“You have to know the science side of it to make something. You have to know the art side of it to make something good.” —Rob Masters, master distiller, Family Jones Distillery
The world of whiskey has seen many trends and fads come and go over the years. Most recently we’ve witnessed the rise of cask-finished whiskey, single barrels, and hazmat-strength releases. However, a new yet old-school trend is starting to take hold in American whiskey: blending.
The truth that we in the business understand is that most of the whiskeys you see on the market are blended, unless the label carries the term “single-barrel” or “single-cask” (even if those are unregulated terms). That said, the words “blend,” “blended,” or “blending” have long carried a taboo in this country, leading consumers to believe they suggest a lower quality or cheaply made product.