The Bell

“When we ring the bell, the resonance vibrates through us and through the barrels. It connects us to the barrels and to the history they contain. It brings to life the memories of the people these barrels represent.” 

In the early days of Ironroot Republic, Marcia and Robert toured Grousperrin, a Cognac house in France that spent decades collecting unique and historic Cognac barrels.

This was the message passed onto them by Axelle Grosperrin as they roamed the barrel houses. Sipping on 100 yr old Cognac, Axelle paused just long enough to ring the bell hanging from the low wooden ceiling. In English adorned with a deep French accent, she told them its meaning.

Ringing the bell is a small but important ritual in daily life. The shock of the strike is followed by a low metallic hum that fills the room. The bronze tone reverberates through the barrels and brings them to life, and then continues as it rings through the bones of the humans in the room.

The barrels are roused from their rest. The spirit and the people are connected in a perfect moment of resonance.

In that moment, we pause and reflect on the land and the people that were a part of each step that led to the spirits in these barrels. It rings for the farmers, the grain, and the land.  It rings for the trees, the coopers and their staves. It rings for truck drivers and distillery staff. Each of them have a role to play in bringing these barrels to this moment in time.

The spirit inside these barrels will go on even further. They’ll be bottled, shipped, delivered, stocked, sold, cracked open, and enjoyed by people all over the world.

Ironroot’s bell is a 100 yr old buoy bell that spent its prior life guiding ships to safe passage. It was given a second chance at life as a part of the story of Ironroot Republic. Each day the bell is rung by distillery staff or by curious whiskey humans on a tour of the barrel house.

As its song peels through the room, the barrels are brought to life by the same resonance that rings through us. It links us not only to this moment, but to all the moments that have led us here and all the moments yet to come.

Every bottle of whisky is a time capsule that holds the efforts and dreams of thousands of people around the world. Each sip is a reminder of time moving, people coming in and out of our lives, and the mundane being made special as we share it with friends and family.

At Ironroot Republic, we ring the bell for all those who brought us to this point and for all who will carry us forward.

For those who are no longer with us, and for those who stand beside us.
Even as we’re separated by time and distance, we stand together in a single moment of resonance.

So ask not for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee.

*************

For Whom the Bell Tolls – John Donne

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.