EPA Steps In Over Whiskey Fungus Outbreak, Putting WhistlePig Under Scrutiny
A fire hydrant covered with whiskey fungus near a Jack Daniels barrelhouse. The most recent outbreak in New York is causing quite an issue between the facilities of a major brand believed responsible, WhistlePig, and its residents. ( Photo: AP Photo/John Amis)
The Adirondack Explorer reported on Saturday that a case of whiskey fungus in New York near WhistlePig’s facilities might be an even larger outbreak than previously understood, and the state has looped in the Environmental Protection Agency to help. The State Department of Environmental Conservation additionally reached out to WhistlePig, asking it to figure out a way to solve the problem.
According to a report filed by the department, samples of fungus approximately 1,379 yards away from WhistlePig’s facilities were reported as “consistent” with the previous outbreak that made headlines in December, according to the Adirondack Explorer, which reports that is nearly “double the distance” from the neighborhood where the fungus was initially spotted.
The Department of Environmental Conservation claimed its lab couldn’t fully analyze the material without additional samples. With all that in mind, it stated it was fairly certain the samples were a match from the earlier outbreaks of baudoinia — or whiskey fungus — at WhistlePig’s warehouses in Mineville.
“In this case, the survey determined the WhistlePig facility is the likely source given the location and amount of fungus present,” the department said, according to the Adirondack Explorer. “The precise identification of the fungus is unnecessary to determine if there was an impact, therefore further lab analysis is not warranted at this time.”
The Adirondack Explorer enlisted the help of the Mycologist James Scott to confirm the samples, and Scott was “highly confident” the samples were baudoinia compniacensis.
In addition to the EPA, The Adirondack Park Agency also is investigating the outbreak.
The Indiana Department of Health claims there are no known health risks from exposure to whiskey fungus, though there are increased instances of the black mold making appearances in media headlines.
“It is an issue that papers are willing to run a story on because it seems spooky and mysterious, even though it’s been around for hundreds of years,” Matthew Dogali, CEO and president of the American Distilled Spirits Alliance, said, according to the Adirondack Explorer. “The same papers won’t run a story on the jobs we add or the taxes we pay or the people that are happy we build businesses in rural America.”
Though WhistlePig claims it is “not responsible for all cases of black fungus in the region,” the distillery says it has cleaned the homes of some residents on a “case-by-case basis.” Despite the distillery’s actions, members of the local community are incensed.
“It’s outrageous that they’re expecting the community of Mineville and Moriah to economically subsidize their operation,” a resident named Gregory Furness told the Adirondack Explorer. “People are actually paying an annual fee to clean crap off their houses so they can stay in operation. I don’t understand how that’s legal.”
The problem doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon, especially since WhistlePig is building more storage warehouses, according to the outlet.
On Friday, WhistlePig announced a partnership with the largest beverage distributor in the U.S., Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, on a distribution deal.
The rapid growth of the whiskey brand is upsetting residents. According to the Adirondack Explorer, a sign posted on a pole in the neighborhood of Grover Hills read:
“Fungus-Town USA. Tough Luck, Suckers! Our profits beat your rights hands down.”
WhistlePig has yet to share if it has any plans to mitigate the growing whiskey fungus outbreak. The distillery’s director of operations, Ahren Wolson, claimed that Baudoinia had been found within the area for significantly longer than WhistlePig began operations.
Wolson additionally shared with the outlet that implementing upgraded filtration systems to combat the fungus is “neither needed nor possible.”
“It’s probably so expensive that they’d rather deal with the political fallout,” a resident named Mike Stoddard said.
Follow The Daily Pour:
