Articles by Jon Smyrnis

Bourbon Psychosis heads East

“Kanpai!” – Traditional Japanese toast, literally meaning “dry cup” or “empty the glass” Let’s travel East, far East. You might not know it, but Japan is one of the top…

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A non-retraction retraction

“D’oh!!!” – Homer Simpson I have made a mistake. Not a huge one; life will go on and the Sun will continue to rise. Yet it’s big enough to give…


A visit to New Riff Distillery

“Vanilla iced sugar cookie. Walnut & oak on the nose. A palate entry of oak, vanilla, maple, brown sugar, cocoa & spice.” – Description from the bottle of one of…



It’s cocktail time!

“Cocktails: because no great story ever started with someone eating a salad.” – Unknown I’m a self-avowed cocktail snob. Really, I am. There are a number of factors that play…


High West Distillery

“Whiskey has killed more men than bullets, but most men would rather be full of whiskey than bullets.” – either Winston Churchill or Logan Pearsall Smith We’re gonna stay out…


Nevada H&C Distilling Company

“Go ahead, skin that smokewagon and see what happens.” – Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp in Tombstone We’re going to say goodbye to Indiana for now. Well … kind of….


MGP: Midwest Grain Products

“The biggest distillery you’ve never heard of.” My wife and I recently went on a little vacation to Madison, Ind. It’s beautiful down there along the Ohio River. While there,…



Small can be great

“I don’t drink anymore. On the other hand I don’t drink any less either.” – W.C. Fields There are many things that I love in this life: my wife, my…