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Episode Explores Bourbon’s History, Seasonal Cocktails, and How Customers Can Access Highly Allocated Products
The latest episode of Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services’ (ABS) “Spirited Discussions” podcast explores bourbon’s history and its special status as an American product, while offering tips for finding sought-after bottles at retail prices.
The episode, “Celebrating National Bourbon Heritage Month,” features ABS Retail Operations Manager Jay Spiegel and Sazerac Company Brand Ambassador Matt Ray. Hosted by Jocelyn Rawat, the discussion explores Maryland’s role in bourbon history, seasonal bourbon cocktails, and how the County’s Highly Allocated (HAL) program gives customers access to limited-release products.
Topics include bourbon’s designation as a distinctive American product, tips for making a classic Old Fashioned, and recipes for other seasonal bourbon cocktails. The guests also discuss why some bourbons are highly limited and why a longer aging process does not necessarily mean a better product.
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ABS’ HAL program provides customers with an equitable way to purchase HAL products released on the second Saturday of each month on a first-come, first-served basis. ABS posts a list of available products on its website 48 hours in advance. Products that are extremely limited are distributed through a lottery.
“Limited releases exist because bourbon production is slow by nature, with some bottles aged as much as 23 years,” said Spiegel. “ABS uses a lottery system to make sure customers get a fair chance at purchasing a once-in-a-lifetime bottle at a reasonable price.”
Sazerac Company supplies several allocated products, including Thomas Handy Sazerac Rye, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, and the Pappy Van Winkle line.
The “Spirited Discussions” podcast explores alcohol beverage products, industry trends, and public safety issues affecting Montgomery County residents and businesses. Episodes are available on the ABS website and major podcast platforms, including Amazon, Apple, and Spotify.
Residents can submit ideas or questions for future episodes by emailing abs.spiriteddiscussions@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Technical support for the podcast is provided by the Office of Broadband Programs within the Montgomery County Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions.
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ABS is Montgomery County’s alcohol wholesaler for beer, wine, and spirits and operates 27 retail stores throughout the County. ABS also manages alcohol licensing, enforcement, and education for more than 1,000 businesses.
The department generates tens of millions of dollars in net income each year. Those funds help pay down County debt, with a significant portion deposited into the County’s general fund to support services that would otherwise rely on tax dollars.
Residents can follow ABS on Facebook and X.
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Read the original article at mcgov
