Whiskey News

The Borders Distillery Tweet Tasting

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 14:14:38 +0100

Last year we were absolutely thrilled to have our Tweet Tastings be part of the launch of the first expression from The Borders Distillery’s new experimental Workshop Series. Guess what? We’re delighted to announce that we’ll be doing it again, as part of the launch of the much anticipated second release in the series, on October 25th.The long and short of it is that on the night we’ll be pouring

RY3 Debuts Cask Strength Cigar Series

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 13:58:42 +0100

Phenomenal Spirits has announced the release of its new RY3 Cask Strength Cigar Series.

The inaugural expression is a triple cask finished rye whiskey individually finished in Rum, Madeira and Naranja casks, and then further aged in toasted French oak staves.

RY3 Cigar Series was originally imagined for whiskey and cigar enthusiasts alike, the company says.

“This expression is the first of several in the series to be released in 18-to-24-month intervals in the years to come,” says Phenomenal Spirits Founder and CEO, Karthik Sudhir. “Our aggressive plans for 2023 and beyond include continued innovations that meet untapped consumer demand, distribution growth throughout the U.S., and global expansion to Asia and additional European markets. We have assembled a remarkable team of sales and marketing professionals to bring the RY3 Cigar Series and our amazing portfolio of spirits brands and phenomenal drinking experiences to consumers throughout the world.”

RY3 Cigar Series is currently available in California, Colorado, Tennessee, Georgia, Missouri, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Wisconsin and online through ry3whiskey.com.

The post RY3 Debuts Cask Strength Cigar Series appeared first on Beverage Dynamics.

Whisky news round-up: new expressions unveiled

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:26:08 +0100

Read a round-up of some of the latest whisky news from around Scotland.

Tomintoul Speyside Single Malt

Tomintoul Single Malt Scotch Whisky has released an exclusive Second Edition of its 40-year-old expression.

With only 165 individually numbered bottles available globally, the Second Edition will allow connoisseurs the opportunity to enjoy this rare and the sought-after single malt.

This rich and complex single malt has matured for over 40 years in the finest hand-selected American oak ex-bourbon hogshead casks, before being bottled at a cask strength of 43.1% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered.

Tomintoul Aged 40 Years Second Edition displays a rich, fruity sweetness, perfectly balanced with gentle notes of oak spice and rolling tobacco.

Golden oldie

Scotland’s oldest licensed distillery, Littlemill, has unveiled its latest annual release, The Vanguard Collection – Chapter One.

The 45 Year Old whisky is drawn from the oldest and rarest reserves of the extraordinary Lowland distillery, which fell into silence in 1994.

The release was distilled on the 11th of October 1977 at the original site in Bowling, West Dunbartonshire, using Littlemill’s patented straight-neck copper pot hybrid stills, which were first introduced in the early 1900s, an innovation of their time then and today.

The liquid was stored in refill American Oak casks before a final five-year finish in a first-fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead. The result is a wonderful single malt boasting honey, elderflower, and nutmeg on the nose, with a silk-like mouthfeel of melted brown sugar, vanilla, and fresh fruits, before a long finish full of citrus flavour and caramelised sugars.

A new expression

Turntable, the small-batch whisky blender founded by Glasgow brothers Gordon and Ally Stevenson, has launched its highly anticipated core range.

Turntable has unveiled three core expressions that reflect the brothers’ commitment to crafting blends.

All three blends, Paradise Funk, Smokin’ Riff and Bittersweet Symphony, are natural colour, non-chill filtered and bottled at 46% ABV.

In safe hands

A new organisation established to create a safe environment for whisky enthusiasts and customers to buy and sell casks has been launched.

The Cask Whisky Association (CWA) is made up of two boards of members and advisors and includes cask whisky businesses, distilleries, independent bottlers, whisky experts and authors as well as legal and insurance professionals working within the sector.

By setting best practices in cask whisky ownership and sale, the association aims to protect cask whisky customers and the wider whisky industry.

Chairman of the Advisory Board and spokesman for the CWA Colin Hampden-White says the association’s goal is to uphold the overall reputation of the Scotch whisky industry.

The GlenDronach

The GlenDronach Grandeur 2023 edition has been unveiled and has been described as ‘one of its most luxurious expressions to date’.

Grandeur Batch 12 is over 29 years old and composed of a bespoke selection of rare sherry casks hand-selected by distinguished Master Blender Rachel Barrie.

Having matured slowly and deeply in Oloroso sherry casks for nearly three decades, this is a rare expression from one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland.

Bunnahabhain Distillery

Bunnahabhain Distillery has revealed its third annual small-batch cask strength release: Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Cask Strength 2023 Edition.

Matured on the remote, north-eastern coastline of Islay, and produced using natural spring water from the Margadale spring, the 2023 edition of 12-Year-Old Cask Strength is an undiluted celebration of the distillery’s popular unpeated sherried house style, synonymous with the Islay based distillery.

Following on from the success of the 2021 and 2022 editions, this release is a nod to Bunnahabhain’s 12 Year Old signature expression.

It has been matured in a selection of first and second-fill oloroso sherry casks, before being balanced by a touch of bourbon with each cask being carefully selected by Master Blender, Julieann Fernandez.

At cask strength, the intensity naturally varies from batch to batch. This year’s release has an ABV of 60.1%, compared to 56.6% of 2022 and 55.1% of 2021.

Retaining the beautiful flavours developed from the sherry casks during maturation, the 2023 release offers a fruitier dram than its predecessors, with notes of stone fruits and figs, followed by lingering hints of vanilla that complement the finish.

Private collection

Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled the latest addition to its prestigious Private Collection range.

Gordon & MacPhail 1949 from Glenlivet Distillery was laid down in a refill Sherry butt selected by Gordon & MacPhail on New Year’s Day 1949 and bottled on 6th March 2023.

Retaining a cask strength of 49.3%, only 192 bottles of the ultra-rare whisky are available for sale.

Its remarkable age means the whisky is among one of the oldest Glenlivet released by Gordon & MacPhail, having been aged in its warehouse for over seven decades.

Adding an extra layer of rarity, the single malt is the company’s last ever 1949 cask from Glenlivet Distillery.

Layered with complex notes and full of vibrancy and character, the whisky displays sweet, stewed fruit aromas that combine with fragrant cinnamon, aged leather, clementine, and beeswax polish.

On the palate, autumnal spices and fruitcake are balanced by cracked pepper, with undertones of garden mint, dark treacle, and charred oak.

Read more news and reviews on Scottish Field’s food and drink pages, in association with Cask & Still magazine.

Don’t miss the October issue of Scottish Field magazine.

The post Whisky news round-up: new expressions unveiled appeared first on Scottish Field.

DUNCAN TAYLOR RELEASES RARE PORT ELLEN BOTTLING

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 10:49:24 +0100

The Aberdeenshire based spirits specialist, Duncan Taylor, has today announced the launch of a rare and limited-edition Port Ellen bottling.

Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare Port Ellen 40 Year Old (52.4% ABV) is a single malt Scotch whisky, which was distilled on March 16th 1983, and matured in a European oak ex-Sherry butt.

Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare Port Ellen 40 Year Old

This limited release of 209 bottles comes from cask number 667, which was one of the last batches of Port Ellen produced, before the distillery closed its doors in May 1983. Stored on Islay until 2010, the cask was then laid down to finish maturing in the vaults at Duncan Taylor’s HQ in Aberdeenshire.

Founded by Alexander Kerr Mackay in 1825 on Islay’s southern coast, Port Ellen was named after the nearby town and became an innovator in the whisky industry with great success exporting to the United States. Impacted by Prohibition, the distillery initially fell silent for 37 years from 1930. It was then resurrected in 1967 due to the demand for peated whisky when it expanded from two to four stills.

Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare Port Ellen 40 Year Old, is said to deliver notes of treacle toffee, leather, blackberries and strawberries drenched in cream, zesty citrus, waxy comb honey, sea spray, kombu kelp, seashore pebbles and sherried fruits on the nose. Followed by notes of dark treacle toffee, fruit, pecan nuts, leather, cloves, caraway, a distant driftwood bonfire on a salt drenched seashore, fruity chutney and spearmint on the palate.

Commenting on the launch, Euan Shand, Duncan Taylor Chairman, said: “When I bought the company from Abe Rosenberg’s family back in 2001, the inventory was incredible, with some amazing rare and old whiskies. The casks of Port Ellen were ones that really stood out for me as something special and we’ve patiently waited for them to mature, bringing that rich, dark colour to the liquid. The cask has created an evocative whisky that embraces the peat from the kilns and the brine of the sea, alongside a succulent rich, fruity base. It’s one of the finest whiskies we’ve launched this year and that’s saying something.”

Ian Logan, Senior Hospitality and Spirits Manager for Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky will launch the Port Ellen 1983 at the Whisky ‘Old & Rare’ Show in London this weekend.

Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare Port Ellen 40 Year Old, will be available from select specialist retailers, including The Spirits Embassy, for a RRP of £5,700.

Posted by Steve Rush

Top ten whiskies from independent bottlers to drink in 2023

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 10:07:56 +0100

This week we’re celebrating the mavericks of the whisky world, independent bottlers. These are run by whisky-mad people who like nothing better than sniffing out unique casks and bottling them for enthusiasts like us. So if you love rare, diverse, and never to be repeated whiskies then you’ve come to the right place.

We’re looking at some of the grand old names of whisky bottling like Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin, Douglas Laing from Glasgow and dating back to 1698 Berry Bros. & Rudd in London plus some of newer upstarts like That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Brave New Spirits and of course us, Master of Malt. There’s single malts, a single grain, a couple of blends and even a whiskey from America!

Cawdor Springs 7 Year Old 2015 (GreatDrams) Whisky

Eagle-eyed customers will note that there isn’t a distillery called Cawdor Springs. Here it’s being used as a pseudonym for a royally famous distillery, one that produces single malts that respond well to wine casks, in this case Château Margaux no less. This went into those auspicious casks in October 2015 and emerged in July 2023 laden with notes of cherry, orange peel and stone fruit before being bottled at 48.2% ABV.

17 Year Old Blended Malt – Notable Age Statements (Decadent Drinks) Whisky

Really interesting stuff here from Decadent Drinks, who have combined a 2001 vintage of blended malt matured in a first-fill sherry butt with a 2006 vintage Aultmore single malt that was also aged in a first-fill sherry butt. The mixed vintage was then bottled at 53% ABV. Expect sherry, lots and lots of sherry with caramelised brown sugar, dried apricots, raisins, spices, mocha and dark chocolate. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it?

GlenWyvis 2018 (bottled 2023) (cask 1501/02) – Collective #1: The Pioneers (Berry Bros. & Rudd) Whisky

GlenWyvis distillery is a community-owned, not-for-profit distillery that supports local causes and has its own green power source. It also makes absolutely superb whisky which is why Berry Bros. & Rudd has bottled this single malt Scotch whisky. It was initially aged in a hogshead and then finished in a quarter cask before bottling without chill-filtration or additional colour at 53.9% ABV.

Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2007 Single Cask (Master of Malt) Whisky

We bottled this one ourselves without spilling a drop. Pretty impressive eh? This special Caol Ila was distilled in 2007 and matured in a refill hogshead for 11 years before being disgorged in 2019. What you have here is a single malt with masses of Islay distillery character like bonfires on beach, iodine and brine tempered by sweeter notes of creamy malt, vanilla fudge, and poached plums. Peaty whisky lovers are going to want a bottle of this.

The Gauldrons Whisky

Douglas Laing has added to its Remarkable Regional Malts series with a special edition, The Gauldrons, which literally means the ‘bay of storms’ and refers to a remote part of Campbeltown. The Gauldrons blended malt is produced in small batches and bottled at 46.2% ABV, without colouring or chill filtration. There’s soft peat and wood spice balanced by brown sugar and sweet malt.

The Glenrothes 11 Year Old – Discovery (Gordon & MacPhail) Whisky

An 11 year old Glenrothes which has been bottled by Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin, one of the grand old names of single malt whisky bottling, for its Discovery bottling series. The series separates single malts into three categories, ‘Sherry’, ‘Smoky’ or ‘Bourbon’ to give a (not so subtle) clue to its flavour profile. This is a wonderful sherried whisky, packed full of fruity and chocolatey notes.

Cameronbridge 12 Year Old 2010 – Cask Noir (Brave New Spirits) Whisky

Distilled at Cameronbridge in 2010, this single grain spent a dozen years maturing in a first-fill Pedro Ximénez hogshead. The cask was opened in 2022 by Brave New Spirits, independently bottling the whisky at cask strength, without added colour or chill filtration, for its Cask Noir collection. You will find buttery hazelnut pastries, honeyed fruits, and dustings of cinnamon with chocolate and raisins.

Bunnahabhain 11 Year Old 2009 – North Star Spirits Whisky

North Star Spirits are one of the newer names in independent bottling but they have already got quite a reputation. This is a single cask bottling of 11 year old Bunnahabhain single malt, distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2020. It was drawn from a first-fill oloroso sherry butt, which has imparted oodles of rich fruit and festive spice notes to the whisky. Just 630 bottles were produced of this Islay treat.

Edradour 10 Year Old 2013 (cask 181) – Un-Chilfiltered Collection (Signatory) Whisky

Single malt Scotch whisky from Edradour here, of Scotland’s smallest distilleries brought to you by Signatory for its Un-Chillfiltered Collection. It’s bottled at 46% ABV without any additional colouring. In here you will find dried cherries, dark chocolate, Christmas cake, maple syrup, oak char, syrupy raisins, clove-studded orange, and sherried fruit. If you like a sherried malt, then look no further.

James E. Pepper 3 Year Old – Oloroso Cask Finish (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) Whiskey

We’re finishing up with an American rye whiskey from James E. Pepper, bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company. This particular one batch is unusual as it’s finished in an oloroso sherry cask giving it a rich layer of dried fruit and molasses to the classsic rye spice. Only 1622 50cl bottles have been filled. Oh and that chap on the label is none other than James E. Pepper owner Amir Peay.

The post Top ten whiskies from independent bottlers to drink in 2023 appeared first on Master of Malt Blog.

Tamdhu 2014 review

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:45:32 +0100

I’ve written before about why I don’t believe that the growth of whisky is a bubble – at least not one analogous to the well documented crashes of financial markets and certainly not in any way comparable to tulips. Just stop. But, regardless of whether I’m right or wrong, I’m here to suggest to enthusiasts that the viewing the whisky market as some form of boil that requires lancing is an immense mistake.

BERRY BROS. & RUDD CELEBRATE PIONEERS OF SUSTAINABILITY IN SPIRITS – Spirited Whisky News

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:05:29 +0100

BERRY BROS. & RUDD CELEBRATE PIONEERS OF SUSTAINABILITY IN SPIRITS

Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd have announced the launch of The Collective, an annual release of spirits which brings together a group of like-minded distillers. These people share a common passion and Berry Bros. & Rudd celebrate their achievements by sharing their stories around the world.

The Collective #1: The Pioneers is centred around ‘Pioneers in Sustainability’ within the spirits industry and spotlights ten distillers who are dedicated to making exceptional spirits whilst caring for the future of the planet.

