Buffalo Trace Oral History Project

Its no secret that Im an avid bourbon drinker, a testament to my southern roots and impeccable taste, I'm sure. I recently came across the Buffalo Trace Oral History project and love that this historic distillery is documenting some of the lore and stories from their former employees. I wasnt sure that it was possible, but after watching some of these clips, I actually savor each sip of bourbon more. The image above is actually of Colonel Blanton at the distillery.

Buffalo Trace is the oldest distillery in the US. Based in Frankfurt, Kentucky, they release their namesake bourbon as well as a variety of small batch, single barrel bourbons including George T Stagg, one of the most highly coveted bourbons. George T Stagg is a 15-year aged bourbon that is uncut and unfiltered. It used to be released only once a year and is known for its high alcohol volume. Super hard to find, I sampled it last year when i was in Lexington. Besides Buffalo Trace and George T Stagg, the distillery also produces favorites like Blanton's, Eagle Rare, Pappy Van Winkle, and Elmer T Lee.

this day in history...

June 13, 1967 - Thurgood Marshall appointed to U.S. Supreme Court by President Lyndon Johnson.

It was Marshall who ended legal segregation in the United States. He won Supreme Court victories breaking the color line in housing, transportation and voting, all of which overturned the 'Separate-but-Equal' apartheid of American life in the first half of the century. It was Marshall who won the most important legal case of the century, Brown v. Board of Education, ending the legal separation of black and white children in public schools.

1st Asian American Comic Book

I found The Four Immigrants Manga on the sale rack of a Berkeley, CA bookstore. Published by Stone Bridge Press (specializing in "Quality Books about Asia"), the book is a translation of the first copyrighted Japanese-American comic book.

Henry Kiyama modeled his four characters on his own group of friends: Henry, an art student; Charlie, man-about-town; Frank, an entrepreneur; and Fred, a farmer. Kiyama covers "A Japanese Experience in San Francisco, 1904-1924" over 52 episodes consisting of 12 cells each. His fresh-off-the-boat heroes chase ambition, money and women...when they're not getting fired or drinking away their wages, they make fun of Chinese people and shoot the breeze about life.

Check out the cheeky Henry (above), during an ill-fated stint as a houseboy: "Wow! White folks really are white!"