GSN Spirited News: March 22nd 2022 Edition

Waco, Texas-based Balcones Distilling has released the 2022 edition of Mirador, a limited release American single malt whiskey. The barrel strength whiskey is matured in second-fill barrels and blended from whiskies aged between three and five years. Balcones Mirador is available from select retailers across the U.S. and at the Balcones distillery for around $80 a 750-ml.

Kenyan gin brand Procera has partnered with Martignetti Companies to expand its distribution to Massachusetts. The sugar-cane based gin is made with its namesake species of juniper, native to Kenya, along with pink peppercorn, coriander, and other botanicals sourced from across the continent. Procera Gin is bottled at 44% abv and retails for a suggested price of $85 a 750-ml.

California-based O’Neill Vintners and Distillers has launched BrandyLab, a new small-batch spirits label, with a limited release bottling. The brandy, bottled at 40% abv, is blended from spirits aged between five and 10 years in American oak, French oak, and Sherry casks. BrandyLab’s inaugural release is now available in 375-ml. bottles for a suggested price of $35. Only 400 cases of the brand’s first bottling are available.

Frankfort, Kentucky-based Castle & Key Distillery is debuting its first Bourbon. Launching in two batches, it’s dubbed Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey. Batch #1 will be available at the Castle & Key Distillery beginning March 26, priced at $50 a 750-ml., and Batch #2 will follow in early May. Both batches will be sold throughout Castle & Key’s 17-state distribution area as well. Both batches were aged four years and bottled at 49% abv. 

Brown-Forman’s The GlenDronach has announced three new single-barrel releases for the U.S. market, all pulled from casks filled between 1992 and 1994. The whiskies, collected as the GlenDronach Cask Bottling Batch 19, are all at barrel strength and there are 12 casks in the whole batch. The first U.S. release is 1992 Cask 217, a 55.4% whisky matured in an Oloroso Sherry cask. Only 383 bottles are available across Georgia, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey for $820 apiece. The second bottling—1992 Cask 6052—is at 50.8% abv and aged in a PX Sherry cask; it retails for $720 and 658 bottles are available in 17 states. Finally, 1994 Cask 5080 is a 54.3% abv whisky aged in an Oloroso cask. It retails for $600 and 667 bottles are available in 11 states.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: March 15th 2022 Edition

Louisville, Kentucky’s Barrell Craft Spirits has released Batch 32, the latest from the luxury-focused whiskey blender. The thirty-second batch is blended from Tennessee-, Kentucky-, and Indiana-distilled Bourbon with the selected barrels at 5-, 6-, 7-, and 10-years old. The 57.67% abv Bourbon is bottled at cask strength and retails for around $90 a bottle.

Frankfort, Kentucky-based Castle & Key Distillery has launched Rise 2022 Seasonal Gin, the third spring release from the distillery since its restoration in 2014. The 51.5% abv spirit is made from 63% rye, 20% malted barley, and 17% yellow corn with rose petals steeped in the base before distillation. Rise’s botanicals also include juniper, tarragon, lemon peel, green peppercorn, almond, green cardamon, and licorice. Rise will be available in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, Indiana, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin for a suggested price of $36.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Michter’s has released a new batch of US*1 Barrel Strength Rye. This edition, overseen by master distiller Dan McKee and master of maturation Andrea Wilson comes in at an average abv of 55.8%, with variations depending on the individual barrel. The single barrel bottling is now available in limited quantities across the U.S. for a suggested price of $100 a bottle.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., purveyor of rare, luxury-priced Irish whiskies, has announced Taoscán, the company’s latest limited edition offering. The single malt was first matured in a combination of Bourbon casks and Oloroso Sherry casks, before being split into new French chestnut and Tawny Port casks to finish for two years. The whiskey is bottled at 48.53% and 700-ml. bottles will be available in select U.S. retailers for a suggested price of $1,600 a bottle.

Canada’s Alberta Distillers, part of Beam Suntory, has launched Alberta Premium in the U.S. for the first time. The 40% abv whisky is made from 100% rye grown by local Calgary farmers and the bottled product is blended from whiskies aged at least five years. Alberta Premium is rolling out now across the U.S. for a suggested price of $25 a 750-ml. This is the first widely available release for the brand in the U.S. and follows the late 2020 limited release of Alberta Premium Cask-Strength.

