Well, are we really out of the pandemic yet? People will agree to disagree on that topic, but not exactly what I wanted to discuss.

The pandemic took several things away from us in 2020.  For most, we are missing out on our people interactions. For others, the interactions were so intense (since they quarantined together) it resulted in a new generation created or a higher divorce rate.  For me, it took the ability away to connect with people in person.  It seemed to push us into a more impersonal way of communication.  Even online dating thrived to a point if you take out all the scammers that prey on the loneliness people felt.  I, myself, built more connections with the crew at Home Depot and the local liquor store since they were two of the three open stores for the pandemic.

I miss people.  Even though the pandemic, I tested the waters.  I went out and visited establishments that were open to enjoy my favorite cocktail (safely).  I even met some great people along the way that we're just as excited as I was to talk to someone.  Will we get back to the more authentic, organic methods of meeting people? Or is this a thing of the past now?  I am not sure that I am old enough to use that statement.
Imagine if you will, sitting at a bar, enjoying a tasting of now your new favorite whiskey, and someone sitting next to you strikes up a conversation, and low and behold, it is about your favorite topic!  Eyes meet, you lose your train of thought, and you blush out of embarrassment because you were stuck for a minute on how this one person made you feel in that one moment.

No technology involved; sounds so good! Yes, I have been one to lose my train of thought because of a look.  I, along with many others, feel the desire for more in these crazy times.
So, let us bring on the vaccinations and the whiskey events.  Bring us back to a time when we can see people smile and taste/discuss our favorite spirits.  We need to get back to what feels good.  Feel the sunshine on our exposed faces and breath in, knowing we are safe.

We will get through this, my friends.  Stay safe.

What are the two biggest things that a person can give?  In my opinion, they are time and money.  Two things that there just is not enough to give by one person, but we continue to try.  Looking back on my life I think I was always labeled as a giver and think I have broken the bank enough times because giving to others was important even when I didn’t have it to give.  I wanted to make a difference. 
 
I have tried to show my children that it is okay to help the less fortunate.  My daughter and her friends raised $1000 through bake sales to give to the Denver Rescue Mission.  We used coupons to obtain many free items (hygiene and baby items) to give to the Mission and to the Ronald McDonald House.  Now that they are older its time to volunteer time to the community and give back to those in need.
 
My journey started by working for a nonprofit and learning of the passion that is behind what they do for their clients.  Then I decided to take my career to a different level and go back to school.  This summer I will obtain my Masters in Nonprofit Management.  I have learned so much but two things I can tell you that have meant the most and helped me get on track with my life
 
•    Give to yourself before giving to others
•    Do what matters most, and everything else will fall into place
 
Over the last six months I have made quite a few changes that have put a few things into perspective.  I bought a house for my son and I and moved to a smaller town.  This past December OWP collected donations for the Weld County Toys for Tots Program and we are continuing to find ways to connect with the community.  This year my son and I are donating our “free time” to the Weld County Humane Society.  Now free time is in quotes because there is not a lot of this to go around.  My son and I are extremely busy, but we found that this cause was important to us so we will make time.
 
Second I am focusing my summer party on raising funds for the animals at the shelter.  I have asked a number of our friends in the spirit industry to help me out by providing item(s) that can auction off the help our four-legged friends and the responses are coming in which I am very thankful. 
 
For me the best part about giving is I get to combine two things I love into one effort.  Whiskey and being a giver.  So I hope that those that are in Denver in August will be able to join me at the whiskey party and help me raise funds for a community that is in need.  Keep an eye out on the My Events page for more information.  Date of the event will be posted soon.

How do you give?

How is the best of the best determined?  Let’s take a cocktail for example.  The definition of a cocktail (wait I need to look this up) is “an alcoholic drink consisting of a spirit or several spirits mixed with other ingredients, such as fruit juice, lemonade, or cream”.  Isn’t it nice that Coke or Pepsi was not included in that list of "other ingredients"?  I think so. 

Do I claim to be an expert on cocktails? Absolutely not! Do I enjoy trying new cocktails to see what great concoctions mixologist come up with?  Well who doesn’t, (mother please don’t answer that one, I know we had that conversation already 😊). By the dictionary’s standard a cocktail is a beverage that is mixed with a spirit or several spirits.  In the past, I thought my favorite cocktail was whiskey neat, but now after reading the definition, that is not classified as a cocktail.  So sad.

I recently heard a term the other day, it was “two-part cocktail”.  I felt ignorant but I had to ask what was a “two-part cocktail”?  You can find them, they exist in some run-down dives that carry the 4Js (Jim, Jack, Johnny and Jose).  Mix that whiskey/bourbon with a Coke and guess what you have a two-part cocktail.  Not that I don’t know my cocktails, but who makes a two-part cocktail in today’s society.    A long time ago I was told that if you pay $40+ for a whiskey, why in the world would you mask the flavor with a Coke.  Does that mean that Jim, Jack and Johnny are bad tasting, absolutely not, but I think it was the easiest way for many to be able to drink whiskey in the 80s and 90s and that is a two-part cocktail.

