Join Lew Bryson, author of Whiskey Master Class and spirits writer for publications like the Daily Beast, in a VIP guests' discussion forum focused on the history and legacy of Pennsylvania whiskey and what the future may hold for the category.
Pennsylvania was the birthplace of American Whiskey. From its early days on the frontier when grain was distilled in small still houses beside grist mills, to its heyday in the early 20th century when Monongahela Rye was the king of American whiskey- Pennsylvania whiskey has a long and misunderstood legacy. Today, distilleries like Manatawny Still Works benefit from a modern day whiskey renaissance and expand the understanding of what Pennsylvania whiskey can be. It's not just Monogahela rye, folks! Pennsylvania's whiskey history is as full of product diversity and individuality as its new distilleries are today!
Taste 3 Pennsylvania whiskeys with Manatawny Still Works' chief distiller, Max Pfeffer. Manatawny Still Works takes its name from a creek near the distillery, which the native Lenape Indians called Man'en'tau'wata'wik, or "the place we meet to drink.” At last year’s American Whiskey Convention, Manatawny Still Works’ “Keystone Whiskey” won the 2019 American Small Grain Whiskey Award and their “Peated Straight Malt Whiskey” won the Whiskey Under 4 Years Award of Excellence. See how this distillery’s Pennsylvania whiskey shares common ground with early American whiskey styles and how they break modern traditions with their own new approaches to whiskey making.
Greg Metze- master distiller, Old Elk Distillery
2020 AWC Impact Award Recipient
Join Greg Metze as he describes his unique experiences in the American distilling industry. With over 35 years of distilling experience, Mr. Metze has quietly made the modern American whiskey movement possible through his years of labor at Midwest Grain Products (MGP).
Greg Metze began learning the craft of distilling under Larry Ebersold in 1978 after graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a BS in chemical engineering. Greg served as master distiller after Larry's retirement in 2010 and continued to run the facility until his own retirement in 2016. Many of the whiskeys that we consider the best American whiskeys in the country were distilled at MGP's Lawrenceberg distillery in Indiana and were created under the supervsion of these two men. Their contributions to the modern American whiskey boom can not be overstated.
These men's contributions were acknowledged and honored in 2020 with the American Whiskey Convention's First Impact Awards.
This discussion forum will focus on Greg's experiences before America's whiskey boom and explain what elements are important in creating excellent spirits. The building blocks of good whiskey, like the successful utilization of yeast in fermentation and the creation of a flawless distillate are of utmost importance. Greg Metze will lead you through a tasting of Old Elk whiskeys to demonstrate his understanding of crafting a high quality spirit. His many years of experience and understanding of quality control in whiskey making has helped propel Old Elk whiskey into quickly becoming one of America's most admired brands.