Durham Distillery

Durham, North Carolina-based Durham Distillery has released Conniption Barrel Aged Gin Series No. 1 2020 Release. The new expression is a limited-edition launch that’s aged in High West Bourbon barrels for 10 months and bottled at 47% abv. Conniption Barrel Aged Gin Series No. 1 joins Navy Strength and American Dry gins—both of which feature Italian coriander, cardamom, and juniper, among other botanicals—in the label’s lineup.

Heaven Hill Brands is extending Black Velvet Canadian whisky with an Apple flavor. The 70-proof offering is rolling out in limited markets this month, retailing at $11 a 750-ml. Black Velvet Canadian Apple joins Toasted Caramel in Black Velvet’s flavored whisky lineup. Heaven Hill acquired Black Velvet from Constellation for $266 million in 2019.

Prairie Organic, part of the Phillips Distilling portfolio, is introducing Prairie Organic Cucumber, Mint & Lime Flavored Gin. Made with organic corn and natural flavors, the newcomer is bottled at 45% abv and is rolling out nationally, retailing at $35 a 750-ml. The new flavored gin follows Prairie’s launch of three botanical vodkas last year, including Grapefruit, Hibiscus & Chamomile; Watermelon, Cucumber & Lime; and Apple, Pear & Ginger expressions.

West Cork Distillers is introducing a limited release Stout Cask finished blended Irish whiskey into the U.S. market. The bottling is a 75/25 blend of grain and malt Irish whiskey aged in first fill Bourbon casks for four years. The malt and grain components are then blended and aged for an additional 6 months in casks that had held Ireland’s Blacks of Kinsale Stout. West Cork’s new Stout Cask finished whiskey retails at $32 a 750-ml. and is imported by M.S. Walker.

Don Papa Rum is releasing a new expression finished in Sherry casks. Launching in April, Don Papa Sherry Cask Finish is aged four years in American oak Bourbon casks; split and finished in Fino, Pedro Ximenez, Palo Cortado, and Cream Sherry casks; and then blended and bottled at 45% abv. The resulting product, produced in the Philippines and imported by Zamora Co. USA, will be available in select retailers, priced at $70 a 750-ml.

Brown-Forman’s the Benriach has launched a new series of luxury-priced Scotch whiskies. First up is the Benriach 21-year-old, a 46% abv whisky matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon, Sherry, new oak, and red wine casks that retails for $200. The company has also launched a 25-year-old whisky aged in Bourbon, Sherry, new oak, and Madeira casks ($360); and a 30-year-old whisky that retails for $740 and matured in Bourbon, Sherry, new oak, and Port casks. The new whiskies are rolling out now in limited quantities.

Casa Komos Beverage Group has announced Tequila Komos Reposado Rosa, the latest agave spirit in the brand’s portfolio. The Tequila is aged in once-used red wine barrels that impart a rosé color to the spirit, which is packaged in porcelain bottles. Reposado Rosa will launch in May.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

Warren, Vermont’s Mad River Distillers has teamed up with Napa, California’s Silver Oak Cellars on a new barrel finished rye whiskey. The 48% abv whiskey is distilled from 100% chocolate rye and following its initial maturation undergoes a second aging period in toasted oak barrels previously used to mature Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. Only five barrels of the Cabernet-finished rye were produced. The bottling is available at Post Road Liquors in Wayland, Massachusetts and Upper Falls Beverage in Needham, Massachusetts. In addition, the rye will be available from the distillery at its Burlington and Waitsfield, Vermont-based tasting rooms.

Backbone Bourbon Company has added two new whiskies to its portfolio. The first, Backbone Uncut Decade Down, is a new 10th anniversary edition of the company’s barrel strength whisky that comes in at roughly 57% abv (depending on the batch). The company is also launching a 15-year-old extension of its Old Bones Bourbon. The new Old Bones release is five years older than the original and was distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky before bottling at 54% abv. The new Old Bones is available now in limited quantities (214 6-packs), retailing at $130. Roughly 250 cases of Backbone Uncut Decade Down will be available in the company’s 20-state distribution footprint beginning in December.

Ardbeg single malt Scotch is extending its core range at the high end with a 25-year-old expression. Bottled at 46% abv, the newcomer is presented in a gun metal bottle encased in an intricate metal cage. It will roll out globally in January, retailing at $850 a bottle.

North Carolina’s Durham Distillery is launching Conniption Barrel Aged Gin No. 1, the first in a series of annual releases. The new offering is inspired by the botanical blend in Durham Distillery’s Conniption Navy Strength gin, complemented by 10 months spent aging in Bourbon barrels sourced from High West Distillery. (High West owner Constellation Brands has a minority stake in Durham.) Conniption Barrel Aged Gin No. 1 is currently available exclusively in North Carolina but will roll out nationally on February 1.

Jose Cuervo is extending its high-end Reserva de la Familia range with Platino and Reposado offerings. Made at the La Rojena distillery, Platino ($65) is making its return to the U.S. market after a period of absence, while the Reposado ($85)—aged in heavily toasted American oak as well as lightly toasted American and French oak—is entirely new. The new entries join the existing Extra Anejo ($189) in the Reserva de la Familia portfolio, which is celebrating its 25th year on the market.

Bacardi is bringing back its ready-to-drink Coquito, which proved popular last holiday season. Retailing at $20 a 750-ml., the limited edition offering combines Bacardi Superior white rum with toasted spices, coconut cream, vanilla, and cinnamon, and is bottled at 13% abv. It’s rolling out to 44 states—marking an expansion of more than 30 states compared with last year’s launch.

Tequila Ocho is releasing three new Anejo expressions under its Barrel Select series. Barrel Select Tropical is a 45.8% abv Tequila aged in rum casks from Fiji, Trinidad, and Panama. Barrel Select Continental is aged in Cognac casks and was bottled at 43.1% abv, while Barrel Select Transatlantic was aged in both Cognac casks and rum casks from Fiji and Panama. All three were made in collaboration with Maison Ferrand master blender Alexandre Gabriel and retail at $90 a 750-ml.