John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend

Portland, Oregon’s Freeland Spirits has launched Freeland Dry Gin, a new Navy Strength spirit. The 57% abv offering is juniper forward, and according to the company also has notes of mulling spices, green olives, citrus, and pine forest. To celebrate the launch, Freeland is selling $60 Martini kits from its tasting room and will host a virtual happy hour on Instagram at 5pm Pacific time on July 30. Freeland Dry Gin is rolling out now for around $35 in Oregon, Washington, California, Illinois, Florida, and New York.

Clase Azul Tequila is introducing a new high-end Gold expression. The new offering, limited to 6,000 bottles retailing at $300 each, is a blend of Clase Azul Plata and an eight-year-old extra añejo that was first aged in Bourbon barrels and then finished in Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks. It comes in a decanter that’s a combination of glass with high heat ceramic featuring a 24k gold trimming. The Clase Azul portfolio includes also includes Plata, Reposado, Añejo, Ultra Añejo, Mezcal, and La Pinta Pomegranate Liqueur made with Tequila.

Memphis, Tennessee’s B.R. Distilling Company has added a new expression to its Blue Note Bourbon line: Juke Joint. The 46.5% abv whiskey is a non-age-statement expression and joins the company’s 9-year-old Blue Note Premium Small Batch Bourbon (bottled at 46.5% and distilled in Tennessee). Juke Joint is sourced from Kentucky and bottled by B.R. Distilling after at least three years. It’s now available in Tennessee for $30 a 750-ml. with wider distribution to follow.

Lansdale, Pennsylvania-based Boardroom Spirits has launched several new products. A new rum brand called Ship’s Cat is available in two varieties, White Rum (40% abv, $22 a 750-ml.) and Navy Strength (64% abv, $28). Boardroom American Dry Gin (44% abv, $27) and cinnamon honey whiskey Fire Bear (35% abv, $27) have also joined the lineup. Like many other distillers, Boardroom has expanded its online sales capabilities with delivery and curbside pickup options as well and has begun selling prepared cocktails such as Passion Fruit Rum and Elderberry Cucumber Cooler (both $38 a 750-ml.). The distillery runs on 100% renewable energy.

Puerto Rico’s Destilería Serrallés has expanded its Don Q family of rums with Reserva 7 Años. The 7-year-old spirit is bottled at 40% abv and blended from both column and pot still distilled rums aged in American oak. The release is packaged in Don Q’s new bottle design—created by U.K.-based Stranger and Stranger—that features an updated logo for the brand. Don Q Reserva 7 Años will be available in select retailers across the U.S. beginning in August, for a suggested price of $25 a 750-ml.

F!ve Cocktails, a line of canned cocktails with spirits plus four or fewer ingredients, is now available nationwide. The company was founded by CEO Felipe Szpigel and CFO Roberto Schuback, both former AB InBev executives from the brewing giant’s craft beer division and ZX Ventures, respectively. The line includes Moscow Mule (9% abv), Margarita (10% abv), Mojito (9% abv), Gin and Tonic (11% abv), Watermelon Vodka Soda (5.9% abv), and Paloma (9% abv). All are now available across the U.S. in 4-packs for around $10.

Johnnie Walker is introducing four new offerings coinciding with the brand’s 200th anniversary.The first is Johnnie Walker Blue Label 200th Anniversary Limited Edition Design, which features special packaging illustrating some of the key scenes in the brand’s history. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Legendary Eight is a new blend of whiskies from eight legendary distilleries that all existed in 1820, including some whiskies from long-closed “ghost” distilleries. John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend is billed as a complex Scotch inspired by the flavors found in the Walker family’s grocery store during the 1860s, and a blend of whiskies from distilleries operating at that time. Finally, John Walker & Sons Bicentennial Blend includes whiskies from ghost distilleries such as Pittyvaich, Cambus, and the soon to be re-opened Port Ellen, all aged at least 28 years. The new expressions will launch in October.