Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/809553
20 | M A C O N M A G A Z I N E A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 7 IN THE SPIRIT Whisky or Whiskey. What is the correct spelling? That depends on where it is produced. "Whisky" in Canada, India, Japan and Scotland. "Whiskey" in America and Ireland. Why? My hunch, "back in the day" folks in Scotland and Ireland wouldn't agree and kept their own spelling. Also, there's a continuing Celtic family disagreement whether distilling whisky started in Ireland or Scotland. Discussion becomes more "important" as the liquid in question is sampled. All whiskies use grain, yeast, and water and are aged in wooden barrels. (If what you are drinking comes from a metal barrel or tub, you are not drinking whisky.) The main difference in taste comes from the grain used. Ever adaptive, our ancestors used locally available grains to produce whiskies: barley in Scotland and Ireland, wheat in Canada, rye in the Yankee north, and corn in the Southeast. Don't be put off by the impression that there are a lot of rules around whisky. Actually, there are just two rules. No. 1 whatever you enjoy is the correct choice. No. 2 if questioned or challenged – refer them to No. 1. Personally, my introduction to whiskey was during senior skip day in high school. Back then being cool meant adult beverages were involved. Delivery involved leaving $7 in a drainage culvert for a bottle from a classmate's father's liquor cabinet and getting the bottle from the same culvert the next day. Except for the purloined whiskey, the day went well. Confession, I have never sought "Rockin Rye" since. UPCOMING: Macon Whisky Festival 2017. April 18, 6-8p.m. Downtown Grill. Tickets at Eventbrite.com, $42. Day of event $49. Art Howard is an enthusiastic student of Scotch whisky and the growing Macon whisk(e)y scene. STATE OF SMALL BUSINESS The Middle Georgia State of Small Business Summit will be held May 3 from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at Middle Georgia State University's Professional Sciences Conference Center. The annual event allows small business owners to take stock of local economic and business conditions. Ten speakers will make short presentations including measureable benchmarks relating to the local small business community. There is a small fee to attend and lunch is provided. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Workshops run from 9-11 a.m. Networking and lunch is from 11-11:30 a.m. Participants will be welcomed by Macon-Bibb Mayor Robert Reichert and Ulrica Jones, chair of SCORE Middle Georgia. Gary Lee, executive director of the city of Warner Robins Redevelopment Agency, will introduce the speakers. Speakers include: TERRI L DENISON, director, Georgia District, United States Small Business Administration: "State of Small Business in Georgia." SUSAN P. GILBERT, dean, Stetson School of Business and Economics, Mercer University: "Economic Indicators for Middle Georgia." PAT TOPPING, senior vice president, Macon Economic Development Commission: "Middle Georgia is Open for Business in 2017." JODI PALMER, co-owner, Macon Magazine: "Media and Small Business Growth in Middle Georgia." AILEEN D. ZOELLNER, government assistance counselor, government contract assistance center, Georgia Institute of Technology: "Doing business with government in Middle Georgia." JOSH WALTON, area director, University of Georgia Small Business Development Center: "Small Business Access to Capital in Middle Georgia." JOSH ROGERS, president and CEO, NewTown Macon: "New Lender in Town: NewTown Macon and Small Business Downtown." JAMES BUMPUS, director, Small Business Affairs, Macon- Bibb County: "Minority Small Business Inclusion in Middle Georgia." PAMELA ADAMS ALEXANDER, Owner, BizLynks Consulting Group, LLC: "Linking Technology to Business Growth" GARY LEE, executive director, city of Warner Robins Redevelopment Agency: "Middle Georgia State of Small Business Summit Wrap-up." Briefs