Big news in whiskeytown. The New York Post is reporting that Maker’s Mark will be cutting its flagship brand down from 90 proof to about 84 proof in order to meet the global rise in demand for the brand. No word on when the cut will be in effect or when the lower-proof Maker’s will be hitting shelves. Stock up now if you like it hot. [New York Post]

Business Week has had quite the week of investigative reports in the service of spirits. First, BW reports on a new, insidious practice, which could potentially infest your local watering hole: an upcharge for ordering a drink neat. (The argument: You’re getting extra booze if there’s no ice in the glass.) While this may be an incident isolated to the island of Manhattan for now, it will be interesting to see if this deplorable act makes it way to the rest of the nation.

In other news, BW finds the answer to one of life’s most nagging questions: How come Australian wine is so cheap compared to other imported wines? [Business Week]

In events news: the 9th annual Brewers Plate beer tasting event will be held in on Sunday March 10^th from 5:30-9:00PM at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Over 20 local restaurants and microbreweries and distilleries will be on hand to offer samples for tasting. More information can be found on the event’s website. Also, just a reminder if you’re looking to announce a tasting event in your city, we’re more than happy to mention it. Just drop us a line.

And finally today, we here at Drinkhacker would like to raise a glass in respectful tribute to Truman Cox, master distiller for A. Smith Bowman, who passed away this past Saturday. Mr. Cox joined Buffalo Trace in 2004 as its lead chemist, eventually realizing his dream to become a master distiller in 2011 with the establishment of Virginia’s A. Smith Bowman Distillery. He was a tireless advocate for the bourbon industry and his passing is a huge loss for not only the people who knew him, but for the countless people who were the recipients of his tireless passion and commitment to a stellar glass of bourbon.

Related Stories:

Drinkhacker Reads – 02.18.2013 – Maker’s Mark Backpedals Drinkhacker Reads – 12.10.2014 – Maker’s Mark And The $5 Million Headache Drinkhacker Reads – 01.17.2013 – Rare Cognac, N*E*R*Ds, and Mark Twain Drinkhacker Reads – 11.21.2013 – The End Of Flavored Vodka?