Since returning home from Iraq as a soldier in 2005, Fred Minnick shifted his passion for writing into distilled spirits, becoming a leading media personality for all things whiskey. With appearances on Top Chef, Today Show, Moonshiners, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning and more, the Wall Street Journal-bestselling author has written seven books, including Whiskey Women, Rum Curious, Bourbon Curious, MEAD, and Bourbon: The Rise, Fall & Rebirth of An American Whiskey, which won the Spirited Award for Best Spirits Book. He has written about spirits for Forbes, New York Times, Scientific American, Parade Magazine and multiple appearances on CBS This Morning, NPR and CNBC. Minnick is a co-founder to Bourbon & Beyond, Bourbon+ Magazine, and is an advisor to the Spirits Network. But most importantly, he wears ascots. ASCOT Awards is an international spirits competition created by spirits personality and veteran tasting judge, Fred Minnick. Borchetta Bourbon won Double Platinum scoring a 93! After tasting a selection of Big Machine products, Fred selected our first Borchetta Bourbon Single Barrel #805 featuring our locally grown, heirloom red corn bourbon. Make sure to take notice of its distinctive redish hue and full bodied flavor.