This OPB Think Out Loud story on craft distilling (audio) talks about the craft distilling movement and it's roots in Oregon. Guests include Steve McCarthy, of Clear Creek Distillery; Christian Krogstad, of House Spirits.

Chesapeak Bay Distillery just a stone's throw from the nation's capital, is getting media buzz for it's craft products. The linked articles have a nice overview of the Virginia distilling scene.

So the SWA ( Scotch Whisky Association ) has weighed in on the trademark registration request of Canadian whisky Glen Breton for using the word "Glen" in their name. Why? It sounds too Scottish. The SWA provided evidence that many people whom bought and or drank this beverage could not tell you that it was or was not Scotch in origin. Even with a label that says "Canada's Only Single Malt Whisky" and has a big red maple leaf on it. Apparently they polled mostly illiterate or blind drinkers.
SWA has been working for years protecting the appellation names of "Scotch" and "Scotch Whisky" and rightfully so. Scottish whiskies are a national treasure and should be regarded, as a whole, by their national identity and leverage that as an indication of quality. It would be a terrible shame to have Scotch Whisky coming anywhere but from Scotland.

It's the stuff of yore, or is it? Unlicensed distilling in the United States is still a crime and there are still police willing to enforce these laws.

The Northwest Agriculture Business Center in conjunction with Washington State University are hosting a workshop about artisan distilling in Mount Vernon, Washington, June 20 & 21st. Cost is $295 for registration by May 15th, $345 afterwards.

Presentations will be made by:
Alexander Plank, Director of Operations at CARL Distilleries, Germany.
Dr. Kris Berglund, Michigan State University Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science.
Nicolas Haase, CARL Distilleries, Director of Technical Sales, B&D Technologies.

Further Information
NW Agriculture Business Center
Christian CARL Distilleries and Brewing
Michigan State ChEMS Department

3M (NYSE: MMM) one of the worlds largest industrial corporations and a leader in technical innovation, has announced their entry into the alcoholic beverage market.

Long Island Spirits has announced their receipt of both Federal and New York State licenses to begin distilling. They are the first modern Craft Distillery on Long Island and are focused on producing LiV (rhymes with 'five') a small batch, handmade vodka made from "the celebrated Long Island potato" and blended grains. Long Island Spirits expects LiV vodka to be on shelves sometime in April.

www.lispirits.com

Wash

In terms of distilling, a wash is a liquid or mostly liquid slurry of things that contains a lower level of ethanol (alcohol that has been produced through fermentation with yeast) that would then be distilled to a higher purity. There are several types of washes, some of which are very old and specific recipes and some of which are new and relatively unclassified but generally;

If a wash of wine is distilled, it will produce a brandy.
If a wash of beer is distilled, it will produce a whiskey.
If a wash of plain sugar is distilled, it will produce a rum.

If distillation of any of these goes to the point the point where they have no flavor characteristics of the wash, then vodka or aqua vit is produced.

9th Annual Whiskies of the World winds down another year. A great whisk(e)y expo in a two fine environments; tastings on board the Belle sternwheeler ship and conference seminars at Le Meridien Hotel, both in San Francisco, California.