GSN Spirited News: June 29th 2021 Edition

Campari’s Aperol liqueur has partnered with Cocktail Courier to sell a limited-edition Aperol Spritz kit for consumers to make the drink at home. Cocktail Courier, based in Chicago, sells a variety of brand name cocktail kits for delivery to consumers’ homes. The Aperol Spritz kit includes the liqueur, Cinzano Prosecco, soda water, oranges, and two glasses. It is available for purchase to residents of select cities from Cocktail Courier’s website, where it retails for $60.

Louisville, Kentucky’s Rabbit Hole has launched its single barrel program with ten barrels of Heigold rye sold to accounts in Kentucky. Rabbit Hole’s single barrel releases will be bottled at cask strength and will feature unique artwork. To celebrate the launch of the program, the distillery sold 144 bottles at $106 a 750-ml. with all proceeds going to Covid relief grants to local businesses, administered through local charity Fund for the Arts. The wider release for the single barrel program—including releases of all four of Rabbit Hole’s core whiskies—begins in July.

Gin Lane 1751 has announced Cucumber Watermelon Mint, the newest seasonal expression from the London Dry gin house. The spirit is bottled at 40% abv and made with natural flavor essences and without any added sugar. M.S. Walker, Gin Lane’s distributor, will roll out the new expression across the U.S. in July for a suggested price of $38 a 750-ml. Cucumber Watermelon Mint joins the original London Dry, Victoria Pink Gin, Old Tom Gin, and Royal Strength Gin in Gin Lane’s portfolio.

The House of Rémy Martin is releasing a new limited-edition decanter for Rémy Martin XO. Featuring 18-karat gold leaf on the bottle, it was created in partnership with Parisian gilding studio Atelier Thiery. It is intended to highlight the parallels between Cognac and gold and the expertise that goes into working with both. The limited-edition Rémy Martin XO x Atelier Thiery bottle is available on Reserve Bar for $229.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Michter’s has announced the 2021 iteration of the brand’s 10-year-old single barrel rye whiskey. Due to supply constraints, this will be the only release of Michter’s 10 Year Rye for 2021, according to master of maturation Andrea Wilson. This year’s edition of Michter’s 10 Year Rye is rolling out now in limited quantities for a suggested price of $170 a 750-ml. In addition to releasing the 10-year-old rye, Michter’s has announced that it has expanded its Springfield farm from 145 to 205 acres, allowing the company to grow more grain for its future whiskies.

Sazerac Co. has teamed with Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) to extend two flavored whiskies—Fireball and Southern Comfort—with malt-based variants to propel them into thousands of new retail accounts. The malt-based offerings began appearing this spring in New York beer stores, convenience stores, delis, bodegas, and gas station minimarts, priced at around $1 a 1.7-ounce bottle and $8 a 12-ounce container.

Chopin Vodka has launched Botanika Angelica, a new line of liqueurs made from the company’s namesake vodka, blended with botanicals and fruit. Botanika Angelica makes its debut with five expressions—Amaro (40% abv, $40 a 750-ml.), Bitters (30% abv, $30), Orange (40% abv, $35), Lemon (35% abv, $30), and Elderflower (25% abv, $35). Before blending, the spirit, fruits, herbs, and spices are macerated for two to seven months in clay pots. Additionally, all but the lemon and orange liqueurs are matured in Polish oak before bottling. Botanika Angelic is now available across the U.S.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: November 3rd 2020 Edition

Bacardi-owned Angel’s Envy has announced the 2020 iteration of its Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey finished in Port barrels. This year’s whiskey comes in at 60.2% abv and will launch—for the first time—in select retailers in all 50 states on November 1. As always, this is a limited release and only 17,400 bottles will be available, for a suggested price of $200 a 750-ml.

Volcán de mi Tierra Reposado

Moët Hennessy is extending its Volcán de mi Tierra Tequila brand with a Reposado expression. The 100%-blue agave Tequila is rested for 135 days in new casks made of American and European oak. The newcomer is rolling out in select states, retailing at $55 a 750-ml. A collaboration between Moët Hennessy and the Gallardo family, Volcán de mi Tierra’s other offerings include Blanco and Cristalino Tequilas.

Heaven’s Door Spirits, the partnership between Bob Dylan and Spirits Investment Partners, is launching Bootleg Series Vol. II, a new luxury Bourbon expression. A cask strength 15-year-old Straight Bourbon finished in 30-year-old Jamaican pot still rum casks and bottled at 104.6 proof, Bootleg Series Vol. II comes in a handmade ceramic bottle featuring Bob Dylan’s painting, Sunset, Monument Valley, and is housed in an ornate leather journal that is individually numbered. It’s rolling out in an edition of 3,000 bottles, selling at $500 apiece.

