GSN Spirited News: March 15th 2022 Edition

Louisville, Kentucky’s Barrell Craft Spirits has released Batch 32, the latest from the luxury-focused whiskey blender. The thirty-second batch is blended from Tennessee-, Kentucky-, and Indiana-distilled Bourbon with the selected barrels at 5-, 6-, 7-, and 10-years old. The 57.67% abv Bourbon is bottled at cask strength and retails for around $90 a bottle.

Frankfort, Kentucky-based Castle & Key Distillery has launched Rise 2022 Seasonal Gin, the third spring release from the distillery since its restoration in 2014. The 51.5% abv spirit is made from 63% rye, 20% malted barley, and 17% yellow corn with rose petals steeped in the base before distillation. Rise’s botanicals also include juniper, tarragon, lemon peel, green peppercorn, almond, green cardamon, and licorice. Rise will be available in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, Indiana, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin for a suggested price of $36.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Michter’s has released a new batch of US*1 Barrel Strength Rye. This edition, overseen by master distiller Dan McKee and master of maturation Andrea Wilson comes in at an average abv of 55.8%, with variations depending on the individual barrel. The single barrel bottling is now available in limited quantities across the U.S. for a suggested price of $100 a bottle.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., purveyor of rare, luxury-priced Irish whiskies, has announced Taoscán, the company’s latest limited edition offering. The single malt was first matured in a combination of Bourbon casks and Oloroso Sherry casks, before being split into new French chestnut and Tawny Port casks to finish for two years. The whiskey is bottled at 48.53% and 700-ml. bottles will be available in select U.S. retailers for a suggested price of $1,600 a bottle.

Canada’s Alberta Distillers, part of Beam Suntory, has launched Alberta Premium in the U.S. for the first time. The 40% abv whisky is made from 100% rye grown by local Calgary farmers and the bottled product is blended from whiskies aged at least five years. Alberta Premium is rolling out now across the U.S. for a suggested price of $25 a 750-ml. This is the first widely available release for the brand in the U.S. and follows the late 2020 limited release of Alberta Premium Cask-Strength.

Captain Morgan Rum is extending with Captain Morgan Cherry Vanilla. The new expression is a limited-time release that’s at 30% abv. To support its launch, the brand has partnered with former Bachelor contestant Joe Amabile, who created several cocktail recipes using Captain Morgan Cherry Vanilla. It’s available on shelves now across the U.S. and Canada for a suggested $16 a 750-ml. 

New York’s Proof & Wood Ventures has announced Seasons 2021, a new limited-edition blend of American whiskies. The 52.5% abv whiskey is a blend of Tennessee Bourbon distilled in 2003, Indiana light whiskey distilled in 2007, Indiana Bourbon distilled in 2015, and Kentucky whiskey distilled from 99% corn in 2013. Roughly 1,000 bottles will be available across the U.S. for a suggested price of $200 a bottle.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: November 2nd 2021 Edition

Templeton Distillery, part of the Infinium Spirits portfolio, is launching the third expression in its Cask Finish Series. The latest whiskey is Templeton Rye Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish, made from American straight rye whiskey aged a minimum of six years in charred oak barrels. It was then rested an additional nine months in Sherry casks sourced from the Marco de Jerez region of Spain that aged Sherry anywhere from eight to 20 years. It’s at 46% abv and is available in limited quantities in the U.S. for $50-$55 a 750-ml. Previous entries in the series include Maple and Caribbean Rum Cask Finish. 

Louisville, Kentucky’s Michter’s has announced the 2021 edition of the brand’s 20 Year Old Bourbon. The whiskey comes in at 57.1% abv with the barrels chosen by master distiller Dan McKee and master of maturation Andrea Wilson. Michter’s 20 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon will begin to roll out in limited quantities across the U.S. in November, carrying a suggested retail price of $750 a 750-ml. This is the first release of 20-year-old Bourbon from Michter’s since 2019.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Angel’s Envy has announced the 2021 edition of the distillery’s cask strength Bourbon, the tenth annual release from the company. This year’s edition comes in at 60.35% abv and comes in a commemorative wooden box. Only 14,760 bottles will be released this year, available in select retailers—including the Angel’s Envy distillery store—across the U.S. Angel’s Envy 2021 Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels will begin to roll out on December 1, with a $230 suggested retail price.