Berry Bros. & Rudd will be releasing a series of ten bottlings to showcase the sustainable talents spirit producers from around the globe:

Oskar Bruno – Agitator 2018 Single Malt Swedish Whisky
John Stirling – Arbikie 2017 Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Alex Bruce – Ardnamurchan 2017 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Peter Bignell – Belgrove 2016 Single Rye Tasmanian Whisky
Matthew Farmer – Glen Wyvis 2018 Quarter Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky
John Letts – Oxford Artisan 2019 Single Rye English Whisky
Annabel Thomas – Nc’nean 2017 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
David & Fiona Boyd- Armstrong – Shortcross 2017 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Matt Hoffman – Westland 2014 Madeira Finish Single Malt American Whisky

Each has been meticulously selected by Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits Reserve Whisky Manager, Jonny McMillan, in collaboration with Mr Lyan, a proven pioneer in the drinks industry and the world’s most awarded bartender, who shared the same values as Berry Bros. & Rudd: passion and knowledge for both sustainability and exceptional spirits.

Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits Reserve Manager, Jonny McMillan, commented:

“There is no set path on the sustainability journey, nor one single solution. The beauty of Collective #1 : The Pioneers is that each distiller has taken a different approach to sustainability, with the strength being in the diversity and combination of practices, making a whole entity, with continuous learnings.’

‘We looked to find a broad spectrum of producers from various traditions of whisky and cognac making with each distiller taking a slightly different approach to sustainability, some focusing on soil health and regenerative farming, others on lowering energy use or green power. For each distiller there is a different solution that fits the location and character of their distillery, together they form a great overview of what’s going on with environmentally pioneering producers.”

Lizzy Rudd, Berry Bros. & Rudd Chair, added:

“As a family business with a long history, the notion of sustainability is a natural part of our ethos and our long-term mindset, a key to our resilience and longevity. The purpose of business is fast becoming deﬁned by its impact rather than the products or services it sells.

Today, the most important decisions we face are about how to reduce our impact on the planet now, and in the future. This is why our goal is to be net zero carbon and plastic free by 2030.

Our producers are the best in the world at what they do. Like us, they believe that protecting our planet is the only way to ensure the future of ﬁne wine and spirits. We believe that, together with our producers, we can improve practices around the use of water, energy and plastic.

We are not just a business, we are family, a family who are the custodians of a legacy for future generations.”

The spirits featured in The Collective #1 : The Pioneers have been sourced from across the globe, from countries including America, England, Ireland, Sweden, Tasmania, and the undisputed homeland of whisky, Scotland.

Each whisk(e)y from The Collective #1 is priced at £125.00 and cognac at £75.00, available to purchase from 27th September 2023 from Berry Bros. & Rudd (bbr.com), Master of Malt (masterofmalt.com) and Royal Mile Whiskies (royalmilewhiskies.com).

TASTING NOTES

Agitator 2018 Cask #741 Single Malt Swedish Whisky

RRP £125.00

57.7% ABV

Few distilleries push production boundaries like Stockholm’s Agitator. Led by Oskar Bruno, the distillery offers vacuum distillation and endless experimentations with yeast, barley and wood. Energy efficiency is equal to quality in their mindset, making this one of Europe’s greenest distilleries.

Produced with 40ppm barley and fermented with a Saison yeast, buckle up! The nose is near overwhelmingly complex, dried mushrooms, forest floor, peat smoke, wonderfully umami. The palate is pleasantly dirty, bringing notes of new leather, pink wafer biscuits, garden bonfire with a pleasing coastal backbone. Smoke and dried fruit linger on a stunned palate. Idiosyncratic brilliance, distilled by either a madman or a genius.

Arbikie 2017 Cask #69 Single Grain Scotch Whisky

RRP £125.00

58.3% ABV

Founded by the three Stirling brothers on the family’s East Coast estate, sustainability has been at the heart of Arbikie’s production from day one. From the distillery’s ground-breaking use of hydrogen fuel to their carbon positive crops, Arbikie is truly a leader in green distilling.

Sweet aromas of Icelandic rye bread, honeyed sponge cake and cloves open the bouquet with some nutmeg emerging with time. The palate is lively and joyous, showing sweet rye spice, crème brûlée and dark chocolate cookies. It is immensely quaffable. Baking spice and dry rye come in waves over the finish. Scotland isn’t known for its rye whisky but if this dram is anything to go by, it soon will be.

Ardnamurchan 2017 Cask #374 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

RRP £125.00

59.7% ABV

The prestigious independent bottler, Adelphi, prioritised sustainability when building their distillery in the wilderness of Ardnamurchan. The distillery runs on hydroelectric, solar and biomass power managed from its own forestry. The result is a heavily textured, peated style whisky tipped to become a West Coast classic.

The nose opens with vibrant aromas of bacon fat and cocoa powder lunging from the glass. The palate follows suit with flavours of smokey bacon, farmyard, tea leaves and warm blackcurrants. It is a masterclass in peaty complexity. More dark cocoa shows on the finish with lingering smoke. This is a powerful statement from the young distillery, perhaps Brora’s baby brother.

Belgrove 2016 Cask #170216 Single Rye Tasmanian Whisky

RRP £125.00

61.1% ABV

Pete Bignell not only grows his own rye on the farm but even built his own stills which are direct fired from used chip fryer oil. This farm distillery is an almost entirely closed loop with bio-oil being the only input and whisky the only output.

The nose immediately makes clear that this glass contains a huge, characterful dram. Farmyard aromas introduce rye dough, spiced vanilla, popcorn and warm gingerbread. These flavours are only magnified on the palate with burnt sugar and salted caramel cascading into rye beer, shortbread and clove. Spice lingers on the finish. This is an immense, intense and unique offering from the distilling folk hero of Tasmania.

Glen Wyvis 2018 Cask #1501/1502 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

RRP £125.00

53.9% ABV

In 2015, GlenWyvis became the first Scots distillery to be founded as a Social Enterprise, running for the good of the community. Set on a picturesque ridge at the foot of Ben Wyvis, the distillery utilises hydro, solar and biomass energy in its production.

Vibrant aromas of fresh fruit sing from the glass with honeyed cantaloupe melon, warm gorse and zesty green apples. A zap of citrus opens the palate, bringing spiced pears, soft vanilla and more crisp apple. Pine wood and cinnamon dance together across the finish. This is a wonderfully invigorating Highland malt and would be perfect to enjoy in a crisp breeze on the summit of Ben Wyvis.

The Oxford Artisan 2019 Cask #21 Single Rye English Whisky

RRP £125.00

54.5% ABV

The Oxford Artisan Distillery uses regenerative agriculture to create a whisky with terroir like no other. Their Head of Farming, John Letts’ continuous grain cropping technique ensures each field’s revived heritage grain population is unique and able to adapt to any climate and flourish.

This refill cask allows the rye distillate to sing with enticing savoury aromas of white chocolate, Danish rye bread and dark chocolate on the nose. The palate brings out more full-bodied rye notes, alongside citrusy Japanese Miyagawa, poppy seeds and spice. Few producers put as much thought into their grain and this dram serves as testament to that wisdom.

Nc’nean 2017 Cask #198 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

RRP £125.00

57.3% ABV

Founded by Annabel Thomas and opened in 2017, Nc’nean has become Scotland’s first carbon neutral distillery. The distillery uses 100% organic barley and utilises its own forestry to fuel a biomass boiler. Few other distilleries can be said to be leading environmental ethics in distilling with the same passion as Nc’nean.

Luscious green fruit aromas rise from the glass with animated notes of pear drop, wine gums and tinned pineapple emerging with time. The palate shows more weight with excellent balance of fresh orchard fruits and some fermentation driven tropicality. A wave of marzipan and coconut follow with the addition of water. This is a wonderfully characterful Highland dram with plenty to say both inside and outside of the glass.

Shortcross 2017 Cask #48 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

RRP £125.00

55.1% ABV

Built within the beautiful Rademon Estate by David and Fiona Boyd-Armstrong, Shortcross is a true labour of love. Their passion for quality spirit, Irish tradition and of course the estate itself shows in all they do. All the energy for the distillery comes from the estate’s own solar and hydro.

This Irish Pot Still explodes out of the glass with an incredible array of fruits. Notes of dried pineapple and mango, grapefruit fizz and lemon oil all astound the senses. The palate shows a masterful balance of wood and fruity distillate. The powerful, oak-driven vanilla flavour integrates perfectly with honeyed tropicality from the spirit. Clove rock and cinnamon rolls over the finish. The term ‘fruit bomb’ barely does justice to describing this magical pot still whiskey.

Westland 2014 Cask #6235 Single Malt American Whiskey

RRP £125.00

53.0% ABV

Since its inception in 2010, Westland has deservedly become the biggest name in American single malt and is always pushing the boundaries in pursuit of quality. Global acclaim not quite being enough, Westland are now pioneering research in barley sustainability.

The nose offers juicy notes of ripe pawpaw, apricot and luscious oak as an inviting glimpse of what’s to come. The palate is notably thick, showing phenomenally firm structure with apricot jam, mango, brioche and fudge coating the mouth. Fruit and nut chocolate flavours linger on the finish with a moreish sensation. This is a masterful pairing of supreme spirit and oak from one of the USA’s finest distilleries.

Berry Bros. & Rudd
Tracing its history back to 1698, when an enterprising woman called the Widow Bourne started an “Italian grocers” at No. 3 St James’s Street in London, selling tea, snuff, spices and the most fashionable drink of the day, coffee. In due course, the focus shifted to something a little bit stronger. As wine became important to the business, so too did spirits, and Berry Bros. & Rudd started bottling casks under its label in the early 19th century, making it Britain’s oldest independent spirits bottler.

An Elemental Connection to The Glenrothes Estate – Scotch Whisky News

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:03:49 +0100

AN ELEMENTAL CONNECTION

Our whiskies are elementally connected to the place from which they are forged, The Glenrothes Estate. The fresh spring water from the grounds of our Estate is naturally filtered through millions of years of rock as it makes its way to our distillery, resulting in water that is remarkably soft and free fro

m impurities. This water is fundamental to the elemental elegance that is the signature of our house style. Envoys of our Estate itself, The 18 and The 25 express the iconic experience of The Glenrothes.

THE 18

The 18 symbolises The Glenrothes’ unquenchable desire to learn and progress.

After 18 years of patient pursuit our whisky appears in a new state. Brighter notes become more subtle. A deeper fragrance blooms and lingers. Flavours unfurl with unexpected dimensions.

Our award-winning single malt has been re-imagined with an elegant new presentation. The iconic silhouette of the bottle remains but is now housed in a cylindrical cannister, a stylish nod to the oak casks in which the whisky has matured. It is etched with the topographic contours of The Glenrothes Estate, the source of our extraordinary spring water which is elemental to our smooth and fruity signature style.

Discover More

THE NEW 25

After nearly 150 years of whisky making on our private estate in Rothes, Speyside, we’ve learned true wisdom is knowing when to work and, crucially, when to wait.

Thousands of interactions over decades of lived experience creates in us the confidence to make room for beauty only time can touch. After a quarter century of waiting, the elegance of our whisky intensifies. Flavour and fragrance mingle and melt in sumptuous harmony.

Delicate Decadence born from the wisdom to wait.

Discover More

GLENGOYNE DISTILLERY 30 Year Old 2022 Release at The Whisky Barrel – Scotch Whisky News

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:02:56 +0100

GLENGOYNE
30 Year Old 2022 Release

Highly sought after and regarded 30 year old single malt from Glengoyne, beautifully presented. Limited release matured in sherry cask, back in stock now. Glengoyne 30 Year Old Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Matured in the finest sherry casks, limited release of 5,200 bottles. 2022 annual release.

Nose: Black cherry, sherry trifle, marmalade, tea rose, rum & raisin chocolate.

Palate: Burst of sweetness changing quickly to plum compote, cinnamon, cloves and tangy marmalade.

Finish: Soft oak dryness and cinnamon.

£999.00

Glengoyne Distillery was established as Burnfoot of Drumgoyne Distillery in 1833 by George Connel in the Highland whisky region although its warehouses rest across the road in the Lowland region. Re-named Glengoyne in 1905, its stills were increased from two to three in mid 1960s and since all the malt used is dried by hot air so all Glengoyne malt whisky is unpeated. With maturation in sherry and bourbon casks in addition to some Japanese and Scottish oak casks Glengoyne offers a range of distillery releases including Glengoyne 10 Year Old, Glengoyne 21 Year Old and Glengoyne 25 Year Old

Coming October 1st: Diageo Special Releases 2023 – Scotch Whisky News

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:01:32 +0100

Coming October 1st:
Diageo Special Releases 2023

Sign up below to receive communication for the exciting latest Special Releases drop from Diageo named ‘Spiritual Xchange’…Registration closes Saturday 30th September 2023. By entering your details you are also subscribing to The Whisky Shop mailing list. You can choose which emails you receive by updating your preferences and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Register Your Interest ❯

Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯

The Good Dram Show – Episode 527 ‘Deanston’ – Scotch Whisky News

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:00:57 +0100

The Good Dram Show – Episode 527 ‘Deanston’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at one of the ‘axis of evil’ distilleries. Has it changed? Will it be promoted? Watch and find out!

The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 527

Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Featuring

Deanston Virgin Oak 46.3% Deanston 2007 (12 year old) ‘Calvados Cask Finish’ 57.4%

Deanston ‘Dragon’s Milk’ Stout Cask Finish 50.5%

Deanston ‘The Union Exclusive’ 2004 (15 year old) Pedro Ximinex Finish 55.7%

Deanston Hand Filled at the Distillery 58.9%

Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Amburana

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:00:09 +0100

Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Amburana 58.21% ABV $90 Website We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review. What the Blender Says Amburana casks are challenging to work with, as they impart strong cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and vanilla spice notes. True blending expertise …

Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Amburana Read More »

The post Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Amburana first appeared on Whisk(e)y Apostle: Proselytizing the way of the malt.

Bourbon Comes To Kentucky Brandy Maker Copper & Kings

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 22:00:16 +0100

Copper & Kings, Kentucky’s American brandy distillery and official member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, has said it will offer for the first time something never-before-tasted from the brand: bourbon. Beginning in October, Copper & Kings Bourbon will be available at the Copper & Kings Distillery, as well as local retailers throughout Kentucky.

Copper & Kings Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made from a blend of 5-, 10- and 15 year bourbons. This is described by the distillery as “a flavor forward remix of the Kentucky tradition” and is finished in American Apple Brandy barrels for 12 months.

The final blend, created by Head Distiller Brandon O’Daniel, is presented at 111 proof (55.5 ABV) and offered for a suggested retail price of $65.

“Our bourbon is another feather in the cap for Copper & Kings. We are born and raised in the bluegrass state and although we will always be a brandy distillery we are also extremely fascinated with what our barrels can do in regards to finishing spirits,” said O’Daniel in a prepared statement. “Bourbon is the next logical step in exploring how the two distinctly American Spirits meld together. Our brandies are made with elements of the bourbon world and now we are excited to round out our portfolio with a delicious bourbon showcasing elements from our brandy world.”

Official tasting notes indicate “the light amber bourbon leads with cracked pepper, cigar tobacco, fresh cut apple and dry soil on the nose, which leads to chocolate, cinnamon sticks, bubble gum, honeysuckle, orange zest and classic cherry and fig notes on the palate.

“The finish is long and dry with baked apples, earth, baking spices, apple butter and green tobacco.”

For more information, visit CopperandKings.com.

Read the full article at Bourbon Comes To Kentucky Brandy Maker Copper & Kings

Beam Suntory Flexes Scotch Muscles With Ardray

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:47:49 +0100

Today we embark on a new era in blended Scotch whisky as we reveal Ardray in the United States. Ardray is an exquisite, beautifully complex, yet approachable malt-rich blended whisky, created to challenge preconceptions and offer a fresh perspective in Scotch.

Bringing the unique terroir of Scotland together with the precision and artistry of Japan defines this moment. Realized by the award-winning Suntory blending team from Japan, Ardray brings together only the finest, most complex whiskies to celebrate the wonderful attributes that make Scotch so special.