Lawrenceburg, Kentucky’s Wild Turkey Distillery, part of the Campari portfolio, has launched Russell’s Reserve 2003, its newest limited edition vintage release. The 44.75% abv whiskey matured for 16 years and is the last Wild Turkey juice barreled at 107 proof (today the company’s whiskies enter the barrel at 115 proof). Only 3,600 bottles of Russell’s Reserve 2003 will be available across the U.S. for a suggested price of $250 a 750-ml. The whiskey joins Russell’s Reserve 10-year-old Bourbon, 6-year-old rye, and their respective single barrel variants in the brand portfolio.

Chopin Imports is bringing Ron Carúpano rum to the U.S. Beginning this month, the Venezuelan brand is introducing its Ron Añejo portfolio and its Prestige Collection, including expressions from Ron Carúpano 6 to Ron Carúpano X.O., and Ron Carúpano Legendario, which range in price from $20 a 750-ml. to $500. RNDC and other distributors will make the brand available in 12 states including California, Florida, and Colorado.

Quintessential Brands is launching a selection of whiskies from the Dublin Liberties Distillery in the U.S. The Liberties Irish Whiskey range focuses on single malts and unique cask finishes. The U.S. selection is composed of one blend and three single malts. The blend is called Oak Devil, aged five years in oak casks and retailing for approximately $45 a 750-ml. The single malt range includes Copper Alley 10-year old ($60), Murder Lane 13-year-old ($90), and Keeper’s Coin 16-year-old ($160). The whiskies are debuting at select retailers in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Colorado, Washington, Michigan, and Minnesota.

Saint Michaels, Maryland’s Gray Wolf has introduced an eponymous rye whiskey. The 46.5% abv whiskey is distilled from a mash of 60% rye and 40% malted barley and aged in a solera system that uses three cask types. The whiskey starts off in charred new American oak before progressing to Port barrels and American white oak. The first batch of Gray Wolf rye will be available at the distillery and farmers’ markets throughout the state. Home delivery begins on November 2.

Tequila Partida is launching an Añejo Cristalino as the latest addition to its lineup. The expression is distilled from Blue Weber agave that’s cooked 24 hours, then aged a minimum of 18 months in American white oak medium toast ex-Bourbon barrels before being filtered through activated carbon. The filtration removes most of the liquid’s color but leaves aromas and flavor intact; the liquid is then diluted with demineralized volcanic spring water to bring it to 40% abv. Añejo Cristalino launches nationwide in November, retailing for $60 a 750-ml.

Maison Ferrand has announced Ferrand Cognac Légendaire, a new luxury-priced annual release containing some of the oldest Cognacs in the house’s library. The spirit draws from reserves up to 100 years old, and the final blend is finished in a zebra barrel—a barrel with the staves gradually replaced as the Cognac matures, imparting new tannins without overwhelming the spirit in the barrel, according to the company. Beginning this month, Ferrand Cognac Légendaire will be available in extremely limited quantities—only 500 bottles will be released each year—for around $2,800 a 750-ml.

Brooklyn-based Widow Jane Distillery is launching You’ll Never Walk Alone, a 10-year-old Bourbon aimed at raising funds for the USBG National Charity Foundation and CORE: Children of Restaurant Employees. Widow Jane will donate 100% of the proceeds from sales of You’ll Never Walk Alone to Covid-19 relief and guarantees a minimum donation of $50,000. A total of 550 cases of the 100-proof Bourbon are rolling out across California, Washington D.C., Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: April 28th 2020 Edition

Newport, Oregon’s Rogue Ales and Spirits has expanded distribution of its line of canned cocktails, bringing four RTDs to markets across the U.S. In addition to the national push, Rogue has launched a new flavor—Grapefruit Vodka Soda—and added a variety 8-pack featuring two cans of each flavor. Rogue’s full line of canned cocktails, including Ginger Lime Vodka Mule, Cranberry Elderflower Vodka Soda, and Cucumber Lime Gin Fizz are rolling out now nationally in 4-packs of 12-ounce cans plus the variety pack.

