Over the course of the next several years, Chatham Wine & Liquor manager Jonathan Anders, who is a big outdoor enthusiast, has determined to take on some of the bigger local hiking challenges while delving a bit further into his wine and spirit education. Here is the current goal he is working on:

Catskill 35er’s Club and Whiskey Tasting

Induction into the Catskill 3500 Club requires that you climb all 35 of the Catskill Mountains above 3500 feet, plus a revisitation to four specific summits during the winter. In addition to climbing each peak, Jonathan plans to toast a different whiskey on the summit of each of the peaks - a total of 39 different whiskies to taste through!

Hikes in the Catskills can be daunting due to the rough terrain and remote location. Trail lengths vary for most peaks from five to eight miles with steep elevation gains of over 2000 feet. Winter accents require snowshoes and sometimes crampons, in addition to keeping a tentative eye on the general dangers of wilderness exposure such as dehydration, hypothermia and various trail and weather hazards. Despite the risks and the challenge, Jonathan, who has over 25 years of wilderness experience, feels confident that he can bring a toast to the top of each of the summits. Next time you come by the shop ask him what peak is next!

A Note About the Whiskey

With 39 summit toasts to do, Jonathan wanted to focus on a category that would allow for a broad enough selection of beverages to taste from. The word whiskey is derived from the Gaelic ‘uisge beatha’ - roughly translated as ‘the water of life’ - and was used as such in medicinal consumption and application by monks in Ireland and Scotland as early as 1100. Today it is generally defined as a beverage distilled from a fermented mash of grain, such as barley, corn, rye and wheat. The term whiskey encompasses a wide range of liquors from nearly every corner of the globe, some of the more recognizable subdivisions include scotch and bourbon.

For the 35ers Summit Toast Project, Jonathan plans to focus on a selection of both classics as well as some of the more unconventional brands.  Each toast will be photographed with a note about the peak he climbed and the whiskey that was toasted at the summit. You can follow his current Summit Toasts on Instagram (#chathamwinesummittoast). Additionally all featured whiskey brands are available through Chatham Wine and Liquor.

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