Croker's Chronicles

In a surprising move for the bourbon world, Jim Beam has announced it will close its main distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, for the entirety of 2026.

Why the Pause?

The decision comes amidst a shifting landscape for American spirits. The company cited a combination of factors, including softening demand for bourbon, rising inventory levels, and the lingering effects of international trade disputes—specifically tariffs that have impacted exports.

With warehouses full and sales cooling off from the bourbon boom of recent years, the company is taking a strategic pause to align production with current market realities.

Not Goodbye, Just 'See You Soon'

While the stills will go quiet, the site won't be abandoned. Jim Beam plans to use the year-long shutdown to invest in "site enhancements" and improvements at the historic Clermont facility.

Good news for visitors: The James B. Beam Distilling Co. visitors center and the on-site restaurant will remain open throughout the closure. So, you can still stop by for a tour and a taste, even if the production line is taking a nap.

"We are taking this opportunity to make investments in our future."

What About the Workers?

Crucially, Jim Beam has stated that there are no planned layoffs associated with this closure. Employees at the Clermont distillery are expected to be reassigned to other roles or locations within the company during the shutdown.

Production will also continue at Jim Beam's other facilities, ensuring that the supply of the world's best-selling bourbon won't run dry anytime soon.

There is an art to the pub meal. It’s not just about filling the stomach; it’s about finding that harmony between the plate and the pint.

The Classic: Fish & Chips + Pale Ale

Fried food loves carbonation. The bubbles scrub the palate, getting you ready for the next bite. A crisp Pale Ale or Lager cuts right through the richness of the batter without overpowering the delicate fish.

The Heat Seeker: Wings + IPA

Ordering them hot? You need hops. The bitterness of an India Pale Ale (IPA) actually cools the palate and stands up to the aggressive vinegar punch of buffalo sauce. Avoid stouts here (unless you like a heavy stomach).

The Comfort: Shepherd’s Pie + Stout

Rich meat, gravy, and potatoes call for a beer with similar weight. A Dry Irish Stout (like Guinness) complements the savory, earthy notes of the dish. It’s a meal in itself, really.

The Burger: Red Ale or Lager

A good burger has a lot going on—fatty meat, cheese, maybe some bacon. A Red Ale brings a nice caramel maltiness that plays well with the charred beef, while a Lager keeps it refreshing.

It all started in 1967 with a beer called Gablinger's Diet Beer.

Created by biochemist Joseph Owades, it was the first beer to successfully remove starch (and thus calories) during brewing. But the marketing was terrible ("Diet" beer didn't scream "tasty"), and it flopped.

The recipe was passed to Meister Brau, who rebranded it as "Meister Brau Lite." When Miller Brewing Company acquired Meister Brau in 1972, they saw potential—but they needed a nationwide hit.

The Trademark Battle

Miller relaunched the beer as Miller Lite in 1975 using the spelling "L-I-T-E" for a very specific reason: they wanted to trademark it.

They argued that "Lite" was a distinct brand name, not just a description. If successful, no other brewery could use the word "Lite" for their low-calorie beers.

Competitors (like Schlitz and Heileman) were furious. They sued, and the case went all the way to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. The judges ruled against Miller, stating that "Lite" was just a phonetic spelling of the generic word "Light" and therefore couldn't be trademarked. One judge famously noted that misspelling a word doesn't make it proprietary.

The Aftermath: Miller lost the exclusive rights (which is why you see Coors Light and Bud Light), but the "Lite" spelling stuck. By then, the ads featuring athletes and "Great Taste, Less Filling" had made "Miller Lite" a household name.

So while they couldn't own the dictionary, they definitely owned the category.

It’s official: The face of the Mets franchise is moving on.

After rejecting a reported 7-year offer from New York back in 2023 and testing the waters of free agency, Pete Alonso has signed a 5-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles.

Why Baltimore?

"Christmas came early," said Maryland Governor Wes Moore, echoing the sentiment of a fanbase hungry for a championship. The Orioles have been aggressively building a contender, and adding Alonso’s bat—which has produced at least 34 homers in every full season he’s played—is a clear signal they are all-in for 2026.

For Mets fans, it’s a stunner. Many expected the homegrown slugger to be a lifer. But business is business, and Baltimore offered the fresh start (and the paycheck) the Polar Bear was looking for.

And that’s exactly where our story begins.

Every night after the dinner rush, when the last plate of wings hit the table and the AMI DJ swapped out playlists, Danny “Straight-Shot” Malone would step up to the Golden Tee machine like it was a sacred ritual. Customers gathered behind him, pints in hand, as he lined up each virtual drive with the precision of a surgeon and the swagger of a man who knew this machine better than it knew itself.

He didn’t play Golden Tee — he conducted it.

Word spread. Scores climbed. Rumors started. Some said he once hit an 18 under par… with one hand on the trackball. Others swore he whispered to the machine before every round, negotiating with it like an old friend.

One night, after a particularly unreal 27-under that made the whole bar erupt, two sharply dressed strangers approached Danny. Badges flashed. Credentials unfolded.

The PGA Comes Knocking

They were from the PGA.

Apparently, someone high up in the chain had seen clips of Danny floating around social media — a guy behind a bar in Wantagh demolishing Golden Tee courses with superhuman precision. And with pro golf trying to “reach a younger audience,” they had a wild idea:

Put Danny on tour. Not to caddy. Not to pour drinks. But to play — on a stage, in front of millions — demonstrating the “future of golf-influenced esports.”

