New Year's Resolutions:

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I've never been into New Year's resolutions. I've always looked at them as cliché. Why would you make a list of things you want to change/accomplish only once a year? For the most part I have always felt that people write down a list to make themselves feel better, then forget about it until the next year, only to realize they didn't accomplish any of the resolutions they set their heart on achieving in the first place. And thus, the cycle continues, year after year. Resolutions have always appeared to me as words, never actions. Yet, I've grown up a bit. The older I become the harder it seems to focus on my life goals. With age comes more responsibilities and more distractions, both good and bad. Hence, the realization for constant reminders that inform my daily decisions and prompt me to push forward towards my goals have become more appealing. 

During Katie and my last trip to Europe in the summer of 2012, I used much of the time for contemplation and “list making.” Katie and I had just left our home in Portland, OR, to move back to California so we could be closer to our family. We knew that a life, once we arrived back from Europe, would change immensely – a new stage. So I wrote. I filled pages of my Moleskine with lists and goals for myself. I wanted to start fresh as it were. I made resolutions to work harder, avoid laziness, be a better husband, prepare to be a father, and lastly, I made a declaration to pursue life to its fullest. From goals of learning a new skill, reading particular books, setting weekly time aside for solitude, to learning how to cook new foods, the list has evolved. It's a constant and ever changing tide of hopes and dreams that keep my priorities grounded on the right foundation.

So here we are, January 2014, and I am making a New Year's Resolution. This is a much shorter version of my actual list, but maybe these few goals will encourage you to make your own declaration of change for the year to come. These resolutions are broadly written, but be specific with yourself. Set dates and times. Set real goals so you can make them happen. Make them varied, and practical.

1. Solitude: Solitude was much more easily obtained when I was in college. My lifestyle flowed in a way where I could actually find times of rest and peace each week away from the noise of the daily grind. This is something I need more than ever. Time away from work, blogging, and all distractions. Meditation.

2. Cooking: Since we have moved back to California cooking has not been a huge priority. Don't get me wrong, Katie and I cook almost every night. But up in Portland we really pushed ourselves to grow as cooks. I need to push myself to be more intentional about meal planning. Less “easy meals.”

3. Cycling: I want to ride more. I don't ride every day to work, but I want to make it more of a priority. It's good for me. I should make this happen.

4. Whiskey Education: Yes, this is a goal of mine. I am always learning, but I could push myself much harder in this area. Tasting needs to be a larger priority. This year has been a big one for me, but I need to step up my game and get to be a real expert.

5. Date Night: Katie and I talk about the importance of this a lot. One should never stop dating their spouse or partner. Even when times get busy, or going out becomes financially tougher, it should NEVER stop. With the baby on the way, this is of great importance. This is a reminder to always make time.

6. The Blog: I want this blog to succeed beyond a simple hobby. It's a complete joy to work on, but I'm not pursuing it for my leisure anymore. I want to create something genuinely useful and enjoyable. This year will be its success and its beginning. That said, I know the posts have been far and few between. I am working on some exciting improvements which shall be unveiled soon, so be ready for reviews, and more, in abundance.

To this next year! Try new things, work harder, and be safe!

-Wesley

Update/Posting Forecasts: To New Adventures

So obviously the posts on the Bourbon Intelligencer have slowed down this last month or so. This, thankfully, has not been due to the some unfortunate whiskey drought, or because I’m having doubts about the whole venture – quite the contrary in fact. The whole story is that my wife and I have been busy getting ready to move from Portland, OR, back to Sacramento, CA, our hometown where we grew up and where our most of our families reside. And as sad as moving away from one of the greatest cities in America may sound, there is some silver lining. The catch is that we will only be moving our belongings back… sort of. We will eventually place our roots in Sacramento, but as soon as we get all our things safely secured later this June, we will promptly be getting on a plane and heading straight to Europe. Not to mention this is not your average two week summer vacation. With no jobs, school, or financial ties, we will be setting out for three whole months enjoying mainland Europe for about a month, heading north to spend some quality time in the heart of Scotland after that, and riding off to the west to spend our last month in Ireland. As much as this is a vacation and celebration for both being done with our studies, my wife having just finished up her degree, it will also be a time of planning and accumulating tons of inspiration for our new lives and (ad)ventures we will be starting in Sacramento. Much whiskey will be tasted. Much good food will be enjoyed. That said, I am not entirely sure what the whiskey reviews will look like during this time, but have no fear for there will be many interesting post to be consumed. There will be plenty of photos and videos to capture everything. Thank you so much for the support you have provided this past year! This blog has turned out to be much more then I would ever have expected. Feel free to check out my tumblr, lifeofawhiskeydrinker.tumblr.com, from which I will be documenting much of the trip. Until next time my fellow whiskey drinkers, remember to drink what you like, know what you drink, and make it a double!

Posting Forecasts:

"Drown in a cold vat of whiskey? Death, where is thy sting?"  - W. C. Fields

Though I’ve been on a little hiatus’ the past week and a half I have not simply been lying around. Well, at least I have not been lying around doing nothing. As with all my family vacations a large part of our time is surrounded by good food and drink. So needless to say I have quite a few posts coming up of bourbon, blended scotch, and Oregon wine tasting notes. Please stay tuned!