Ardray’s journey began with a vision. A vision to create a whisky that wonderfully balances multiple layers of flavor. Beam Suntory’s Chief Blender for Scotch, Calum Fraser, worked tirelessly with Suntory’s blenders, architects of the superbly balanced recipe, to bring this to life. Calling on blend styles of the past when fewer, more characterful malts were blended to create whiskies of distinction, complexity, and depth, Ardray intertwines the past and the future.

With inspiration drawn from The Father of Japanese Whisky, Suntory’s founder Shinjiro Torii, his journey now comes full circle. A hundred years ago, inspired by traditional Scottish whisky, Torii-San envisioned a Japanese approach to create a subtle, refined, yet complex whisky that would suit the delicate palate of the Japanese. With this remarkable blend, we honor Torii’s quest, from a reinterpretation of Scotch for the Japanese palate to Ardray: a new, elegant interpretation, designed to celebrate the excellence of blended Scotch Whisky.

Built on the premise that blended whisky is an art form that deserves both respect and reappraisal, we have created Ardray to challenge preconceptions. In treating both malt and grain whiskies as equals, we have produced a whisky that is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

Drawing from just a handful of the finest Scotch distilleries from Beam Suntory, a world leader in premium spirits and our partners at Edrington (owners of The Macallan, The Glenrothes and Highland Park), this is a blended whisky that captures the role of terroir and the production traditions of Scotland’s distilleries that define each of their unique spirit character.

Calum Fraser, Chief Blender for Scotch, commented, “In creating Ardray, we have combined an exceptional selection of the very best Scotch whisky has to offer with the inspiring talent of Suntory’s blending team to create something new, refreshing and exciting. The time, care and attention to detail taken to source both malt and grain whiskies from some of Scotland’s most noted distilleries has allowed us to explore hundreds of blends of Scotch malt and grain whiskies to achieve Ardray’s optimum balance of multi-layered flavors. Driven by the desire to ensure the true beauty of this blend is greater than the sum of its parts. Ardray promises a rich and complex taste, with a distinctive harmony of flavors: a mild, gently floral, and citrusy fruitiness, with a vanilla custard creaminess and a rich, silky mouthfeel and lengthy aftertaste that is unmatched.”

Ardray is bottled at 48% alcohol by volume (96 proof) and non-chill filtered, with a recommended retail price of $85.

Remus Bourbon Brings Back Gatsby Reserve For 2023

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:44:09 +0100

Ross & Squibb Distillery announced the return of the most-limited member of the Remus Bourbon family: Remus Gatsby Reserve 2023 Edition. Released to celebrate F. Scott Fitzgerald’s legendary novel, “The Great Gatsby”, a century ago – from the events in 1922 that inspired the novel to its publication in 1925 – Remus Gatsby Reserve is bottled at 98.1 proof (49.05% ABV) and offered in ultra-limited quantities at a minimum suggested retail price of $199.99 per 750-ml bottle.

Crafted by Master Distiller Ian Stirsman and the team at Ross & Squibb Distillery, Remus Gatsby Reserve contains some of the 175-year-old Lawrenceburg, Indiana, distillery’s finest 15-year-old reserves of straight bourbon whiskey. This year, Remus Gatsby Reserve features two bourbon mash bills (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt; and 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% barley malt) and is offered at cask strength. Hitting shelves this October, Remus Gatsby Reserve leads with aromas of caramel, candied dark fruit and saddle leather, with slight brown sugar and very sweet candied notes. The taste profile is characterized by flavors of caramel, oak, dark fruit syrup, candied raisins, char and brown sugar, while the finish lingers with notes of saddle leather, cherry and oak.

“We have produced great bourbon whiskey over the years at Ross & Squibb, and the Remus Bourbon brand has provided our team an opportunity to showcase some of our best,” said Stirsman. “Remus Gatsby reserve provides a special opportunity to showcase the best of the best – including two different mash bills of some of the finest 15-year-old bourbons in our reserves. Remus Gatsby Reserve made quite an impact when it was launched last year, and the 2023 Edition is likely to follow suit as a highly sought-after member of the Remus Bourbon family.”

Fettercairn Reveals Its Annual 16 Year Single Malt Whisky Rlease

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:00:09 +0100

Scotch single malt whisky distillery Fettercairn recently unveiled the fourth annual release of their limited-edition 16 Year Old expression. For 2023, this Fettercairn offering has enjoyed maturation in first fill ex-Port Pipes and fully matured ex-Bourbon casks.

Bottled at 46.4% ABV (non-chill filtered), official tasting notes for the Fettercairn 16 Year Old state it “presents with a rich, golden amber, in natural colour. To smell, warm aromas of tropical fruit are layered with berry fruits, rich cacao, sugared almonds and floral top notes.

“To taste, expect to enjoy seasonal blackberries and raspberries which interweave with natural vanilla and caramel notes. Soft plum is balanced with fresh baked ginger cake and cherries while aged oak spice accentuates the tropical house characteristics.”

Scotch single malt whisky distillery Fettercairn recently unveiled the fourth annual release of their limited-edition 16 Year Old expression. (image via Fettercairn)

The Fettercairn distillery is known for a unique, tropical house style. Located at the foothills of Scotland’s Cairngorm’s, it not only uses the crystal-clear mountain water as an ingredient, their stills are drenched in it from the outside, thanks to a “distinctive and unique” copper ring which adorns the top of the still. This cools the copper, allowing what’s described as the best of the vapors to rise, ultimately achieving “Fettercairn’s light spirit which popularly suggest notes of mango, orange, banana and pineapple.”

The 16 year old was first launched in 2020, and each annual limited-edition release has enjoyed some variations through a range of finishes and malts managed by Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass and the distillery team at Fettercairn.

The 2022 release brought together a maturation combination of Oloroso, Pedro Ximenez and ex-Bourbon casks, while the second release in 2021, enjoyed maturation with first and refill Oloroso and rare, aged first fill Palo Cortado Sherry butts. The inaugural release in 2020 was a distillate of chocolate malted barley, initially matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks, before further aging in select sherry and port casks.

Beyond experimental releases such as the Fettercairn 16 Year Old, the Warehouse Collection and the Scottish Oak Matured Fettercairn 18 Year Old, Fettercairn also offers 40, 46 and 50 year old expressions, as well as the core 12, 22 and 28 Year Old expressions.

Fettercairn 16 Year Old 2023 edition is priced at £82 for a 70cl bottle and available in specialist whisky retailers in markets including the UK, France and Germany. A 1 litre version is available for selected markets, including travel retail.

Read the full article at Fettercairn Reveals Its Annual 16 Year Single Malt Whisky Rlease

Teeling Whiskey Becomes Official Irish Whiskey Of Notre Dame Fans

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 20:00:26 +0100

Teeling Whiskey recently announced a partnership with Notre Dame as the Official Irish Whiskey Partner of Notre Dame Fans in the US. This long-term partnership kicks off on the heels of Teeling’s sponsorship of the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin on August 26th, marking the 96th game played between the Fighting Irish and Navy’s Midshipmen.

“Partnering with a storied institution like Notre Dame, with such a passionate fan base tied to our shared Irish roots is an honour for Teeling. With our shared dedication to quality of the highest order and the unwavering spirit of The Fighting Irish, we look forward to what’s in store,” said Stephen Teeling, Co-Founder and Sales & Marketing Director, Teeling Whiskey Company, in a prepared statement. “Teeling is thrilled to be sharing our award-winning whiskies with Notre Dame fans and alumni and to be aligning with a world class athletics program that shares our commitment to excellence.”

As a part of the official partnership, Teeling “will provide millions of Notre Dame fans nation-wide with exciting new bottle releases, customized fan experiences, merchandising, luxury tastings, and more.”

Teeling Whiskey recently announced a partnership with Notre Dame as the Official Irish Whiskey Partner of Notre Dame Fans in the US. (image via Teeling)

Additionally, Teeling and Notre Dame Athletics are smartly collaborating on an annual responsible drinking campaign. It is designed to encourage moderation among fans, students, and the country at large.

“With our commitment to excellence, innovation and family, partnering with such a renowned brand as Teeling Whiskey is a natural fit for us,” noted University of Notre Dame Deputy Athletics Director Jim Fraleigh. “We look forward to working with Teeling throughout the partnership in an innovative way and spreading the message of moderation as we collaborate on an impactful responsible drinking campaign to constituents around the globe.”

Read the full article at Teeling Whiskey Becomes Official Irish Whiskey Of Notre Dame Fans

Blade And Bow Re-Releases 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 18:00:08 +0100

Blade and Bow, a Diageo bourbon label, has re-released its ultra-premium 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery and Garden & Gun Club in Louisville, KY. The extra old American bourbon is aged and bottled at the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery, where it became available this month alongside 15 markets while supplies last.

“Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is an homage to the American bourbon industry,” said Douglas Kragel, Master Educator for Blade and Bow, in a prepared statement. “Rarely do such complex and delicate whiskies make it to this age in the state of Kentucky, but when they do they can be magical.

“This Bourbon has layered flavors reminiscent of a freshly baked apple pie, with undertones of fresh dough and apple, layered with caramelized sugar and honeyed spices bringing everything together in an Americana flavor profile.”

Blade and Bow, a Diageo bourbon label, has re-released its ultra-premium 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon in time for National Bourbon Heritage Month. (image via Diageo)

Each September, in time for National Bourbon Heritage Month, Blade and Bow’s 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon is released for what’s described as “a month-long celebration that pays homage to the craftsmanship, history, and tradition of Stitzel-Weller Distillery.”

Due to the finite amount of liquid available, it was noted by the brand, there is no guaranteed timeframe for how long this “in-demand bourbon” will be accessible.

Official tasting information makse mention that “the fragrant aroma of the 22-Year-Old layered with oak, caramel, and fresh stone fruit bring this highly acclaimed bourbon a sweet and smoky flavor, accented with well-balanced tasting notes.”

Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is available in California, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, South Carolina, Illinois, Washington DC, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan

As a side note, consumers can experience the 22-Year-Old year-round at The Garden & Gun Club at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. The 22-Year-Old Tasting Experience includes one ounce of Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old in a handcrafted Terrane glass, alongside a signature wool tartan bag, Blade and Bow enamel pin and tasting notes guide.

Read the full article at Blade And Bow Re-Releases 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

New Kentucky Travel Campaign “Joy Ride” Showcases BOURBON COUNTRY and American Pickers Mike Wolfe

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 16:10:38 +0100

Winding roads with heart-stopping views, wineries, historic homes, nature preserves and yes, horses and bourbon, are all highlighted in Kentucky’s latest tourism campaign inviting visitors to take a Joy Ride through Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region. With a nostalgic flair, and the most beautiful scenic byways in America, Kentucky’s Joy Ride campaign encourages travelers to take the backroads, and own the idea that life is all about the journey and not just the destination.

“Travel is booming, and with that, people are re-discovering the joy of the open road,” said Mary Quinn Ramer, President, VisitLEX. “The Joy Ride campaign encourages people to travel like they used to, in the ‘50s and ‘60s, when people took their time to stop at scenic sites along the way, really enjoying the experience of getting to their destination.”

Anchored by a two-minute short film featuring and narrated by Mike Wolfe from The History Channel TV show American Pickers, alongside Heritage Tourism Preservationist Leticia Cline, Joy Ride showcases their trip exploring idyllic spots in Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region. The commercial will run nationwide on Connected TV channels of Discovery Networks, HULU, YouTube, Google and other social channels now through the end of next year.

“As people plan their fall travel and next year’s spring break or summer vacation, we encourage them to travel the way Americans used to travel – taking the backroads and enjoying the time spent together and the memories made,” added Ramer.

Commemorative Posters

The Joy Ride campaign is also supported by nostalgic collectible posters and digital content highlighting these iconic spots in the Bluegrass:

Berea, KY – Historic Boone Tavern
Carlisle – Nicholas County, KY – Wendt’s Wildlife Adventure
Cynthiana, KY – Downtown Cynthiana
Frankfort, KY – Buffalo Trace Distillery
Georgetown – Scott County, KY – Old Friends Farm
Harrodsburg, KY – Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill
Lancaster & Paint Lick, KY – Herrington Lake
Lawrenceburg, KY – Kentucky River at Young’s High Bridge and Wild Turkey Distillery
Lexington, KY – Keeneland Race Track
Nicholasville & Wilmore, KY – First Vineyard and Winery and 1922 House Vineyards and Winery
Paris – Bourbon County, KY – Claiborne Farms
Richmond, KY – Battle of Richmond and Fort Boonesboro
Standford – Lincoln County, KY – William Whitley House and Sportsman’s Hill
Winchester, KY – Ale-8-One Soda, Beer Cheese Trail and Beer Cheese Festival
Woodford County, KY – Woodford Reserve Distillery

Posters are available at each participating site. Kentucky Tourism’s Joy Ride campaign runs from September 20^th, 2023 through the end of 2024. For more information on each site, visit bluegrasskentucky.com

About Joy Ride

Joy Ride is a tourism campaign supported by Team Kentucky through the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. The Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet is dedicated to fostering and promoting the state’s rich heritage as well as continuing Kentucky’s long history of being a premiere travel destination for all travelers to enjoy. For more information visit Tourism News – Tourism, Arts & Heritage (ky.gov)

For the latest in Bourbon, visit www.thebourbonreview.com

The post New Kentucky Travel Campaign “Joy Ride” Showcases BOURBON COUNTRY and American Pickers Mike Wolfe first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Wenzel Whiskey and Molly Wellmann Partner on Limited Edition Bottle Release to Celebrate Major Milestones

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 14:32:02 +0100

Wenzel Whiskey, a whiskey blending experience and event space in the heart of Covington, KY (Northern KY), and Molly Wellmann, one of Cincinnati’s most iconic mixologists and entrepreneurs, have teamed up to release a new limited, locally brewed whiskey called The One 50^th Blend.

This limited bottle release celebrates Wellmann’s 50^th birthday and the 150^th anniversary of whiskey being produced at Wenzel. A limited number of bottles will be available for sale on Saturday, September 30 beginning at noon, while supplies last. Wellmann will be onsite to sign bottles.

“This is such an iconic way to celebrate a 50^th birthday,” said entrepreneur, Wellmann. “I had the pleasure of joining several of my friends knowledgeable in spirits for Wenzel’s unique whiskey blending experience where we all created and blind tasted our own whiskeys. Mine won, and that’s how we ended up with The One 50^th Blend Gold Label release.”

Molly Wellman. Photo: Molly Wellman FB Page

Among the friends to join Wellmann, were Jake Warm, owner of O.K.I., Brad Bonds, Co-Founder of Revival Vintage Bottle Shop, and Bill Whitlow, operator of Rich’s Proper, Hangry Omar’s and the soon-to-be Opal Rooftop Restaurant & Bar and brand ambassador for Wenzel Whiskey. This friendly competition and collaboration resulted in the new limited-edition blend.

“Molly and I first met in 2012 while she was opening OKBB and I was opening Goodfellas and Wiseguy Lounge in Mainstrasse Village,” said Whitlow. “We’ve become great friends and, while we’ve done some fun collaborations over the years, this is the biggest one we’ve done to date. What a perfect way to celebrate two regional icons – Molly Wellmann and bourbon.”

Bottles of The One 50^th Blend will be available for purchase, while supplies last, for $99 each on Saturday, September 30 starting at noon at Wenzel Whiskey, located at 15 Tobacco Alley in Covington. Please reach out ahead of time to ensure availability.

For more information on Wenzel Whiskey and the distiller’s iconic whiskey blending experience and signature whiskey, The Proprietors, visit wenzelwhiskey.com.

