Usually I use this space for whiskey talk, but there has been an exciting development in the world of milk that simply cannot wait. Last week, the Buffalo Herd Dairy announced an innovative new program made especially to please the milk obsessives and dairy geeks among us. Over the next eight years, on a bi-weekly basis, the dairy will be releasing 785 single cow milks. Each batch comes from a single cow. Buffalo Heard Brand Ambassador Harlen Milky explained as follows:For the first time, we've eliminated all the variables so that consumers can taste the difference that each cow makes. People are always talking about various milk varieties, but they seldom think about factors like teat location, utter volume and other micro-factors that we have been able to isolate in this project. For instance, we've got some front teat only milk and some back teat only milk and they taste entirely different, same with right and left. In fact, you will be able to taste milk that comes from a single teat of each cow (the exclusive "single teat" bottlings.)
Other variables include cows treated with bovine growth hormone, cows massaged and bathed in beer and a choice few that have mad cow disease.
The milk will be released 20 at a time in gallon jugs for $45 per jug. As Milky says, "you really have to taste them all to make this project worthwhile." Consumers will be able to rate the milks on the dairy's website, and if the dairy finds one cow that is a favorite, they will continue to milk that cow, and the entire concept, for all it's worth.
13 comments:
I've called my local grocer and was 5th on the list for thes offerings. They are claiming 2 per customer max. : (
Damn funny Steve!
You made me laugh right out loud dude. Clever! Thanks!
What jug entry proof is this experiment being conducted at?
I normally only drink the, chilled filtered, skim proof. For this, I'm willing to try the released proof expression. I can only hope it's unchilled filtered.
My local grocer is setting up a display dairy case, locked, to display all the jugs, as they come in. His intention is to sell them via a lottery.
My hat is off the the Buffalo Herd Dairy for conducting this experiment for, us the consumer. They should clone the winning cow.
The cloned cow could be named, "Holy Grail"
I've heard the milk buyer at Whole Foods is already grumbling about how he won't be able to please all his milk customers who want one.
On dairydork.com, I heard a few rumors. First, there will be an extra special release (they are naming this series "experimental--rediscovered bovine") because they stumbled on these previously lost cows in the barn, but they will be sold in half gallons at full gallon cost, of course. In the same series will be an "American Cow Chips Seasoned" version that is receiving mad cow-crazy reviews. Also, the milk coming from a miniature cow will be released as 1/4 calf, but will cost 3/4 more than the standard expression. Also, they are thinking about bottling the colustrum at calf strength and some of these are so strong that you cannot legally carry it on airplanes.
Thanks all for the comments. I agree that these may be tough to get. Many of you will probably remember when Buffalo Herd came out with their limited edition non-homogenized, buttermilk finished milk. It was a frenzy.
David, there is absolutely grumbling going on. In fact, one of our local milk retailers sent out a pretty angry email to his private list which quickly went viral. I think he referred to BH products as "over creamed and over priced."
Cute gag, but Buffalo Trace is making a serious effort to find out just what factors influence bourbon taste. What's not to like about that? Anyone who has ever tasted bourbons from different barrels of the same age, warehouse placement, etc. knows how different they can be. Why? Buffalo Trace hopes to find out. But go ahead. Milk a few more gags out of this effort. Harlen, I am sure, is enjoying the joke as much as anyone.
Sounds like someone doesn't find this cute at all. It's all well and good if BT is making a serious effort at researching, but I tend to think they are more about researching how much people are willing to pay for their "new" products than the flavor profile.
Sku, you one funny sumbitch!
Anon, I'm not sure what you're talking about. This post is about milk.
Seriously though, I have a lot of respect for what BT is doing, but if you can't laugh about something...well, then you're probably not one of my regular readers.
Sku,
Almost anything is worth a good laugh, even a funny word like Sku. I know a few folks at BT. They all have good senses of humor. So I am sure they enjoyed the gag. I did, tku.
But it sounds like someone doesn't like BT's prices for "new" products. It's called capitalism. No one has to buy. Is this your first trip to America?
And I doubt this new BT project is much about money. The financial return must be miniscule. I say we should keep the bourbon experiments rolling! And the gags.
Anon, I'm going to let a couple things go with just a quick mention--your thought that Sku was a funny "word" and your blatant namedropping--"I know a few people at BT. They all have good senses of humor." "Harlen, I am sure, is enjoying the joke as much as anyone."
However...
"Is this your first trip to America?" Hmm, is this your first foray at racism, err...patriotism? Way to show your true self, but wait, you're anonymous so...
In my earlier posts, I was voicing my opinion (can I do that if this is my first trip to America?) that the rise in whiskey prices are being justified by companies marketing those whiskeys as "new," "experimental," "single barrel," etc.
I don't have anything against BT per se, as I enjoy their products at many different price points (from their standard BT, the BTAC, and the Pappys), but I don't believe they're immune from using creative marketing to boost their sales and profits. I don't mind shelling out $80 for Stagg, but I'm not a fan of paying Stagg level money for whiskeys BT didn't even distill (it's from an acquired brand--Old Charter specifically), but simply slapped their name on. So, what exactly is "experimental" about it? This is pure marketing to me. Also, you wrote, "No one has to buy."--I appreciate your insights into the workings of capitalism and I'll be on the lookout for your upcoming treatise.
Steve (and fellow readers), I apologize for dignifying Anon's remarks with a response. I shall take his implicit advice and move back to wherever I came from, but at least I won't be bored, with nine circles in which to travel.
James - We can certainly agree on one thing - BT produces some great products in a wide range of prices. Like you, I'm willing to shell out for Stagg. But I also buy their Benchmark bourbon for mixing - great stuff for $17 per handle here in Kentucky. And we all have our beefs about bourbon marketing. My pet peeve is Makers' claim that their product is "hand made"? What exactly do they do by hand that other distillers do not? Ah yes, the wax seal. But how does that improve the booze? So let's bury the hatchet and pop the cork! We all enjoy bourbon, and it is amazing what fine quality is available in this category for such reasonable prices. Cheers to America!
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