Partner Spotlight: Pappy & Company X Smithey Ironware
The difference is in the details
Pappy & Company is built not only on a passionate mission and vision, but also on certain beliefs that are evident throughout our collections. Such as the understanding that food tastes better when shared, that a favorite mug can elevate your morning coffee, that bourbon and a cigar are the ultimate pairing, and that a family recipe made from memory just hits differently. Another firmly held belief - everything tastes better when made in a cast iron skillet, especially our Pappy Van Winkle Heirloom Cornbread - but not just any skillet, a Smithey Cast Iron Skillet.
We can also confidently say that, from experience, good partnerships with like-minded people make better products. We are fortunate to not only call the folks from Smithey good partners, but also good friends. Long admired from afar, we instantly clicked with their ethos, singular-minded passion, and dedication to the tradition and craftsmanship of their product. We are equally honored to use their cast iron skillets in our own kitchens as we are to work with them whenever we have the opportunity.
Purveyors and makers of fine cast iron and kitchen cookware, Smithey Ironware began in a similar way to Pappy & Company. With an inspiration, an idea, and a deeply held passion to convert something traditional for use in modern life. Sound familiar?
In the case of Smithey Ironworks, this was an idea that was born in a backyard. Founder Isaac Morton had an admiration for old iron works and a passion for restoration. Messing around in his own work shed in Charleston, South Carolina, he began to restore rusty old pieces and gifting them to friends and family. Like all good things, word got around, and Smithey Ironworks became more than just a beloved hobby. He took an old art form, a process with deeply rooted traditions, a personal dedication to craft, and a desire to give old pieces a fresh update, and transformed it into functional pieces of iconic kitchenware.
Working with a renowned local blacksmith, Smithey Ironware introduced the first iteration of its farmhouse skillets in 2018. Individually crafted with stunning visual details, classic and versatile functionality, and a modern nod to vintage cookware, the difference has always been in the details.
Smithey are fellow champions of providing moments of everyday luxury - the kind that can only come from the tiniest of details. Details that are the result of unrelenting commitment to singular craftsmanship.
Everyday luxury may at first seem like an oxymoron, which is just one of the reasons we are so passionate about it. Just as the importance of Pappy Van Winkle’s focus on hospitality is instilled in every ounce of our bourbon heritage, much of that comes from the simple idea of everyday luxury. An idea that can perhaps be traced to bourbon itself. A spirit so singularly focused, so detailed, that its very craft takes decades of tradition, craftsmanship, and dedication to discover the layers of signature flavor to be enjoyed in each sip.
Now we aren’t necessarily telling you to have birthday cake every day (we also aren’t not telling you to have birthday cake every day), we merely love the idea of finding and creating small moments of celebration, joy, delight, and luxury in the mundane everyday moments. It’s the idea that luxury has to be grand or saved for a special occasion in order to be enjoyed, when really it can be a small detail added to an activity you do every day to elevate it.
Enjoying your morning coffee from an heirloom teacup that is otherwise stored in an out-of-the-way corner cupboard (and actually pausing the chaos of your day to sit and experience it), serving dinner from a beloved set of never-used wedding china (even if it is pizza), or drizzling Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrupover your Sunday morning pancakes.
Even the simplest of moments can provide an extra layer of flavor, delight, or hospitality. Like Pappy Van Winkle Heirloom Cornbread baked in a cast iron skillet for a dreamy, golden-brown crust and decadently crispy edges, with a luscious glaze of melted butter and a drizzle of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Pure Maple Syrup.
We know a simple detail can make a huge impact - but why does using a cast iron skillet make a difference?
Probably the thing we like the most about cast iron isn't that surprising: simply put, the more you use it, the better it gets! It is meant to be used. It is designed to withstand extreme heat, and even with time and use, the flavor and seasoning layer develops further (sound like anything else?).
Of course, we also appreciate their versatility. Cooking everything from steak to eggs to pizza, and even some of our other favorite recipes: Southern Style grits, spicy green beans, sweet blistered carrots, Pappy Van Winkle maple-glazed sausage, and even our favorite holiday pecan pie. However, our absolute favorite thing to make in a cast iron skillet has always been cornbread. In fact, the uniquely golden brown crust and decadent flavor of cornbread baked in a cast iron skillet was one of the main inspirations behind our Pappy Van Winkle Heirloom Cornbread.
We also love a cooking method that is accompanied by such deeply held beliefs that they are subject to their own mythology or debate. Cast irons are like that. People are so attached to their cast irons and their preferred method of seasoning and cleaning (or lack of cleaning) that “to soap or not to soap” is a common point of confusion, discussion, or dispute.
Perhaps it lies in the term 'seasoning.' In most cases, the term seasoning in cooking refers to, well, actually seasoning food with a variety of spices, salt, and pepper. In regards to cast irons, seasoning is actually a layer that develops over time with regular use. When it comes to this debate, we prefer to ask the experts.
Seasoning, according to Smithey.
Cleaning and Care.
Lastly, we agree on one final philosophy shared from Smithey: “from the kitchen to the campfire, use it well.”
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Enjoy our Pappy & Company X Smithey Ironworks Custom No. 12 Cast Iron Skillet, featuring the meticulous details of Smithey's Cast Iron Skillets, highlighted with our Pappy & Company logo to reflect our shared commitment to craftsmanship. The best way to bake our Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Barrel-Aged Heirloom Cornbread.