For the latest in Bourbon, visit www.thebourbonreview.com.

The post Wenzel Whiskey and Molly Wellmann Partner on Limited Edition Bottle Release to Celebrate Major Milestones first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

HIGHLAND PARK LAUNCHES NEW COLLABORATIVE SINGLE CASK BOTTLING

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:27:35 +0100

Highland Park, has announced the launch of a new limited-edition single cask bottling, in partnership with the Ireland based drinks specialist The Single Malt Shop.

Highland Park 18 Year Old – Single Cask Series - The Single Malt Shop Exclusive (57.4% ABV) is a cask strength single malt Scotch whisky, which was matured in a refill butt.

Highland Park 18 Year Old - Single Cask Series - Single Malt Shop Exclusive

This latest release from the Orkney based distillery, which was hand selected by Highland Park’s Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion, is said to deliver notes of heather honey, lemon peel, new oak, pecans and light peat on the nose. Followed by notes of toasted oak, vanilla fudge ice cream, roasted almonds, violets, floral peat smoke, cinnamon bark and lingering spiciness on the palate.

Commenting on the launch, Gordon Motion, said: “When it comes to whisky that’s matured for 18 years and more, I have fewer casks to choose from so those in our single cask series are, quite simply, the most exceptional Highland Park casks available. Some of our most outstanding single cask bottlings come from refill casks, as they have often previously held whisky for only a short period of time, so have much to give in subsequent maturation. I chose this cask for The Single Malt Shop due to its interesting and exciting flavour profile to offer something special for their whisky fans.”

Limited to 513 bottles, Highland Park 18 Year Old – Single Cask Series - The Single Malt Shop Exclusive, is now available from thesinglemaltshop.com for a RRP of €440.00.

Posted by Steve Rush

New Arrival of the Week: Compass Box Metropolis

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 11:36:01 +0100

Compass Box has just unveiled the third expression in its Extinct Blends Quartet. It’s called Metropolis, it’s now available from us, and we can tell you all about it because we tasted it in the company of whisky maker James Saxon at the launch event.

The evolution of blended whisky

The Extinct Blends Quartet series is inspired by blends of the past and the intention is to create whisky that can serve as something of a time capsule. Our setting for the event, Sir John Soane’s Museum, was apt then. Slip past the usual sights of Greggs and Pret A Manger in London and you find his glorious former home tucked away in an unassuming corner of Lincoln Inn Fields. Step inside, however, and what opens up before you is itself a time capsule of the Georgian man’s enviable taste and ingenuity, which stretches across art, architecture and history.

The space is perfectly preserved by its dedicated staff, retaining its enchanting original aesthetic and revealing the spoils of Soane’s considerable collection, from the 3,000-year-old sarcophagus of Pharaoh Seti I to hidden Hogarth and Turner paintings. It’s one of my favourite places I’ve ever enjoyed whisky and the way it reflects the era it was established and moulded by its creator was a parallel Saxon drew on. He explains that blends themselves are a reflection of the tastes and trends of the era in which they’re made as well as of the people who made them.

Whisky is always evolving and that naturally means certain processes and perspectives get left behind. As fashions change, formulae follow suit, so blended whiskies from the 1970s are very different to what we drink today, even if the brand is the same. When we taste old bottles, we’re being introduced to the production methods and personalities of the time.

From his own experience, Saxon explains how old school sherry was funkier (or paxarette was. Can I say that?) or how smokiness used to be more gentle, like an autumn bonfire, compared to the drier and more aggressive smoke of today. Although he also concedes spending decades in a bottle might have a softening effect. It’s interesting to consider, though, that if the shortage of Islay malt worsens, perhaps the gentler smoke of distilleries like Ledaig or Ardnamurchan will be the ones in demand. Always evolving…

Compass Box Metropolis is here!

Stepping into Metropolis

But reviving the flavours of the past is no easy task for a whisky maker like Saxon. While extinct distillers can be revived, blends of the past cannot be recreated at scale. Its complexity is its downfall. You change just one element and the whole blend is different. That could be that some of the whisky is from a closed distillery, or a distillery’s production process has been altered. There’s no perfect Jurassic Park-style, dino DNA approach. Saxon has to analyse old samples and then work to create a new blend that best reflects the bottle that inspired him.

For Metropolis, we can’t actually reveal which blend, originally created in the late 19th century by a wine merchant, inspired him. We’ll just have to look for clues in the new whisky’s label. Maybe while we sip on a Rob Roy. Made with Glenmorangie whisky.

Anyway, while the flavour was inspired by the profile of that recently discontinued blend, the name and theme are a homage to the bustling cities of the past where blended Scotch whisky was born. “For us, Metropolis represents all the people, places, and moments that blend together making city life so vibrant,” says Saxon. “We really wanted to capture the soul of blended Scotch that continues to reside in the city today.”

This is Compass Box, so we get an exact breakdown of the blend. It’s 25.8% blended malt Scotch whisky aged in a refill sherry butt, 25.1% Aberlour single malt aged in a re-charred American oak barrel, 20.5% blended grain parcel aged in refill bourbon barrels, 16.6% Miltonduff single malt aged in first-fill bourbon barrels, 7.1% Bowmore single malt aged in a refill bourbon barrel, and 4.9% blended Scotch parcel aged primarily in first-fill bourbon barrel. You gotta love that transparency.

All that remains is to taste Metropolis and see if this blend lives up to its considerable billing. Which it does, I think. The nose is full of stone fruit, cream vanilla, floral honey, and sultanas, while the palate has the fudgy goodness of a great grain whisky plus tropical fruit, woody smoke, and delicate spice. I couldn’t tell you how it compares to the whisky it was inspired by, I never got to try it. I can say, however, that Metropolis is a further demonstration of the complexity, quality, and personality that is inherent in top blends, a fact that Compass Box is relentlessly good at demonstrating. Time after time.

You can buy Compass Box Metropolis now, click the link to purchase.

The post New Arrival of the Week: Compass Box Metropolis appeared first on Master of Malt Blog.

Bunnahabhain Unveils Annual 12 Year Old Cask Strength 2023 Release – Islay Whisky News

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 08:05:01 +0100

Bunnahabhain unveils annual 12 Year Old Cask Strength 2023 release

Bunnahabhain Distillery has launched its third annual small-batch 12 Year Old cask strength release

Bottled at cask strength, the expression showcases the classic unpeated sherried house style that Bunnahabhain is infamous for.

A limited edition expression, it offers whisky lovers the chance to experience a taste of Bunnahabhain whisky in its purest form.

Bunnahabhain Distillery has revealed its third annual small-batch cask strength release: Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Cask Strength 2023 Edition.

Following on from the success of the 2021 and 2022 editions, this release is a nod to Bunnahabhain’s 12 Year Old signature expression. It has been matured in a selection of first and second-fill oloroso sherry casks, before being balanced by a touch of bourbon with each cask being carefully selected by Master Blender, Julieann Fernandez.

At cask strength, the intensity naturally varies from batch to batch. This year’s release has an ABV of 60.1%, compared to 56.6% of 2022 and 55.1% of 2021. Retaining the beautiful flavours developed from the sherry casks during maturation, the 2023 release offers a fruitier dram than its predecessors, with notes of stone fruits and figs, followed by lingering hints of vanilla that complement the finish.

Commenting on the release, Julieann Fernandez said: “I’m really proud of this year’s 12 Year Old Cask Strength release. Even bigger and even bolder than its predecessors, with an ABV of 60.1%, it epitomises everything that Bunnahabhain is known for: unpeated, sherried and full of intense flavour, offering big hits of roasted nuts and cinnamon spice in every dram.

“Bunnahabhain is a robust and complex spirit – unpeated and oily but with sweet notes of dried fruits and cereal, and it means that the spirit can really take on the big flavour profiles that come from the full maturation in the sherry casks.

“Our Bunnahabhain fans span all across the world and it means a lot to us that we can offer them that unforgettable experience of trying a dram straight from the cask – even if you aren’t able to do it in person in our infamous Warehouse 9!”

Bunnahabhain’s 12 Year Old Cask Strength 2023 expression is available to purchase at the distillery or bunnahabhain.com. Priced at £85, the expression is non-chill filtered, allowing whisky lovers to enjoy as nature intended.

For more information, visit https://bunnahabhain.com/

Tasting notes

Colour: Deep mahogany

Nose: Floral and nutty with notes of marzipan, hazelnut, almond cream and morello cherries.

Palate: Roasted nuts and spice lead the way with cinnamon and cloves, fading to reveal soft notes of butterscotch, toffee, sultanas and a gentle hint of coffee.

Finish: Lingering notes of cloves, hazelnut and cocoa.

NEW LOST LANTERN FALL SINGLE CASK COLLECTION FEATURES TOP-REQUESTED DISTILLERY PARTNERS

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 08:04:50 +0100

NEW LOST LANTERN FALL SINGLE CASK COLLECTION FEATURES

TOP-REQUESTED DISTILLERY PARTNERS

WEYBRIDGE, VT (September 13, 2023)— Independent bottler Lost Lantern is ushering in autumn with the release of its Fall 2023 Single Cask Collection, showcasing five new single casks from some of America’s most sought-after distilleries. This seasonal release spotlights whiskies from four returning Lost Lantern partners, all fan favorites: Balcones Distilling (TX), Smooth Ambler (WV), New Riff (KY), and Corbin Cash (CA). It also includes Lost Lantern’s first release from its most-requested new partner, Andalusia Whiskey Co. (TX).

Beginning September 27th, the Fall 2023 Single Cask Collection will be available for sale online at LostLanternWhiskey.com and Seelbachs.com. Select releases will also be available in California in limited quantities. All offerings are non-chill-filtered, bottled at natural cask strength, and feature transparent labeling highlighting the source distillery.

Lost Lantern Balcones Distilling Texas Single Malt Finished in a Peated Whiskey Cask (241 Btls | 120.4 Proof) SRP: $100
Lost Lantern Smooth Ambler West Virginia Straight Bourbon (87 Btls | 121.4 Proof) SRP: $100
Lost Lantern New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon (196 Btls | 116.2 Proof) SRP: $90
Lost Lantern Corbin Cash California Straight Rye Whiskey 7 Years Old (146 Btls | 129.8 Proof) SRP: $120
Lost Lantern Andalusia Whiskey Co. Triple Distilled Texas Single Malt (177 Btls | 105.2 Proof) SRP: $100

“The Fall 2023 collection is actually one that is deeply rooted in our customer’s desires,” explains cofounder Nora Ganley-Roper. “Our mission of shining a light on distilleries from across the country doesn’t end the first time we’ve released a whiskey from a distillery. Inspired by direct feedback, this collection revisits four of our most sought-after previous distillery partners—Balcones, Smooth Ambler, New Riff, and Corbin Cash—and introduces a much-requested newcomer: Andalusia Whiskey Co.”

Single casks are an essential piece of the Lost Lantern model, inspired by the long tradition of independent bottlers in Scotland. With the introduction of the 2023 Fall Collection, Lost Lantern has released 49 one-of-a-kind single casks from 24 of the most exciting distilleries in the United States since their debut in October 2020.

LOST LANTERN FALL 2023 SINGLE CASK COLLECTION

Lost Lantern Balcones Distilling Texas Single Malt Finished in a Peated Whiskey Cask

(241 Btls | 120.4 Proof) SRP: $100

Made from 100% Golden Promise malted barley, this whiskey was aged for 3 years in new oak and then finished for an additional 20 months in a cask that previously held peated single malt, imparting a distinct smoky flavor . A follow-up to the April 2023 release of Lost Lantern Gentle Giant Balcones Distilling Texas Single Malt, named “Best American Single Malt” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Lost Lantern Smooth Ambler West Virginia Straight Bourbon

(87 Btls | 121.4 Proof) SRP: $100

Distilled and aged in the West Virginia hills, this straight bourbon whiskey was made from Smooth Ambler’s high-rye bourbon mashbill. Aged in a 53-gallon char 4 cask for 6 years, it is rich and spicy, with hints of orange, dark chocolate, and butterscotch. A follow-up to two 2022 Lost Lantern releases of Smooth Ambler’s wheated bourbon, both long sold out.

Lost Lantern New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon

(196 Btls | 116.2 Proof) SRP: $90

New Riff brings a new lens to centuries of Kentucky bourbon tradition. Made from 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley, this was aged for 4 years in a 53-gallon Char 4 ISC Cooper’s Select barrel. Rich baking spice on the nose and a full and rounded palate with hints of black cherry, dried ginger, and dark chocolate. A follow-up and fascinating comparison point to Lost Lantern’s recent release of a New Riff bourbon aged in a Char 1 barrel.

Lost Lantern Corbin Cash California Straight Rye Whiskey 7 Years Old

(146 Btls | 129.8 Proof) SRP: $120

Corbin Cash’s grain-to-glass whiskies, made by the Souza family, reflect the bounty and warmth of California’s Central Valley, one of the world’s great agricultural regions. Distilled from 100% estate-grown Merced rye and aged for 7 years in a 53-gallon barrel with an unusual level 5 char, this has rich, sweet, bold spice notes, like a carrot cake with walnuts and almond cream. A follow-up to Lost Lantern’s March 2023 release of another 7-year-old Corbin Cash rye, which won a Double Gold and was a finalist for Best Rye at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Lost Lantern Andalusia Whiskey Co. Triple Distilled Texas Single Malt

(177 Btls | 105.2 Proof) SRP: $100

This is Lost Lantern’s first release from Andalusia, a rising star in American single malt and their most requested partner. It is also one of the only ways to get Andalusia’s whiskey outside of Texas. This whiskey was made from 100% malted barley and distilled three times on a handmade copper pot still. Aged in new oak for 3 years, it is Lost Lantern’s first triple-distilled release. Warm and refreshing, like eating ice cream in a waffle cone on a hot day.

A MILESTONE YEAR FOR LOST LANTERN

2023 has been a landmark year for Lost Lantern. The brand introduced a fresh design aesthetic when they debuted their new Single Distillery Series this past spring. This new range, which launched with three releases, included “Gentle Giant,” a bottling that ultimately clinched the Best American Single Malt title at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Lost Lantern was honored as the global Independent Bottler of the Year at the prestigious Icons of Whisky Awards and founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski were recently recognized as one of SevenFifty Daily’s 2023 Drinks Innovators. Their ‘Summer of Bourbon’ release, the most extensive in their history, showcased six single casks, a bourbon under the new Single Distillery Series, and marked the debut of Lost Lantern’s first multi-distillery, multi-state bourbon blend. With the introduction of the upcoming Fall 2023 Single Cask Collection (comprising two single malts, two bourbons, and a rye), the company now also celebrates the full unveiling of its revamped product design across all their offerings.

ABOUT LOST LANTERN

Founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, Lost Lantern is an award-winning independent bottler of American whiskey. In 2023, they were named Independent Bottler of the Year at the global Icons of Whisky Awards in London and named one of SevenFifty Daily’s 2023 Drinks Innovators. The company seeks out the most unique and exciting whiskies being made across the U.S. and releases them as single casks and blends, always with a deep commitment to transparency. For more information about Lost Lantern, to learn about upcoming, available, and retired whiskies, or to subscribe to Lost Lantern’s newsletter, please visit LostLanternWhiskey.com.

Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024 – World Whisky News

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 08:03:33 +0100

Every year – the most updated whisky book on the market!
Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024 will be published 1st October

This is the 19th edition of a book that whisky enthusiasts look forward to every autumn.