Proximo Spirits has announced a new, aged extension to the Jose Cuervo Tradicional family, the 100% blue agave Tequila extension of the U.S. market’s largest Tequila brand. The 40% abv spirit first matured for 12 months in new American oak before finishing for up to four months in barrels used to age Bushmills’ single malt whiskey. Jose Cuervo Tradicional Añejo is now available across the U.S. for around $33 a 750-ml. Last year, Jose Cuervo Tradicional crossed 200,000 cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.

Infinium Spirits has taken Los Arango Tequila nationwide, increasing production to meet newfound demand. The brand consists of a blanco, reposado, and añejo—all bottled at 40% abv—and is named for Pancho Villa (whose given name was José Doroteo Arango). The spirits are produced in Guanajuato, Mexico and the brand was revived in 2018.

Appleton Estate, part of the Campari portfolio, is adding an 8-year-old Reserve offering to its range. The newcomer is at 43% abv and is rolling out nationwide this spring, retailing at $29 a 750-ml. The launch of Appleton Estate 8-year-old Reserve coincides with a new look across the Appleton range. The makeover includes a sleeker bottle shape, a new cork closure, and a new label incorporating details on the production process, the Appleton insignia, and master blender Joy Spence’s signature.

Louisville, Kentucky’s Rabbit Hole has extended its lineup with Bespoke gin. The new spirit is a London Dry gin finished for nine to 12 months in Rabbit Hole’s Boxergrail rye whiskey barrels. The gin itself is made with angelica, coriander, juniper, lemon peel, licorice, orange peel and orris root, and bottled at 44.5% abv. Rabbit Hole Bespoke gin is now available for $50 a 750-ml. The company, part of the Pernod Ricard portfolio, is now making a push toward national distribution in the U.S.

While the backbone of the brand is Bourbon, Heaven Hill has recently expanded the family by adding a new rye whiskey. The $30 release initially launched in Oregon, Georgia, and North and South Carolina and is expanding from there. Elijah Craig Rye comes in at 47% abv and joins other Heaven Hill ryes including the high-end Pikesville Rye (55% abv) and the more accessibly priced Rittenhouse Rye (50% abv).

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Review: Campari Limited Edition

Campari®, the legendary one-of-a-kind red spirit, announces the U.S. launch of limited edition art labels for 2015, featuring a sketch by Futurist artist Fortunato Depero reimagined with the use of contemporary colors.  The trio of limited edition labels reinterpret a sketch of a Campari pavilion designed by Depero in 1933 for an international exposition held in Milan. The three collectible labels arrive just in time for the holiday season and will grace 750 ml bottles at retail stores across the United States.

This is the second consecutive year Campari has featured a reinterpreted Depero work.  As Milan hosted the 2015 Universal Exposition (EXPO) from May through October, the use of Depero’s work is fitting.  Though the original pavilion for the international exposition featured in Depero’s 1933 sketch was never brought to life, a to-scale replica has been carefully preserved to this day in the Galleria Campari at the brand’s headquarters in Sesto San Giovanni, Milan.

Campari (48 abv proof)
Visual: Candy apple red.
Nose: Spicy, almost smokey like chili powder. Tons of high notes, with a demure orange citrus ghost.
Taste: Slightly sweet, but strikingly bitter with an intense knife-edge sharpness.  A powerhouse of intensity and flavor.
Finish: Long, long, long.  You will remember this for several minutes.  The overall effect is of drinking something mysterious, and ancient.
Overall: Unforgettable.  This is a liquid that wends its way into your very soul.  Indispensible in a Negroni, this pairs amazingly well with other herb driven spirits.  Iconic for a reason.
GSN Rating: A+

For more information go to: Campari

GSN: Backbar Review – October 7-11, 2013

William Grant & Sons is releasing a new Balvenie single malt expression exclusively for the U.S. market. Tun 1401 Batch 9 ($250) is a 49.3%-abv whisky sourced from 11 traditional whisky casks and three sherry butts, whose ages span a number of decades. It rested for several months in Tun 1401, one of the distillery’s unique “marrying vessels,” which also produced the previous limited releases Batch 3 and Batch 6. The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 9 will be distributed in limited supply beginning this month.

Diageo is introducing two new flavors to Smirnoff vodka’s range this fall—Wild Honey and Cinna-Sugar Twist. Both are now in national distribution, priced at $15.99 a 750-ml. The flavors join Smirnoff’s existing Confections portfolio, which also includes Root Beer Float, Iced Cake, Kissed Caramel, Whipped Cream and Fluffed Marshmallow.