Campari America has officially entered the Cognac category, introducing the Bisquit & Dubouché brand. Bisquit & Dubouché offers a flagship VSOP ($59 a 750ml.) and high-end XO ($180). Both offerings will initially launch in select states, focusing on California, Texas, and Florida, in accounts where the premium plus and super-premium business is concentrated, with plans for further expansion in 2022.

Procera, a new ultra-premium gin from Nairobi, Kenya, has launched in the U.S. The 44% abv gin is made with a blend of African botanicals, notably its namesake variety of juniper, indigenous to Kenya. Procera is also made with pink peppercorn, orris root, coriander, Swahili lime, Pixie orange, and green tea, among other botanicals. The gin is packaged in hand-blown bottles made by local glassblowers. Handled by New York-based Innovation X Marketing, Procera is now available in New York and online for a suggested retail price of $85 a 750-ml.

Johnnie Walker has unveiled High Rye Blended Scotch Whisky, which features a unique mash bill of 60% rye aged in American oak barrels, along with some of the notable single malts that make up the traditional Johnnie Walker blend, including Cardhu, Caol Ila, and Glenkinchie. The 45% abv expression is now available across the U.S., retailing at $35 a 750-ml. 

Pernod Ricard’s Smooth Ambler has kicked off a new collection of whiskies, the Founder’s Series, with a cask strength rye. The new whiskey is made from a mash of 88% rye and 12% malted barley and is distilled at Smooth Ambler’s West Virginia distillery. The Founder’s Series cask strength rye is a limited release and only six batches of less than 400 cases will be produced each year. The whiskey will begin rolling out in November in select stores in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, North and South Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas with a suggested price of $55 a 750-ml.

Distinguished Vineyards & Wine Partners is launching the Fuji whisky brand in the U.S. Fuji Single Grain Whiskey ($95) is now available at select establishments nationwide, with its flagship label ($60) slated to arrive in November. Both expressions will be available nationwide on and off premise. Named after one of Japan’s most iconic landmarks, Mt. Fuji Distillery is situated just miles from the peak of Mt. Fuji. 

Islay Scotch whisky distiller Bunnahabhain has announced Cask Strength 12 Year Old, a new annual release. The 2021 edition of the whisky is bottled at 55.1% abv and was matured in ex-Sherry casks. The whisky will be available beginning November 18 and carries a suggested retail price of $100. 

French malt whisky producer Alfred Giraud has launched Voyage, the first whisky in the Exploratory Series, a new line of whiskies for the U.S. Voyage is bottled at 48% abv and made from two French single malts matured in new French Robinia casks and Sauternes wine casks before finishing in ex-Cognac casks. Only five casks were selected for the initial release, with the whisky available at select retailers in Florida, New York, and California at a suggested price of $180 a 750-ml. In addition, Voyage will be available through the brand’s website and on ReserveBar.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: June 29th 2021 Edition

Campari’s Aperol liqueur has partnered with Cocktail Courier to sell a limited-edition Aperol Spritz kit for consumers to make the drink at home. Cocktail Courier, based in Chicago, sells a variety of brand name cocktail kits for delivery to consumers’ homes. The Aperol Spritz kit includes the liqueur, Cinzano Prosecco, soda water, oranges, and two glasses. It is available for purchase to residents of select cities from Cocktail Courier’s website, where it retails for $60.

Louisville, Kentucky’s Rabbit Hole has launched its single barrel program with ten barrels of Heigold rye sold to accounts in Kentucky. Rabbit Hole’s single barrel releases will be bottled at cask strength and will feature unique artwork. To celebrate the launch of the program, the distillery sold 144 bottles at $106 a 750-ml. with all proceeds going to Covid relief grants to local businesses, administered through local charity Fund for the Arts. The wider release for the single barrel program—including releases of all four of Rabbit Hole’s core whiskies—begins in July.

Gin Lane 1751 has announced Cucumber Watermelon Mint, the newest seasonal expression from the London Dry gin house. The spirit is bottled at 40% abv and made with natural flavor essences and without any added sugar. M.S. Walker, Gin Lane’s distributor, will roll out the new expression across the U.S. in July for a suggested price of $38 a 750-ml. Cucumber Watermelon Mint joins the original London Dry, Victoria Pink Gin, Old Tom Gin, and Royal Strength Gin in Gin Lane’s portfolio.