The main part of the book covers no less than 821 malt whisky distilleries around the world with all the facts updated. New exciting articles by distinguished writers such as Andrew Derbidge, Ian Wisniewski, Johanne McInnis, Kristiane Sherry, Neil Ridley and Joel Harrison. More than 200 tasting notes, including independent bottlings.

New feature! Whisky Icons on the state of whisky. A listing of more than 150 of the world´s greatest whisky shops. The Whisky Year That Was – the most comprehensive summary you’ll find of the news and trends in the industry.

An entire chapter about the world’s leading independent bottlers. All the latest info on bottlings and web sites as well as the latest statistics and figures. More than 500 colour photos.

The Malt Whisky Yearbook is the brainchild of editor Ingvar Ronde and was first published in autumn 2005. Since then a new and completely revised edition has been published yearly. What started out as a go-to book for whisky enthusiasts wanting to keep abreast of the ever-changing malt whisky world, soon became a tool also for the whisky industry. Many producers now buy it for their staff (brand ambassadors, tour guides, sales people etc.) to keep them informed about the latest developments.

The Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024 is sold through www.maltwhiskyyearbook.com for £15.95 plus shipping. Available for preorder now with shipping starting 1st October.

Ingvar has expanded his comfort zone this year (being an analogue creature) by posting a short clip on Youtube. For a good laugh, here it is

Ingvar Ronde – Editor Malt Whisky Yearbook and Keeper of the Quaich
ingvar.ronde@magdig.com
Published by MagDig Media Ltd.
Publication date; 1 October 2023
ISBN 978-1-7394492-0-9
Recommended retail price in UK; £15.95
Contact; ingvar.ronde@magdig.com
www.maltwhiskyyearbook.com

House of Hazelwood teams up with Dave Broom to create a limited-release blend – and a film about the brothers who inspired it – Scotch Whisky News

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 08:02:00 +0100

Veteran whisky writer Dave Broom has collaborated with House of Hazelwood to create a documentary film and a special blended Scotch whisky.

The PREVIEW:

A new documentary by Dave Broom and House of Hazelwood tells the story of two of whisky’s most important characters.

From the Gordon family home in Speyside, House of Hazelwood crafts extraordinary blends. Now celebrated whisky writer Dave Broom has partnered with House of Hazelwood to create a remarkable whisky and documentary film celebrating two very special characters: Charles and Sandy Gordon.

The Accelerator and The Brake 33 Years Old Blended Scotch challenges the very conventions of whisky-making. Under the watchful eye of Eilidh Muir, a member of House of Hazelwood’s whisky stocks team, Broom has selected a dynamic aged grain and an elegant malt, inverting their ratios with unexpected – and extraordinary – results. A masterpiece in whisky creation, the silken expression tells the story of two brothers who shaped the past, present and future of Scotch whisky as a whole.

Charles and Sandy Gordon were pioneers. One, a vibrant, pacy marketeer. The other, a steady, considered, numbers man. Together they built brands and distilleries. And they are celebrated in this blend, a component part summing up the spirit of each.

But their story doesn’t stop there. Broom travelled to Scotland not just to create a whisky, but also to capture the stories behind one of Scotch whisky’s greatest families. House of Hazelwood The Documentary airs on 19 September.

The five-part series explores bloodlines and whisky blending, and every aspect in between. Enjoy each episode individually or settle into the tale and watch in one sitting. Watch now and become part of the story.

WATCH NOW

Read the full story about The Accelerator & The Brake over on
whiskymag.com.

Virginia Distillery Company Unveils Their Newest American Single Malt

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 21:00:06 +0100

Virginia Distillery Company recently announced the launch of its Double Cask Reserve, the latest addition to their Courage & Conviction line.

Double Cask Reserve features whiskey that was individually aged for a minimum of five years in first fill bourbon casks and STR European red wine Cuvée casks before being vatted together gradually. This offering has no additives, is non-chill filtered and bottled at 48% ABV. Official tasting notes make mention of “bright citrus, apricot, and butterscotch. With every sip, tart cherry mingles with milk chocolate on the palate and finishes with a soft and lingering ginger spice.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to share with the world the latest addition to our Courage & Conviction line: a vibrant whisky that fits beautifully within our collection,” said Virginia Distillery Company’s CEO Gareth H. Moore, in a prepared statement. “With this release, we feel we’ve set a new standard for American Whisky – a category that is soon to be officially recognized by the TTB.”

Virginia Distillery Company recently announced the launch of its Double Cask Reserve, the latest addition to their Courage & Conviction line. (image via Virginia Distillery Company)

In July 2022, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for its intent to establish American Single Malt Whiskey as a protected category within the Standards of Identity of American Whiskey. It has yet to be fully ratified.

Virginia Distillery Company’s Double Cask Reserve retails for $89.99. This American Single Malt, along with the rest of the Courage & Conviction line, is available at retail purveyors and can be ordered online at www.courageandconviction.com.

Read the full article at Virginia Distillery Company Unveils Their Newest American Single Malt

Filmland Spirits Releases New Film Focused Bourbon, Cask Strength Rye

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 22:00:11 +0100

Filmland Spirits, founded in 2020, has enthusiasm for whiskey, is passionate about movies, and is dedicated to storytelling.

The brand recently announced the debut of two new American whiskeys for their portfolio, “Town at the End of Tomorrow,” a 9-year-old Kentucky bourbon, and “Ryes of the Robots Extended Cut.”

Filmland calls the newest whiskeys “a wildly creative pairing of an original retro B-Movie concept … complete with monsters, robots and over-the-top plots … with a delicious and unique whiskey.”

Filmland Spirits has enthusiasm for whiskey, is passionate about movies, and is dedicated to storytelling. It recently announced the debut of two new themed American whiskeys. (image via Filmland)

And the bottles tell part of the story, as they’re custom designed to reflect an art-deco style reminiscent of the movie houses of old and feature movie posters as labels.

For Town at the End of Tomorrow, the whiskey features a mash bill of 78% corn and 13% rye with 9% malted barley. It’s aged 9 years in American white oak barrels and clocks in at 94 proof (47% ABV).

As was explained, Town at the End of Tomorrow was inspired by their original B-movie concept and tells the story of a future overshadowed by bourbon shortages and the outlawing of spirits older than two years.

In the story, New Bardstown is now the center of the whiskey universe and home to distillers Connor and Emerald Cooper, who long for the finely aged bourbons of years gone by. Together, they travel back through time to the birth of America’s native spirit, where they must confront their teetotaling forefather Judge Barker in an epic battle for the bourbon ages.

You can watch the trailer here.

“Town at the End of Tomorrow is a celebration of bourbon’s past and future and to bring this tale to life, we knew we needed a Kentucky product,” said Troy Bolotnick, founder and CEO of Filmland Spirits. “We found a blockbuster liquid worthy of our concept and are thrilled to premiere it in Bardstown, Kentucky during the Bourbon Festival.”

Their Ryes of the Robots Extended Cut is a cask strength version that’s aged five years in American white oak, bottled at cask strength 108 Proof (54% ABV). It features a mash of 95% rye with 5% malted barley.

And there’s a trailer for it too, here.

The two new whiskeys will be available in California, Kentucky, Nevada, Washington, Arizona and Alaska and online.

For more information, check out www.filmlandspirits.com.

Read the full article at Filmland Spirits Releases New Film Focused Bourbon, Cask Strength Rye

Inchdairnie Distillery Distills A Scottish “Pot Still” Whisky

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 21:00:54 +0100

InchDairnie Distillery recently announced its latest whisky in the experimental PrinLaws Collection.

A statement from the whisky maker explained that this whisky, a Scottish ‘Pot Still’ whisky, was inspired by the traditional method of old pot still whisk(e)y-making in Ireland and Scotland. But they’ve done so with “deliberate twists” that makes it a definite product of Fife.

For one, it’s unique as it’s one of the few times in a century that a distiller in Scotland has announced the production of a ‘Pot Still’ style of whisky.

InchDairnie Distillery recently announced its latest experimental offering, a Scottish ‘Pot Still’ whisky inspired by the traditional method of old pot still whisk(e)y-making in Ireland and Scotland. (image via InchDairnie)

The prepared statement noted that the team at InchDairnie Distillery took their lead from the Irish definition, which is protected in law, to search for interesting new flavors.

The grains used to make this new whisky are distillers’ malt from Canada (60%), unmalted barley (35%) from Balgonie Estate and malted rye (5%), also from Balgonie.

The High Diastatic Power malt from Canada is used, the distiller noted, as it has higher levels of enzymes occurring naturally. Unlike in Ireland, in Scotland it is illegal to add enzymes into the mash … so the HDP malted barley helps the conversion of starch into sugars and increases flavor.

The distiller’s notes continue, stating that over the course of a week in mid-August, InchDairnie Distillery experts led by Founder Ian Palmer and Distillery Manager Scott Sneddon, milled to the finest grist using their hammermill.

They mashed using the rare mash filter extracting maximum sugars. Fermented using distillers MG+ yeast and then distilled in copper pot stills with their double condensers. The final spirit filled first-fill bourbon barrels for maturation in the distillery’s warehouses.

Palmer said, “While this style of whisky was once commonly produced in Scotland centuries ago, it has fallen out of favor in recent times, which is a real shame as there are some fascinating flavor characteristics to come from working with malted and unmalted grains of various types. We’ve bridged the traditions between Scotch and Irish whisky to create a truly innovative whisky that I’m sure will delight drinkers in the years to come.”

The 2023 PrinLaws Collection follows experimental distillations of wheated whisky in 2022, and a sour mash bill in 2021. As of now, no release date has been set, and the distiller noted that the final products will only be released when they’re ready.

For more information, check out www.inchdairniedistillery.com.

Read the full article at Inchdairnie Distillery Distills A Scottish “Pot Still” Whisky

Bowmore Offers Up A “Lovers” Myth Inspired Scotch Travel Retail Duo

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 20:00:20 +0100

Bowmore’s island home of Islay is steeped in history, and rich in myth and legend. In celebration of these unique stories, the distillery recently unveiled the third release of its collaboration with graphist artist and illustrator Frank Quitely. “Lovers Transformed” is a duo of limited-edition travel retail exclusive collectible single malts: a 23 Year Old and a 36 Year Old. Both have been launched in selected travel retail locations worldwide.

The Lovers Transformed 23 Year Old (50.9% ABV) is a single malt, finished in refill Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry seasoned European Oak casks. There will be 8,000 bottles available.

Official tasting notes for it make mention that, “on the nose, the whisky incorporates the distinctive fresh aroma of Atlantic Ocean sea salt, which gives way to richer notes of toffee, salted caramel, tanned leather, honeycomb, stewed apples, rhubarb and ground ginger, with hints of rose petals and parma violets.

“On the palate, the liquid offers sweet, peaty notes of golden maple syrup, demerara sugar, cocoa beans, dark chocolate and liquorice root, with a hint of hazelnut and tannins. The finish is rich and earthy, with a long, honeyed sweetness.”

The Lovers Transformed 36 Year Old (45.2% ABV), meanwhile, is the oldest release to date within the Quitely collaboration. Only 700 bottles are available.

Finished in first fill Pinot Noir wine barriques, official tasting notes for it mention that “On the nose, this deep amber whisky combines notes of crisp green apple, violet and fresh pineapple, giving way to herbal scents of sage and thyme, plum, dried cloves and apricots, balanced by sweet, spicy cinnamon and fudge.

“On the palate, this whisky opening is oily and earthy, before offering up notes of sweet vanilla, juicy black currants and lemon, with an undercurrent of sea salt, white pepper, liquorice root and oak. The long, rich, smooth finish is enhanced with notes of orange, spice and gentle peat smoke.”

The Lovers Transformed 23 Year Old is $470, while the Lovers Transformed 36 Year Old is $4,000. They are specifically being made available from Bowmore in China, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Macau, MEA, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the UK and the US.

With regards to the Quitely collaboration, both expressions feature exclusive designs from this illustrator, who is known for his Marvel and DC Comics illustrations, “which visually reinterpret” the myth’s “story of the daughter of a Pictish King from the East, who fell in love with a captured Celtic warrior from the West. In their quest to be united, the star-crossed couple set sail from the Scottish mainland, to the warrior’s home on the island of Islay.

“A thunderous storm sank their boat, and the young lovers – cleaving fast to one another – were claimed by the sea. In the eerie stillness of the following day, the wreckage of the boat was discovered on the rocky shores of Islay. But no trace was ever found of the lovers, save for a pair of white gulls soaring together high in the sky, settling neither to the East nor to the West, as if torn between the two.

“To this day on Islay, when two gulls are seen together in an otherwise empty sky, glasses are raised to the legend of the Lovers Transformed.”

Read the full article at Bowmore Offers Up A “Lovers” Myth Inspired Scotch Travel Retail Duo

18 Best Bourbons for an Old Fashioned (2023)

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 19:50:08 +0100

Few things in life are more satisfying than plopping down in a comfy seat with an old fashioned in hand.

And the last thing you want when it’s that time of day is having an old fashioned that’s anything but exceptional.

Problem is: there are tons of bourbons out there, and some if we’re being honest, don’t make the best old fashioneds.

At Bourbon Inspector, I will not stand for not great old fashioned!

Do you hear me? I mean it.

That’s why I compiled this list of the best bourbons for old fashioneds.

We’ve taste-tested and researched countless brands and we’ve compiled our top recommendations for this beautiful cocktail below.

Best Bourbon for Old Fashioneds

In my opinion, the best bourbon for an old fashioned is Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve.

This bourbon makes a sweet and dynamic old fashioned. Knob Creek is usually on the sweeter side in terms of flavor profile, but this expression comes in at 120 proof, which gives your old fashioned a nice pop.

But it’s not too much spiciness. With the ice cube, simple syrup, and other ingredients, the harshness from the high proof is diluted.

You’re left with a really good, high-quality old fashioned with some character.

And since old fashioneds can easily become too sweet, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve gives you the perfect balance.

More on this great bottle and 17 more below:

18 Best Bourbons for an Old Fashioned [Full List]

1. Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve

Price: ~$55

Tasting Notes: Maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, oak

Like I mentioned above, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve makes one of the best old fashioneds known to man. It’s maple syrup and brown sugar-forward profile, along with it’s kick, gives you an old fashioned with character (but not too much).

It’s a bit pricier than most bourbons on this list, but it’s 9 years old and one of my highest rated bourbons for $55.

Click here to see the full review.

2. Four Roses Small Batch

Price: ~$35

Tasting Notes: Caramel, dark fruit, rye spice

Four Roses Small Batch is dang smooth. It’s crazy. This is one of the best options if you like a sweet and light old fashioned. It’s also readily available and only $35, making it a great budget pour.

Click here to see the full review.

3. Maker’s 46

Price: ~$45

Tasting Notes: Oak, dark chocolate, cinnamon

Maker’s 46 is my #1 bourbon under $50 right now. It’s so dynamic, yet approachable and delicious–making for a unique and bold old fashioned. The main reason it’s #6 is because I much prefer it neat.

While it makes a great old fashioned, it’s not really worth purchasing over others on the list just for making old fashioneds. But grabbing a bottle for drinking neat and then trying an old fashioned with it is a great choice.

Click here to see the full review.

4. Buffalo Trace

Price: ~$25

Tasting Notes: Pleasantly sweet to the taste with notes of brown sugar and spice that give way to oak, toffee, dark fruit, and anise

As the main offering of their distillery, Buffalo Trace is widely considered one of the best bourbons under $30. I actually think it’s a bit overrated because it’s pretty thin, but hey, it is a great value and makes a great old fashioned.

