✈️ WF085 to New York: COOPERSTOWN DISTILLERY - New York vs Kentucky Bourbon, Baseball Decanters, and Yankees or Mets

Most people come to Cooperstown for baseball, but they may leave talking about whiskey. In this episode, Drew Hannush strolls through the village that gave rise to America's pastime before heading to Cooperstown Distillery to meet founder Gene Marra. Together, they explore the marriage of baseball and spirits, the philosophy behind New York whiskey, and why one chef-turned-distiller believes cold-weather maturation creates flavors you won't find anywhere else. In This Episode • How a restaurateur and chef found his way into distilling • Why Cooperstown became the perfect home for a baseball-inspired distillery • The story behind the famous baseball decanters and sports-themed bottles • New York grain and Gene Marra's vision for distinctive bourbon • Using three barrel sizes to shape flavor and maturation • Four-grain bourbon and the role of oats in creating a creamy mouthfeel • New York rye whiskey and balancing spice with corn sweetness • Touring the cellar and tasting whiskey straight from the barrel • An award-winning American single malt and the Solera sherry finishing system • Why Gene believes New York whiskey offers something different from Kentucky bourbon • Baseball memories, Yogi Berra, and growing up near Yankee Stadium • Exploring Cooperstown, Main Street, memorabilia shops, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame • Plus, Drew shares his three reasons why Cooperstown Distillery deserves a spot on your Whiskey Lore Wish List 📍 Cooperstown Distillery Cooperstown, New York Travel maps, distillery information, and trip-planning tools for more than 1,000 whiskey destinations can be found at WhiskeyLore.org/flights. Members of the Speakeasy can hear an extra 20 minutes of interview time, including a dive into New York's cooper who is gaining a great reputation, and we'll taste an Apple Brandy and see what the Europeans thought of that. Check it out at patreon.com/whiskeylore. Sign up for a 7-Day Free Trial.