GSN Spirited News: September 21st 2021 Edition

William Grant & Sons’ Hudson Whiskey has launched Four Part Harmony, the distillery’s oldest release so far. The 7-year-old whiskey is made from 60% corn, 15% rye, 15% wheat, and 10% malted barley, and is bottled at 46% abv. The new whiskey is a limited edition offering and retails for $70 a bottle.

Hangar 1, part of the Proximo Spirits portfolio, has partnered with Crimson Wine Group to introduce Smoke Point, a limited edition vodka made from smoke-tinged grapes from California wildfires. Retailing at $50 a 750-ml., Smoke Point will be distributed nationally. The spirit was distilled from Napa Valley Malbec and Merlot grapes affected by the smoke and heat from the devastating 2020 Glass Fire that swept through Napa and Sonoma last year. All proceeds will be donated to the California Fire Foundation to raise awareness of the growing California fire season.

Diageo has released the latest batch of Blade and Bow 22-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey, with this iteration celebrating the 86th anniversary of the Stitzel-Weller distillery. The 46% abv Bourbon will be available in limited quantities in 19 markets across the U.S. as well as at the brand’s Garden and Gun Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The newly opened club will feature a unique tasting experience tied to the 22-year-old whiskey.

Infinium Spirits’ Corralejo Tequila has added a new Extra Añejo expression as the latest addition to the brand’s core portfolio. The 40% abv Tequila is distilled from 100% blue agave and matures for 36 months in charred American oak barrels before bottling. The new release is set to hit shelves in select retailers by the end of September and will carry an $80 suggested retail price. This is the third Extra Añejo Tequila in Corralejo’s portfolio, alongside the $130 Corralejo 1821 release and a $250 limited edition Extra Añejo that matured in Templeton rye barrels.

Bardstown, Kentucky-based Kentucky Owl is partnering with Bardstown Bourbon Company on a new release. Called The Wiseman Bourbon, it’s a straight Bourbon blended from Kentucky Owl 4-year-old wheat and high-rye Bourbons along with other 5- and 8-year-old liquid. The Wiseman is the first release for Kentucky Owl under new master blender John Rhea, who was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2016 and joined the distillery in June of this year. At 45.4% abv, The Wiseman will be available soon at select retailers across Kentucky Owl’s national footprint, priced at $60 a 750-ml.

Baileys is reintroducing its Apple Pie flavor this fall, partnering with four bakeries across the country to create apple pie-inspired desserts infused with the flavor of Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur. They include The Pie Hole in Los Angeles, Four & Twenty Blackbirds in Brooklyn, Georgetown Cupcake in Washington, D.C., and Justice of the Pies in Chicago. Baileys Apple Pie is rolling out nationally, retailing at $25 a 750-ml.

Codigo 1530 Tequila is debuting a George Strait Special Edition Rosa-Reposado expression, retailing at $75-$80. The newcomer is made by aging Codigo’s Tequila Rosa in uncharred French oak wine barrels for three months, then finishing it in Spanish Sherry casks.The bottles feature a custom print with country music star and partner George Strait’s silhouette, guitar, and signature. Codigo 1530 is present in all 50 states.

Miami, Florida-based Tropical Distillers is launching a new addition to its J.F. Haden’s line of liqueurs. The second spirit the brand brings to market is J.F. Haden’s Citrus Liqueur, made with oranges, limes, and lemons grown in Florida at the company’s Miami distillery, without preservatives, artificial colors, or flavors. It’s at 20% abv and joins Mango Liqueur in the J.F. Haden’s lineup, with RNDC providing distribution in Florida and Georgia to start, with expansion to other states including New York and Nevada to follow.

