The Birth of Aqua Vitae Tasting Experience in Lewis County

So where does the heart of this new thing known as Aqua Vitae come from? Well, it is interesting. As a professional educator and married to a woman who has been an educator for over sixteen years and is a life coach. It comes from some deep turns in ones life and some guidance. Passion first is a phrase that I have my kids learn as a principal of a 7-12 school and as I talk to my own kids. We all know the old homage of you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it. Well, some of us enjoy a lot of things and some of us try a lot of things and think we enjoy them.

I have been watching my wife for the past several years work hard while she earns her masters degree as a teacher in a field that is not too common in the education field. Many do a fairly easy program that will move them up on the pay scale with out taking too much away from their every day life in the education field. My wife one day after praying and wondering day in and day out, come across a simple advertisement that led her to getting a degree in Christian Counseling and even opening her own life coaching business. I myself, have moved up the ladder the past several years after earning my masters and certification in administration and feeling successful. However, as a principal, and do not get me wrong, I love my kids and what I do, or do I.

We took a trip to Las Vegas just this last summer and one of the little outing events she treated me to was a whiskey educational tasting at a store that specialized in rare whiskeys and spirits. I loved it and I always have loved hearing all about the history of whiskey and spirits as well as all the love, focus, sweat, tears, and blood that many generations of families put into it that own their own distillery. It is a passion and love that must drive doing what they do, especially for a product that literally takes years before you can really put out there. I love it so much, it re-sparked an interest in what this would look like if I could do it for the rest of my life. Would I give up my good paying job to do it? Actually, I think I would if I could. I would love to be a taster to share with others what I secretly get out of it.

So what does this have to do with today? Well, as I go to work every day and am very good and successful at what I do. Even others think I do a great job, but do I love it? My wife love her kids, but loves what God has led her to do working in others lives as a life coach. I know that being a taster and whiskey may not seem like a God driven vision, but I just can not shake that I love everything about it. How great would it be if I could take this dream of mine and create opportunities and events where I can share my passion with others. To volunteer and find out about all these great distilleries in our state and region, set up events to taste and experience what there is to offer, learn and educate others what is it that goes into a bottle of whiskey and what makes the flavors so complex and different from one area to the other.

I don't know what this experience will end up being in the future. All I have is my vision and a strong wife and a God given passion and desire to find out. I will move forward and learn every day. It is not just the product I enjoy, it is the intrecasies and details sourrounding whiskey and spirits in our culture and just the opportunities to get together when enjoying them. Join me in this journey. I would love to share this experience with any others that wish to join me and learn with me.

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#passion