Chopin Imports

Hye, Texas-based Garrison Brothers Distillery is releasing a new expression called Guadalupe. Named for the Texas river of the same name, Guadalupe is a Bourbon aged four years in American white oak and finished an additional two years in Port casks sourced from winemakers in Portugal. The release follows 2019’s Estacado, a similar Port-cask expression that resulted from a barrel trade with Texas winery Llano Estacado. Guadalupe is bottled at 53.5% abv and will be available year-round for a suggested $130 a 750-ml.

Chopin Imports has added the Catalan Vermouth maker Dos Déus to its portfolio, bringing the fortified wine producer to the U.S. for the first time. Beginning August 1, Chopin will make three of Dos Déus’ wines—Dry White Vermouth Reserve, Dry White Vermouth, and Red Vermouth Reserve—available through Southern Glazer’s and other distributors. The line will retail from $25 to $35 and each wine’s label features a Greek god: Zeus for the dry white, Poseidon for the white, and Athena for the red.

Dallas-based Ricou Spirits has teamed with Vallejo, California’s Hearts + Tales Beverage Co. to import and distribute Brandy Saint Louise in the U.S. The 43% abv French brandy is blended from spirits aged between three and 10 years. It launched in 2018. Brandy Saint Louise retails at $35 a 750-ml. and is distributed to 20 states.

Uncle Val’s Gin is expanding its lineup with new release Zested. It’s a citrus flavored gin, distilled five times and infused with Bergamot orange, coriander, barley malt, and juniper. Zested joins Botanical, Restorative, and Peppered in the Uncle Val’s portfolio, which is part of 3 Badge Beverage Corp., developed by 3 Badge president August Sebastiani as an homage to his Italian uncle Valerio Cecchetti. Zested is at 45% abv and will launch in early September for a suggested $40 a 750-ml.

Diageo has announced a new, highly limited expression for Tequila Don Julio. The new release, Primavera, begins as Don Julio Reposado before aging for an additional period in orange wine casks. Don Julio Primavera is bottled at 40% abv and only 15,000 cases will be available this year at a suggested retail price of $99 a bottle. Though the release is quite limited for now, Diageo says that Primavera will return in spring 2022.

Harridan, a New York-based vodka, has made its debut with distribution handled by Park Street. The spirit is distilled from New York-grown corn at Ovid, New York’s Myer Farm and bottled at 44% abv. Brand founder Bridgette Taylor chose the name and proof in tribute to women who have been denigrated for being too bold. Harridan is now available in 48 states and through e-commerce services like Drizly and ReserveBar with a suggested price of $60 a 750-ml.

Milton, Delaware-based Dogfish Head Distilling Co. is launching its first single malt whiskey, called Let’s Get Lost. Distilled from a custom blend of malted barley and aged for more than three years in charred oak barrels, it’s available now in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington D.C. Dogfish Head shared early samples of the 51% abv expression last holiday season, leading Whiskey Advocate to give it 92-point rating. Dogfish Head was acquired by Boston Beer Co. in 2019.

Compass Box has announced Canvas, the latest blended malt whisky from the well-regarded independent bottler. The blend comes in at 46% abv and features whisky matured for three years in casks that held Vino Naranja, a Spanish fortified wine from Condado de Huelva that ages on orange peels. Only 5,880 bottles will be available worldwide. In the U.S., the whisky will retail for a suggested price of $150 and will be available on ReserveBar, Flaviar, and in other e-commerce channels. Canvas also has an interactive component whereby customers can create their own label designs. The bottle’s QR code links to a label template where customers can input a photo, sketch, or any other artwork and then print it out for use on the bottle.

Beam Suntory and Aston Martin have teamed up for a new series of travel-retail-exclusive bottlings of Bowmore Islay Scotch whisky. The Designed by Aston Martin series is kicking off with limited edition packaging for Bowmore’s 10-, 15-, and 18-year old whiskies. The Bowmore 10-year-old is paired with Aston Martin’s LM10, the 15-year-old is inspired by the Aston Martin Atom, and the 18-year-old by the DB MKIII. The whiskies are rolling out now in global travel retail for around $59, $80, and $121, in order of age.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

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.