Danny stared at them. The bar stared at them. Even the Golden Tee machine seemed to flicker in anticipation. He agreed to a tryout.

But just as he placed his hands on the trackball, he paused. Something felt off. The ball was too smooth… too clean. The surface lacked the perfect, mysterious layer of bar-grease and wing-sauce patina that he’d mastered over the years.

It reminded him of that old Seinfeld bit — George insisting a high score could only be broken with the perfect amount of grease on the joystick. Without the right feel, magic doesn’t happen.

Danny spun the trackball anyway. The shot sliced. The next hooked. On the third, the ball didn’t even leave the virtual fairway.

The PGA reps looked disappointed. Danny shrugged, wiping his palms on his apron.

“Boys,” he said, “I’m not built for the tour. I’m built for the bar.”

A Legend Remains

A week later, a package arrived at Boss Crokers: a custom Golden Tee trackball, engraved and polished, with a note from the PGA:

“If you ever change your mind, the tour is waiting.”

It’s still behind the bar today — not on the machine, but on a shelf, right next to the jersey from the 2011 Wing-Eating Championship and the photo of Old Man Reilly claiming he once beat Danny (he didn’t).

Danny still plays nightly. The crowds still gather. And the legend keeps growing.

Because some heroes choose fame… and some choose the bar where everybody knows their backswing.

Struggling to find a gift for the person who has everything? You can never go wrong with a bottle of something special. Here are Boss Croker's top picks for 2025:

1. The Crowd Pleaser: Rabbit Hole Cavehill Bourbon

A four-grain Kentucky Straight Bourbon that's rich, honeyed, and incredibly smooth. It's a modern classic that appeals to both newcomers and seasoned whiskey drinkers.
Perfect for: The Dad who "likes the good stuff."

2. The Showstopper: Don Julio 1942

It's tall, it's golden, and it tastes like vanilla and roasted agave. This is the bottle you put on the table when you want to make a statement.
Perfect for: The big celebration or the boss you need to impress.

3. The Irish Choice: Redbreast 12 Year Old

We couldn't make a list without a proper Irish whiskey. Redbreast is the gold standard for Single Pot Still whiskey—spicy, fruity, and oily in the best way possible.
Perfect for: The purist who knows their whiskey.

Upgrade your home setup with these pro-approved tools:

1. Boston Shaker

Skip the cobbler shaker (the one with the cap). A tin-on-tin Boston shaker chills faster, seals better, and is what we use behind the bar.

2. Japanese Jigger

Precision is everything. A tall, slender Japanese jigger allows you to measure 1oz, 2oz, and fractions perfectly so your Manhattan tastes the same every time.

3. Hawthorne Strainer

The one with the spring. It fits perfectly on your shaker tin to hold back ice and fruit pulp while letting the liquid flow smooth.

4. Bar Spoon

Not just for stirring. The twisted handle helps you layer drinks and the weighted end can crack ice. Essential for Old Fashioneds.

5. Muddler

You can't make a Mojoito without one. Look for a sturdy wood or stainless steel muddler to crush mint, limes, and sugar.

Walk into our pub and you'll see his name on the door, but few know the full story of the man behind the moniker. Richard "Boss" Croker (1843–1922) was untamed, controversial, and utterly legendary—a figure who rose from the streets of New York to become the uncrowned king of the city.

From County Cork to the Concrete Jungle

Born in Ballyva, County Cork, Croker emigrated to America with his family at the age of two so escaping the Great Famine. They settled in a shanty in what is now Central Park. Tough from the start, young Richard dropped out of school at 13 to become a machinist, but his real education happened on the streets.

He gained fame—and infamy—as a bare-knuckle boxer and leader of the "Fourth Avenue Tunnel Gang." His fists earned him respect, and that respect earned him the attention of Tammany Hall, the powerful Democratic political machine that controlled New York City.

The Boss of Tammany Hall

Croker wasn't just a brute; he was shrewd. He climbed the ranks swiftly, from Alderman to Coroner to Fire Commissioner. But his true power came in 1886, when he assumed leadership of Tammany Hall.

For nearly 16 years, "Boss" Croker dominated New York politics. He selected mayors, governors, and judges. Under his reign, Tammany Hall was an unstoppable force, securing votes from the city's booming immigrant population—especially the Irish—in exchange for jobs, food, and protection.

"I am working for my own pocket all the time," he once famously admitted at a senate inquiry, unapologetic about his 'honest graft'.

The Return to Ireland

By the turn of the century, reform movements began to chip away at Tammany's power. In 1905, richer than anyone could have imagined, Croker did what few bosses ever managed to do: he walked away.

He returned to his homeland, purchasing the magnificent Glencairn estate in Sandyford, Dublin. There, he reinvented himself as a gentleman horse breeder.

His crowning achievement came in 1907 when his horse, Orby, won the prestigious Epsom Derby—the first Irish-trained horse ever to do so. It was a final victory for the Irish immigrant who had conquered America.

A Legacy Poured in a Glass

Richard Croker died in 1922, leaving behind a legacy as complex as the city he ruled. He was a symbol of Irish-American power, grit, and ambition.

Here at Boss Croker's, we raise a glass to the spirit of the man—the fighter, the leader, and the Read Full Story →