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Beam Inc.’s Laphroaig single malt Scotch brand has reintroduced Laphroaig Triple Wood, its limited edition fall seasonal, in the U.S. Triple Wood, a 96-proof whisky, is matured three times, using ex-Bourbon barrels, 19th century-style quarter casks and European oak Oloroso Sherry casks. The returning entry will be available in limited quantities nationwide, priced at around $59.99 a 750-ml. Laphroaig Triple Wood is joined in the Laphroaig portfolio by the brand’s 10-year-old, 10-year-old Cask Strength, Quarter Cask, 18-year-old, 25-year-old, QA Cask and Càirdeas offerings.

Brown-Forman has added a new seasonal variant to Jack Daniel’s, Winter Jack. A blend of apple cider liqueur, Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey and holiday spices, the new product is suggested to be served warm and touted as “reminiscent of apple pie complemented with Tennessee whiskey and seasonal spices, with a finish of toasted oak and vanilla.” Winter Jack is hitting 30 U.S. states and Canada this month.

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Sidney Frank Importing Co. has expanded its Bärenjäger honey liqueur brand with a pair of new offshoots—Bärenjäger Honey & Tea and Bärenjäger Honey & Pear. Bärenjäger Honey & Tea features notes of sweet black tea and honey, while Bärenjäger Honey & Pear offers a blend of honey and pear brandy sourced from Germany. Both entries are currently available nationwide in 50-ml., 375-ml. and 750-ml. formats, priced at around $28.99 a 750-ml. The Honey & Tea and Honey & Pear variants are joined in the Bärenjäger portfolio by the brand’s original Bärenjäger honey liqueur and its Honey & Bourbon label, which launched last year.

Glenmorangie is set to introduce a very limited offering of what it calls the “world’s first extra-matured single malt,” Glenmorangie 1963. Packaged in a commemorative bottle including its original label, 1963 was extra-matured in Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks for almost two years prior to its original release in 1987. Glenmorangie says it recently uncovered 50 bottles of the historic whisky in its Highland warehouses. Twenty of them will be made available for purchase in the U.S. through high-end stores at a suggested price of $2,600 each.

Fort Worth, Texas-based Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. has launched its flagship T-X blended whiskey brand in Louisiana. Currently available in the state both on- and off-premise via Glazer’s, T-X is a blend of select whiskies priced at around $35 a bottle. Louisiana marks brand’s first expansion outside of its home market of Texas. A craft whiskey distillery established in 2010, Firestone & Robertson is planning to debut a straight Bourbon made with locally-sourced corn, wheat and yeast as the second offering in its portfolio.

Pernod Ricard is returning its Pernod absinthe to its original recipe. The brand’s revamped formula was reconstructed in a two-year process from records that show how it was made in the 1800s, prior to the U.S. ban on absinthe from 1912-2007. Changes include a move from neutral grain to neutral wine spirit for the base, with grapes sourced from Languedoc as specified; the usage of grande wormwood sourced from Pontarlier, the historical home of the brand where the original factory was founded in 1805; and natural coloration through the maceration of green nettles, instead of added dyes and artificial colors. The remade Pernod (136-proof) will first appear at several leading New York City retailers, priced at around $68 a bottle.

35 Maple Street, the spirits unit of Sonoma-based The Other Guys, has released two new limited-edition versions of its Masterson’s whiskey brand. Masterson’s 12-Year-Old Straight Wheat Whiskey ($79), at 50% abv, is made from Canadian wheat and glacial water, distilled in a copper pot still and aged in white oak casks. Masterson’s 10-Year-Old Straight Barley Whiskey ($79), at 46% abv, is made from Canadian barley and glacial water, double-distilled and also aged in white oak casks. Some 2,337 cases (14,022 bottles) of the 12-Year-Old Wheat and 1,954 cases (11,724 bottles) of the 10-Year-Old Barley will be available. The Other Guys, run by August Sebastiani, launched 35 Maple Street in 2011 with Masterson’s Rye ($79) and has since followed with Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin ($35-$40) and Kirk & Sweeney Dominican Rum ($40).

South Carolina-based High Wire Distilling Co. has made its debut in its local Charleston market with the launch of Hometown vodka and Silver rum. Initially rolling out into retail outlets this week, the pair will also be available at local bars and restaurants in the near future. Priced at $27.99, Hometown vodka is a gluten-free offering made with 100% corn, while Silver rum is produced using Barbadian molasses and will retail for $23.99. High Wire, which bills itself as Charleston’s first distillery since Prohibition, distills its spirits using a handmade German copper still.

