Dumbass and the Rise of Whiskey by Pompei Baskets

admin on April 18, 2017

Dumbass and the Rise of Whiskey

We love working with local companies here at Pompei Gift Baskets, so when a customer came into our deli talking about “Dumbass Whiskey,” we had to find out more! I quickly reached out to the phone number on the website and got in touch with a kind, upbeat young man named Peter. We set up a meeting at our location the following week – and I don’t think that week could have gone by any slower. As soon as Peter walked in the door, you could feel the passion and drive he has for his company. This is when we soon learned about Dumbass and the Rise of Whiskey.

I have never been so excited to try a whiskey before. Sure, I’ve been to a few trade shows and gave the large name-brands their moment of fame, but there was something about these whiskies. I’m not sure if it was because they are made in New Jersey or the labels/names are so humorous, but I was intrigued. This has to be one of the best perks of the job: trying out new products!

Dumbass and the Rise of Whiskey

Naturally, we started off with the most popular of the flavors – Dumbass Peach Whiskey. There is certainly nothing dumb about this whiskey at all! Upon the nose you are automatically hit with a juicy, rich peach flavor with a faint whiskey smell. Now I’m not really a whiskey drinker (more of a Cognac girl) but after that sip, I may just branch out! You can taste the whiskey but it’s not over powering to the point you need to wrinkle your nose in order to get it down. It’s the perfect transition drink, just like Peter said. Next we tried Whiskeydick Cherry Whiskey – the name itself makes me giggle. The nose gives off such a strong smell of Maraschino cherries you would have though you opened a jar of cherries to top off your vanilla sundae. The palate was sweet but had a great tingle of whiskey afterwards. Think Dr. Pepper without the carbonation.

My boss’ favorite was up next: Butterface Butterscotch Whiskey. As of now, this is the ONLY butterscotch flavored whiskey on the market and honestly, if any brand comes out with this flavor, it will not compare to the richness of Peter’s whiskey. The nose is fluent with sweet butterscotch. I almost didn’t want to drink it because the smell was AMAZING. The taste was just as good! Seriously, this stuff is fantastic. You can barely taste the whiskey flavor so if you’re looking for a whiskey gut-punch, this probably isn’t the right choice.

However.. The Bee-Otch Honey Whiskey. Oh, my! Locally harvested honey is blended with the aged whiskey to create an awesome, delicate flavor. I believe this whiskey is the next step up. Nose is sweet of honey, but also pungent of whiskey. The whiskey flavor isn’t over powering and doesn’t scare me away like the smell of some whiskies. I take a sip and automatically taste the whiskey and it’s full barrel flavor but it then fades into a lovely, soft honey taste. So far, this one is my favorite!

I was skeptical trying the Fire-crotch Cinnamon Whiskey because I’ve had a (few) bad experience(s) with other cinnamon whiskies. After bringing up my concerns, Peter informed me his was made with natural ingredients and not loaded with sugar and syrups like the others. You can clearly see the color difference. This wasn’t an orange tinged, syrup-y concoction. This is an actual cinnamon FLAVORED whiskey. So I give it a shot – literally- and I’m blown away by the strength of the cinnamon. It was this wonderful explosion of bright cinnamon with a slight burn of the whiskey. I could have sat there and drank it all day, but sadly I could not.

Due to time constraints, I was not able to test out the Redneck Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey, but I promise I’ll update as soon as I do!

Dumbass and the Rise of Whiskey

I was so excited about meeting with Peter and creating gift basket ideas for his customers and ours that I completely forget to ask him more about his company! Luckily, it’s 2017 and e-mail does exist.The following is a quick interview with a few questions we had for Peter, who by the way creates, bottles, and distributes all his products – HIMSELF! With two young children at home, we wanted to know more about how this young man balances his passion with his family.

[Us] How did you get started with creating your whiskey?
[Peter] I worked for a liquor distributor for five years and saw whiskey gain popularity among consumers. Flavored whiskey was also on the rise and was a way for non whiskey drinks to make the transition. I decided to throw my hat in the ring with the knowledge that I have gained to put out a superior flavored whiskey in the marketplace.

What made you decide to create your own spirit? Whiskey in general?
Whiskey is on the rise and is very close to surpassing vodka as the #1 spirit in America. Plus I like to drink whiskey.

What creative names! How do you come up with the names and flavors for your product?
My brain is always working. I am always thinking.

Do you source your flavors locally?
Yes I source my flavors locally in New Jersey. My honey (Real Raw Honey) comes from a local bee farm in Pittstown, NJ.

You’re based in NJ. Are you hoping to expand across the United States?
The goal is to expand across the United States and eventually become global.

How do you handle criticism, if any, about the names of the products?
My names are unique. My names are fun. But the beauty is what rests inside the bottle. I produce a superior flavored whiskey and that’s what needs to be judged. The packaging is just a vehicle to capture the audience and reel them in.

Do people find the names offensive?
Who doesn’t know a dumbass, live with a dumbass or work for a dumbass? The names are amazing.

If you had to compare yourself to an animal, which do you think you would be most similar and why?
A donkey of course. I might be an Ass but I’m no dummy.

You have a wife and two young children, how does this effect you business and vise versa?
If they like the way the whiskey tastes, then I know I have a winner.

Do you have any advice for other young entrepreneurs out there?
If you have a dream, go out there and make it happen. There is no better feeling than being able to create your own destiny.

Your flavors are so unique. Any new flavors in the works?
I’ve always got some tricks up my sleeves. I started with 2 flavors and had 6 by 9 months. I’d like to concentrate on these 6 for now but I plan to launch a Rye Whiskey in the near future.

Do you plan on opening your distillery for tastings to local customers?
I am a one man band, so I blend, bottle and label all the whiskey, I sell and deliver the whiskey, and I conduct tastings and promotions every weekend. Doesn’t leave me much time for distillery tours. I do have plans to one day open the distillery to the public.

Nothing ever comes easy – what road bumps have you hit while trying to build your brand?
The furthest sale away from the consumer is the toughest, but when I get a chance to dance I win the show.

There’s a video on Youtube from 2014 labeled “Dumbass snorting Whiskey.” Any connection?
Nope.

What has been your favorite recipe, either by you or a fan, with any of your products?
My two favorites are the Dumbass Peach Tea Lemonade and the Whiskey Dick Cherry Coke. I highly recommend.

Dumbass and the Rise of Whiskey

Peter’s motivation for his company is serious goals! He is hard working, determined, and has created a great product from his previous knowledge of the liquor industry. We are so happy to have teamed up with him to help get his product across the United States and spread the word about this great spirit. As with all of our spirits, please read our privacy policy/terms & conditions to assure we can deliver to your state. Dumbass Whiskey Gift Baskets are currently in the works; If you have any questions about the product you can contact Peter directly here or give us a call at 1-888-272-0220. We would be more than happy to send your bottle of Dumbass directly to your door or recipient. Dumbass and the Rise of Whiskey is written & copyrighted by our concierge team member Erin; if you would like to use any information from Dumbass and the Rise of Whiskey, please e-mail her directly at [email protected].