Mixed up bundles of herbs of Sunday. Lots of sage, fennel, juniper, star anise, lemon peel and coriander. Wrapped each bundle in cheesecloth and gave them each a brief incantation to the gods of Gin. The first bundle was infused into a neutral spirit and we got lots of citrus and star anise. The second bundle was heavy on sage and juniper, a little less citrus, pinch of coriander and no anise. This bundle was infused into an unaged rye spirit. We got juniper and sage and just enough citrus. It was an interesting experiment and I learned a lot about how the individual herbs and spices respond to the infusion process. So now there is lots of work to do - as usual.

Son of a bitch, Lou Reed died.
I think it was the NYT writer that said that his music made you want to shoot heroin but made you happy at the same time. A rare combination sorely lacking in this post-tolerant world.

We are working on labels, bottles and corks. We are expecting our federal license within a couple of weeks and that will be really be exciting. Our labels will be really high class and our stories on the back will entice you with western stories, myths and lore. When I was a little girl the square boxes of Shredded Wheat came with a card of Indian Lore between each layer of big shredded pillows.
That was where I learned about covering your tracks and how to make a travois to carry an injured compadre. These are important skills for the average 8 year old. This was a couple of years after Charles Manson and I were locked in the cells of the Beaver City jail, but that’s a story for another day.

So, today calculating how many American Oak barrels will be required each month to house the amount of new whiskey produced. Algebra algebra. We were told in the 8th grade that we would need this skill but did we believe it ….NO.

Last Sunday we were invited to the 75th Birthday Party of Sonny Barger of the Oakland Hell’s Angels fame. We were also going to see Jim’s old friend Phil Cross and wife Meg who have just had a book published. The book is called “Gypsy Joker to a Hell’s Angel”. We drove down to New River Arizona to the Roadrunner Bar/Grill and bull arena. After buying two copies of the book Meg assured us that all appropriate names had been changed to protect the guilty. The book is a high class publication with lots of photos from the past including snake handling and Altamont.

It was a great party, hundreds of bikers wearing their colors, band, beer and a sort of musical chairs game with fighting bulls for prospects. The day was beautiful, truly Indian summer. Wish we had some of our product ready for taste tests. They would have loved our Rodeo Rye and our Gurley Street Gin.

I had picked out the shirt I wanted to were to this party - very appropriate - and taken it to the dry cleaner earlier in the week. I went to pick it up on Saturday and the cleaner was closed. Who ever heard of a cleaner closed on Saturday. I had to wear my second choice shirt. The only downer of the day.