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THE MESSAGE 18 / the tasting panel / september 2015 I n advance of the annual Los Angeles Times The Taste event at Paramount Studios, event sponsor Knob Creek hosted a pre-party and whiskey tasting at Old Hollywood–style Harlowe Bar in Los Angeles in August. Cocktail Academy co-founder and mixologist Brandyn Tepper greeted us with fire and ice, two key components in the night's specialty cocktails: Smoking Jacket, with Knob Creek Bourbon, peach, toasted pecan and hickory; and Out in the Orchard, made with Knob Creek Rye, lemon, green apple and basil. Beam Suntory Whiskey Specialist Travis Tidwell guided us through a tasting of three expressions of the whiskey, including Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon ("every- day bourbon") and Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey. Knob Creek–infused appetizers—including honey jalapeño Knob Creek glazed burrata and whiskey oyster shooters—kept with the evening's theme. To top off the evening, we previewed the Knob Creek Cocktail Bar, where the aforementioned mixologist asked questions like "Bourbon or rye?" and "Fruity or spicy?" to measure guests' tastes and preferences, before craft- ing custom cocktails like a Kentucky Buck, with bourbon, strawberry, lemon, ginger syrup and soda. —Becky Tsadik Mixologist Brandyn Tepper finishes a Smoking Jacket, a cocktail featuring Knob Creek Bourbon, at a special preview event at Harlowe Bar in Los Angeles. PHOTOS COURTESY OF KNOB CREEK Island of Enchantment T here is no better education than hands-on exploration, which is why we enjoy opportunities that let us behind the curtain. In June, I was fortunate enough to travel to Puerto Rico for the 150th anniversary celebration of Destilería Serrallés. Traveling to Ponce, we were welcomed by sixth-generation rum maker Roberto Serrallés for a tour of the distillery. At the end of the tour, we were treated to rum straight from the barrel, some of which dated back to 1989. If that wasn't magical enough, we then traveled to the Serrallés Castle—yes, castle—for a night of delicious cocktails, lively music, fireworks and the unveiling of their Serrallés Family Reserve Rum—a limited edition 20-year- aged rum produced exclusively for the 150th anniversary. Check out the October/November issue of our sister publica- tion, The SOMM Journal, for the full story. —Emily Coleman Whiske(y)d up the Knob Creek