Last weekend, I met my good friend Chad Smith in Lexington, KY to do the infamous “Kentucky Bourbon Run.” We visited 5 distilleries over the weekend, and tasted some very good bourbon! Besides drinking good bourbon… we learned much about the rich history of the bourbon industry.
Lesson #1… 95% of the world’s bourbon is made in Kentucky because there is an amazing limestone “shelf” that filters all the water from the surrounding lakes and removes all the unwanted iron from the water naturally. This is of crucial importance because there are only 3 main “ingredients” that go into making straight bourbon. 1) Water, 2) Grains, and 3) the wood flavors from the charred oak barrel.
Every distillery wants the absolute best ingredients possible… because they understand the quality of the final product is directly related to the ingredients they put in.
As it is with life. Our lives will only be as good as the ingredients we use to make it.
Unlike bourbon however, there are many more ingredients that go into making a great life. Here are just three to consider…
· Family – The family is a big deal… work hard… build a great legacy.
· Faith – Living for something bigger keeps the focus off ourselves.
· Friends – Stupid rubs off… but so does smart. Choose friends wisely.
Lesson #2… Every distillery we toured emphasized the importance of the finest ingredients possible to make the finest bourbon possible… but even more important… was their emphasis on the family history and the passing down of information, lessons, procedures, recipes, and secrets to successful bourbon.
I’m so thankful to have guys like Chad Smith in my life. He challenges me to evaluate the ingredients necessary to make my life great. It is essential to surround yourself with individuals who are already where you want to be.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to hang with some guys that will encourage and challenge you for a great weekend… check out www.mantime.us
Find a mentor… be a mentor… and drink a little bourbon. May I recommend a couple of my favorites from last weekend… GPTS
A neat blog, Greg. Jeff, our son lives with his family in Louisville, Ky.
Would love for him to be close enough to you to enjoy a little bourbon. It is his drink of choice.