Similar to Four Roses Small Batch, it’s on the sweet and mellow side but has a bit less character. You can often find bottles between $25 – $30…but that’s if you can find them. Buffalo Trace usually flies off liquor store shelves shortly after arrival.

Click here to see the full review.

5. Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style

Price: ~$60

Tasting Notes: Caramel, dark chocolate, oak

Coming in at #3 solely because of its top-shelf price, Old Forester 1920 is one of the best-kept secrets in bourbon. Its unique, top-shelf flavor profile, 115 proof, and value at $60 help it stand toe-to-toe with just about any bourbon out there.

Many people say it’s one of the best bourbons you can buy for under $100. And it makes a great old fashioned cocktail. Its richness and additional spiciness compared to Buffalo Trace and Four Roses Small Batch help it make an old fashioned with a lot of character (without being too much).

Click here to see the full review.

6. 1792 Small Batch

Price: ~$30

Tasting Notes: Vanilla, caramel, rye spice

1792 Small Batch makes a great old fashioned due to its fiery character. It tastes much older than it actually is and adds a rye element to your old fashioned that most on this list can’t. It’s not a super complex pour, but it’s a great pick for a high-quality, spicier than normal old fashioned.

Click here to see the full review.

7. Russell’s Reserve 10 Year

Price: ~$40

Tasting Notes: Caramel, oak, rye

This is the best rye-forward bourbon on this list for a spicy old fashioned. It’s reasonably priced, 10 years old, and comes from one of the most well known distilleries in the world (Wild Turkey).

This won’t make an incredibly spicy drink (even compared to Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve), but it’s a nice middle ground if you like a touch of rye in your old fashioned.

Click here to see the full review.

8. Chattanooga Whiskey 91

Price: ~$35

Tasting Notes: Caramel, honey, brown sugar, butterscotch

Chattanooga Whiskey 91 is unconventional. It’s a “high-malt” bourbon–meaning it has more malt in the mashbill than most other bourbons (but still is 51% or more corn).

But it’s freaking outstanding. And its unique flavor profile can add a touch of butterscotch to an old fashioned that’s hard to get without dumping a bunch of syrup in your drink like a second grader.

Click here to read the review.

9. Knob Creek Small Batch

Price: ~$35

Tasting Notes: Oaky, spicy, sharp

This bourbon is one of four that make up Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. It’s a balance of old-style flavor with the signature oak sweetness from aging in charred white oak barrels for nine years. At first sip, it’s pretty powerful, but it soon settles down into a rich, flavorful experience.

But in an old fashioned, some of its kick is reduced. What you’re left with is an oaky, rich old fashioned that’s perfect for anyone who doesn’t love sweeter bourbons.

Click here to read the review.

10. Maker’s Mark

Price: ~$30

Tasting Notes: Sweet and balanced with caramel, vanilla, and fruity essences

This list wouldn’t be complete without the original Maker’s. As a weather, it has a smooth, sweet, and mellow flavor profile that makes an old fashioned that’s dangerously easy to sip.

I wouldn’t recommend going with Maker’s if you’re looking for a rye-forward flavor profile because it’s basically the opposite of that, but it will make a simple and easy-to-drink old fashioned (which is possibly the easiest to drink out of any on the list for beginners).

Click here to read the full review.

11. Elijah Craig Small Batch

Price: ~$30

Tasting Notes: Heavy oak with hints of vanilla

Tons of bourbon lovers say Elijah Craig Small Batch can stand toe-to-toe with just about any bourbon out there. I think that’s a bit of a stretch because it’s very one-dimensional, but it’s a great option for a high-quality and not as sweet old fashioned.

I personally prefer the sweeter bourbons with a lively character, but I’d never turn down an old fashioned made with Elijah Craig Small Batch. I just don’t think it’s really that great neat, especially compared to other bottles under $30.

Click here to read the full review.

12. Old Grandad 114

Price: ~$30

Tasting Notes: Fruit, rye, and a punch in the face

Old Grandad often gets overlooked because it’s thought of as a “drink your grandfather would sip on” (which is code for being very strong). But the bite isn’t as harsh as you’d imagine when it’s used in an old fashioned, and you won’t find many bourbons in Old Grandad 114’s price range that have a similarly high proof.

OGD 114’s fruit and rye-forward flavor profile makes an old fashioned with a bit of character that can make you start getting the tingles a little faster than you expected. It’s definitely not for everyone–otherwise, it’d be higher on the list. But I personally enjoy it quite a bit in an old fashioned.

Click here to read the full review.

13. Eagle Rare

Price: ~$50

Tasting Notes: Honey, brown sugar, oak

Eagle Rare is a highly sought-after offering from Buffalo Trace. Since it’s allocated, most bourbon aficio

Milam & Greene Unveils Its Unabridged Volume 2 Bourbon

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 19:00:17 +0100

Milam & Greene Whiskey recently released Unabridged Volume 2: A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskies, a cask-strength blend that incorporates some of “the rarest casks” from the distillery’s library. Unabridged Volume 2 is the first release of the Autumn 2023 Blender’s Reserve Collection, a selection of high-proof bourbons that will be introduced during the next four months.

Milam & Greene Unabridged Volume 2 is produced under the direction of CEO, Heather Greene, who was recently honored as the “Master Blender of the Year.”

“Only a tiny percentage of our finest casks make it into Unabridged Volume 2,” said Heather Greene, master blender and CEO, in a prepared statement. “Some of these vintage casks lost 68% of the liquid in them from evaporation over time. What’s left is a rich and luxurious bourbon that adds the perfect amount of wood notes. We also selected young casks for bright flavors popping with fruits and florals. The lucky seven-year-old casks were influenced by the hot summer Texan climate, adding a richness you wouldn’t otherwise find at this age. Blended together, the whiskey from these barrels creates an exciting novel.”

To create Unabridged Volume 2, the Milam & Greene whiskey team uses bourbon that they distilled in the small copper pot still in Texas and in larger column stills in Kentucky, both using malted rye in the proprietary mash bill. The malted rye, according to the distillery team, “rounds the flavor of the grain, revealing a soft chocolaty note.” Tennessee barrels of different ages are included in the blend as well.

“Both pot and column stills bring enticing characteristics to whiskey, “said Marlene Holmes, master distiller. “Pot Stills are more difficult to work with, and a little bit wild but they create a toasty and rich profile. Whereas the traditional column still I distill with in Kentucky creates a more refined distillate.”

It is also said the flavor of this whiskey was influenced by “the dramatic climate swings in Texas where many barrels are aged.” Milam & Greene continually tastes and monitors barrels in four different states.

“Climate is yet another ingredient that contributes to the flavors of all our whiskies, including this one,” noted Rikk Munroe, Milam & Greene Whiskey distillery manager. “The distilling team monitors our cask maturation closely to ensure we have just the right flavor profiles. A few of the casks used to create Unabridged Volume 2 required storage in a vatting tank to halt the effects of aging and evaporation in anticipation of creating this whiskey.”

The Milam & Greene distilling team blind-tasted five different blends to get a consensus on the exact recipe for Unabridged Volume 2. The team of 10 people made a unanimous decision on the final blend for this release, “something that has never happened at the distillery.”

Official tasting notes from this blending of casks distilled in three different states and of various age ranges note “it has fragrant aromas of dark cherry, fig, sweet almond, menthol, fine boot leather, anise, and caramel candy. Milam & Greene Unabridged is full-bodied with a viscous mouthfeel carrying bold flavors of dark cherry cola notes characteristic of well-aged bourbon followed by dark brown sugar, sweet black tea, marzipan, and oak.

“The whiskey’s flavor develops into a round smooth oily finish with fresh bread, licorice, and citrus oil.”

Milam & Greene’s Unabridged Volume 2 is cask strength and bottled at 58.8% ABV / 117.6 Proof. The distillery team recommends letting it rest in the glass to breathe for a moment before enjoying it neat, on ice, with a teaspoon of water, or in a cocktail. Fifty-six barrels distilled in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Texas were used to create Unabridged. The ages of each barrel are detailed below:

As for pricing and availability, this blended bourbon is available for $94.99 at select fine retailers in the U.S. and in Alberta, Canada as well as available on the Milam & Greene website. Only 800 cases were produced.

Read the full article at Milam & Greene Unveils Its Unabridged Volume 2 Bourbon

WhistlePig, Alfa Romeo F1 Collaborate On Wind Tunnel-Trialed Rye Whiskey

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 18:00:09 +0100

WhistlePig recently teamed up with Alfa Romeo F1 on a whiskey release that’s burning up the track.

A statement from WhistlePig explained that the limited-edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high rye whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers.

And amazingly, the barrels they picked were “trialed” in their wind tunnel for that extra special touch.

WhistlePig recently teamed up with Alfa Romeo F1 on a whiskey release that’s burning up the track. (image via WhistlePig)

This is actually the third version of WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, and the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel clocks in at 96.77 proof, which is a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77.

And this whiskey was inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, as the rye is finished with lychee and oolong tea.

The distiller noted that herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s PiggyBack 100% rye. It’s rounded out with a tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

Just like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s C43 racing vehicles, the whiskey’s trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood.

“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom rye whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”

Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake driver, said, “Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a single barrel rye whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor. Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation.”

The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is available for purchase online at shop.whistlepigwhiskey.com for $49.99 per 750ml bottle, and it’s sold in select stores across the U.S. There’s a QR code on the back of each bottle where you can win VIP merchandise.

Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig’s head blender, said, “Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm.”

For more information, check out www.whistlepigwhiskey.com.

Read the full article at WhistlePig, Alfa Romeo F1 Collaborate On Wind Tunnel-Trialed Rye Whiskey

BASIL HAYDEN LAUNCHES NEW MALTED RYE WHISKEY BOTTLING

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 14:03:26 +0100

Beam Suntory, has announced the launch of a new permanent expression from its Basil Hayden brand.

Basil Hayden Malted Rye (40% ABV) is a Kentucky Straight Rye Malt Whiskey, which has been produced using a 100% malted rye mash bill.

Basil Hayden Malted Rye

Crafted by eighth generation Master Distiller, Freddie Noe, this latest release which was produced by the James B. Beam Distilling Company, has been created using a distinct malting process that transforms the rye grain to create a more subtle, mellow spice with delicate sweet and floral notes.

Basil Hayden Malted Rye, is said to shines a light on what whiskey can be and invites consumers to explore the more refined side of rye, with the liquid delicately poised between Basil Hayden's signature smooth taste profile and the spicier notes of rye.

Commenting on the launch, Freddie Noe, said: "Basil Hayden continues to push boundaries in the tradition of my grandfather Booker Noe. We are continuing to challenge perceptions with our newest permanent expression, Basil Hayden Malted Rye, introducing an entirely new flavour profile within the whiskey category. It delivers a more refined side, an unexpected softness and approachability, creating a new way to experience rye."

Basil Hayden Malted Rye, will be available later this month from specialist retailers in the US, for a RRP of $59.99.

Posted by Steve Rush

Wyoming Whiskey Launches National Parks No. 3, The Grand Bourbons

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 13:37:04 +0100

Wyoming Whiskey has announced the release of National Parks No. 3 and The Grand bourbon whiskies, marking the third iteration of its National Parks collection.

These Fall 2023 bourbon releases pay tribute to Grand Teton National Park and support the park’s philanthropic partner, Grand Teton National Park Foundation (GTNPF).

“My attachment to Grand Teton National Park is deep and visceral, as I have enjoyed some of the finest days of my ranch life in the park,” says Wyoming Whiskey Cofounder Kate Mead, who is also a founding member of the GTNPF board of directors. “Supporting the Foundation is a simple way to show our appreciation for all that the park has meant to our family, and to Wyoming Whiskey.”

With these two new release, Wyoming Whiskey will make a donation of $150,000 to Grand Teton National Park Foundation.

“It is an honor for Wyoming Whiskey to be able to give back to the park and help to protect this beautiful land in our own backyard — a place so close to our hearts,” adds Wyoming Whiskey Co-Founder David DeFazio.

National Parks No. 3 is a straight bourbon whiskey aged a minimum of five years. The label was inspired by the winding Snake River located in the 310,000-acre Grand Teton National Park. The bourbon itself subdues the more-floral notes of last year’s National Parks No. 2 edition, the company reports. National Parks No. 3 is 105 proof. It retails for a suggested price of $79.99 in select U.S. markets as well as online marketplaces, including ReserveBar.

Wyoming Whiskey’s The Grand collection is made up of three different 10-year-old single barrels that Master Blender Nancy Fraley identified at the brand’s rickhouses in remote Kirby, WY. Originating from the November and December 2011 rye bourbon stock at the distillery, Fraley originally discovered these barrels as she was working on the 10 Year Anniversary Edition blend in 2022. The barrels’ character and quality led Fraley and the distillery team to bottle each one as individual single barrel bourbons within The Grand collection, the company reports.

As a result, The Grand collection consists of three different offerings with each label showcasing the peak of The Grand Teton during the Fall, Winter or Spring. Each bottle comes within a wooden display box. There are less than 400 bottles of The Grand available in select markets in WY, CA, CO and NY, each available for a suggested retail price of $499.99 per 750-ml. bottle.

The post Wyoming Whiskey Launches National Parks No. 3, The Grand Bourbons appeared first on Beverage Dynamics.

Wolfie’s Whisky from Sir Rod Stewart launches in the US

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 08:00:19 +0100

Sir Rod Stewart CBE with Wolfie's Whisky

British rock singer and songwriter Sir Rod Stewart CBE has ventured into the spirits business with the creation of Wolfie’s Whisky After two years of extensive research and development, the whisky launched in the UK in May and has now been rolled out to the US.

Stewart worked with business partner and beverage industry veteran, Duncan Frew, to create a blended Scotch whisky. They partnered with Loch Lomond Distillery, whose history dates back to 1772.

‘Loch Lomond Distillery is one of the oldest and most prestigious distilleries in Scotland, and we only wanted to work with the best,’ said Stewart. ‘Thankfully, they were also very generous in allowing us to do dozens of tastings – for professional purposes, of course.’

Sir Rod Stewart in the barrel room at Loch Lomond Distillery Credit: Jonas Mohr

The distillery

Whisky fans may be familiar with the famed Highland distillery, which has produced an array of respectable, single malt brands over the years. They include Inchfad, Craiglodge and Old Rosdhu. The facility is located in Alexandria, on the banks of Loch Lomond, where Master Blender Michael Henry and his team work their magic.

In addition to copper pot stills, column stills and a Coffey Still, the distillery uses its own ‘Lomond stills’. Invented in 1955 by chemical engineer Alistair Cunningham of the Hiram Walker Group, they incorporate a rectification column composed of three perforated plates, giving the distiller an option to produce different styles of spirit using the same still. This range of stills allows for the creation of myriad styles of whisky.

Since 1994, Loch Lomond has also built and charred its own casks at an on-site cooperage.

Wolfie’s Whisky Credit: Jonas Mohr

Rock n roll whisky

An amalgam of Stewart’s passion for Scotland, his love for America, and his irrefutable music legacy, Wolfie’s is a 40% abv blend of malt and grain whiskies. After blending, the whisky is then aged in American oak bourbon casks. It’s made with water from Loch Katrine, the fictional setting of Sir Walter Scott’s The Lady of the Lake.

Tipping a hat to the singer’s Scottish heritage and reputation as ‘the Cockney Scotsman’, Wolfie’s was inspired by Stewart’s early rock n roll hell-raising days with The Faces.

‘I’ve got Scottish roots on my father’s side and have always been very proud of that. Scotland has been my home away from home for decades,’ said Stewart. ‘I’ve got a huge passion for the country, and you don’t get a more Scottish drink than whisky!’