Captain Morgan Rum is extending with Captain Morgan Cherry Vanilla. The new expression is a limited-time release that’s at 30% abv. To support its launch, the brand has partnered with former Bachelor contestant Joe Amabile, who created several cocktail recipes using Captain Morgan Cherry Vanilla. It’s available on shelves now across the U.S. and Canada for a suggested $16 a 750-ml. 

New York’s Proof & Wood Ventures has announced Seasons 2021, a new limited-edition blend of American whiskies. The 52.5% abv whiskey is a blend of Tennessee Bourbon distilled in 2003, Indiana light whiskey distilled in 2007, Indiana Bourbon distilled in 2015, and Kentucky whiskey distilled from 99% corn in 2013. Roughly 1,000 bottles will be available across the U.S. for a suggested price of $200 a bottle.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Review: Castle & Key Restoration Rye Single Barrel Whiskies

Castle & Key Distillery recently launched a series of Restoration Rye Single Barrels released every Thursday and Sunday from November 11 through December 12, except for the week of Thanksgiving. The single barrels are available at the distillery.

“Our Restoration Rye Single Barrel Whiskey, doesn’t come from our most consistent barrel, but instead showcases the anomaly, the unusual and the interesting,” said Research & Development Manager, Jon Brown. “It truly is a journey in every barrel.”

Castle & Key has also released two single barrel bottle labels, Black and Gold. Restoration Rye Single Barrel Black Labels were picked and identified as a single barrel release by the Castle & Key team and are sold in the Boiler Room on site. Restoration Rye Single Barrel Gold Labels were selected by retailers, restaurants and enthusiast groups throughout key markets where Castle & Key products are sold.

GSN was sent three samples of the Restoration Rye Single Barrel Whiskies below:

Barrel No. 1216
Aroma: Rose Water, Roasted Almond, Nutmeg
Taste: Molasses, Raisin, Leather
Finish: Burnt Sugar, Tobacco, Charred Oak
Proof: 121.1 Alc/Vol – 60.55%

Barrel No. 1275
Aroma: Baking Spice, Mint, Apples
Taste: Baking Spice, Brown Sugar, Leather
Finish: Mint, Toffee, Nutmeg
Proof: 120.2 Alc/Vol – 60.1%

Barrel No. 1529
Aroma: Baking Spice, Mint, Apples
Taste: Baking Spice, Brown Sugar, Leather
Finish: Mint, Toffee, Nutmeg
Proof: 119.1 Alc/Vol – 59.55%

GSN’s Remarks: What is amazing about each of these expressions, is just how different they are from one another. Yes, you can see the similarities of pedigree, but just like children, each one has their own unique characteristics. Of the three, we felt that Barrel No. 1275 was the winner, with a sweeter entry and a luscious finish. The Barrel No. 1216 and Barrel No. 1529 were pretty much neck and neck in terms of flavor profile, but the latter had a slightly more cohesive edge. Overall, these are excellent ryes, and are well crafted. If you are lucky enough to try some of these single barrel releases, you will become an immedaite fan. GSN Rating: A-

For more information go to: Castle and Key

#castleandkey #restorationrye

GSN Spirited News: November 9th 2021 Edition

Evanston, Illinois-based Few Spirits is celebrating its tenth anniversary with new release Few Bottled In Bond Bourbon Whiskey. It’s made from a mashbill of 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley and bottled at 50% abv after aging in oak for a minimum of 4 years. An initial 2,000 cases are being released this month to the New York, Illinois, California, Florida, and Colorado markets, as well as direct-to-consumer online, with wider distribution planned for next year and a suggested retail price of $50 a 750-ml.

Glenmorangie is introducing a special edition 18-year-old single malt in collaboration with Tokyo-based floral artist Azuma Makoto. The newcomer, which retails at $140 a 750-ml., showcases a special display, Dancing Florals of Glenmorangie, created by Makoto on its giftbox and label featuring over 100 blooms and confetti-like petals meant to evoke the whisky’s nuances.

Brown-Forman has launched Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release, Coy Hill High Proof, the 2021 iteration of the company’s limited edition barrel program. The whiskey—ranging from 68.7% abv to 74.15% abv—is the highest proof bottling the distillery has ever released. It’s drawn from barrels matured in the highest levels of the Coy Hill barrel house, which is located on the highest hill at the distillery. The whiskey is rolling out now across the U.S. for a suggested retail price of $70.

Frankfort, Kentucky’s Castle & Key Distillery has partnered with the Black Bourbon Guild to release a brand new series of whiskies, with 100% of sales going to the Diversity in Kentucky Distilling Scholarship program, a new initiative launched by the distillery and guild. The Untold Story of Kentucky Bourbon, Chapter 1 is bottled at 53.3% abv and is made from a mashbill of 73% corn, 10% rye, and 17% malted barley. Each year a new Untold Story will be introduced, with each release highlighting the contributions of Black Americans throughout Bourbon history. Chapter 1 retails for a suggested price of $150 a 750-ml. and only 425 bottles will be released. 

Diageo’s George Dickel has teamed up with Colorado craft distiller Leopold Bros. to create the George Dickel x Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend, a new blend of rye whiskies. The 50% abv whiskey brings together Leopold Bros. Three Chamber rye (named for the type of still used to distill it) and George Dickel’s column still rye whiskey and carries a suggested price of $110 a 750-ml. The George Dickel x Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend is rolling out now in limited quantities in select markets across the U.S.

American Highway Bourbon, a new brand from country music star Brad Paisley, is set to hit shelves across the U.S. this month. The 48% abv whiskey was distilled at Bardstown Bourbon Company and is blended from two 3-year-old whiskies, plus a 13-year-old and a 15-year-old. In a unique twist on the maturation process, American Highway spent part of its life on the road with Paisley, aging in a 53-foot trailer that accompanied the musician on his 2019 tour. For the first batch, 30,000 bottles will be released for a suggested price of $100. American Highway will be available in 21 markets across the U.S. and online through Seelbachs.

Fort Collins, Colorado-based Old Elk Distillery is releasing a limited edition expression called Old Elk Infinity Blend. It’s a blend made up of 60% Six Year Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon, 24% a 12 year old Kentucky vintage, and 16% an 11 year old Kentucky vintage. The distillery plans to use this blend in future releases, continuing annually. Old Elk Infinity Blend will be distributed by Southern Glazer’s for a national limited release, available at select retailers for $150 a 750-ml.

Beam Suntory has launched Baker’s Exclusive Selection, a new limited-time spinoff for the Bourbon brand. This release is bottled at 53.5% abv and the chosen barrels aged for over 11 years. Like the standard Baker’s, the Exclusive Selection is a single barrel whiskey. It’s rolling out now in select locations across the U.S. with a suggested price of $100 a 750-ml.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: March 23rd 2021 Edition

Diageo has launched Cîroc Summer Citrus, the latest flavored offshoot for the grape-distilled vodka brand. The 35% abv spirit is infused with orange and other citrus flavors, and comes packaged in a multicolor bottle meant to evoke summer. Cîroc Summer Citrus is now available for a limited time across the U.S. for a suggested price of $34 a 750-ml.

Luxco has announced the latest release in the Blood Oath Bourbon whiskey series: Pact 7. The 49.3% abv whiskey is blended from a 14-year-old and two 8-year-old Bourbon whiskies, with one of the 8-year whiskies finished in Sauternes casks. Roughly 17,000 cases of the whiskey will roll out across the U.S. in April for a suggested price of $100 a 750-ml.

Scotch whisky player Compass Box is now importing its latest limited edition to the U.S. Beginning in April, Compass Box’s Menagerie Blended Malt Whisky will be available stateside. It’s a 46% abv blend created with single malts from the Mortlach, Deanston, Laphroaig, and Glen Elgin distilleries, combined with Compass Box’s Highland malt blend. Just over 7,700 bottles are being distributed worldwide, with a suggested retail price of $120 a 750-ml.

Frankfort, Kentucky’s Castle & Key Distillery has unveiled Slow Hands Rye, a new series of single barrel whiskies. The series will initially launch with four barrels—with each giving up roughly 200 bottles of whiskey—all retailing for $60 a 750-ml. and ranging from 54.15% abv to 57.95% abv. Looking ahead, the company will expand the Slow Hands offerings and plans to make 10 barrels available by the fall. All of the whiskies are distilled from a mash of 63% rye, 17% corn, and 20% malted barley. Castle & Key Slow Hands Rye will go on sale at the company’s distillery beginning March 26, with wider distribution being planned.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: September 22nd 2020 Edition

Woodford Reserve has launched Woodford Reserve Four Grain a new, limited edition whiskey. A blend of Woodford Bourbon, rye, malt, and wheat whiskies—all aged in new charred oak barrels—Woodford Reserve Four Grain is bottled at 45.2% abv and retail priced at $50 a 375-ml. Four Grain is the latest addition to the brand’s annual Distillery Series, which was created to showcase innovative expressions.