Back to the question at hand, what makes a great cocktail?  Who has the authority to determine what makes a great cocktail.  There is no one, you get to decide!  That is the best answer I have heard all day.  Now some of the names for cocktails are a little bizarre and I am not sure why people choose to down grade the cocktail or the spirit.  A good example that I just saw on a website was a “Blow Job”.  Can we just assume that a guy was not getting any at home andhad to find a way to drown his sorrows, so he created this concoction to make himself feel better.  That is the story I am going to stick with.  I am sure that this is a great drink/shot and is probably enjoyed by many but I am sorry I will not be ordering a “Blow Job” in my future.

What about the classics.  A Manhattan, a martini, an old fashioned.  They role off the tongue like butter.  My favorite as most of you know is the old fashioned.  I have seen this cocktail done a number of different ways but what makes it the “right way”?  Technically there isn’t one that I am aware of.  However, I do cringe when I see bartenders crush (muddle) an orange and cherry in my drink.  By doing that you just took up 2 ounces of my cocktail with a beaten piece of fruit. NO muddling!  I prefer simple syrup in my cocktail over the crushed sugar cube, either way you will get some sugar water in your system, so to each their own.  Bitters are important.  Most don’t think so, but the wrong bitters could make or break your cocktail.  There are so many flavors to choose from too.  Side note:  At one time, I was on a HUGE plum bitters kick (thanks Montana) for my old fashioned.  Then of course you have the whiskey/bourbon and I am a BIG whiskey/bourbon fan.

I am always intrigued when I ask people what spirit they use to make an old fashioned.  Some choose Tin Cup then make it Smokey and add candied bacon (to hide the flavor maybe, I am not sure).    Some choose a bourbon like Markers Mark, now in my personal opinion a bourbon (being made with so much corn) is already sweet enough.  If you are looking for a super sweet drink apply your favorite bourbon.  My go to, well since you asked.. it is a good rye whiskey.  Doesn’t have to be a fancy rye, but a rye with a peppery finish that stands up against the sweetness of a simple syrup and balances for a great cocktail.  The right bitters pulls the drink together and the garnish of a Luxardo cherry is just what it needs.  Another side note:  Some mixologists like to use a good orange bitters for the cocktail and treat the glass by rubbing an orange peel on the rim of the glass.  Pretty fancy if you ask me, but it definitely makes that orange flavor pop.  There are lots of ways to change up a classic to make it fit your palates desires, so take your best shot.

As for other cocktails, I leave that to the mixologist’s imagination.  Fruit smashes, Manhattans, sours, martinis, mules, the possibilities truly are endless and very tasty.  One of my favorite cocktails I had recently was a Whiskey Sour (Prohibition Style) from the Whisk€y Bar in Fort Collins, CO.  When I asked our fabulous mixologist Sam, what makes it prohibition style?  He said, “more whiskey”!  Now that is my kind of cocktail.
Cheers!

This year I am going to be investing in some of our craft distillers barrel programs.  So what does that mean… well laying down a chunk of change for a spirit that will sit in a barrel for at least two years and produce approximately 250 bottles (depending on when it is time to pull the barrel).  Interesting part about this is the following:

1. Working with our craft distillers on the process
2. Tasting the spirit along the way
3. Getting to say when the spirit is ready to be bottled
4. Yielding ~ 250 bottles of a spirit for 53-gallon barrel (barrel sizes/bottles yield will vary)
5. In some cases keeping the barrel after it is emptied.

This is quite the experience and think it is a great opportunity for OWP and for the distillers.  I recently had a 10 L barrel sitting at Marble Distillery in Carbondale, CO.  This barrel was filled over a year ago with their Rye whiskey.  This past November I went to visit the barrel to see where it was at and was completely surprised with the flavor profile.  The rye hit in the middle of the mouthfeel and mellowed as it went down the back of the throat, which in my opinion is perfect.  Connie and her distilling team are bottling OWP’s whiskey at 100 proof so that it can be proofed down by others as needed.    My yield for this barrel size should be close to 10 bottles and this spirit will be shared at the next OWP whiskey party for tasting.

The opportunity
I would like for you to be a part of the experience and the investment.  This spring I will be looking into barrel programs across the country.  By the Summer of 2019, the investment will be made for up to 5 barrels to be made on behalf of OWP and friends (other investors).  Barrel sizes and bottle yields will vary on the size of the barrel.  Bottles will be split evenly among the investors, when the spirit is ready to be bottled.
Stay tuned to OWPs website for more information on this program.

