Popping the Cork on Eye-Watering Barrel Bourbon with Whiskey Enthusiast Chris Harshman

06/03/19 • 30 min

Chris Harshman is the Director of Technology Services at A-B Tech. With a wide assortment of professional (and non-professional) titles behind his name, his most preferred title is Whiskey Enthusiast due to his newfound passion for whiskey and bourbon.

Chris joins me again today to share his first foray into ‘investing’ in barrel bourbon. He explains the difference between a Master Distiller and Master Blender and the various factors that impact the flavor profiles in whiskey. We also discuss the recent innovations in bourbon finishing, warehouse management, and barrel charring and he shares some excellent barrel bourbon that makes your teeth happy and your eyes water from the first sip to the last.

This week on Consuming the Craft:

How he first discovered barrel bourbon.
How barrel bourbon came to market.
The difference between a Master Distiller and Master Blender.
The factors that impact the flavor profiles in whiskey.
Recent innovations in bourbon finishing, warehouse management, and barrel charring.
What is the “Red Layer” under the char of a barrel?
Popping the cork on Barrel Bourbon Booze Clues.
The flavor profile of marzipan.

Connect with Chris Harshman:

Consuming the Craft is produced by Podcraft. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Podcraft.com

This week on Consuming the Craft:

How he first discovered barrel bourbon.
How barrel bourbon came to market.
The difference between a Master Distiller and Master Blender.
The factors that impact the flavor profiles in whiskey.
Recent innovations in bourbon finishing, warehouse management, and barrel charring.
What is the “Red Layer” under the char of a barrel?
Popping the cork on Barrel Bourbon Booze Clues.
The flavor profile of marzipan.

Connect with Chris Harshman:

Consuming the Craft is produced by Podcraft. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Podcraft.com

Previous Episode

Comparing Store Picked and Non-Store Picked Bourbons with Whiskey Enthusiast Chris Harshman

Chris Harshman is a ‘Whiskey Enthusiast’ and the Director of Technology Services at A-B Tech Community College in Asheville, NC. Chris holds a Full Stack Web Development Certification and Computer Software Engineering Certification from Free Code Camp, a Bachelor’s degree from Elon University, and a Law degree from Temple University. Additionally, he holds a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma and a PMP Certification from the Project Management Institute.

Chris joins me today to share how he became a whiskey and bourbon enthusiast and why he believes there’s ‘no wrong way’ to drink bourbon. He describes the various ways he enjoys drinking good bourbon and shares how staying hydrated throughout the day impacts your experience. He also discusses the sensory experiences and challenges that many bourbon judges and tasters experience when judging various types of bourbons as well as the differences between store picked and non-store picked bourbons.

This week on Consuming the Craft:

What inspired Chris’s enthusiasm with whiskey.
Why your taste for whiskey may change as you get older.
How he enjoys drinking bourbon.
How proper hydration impacts your experience of drinking alcoholic beverages.
The challenges associated with whiskey and bourbon tasting and judging.
Why it’s important for bourbon judges to swallow the bourbon, instead of spitting it out, when judging different bourbons.
What aromatic compounds are and how they impact your whiskey tasting experience.
How the processing process impacts the ‘mouth feel’ while drinking whiskey and bourbon.
The benefits of “barrel picking” and the importance of distillers establishing relationships with vendors.
The Booze Clues Old Weller store pick vs non-store pick bourbon challenge.
My 10-part whiskey tasting method.
How your sensory memory and recognition impacts your preferred whiskey choices.
Does non-chill filtering truly change the taste of whiskey?

Connect with Chris Harshman:

This episode is brought to you by…

McConnell Farms - Taste the Way You Remember. Enjoy homemade ciders and ice cream made from only the best produce on the market. Visit the McConnell Farms website to learn more our seasonal inventory and delicious creations you can make with our homegrown produce.

Consuming the Craft is produced by Podcraft. You can create your own great podcast - faster and easier - at Podcraft.com

Next Episode

Building the Buzz of Honey Mead Making with Diane Currier

Diane Currier is the founder of Honeygirl Meadery, a meadery based in Durham, North Carolina. Diane first discovered mead after visiting her sister in Alaska and experiencing her first taste. In 2012, after earning a second-place ribbon at the North Carolina State Fair for her hibiscus lemon thyme mead recipe, she decided to launch her company with the goal of producing high-quality, handmade meads that promote and support beekeeping and honeybees while improving their natural habitats.

Diane joins me today to explain what mead is and how she learned the art and science of mead-making. She shares how she finds inspiration for new mead flavors, the current trends happening in the mead industry, and why she decided to venture into making session meads. She also discusses the ‘grassroots’ of the Mead Revival and how she has grown - and helped establish - the culture of mead making.

This week on Consuming the Craft:

What inspired Diane’s passion for mead-making?
How she learned to make mead.
The pre- and post-production processes of mead-making.
How she finds inspiration for new mead flavors.
Pairing flavor profiles of mead to compliment food dishes.
Trends currently happening in the mead industry.
Why she decided to venture into session meads.
Why she believes it’s important that mead drinkers are more adventurous than brand loyal.
Why mead makes great-tasting cocktails.
How to find mead products at your local wine and spirits store.
How the techniques used in the mead making world have evolved.