Angel’s Share

See A Whiskey Lake Explode In A Firenado

What happens when 800,000 gallons whiskey spills and burns? Firenado. And it’s awesome.

Back in 2003, a Jim Beam warehouse was struck by lightning, unleashing a raging torrent of bourbon into a neighboring lake. Then, a second bolt of lightning hit the lake, igniting the high-proofed booze. As if that weren’t enough of a crazy chain of events, a tornado then whipped in, sucking up the fiery concoction in a “firenado,” a rare event that can send tendrils of flame as high as 100 feet, according to the Weather Channel, who recently released stunning new aerial footage of the fracas. Jim Beam was later handed a bill for tens of thousands of dollars for polluting the waterway and the resulting fish kill – talk about going out in a blaze of glory.

While the original footage for this was released to YouTube in 2011, it was re-released last week by the Weather Channel – causing many online outlets to report it as breaking news. Still, it's a firenado, and how often do you get to see one of those, current or not? Grab a beverage and drink in the spectacle below.

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James Joiner

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