baubel Report post Posted July 5, 2013 Hello, COLORADO! Veer Down! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
precenphix Report post Posted July 9, 2013 Congrats, Joe & Jules on branching out with the Vilya marque. I wish you nothing but the best of luck in your continued success with your fine spirits. Your absinthes have always remained a personal favorite of mine. Ben Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Legate Report post Posted July 14, 2013 Thanks, Ben! You should pop by the Forum more often. And you should stop by Montana for a visit, too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Legate Report post Posted July 26, 2013 Today starts the beginning of our search for Angelica in the wilderness areas of Northwest Montana. We are about two weeks away from actually harvesting anything but the bounty of Mother Earth is very exciting! We were advised to keep our eyes open for bears. That's some good advice MPC! 3 times we came across signs like this one. Sometimes, operating a distillery is more exciting than most people can imagine! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greytail Report post Posted July 27, 2013 So what do you want? A medal? Wait, you guys already got one.....hehe. Bear Scat. Did you do the freshness taste test to see how close he may have been to you? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MASTERPC Report post Posted July 27, 2013 I know more about bear spray, the legalities, effectiveness, rental options and more! Some expensive stuff, too! http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_spray Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Legate Report post Posted July 27, 2013 We try to keep (semi) fresh bear spray around for hiking and camping adventures but the only time I've ever used it was to try to chase some squatter skunks from under our pump house. It didn't work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greytail Report post Posted July 27, 2013 (edited) Sheesh. That bear scat must have you wound tighter than a Cuban rolled crepe. Edited July 27, 2013 by greytail Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Legate Report post Posted July 27, 2013 Nah, never had a bit of trouble with bears or mountain lions. Occasionally they pass through but they don't mean any harm. The bears making a mess of the garbage is the worse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Absomphe Report post Posted July 27, 2013 The bears making a mess of the garbage is the worse. Sure, but nobody expects the bears to speak the King's English. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Songcatcher Report post Posted July 28, 2013 The King is dead. Long live the King! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Legate Report post Posted July 28, 2013 Hmm. I'm missing it, Abs but happy to defer to your better half's infused knowledge. Not trusting my own skills, I plugged the sentence into an academic online contraption that confirmed my spelling and grammar. Correct me, O Spirit of Sixer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Absomphe Report post Posted July 28, 2013 The King is dead. Long live the King! Um, no, OOPS, sorry Joe, the "King" is righteously shamed. There were only bears and mountain lions in question, which made Joe's choice of "worse" absolutely correct. If the "King" is gonna edit, he'd better do it in a more sober fashion, henceforth. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Legate Report post Posted July 28, 2013 I would never trust my skills in grammar so allow me to offer this morning's photo of thigh-high Artemisia pontica: Or, a visitor this morning to Vilya Spirits: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Absomphe Report post Posted July 28, 2013 A picture can be worth even more than a thousand words. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Tessier Report post Posted July 28, 2013 Thanks for sharing, Joe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jack Griffin Report post Posted July 28, 2013 I had another glass of Ridge Verte this afternoon. It has become my favorite American absinthe. Just goes to show you what a bit of integrity, hard work, and dedication can do. This journey brings to mind the adage "be careful what you wish for, you just might get it." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Legate Report post Posted July 29, 2013 Willy Wonka, at your service. It's just a different kind of Candyland. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baubel Report post Posted July 29, 2013 ...thigh-high Artemisia pontica: I feel weird when you talk dirty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
preston Report post Posted July 30, 2013 I had another glass of Ridge Verte this afternoon. It has become my favorite American absinthe. Just goes to show you what a bit of integrity, hard work, and dedication can do. This journey brings to mind the adage "be careful what you wish for, you just might get it." with last night's glass, my bottle of Lucid is dangerously close to being depleted. in the past few months (since purchasing), I've learned a ton about other brands - which ones are "must-haves", as well as which ones to avoid. Scott, you've been a great help - mostly recommending the good ones, but stressing that I read the reviews for myself and make my own choices. with that in mind, I am pretty positive that Ridge Verte will be my next absinthe. it almost feels too soon to jump up so high on the list; should I still work my way up?? I was all set on the Kübler, just out of convienence and curiosity. now I'm just feeling impatient! :-) ...thigh-high Artemisia pontica: I feel weird when you talk dirty. hahaha Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Georges Meliès Report post Posted July 30, 2013 Go for the Ridge. Treat yourself. Lucid has already given you a fine example of a well-made but standard absinthe, better to move up than laterally. Ridge will show you what really good absinthe is all about. The only problem is that it's hard to go back again.... I have some Lucid left and somehow when I'm choosing my evening's absinthe, I just can't bring myself to pull the Lucid out of the cabinet. Not that I dislike it -- I think it's quite enjoyable. But there are more enjoyable ones that beckon my attention. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jack Griffin Report post Posted July 30, 2013 FYI, just because at this moment, Ridge is at the top of my list, it doesn't mean you won't enjoy others as much or more. Explore! If you're ordering domestically, and buying USA absinthe, I was very impressed with the latest batch of Marteau, and I love Vieux Carre as well! I would STRONGLY advise digging in, if you can, and getting two bottles. It will save you on some shipping, and you'll have a chance to develop your palate even more, with side by side chances of experiencing differences and nuance. Good luck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ambear Report post Posted July 30, 2013 Definitely one of my favorites, but by no means a "pinkies out" absinthe. If you're lucky enough to pick some up at the source, it's also wildly inexpensive. Ridge is pretty much my daily drinker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedle Report post Posted August 1, 2013 While I still prefer my Jade Edouard overall, I'd say that I'm lucky to have discovered Ridge recently. And it's not much more than Lucid here either, so welcome to my new regular absinthe! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
preston Report post Posted August 1, 2013 I would love to walk into my local shop and see Ridge sitting on the shelf, similarly priced and right next to Lucid!Scott, one of the first recomendations you gave me was Vieux Carre - I'm still anxious to try it. tough choices, and that's a good problem to have. :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Legate Report post Posted August 2, 2013 Thanks for all the kind words, folks. You are the best! I wish we could put Vilya Spirits on everyone's liquor store shelves as inexpensively as we can in Montana. Without the huge shipping costs and everyone getting their fair slice of the pie to provide it, our gin is about $25, the blanche about $40 and the verte about $50 but without all the people working and getting paid to move our spirits... well, you know the rest. We are very appreciative of our distributor(s) and the work they do. Still, I wish we could make Montana's prices the norm and not the exception. Julie and I arrived home last night just hours before a huge weather front struck our area. It was a very successful little escape for us, providing much needed R&R, Angelica and even enough fresh Huckleberries for a homemade pie tonight. This is where we enjoying hunting for Angelica: The beautiful, wild Angelica in it's natural habitat: And playing with a couple of vintage glasses and absinthe wearing a soon-to-disappear label: There is plenty of beauty in our wilderness: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
techdiver Report post Posted August 3, 2013 Best wishes for continued success. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greytail Report post Posted August 3, 2013 Awesome photos. Thanks for sharing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Songcatcher Report post Posted August 3, 2013 Yes yes. And btw, you stole my idea! That was going to be my Ridge louche video. A glass in a stream.....dammit....Nice job though. I've seen the green foil, I've seen the blue foil, but what's the dealio with the red foil? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites