Monday, March 3, 2014

Tuthilltown Spirits "Making The Cut"

I got an email about this contest last week, asking whether or not I could run a piece on it. I was debating what to do. On one hand...it kinda hurt. I used to work at Tuthilltown and I poured my heart and soul into that job. Seeing this opportunity come about, via email, from a PR company that never even realized I worked there....well...it stung. But then I realized that it's Tuthilltown and I still love them and have mostly fond memories of working there (the not-so-fond memories were the many times I'd pinch fingers moving barrels). So I'll run it, in it's entirety, even if this is something I usually refrain from doing. Here it is.





NEW YORK, MARCH 3RD, 2014 - Whiskey distillation is a science of circles. Circular barrels. Circular bottles. Circular stills. The circle of Gable Erenzo, co-master distiller and soon-to-be-former brand ambassador of Hudson Whiskey, is almost complete, as he will once again focus his efforts back at the distillery full-time. But as is the nature of circles, with the end of Gable’s journey begins a new one. Enter “Making the Cut”: the search to replace the irreplaceable Gable with a new face for the Hudson Whiskey brand, and one qualified individual’s shot at a full-time job as Hudson Whiskey’s brand ambassador.“Making the Cut” is not a hunt for the world’s greatest mixologist, or the foremost scientific mind in distillation. It is to find the human embodiment of Hudson Whiskey’s ideals and identity. Ten years ago, the Hudson folks set out to open a climber's ranch, but the neighbors balked. They had to either go home or try something new: whiskey. As New York’s first whiskey distillery since Prohibition grew, Gable rose to Everest-level heights as the brand’s global ambassador. However, he has now decided to forego his time on the road and return to his precious distillery, nurturing and improving upon our country’s craftiest of craft whiskies.
    With “Making the Cut”, the Hudson Whiskey team, brand founders Ralph Erenzo and Gable Erenzo, and the highly decorated distiller William Grant & Sons, which acquired the brand in 2010, is looking for someone who gets that make-it-happen, can-do spirit, and who gets the importance of shaking hands, meeting face-to-face and telling great stories. They want someone who understands how experiences circle back into the product, and how the product is comprised not just of distilled grain and rich barrel-aged flavor, but engrained with the personalities of each and every member of the distillery staff (there are only a handful!). Ralph and Gable chose whiskey over defeat, and they want someone who will make that same choice. The newest member of the Hudson Whiskey family will circle the country, speaking with bartenders, restaurant owners, whiskey enthusiasts and press, hosting tastings, connecting with fans via social media and representing our brand in the national press.
    Think you’re the one for the job? Ralph and Gable think so too. But they need proof, so send them a short video or a collection of photos, proving your readiness to begin your own circle of whiskey. Make a cocktail. Get crafty with some bottles. Recite your declaration of whiskey dependence. Then log on to HudsonWhiskey.com/MakingTheCut to submit your application. The chosen contenders will join us at the distillery to drink some good whiskey, meet some friendly people, and engage in a month-long course in craft distillation by Ralph, Gable and the rest of the distillery team. All will learn the wonders of craft whiskey from the leaders of craft distilling, but only one will make the cut to become the new Hudson Whiskey Ambassador.


Will I be entering? I dunno. I didn't see anything in the rules AGAINST me applying but I'm sure there's many more bartenders/distillers/cooler people out there that would do significantly better. That and I'm pretty sure, since it's judged by my old bosses, it might be unfair. Either way, if you're interested, link (again) is HERE. Good luck to those who enter. And if you do end up being one of the final 3, let me know. I don't live far. We can have a tipple or two.

EDIT: edited to make the damn video fit.

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