Got curious and found the Whiskey Tribe newsletter from this time-ish last year. It was pretty clear that we had no idea what we were in store for in 2020. We can talk about 2021 in the next newsletter. Right now, I’m in the mood for shits-and-giggles, so let’s dissect my thoughts from a year ago and compare them to the reality of 2020.
Just sitting here wondering what to write about, like I do. Got curious and found the Whiskey Tribe newsletter from this time-ish last year. It was pretty clear that we had no idea what we were in store for in 2020.
We can talk about 2021 in the next newsletter. Right now, I’m in the mood for shits-and-giggles, so let’s dissect my thoughts from a year ago and compare them to the reality of 2020. Because yah, hindsight is 2020… see what I did there?
For what it’s worth, a year ago the newsletter had a suitably inauspicious opening with…
“I have no idea what next year will bring.”
Correct. I didn’t, heheheh.
“Most years, I’ve got a pretty good read on it. But the possibilities seem endless in 2020.”
Fair enough. The now-me would tell you that the word “possibilities” is more of a double edged sword than what hardcore optimists are comfortable admitting. While I do consider myself a member of Team Optimist, it’s more of a casual affiliation than an ironclad dogma.
That felt bad to write. Like I’m letting my team down.
But anyone working with me regularly knows that even though I constantly flirt with the bubbly cheerleader of wishful thinking, my true love will always be the brooding siren of cold… blooded... results...
No more, no less. Everything else is a distraction.
Why am I writing this? This isn’t what you want to hear… Maybe the promise of an unblemished new year has pierced a veil and briefly revealed my true nature?
“I caught up with Rex to talk about the coming year. He wasn’t much help. The list of content ideas he’s been stockpiling is less akin to a YouTube channel, than it is a whisk(e)y network. At the very least, I’d like 2020 to bring an additional weekly series to the Tribe YouTube’s.”
Yah. That one definitely shit the bed. There were at least 2 new YouTube series that were slated to make regular appearances last year. The logistics of a ‘rona made it impossible.
Between you and me, the investment we made in ‘rona testing to keep the content safely flowing is nothing short of legendary. Plenty of close calls. No positives. Knock on some wood for me, MB.
“If we have a solid idea of what Crowded Barrel’s first large scale whiskey should be within the year, I’ll consider 2020 a success.”
If that’s all it took to call 2020 a success, then I’m pleased to report that we definitely have a solid idea. We’re actually in the final stages of that process.
“All I know is, we’re pointed in the right direction. Combine that with a willingness to always take the next step - and we’re in for an adventure.”
Adventures are funny things. People always remember the high notes, but any story worth telling has as many downs as ups.
I’ll say one thing about this year before we put it in the rear view.
Good times aside -
Well beyond fairweather friends -
When the chips are down and it really counts - y’all fucking stick.
Thank you.
That’s it, just thank you.
The last several months could have rendered our collective adventure into a tiny footnote in the giant history of whisk(e)y, but you refused to let that happen.
We did not stumble. We did not falter. We did not flinch.
We held the line.
You stood shoulder to shoulder and put us in a position to do something that’s never been done before.
Retail launching bottles from the world’s first crowd-sourced whiskey distillery.
Cold blooded optimist, reporting for duty.
~ The Magnificent Bastard
YOU MEME THE WORLD TO ME
THE VAULT OF TRIBES
Check Out This Past Weeks Videos From Our YouTube Channels Whiskey Tribe and Whiskey Vault.
In this video, Rex and Daniel talk about The Whiskey Tribe - a big, salty and ridiculous community of whisk(e)y loving MB's. They've raised a whiskey freak-flag...
Is your inner bastard Magnificent enough to salute?
A set of six (6) bamboo lids for your Glencairns. Each lid has a different number of rings on it so you can remember whose is whose, or, if you're doing a blind tasting, which is which.
Ian Piggott is our whiskey article curator - he gives us a glimpse of what’s happening with whiskey (and our whiskey brethren and sistren) around the world.
[+] Our Top 10 Whisk(e)y Stories Of 2020
It is time to take a look back at the year of whisk(e)y that was as seen through the eyes of you, the readers of The Whiskey Wash. We’ve listed below a countdown of the top 10 stories of the year, based upon pageviews of each.
[+] The Smoothness Of Irish Whisky
One big reason for India’s newfound love for Irish whiskey could be that young drinkers want to try something different from the traditional Scotch that they have seen being consumed forever by everyone, including their fathers and uncles.
[+] A Mule That Drank Whiskey?
They had not traveled far before the mule began to droop his head and look weary, but they plodded along to the next village. Here they stopped at a tavern to refresh the inner man, and, while engaged in this duty, it occurred to one of the party that a drink of whiskey would help the mule.