Over a glass of Wolfie’s on the rocks, Frew added: ‘Wolfie’s was inspired by Rod’s own experience breaking into the rock n roll scene back in the 1970s. Think of it as a young British rockstar who makes it big, heads to Hollywood and is raising hell and having fun while he’s at it. It’s a rascal of a thing, much like Rod himself.’

The decision to go with a blend was an easy one, as Stewart tends to enjoy his whisky in a cocktail rather than on the rocks. ‘At Edinburgh Castle, I think we drank the bar dry of Wolfie’s Appletinis,’ quips Stewart. Frew adds: ‘That’s why we went for a blend to start with for Wolfie’s – it’s the perfect base for a mixed drink.’

The Oh La La cocktail made with Wolfie’s Whisky Credit: Jonas Mohr

A matter of taste

So how does Wolfie’s Whisky taste? Stewart and Frew wanted to create a versatile, balanced blend that would work both neat and in cocktails. ‘Wolfie’s is based on Rod’s favourite flavours: cinnamon, vanilla and apple. On top of them, you also have a delicate taste of sweet peat and syrupy pears before a candied citrus peel finish and a gentle oak spice,’ said Frew.

As for ageability and serving suggestions, Stewart has some tips. ‘My advice is: life is too short—crack it open, crank up the music and enjoy yourself with your mates!’ He continues: ‘I’ve created my own playlist on Spotify of all my favourite songs to enjoy while having a night in with your pals—songs that have inspired me or that I just love.’ He plans to create new playlists on an ongoing basis and encourages his fans to follow along on social media and Spotify.

This is a fun, whimsical whisky that’s meant to be enjoyed in the present moment. Frew summed up: ‘It’s that nostalgia and sense of fun and energy that we’re bringing to life.’

Wolfie’s Whisky is available in the UK: £34.99-£38.95/70cl, Craft 56, Hard to Find Whisky, The Tipple Cellar, Wolfie’s Whisky

It is available in the US: $44.99/70cl, Wolfie’s Whisky

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The post Wolfie’s Whisky from Sir Rod Stewart launches in the US appeared first on Decanter.

Westward Whiskey Partners With Award-Winning Baker On Sourdough Release

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 22:00:03 +0100

The Pacific Northwest’s Westward Whiskey recently introduced its third club release of the year, an acclaimed collaboration called the Westward x Ken’s Artisan Sourdough Whiskey.

A statement from the Portland whiskey maker notes that this 2023 vintage blend marks Westward’s second edition of Sourdough, a collaboration with James Beard award-winning baker, Ken Forkish.

Westward partnered with Forkish to incorporate his heralded French Sourdough Levain yeast in the place of the whiskey’s usual pale ale yeast.

The Pacific Northwest’s Westward Whiskey recently introduced its third club release of the year, an acclaimed collaboration called the Westward x Ken’s Artisan Sourdough Whiskey. (image via Westward)

The distiller noted that the goal was to remain faithful to Westward’s trademark style in all other aspects, from double pot distillation to aging in new, heavily toasted and lightly charred American oak barrels.

Then, a two-week fermentation process yielded a host of new flavors.

Master Blender Miles Munroe said, “At Westward, we are dedicated to our Sourdough lineage, and this whiskey is a proud addition to our Club release library. We have kept our members waiting for three years now, but we are confident this second edition was worth the wait.”

He explained that this creative whiskey reflects a mingling of four different vintages from across the years, which builds on the success of Westward’s inaugural 2020 Sourdough release.

His tasting notes show the Sourdough release to have aromas of rye spice, vanilla wafer, peppermint, and heather honey. On the palate are notes of butterscotch, minty spice, and an earthy, herbaceous tone. It finishes with stone fruit, chocolate, and vanilla bean flavors.

Westward x Ken’s Artisan Sourdough Whiskey – 2023 Vintage Blend clocks in at 90 proof, and has a suggested price of $99.95. It’s available now, exclusively for Westward’s Whiskey Club members.

For more information or to join the Westward Whiskey club, check out www.westwardwhiskey.com/pages/the-club.

Read the full article at Westward Whiskey Partners With Award-Winning Baker On Sourdough Release

Wyoming Whiskey Introduces National Parks No. 3 and The Grand Limited-Edition Bourbons in Support of Grand Teton National Park Foundation

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 21:47:38 +0100

Wyoming Whiskey announces the release of National Parks No. 3 and The Grand bourbon whiskies, marking the third iteration of its National Parks collection. The distinct Fall 2023 bourbon releases will pay tribute to Grand Teton National Park and support the park’s philanthropic partner, Grand Teton National Park Foundation (GTNPF) in their continued efforts to preserve natural and cultural resources, and enhance the national park experience for generations to come.

This year’s release features National Parks No.3, a straight Bourbon Whiskey which is aged for a minimum of five years and is inspired by the winding Snake River in Grand Teton National Park. Also included in the release is The Grand collection, which is made up of three unique single barrel rye bourbons, each aged ten years, and deemed to be exceptional at their natural barrel strength. With the release of these two new bottles, Wyoming Whiskey will be making a donation of $150,000 to Grand Teton National Park Foundation.

For Wyoming Whiskey co-founders, Brad & Kate Mead and David DeFazio, Grand Teton National Park plays a pivotal role in their lives. The Meads historically used parts of Grand Teton National Park land for their annual cattle drive, a vital part of their ranching business based in Jackson, WY. DeFazio is also an avid outdoorsman, and visits the park year-round for fishing, hiking, skiing and more. All to say, Grand Teton is part of the Wyoming Whiskey identity which makes this year’s partnership with GTNPF so meaningful.

“My attachment to Grand Teton National Park is deep and visceral, as I have enjoyed some of the finest days of my ranch life in the park,” said Kate Mead who is also a founding member of the GTNPF board of directors. “Supporting the Foundation is a simple way to show our appreciation for all that the park has meant to our family, and to Wyoming Whiskey.”

“It is an honor for Wyoming Whiskey to be able to give back to the park and help to protect this beautiful land in our own backyard— a place so close to our hearts,” said Wyoming Whiskey Co-Founder David DeFazio.

“Grand Teton National Park Foundation is grateful for Wyoming Whiskey’s incredible support,” said Leslie Mattson, President of the Grand Teton National Park Foundation. “Their vision and commitment to national park conservation will help continue our work to steward, protect, and enhance all that is special in Grand Teton.”

Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 3 is the third annual release to honor our nation’s revered outdoor spaces. The label is inspired by the winding Snake River located in the 310,000 acre Grand Teton National Park. The whiskey itself subdues the more floral notes of last year’s National Parks No. 2 edition, and plays to the granite ruggedness of the Tetons. National Parks No. 3 is a 105 proof bourbon with a suggested retail price of $79.99 in select US markets as well as online marketplaces.

Wyoming Whiskey’s The Grand collection is made up of three different 10-year-old single barrels that Master Blender Nancy Fraley identified as some of the best whiskey she has come across at the brand’s rickhouses in remote Kirby, Wyoming. Originating from the November and December 2011 Rye Bourbon stock at the distillery, Fraley originally discovered these exceptional barrels as she was working on the 10 Year Anniversary Edition blend in 2022. The barrels’ special character and quality led Fraley and the distillery team to bottle each one as individual single barrel bourbons within The Grand collection.

As a result, The Grand collection consists of three distinct offerings with each label showcasing the peak of The Grand Teton during the Fall, Winter or Spring. Each bottle will be sold within a beautiful wooden display box which is inspired by the peaks of the Grand Teton Mountain Range. There are less than 400 bottles of The Grand available in select markets in WY, CA, CO and NY, each available for a suggested retail price of $499.99.

Wyoming Whiskey has donated over $400,000 to protect our nation’s national parks through its National Parks series. Last year, Wyoming Whiskey released National Parks No. 2 in partnership with Yellowstone Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park. The collaboration celebrated Yellowstone National Park’s 150th anniversary and contributed over $150,000 to Yellowstone Forever. The Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 2 bottle was the second collectible limited-edition release in the ongoing series which debuted in April 2021, with the National Parks Limited Edition American Whiskey bottle. The inaugural release of Wyoming Whiskey’s National Parks series contributed over $120,000 to the National Park Foundation in 2021.

As always, Wyoming Whiskey is distilled from the ground up— the right way, not the easy way. All grains are grown in Wyoming and are non-GMO. The water used to produce Wyoming Whiskey is sourced from a local limestone aquifer that has not seen the light of day in over 6,000 years.

Sign up to become a Whiskey Baron to receive the latest news and special offers from Wyoming Whiskey. For daily updates, follow Wyoming Whiskey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

About Wyoming Whiskey—The Whiskey of the West
Based in Kirby, Wyoming, Wyoming Whiskey has had a simple goal: to create America’s next great bourbon. That goal has evolved to include all whiskies. The company and their products are a collaboration between its partners and 97,818 square miles of Wyoming. The Mead family first came to Wyoming as ranchers in 1890 and the state defines them, and their whiskey. They use the finest corn, winter wheat, winter rye, barley, and water from the Big Horn Basin and promote Wyoming’s natural and human resources. Every drop of this bourbon is 100% Wyoming.

About Grand Teton National Park Foundation
Grand Teton National Park Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to partner with Grand Teton National Park to steward, protect, and enhance all that is special in the park. The Foundation initiates improvements, critical research, and projects that improve visitors’ experiences, creating a solid future for Grand Teton. Since 1997, the organization has raised over $100 million to engage young and diverse audiences in the outdoors, preserve cultural resources, protect wildlife and natural resources, and capital projects such as construction of the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, a $23 million campaign to preserve the 640-acre Antelope Flats parcel, the Inspiring Journeys campaign for Jenny Lake, and the purchase and protection of the last privately-held acre on the Mormon Row Historic District.

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Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 3 Straight Bourbon

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Wyoming Whiskey The Grand 10 Year Old Bourbon

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Wyoming Whiskey The Grand Barrel No. 2623

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Wyoming Whiskey The Grand Barrel No. 2641

Colorado’s Boulder Spirits recently released one of the oldest bottled-in-bond American single malts with their new Boulder Spirits 7 Year Bottled In Bond.

A statement from the distiller noted that the 7 Year Bottled In Bond is the first of its kind for them, a whiskey that’s rich in oak and balanced smoothness.

Since Boulder’s first bottled-in-bond three years ago, the distilling team has sampled most of their barrels seeking a highly developed whiskey that’s aged in Colorado’s intense climate, but they had to find a cleaner, not overly oaked expression. That led to the 7 Year.

Colorado’s Boulder Spirits recently released one of the oldest bottled-in-bond American single malts with their new Boulder Spirits 7 Year Bottled In Bond. (image via Boulder Spirits)

“We’re happy that Boulder Spirits has been busy making American single malts since 2015, and we now have the stock to keep releasing these whiskey treasures,” said Alastair Brogan, co-founder. “Boulder Spirits will continue to be on the leading edge of the ASM category, and we look forward to future releases.”

He explained that only six barrels of whiskey went into this batch, yielding 1,200 bottles. The barrels were filled on April 15th, 2016, and were proofed with pure Eldorado Springs water to 100 proof and bottled on July 31st, 2023.

Boulder Spirits’ water source, nearby Eldorado Springs artesian water, is an essential ingredient of their whiskeys, along with imported barley and the distillery’s proprietary yeast.

Boulder Spirits 7 Year Bottled In Bond has a suggested retail price of $74.99, and it is available for orders and purchase at the distillery.

For more information, to find a bottle, or to make a tour reservation, check out www.boulderspirits.com.

Read the full article at Boulder Spirits Offers Up 7 Year Bottled In Bond American Single Malt

Blue Run Spirits Introduces Its First Triple-Aged Bourbon, The Trifecta

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 20:00:41 +0100

Kentucky’s Blue Run Spirits, freshly acquired by Molson Coors, recently announced the brand’s first “three-aged” bourbon, Trifecta.

A statement from the whiskey maker explained that Trifecta is available nationwide now, and is online at www.bluerunspirits.com/shop. It is the first bourbon release from Blue Run since their 12 Days of Bourbon holiday 2022 collection.

Blue Run’s Trifecta Kentucky Straight Bourbon starts with a base of six-year-old whiskey. Blue Run Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon said they add additional depth and character to the whiskey by blending the two whiskeys aged in the upper reaches of their respective rickhouses, giving them what she calls “wood heat.”

Kentucky’s Blue Run Spirits, freshly acquired by Molson Coors, recently announced the brand’s first “three-aged” bourbon, Trifecta. (image via Blue Run)

Those “Wood heat” barrels experience the highest temperatures the warehouse has to offer due to their position at the top, forcing out the water molecules and concentrating the alcohol within the barrel, Gammon said.

“These higher-proofed barrels, in turn, extract more of the components of the wood from the barrel that can contribute a particular wood intensity to the whiskey, which needs to be approached with a knowledgeable, restrained hand when blending,” she added.

These eight and nine-year-old barrels from Blue Run’s more than 5,000-barrel inventory were chosen with the knowledge that the six-year-old Kentucky whiskey would help balance the spiciness of the aged product.

Gammon called it a “precise art,” making sure the “wood heat” barrels add the desired layers of complexity without overpowering the base whiskey. In the final blend, they used 10% more of the nine-year-old than the eight-year-old specifically to achieve greater approachability at Trifecta’s near barrel proof of 117.1.

The respective mash bills are:

9-year-old: 78% yellow corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley with a ratio fo 32%.
8-year-old: 75% yellow corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley with a ratio of 22%.
6-year-old: 78% yellow corn, 12% rye, 10% malted barley with a ratio of 46%.

Interestingly, Gammon explained, they call that nine-year-old bourbon in the Trifecta the “Lost Whiskey,” because after acquiring it from a partner distillery, it was discovered the whiskey had somehow made its way from Kentucky to Spain, and there was quite confusion before it returned to Kentucky.

The distiller’s notes show that the Trifecta, on the nose, features aromas of unsalted brown butter, French vanilla cream, dark brown sugar and cinnamon, along with spicy pepper, hints of figs, and dehydrated apples.

On the palate, it tastes of cinnamon-dusted candied apple, baked bread, caramel and peppermint, white chocolate. A balanced wood char lingers before finishing with warm vanilla, and weathered oak.

Blue Run Trifecta Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has a suggested retail price of $179.99 for a 750ml bottle.

For more information or to find a bottle, check out www.bluerunspirits.com.

Read the full article at Blue Run Spirits Introduces Its First Triple-Aged Bourbon, The Trifecta

Blue Run Spirits Releases Reflection II Bourbon

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 20:00:36 +0100

Reflection II Continues High Standard of Approachability Set by Reflection I with Focus on Intriguing Whiskey Middle Notes

Georgetown, Kentucky-based Blue Run Spirits recently unveiled Reflection II Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the follow up to the highly regarded Reflection I, which received a Platinum Medal at the respected SIP Awards International Spirits Competition. Reflection II is now available at retailers nationwide and at http://www.bluerunspirits.com/shop.

When launched in May 2022, Reflection I Bourbon quickly became a favorite in the whiskey community as one of Blue Run Spirits’ most approachable products. With Reflection II, Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon is looking to continue that tradition while emphasizing a different layer of flavor notes than its predecessor. While Reflection I focused on the darker base notes like oak and caramel, Reflection II zeroes in on the brighter middle notes, including florals and sweetness.

“The Reflection Bourbon series is an intriguing blending project because we have an established baseline of approachability that will carry through to every release, but we will explore the different layers that make whiskey such an interesting spirit,” said Gammon. “For continuity, we included some Reflection I as the base, and then started painting with an entirely different brush. Reflection II will be as familiar as it is new to anyone who enjoyed the first product.”

