Here's one for the country music fans

Yesterday morning I opened me email to find a message from Mr. Garth Brooks talking about his new album, Man Against Machine which is set to be released in a few weeks.  He was excited about this great idea one of the guys at GhostTunes (the site he launched to sell digital versions of his music) came up with.  The concept was to record a quick description of the song over the preview sample so that we could hear Garth's own thoughts about each song on the album.

Since the website is called GhostTunes and it was already the end of October they decided to launch the preview on Halloween.  Head on over for a sneak peek, it sounds amazing.  I can't wait for the album and Garth finally touring again after all these years.

From Garth's email:

"...a friend of mine at GhostTunes asked if we would take a different look at sampling for this new record...he wanted to know if we would speak a little bit on each song as a snippet of the song was playing. Because he asked, we went into studio and tried it. We were all surprised to hear how cool it turned out. Because it was his idea and his ask, I felt it fair to keep this to GhostTunes. Because it is GhostTunes, Halloween seems like the perfect time. So, for 24 hours, starting at midnight Thursday night, October 30th and for the entire 24 hours of Halloween, 2014, a sneak-peek at the new album will be available..."

You can here the preview at https://www.ghosttunes.com/garth-brooks/

Kickstarter: PopcornBall,

One of the coolest projects to come along in awhile on Kickstarter is The PopcornBall, a simple and elegant product that was designed to solve one of snackings oldest problems: How do you get butter and salt on ALL the popcorn?

A ball with finger holds on two ends to make spinning easier and a wide opening with a secure latch on the top to facilitate filling and snacking, a quick spin once butter and popcorn are added allows butter to easily and fairly equally distribute according to it's inventor.

Follow the link for video and more details, and consider backing this great product if you like popcorn.  If this project succeeds you could see PopcornBalls at your local movie theater very soon.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/popcornball/the-popcorn-ball

Whiskey Review: Tap 357 Canadian Maple Rye Whisky

Another of the new whiskys I just received from Caskers.com is this new Maple Rye from Tap 357.  Canadian Rye is aged 3-7 years before being mixed with fresh maple syrup and being aged an additional 6-12 months.  The process leaves a wonderfully full bodied whisky that actually tastes like maple sugar instead of like someone mixed maple syrup into your shot glass as some other products on the market do.

Maple is the first and strongest note on the palate, followed quickly by a light spice from the Rye and notes of tobacco and leather.  The finish smoothes into the lingering feeling that you have just been drinking with the crew from a maple syrup farm.

Not my favorite drink but I'll hold onto the bottle for the holidays.

Whiskey Review : WhistlePig's "The Boss Hog"

In my latest delivery from the folks at Caskers.com I received a couple bottles of WhistlePig's newest single barrel release, the 2014 "The Boss Hog" Rye.  Bottled at 117.8 proof after 13 years from barrel number 3 this is an amazing bottle with amazingly deep flavor profile.

The first thing to hit your palate is sweet caramel followed quickly by the spice of Rye and the heat of a high test proofing.  It leaves with a smooth crisp finish that lingers  with hints of orange peel and leather.

If you are fortunate enough to find a bottle of this rare and elusive pig hold on tight.  They are sure to make any mud hole feel like fat boy heaven.

Coming Soon: HemingWrite, "The Kindle of typewriters"

Hemingwrite is a new digital consumer product for writing composition developed by Adam Leeb and Patrick Paul. It features a distraction free experience with a singular focus on the writing experience.

The product is one of 20 new hardware devices competing in the Engadget.com Insert Coin competition this week. The competition highlights electronic hardware inventions from around the world culminating with the top teams invited to the Engadget Tech Conference in New York. Eligible companies are early startups which not have received any angel- or venture- capital financing and have not yet shipped products to consumers.

“What the Kindle did for reading, we want to do for writing,” said cofounder Patrick Paul of Hamtramck, Michigan. “Adam and I are huge fans of the simplicity of a typewriter but using one is tiresome and outdated. We set out to deliver the same distraction-free writing experience of a typewriter with all of the added benefits of modern technology: backups to the cloud, e-paper display, Cherry MX keyboard switches -- and nothing else.”

“I think what we created with our prototype is the best possible writing experience,” added cofounder Adam Leeb. “We combined all of the best aspects of the typewriter, the moleskine, and the computer to create a modern classic.”

can't wait to get my hands on one of these!  This would be perfect for sitting down away from everything and just writing.  Very cool in a decidedly retro way.

