December 2018 30 Day Rule/Focux Pix & Discussion

I've been on several different Buffalo Trace tours, Clint. I've also visited Maker's Mark, Four Roses, Wild Turkey, Barton 1792, Evan Williams, Jim Beam, and Stitzel-Weller.

As a chemical engineer, I enjoy touring the distilleries. A buddy and I get together and do this every so often. The manufacturing process is basically the same everywhere. The ratios of grains used in the mash bills and methods used to age and select the barrels for bottling differ from one distillery to the next. The tastings are fun, but I'm not a connoisseur. I really enjoy hearing the stories and learning about the history of each distillery, and I've been fortunate to meet a couple of the inductees into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. This is one of the gents from Buffalo Trace that I met. He leads tours there. If you ever get a chance to take one of his tours, I'd highly recommend it.

 

Nice photo and shave, Aaron! Work on the supergoop technique and your lathers will be outstanding.

Really nice photo, Brian!

 

Congrats @jluc on the CT! Well-deserved!

Kudos to the facilitators @RyX and @Linuxguile!

 

Tuesday afternoon December 4 - repeating yesterday

Grand King Self Lubricating Razor / vintage Wilkinson Sword (6)
APShaveCo Flat Top brush
Simpsons Lavender and Vetivert cream
Alum and Thayers Witch Hazel Original

Same setup as yesterday with just a different scent of shaving cream. I took a fingertip dab of shaving cream today, streaked it on my cheek, and then lathered it with the synthetic brush. This method worked very well and provided me with enough lather in the brush for at least two passes. I like the scent of both lavender and vetiver. The combination provided a pleasantly earthy herbal-floral aroma.

Today's shave confirmed my impression yesterday that this is a truly excellent razor - a crisp, close, efficient shaver that is still very mild with virtually no blade feel. Two passes left me on the cusp of BBS with zero feedback from the alum. I used a splash of witch hazel to finish only because of our current cold dry air.

I think I will stick with this razor for awhile longer - maybe while I run through my last three flavours of Simpsons shaving cream.

 

Safe travels, Brian. Great photo today - I still drool every time I see a photo of that brush...

 

Too funny! I will wear the moniker with pride, even on Clubman days.

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Congrats!

 

Ahahaha, Congrats Jim!!

 

Sounds like a great shave, John!

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Thanks for that clip, Charlie. What he said in it really hit home today.

 

I just hope your fellow millwrights don't find out. That might not be too pretty.

In all honestly, it's a very cool CT, Jim.

 

They know how pretty I smell.

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Congrats on the CT. But if you start wearing The Veg, a committee may have to be struck to strip you of it again...

 

Freddie is a really cool guy, and he certainly speaks with wisdom when it comes to valuing relationships...whether it's about beloved family members or dear pets that are also part of the family. I've heard him tell this story and a few others just as interesting in person. My Bride and I visited Buffalo Trace a few months ago. We went on a bottling tour that he led. I had scheduled a second "hardhat" tour for myself after the bottling tour. It involved climbing a lot of open stairs and walking on open grating. My Bride doesn't like heights, so she passed on that tour. When Freddie learned that she would be waiting on me, he took her and a couple of others on an impromptu VIP warehouse tour. They got to view all the Pappy Van Winkle bourbon barrels in the warehouse.

I hesitated to post on this topic because I personally don't condone overindulgence. I do, however, enjoy the history, stories, and processes associated with the bourbon industry. I will also try it on occasion. It's a big part of our local history here in Kentucky.

Here's another clip on a variation of that same story...

 

Awesome videos, Charlie! Thanks for posting. He's right - why have it if you don't drink it? Share with your loved ones and make the best of each day. Terrific philosophy.

 

Very nice display Patrick.

 

Aaron.

 

Excellent shave Brian. Have a safe trip.