Whiskey Wedding

If you love country music like we do, then you know the band Florida Georgia Line.  But you may be surprised to know that Florida Georgia line chose Tallahassee as the first stop on their 2017 “Dig Your Roots” tour.
​
We got an exclusive invite to check out the concert and meet the Guys as they rolled through to kick off the tour and celebrate the launch of their Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey.

The Backstory
The Florida Georgia Line duo consists of Monroe, Georgia’s Tyler Hubbard (Left), and Florida State University’s own Brian Kelley (Right).  Having both traveled to Nashville to pursue their independent music careers, the two met and joined forces to create a sound that is distinctively unique to the country music scene.  The same can be said for the flavor of their Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey.
​  
Developed as a sort of tribute to the bond of friendship the band shares with their “Camp”, the crew of longtime musicians, managers, technicians and friends who join them on the road as they tour, FGL built a beverage which is fun, flavorful and fully Southern.

The Wedding
Since Old Camp was made to be shared, we thought the best way to test it out would be among friends...so we brought it along to a wedding.  Now initially, we were a little concerned about the etiquette of a whiskey wedding, but we were in luck that the bride and groom “were down!”

​The Tasting
As a flavored whiskey, Old Camp does a good job appealing to a wide range of drinking tastes.  Aged in American White Oak barrels for 2 years, Old Camp has a golden color and a lightly spiced caramel undertone, thanks to the No. 3 barrel char.  Now to be sure, we’re talking peach pecan whiskey here, so if you are a whiskey purist, this is gonna feel a little bit out there.  That being said, Old Camp is a very special drink, and one we feel everyone can appreciate

Since FGL loves to party, and so do we, we chose to do shots.  A shot of Old Camp is a sweet burst of bold peach, with a warm, nutty pecan aftertaste.  It finishes smooth, and It’s the kind of shot that sticks with you for a bit.
​
FGL’s Hubbard was quoted saying, “...we wanted to develop a drink that feels true to who we are, our roots and the vibes we like to create.”  Along these lines, Old Camp is almost like a metaphor for FGL.  It’s not your typical whiskey, but it’s bold southern style sets it apart, while at the same time it fits right in.

​The Unexpected
Aside from the taste and the story behind the brand, we were impressed by the little touches FGL put into Old Camp.  At only $20 a bottle, we were expecting a cheap twist-off top but were impressed by the solid bottle design and the decision to go with a resealable cork stopper.

Being a flavored whiskey, the quality of the cork matters and ensures that the quality of the product will stay as fresh as it should.  This is important because Old Camp is a specialty beverage, an oddity of sorts, you want to keep in your liquor cabinet for those nights with friends when you wanna share something different.   

We also can’t understate that Old Camp is pure flavor.  The peach and pecan combo is a classic, and we love Old Camp because it’s almost like a culinary science project.  Cooking with alcohol, when done right, will elevate a dish, and with Old Camp you get the added peach pecan lift.  If you love to cook or bake get a bottle and start experimenting.  Peach Pecan Butterscotch, Peach Pecan Caramel Glaze, Peach Pecan Bananas Foster...go crazy.  If a recipe calls for whiskey, then try it with Peach Pecan whiskey.

Two Take-Aways
1.  About an hour and a half into the dinner, the wedding planner temporarily confiscated the bottle from us...This we felt was proof that Old Camp was a great whiskey, because we must have been having fun.

2.  Ultimately, what we took away from our Old Camp experience is that a good Whiskey, like a good song, or a good band, is special in its own unique way.  Old Camp is unexpected but familiar, meant to be shared with your old crew and your new friends alike, and it smoothly lingers with you like the memories you won’t forget.