Hemingwrite is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. For more information, visit http://www.hemingwrite.com. 

Coming Soon: PivotalLiving announces new wearable concept

Want to help people track their movement and sleep patterns?  Give the tracker away!  That is the direction PivotalLiving unveiled in a new concept in the distribution of fitness wearables with their Life Tracker1 program.  The idea is pretty simple: instead of charging a small fortune as an entry point to getting healthy you get the tracker free to use for as long as subscribe to their monthly healthy living tracker.  Users pay $12/mo for access to software that tracks and analyzes movement, sleep, nutrition, hydration and a number of other wellness points.

Available for pre-order now they expect to begin shipping in December of this year.

Review: Wet Shave Club

There have been a ton of changes to the way men shave over the years, and there have been hundreds of patents filed trying to make a better and more expensive razor blade.  In the last year a couple of companies have tried to fight the tide of rising prices by introducing shave clubs, most notably dollarshaveclub.com.  I came across Wet Shave Club and was intrigued by their idea.  Instead of reinventing the razor blade, their idea is to bring shaving back to its roots.

In 1880 the first safety razor was patented, for the first time putting a safety comb over the top of the blade to prevent accidental cuts.  Wet Shave Club said "Double edged razor blades are just pennies a piece and available world wide, why not start a shave club that uses that instead of fighting it?" and they are onto something.

The Wet Shave Club starter pack includes a safety razor, blades, shaving brush, shaving soap, and astringent to help with nicks.

Here's how it works.  For $29.95 a month you get a starter kit (pictured above) which includes a safety razor, blades, shaving brush, shaving soap, and astringent sticks.  The starter kit also includes shaving instructions for those who have never shaved with a brush and safety razor before.  After that you get a box delivered every month with an assortment of shaving soaps, blades, after shave, and other shaving products.

If you are tired of spending way too much on razors and looking to get back to an easier and better shaving experience, give Wet Shave Club a try.

The NEW Fat Boy Heaven

As many of you know, for the last several years we have been running two separate web properties, this site and a technology site called Teknoholics.com which featured my gadget and technology reviews as well as my family's take on various technology products.  In recent months it has become clear that the best path to take from a marketing standpoint would be to concentrate on building a single brand, and combining the content.  What this means for most of you is that in addition to all of the great food and beverage content you have already enjoyed, you will be getting technology reviews and our observations on life and lifestyle products.  We hope you enjoy the changes.

Fat Boy Whisky Review: Pendleton 1910 Canadian Rye Whisky

Pendleton Whisky is named after the Pendleton Round-Up, one of the most prestigious rodeo events in the world. The event has been held during the second week of September each year since 1910, and brings over 50,000 tourists to the city of Pendleton, Oregon in the scenic Columbia River Gorge.

Pendleton 1910 12 Year Old Whisky was initially crafted to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the rodeo. The whisky is made from a mashbill composed entirely of rye grains, which are mashed, fermented and distilled in Canada. Following distillation, the whisky is brought to Hood River Distillers in Oregon, which finishes and the whisky in its own casks before bottling it at 80 proof. This whisky sets itself apart from most Canadian Ryes by being a small batch rather than a blend. This opens up the potential for variety from year to year, but also removes the consistency that large blends are famous for.

Pendleton 1910 Whisky has been aged for twelve years and has a slightly sweet aroma, with hints of butterscotch, light oak and tobacco. The aroma gives way to notes of toffee, black pepper, chewy leather, honey, chili peppers and vanilla on the palate. The medium finish is well-balanced, with a touch of spice and sweetness. On the whole this is one of the smoothest Canadian whiskys I have ever tasted.

The whisky earned a score of 90 points from Wine Enthusiast, and earned the Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012. Here at Fat Boy Heaven we give 1910 a score of 92.

The Pantry at Rock Creek Church

I've posted before about how fortunate I feel to be able to work with the folks at Rock Creek Church in their Pantry, preparing meals once a month and now working as part of the distribution team that helps provide food for more than 125 families every week.

One of the jobs I have taken on is making the weekly run out to Unger Farms to pick up the produce they sho generously have donated this summer from their harvest.

Every Monday I have been going out to their farm store too pick up what has been left from their weekend visits to local farmers markets and their own stand.  So far that has been more than 1000lbs of fresh produce which we have been able to give to families all over Washington county this summer.

Local people giving back to the community is amazing to see, and even more amazing to be a part of. If you have the opportunity please find a way to give back to your community.

FeastPDX Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting

FeastPDX is the Northwest's premier food and beverage event.   Founded in 2012 by Mike Thelin and Carrie Welch, Feast Portland showcases local culinary talent and Pacific Northwest ingredients alongside internationally recognized chefs, culinary professionals and industry leaders. Feast Portland is also a festival with a mission, donating its net proceeds towards ending childhood hunger in Oregon and around the country through Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and Share Our Strength.

The centerpiece of the festival is the Oregon Bounty Grand Tasting, a two day event in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.  

This is the second year Fat Boy Heaven has attended this amazing event, and this year was even better than last year.  It is easy to see why everyone from Zagat to Forbes has lauded it as one of the nation's premiere food events, and while naming it one of America's top 15 food events Fodor's Travel said it was "done to such perfection you’d think one of the Pacific Coast’s biggest-catch food events was in its 30th year.”

I could write for days about the flavors and sights of this amazing event, but wiser men than I for generations have said a picture is worth a thousand words so I will give you- the sights of Feast Portland:

Bambuza was making fresh shrimp spring rolls that amazed even a meat and potatoes guy like me

BatchPDX specializes in handmade chocolates

Featuring sweet and savory baked goods Pacific Pie served an amazing sausage roll.

redDuck Foods brought some great sauces, but the most interesting was their Pumpkin Spice ketchup

Whole Foods, a featured sponsor of the event had a large tent set up on the upper level of the square featuring local products they were debuting in their styles from Portland vendors.

And there you have it, the sites and food of Feast Portland's Grand Tasting for 2014.  I'm already looking forward to next year's event. Up next, a new event for this year, the Tillamook Brunch Village.

The Makers Muse: Margie Samuels

From an email I recieved today from Rob Samuels, Ambassador in Chief at Makers Mark:

"You know the story of Maker’s Mark®, but maybe not the whole story. While my grandfather can take full credit for crafting the soft, full-flavored, distinctive taste of Maker’s Mark®, it was my grandmother, Margie Samuels, who named all of the children and the family whisky.

I am honored to announce that after nearly 60 years, my grandmother is getting some well-deserved credit. Margie Samuels has been selected as this year’s only inductee into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, established by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, in recognition of her role as a pioneer in the industry. Margie’s eye for design was truly visionary, although she’d never use words like that to describe her idea.

Aside from relinquishing her kitchen for use as my grandfather’s test lab, Margie was the one who came up with the distinctive design of the Maker’s Mark package – from the unique bottle shape to the name. Inspired by a pewterer’s mark, Margie suggested Maker’s Mark. She even came up with the original design for the label. She liked things simple and chose black hand-lettering on cream-colored paper, putting her calligraphy skills to good use.

Margie crafted the “maker’s mark,” beginning with Star Hill Farm, the family property, and then adding the S for Samuels and the IV that symbolizes the generations of our family’s distillers. She also insisted the trademarked symbol be molded into the glass of each bottle of Maker’s Mark. Inspired by her collection of 19th-century bottles of cognac, she got out the family deep fryer, filled it with wax and dipped the first bottles right in the kitchen. The family deep fryer would never be the same!

Margie will officially be inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame on Wednesday, September 17, and, in celebration, we will host complimentary distillery tours that day for all visitors who wear red shirts and mention Margie’s name. We raise our glass to her as we celebrate National Bourbon Heritage Month."

We at Fat Boy Heaven also raise our glasses to Margie and all the other women who have made Bourbon America's official spirit.

Fat Boy Whiskey Review: Wiser's Legacy Blended Canadian Rye

The folks at Caskers.com sent me a couple of bottles of Wiser's Legacy in my box of Whiskey Love today, so I wanted to give it a try for you.

The nose is all rich vanilla and honey, but it has the rye spice and bite at the front before giving way to light orange and heavy oak and vanilla notes that linger at the back of your palate with a vague hint of a charcoal grill.  Would be a great mixer, but not my favorite rye neat or on the rocks.  Save this for the soda or ginger beer when you want to impress someone who doesnt know any better.

Fat Boy Whiskey Review: Duke - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

From John Wayne's son Ethan and the folks at Monument Valley Distillers comes the bourbon The Duke always intended to make during his lifetime but never had the chance to.

Nose has a light citrus note before a solid caramel and vanilla overtake your senses.  A slight burn at the front of the pallete gives way rapidly to caramels and honey, fading into oak and leather. 

A Small Batch bourbon bottled at 88 Proof this is a nice everyday sipper if you can find it.  Thanks to the folks at Caskers.com for another great whiskey.