The House of Rémy Martin is releasing a new limited-edition decanter for Rémy Martin XO. Featuring 18-karat gold leaf on the bottle, it was created in partnership with Parisian gilding studio Atelier Thiery. It is intended to highlight the parallels between Cognac and gold and the expertise that goes into working with both. The limited-edition Rémy Martin XO x Atelier Thiery bottle is available on Reserve Bar for $229.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Michter’s has announced the 2021 iteration of the brand’s 10-year-old single barrel rye whiskey. Due to supply constraints, this will be the only release of Michter’s 10 Year Rye for 2021, according to master of maturation Andrea Wilson. This year’s edition of Michter’s 10 Year Rye is rolling out now in limited quantities for a suggested price of $170 a 750-ml. In addition to releasing the 10-year-old rye, Michter’s has announced that it has expanded its Springfield farm from 145 to 205 acres, allowing the company to grow more grain for its future whiskies.

Sazerac Co. has teamed with Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) to extend two flavored whiskies—Fireball and Southern Comfort—with malt-based variants to propel them into thousands of new retail accounts. The malt-based offerings began appearing this spring in New York beer stores, convenience stores, delis, bodegas, and gas station minimarts, priced at around $1 a 1.7-ounce bottle and $8 a 12-ounce container.

Chopin Vodka has launched Botanika Angelica, a new line of liqueurs made from the company’s namesake vodka, blended with botanicals and fruit. Botanika Angelica makes its debut with five expressions—Amaro (40% abv, $40 a 750-ml.), Bitters (30% abv, $30), Orange (40% abv, $35), Lemon (35% abv, $30), and Elderflower (25% abv, $35). Before blending, the spirit, fruits, herbs, and spices are macerated for two to seven months in clay pots. Additionally, all but the lemon and orange liqueurs are matured in Polish oak before bottling. Botanika Angelic is now available across the U.S.

Information courtesy of Shanken News Daily

GSN Spirited News: March 2nd 2021 Edition

Grey Goose has unveiled Essences, a new range of vodkas infused with real fruit and cold-distilled botanicals. The lineup will initially include Strawberry & Lemongrass, White Peach & Rosemary, and Watermelon & Basil expressions. The new range is at 30% abv and has no gluten, artificial ingredients, sugar or carbs. It’s aimed at the fast-growing at-home cocktail segment. Grey Goose Essences are rolling out nationwide, retailing at $30 a 750-ml.

Louisville, Kentucky-based Michter’s will release another edition of its Barrel Strength Rye in March, the first barrel proof rye released since April 2019. The 2021 release comes in at an average abv of 55.15% and will retail at around $100 a 750-ml. This limited release will sit alongside Michter’s core US*1 portfolio and the company’s higher-end age-stated releases, all of which are currently allocated to help manage supply.

Crested Butte, Colorado-based Montanya Distillers has partnered with Louisiana-based Three Roll Estate to help meet rising demand. Under the partnership, Montanya will bottle a 50/50 blend of the Three Roll rum with Montanya Oro and Platino for a short period of time until Montanya replenishes its inventory after its distillery expansion. To introduce Colorado whiskey finishing notes, the blends will first age in Laws Whiskey House barrels. The new blends and bottles should start to hit stores in March.

Fort Collins, Colorado’s Old Elk has launched its first limited release of 2021: Sour Mash Reserve. The whiskey is distilled from a mash of 51% corn, 34% malted barley, and 15% rye and was distilled in New York. The first batch consists of 5,040 bottles that will be distributed in select markets by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. It will retail for a suggested price of $90 a 750-ml.

Welsh whisky maker Penderyn Distillery has announced two new single cask whiskies exclusive to the U.S. market, set to hit shelves on March 1, just in time for St. David’s Day, the national day of Wales. First up is Penderyn 15 Year Old Bourbon Matured Single Cask, a 59% abv whisky that matured in an ex-Buffalo Trace barrels. A very limited supply will be available for around $170 a 750-ml. The other new whisky is Penderyn 13 Year Old Rich Oak Single Cask, a 58.1% abv whisky matured in Buffalo Trace barrels before finishing in a European oak cask that was shaved, toasted, and re-charred. This whisky will retail for $150 and is also rolling out in very limited amounts. The whiskies are available in select states across the U.S.

Bumbu Rum Company is introducing Bumbu Créme, a new line extension joining its existing Bumbu Original and Bumbu XO expressions. Retailing at $35 a 750-ml., Bumbu Créme is a 15% abv blend of rum, spices, and real dairy cream and is recommended to be served chilled straight, on the rocks, or in cocktails.

