Burnett’s vodka

San Francisco-based Anchor Distilling Co. has added Luxardo Aperitivo ($19.99 a 750-ml.) to its U.S. import portfolio. A light, bittersweet liqueur, the 11%-abv offering is named after the Italian aperitivo occasion, in which a liqueur is served prior to a meal. Luxardo Aperitivo features an infusion of herbs, roots and citrus and is designed to be enjoyed with fruit juices, wines and in cocktails, such as the Spritz (where it’s combined with Prosecco). In addition to Luxardo Aperitivo, Anchor Distilling currently imports close to 20 liqueurs from Italy’s Luxardo Distillery, including its Amaretto, Limoncello, Sambuca and Maraschino expressions.

Park City, Utah’s High West Distillery has debuted its second RTD barrel-aged cocktail, the Barreled Boulevardier. The cocktail is made with Bourbon, Vya sweet vermouth and Gran Classico bitter, and is aged in whiskey barrels for four months. The Barreled Boulevardier is the 16th spirit to join High West’s portfolio. The first barrel-aged cocktail they released was a barrel-aged Manhattan in 2010. High West’s range of small-batch whiskies is currently available in 39 states throughout the U.S.

Heaven Hill’s Burnett’s vodka has added two new flavors to its lineup—Blackberry and Tropical Fruit. Both are line priced at $10.99 a 750-ml. The Burnett’s portfolio now includes 33 different flavors. The launch of Blackberry and Tropical Fruit comes on the heels of the recent release of Cherry Cola and Strawberry Banana to the portfolio, as well as a package redesign for the brand. The new packaging, which will roll out across all variants and sizes this spring, features an enlarged and repositioned brand name, crest, flavor image and descriptor.

Tequila Tapatio has unveiled a new Blanco Tequila bottled at 110 proof, the highest proof allowed by law for the Mexican spirit. Created by Tapatio distiller Carlos Camarena, Tapatio’s 110-Proof Blanco is characterized by an array of flavors, including florals, cinnamon and chamomile. Tapatio’s 110-Proof Blanco will be available California, Washington, Oregon, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida and Missouri, priced at $48 a 1-liter.

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Missouri’s McCormick Distilling has reformulated its Tarantula Tequila brand to create two 100-proof expressions. Rolling out this month, the core Tarantuala range now includes Tarantula Plata 100 and Tarantula Reposado 100, both of which are 100-proof and made with 100% blue agave. Priced at $17.99 a 750-ml., the Tequilas are meant to be consumed neat, as a shot, on the rocks or in cocktails. Concurrently, Tarantula has unveiled new labeling, using the colors of the Mexican flag to reflect the brand’s heritage and authenticity. In addition to the 100-proof Plata and Reposado, Tarantula Tequila’s portfolio also includes Tarantula Azul (a blend of Tequila and citrus liqueur) and Tarantula Strawberry (Tequila and strawberry liqueur).

Sazerac Co. has unveiled a new barrel-aged Tequila range under its Corazon Tequila brand. The limited edition series, known as Expresiones del Corazon, features five 100%-agave offerings, each aged in barrels from a different Buffalo Trace whiskey. These offerings include the Buffalo Trace Reposado (aged 10.5 months, 80 proof), George T. Stagg Añejo (aged 22 months, 80 proof), Sazerac Rye Añejo (aged 24 months, 90 proof), Old Rip Van Winkle Añejo (aged 23 months, 80 proof) and a Blanco (80 proof). Just 6,000 bottles of each Expresiones del Corazon Tequila will be available nationwide, priced between $59.99 and $89.99. The Corazon Tequila brand also features core Blanco, Reposado and Añejo variants.

All information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

Camus Cognac has unveiled a limited edition offering commemorating its 150th anniversary. Camus Cuvée 5.150 is a blend of Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Fins Bois, Bon Bois and Borderies Cognacs, of which 1,492 individually numbered decanters were produced, priced at $13,500 each.

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St. Helena, California-based Charbay Distillers is adding Añejo and Reposado variants of Tapatio Tequila, for which it became the exclusive U.S. importer last June. Tapatio Reposado is aged for eight months in oak barrels and retails for $38 a 1-liter bottle. The Añejo ($44 a 1-liter) is aged 18 months in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks, and the Blanco, which was previously available, retails at $38 a 1-liter and is aged for six months in stainless steel. All three are produced by master distiller Carlos Camarena at the Altena Distillery.

Chivas Regal is debuting three new limited edition offerings of its 18-year-old variant in the U.S. market. Entitled “The Drop,” the collection was created in partnership with Italian design firm Pininfarina. 1,500 bottles of the first expression are available in the U.S. at $140 each, featuring a blue metallic-finish outer case and a wood veneer. The second, of which 120 individually numbered bottles are available in the U.S. at $495 each, takes the same aerodynamic design cues a step further. It features a solid wood inlay and includes two Pininfarina-designed glasses. The third, Chivas 18 Mascherone by Pininfarina, is a seven-foot, four-inch piece—made of an oak internal structure clad in aluminum—that will be made to order by Pininfarina on request at $100,000 each.

Campari’s Wild Turkey distillery has extended its Russell’s Reserve small-batch Bourbon brand with a new single barrel offering. Created by Wild Turkey master distiller Jimmy Russell and his son, Eddie, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel (55% abv) is Wild Turkey’s first unfiltered Bourbon. The new, high-proof offering will be available starting next month, priced at around $49.99 a bottle.

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Brown-Forman is set to release this year’s special edition Woodford Reserve Bourbon bottle for the 2013 Kentucky Derby. The packaging features art by Oregon-based painter Eric Bowman, which includes a close-up of a racing scene, as well as a sky blue neckband at the top displaying Bowman’s signature and a tag hanging around the bottle with information about the product and the artist. The bottle will be available in 46 markets across the country for a suggested retail price of $43.99 a 1-liter bottle. Woodford Reserve has been a sponsor of the Kentucky Derby for the past 15 years.

Colorado’s Woody Creek Distillers is set to make its debut with six ultra-premium spirits offerings. In addition to its core vodka brands, Woody Creek Potato Vodka and Reserve Stobrawa Potato Vodka, the company’s products include Baby Bourbon, Gin, Apple Brandy and Pear Eau de Vie, all sourced locally from the Aspen Valley. Another label, Olathe Corn Whiskey, is in production and scheduled for release in 2015, after a stint of aging in American white oak barrels.

Heaven Hill Distilleries is rolling out two new flavors—Cherry Cola and Strawberry Banana for the Burnett’s vodka line. They are line priced at $10.99 a 750-ml. The Burnett’s portfolio now includes 31 different flavors.