Bourbon in the Barrel

Over the years I’ve developed a taste for bourbon. Since my “minor” stroke last October, I don’t drink as much bourbon as I used to. My doctor says my liver has to deal with the Statin I now take daily, so why tax it even more with the addition of alcohol. So when I do sip some bourbon now, I try to savor it. Such is the case with a special bottle of 10yr old, 140 proof, barrel-strength, single-barrel bourbon in an engraved bottle given to me recently by some FATC brothers. We have a special bond in that we spent a few years together in a weekly book study that I had the honor to host at my condo. In addition, we’ve also spent time together streamside and lakeside.

In case you didn’t know, to qualify as straight bourbon, a whiskey must be made in the U.S. from at least 51% corn, distilled at a maximum of 160 proof (80% Alcohol By Volume), aged in new charred oak barrels for at least two years, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof (40% ABV). It must also contain no coloring or flavoring additives.

Recently, it dawned upon me that much of this can be a metaphor for life. Of course, I am a story teller so I tend to regularly discover and communicate in metaphors. It’s been said, the human species thinks in metaphors and learns through stories. Aristotle said, “The soul does not think without a picture (image).” And I’m not surprised that Jesus, the most powerful and most quoted storyteller of all time, often communicated with parables and metaphors.

The mash (mix of grains) in bourbon has to be at least 51% corn. The remainder can be made up of other percentages of grains, such as rye, wheat and barley. You might say this is like the DNA of the bourbon. Like bourbon, people are somewhat similar, but with distinct traits, talents and personalities.

The new charred oak barrel is like our environment; it’s the imperfect, fallen world where we spend our lives. It has an impact on us. And the amount of time we spend in the barrel aging makes a difference. The longer the bourbon is in the barrel, the more of the subtle characteristics of the charred oak come out and the higher the proof. People, like bourbon, are a product of genetics, as well as environment.

The mash of grains that was fermented and distilled to produce a spirit that was then put in a charred oak barrel is like our genetics. We can’t change our genetics anymore than we can change our parents or where we were born. It is, what it is. But what about the barrel?

There is another category of bourbon called “finished bourbon”. A finished bourbon is bourbon that after two or more years is moved from its original barrel and put in another barrel that previously contained another product, such as ex-wine barrels, sherry casks, port barrels, and even beer barrels. The type of barrel used for finishing significantly impacts the final flavor profile.

Every metaphor breaks down at some point. The bourbon doesn’t choose its own mash bill, original barrel or time in the barrel. These are choices made by the Master Distiller. Yet the metaphor illustrates the impact both genetics and environment can have. We can’t change our DNA, but the good news is we can make some choices regarding our barrel —the environment where we hang out, and grow and mature, refine, and finish.

It’s been said, you’ll be the same person five years from now as you are today, except for the books you read and the people you choose to be around. I have found this to be true in my life and in the lives of some of the people I’m around. This has really been noticeable in the FATC fellowship and the FATC book studies—both the big book studies, as well as the little book studies spawned by the big studies.

Now, since I’m writing to a group of fisherman, I’m going to mix some metaphors to get my point across—bourbon metaphors and fly fishing metaphors. (In this case mixing metaphors is like fishing with a two-fly setup—a point fly with a dropper or maybe a dry-dropper setup.)

Many anglers see fishing as a metaphor for life, with aspects like persistence, patience, and “reading the water” being relatable to life’s challenges.

Just like in fishing, there comes a time when you need to change your presentation, your fly or your technique—or your spot. Maybe it’s time to read the water (or bourbon) of your life.

Are you happy with how you are maturing, how you are aging? Maybe it’s time to upgrade your barrel. Are you a bourbon worth savoring and sharing with friends and family? I’m betting The Master Distiller can help —if you have the want to. Consider a good book and good new relationships on your journey to finish well. Or a good book study with old or new friends might provide both. By the way, we plan to have another six-week, annual FATC book study on Wednesday evenings, September 10-October 15. (Mark your calendar and watch for more information to come.)

Feel free to share your thoughts on the FATC FORUM. We’d like to hear if the FATC fellowship and/or the book studies have had a positive impact on your life?

John Muckerman

FATC Inspirational & Leadership Studies Lead