Ep. 73 - From Maryland Rye to New York Cocktail Culture to Navy Strength Gin

NEW YORK DISTILLING // Co-founder Allen Katz
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Show Notes
I jump into my discussion with New York Distilling's co-founder Allen Katz. Starting out in Baltimore, it's no surprise that Allen would find rye whiskey as his passion, but the surprise was - he went to New York City to start a distillery. But before then, he spent life as a bartender in the revitalized cocktail culture of New York. So today we'll talk rye whiskey, cocktails and even find out why the British used to have a different proofing system that we do in the US.
Items we'll discuss:
- How a heist helped choose Allen's destiny
- Bringing Maryland to New York City
- Working with farmers and specific rye varietals
- Does a cocktail need a complex rye?
- The early days of the New York cocktail culture
- The staple rye whiskies for any bartender
- Differences in character between warehouses
- Tasting Ragtime Rye
- The winter hot toddy
- The Empire Rye designation
- The idea of an urban distillery in New York City
- Getting help from others
- Gin and New York's other Matthew Perry
- Navy Strength gin's history and gunpowder
- The basis for the old British proofing system
- Tasting Ragtime Rye Bottled-in-Bond
- The origins of Rock and Rye
- Tasting the Single Barrel
Listen to the full episode with the player above or find it on your favorite podcast app under "Whiskey Lore: The Interviews." The full transcript is available on the tab above.