\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 I’ve always been a fan of educational tours.\u00a0 I doubt that I will ever top the 2014 Gold Key Tours on back2back days of the John Deere combine factory and then the tractor factory with a former student\/customer and another good friend.\u00a0 As a student, employee and teacher, I have been on some really cool and educational tours.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Our latest tour made me think–a lot.\u00a0 Although it has been in the works for several years, Rock Creek Distillery is now open in Shattuck, America.\u00a0 They are currently making Schultz vodka and several flavors of Dead Parrot rum. Several years from now, the bourbon will be ready.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The owners are native Shattuck.\u00a0 I currently have or have had all of their kids as very<\/strong> active FFA members.\u00a0 Excellent families.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 For a couple of weeks, I thought about this tour.\u00a0 Then, one morning, I saw Jason Swanson, one of the owners\/head distiller.\u00a0 I asked him if it was even legal for us to do this.\u00a0 And if you don’t know Jason, the answer is always “colorful”.\u00a0 \u00a0BK kind of colorful.\u00a0 Basically, the kids could see everything EXCEPT the tasting room.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0At this point, I decided to take my Food Science class which is made up of 15 seniors (four of which, upon polling,\u00a0 had already been to the distillery.)\u00a0 Now, I decided to tell the school administration what we were up to.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Historically, I have always prescribed to the “Don’t ask, do it and then wait on the, don’t do that again” school of thought.\u00a0 An emphatic YES was the reply.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Because of the science involved.\u00a0 I was thinking about the ag products and business side of things.\u00a0 They brought up the science.\u00a0 Wicked!\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Here’s a brief synopsis of what we learned.\u00a0<\/p>\n With passion in his voice and demeanor, Jason discussed:<\/p>\n –agricultural products\u00a0 \u00a0 All of their sugar and molasses for rum comes from one farm in Louisiana.\u00a0 All of the wheat, corn & rye used to make vodka or bourbon is grown near Shattuck on Schultz\/Swanson farms.\u00a0 He also discussed the DDG, where it goes now and where it will go as the distillery grows.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n –the science of distilling, boiling temps, hard water, osmosis, etc.\u00a0 How changes in temps make bourbon move in and out of the wood as well as why barrels are charred.\u00a0 I could go on and on.\u00a0 I feel like this is all improper grammar and…\u00a0<\/p>\n –engineering of the plumbing and the pots, the heated jacket for the tote full of molasses, how the bottling and labeling process operates, etc.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n –legalities–licensing, getting labels approved, taxes (if you are buying 80 proof, you are probably getting 78 proof.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Because when tested, if labeled 80 proof and it tests 80.1–HUGE tax fines for every tenth!!)\u00a0 Once again, just another example of your government bending us over.\u00a0<\/p>\n –history–we discussed prohibition and how various entities all worked together to end it.\u00a0 Throw in some facts that these drinks have been made for thousands of years and why some products were\/are used.\u00a0 Some\/all of this ties to marketing.\u00a0<\/p>\n –marketing–This might have been the funnest part.\u00a0 He has ideas and plans.\u00a0 He told us that in his opinion, the 2nd best marketing campaign in alcohol sales history is……….<\/p>\n \u00a0Tito’s\u00a0 \u00a0Why?\u00a0 Because of their little hang tang on the cap that mentions “gluten-free”.\u00a0 Duh?\u00a0 All<\/strong> distilled products are gluten-free.\u00a0 But, the general public doesn’t think about it.\u00a0 Legally, they can NOT print it on the label.\u00a0 Yet, they are allowed to make a hang tag.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n He allowed that the best marketing campaign belongs to Dos Equis.\u00a0 Here’s a nod to C Jason Spence of Dos Equis airlines.\u00a0 The most interesting man in the world.\u00a0 The ads not Spence.\u00a0 Well, he might be as well.\u00a0 Definitely the most interesting auctioneer in the goat world.\u00a0 \u00a0On a side note, Swanson allowed how he has actually met the Dos Equis most interesting man in the world and smoked cigars with him.\u00a0 “Good guy. Fun Dude.”\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n –economics–This was so good.\u00a0 Financing or the lack thereof until you have sold X amount.\u00a0 What 25,000 rum bottles cost pre-pandemic?\u00a0 What a vodka bottle costs in order to get it out of a shipping container that is sitting off the coast in 2021?\u00a0 Yes, it can be done.\u00a0 Labor costs, ads, etc, etc, etc.\u00a0 Retail prices and the producer’s percentage, the distributor’s cut and what is left for the retail shelf.\u00a0 He was very open with the kids about the economics.\u00a0 \u00a0Complete with here is why you don’t do “this” because I was stupid at that age kind of talk and you need to listen to me because I’ve been there.\u00a0 \u00a0Oh, did I mention that his middle daughter was in this class?\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n –education–He allowed that he had a few near-death experiences, watched a lot of videos and then went to Louisville to a school.\u00a0 He stressed the importance of “talking to people” in the industry.\u00a0 Ask questions!\u00a0 People, this applies to any industry.\u00a0 These people have been successful in several different industries.\u00a0 And there isn’t a college degree among them.\u00a0 Just a lot of work ethic, desire, willingness to learn and a barrel (get it) of common sense.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Without a doubt, a very educational tour.\u00a0 So, so good.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n To answer some questions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Yes, the administration went on the tour with us.\u00a0<\/p>\n No, I did not drive a yellow bus and park in front of the distillery.\u00a0 However, the local cop called the principal and asked “Why are a bunch of the seniors driving to the alcohol factory?”\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Yes, we got to smell the start of the mixing process–sugar, molasses, yeast.\u00a0 Yes, we got to smell some bourbon that will be ready in less than 5 years (so good!)\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n No, there wasn’t any tasting.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Only in Shattuck.\u00a0 Sure.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Yes, I have more stories.<\/p>\n In all seriousness, if any of you bored-ass readers are in the greater Shattuck area, hit me up.\u00a0 I’ll get you a tour.\u00a0 I’ll gladly show my buddy Frazier the educational side of this deal.\u00a0 He hasn’t drank in years but will love the science and art behind the process.\u00a0 One does not have to imbibe in order to enjoy the efforts that go into providing products such as these.\u00a0 I look forward to using some Schultz vodka to make a mule or three with Uncle Ron Simonson.\u00a0 As for you bourbon dudes, I patiently wait for the time when Kester, Heshelman and the Brem crew sit down with me for a tasting.\u00a0 (this Swanson dude is a bourbonite–it will be way, wicked good stuff).\u00a0 We might even let Boyer & Schoovy take part.\u00a0 TravASS will love the rum.\u00a0 Kratzer…..well!\u00a0 This stuff is good tasting.\u00a0 We will just have to schedule a time when there are drivers.\u00a0 No uber in the Greater Ellis County region.\u00a0 So, we will have to plan accordingly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 In all seriousness, look at the educational opportunities that surround us.\u00a0 Research.\u00a0 Learn.\u00a0 Even if you don’t like the topic, learn about it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Get smarter.\u00a0 Get better.\u00a0 I try.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 I’ve always been a fan of educational tours.\u00a0 I doubt that I will ever top the 2014 Gold Key Tours on back2back days of the John Deere combine factory and then the tractor factory with a former student\/customer and another good friend.\u00a0 As a student, employee and 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