Mayors and governors betting on college sports are nothing new, but the mayors of Evanston and Knoxville are taking this to the next level by betting on this year’s Northwestern-Tennessee Outback Bowl with whiskey.
The mayors of whiskey-hating Evanston and whiskey-loving Knoxville are betting whiskey on the Outback Bowl
These two cities are opposites in terms of whiskey.
Evanston’s Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl wagered a bottle of FEW Spirits Bourbon Whiskey if Tennessee wins, while Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero wagered a bottle of Old City Heirloom Corn Whiskey from Knox Whiskey Works if Northwestern is victorious.
On the surface, this is a massive mismatch. Perhaps Tennessee’s most defining trait is its whiskey distilling and consumption. Whiskey has been distilled in the state for centuries, and Jack Daniel’s, the most famous whiskey in the world, is from Lynchburg, Tennessee.
On the other hand, Evanston has a long history of contempt for alcohol. The city was dry from 1858 to 1972, and it did not allow liquor stores until 1984. FEW is the first distillery in Evanston.
Tennessee resident Steven Godfrey says FEW’s rye whiskey is good and Old City is not, so Northwestern will win. I went to Northwestern and have never had FEW, though it is widely available in Chicago. That said, I prefer Tennessee whiskey over many bourbons and rye whiskeys. So take that as you will.
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