Absolutely everything.
When I was born, oh so many years ago, my father wrote out a list of names for me.  I still have that list and I am not sure how princess got on there (I am so far from being a princess).  He had quite the list of names and out of all of them, I think BillyJo fits just fine. 

When my children were born, I named both of them.  Their father really did not have a say in it and I knew exactly what their names were going to be when I found out I was pregnant with both of them.  Yes, the rumors are true I did name my daughter after a witch, from the popular tv show, Bewitched.  Samantha Stevens was great and that was that.  My son, well I named him after my father, well as close as I could get.  My father was born in the 30s so it was popular to name your children after birth stones and flowers.  My father’s name is Garnet, so my son became Garrett.  Both children have very strong, and long names (you are welcome), in my opinion. So where is this going, yes right, I am having difficulty naming my third child, aka a distillery.

When I started my web site it made sense to call it One Woman’s Perspective, because that is really what it is, my perspective.  When I was writing up the business plan for my class it was easy to go through a list of names for this make-believe concept. But, this is real for me and finding a name that would stand up and be bold against the Stranahans, Woods and Laws (all last names of the original distillers); and let’s not forget all the great names that are about a person’s life like 2 Bar (named after the family ranch), OOLA ,Two Bitch (named after their dogs) or Bear Creek (named after the high school the owners attended).  All of these names have some significance in the owners /distiller’s lives.

This has been the toughest task for me to come up with.  I was so sure that I knew what I would want to name my next child (the distillery), but it doesn’t seem like it will stand up against some of the great names that are already on the shelf.  My place holder in the business plan is being held by Still Werks.  The unfortunate thing is that Weld Werks (brewery in Greeley) might send out a cease and desist letter for using Werks in the name and being so close to their establishment.  So, what is a good strong name that will stand out on the shelf and make an impact in the craft distilling world?  My list a lot like my father’s list for me has possibilities but nothing is starred as “the one”.

What do you foresee as the next craft distilled spirit name that will be on the shelf?  You can leave comments below.

My family asked me the same question that I get a lot from strangers, “BillyJo, why did you choose whiskey as your hobby?” 

Around 2009ish, I was introduced to the craft whiskey scene.  I attended a tour at a Colorado distillery and fell in love with the process to make whiskey.  Like most it was a shock at first to see that the same grains that make a cereal can be turned into a distilled spirit.  On this same visit I learned how to properly nose a whiskey and taste it.  I learned to never put a cola product with my spirit unless it is absolutely awful.  I learned that I had a new passion in my life to seek out greatness in the whiskey world and the scavenger hunt began.

Five years later, I was going through my divorce and just lost half of the whiskey collection, which is like losing any other major asset in one’s marriage.  I was devastated (about losing the whiskey) and knew I needed something in my life to change my tune.  Shortly after, an individual, sat me down and told me that I need to do something for myself, she told me to get a hobby.  A hobby, really, I have tried hobbies in the past and they never seem to stick, but she was right I needed something that I could call my own.  So, I started to think about what is a hobby that is strong enough to stick around in my life, and last longer than my marriage.  This hobby needed to be outside of my kids, school and work life, so after thinking about it for a moment, I chose whiskey.  Whiskey provides… a warming sensation…an experience…unique flavor and if it does not work out in in the first few minutes you can put it back on the shelf with no real regrets.

When I went back to this person and shared my idea about my hobby, I think the impression was I would be some kind of collector and have a few bottles of some very special spirits.  I can remember, like it was yesterday, getting my year-end bonus three years ago and wanting a new pair of tennis shoes and a tasting of Pappy Van Winkle 23 year.  I paid $185 for that pour and was so excited to try what people thought was the best whiskey out there.  Oh, how things changed.

Three years later, I have my own review site, over 300 bottles of some very special spirits and a slight reputation.  Good reputation I think, at least for the moment.  

Three years ago, after starting my hobby I created the One Woman’s Perspective website and started getting my feelers out into the distilling world.  I have met some fabulous owners/distillers, from around the country and I share my experiences as I go, but that was not enough.  Last year I put a small book together highlighting the craft whiskey industry in Colorado (my home), which is available on my site (I know, my own plug, jeez). 

This year I started to take classes on how to make beer.  Yes, beer.  Lucky for me the instructors have allowed me to tailor my projects for whiskey instead of beer.  I have made my own malt whiskey (with the assistance of Colorado Whiskey Guy) and by the summer of 2019, I will have my Certificate in Applied Brewing (yes, it is a thing).  Now I am putting together a business plan to co-own and operate a distillery.  When I talk to people about my plans, I ask, did they think it would ever go this far?  They tell me they saw it from the beginning.  Now you are all caught up!
Cheers!
BillyJo