Question 1

Why?

Accepted Answer

Why did we do this? Great Question. Like many of our ideas, it was generated while enjoying a bottle of bourbon with friends. We are of course whiskey enthusiasts and saw a chance to provide a unique experience to other enthusiast.

It started by dropping a small camera into a bung hole and taking photos inside a barrel.  They looked decent, so we thought what if we could put a video camera in the barrel. We loved the concept and soon developed whiskey webcam. We were surprised no one has ever done this before. We thought, just like whiskey, it was about time.

Question 2

What am I going to see? Is this like watching grass grow?

Accepted Answer

So, the grass growing analogy comes up a lot. Granted, the livestream is not something you will watch for hours on end. But, like us, we think you will enjoy logging in every once in a while to see what you will be drinking in 4 or more years.  If you look close enough, you might notice the whiskey gets a little darker each time. Some have suggested they have seen Angels taking their share, but we cannot corroborate that rumor.

Question 3

Why so expensive?

Accepted Answer

Another great question.  First, remember, you are getting a 750 ml bottle of 4-6 year old barrel proof bourbon for only $10.  But, the biggest expense in this operation is shipping. It costs on average $13 per year per person to ship a 50ml barrel sample. So, we will spend up to $78 just mailing you samples. Then there is the cost of the shirt, the bottle, the label, the box, supplies, our time, and not to mention the cost of the 30 ml of barrel proof whiskey. Finally, we spent a bunch of money developing the system and buying the ports, computers, cameras, etc.

Question 4

Why is the bourbon moving in the barrel?

Accepted Answer

If we did not "move" the barrel slightly, the surface of the whiskey would create a mirror image. In testing it was not obvious what you were looking at. The slight movement helps orient the video and makes it obvious there is liquid in the barrel. The slight movement is created by an air wedge that inflates every 30 seconds to slightly rock the barrel. The barrels are only rocked when you are watching the livestream.  When the livestream page is loaded a bit of code is sent to an outlet connected to the internet, that outlet turns on and that turns on the compressor and the barrel is moved.  The same thing happens to the lights. The lights are only one when you are watching the livestream. We are also theorizing that this slight movement for 4-6 years will increase the interaction of the bourbon with the barrel and result in a richer flavor. You will have to buy a Whiskey Webcam to find out with us.

Question 5

Is the whiskey included in the price?

Accepted Answer

The short of the long is, no. You pay $139 today for the whiskey webcam experience, and $10 in 4-6 years for the actual 750 ml bottle of bourbon.

So, here's the legal to keep the lawyers happy.
Your Whiskey Webcam purchase does not include a bottle of whiskey. State laws prevent us from including the sale of whiskey in the whiskey webcam experience.  You are under no obligation to buy a bottle, but if you elect to buy a bottle, the State of Ohio requires the bottle to be purchased separately.
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So, what does that mean? It means we have to charge you separately for the actual whiskey bottle when you decide to purchase one.  But, we have kept the price reasonable at only $10 (plus any applicable taxes and shipping). We have no doubt it will be the best $10 bottle of bourbon you have ever purchased. 
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Remember, you may elect to purchase your bottle anytime after the barrel reaches 4 years old.  You get to decide the bottling date and the bottling poof!  After 4 years, all monthly newsletters will provide a link to purchase your bottle, or you can also email us anytime at greg@whiskeywebcam.com.(mailto:greg@whiskeywebcam.com) 
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All Whiskey Webcam barrels will be bottled under the Hayner Distilling (http://www.haynerdistilling.com/)brand located in Troy, Ohio.  We have not completed the label design, but hey, we still have four years to come up with a label. We will share label designs and other news throughout our time together.

Question 6

What brand is bottling the barrel and at what proof?

Accepted Answer

Whiskey Webcam is owned and operated by Hayner Distilling located in Troy, Ohio. The barrels will be bottled by Hayner Distilling and sold by Hayner Distilling. You decide the proof when you elect to buy your bottle. A typical proof is 90-100.

Question 7

What will the final bottle and label look like?

Accepted Answer

Well, we still have four years to figure that out. You can view our current bottles and labels at hayner.com.  But, we are planning a completely new brand for whiskey webcam whiskey. We will share the final bottle and label design as soon as it is completed.

Question 8

Can I just purchase the bourbon?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you do not have to purchase the whiskey webcam experience to purchase this bourbon from Hayner Distilling. Whiskey Webcam bourbon will be available in limited supply at Hayner Distilling for $10 per bottle. But you will certainly appreciate it more if you spent 4 years watching it age.

Question 9

How do I purchase a bottle?

Accepted Answer

After 4 years, you will have the option to purchase a 750 ml bottle of whiskey from Hayner Distilling, the company that owns whiskey webcam. We have partnered with a third party company to help process the transaction. You may elect to pick the bottle up in Troy, Ohio or have it shipped to you. You do not have to purchase a whiskey webcam experience to purchase the whiskey. A limited number of bottles will be made available to the public at $10.00.

Question 10

Will the light affect the bourbon?

Accepted Answer

There are some studies that suggest UV light can degrade the taste of whiskey. For Whiskey Webcam we use LED lights that do not emit measurable UV light. To play it safe, we have several UV filters attached to each lighting fixture to remove an errant UV light from entering the barrel.

In addition, the lights are only on when someone is watching the livestream. There is a bit of code on the livestream page that triggers an outlet that turns on the lights. So, the majority of the time, the bourbon is resting in the dark.

FAQs

Whiskey Webcam FAQs