Barrell Craft Spirits has launched Batch 028, the company’s latest Bourbon whiskey. The new release is a blend of 10- and 11-year-old whiskies distilled and matured in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana before blending and bottling at cask strength by Barrell. Batch 028 comes in at 54.43% abv and will retail for a suggested price of $90 a 750-ml. Barrell’s whiskies are currently available in 46 states across the U.S.

Mezcal El Silencio is entering the Tequila category with the introduction of a Cristalino expression called Dahlia. Retailing at $40, Dahlia is a 100%-blue agave Reposado Tequila, which is filtered through activated charcoal. Constellation acquired a minority interest in El Silencio for an undisclosed sum in 2019. The brand is known for its core Ensamble and Espadin mezcals.

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: Backbar Review – October 21-25, 2013

Diageo North America is extending Johnnie Walker with a new upscale offering, Gold Label Reserve. A limited edition whisky based on the Clynelish single malt, Gold Label Reserve will retail at $87 a 750-ml.—positioned between Johnnie Walker Double Black at $42 and the recently unveiled Johnnie Walker Platinum at $110. Packaged in a reflective gold bottle, Gold Label Reserve is billed as a whisky to be served over ice or in a tall drink with soda water and fruits like grapefruit or lemon. “Gold Label Reserve provides a unique flavor for high-energy celebrations that may not have been traditionally seen as Scotch whisky occasions,” said Brian Radics, Diageo’s director of Scotch whisky, in a statement announcing the launch.

Mountain Laurel Spirits has expanded its Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey range with a new Port Finish expression. A small-batch, limited edition offering, Dad’s Hat Port Finish Rye Whiskey is aged a minimum of six months in oak casks, then matured for an additional three months in American Port wine barrels. The 94-proof entry is currently available in select markets—including California, New Jersey and Massachusetts, as well as in Pennsylvania on special order—priced at around $47 a 750-ml. Port Finish Rye Whiskey joins Vermouth Finish Rye, Pennsylvania White Rye and the core Pennsylvania Rye expression in the Dad’s Hat portfolio.

Illinois-based A. Hardy USA is introducing a new upscale Tequila brand, Tequila 1519. The 100%-agave label includes Blanco ($44.99 a 750-ml.), Reposado ($53.99) and Añejo expressions ($59.99), and is named for the year in which Andalusian steed horses—which became the seed stock for the Mexico’s symbolic Azteca Stallions—were first introduced to the country. The 1519 brand is produced in Jalisco by Agave Conquista.

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After a two-year absence, Michter’s Distillery LLC is returning its US*1 Unblended American Whiskey to the market. First shipments are scheduled to hit distributor warehouses within a week, with a suggested retail price of $45 a 750-ml. bottle. The product follows the release earlier this year of US*1 Sour Mash whiskey ($45) from Michter’s. The Unblended American carries no age statement. Its US*1 designation refers to the company’s reputed status as the first American distillery, dating to 1752 in Pennsylvania.

The Cooper Spirits Co. has debuted Lock Stock & Barrel—a new, limited edition straight rye whiskey—in the U.S. Made with 100% rye, Lock Stock & Barrel is double distilled in copper pot stills and then aged for 13 years in American oak. The 101.3-proof whiskey, which is produced by Canada’s Alberta Distilleries Ltd., is priced at $115-$119 a 750-ml. Headquartered in New York and Philadelphia, Cooper Spirits is best known for launching the St-Germain liqueur brand.

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Jim Beam’s latest offering, its “Signature Craft” series, marks an attempt to connect with whiskey aficionados.  The first products in the line are Jim Beam Signature Craft 12-Year Bourbon and Jim Beam Signature Craft Rare Spanish Brandy, both 43%-abv and priced at $40 a 750-ml., more than double the average retail price of Jim Beam’s core White Label. The 12-Year Bourbon is a permanent addition to the Jim Beam family, while Rare Spanish Brandy is an “extra-aged” offering that will be replaced by a new limited Signature Craft edition next year.

Brown-Forman’s Tequila Herradura has introduced the latest entry in its small-batch Coleccion de la Casa range, Reserva 2013 Cognac Cask Finish Reposado. The limited edition offering is initially aged in American oak for 11 months, then transferred to French oak casks from the Cognac region for an additional three months. Rolling out next month, Coleccion de la Casa, Reserva 2013 Cognac Cask Finish Reposado will be available at select retail outlets, priced at $89.99 a 750-ml. The entry follows the April launch of Herradura’s first Coleccion de la Casa expression, Reserva 2012 Port Cask Finish.

All information courtesy of Shanken News Daily