Several new limited-edition malts are joining the Campari America portfolio across the Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch brands. Bowmore is welcoming a new addition called The Devil’s Cask, named for a local Islay legend in which the devil stows away in a barrel of Bowmore bound for the mainland. A 10-year-old Scotch aged in Oloroso Sherry barrels, Devil’s Cask is at 56.9%-abv and will retail at around $90, with 1,302 bottles coming to the U.S. starting next month. Atop the pricing ladder, Bowmore is introducing a 50-year-old, retail-priced at around $20,000 a 750-ml. It’s replacing a 40-year-old that was priced at $15,000. Devil’s Cask and the 50-year-old join Bowmore’s recently added Dorus Mor (55.1%-abv), a 10-year-old priced at $120, of which 2,400 bottles were imported. Meanwhile, Bowmore stablemates Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch, from the Lowland and Highland regions respectively, are being extended with small-batch Virgin Oak expressions. Auchentoshan’s is 46%-abv and will retail at around $130 with 2,100 bottles headed to the U.S. Glen Garioch’s is 48%-abv, retails at $110 and is available in an allocation of 1,038 bottles.

Proximo Spirits will expand the Jose Cuervo line with the launch of a cinnamon-infused silver Tequila called Cinge. The new expression will roll out nationwide this fall, priced at $17.99 a 750-ml. bottle, and will also be available in 50-ml., 200-ml., 375-ml., 1-liter and 1.75-liter sizes.

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Pernod Ricard’s House of Martell is launching a new Cognac—Martell Caractère. The new variant, available exclusively in California and retailing at $34.99, is meant to pay tribute to Martell founder Jean Martell. Caractère (40% abv) is produced using grapes sourced from the company’s own vineyards in the Domaine Jean Martell, distilled twice without lees and aged in French oak.

William Grant & Sons has introduced a new variant, Phoenix, to the Tullamore D.E.W. Irish whiskey range. Phoenix, priced at $54.99 a 750-ml., will be an annual limited edition release, with only 2,500 nine-liter cases now available in the U.S. market. The triple-distilled whiskey (55% abv) is finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. Phoenix joins Original, 12-year-old Special Reserve and 10-year-old Single Malt in the brand’s lineup.

Fairfield, New Jersey-based Jersey Artisan Distilling has debuted the first entry in its premium craft spirits range, Busted Barrel dark rum. Made with all-natural molasses sourced from Louisiana, Busted Barrel is aged with a handful of vanilla beans in American oak casks for three months. The 80-proof spirit will be available at New Jersey retail outlets starting next week, priced at around $34.99 a 750-ml. Jersey Artisan Distilling, which bills itself as the state’s first licensed distillery since Prohibition, is also gearing up to launch an eponymous vodka and gin range, as well as Busted Barrel Bourbon and whiskey offerings.

All information courtesy of Shanken

GSN: Backbar Review – September 30-October 4, 2013

Pernod Ricard’s Irish Distillers has extended its Redbreast Irish whiskey brand with a new 21-Year-Old extension. Rolling out this month, Redbreast 21-Year-Old is made from a malted and unmalted barley mash, triple distilled in copper pot stills and then matured in a combination of American Bourbon barrels and Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks. The new entry is currently available across the U.S.—as well as in the U.K., France, Ireland and Germany—priced at $180 a bottle. Redbreast 21-Year-Old marks the ninth single pot still Irish whiskey in the Irish Distillers stable, as well as the brand’s oldest offering to date, joining Redbreast’s existing 12-Year-Old, 12-Year-Old Cask Strength and 15-Year-Old variants.

Sidney Frank Importing Co. is aiming to reinvigorate its Jägermeister liqueur brand with the launch of its first U.S. extension, seasonal offering Jägermeister Spice. The limited edition expression hits national distribution today, priced at $22.99 a 750-ml. Jägermeister Spice (25% abv) uses the same 56 different herbs, blooms, roots and fruits as Jägermeister Original, but highlights the vanilla and cinnamon spices to give it a warmer taste profile.

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Campari America’s Cabo Wabo Tequila brand has expanded its range with Cabo Diablo, a new coffee liqueur. Featuring a color-changing label, the 35%-abv offering is made with a blend of Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila and Arabica coffee liqueur. Cabo Diablo will be available this fall across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Wisconsin, priced at $22.99 a 750-ml. The coffee liqueur joins Blanco, Reposado, Añejo and Uno entries in Cabo Wabo’s 100%-agave portfolio.

