Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/597666
42 / the tasting panel / november 2015 COMPETITIONS T his may be the inaugural Masters of Moonshine competition for Ole Smoky Moonshine, but things are already in full swing. Five mixologists from each of four cities— Nashville, Chicago, Cincinnati and L.A.—will compete to attend the finals in Los Angeles, where one of them will earn the title Master of Moonshine. In the middle of the mix is the newest addi- tion to the Ole Smoky line-up, Blue Flame, which defines what "moonshine" really is. John Cochran, CEO of Ole Smoky Moonshine, is excited about the new spirit, explaining, "We had a variety of expressions ranging from 35 to 103 proof, and realized that we were missing what many people think of as 'true moonshine'—the real deal moonshine. So we did what we call the 'cane and grain' process, where we took the spent mash from our original moonshine distillation, and loaded it back in the cooker with pure cane sugar." The product leaves the still at 150–160 proof, but Ole Smokey proofs it down to 128—a nod to 128 mph, the fastest lap ever timed at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, a frequent partner of Ole Smoky Moonshine. The Masters of Moonshine contest is designed to introduce on-premise accounts and bartend- ers to Blue Flame, and educate them on the history and making of moonshine. Ole Smoky Moonshine hopes to show that moonshine is a different category of spirits, and can be a unique base spirit for many cocktails. Vice President of Marketing Meg Bruno says, "Contestants will be critiqued in three areas during the contest: presentation of the cocktail, making the most of the spirit and how it's used across the board. In this case, simpler is better, using around three to five ingredients for a drink that is easy to make but also tasty. We want to find cocktails that bartenders will want to replicate in their own bars." Blue Flame was created with bartenders in mind, Cochran says. "We want bartenders to be able to add complexity and ingredients to cocktails while still keeping the proof high." Masters of the Flame OLE SMOKY MOONSHINE HEATS UP THE COMPETITION WITH THEIR MASTERS OF MOONSHINE by Jesse Hom-Dawson Ole Smoky's new expression, Blue Flame Moonshine. Nashville's semi-finalist winner Nick Gajewski (left), of Swingin' Doors Saloon, and his coworker, bartender Brittany Carver, with his brunch-themed cocktail Backwoods Brunch. PHOTO: KERRY WOO presentation of the cocktail, making the most of the spirit and how it's used across the board. In this case, simpler is better, using around three to five PHOTO COURTESY OF OLE SMOKY MOONSHINE