pianogonzology: bourbon

Showing posts with label bourbon. Show all posts

Monday, September 14, 2015

The Past . . .

(from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon_Street)
". . . The French claimed Louisiana as a colony in the 1690s. Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville was appointed as Director General in charge of developing a colony in the territory. He founded New Orleans in 1718. In 1721, the royal engineer, Adrien de Pauger designed the city's street layout. He named the streets after French royal houses and Catholic saints. Bourbon Street paid homage to France's ruling family, the House of Bourbon. . ."

(from http://www.langloisnola.com/creole-cajun-history/)
". . . The Acadians – Frenchmen who settled in “Acadie,” the wilds of Nova Scotia – were forcibly driven out of Canada in 1755 by the British and shipped off to regions as disparate as Massachusetts, the West Indies, and Uruguay. This exile was called Le Grande Derangement (“the great trouble”). After returning to France, one of the largest groups of exiles landed on the shores of South Louisiana. Over time, more waves of Acadians reunited with fellow refugees, and they became known as “Cajuns.” Acadians were hunters, farmers, and fishermen well-versed in the art of living off the land. They were given land grants upriver from New Orleans and moved into the swamps, bayous, and prairies of Louisiana to start farms and ranches. . . . "

But that's all in the past. . .

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html or at
http://www.ohomusic.com

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak. Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com

My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Bourbon . . .

(from http://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/drinks/what-exactly-is-the-difference-between-bourbon-and-whiskey-20140905)
What Makes a Bourbon: A Cheat Sheet
Must be made in the United States.
Must contain 51 percent corn.
Must be aged in new oak charred barrels.
Must be distilled to no more than 160 proof and entered into the barrel at 125 proof.
Must be bottled at no less than 80 proof.
Must not contain any added flavoring, coloring or other additives.
– Christopher Osburn

OHO
BOURBON STREET ON THE BEACH
Jay Graboski (Sundays) -this week a performance of the OHO Duo (w/Ray Jozwiak) - 7:00PM
Coastal Highway & 116th Street
Ocean City, MD 21842
443-664-2896
Price: na

Sunday 4-7:00PM

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Geography . . .

. . . and music . . .

(from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delmarva_Peninsula)
The Delmarva Peninsula or simply Delmarva is a large peninsula on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia. Although called a peninsula, it is technically an island after the digging of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. The peninsula is 170 miles (274 km) long. In width, it ranges from 70 miles (113 km) near its center, to 12 miles (19 km) at the isthmus on its northern edge, to less near its southern tip. It is bordered by the Chesapeake Bay on the west, the Delaware River, Delaware Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and the Elk River and its isthmus on the north.

OHO reinvades Ocean City on Saturday September 12, 2015 @ Johnny's Pizza & Pub 5601 Coastal Hwy., bayside (9:00 PM- 1:00 AM); then the OHO duo of Ray & Jay at Bourbon Street on the Beach, 116th St. Oceanside from 7:00-710:00 PM (& possibly beyond)

Limousine
OHO rehearsal recording August 2015, OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html or at
http://www.ohomusic.com

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak. Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com

My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Unplugged. . .

. . . kind of . . .

OHO's Jay Graboski and Ray Jozwiak performing Jay's composition entitled 'Plunge' live at Bourbon Street On The Beach in Ocean City (O-C-E-A-N C-I. . . T!Y!) Maryland recently.

And Yes . . . you've GOTTA eat there!

Plunge
OHO Duo (Jay Graboski and Ray Jozwiak) live at Bourbon Street On the Beach, June 2015

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html or at
http://www.ohomusic.com

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak. Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com

My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Hooch. . .

(from http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/02/11/171732213/less-potent-makers-mark-not-going-down-smooth-in-kentucky?sc=ipad&f=1008)
". . . Kentucky is bourbon country. Bar shelves in Louisville are stocked with a crowded field of premium bourbons; the city's Theater Square Marketplace restaurant alone carries close to 170 different brands. So when news trickled out that longtime distillery Maker's Mark plans to water down its bourbon, locals were stunned.

Bourbon has to be aged at least two years — and that's where Maker's Mark got in trouble. Chief Operating Officer Rob Samuels says the company simply didn't make enough.

"The phones have been ringing off the hook over the last three or four months from most every city in the country where Maker's Mark is not available," Samuels says. "As far away as California and as close to home as the package store five minutes from the distillery."

Now, the company says it must spread the remaining supply over more bottles to meet growing demand. The Maker's Mark label will now read 84 proof instead of the traditional 90.

The Samuels family invented Maker's Mark six decades ago and has been distilling in Kentucky even longer than that. The company prides itself on quality and tradition. Its slogan used to be, "It tastes expensive ... and is."

Samuels says keeping that signature taste, despite weakening the drink, was key.

But maintaining flavor is one thing — maintaining the company's image is another. People might not notice a change in the taste, but they are likely to notice that the price isn't going down.

"My initial reaction was, that's how bourbons that are not premium brands would deal with it," says Jason Falls, a marketing professional who has worked with Maker's Mark in the past. Knob Creek had a similar shortage in 2009, he says, "and I believe the way the brand dealt with it was they sent T-shirts to all their ambassadors that said, 'I survived the drought ... of 2009.' "

It's unclear if Maker's Mark's move will hurt the brand's global reach. But in Kentucky — bourbon country — locals aren't too happy with the change.

"It's gotten ... a lot of outrage," says Sara Havens, who writes about the bar scene for the Louisville Eccentric Observer newspaper. "People asking if they're going to lower the price now, [or] just that it's kind of not fair."

Havens says she'll still drink Maker's Mark, but probably less often. "[When] you go to a bar and you know one drink is watered down and the other drink is potent, you always go to the potent one," she says.

To avoid another shortage, Maker's Mark is planning to expand operations — and they're not alone. In Kentucky, there are now more barrels of bourbon than there are people. So even if an old standby like Maker's Mark is hard to find, there'll always be something to drink. . . "

I have three observations:

1. They were up-front and honest about what they were doing and why with the boss taking complete responsibility. Must be worth something.
2. Taste-testers (Makers Mark taste-testers, that is) found no significant difference. (SURPRISE!)
3. Since MOST people have it on the rocks, with a little water or in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned, they won't notice any difference. [Note: I drink it NEAT!]

So I don't know what to think. Based upon number 1, maybe I'll just buy a bottle and see what I think for myself.

What do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

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newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE

Please visit
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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Odd, or maybe not. . .

. . . a bowl of french fries for dinner. . .

. . . still smoking cigarettes in this day and age of medical knowledge. . . auburn hair is quite striking. . . music soothes the savage breast. . . 88 keys full of potential and nice tone. . . good bourbon (and lot's of room to talk about cigarettes). . . subtle, tasteful percussion. . . the insecurity, confidence, skill and talent. . . humor, humor and lots more humor; cleverly. . . nice folks all around. . . getting through monday and working towards friday. . . exchanging music, encouragement, sympathy, empathy and MORE MUSIC!!

download your
very own copy of
ANOTHER SHOT
by Ray Jozwiak

Please Visit
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