Kentucky Peerless Distilling has announced Double Oak Bourbon, the latest release from the Louisville-based craft distiller. Like the name suggests, the whiskey is matured in two separate barrels, transferring from its initial barrel to a new charred oak barrel midway through its aging. Initially, Peerless’ Double Oak Bourbon was bottled periodically as a single barrel whiskey available at the distillery, but the producer is now expanding the offering to select retailers in Kentucky, California, Illinois, Florida, and New York.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: August 17th 2021 Edition

Heaven Hill has introduced the 2021 limited edition release of Parker’s Heritage Collection 11-Year-Old Heavy Char Wheat Whiskey. The 15th edition in the series, it will ship nationally beginning in September at an SRP of $140. The heavy char allowed Heaven Hill’s traditional Wheat Whiskey mashbill of 51% wheat, 37% corn, and 12% malted barley to interact more with the oak. Bottled at 122 proof and non-chill filtered, the whiskey showcases the broad range of Heaven Hill Distillery’s 1.9 million barrels of aging inventory, according to the company, which will contribute a portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold to the ALS Association.

Beam Suntory has announced the fifth release in the Little Book series of limited edition whiskies. The new edition is called “The Invitation” and blended from 2-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 3-year-old malted rye whiskey, 5-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and 15-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Little Book Chapter 5 is bottled at 58.4% abv and is rolling out now in limited quantities across the U.S. with a suggested price of $125 a 750-ml.

Fort Worth, Texas-based Oak & Eden has released Rye & Rumba, the distillery’s summer-seasonal whiskey. The 45% abv whiskey takes Oak & Eden’s original rye and finishes it in the bottle with a rum soaked oak stave. Rye & Rumba was originally released in 2019 and fan demand caused the distillery to bring it back as a limited time offering. The whiskey is now available on Oak & Eden’s website for $60 a 750-ml. and throughout the company’s 22-state distribution footprint.

Palm Bay International is launching Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Sardinian Citrus, a new extension to the Drumshanbo brand. Retailing at $37 a 750-ml., the newcomer is made with rare fruit Citrus monstruosa, or “Sa pompia,” as it is known in Sardinia, where it grows only in the Sinsicola region of the island. The new gin is intended to be served over ice with premium tonic and a generous amount of fresh red grapefruit, or in a long summer cocktail. It will debut nationally in September/October. 

Corralejo Tequila, part of the Infinium Spirits portfolio, is launching a limited edition Extra Añejo Tequila in conjunction with the brand’s 25th anniversary. Aged five years in whiskey barrels from fellow Infinium brand Templeton Rye, the 40% abv Extra Añejo is debuting in a supply of 1,600 bottles retailing at $350 each. Corralejo Tequila is produced at Hacienda Corralejo in Guanajuato, Mexico. The brand’s core range includes Corralejo Silver ($30), Corralejo Reposado ($34), Corralejo Añejo ($40), and Corralejo 1821 Extra Añejo ($130).

Belize’s Copal Tree Distillery has launched Copalli Cacao in the U.S. The spirit begins as Copalli’s white rum, which is then rested on locally grown cacao nibs before the infusion is distilled and proofed down to 40% abv for bottling. Copalli Cacao is now available in the U.S. for a suggested price of $31 a 750-ml. It joins Copalli White Rum and Barrel Rested Rum in the brand’s portfolio.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: May 12th 2020 Edition

Waco, Texas-based Balcones Distilling has announced Texas Bock Whiskey, a new malt whiskey made in collaboration with Spoetzl Brewery. The 50% abv straight malt whiskey is made using Shiner Bock’s recipe and proprietary lager yeast before aging in new oak barrels for at least two years. Balcones Texas Bock is available for a limited time at the company’s distillery and in retailers throughout Texas and Oklahoma for around $40 a 750-ml.

Denver, Colorado’s Laws Whiskey House has released this year’s edition of its Bottled-in-Bond Four Grain Bourbon. This year’s whiskey is a 6-year-old spirit made from corn (60%), wheat (20%), rye (10%), and malted barley (10%), all sourced from Colorado farms. The whiskey is now available across the U.S. in limited quantities for a suggested retail price of $75 a 750-ml. About 500 9-liter cases have been produced.

Grain and Barrel Spirits has launched Chicken Cock Ryeteous Blend, a new whiskey made in collaboration with Goodwood Brewing. The 45% abv whiskey is distilled from a mash of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. Following its initial maturation, Ryeteous Blend is finished in ex-Chicken Cock Bourbon barrels that were used to mature Goodwood’s Blonde Ale. The new bottling is now available in limited quantities in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia for $90 a 750-ml.

