Egan’s Irish whiskey, part of the Intrepid Spirits portfolio, has added two new whiskies to its range, one a limited release and the other a permanent addition. The limited offering is Legacy Reserve IV, a 1,000-bottle release of an 18-year-old Irish single malt aged in Bourbon barrels and finished in Moscatel de Valencia casks. The 46% abv whiskey carries a $200 suggested price. Egan’s permanent addition is Conviction, a 10-year-old blend of single malts and single grain whiskies, finished in Cognac casks, bottled at 46% abv, and retailing for around $100 a bottle.
Angel’s Envy, part of the Bacardi portfolio, has launched the fourth release in the distillery’s Cellar Collection, a rye whiskey finished in ice cider casks. The whiskey, a 7-year-old rye made from a mash of 95% rye, finished for 364 days in casks from Vermont’s Eden Specialty Ciders before bottling at 53.5% abv. Only 6,000 bottles of Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey Finished in Ice Cider Casks will be released to retailers in NY, CA, FL, TN, IL, TX and KY, with each bottle carrying a suggested retail price of $250.
Beam Suntory’s Courvoisier has named a new chief blender, Thibaut Hontanx, alongside a packaging refresh inspired by 19th century designs. Hontanx, formerly the brand’s master distiller, succeeds the retiring Patrice Pinet. The new packaging for the VS and VSOP expressions features a white label with red, black, and gold branding, and the XO has white and gold branding on a clear label. In addition, artist Yinka Ilori will serve as Courvoisier’s “Ambassador of Joy,” leading a series of global events, called “We Found Joy,” that will kick off in early March in New York City. The brand has also released a new ad, “Welcome to Maison Courvoisier,” on its website and social media channels.
Maison Ferrand has announced Ferrand Renegade Barrel No. 3, the newest eau de vie du vin in the house’s collection of spirits. Barrel No. 3 comes in at 48.2% abv and is double matured in rum casks (and therefore cannot be called Cognac under AOC rules). Ferrand Renegade Barrel No. 3 is rolling out now to select retailers across the U.S. for a suggested price of a $90 a 750-ml.
Lansdale, Pennsylvania-based Boardroom Spirits is expanding its Ship’s Cat Rum lineup with a Spiced Rum, which joins Ship’s Cat Aged Rum (40% abv, $39 a 750-ml.), Navy Strength (64% abv, $27), and White (40% abv, $22). Ship’s Cat Spiced Rum is at 35% abv and priced at $22 a bottle. The brand is named in tribute to Stray Cat Blues, an animal shelter in the Lansdale area that Boardroom donated to when the brand launched. Ship’s Cat products can be purchased online for shipping throughout Pennsylvania.
Diageo-owned whiskey brand I.W. Harper has unveiled Cabernet Cask Reserve, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey aged for four years in new charred American oak barrels, then finished in luxury California Cabernet Sauvignon casks and bottled at Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Retailing at $50 a 750-ml., I.W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve carries an abv of 45% and is rolling out to select U.S. retailers. It joins the brand’s original Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey and a 15 Year Old expression in the lineup.
Rémy Martin has announced a new limited-edition bottle paying tribute to the mixtape music culture of the 1980s. Rémy Martin VSOP Mixtape Volume 2 has a QR code which leads to unique playlists curated by a collective of DJs who drew inspiration from the sounds that came from each of their home cities: DJ Suss One from New York, DJ Meel from Los Angeles, and Jamal Smallz from Chicago. The design is inspired by the colorful graphics of the 80s and 90s, with the bottle housed in a premium gift box.
Dos Primos Tequila, founded by country music star Thomas Rhett and his cousin Jeff Worn, is extending with a Reposado expression. The new entry is made from 100% blue agave sourced from estates in Los Altos and the valley area of Jalisco, Mexico, and aged for at least six months in used Bourbon barrels. Retailing in the ultra-premium segment, Dos Primos Reposado joins the initial Blanco Tequila in the brand range. Dos Primos is distilled at Destiladora González Lux, located just outside Arandas, Mexico. Sales and marketing is handled by Luxco.
Pernod Ricard is rolling out updated packaging for Olmeca Altos Tequila. The new design—which is coming to all of the brand’s expressions—includes updated bottle engravings, like two toasting shots, as well as a new matte dark blue cap and a more transparent bottle with a longer neck. The new two-piece label shows off a circular logo for the brand and a rectangular label with information on the liquid.
Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily
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