THE DIRT READINGS: SINGLE TRACK SPIRITS WORDS BY CHRIS “BAMA” MILUCKY | PHOTOS BY MICHAEL CUSHIONBURY

few years back, I visited a bike shop in Newport, Kentucky, where I confessed that I didn’t really understand what whiskey was— Aboth in defi nition and fl avor. The shop owner set out to educate me, and we sampled nine bourbons the fi rst night and at least 15 on the second. Ever since, I’ve been drinking whiskey. I even developed my own weight-loss plan, the Two- Bourbon Diet: You can drink as much bourbon as you want, but only two a day. Lately, I’ve started hiding whiskey on the trail. It’s much lighter than beer, and its dark color really mates with the scenery, especially when stashed in a clear bottle. Trailside whiskey is a nice way to settle into a ride, no matter if you’re going solo or with a friend. Since doing so, I’ve had a few environmental concerns. Luckily, I was able to get Tom Pettinger of Single Track Spirits on the horn to distill my queries. Living in Cody, Wyoming, he converted a 90-year-old log cattle barn to a small distillery and started barreling whiskey in 2012.

BAMA: FIRST AND FOREMOST, HOW HOT CAN WHISKEY GET SO IF I START NOW, BY THE TIME MY WHISKEY IS READY, BEFORE IT GOES BAD? E-BIKES WILL BE IN VOGUE? Pettinger: I’ve been hiding whiskey on some singletrack; it should be good up to at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Big temperature swings [Silence.] bring out the fl avor of the . I PREFER WHEN IT’S HOT OUTSIDE. GOOD TO KNOW IF I EVER PLAN ON STASHING IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS? WOODS, BUT I’M NOT SURE HOW MUCH MORE POLYETHYLENE Casa Noble. Otherwise, my favorite tequila is whiskey. I drink it neat, MY $6 SUNNY BROOK REALLY NEEDS; IT ALREADY HAS SOME without ice. SERIOUS NODES OF NAIL POLISH. WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW? [Silence.] [Pettinger’s wife, Laurie, passes a message written on an envelope.] WHAT’S THE FREEZING POINT OF WHISKEY, AND WHAT SHOULD My wife would like to add, “Distilleries should be in every town. It’s I DO IF IT’S FROZEN? another way to support the local economy and bring things back to the Really cold, but I’d just hold it in my hand and wait for it to warm up. community.”

SOLID ANSWER. HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO MAKE MY OWN? ANY GOOD WHISKEY-DRINKING MUSIC? It depends on who you are. Get out of your chair and do it. Uncle Tupelo. “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young and always on vinyl.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO AGE WHISKEY “ENOUGH”? LASTLY, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO MAIL A BOTTLE FOR ME TO It depends. A 53-gallon barrel takes at least two years, but it usually SAMPLE? takes much longer. I mailed one to the Dirt Rag editor-in-chief about two months ago.

HMM. I HAVEN’T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

SINGLE TRACK SPIRITS small-batch copper pot, the is 111 proof. While that is certainly high, WHEAT WHISKEY $68 the whiskey boasts excellent smoothness and strong caramel fl avor with hints of fl o- WORDS BY MIKE CUSHIONBURY ral and a sweetness that belies its alcohol Single Track released the second-batch content, making this a perfect, fl avorful sip- barrels of its wheat whiskey with 100 cases ping whiskey neat or on the rocks any time total. Made with local Wyoming grains in a of year. singletrackspirits.com

28 DIRT RAG #190 4.15.16