Pernod Ricard is extending its Paddy Irish whiskey brand with two flavors, a honey offering to be known as Bee Sting, and spiced apple-flavored Devil’s Apple. Paddy’s new flavors are launching in the U.S. this month, backed by a millennial-targeted marketing campaign titled “Sleep when you’re 30.”

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San Francisco-based Anchor Distilling has released Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Blue Hanger blended malt whiskey in the U.S. for the first time. Now in its seventh limited release, Blue Hanger’s current edition is comprised of one hogshead of Bruichladdich 1992, one butt of Bunnahabhain 1990, four hogsheads of Miltonduff 1997 and two hogsheads of Bunnahabhain Moine (peated) 2006. Blue Hanger 7th Limited Release will be offered exclusively in the U.S., with a total of 3,088 bottles available, priced at $99.99 each.

Former Sidney Frank Importing executives Rick and Sarah Zeiler have launched a new shot brand, Coldcock American Herbal Whiskey. A Bourbon infused with herbs including green tea, hibiscus, eucalyptus, cinnamon and ginger, Coldcock is 70-proof and retails at $19.99 a 750-ml. Already present in California, Georgia and Indiana, the new brand is launching in New York, South Carolina, Tennessee and Nebraska today, and will soon hit New Jersey, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois and Texas.

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Beam Inc. is extending the John DeKuyper & Sons Crave chocolate liqueurs range with the launch of Crave Chocolate Truffle. The new flavor is available nationwide with a suggested retail price of $17.99 a 750-ml. bottle. Chocolate Truffle (15% abv) joins Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Cherry and Chocolate Chili in the Crave range of flavors.

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Pewaukee, Wisconsin-based Midwest Custom Bottling, bottler of RumChata, is launching Holly Nog—a new spiked eggnog—in the U.S. this holiday season. Made with wine and Wisconsin dairy cream, Holly Nog (owned by Midwest Custom Bottling, while RumChata is owned by Agave Loco) will be available at both liquor stores and wine-only stores, as well as in the dairy aisle of grocery stores. The 14%-abv entry comes in 750-ml. bottles, priced at $9.99 each.

Jack Daniel’s is introducing a limited edition Master Distiller #1 bottle, honoring founder Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel, nationwide this fall. The 750-ml. bottles, which were previously only available in Tennessee and duty free shops, are currently hitting shelves at retail locations across the U.S. ($24.99). Master Distiller #1 is the first in a new series recognizing the seven men who have held the master distiller post since the Jack Daniel Distillery began producing nearly 150 years ago. In addition to Jack Daniel, the list of master distillers includes Jess Motlow, Lem Tolley, Jess Gamble, Frank Bobo, Jimmy Bedford and Jeff Arnett (currently in the position).

Serge Imports’ Exclusiv has debuted a new brandy-flavored vodka, XO Napoleon. The new expression will be priced at $10 a 750-ml. and will initially launch in New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. Exclusiv XO Napoleon (35% abv) uses 5- to 18-year-old brandies for flavoring and achieves the brandy coloring through the traditional French method of including caramelized sugar. XO Napoleon marks the brand’s tenth offering.

Diageo is debuting a new single malt Scotch offering, Talisker Storm, in the U.S. market. Launching nationwide this month, the non-age-stated whisky is matured in oak for a minimum of three years and retails at $66 a 750-ml. Part of Diageo’s Classic Malts collection, Talisker is the only distillery on Scotland’s Isle of Skye.

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Beam Inc. is set to roll out a new batch of Booker’s Bourbon handpicked by whiskey experts in the coming days. Booker’s Bourbon Batch No. 2013-6 will hit shelves nationwide in early October, priced at $49.99 a 750-ml. The new offering is 126.5-proof and has been aged for seven years. Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe honored his father’s tasting tradition of sharing bottles with friends by hosting his own Booker’s Bourbon Roundtable, which consisted of a select group of whiskey advocates, writers and experts.

Beam Inc. has launched Ice Surge—a new liqueur brand—in select U.S. markets. Targeted toward the shot occasion, the 70-proof range includes Tropical Freeze (pineapple and mango) and Frozen Berry (raspberry, blackberry and açai) variants, both of which are said to combine fruit flavors with a unique cooling sensation. Priced at $16.99 a 750-ml., Ice Surge will initially be available across 20 markets.

Pernod Ricard’s Seagram’s gin has added Red Berry Twisted, a gin infused with raspberry and strawberry flavors and aimed at the at-home cocktail occasion.

All information courtesy of Shanken News Daily