Update: New Name!

Well, as you can see (if you haven't noticed) I have a new name. It came to my attention recently that I had chosen a name which was unfortunately too similar to another whiskey blog. I should have been a bit more careful, but due to Google's search engine being quite finicky I had assumed the name was not taken. In lieu of  my blog's reputation and my desire to be in good standing with the whiskey blogging community I have chosen a different name. I introduce to you The Bourbon Intelligencer. I will miss the old name, but being an American blogger the new name seems to be appropriate. Besides the name nothing will change, so rejoin me on this adventure, drink what you like, and make it a double!

Posting Forecasts: The City

"One day if I do go to heaven – I’ll look around and say, 'It ain't bad, but it ain't San Francisco." - Herb Caen

This weekend I will be spending a few days in "The City" with my brother and father. Always considered my second home when I was growing up and the place where I was introduced to the wider world of Jazz,  professional baseball, and tequila (no thanks to my brother), this city holds a very special place in my heart. However these next few days will definitely not be spent anywhere near the Fisherman Wharf or Ghirardelli Square. My main goal, besides some serious relaxing time and hiking Mt. Tamalpias, will be visiting some great pubs and watering holes, touring the St. George Distillery in Alameda, and if possible Distillery 209. So along with a new bourbon and rye which I am very excited to review, many new posts to come. Until I return, drink what you like, and make it a double!

Forecast: Three Reviews

Yes that bird is real - I know, I know, amazing photo... Thank you!

"The tools I need for my work are paper, 

tobacco, food, and a little whiskey."  - William Faulkner 

Well I am back from a great week of camping and I'm pretty excited about what I produced. Unexpectedly (well, not really unexpected), there was more whiskey at my fingertips then simply George Dickel, so I took full advantage of reviewing the American Dickel and Basil Hayden's, and Glenfiddich from across the sea. Obviously I had some fun with my father-in-law's DSLR. *I think its time I upgraded from a point and shoot!

Posting Forecast:

"The last time I turned down a whisky, 

I didn’t understand the question." 

- A friend of John Hansell

I just wanted to write a small update about some new upcoming blog post. I know I haven’t yet reviewed Chasing the White Dog by Max Watman but that should come soon. I also plan on writing up both an American and Irish whiskey review in the near future. But, since I will be spending the next week camping in Crater Lake National Park, nothing will be posted until the weekend. Lastly, and what I am most excited for, I might be taking a trip down to San Francisco. Meaning, if I’m lucky, I will be touring a couple of the local distilleries and thus generate some new entries. Until next time: Drink what you like, and make it a double. I know this week I will!

Posting Forecast:

"The best whiskey I've ever had is like the best horse race ever run: the next one."

- Max Watman from Chasing the White Dog

I’ve been envisioning my first genuine post and what items of interest should take this grand position to finally get things rolling. This is a rather short post to present a forecast of the next month or so and what I plan to display: 

1.     Be it that I live in Portland, OR, what many consider the heart of the micro-distilling movement, I felt that I would start off with some local whiskey. Recently I made an excursion out to McMenamins Edgefield which is the location of McMenamins current distillery. I had a chance to tour both the distillery and to stock up on two of their current selections. I intend to include a few posts detailing my experiences, as well as use their whiskey to execute my first tasting.

2.     Associated with my visit I had the unfortunate experience of ordering an Old Fashioned while at McMenamins. When I received the drink it was… well… I’m not sure what it was, but it wasn’t the traditional Old Fashioned I know and love. So I will allow this experience to push off a weekly or biweekly DIY, this first DIY highlighting the type of Old Fashioned I appreciate.

3.     Lastly, I recently picked up a copy of Chasing the White Dog: An Amateur’s Outlaw Adventure in Moonshine, so I thought I would give it a review and cover several of the interesting historical points and current trends which are developing in the whiskey world presented by the author.

The Commencement of the Bourbon Intelligencer (Formerly The Whiskey Intelligencer):

The philosopher Jacques Derrida used the dictum, “There is nothing outside the text.” And so I write, “There is nothing outside the bottle.” When it comes to whiskey you ought to drink what you like, not what the “experts” think you should value. If it is choosing a bottle of Old Grand-Dad over some super-rare-extra-premium bottle of Macallan, then you, and only you, should make the choice (especially since Old Grand Dad might save you a few hundred dollars/pounds). That is not to say, like Derrida, I believe taste is wholly founded on social conventions. I believe there is good whiskey and I believe there is better whiskey. In this blog I will attempt to distinguish between the two. That being said, my intentions for this blog are completely selfish. I am not attempting to compete with the other whiskey bloggers out there. Indeed, the simple fact that I don’t have the experience prevents me from competition anyway. This space is for my enjoyment and my relaxation - and it is far from being anything too serious at the moment. But that is not to say that someone, especially someone new at this like I am, cannot benefit from the content which I hope to exhibit.  Hopefully, by the end of each new tasting, each new tour, each new cigar, and possibly after some useless historical pseudo-philosophical expositions, some of my passion can rub off and encourage you to go out and try something you have never experienced before.

Drink what you like, and make it a double!

Update as of Aug. 10th 2011: There has been a name change. Click here to read about it.