For Reflection II, the dominate mash bill features less rye than the original, but the proof is increased from 95 to 100. Reflection II also features older whiskey stocks than its predecessor, with Gammon seeking out barrels that clearly exhibited elevated mid-note flavors from Blue Run’s more than 5,000-barrel inventory.

TASTING NOTES

A bright bouquet of warm spices and rich cocoa immediately dominates the olfactory senses and serves as a precursor to this engaging experience. The first sip reveals bountiful orange peel that harmonizes with farm fresh honey followed by fresh toasted oak and tantalizing salted caramel blondies. As the palate remains preoccupied with the mid-note flavor sensations, a complex finish is revealed led by spicy citrus oils that evolve into barrel spice and churros sprinkled with powdered sugar and a dash of cayenne.

While Reflection I was aptly named to pay respect to Blue Run’s founders reflecting on what truly mattered in life during the launch of the company in the middle of the pandemic, Reflection II is meant to encourage reflection on the vast possibilities that exist around every corner – a direct reference to when Gammon joined Blue Run as the company’s first Whiskey Director as she was also experiencing the joy and excitement of motherhood for the first time.

Blue Run Reflection II Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is available at $99.99 for a 750ml. For this release, Blue Run’s signature butterfly medallion on the bottle has the same highly reflective sterling silver coating as on Reflection I, another reminder for Blue Run fans to reflect on what brings them fulfillment and joy.

Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company Unveils New Kentucky Distillery Project

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 19:00:10 +0100

Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company has announced a multi-million-dollar distillery project in Anderson County, Kentucky. The Lawrenceburg distillery is the first new whiskey operation in Anderson County since 1949 and the first craft distillery in that Kentucky county.

Spanning three acres, the whiskey distillery campus buildout includes a state-of-the-art distillery, tasting room, gift shop, tours, private barrel room and bourbon bar.

Remodeling of an existing structure has already begun, with a temporary tasting room and gift shop opening early October.

Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company has announced a multi-million-dollar distillery project in Anderson County, Kentucky. (image via Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company)

The Kentucky whiskey brand describes itself as “proudly Navy Combat Veteran-owned.” Its founders, Greg and Katie Keeley, say they “carry the core Navy values of service, honor, and commitment into distillery operations,” and to this end have committed to ensuring 50% of its team are veterans – military, first responders, nurses and law enforcement.

Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company’s lineup includes the flagship, “One Cask Bourbon”, “Very Small Batch Bourbon”, and “Ten x Ten”, a 100% small batch rye expression. A new “Empirical Series” will launch this fall, featuring High Wheat Rye.

“We are thrilled to unveil our new distillery,” said Greg Keeley, Founder and Wannabe Distiller at Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company, in a prepared statement. “This is more than a physical expansion – it’s a realization of the American dream. That an immigrant can serve his new country on the battlefield and then create a distillery, could only happen in this country. It is genuinely remarkable.”

Read the full article at Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company Unveils New Kentucky Distillery Project

Maureen Robinson Named As New Kentucky Owl Master Blender

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 18:00:05 +0100

Kentucky Owl, a bourbon and rye whiskey brand within the Stoli Group portfolio, recently announced the appointment of Maureen Robinson as their new Master Blender, who takes over the reins from John Rhea following his retirement after a long career.

Having previously worked with Scotch whisky brands such as Johnnie Walker, The Singleton, Buchanan’s and Old Parr, Robinson has 45 years of experience to what’s described as “the twin causes of elevating Scotch whisky and creating opportunities for other women to succeed in the whisky blending industry.”

“I’m really looking forward to my new career venture into the bourbon industry and, as the first female master blender at Kentucky Owl, I look forward to being a role model for aspiring women who have a passion for whiskey making,” said Robinson in a prepared statement. “I’m honored to have this opportunity to work with The Stoli Group and bring my expertise from my career in Scotland to Kentucky Owl, a brand that I hold in high regard.”

Kentucky Owl, a bourbon and rye whiskey brand within the Stoli Group portfolio, recently announced the appointment of Maureen Robinson as their new Master Blender. (image via Stoli)

Robinson is not new to bourbon either, where as a Scotch whisky Master Blender, she worked extensively with second fill bourbon barrels, learning the influence that ex bourbon barrels had on the flavor of Scotch whisky. “I’m excited to be now working with first fill bourbon barrels, understanding how flavor is influenced using new American oak barrels and the processes you can use to differentiate these flavors to create new whiskeys,” she added.

Robinson has also made her mark in the industry in other ways. She became Keeper of the Quaich in 2012, was inducted into the Scotch Whisky Hall of Fame in 2019 and was awarded ‘Master of the Quaich’ in October 2022 in further recognition of her significant achievements in the Scotch world.

She is one of only a handful of female Masters globally and was also instrumental in creating “her own language to describe what she was able to detect when nosing whiskies and was involved in developing and forming the Scotch Whisky flavor wheel, now used by many Scotch whisky companies, experts and whisky enthusiasts.”

“With Maureen’s impressive knowledge and vast blending experience on some of the world’s biggest Scotch whisky brands, we are incredibly fortunate to have someone of her caliber to follow on from John Rhea and we are all looking forward to her future contributions to Kentucky Owl with her new role as Master Blender,” said Stoli Group Global CEO Chris Caldwell. “We would also like to take this opportunity to say a huge thanks to John for his immense blending stewardship of Kentucky Owl and The Wiseman and wish him all the very best in his retirement.”

Read the full article at Maureen Robinson Named As New Kentucky Owl Master Blender

Barrell Craft Spirits Unveils New State-of-the-Art Blending Facility

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 17:48:49 +0100

Award-Winning Independent Blender Commemorates 10 Years of Blending Expertise

Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the original independent blender of unique aged, cask strength whiskey since 2013, unveiled its new state-of-the-art blending facility in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, during a private ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event was hosted by Bourbon Authority Susan Reigler and featured speakers Mayor Craig Greenberg of Louisville and Mayor Carol Pike of Jeffersontown.

10 years ago, BCS set out to source exceptional bourbon casks from established producers and to blend and bottle them at cask strength. The goal was to elevate barrels of whiskey into something greater than the sum of their parts. Since that time, the company’s commitment to innovation, quality, and transparency has had a significant impact on Kentucky and the larger whiskey industry. In 10 short years, Founder Joe Beatrice has built BCS into a national brand sold in 49 U.S. states which has won countless awards from the industry’s most prestigious competitions and earned the respect and praise of the most esteemed whiskey authorities. He has also inspired several other non-distilling producers to pursue blending with whiskey. Today, Joe remains intimately involved with every step of the production process at BCS, using his exceptional palate alongside the BCS blending team to choose and create great spirits.

After a decade of pushing the boundaries of blending, BCS is celebrating a new blending facility that can support its rapid growth. The 31,000 square foot facility was designed specifically to support how BCS operates as a company under one roof in the most efficient manner possible. Large office spaces encourage a free-flowing discussion of creative ideas around innovative product development. The new blending operation features (8) blending tanks with 64,000 gallons of capacity, allowing BCS to increase its blending capacity by over 500%. New bottling lines are capable of a one million case annual throughput on a single shift, ready to package innovative releases. The facility will support the growth of current brands and new product launches. BCS also recently acquired an historic 18,000-barrel rickhouse – strategically located just minutes away from the new blending facility – which features 42 ricks and five levels and offers a multitude of locations throughout to provide unique character to each cask.

“We’re thrilled to unveil our new state of the art blending facility and to continue our 10-year legacy of developing sought-after award-winning blends that push the boundaries of American whiskey,” said BCS Founder Joe Beatrice.

“I am proud to celebrate the expansion and 10^th anniversary of Barrell Craft Spirits, a local blender of unique, aged whiskey and rum. They have recently invested $15 million back into Louisville’s economy and are creating new high-wage jobs for our residents,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg. “Congratulations on your success and continued growth!”

NEW ASSOCIATION LAUNCHED TO PROTECT CASK WHISKY CUSTOMERS

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 13:58:27 +0100

A new organisation established to create a safe environment for whisky enthusiasts and customers to buy and sell casks, has today been launched.

By setting best practices in cask whisky ownership and sale, the Cask Whisky Association aims to protect cask whisky customers and the wider whisky industry.

Founding Board Members of the Cask Whisky Association

The Cask Whisky Association is made up of two boards of members and advisors and includes cask whisky businesses, distilleries, independent bottlers, whisky experts, authors, as well as legal and insurance professionals working within the sector.

The association is in discussions with the Scotch Whisky Association, the Worshipful Company of Distillers and the Advertising Standards Authority, seeking cooperation and collaboration to address issues in the sector. It is also petitioning The Bonded Warehouse keepers Association to gain their support.

Wendy Chamberlain MP, Chair of the Scotch Whisky APPG, has today written to the business minister responsible for the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Bill, seeking clarification on whether the new consumer legislation will increase protections for investors in cask whisky.

Commenting on the news, Colin Hampden-White, Chairman of the Advisory Board and spokesman for the Cask Whisky Association, said: “The Association’s goal is to uphold the overall reputation of the Scotch whisky industry. The Cask Whisky Association exists to protect private customers from unscrupulous business practices and traders and safeguard independent bottlers from over-inflated pricing,” Colin says, adding: “Our Members are committed to, and will provide guidance on, best practice."

Membership to the Cask Whisky Association is open to UK-based, financially-stable companies who uphold quality standards and retain all appropriate licences. It’s a voluntary organisation open to all cask whisky companies. Applications will be reviewed semi-annually by the executive board and overseen by the independent advisory board.

Posted by Steve Rush

Bacardi Brings Back Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Bottle

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 13:30:36 +0100

A Halloween tradition continues at Bacardi as the company this week revealed their 2023 glow-in-the-dark rum bottle.

Accompanying this annual fall campaign this year are two new digital shorts that lean into classic horror movie tropes to spotlight the brand’s official Halloween cocktails: The Zombie and Blood Moon, and the return of the limited-edition glow-in-the-dark bottle.

Directed by Emily Elizabeth Thompson, each short channels the spirit of the holiday with a how-to on creating The Zombie and Blood Moon.

Every bottle of the 2023 glow-in-the-dark release features the iconic Bacardi bat joined by several glowing companions. This seasonal hits shelves in October for a suggested retail price of $13.99 per 750-ml. bottle.

The digital shorts will be accompanied by static visual assets highlighting the bottle and cocktail recipes. Bacardi has also created a Terrifyingly Good Halloween Playlist, available on Spotify, and will launch a custom Snapchat lens that allows anyone to view their face made up as various Halloween characters inspired by the cocktails.

The post Bacardi Brings Back Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Bottle appeared first on Beverage Dynamics.

WSWA Confirms Doug Shaw as Chairman of the Board

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0100

Today, Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) announced the election of M.S. Walker, Inc. President Doug Shaw as Chairman of the Board. Addressing the association at its annual membership meeting in Washington, D.C., Shaw urged distributors to continue strengthening the three-tier system, the most efficient and safest alcohol distribution system in the world.

“Every WSWA member is a champion for the value of the wholesaler, industry partners, and key stakeholders in the system that works so well to serve consumers during an exciting time of innovation,” says Shaw. “WSWA members nationwide are energized and committed to working with the entire WSWA team who leverage tremendous passion, energy and expertise, every day.”

On the future of the association and its strategic priorities, Shaw detailed ongoing efforts to continue building upon important diversity and women’s leadership initiatives, elevating Access LIVE as the premier industry event, developing WSWA’s SipSource into a best-in-class data product, advocating for the comprehensive federal regulation of cannabis, and countering state-by-state efforts to bypass the robustly regulated marketplace.

“Chairman Shaw brings a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge and genuine concern for the success of not just wine and spirits wholesalers, but industry partners who have been pivotal in making the U.S. alcohol marketplace the global standard-bearer,” says WSWA President and CEO Francis Creighton.

The post WSWA Confirms Doug Shaw as Chairman of the Board appeared first on Beverage Dynamics.

TULLIBARDINE LAUNCHES NEW 18 YEAR OLD EXPRESSION

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 10:55:21 +0100

The Highlands based Tullibardine Distillery, has announced the launch of a new expression from its Signature Range.

Tullibardine 18 Year Old (43% ABV) is a single malt Scotch whisky, which was distilled in 2005, and matured in a combination of first-fill Bourbon and Sherry casks.

Tullibardine 18 Year Old

This latest release, along with the brands 15 Year Old also feature a new packaging redesign, which reflects a new era at the distillery with a focus on craft and the people that create it. The cartons are illustrated by Scottish artist Bryan Angus, depicting scenes and features of the distillery itself.

Tullibardine 18 Year Old, is said to deliver notes of vanilla, caramel, cream soda, sweet nectar, oak, dried fruit and warming spice on the nose. Followed by notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, candied ginger and brown sugar on the palate.

Commenting on the launch, Mike Elliott, GM at Tullibardine Distillery, said: “We’re very excited to be able to launch another aged expression into our core range. We see this, alongside the 15YO, as a graduation from the rest of our Signature Range in terms of complexity and flavour profile and we can’t wait for people to try it!”

Tullibardine 18 Year Old, will be available later this month from specialist retailers, for a RRP of £90.00.

Posted by Steve Rush

428 – When Is It Too Much of One Bottle? on Bourbon Community Roundtable #85

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 10:30:00 +0100

This is another installment of bourbon community roundtable but digging deep into the psychology realm. I posed this question a few weeks ago to our Patreon community to get some initial feedback and I asked them, when is it enough? Not enough of buying bourbon, I’m completely cool with that. But at what point do you have enough of the same thing? It’s pretty common to see people talking about and chasing the same bottles. Every day there is a load of comments on every picture of Blanton’s or there’s a line outside of a store with people waiting for Eagle Rare or Weller. And now we’re getting to the point where I’m seeing pictures with nothing except one type of bottle lined up 10 deep on the shelf of the same thing. So if you see an Eagle Rare and you grab it, and you have had it plenty of times, why do you continue to pull it off the shelf instead of thinking “maybe I should put my resources into something different?”. When is it enough? Are you looking for value? Are you looking for status? Are you afraid of change? I want to go deep once again to understand more of the bourbon buyer mentality.

Show Notes:

Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about ex-bourbon barrels.
When is it enough of the same bottle?
Why have 10 of the same thing?
Is it all for status?
Has your taste changed?
@breakingbourbon @fredminnick @drinkseelbachs
@bourbonr
Support this podcast on Patreon

The post 428 – When Is It Too Much of One Bottle? on Bourbon Community Roundtable #85 appeared first on BOURBON PURSUIT.

Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 001 The Journey

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 08:00:48 +0100

Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 001 The Journey Blend of 3 Aged Whiskies 57.5% ABV $200 Website We would like to thank Whiskey JYPSI and CHQ Media for sending us samples to review. What the Producer Says STORY OF INNOVATION Categorizing whiskeys by “mash bill” has become a short-hand way of indicating the style and character …

Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 001 The Journey Read More »

The post Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 001 The Journey first appeared on Whisk(e)y Apostle: Proselytizing the way of the malt.

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TASTING NOTES

Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company Unveils New Kentucky Distillery Project

Maureen Robinson Named As New Kentucky Owl Master Blender

Barrell Craft Spirits Unveils New State-of-the-Art Blending Facility

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NEW ASSOCIATION LAUNCHED TO PROTECT CASK WHISKY CUSTOMERS

Bacardi Brings Back Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Bottle

WSWA Confirms Doug Shaw as Chairman of the Board

TULLIBARDINE LAUNCHES NEW 18 YEAR OLD EXPRESSION

428 – When Is It Too Much of One Bottle? on Bourbon Community Roundtable #85

Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 001 The Journey