Seagram’s vodka, part of the Infinium Spirits portfolio, has revamped its Sweet Tea flavor, transitioning to a liquid that’s lighter in color, made using all-natural ingredients, and with 20% less sugar. The new recipe is rolling out this month and will replace existing Seagram’s Sweet Tea inventory as it’s depleted.

Courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: May 5th 2020 Edition

Louisville, Kentucky-based Michter’s has announced the 2020 release of its annual 10-year-old Bourbon. The whiskey will be available in limited quantities beginning in May for a suggested price of $130 a 750-ml. The highly allocated whiskey joins Michter’s Bourbon, Rye, Sour Mash, and American whiskey, plus limited releases, in the brand’s portfolio.

Chicago-based Ritual, the company behind a range of zero-alcohol gin and whiskey alternatives, has entered a new category with alcohol-free Tequila. The spirits alternative is designed with Margaritas in mind and blends botanicals to create a drink that brings smoke, agave, peppers, lime, and guava flavors. Ritual’s spirits alternatives are available via Amazon and Ritual’s website for $25 a bottle.

DeKuyper Cordials and Liqueurs is launching DeKuyper Classic Ol’ Fashion. The 30 proof liqueur is intended to streamline the process of mixing an Old Fashioned into two steps by containing a range of flavors including citrus, bitterness, and bakery spices—the only additional ingredient required to complete the flavor profile is Bourbon. Available now nationwide for a suggested retail price of $13 a 750-ml., it’s also available online through Drizly and Reserve Bar.

Grace O’Malley Blended Irish Whiskey has launched in the U.S. The 40% abv label contains a blend of 46% malt and 54% grain whiskies, all sourced from Great Northern Distillery in County Louth, Ireland. Grace O’Malley was elaborated by master blender Paul Caris, who blended whiskies aged from three to 10 years and matured the final blend in a range of barrels including ex-Bourbon, ex-rum, and French oak. The brand, named for the 16th century Irish pirate and family matriarch, is handled by MHW in the U.S. market.

375 Park Avenue Spirits will add Glen Moray Scotch whisky to its import portfolio, effective June 1. The move will bring all four of Glen Moray’s collections—Elgin Classic, Elgin Heritage, Elgin Reserve, and Elgin Prestige—under 375 Park’s purview, joining Cutty Sark, which is owned by Glen Moray parent company La Martiniquaise-Bardinet.

Luxardo, part of the Hotaling & Co. portfolio, is extending its range with a London Dry Gin. A 43% abv blend of nine botanicals, the juniper-forward gin retails at $35 and will be rolling out nationwide this summer. Based in Torreglia, located in the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, Luxardo is known for its Maraschino liqueur, among other offerings.

Baltimore, Maryland-based Sagamore Spirit and Chico, California’s Sierra Nevada have teamed up to create Sagamore Spirit Brewer’s Select Rye Ale Barrel Finish. The new whiskey is a blend of 4- and 6-year-old rye whiskies finished in barrels used to mature Sierra Nevada Red Ale. The 45% abv whiskey is the second part in the companies’ collaboration, following Sierra Nevada’s barrel-aged red ale—made using Sagamore Spirit barrels—launched last year. The whiskey is rolling out now across the U.S. for a suggested price of $70 for a 750-ml.

San Francisco, California-based Hotaling & Co. has reintroduced Hirsch Bourbon, unveiling the first in what the company promises will be a series of new whiskies. The 46% abv Bourbon, named The Horizon, is blended from two whiskies distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana; 94% of the blend is a 5-year-old corn-heavy whiskey and the remainder is a high-rye Bourbon aged for 6 years. Hirsch The Horizon will be available this summer in California, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Tennessee, New York, Kentucky, and Georgia for a suggested price of $40 a 750-ml.

Infinium Spirits-owned Templeton Rye has announced the 2020 release of the brand’s cask strength whiskey. This year’s rye comes in at 56.55% abv and is made from MGP’s 95% rye, 5% malted barley mash bill. Templeton Rye Barrel Strength Straight whiskey is now available across the U.S. in limited quantities at $60 a 750-ml.

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