Community Updates

The only update I have for you guys this month is that you're the frickin’ best. More information on why I feel that way is written below.

Solo Blind - Release

If you didn't see it already, let me fill you in. I have been secretly working on a project for a long time (I think over two, maybe even 3 years?) called the Solo Blind. Basically, its an apparatus you can use to do blind tastings with no one else’s help. I started by trying to make something for myself for my blind videos, and eventually I realized the world at large might want it. So I recruited one of my best friends to be my business partner, and we worked for months to get the design just right.

The next step was making it manufacturable. Injection molding (the process used for your TV remotes, children’s toys, etc) was wildly expensive. Even if we could sell enough of them to cover the costs, they would need to be pretty pricey. Luckily, my business partner knows a thing or two about 3D printing. We ordered the best printers we could afford, and I think the result is pretty stellar.

Here’s where y’all come in as the best frickin’ followers ever. When we launched our first preorder, I expected us to sell out in a week. If we could do that, I’d consider it a success. But we didn’t make it a week. We made it a few hours. So yes, we are sold out, but we are immediately doubling production in order to get more blind to you guys ASAP. Thank you all SO much for your support with this endeavor. It has been a lot of fun, and I couldn’t do it without you. If you want more info, run over to justneat.shop!

Single Barrel Saturday

If you live in Ohio, odds are you know about single barrel Saturday. It’s a day where the state releases a bunch of single barrel picks that they’ve prepared, and usually some hard to get bottles. I think the idea is fantastic, but I have one gripe that I want to air out…

I personally feel like single barrel Saturday is at risk of becoming “Get in line for some Weller, oh and by the way here are some completely random barrels that we grabbed from some craft distillers” Saturday. I don’t want to seem too harsh, but I do want to ask Ohio to try a little harder - specifically, put some passion into the barrels that are being picked and really try to exemplify the distillers. I don’t know the best solution, so I’m sorry if this just sounds like ranting, but something about SBS just lost it’s luster for me this year. Let me know if you think I’m off base here.

To balance out the negative comments, I do have to commend OHLQ for really trying to mix things up in other realms. For example, maybe this new lottery scavenger hunt will be cool. Maybe it will fail. Maybe it will be awesome. At least they’re trying new things either way, so hats off to OHLQ on that note.

Reminder: Perfect Pairing Club

Just a friendly reminder that I am STILL working on building the Perfect Pairing Club with Adam Guard from Dreamer Cigars! I truly think this club is a great deal, with 52 cigars sent out every year, for only 30 bucks a month! If you are interested in joining, please take a look at our site at the link below!

Also, in terms of the podcast, we are likely to start doing more LIVE formats so that we can take real time questions from you guys rather than only prerecording the Perfect Pairing Podcast. I am sure we will have to work out some kinks, so let us know what you think!