Denver-based Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey has announced Mountain Angel 10 Year Old, the oldest release yet from the Proximo-owned distillery. The 47.3% abv whiskey is made from locally sourced malted barley and aged in charred new American oak barrels, with some barrels losing up to 80% of their contents due to evaporation. The whiskey is rolling out now in extremely limited quantities; fewer than 500 bottles will be available in Colorado, California, and New York, with some bottles allocated as part of a special weekly tasting program at the brand’s distillery. Stranahan’s Mountain Angel 10 Year Old retails for around $130 a bottle.

Infinium Spirits’ Templeton Rye has unveiled the 2020 release in its barrel finish series, Caribbean Rum Cask Finish. The 46% abv whiskey was distilled in Indiana by MGP and matured for five years before finishing for six months in rum casks previously used to mature Jamaican rum. This is the second release in Templeton’s barrel finish series and follows last fall’s Maple Cask Finish. Templeton Caribbean Rum Cask Finish is rolling out now in limited quantities across the U.S. for roughly $45-$50 a 750-ml.

Chicago, Illinois-based High Road Spirits has added Italian malt whisky brand Puni to its import portfolio. The first and only Italian malt whisky, the Puni lineup ($90-$130 a 750-ml.) includes four expressions: Puni Gold, matured in first-fill, ex-Bourbon casks; Puni Alba, aged in Sicilian Marsala casks and finished in ex-Islay barrels; Puni Vina, a limited edition wine cask-matured whisky; and Puni Sole, finished for two years in Pedro Ximénexz Sherry casks. The whiskies will initially be available across Illinois, California, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, Washington, Texas, and Florida, with more states to come.

Frankfort, Kentucky-based Castle & Key Distillery has released its latest seasonal gin, Autumn 2020 London Dry gin. The new, 49% abv expression was made from a combination of 12 botanicals, among them cedar leaf, spicebush, caraway, and orris root. Autumn 2020 London Dry gin is retail priced at $36 a 750-ml.; only 11,400 bottles were produced. Castle & Key opened in 2018, following the four-year restoration of the Old Taylor Distillery.

A new Irish single malt whisky—from Mark Reynier, who led the revival of Islay distillery Bruichladdich—is set to hit the U.S. market with four expressions, starting in October. Waterford Whisky’s single malts are all bottled at 50% abv and are non-chill filtered. Three of the releases are terroir-driven whiskies made from barley from Rathclogh, Dunmore, and Dunbell. They’ll retail online for around $95 a 750-ml. The fourth whisky, Gaia Organic, is the first certified organic Irish single malt, according to the company. It will retail at around $110 a 750-ml.

Dallas, Texas-based whiskey producer Oak & Eden is re-releasing its recurring seasonal Bourbon & Vine. Created in collaboration with Marker Cellars Winery, Bourbon & Vine is bottled at 45% abv and finished in-bottle with a Cabernet Sauvignon-steeped French oak wood spiral. First launched in 2018, it was Oak & Eden’s first limited edition release. It’s available now in Texas, Colorado, California, Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, and the distillery’s website, where it retails for $60 a 750-ml.

Nashville, Tennessee-based Peg Leg Porker has added a new limited-edition whiskey to its lineup. Aged for 15 years, the Peg Leg Porker Tennessee Straight Bourbon 15-Year Pitmaster Reserve Label features a mashbill of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley, and was finished through hickory charcoal after being de-barreled. The whiskey was bottled at 45% abv and retails at $400 a 750-ml. 15-Year Pitmaster Reserve will be available once a year, with 2,500 bottles made in its first release. Peg Leg Porker is owned by famed pitmaster Carey Bringle.

Vermont-based WhistlePig Rye has introduced the latest iteration of its limited edition The Boss Hog whiskey. Featuring a base of straight rye whiskey that’s aged for 17 years in American oak, then finished in rare Spanish oak, and finished for a second time in South American teakwood casks, The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic is bottled at 52.6% abv-53.9% abv and retail priced at $500 a 750-ml. Like the six editions of The Boss Hog that came before it, Magellan’s Atlantic will be available at high-end retail shops and on-premise accounts across the U.S.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily