Spirited Entertainment
Learning should be fun, and learning about whiskey should be really fun. Jake Norris weaves together fascinating facts with his industry experience and entertaining stories to engage any audience. Ideal for corporate events or special get togethers, Jake’s presentations are able to engage any group, and make the most technical aspects of whiskey accessible by pulling back the veil on how spirits are made. Be you a novice or a connoisseur, there is always something new to discover in the wonderful world of spirits.
These educational entertainment sessions are designed to engage the audience and involve them in the learning process with hands on guided tasting and interactive dialogue. Alongside the interesting curriculum of whiskey knowledge, Jake will share professional tasting techniques utilized by top whiskey critics and writers when evaluating spirits in a actual ‘critical whiskey tasting’ and evaluation the group takes part in.
“My sales team was so busy laughing and having fun they didn’t even realize they were learning a ton about whiskey. Jake really has a knack for sharing his knowledge in a fun and accessible way”
-Office Manager Erin Roecker of Nauhaus Industries
Jake Norris‘ Educational Entertainment is the perfect addition to any corporate retreat, team building event or girls night in. Jake can travel to any venue to entertain your group from your “man cave” to the ballroom or boardroom. No group is too big or too small.
Each event is fully tailored to the needs of your group. Every detail of your event will be customized, from the duration of the event to the information covered, and price range and variety of spirits sampled.
Spirited Education Packages:
Colorado Whiskies: Jake, former master distiller at Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey and Laws Whiskey House, offers a tour around the beautiful state of Colorado in a glass. Colorado has 60+ active distilleries that produce a dizzying array of spirits Jake guides you through the crowd to find your favorite.
Whiskey Around The World: Don’t have 80 days to circle the globe? See the sights via the international language of whiskey. A customizable selection of spirits exhibit the differences and similarities in world whiskies.
American Whiskey: Who doesn’t love a good old fashioned…. well.. a good Old Fashioned. Jake explains why American whiskey is perfect for cocktails and on its own. What makes American whiskey so great? What is the history of whiskey production in America? How was drinking whiskey a rebellious act of patriotism? What’s the difference between bourbon and rye? What is “straight whiskey?” So many questions are answered in just a handful of glasses.
The Bourbon Trail: There is a magical trail in Kentucky that leads you to the front door of some of the best distilleries in the country, producing some of the best whiskey in the world… Bourbon. Why trek all the way to Kentucky when you can just sit back in an easy chair and have it come to you. Jake will offer a selection of bourbons that tell the story of why bourbon is our national spirit by an act of Congress.
American Rye: Damn, rye is good! What’s the fuss? What makes it different? This once obscure grain makes some of the most sought after and coveted whiskey in the world. What is it about this humble grass that turns grain into gold? No better way to find out than to have a few glasses and experience it yourself.
American Single Malt: America didn’t really produce an all barley whiskey until 2004, but Ireland and Scotland have been making them for centuries. Why were we late to the race? What defines a single malt? Why are some smokey and some not? Well wouldn’t you like to know…
Overview of Scotland: Mark Twain once said “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough” … I think he was talking about scotch. Scotland makes some of the best whiskey produced anywhere in the world. Its traditions and lore run deeper than the black waters of the Spey River. Such varied flavors and characteristics from one small country boggles the mind. Why are some scotches smokey and others are sweet? Where does the brine flavor come from? Does this whiskey have to be older than me to be good? Do I have to skip paying my mortgage to get a good bottle? All these questions and more can be discussed over a few drams of the good stuff. I will even do a few corny toasts. slàinte!
Regions Of Scotland: Why do whiskeys made from the exact same ingredients and pretty much the same way taste so different? One word… microclimates. By allowing each region of Scotland to express itself through its local ingredients, the terroir of Scotland is laid out for us to enjoy.
Specific Region Of Scotland: Do you already have the overview of Scotch Whiskey? Want to dig a little deeper into a particular region? We can do that. Lowlands, Speyside, Highlands, Campbeltown, Islay and Islands are the regions of Scotch production…. well Islay is often considered a region on its own, but can also be included with the Islands… oh wait there is a little controversy there… this definitely needs to be discussed over a few drams.
Irish Whiskey: The Emerald Isle….Ireland… is where it all started. Legend has it that St. Patrick poured beer into an alembic perfume still stolen from Sumeria, and what came out was revered as uisce na beatha or “water of life.” While the true origin of whiskey can never really be known, this is the spark that set the world of whiskey in motion. How did uisce na beatha become whiskey? Why does Scotch taste so different from Irish whiskey? Why does the U.S. use corn? How did whiskey get from Ireland to Japan or New Zealand? How do you really make the best Irish Coffee in the universe? Well let’s explore that.
Japanese Whiskey: How did Masataka Taketsuru’s love affair with a Scottish woman named Rita change the world of whiskey forever? What is Mizunara oak? Why does Japanese whiskey make the perfect hi-ball? One thing I do know, is that the Japanese do not mess around. Anything a Japanese craftsman sets his mind to will be done right. No detail will be ignored, no expense will be spared. It is this dedication to quality and attention to detail that makes Japanese whiskey some of the most interesting, most expensive, and hard to find spirit on the planet. We should definitely drink some and talk shop. Kampi!
Technical Whiskey Production Education: So your not a pleb… you already drove on the wrong side of the road in Scotland, you got the T-shirt from Kentucky, your wife lost her scarf in a Dublin pub… now you want to explore how it’s really made. What goes into making a whiskey? What is malting? How does distillation work? What’s the difference between a pot still and a column still? What does a barrel really do? What does sour mash really mean? How do we convert all the starch in corn into tasty, tasty alcohol? Strap on your nerd glasses… we can do that.
Custom education: Is there something you always wanted to know about whiskey but did not have access to a professional? This is your chance. I can custom tailor an evening of entertaining education to your specific needs.. Just ask.
Norris draws on his industry relationships with brand representatives and distributors to this day in his role as Co-founding President of The Denver Whiskey Club. The Denver Whiskey Club is an independent organization dedicated to empowering the consumer through impartial education and unique experience. His work with DWC has given him the opportunity to educate hundreds of emerging consumers, teaching techniques on critical tasting, quality evaluation and general whiskey knowledge. While hosting DWC technical educations, Norris often acts as a “technical translator” between visiting educators, clarifying the information for club members.
Whether leading an education or running the still, Jake has demonstrated his deep understanding and love for craft spirits, and earned his moniker as “Jake Whiskey”.