cut, an independent bottler, with an eye towards the world. The question is relatively simple: how can we connect whisky enthusiasts with some of the most exciting, innovative, and deserving-of-attention distilleries? More than half of which - in a telling coincidence - have been Whiskey Ring Podcast guests?

Georgie and Fab are globe-trotting whiskey hunters, pulling 16 exceptional casks/releases from distilleries across eight countries in just their first 20-ish months. From Finnish rye to Israeli single malts, they're telling stories through spirits that most drinkers have never encountered. Their approach: direct partnerships, total transparency, and a commitment to showcasing the "why not, what if" spirit of craft distillers around the world.

But this isn't just about selling bottles. The Heart Cut is building a whiskey community, breaking down barriers with accessible tasting notes, virtual tastings (starting with the last few releases), and a mission to educate. Bell and Leoni's vision inspires exploration, giving us nerds a healthy mix of whiskies that both represent the heart of what a distillery can do while also pushing its boundaries.

If you're new to whisky, you'll be able to enjoy the pours. If you're deep in the fandom, every bit of information they can possibly provide is either on the label or the website. This is an IB built on the knowledge, passion, experience, and wisdom of two people who know their spirits. We spend a few minutes just on Georgie's resume simply to highlight how extensive her knowledge base is - it's that impressive.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the introductions Georgie made after the interview was over. The best IBs don't work as firewalls but as gateways. If a bottling makes me want to know more about a distillery, that's the best job an IB can do, and The Heart Cut does it in spades. Who knows - within a few months, I may have completed the collection, having all The Heart Cut partners on the podcast...

Being smaller releases, these won't usually be available in the US, but they are through both Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange. I'm picking up a bottle of the M&H (the pomegranate wine cask and Dead Sea Apex release are my two favorites, and The Heart Cut combined them!) and probably 2-5 others given the chance.

Thank you to Georgie for entering the Whiskey Ring, and for the multiple introductions she made after the interview!

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If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring

The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires.

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The Heart Cut

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Leading the Revival of Maryland Rye

This week on the Whiskey Ring Podcast, I got to cross off another long-awaited guest: Sagamore Spirit. Situated harborside in downtown Baltimore, Sagamore's campus is among the more beautiful I've visited. The 5-acre plot centers around Penny, their 40' copper column still, which has (almost) single-handedly managed their transition from MGP-sourced rye to 100% Maryland-distilled rye, which now fills the vast majority of their bottles.

Few brands have moved from sourcing to their own distillate as seamlessly or as transparently. Along the way, Sagamore Spirit (no "s" because they'll only ever make one) has played with numerous finishes, including award-winning port cask and unique mead and beer finishes from nearby partners. Not to mention their one-off Calvados-finished Rye, which I still rank as one of the best pours I've ever had.

Sagamore is no longer alone in their promotion of Maryland Rye, with previous guests like Baltimore Spirits Co. also flying the banner, but it's hard to argue that Sagamore isn't leading the way, whether by volume, shelf space, or distribution reach. Ryan Norwood has been with Sagamore for several years and joins me to talk hospitality, building a rye brand for Maryland starting with Indiana distillate, and how their ongoing connection to the Vanderbilt-owned Sagamore Farm informs their branding, bottles, and their surprising decision to leave horses off the label.

Thank you to Ryan for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, BAXUS

Baxus is the world's leading collectible spirits marketplace, with user-friendly options for buyers, sellers, and collectors looking to vault their collections. Use my link below to visit the BAXUS.CO website and sign up!

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If you haven’t joined the Patreon community yet, please consider doing so at patreon.com/whiskeyinmyweddingring

The Bottle Share Club - the $25/month Patreon level - is SOLD OUT! You can still support the podcast for as little as $1/month, and $5/month patrons will have first dibs if a $25/month member retires.

If you haven’t yet, please follow Whiskey in my Wedding Ring and the Whiskey Ring Podcast on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the newsletter on the website.

Sagamore Spirit

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• Sagamore Spirit on X