GSN Spirited News: December 8th 2020 Edition

Brown-Forman has launched the winter 2020 iteration of the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection. This season’s whiskey, Woodford Reserve Very Fine Rare Bourbon, is blended from Bourbon aged up to 17 years, dating back to 2003, when current master distiller Chris Morris took the helm. Very Fine Rare Bourbon will also feature assistant master distiller Elizabeth McCall’s name on the bottle’s tag for the first time. The whiskey is bottled at 45.2% abv and is now available in select markets across the U.S. for around $130 a 750-ml.

Brooklyn, New York’s St. Agrestis has expanded its line up of bag-in-box cocktails to three releases, now including Black Manhattan and Boulevardier, in addition to the company’s original Negroni. Each cocktail comes in at 24% abv and is made with St. Agrestis’ amaro and Inferno bitters (the two new cocktails are also made with high-rye Bourbon sourced from Indiana and Kentucky.) St. Agrestis’ bag-in-box cocktails retail for around $60 a 1.75-liter package and are available nationwide in select retailers and DTC through the company’s website to 31 states.

Brooklyn-based Widow Jane Distillery has announced The Vaults 2020, a limited edition offering and the second annual release in the series. The 49.5% abv Bourbon is a blend of 15-17 year old whiskies distilled in Tennessee and Indiana before finishing in casks made from air-dried Appalachian oak. Roughly 5,000 bottles of the Vaults 2020 will be available for around $200 a 750-ml. in 24 markets across the U.S.

’Merican Mule, a brand of canned Moscow Mule cocktails, has launched Fire Mule, its latest seasonal offering. The spirits–based RTD is made with Bourbon, ginger beer, and cinnamon, and is packaged at 7% abv. The new release joins Moscow Mule, Mexican Mule (made with Tequila), Tropical Mule (rum), Southern Mule (Bourbon), and seasonal Pumpkin Spice Mule (vodka) in the portfolio. Fire Mule is now available in 4-packs of 12-ounce cans for around $14 in chains like Whole Foods, Total Wine, and Target in New England and the Southern U.S.

Frankfort, Kentucky-based Castle & Key has launched Restoration Rye, its first whiskey offering. Alongside Restoration Rye ($40 a 750-ml.), Castle & Key will also release Roots of Ruin Gin ($33) and Sacred Spring Vodka ($27), all in newly designed bottles. The new releases will be available in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas and Georgia beginning this month. Founded in 2014 by partners Will Arvin and Wes Murry, Castle & Key is based in the former Old Taylor distillery, which Arvin and Murry restored and opened to visitors in 2018.

Purcellville, Virginia-based Catoctin Creek Distilling Co. is releasing a new whisky expression created in partnership with metal band GWAR. Launching in February 2021, Catoctin Creek Ragnarök Rye pays homage to GWAR’s elaborate monster costumes and mythos, and is bottled at 46% abv and aged in charred new white oak barrels followed by sugar maple and cherrywood. It will retail for $99 a 750-ml. “Ahh, such a powerful spirit,” said The Berserker Blothar of GWAR. “A delicious sacrament to drink in preparation for battle.” Founded in 2009, Catoctin Creek Distilling distributes to 27 states in the U.S.