US*1 Barrel Strength Rye

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

Louisville, Kentucky-based Michter’s Distillery is bringing back its US*1 Barrel Strength Rye on a limited basis. The Kentucky straight rye is bottled at barrel strength (between 110.2 and 114.8 proof), compared to the 84.8 proof of Michter’s Single Barrel Rye. Michter’s other offerings include small-batch American whiskey, sour mash whiskey, single barrel Bourbon and small-batch Bourbon.

Serrallés USA is launching a limited edition 2005 Don Q Signature Release Single Barrel Rum to the U.S. market. Aged for more than 10 years, the Puerto Rico-sourced offering is the first in a series of Don Q single barrel releases, with a 2007 Single Barrel expression to follow in 2017. Don Q Signature Release Single Barrel 2005 (40% abv) retails at $39.99 a 750-ml., with 3,000 six-bottle cases coming to the U.S.

CIL US Wines & Spirits, a subsidiary of Camus Wines & Spirits, is extending its Glencadam single malt Scotch whisky brand with two new entries, a 25-year-old and Glencadam Origin 1825. Glencadam 25-year-old is 46% abv and retails at $500 a bottle. Glencadam Origin 1825, named for the year of the distillery’s founding in the county of Angus in the Scottish Highlands, was aged in American white-oak Bourbon barrels and finished in Oloroso Sherry butts. Intended to attract new single malt drinkers, Origin 1825 is bottled at 40% abv and retails at $45. All of Glencadam’s other expressions are bottled at 46% abv.

Indiana’s Backbone Bourbon Company is launching a limited-edition 10-year-old Reserve Straight Bourbon whiskey called “Old Bones” ($130). Old Bones is a barrel-strength (110 proof), high-rye Bourbon composed of 55% corn, 40% rye and 5% barley and distilled at MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. 405 six-pack cases were produced. Backbone, which is present in 20 states, also markets Backbone Bourbon Uncut, Backbone Prime, Bone Snapper Rye and Bone Dry Gin.

Speyside single malt The Glenrothes, imported by Anchor Distilling, is launching a new non-age-statement whisky, Peated Cask Reserve. Rolling out nationwide, Glenrothes Peated Cask Reserve is made from a 1992 vintage whisky that spent time in Islay malt casks. The 40% abv malt, part of Glenrothes’ Reserve Collection, which debuted last year, retails at around $55 a bottle.

Hennessy Cognac has unveiled Hennessy 8, a new special edition created to commemorate the recent appointment of Hennessy’s eighth-generation master blender. Hennessy 8 features a blend of eight different eaux-de-vie, including seven hand-selected by departing seventh-generation Hennessy master blender Yann Fillioux and one eau-de-vie chosen by his successor and nephew, Renaud Fillioux de Gironde. The liquid is bottled in a hand-blown Baccarat crystal carafe and packaged in an oak chest alongside four tasting glasses designed by Georg Riedel and Fillioux. Limited to 100 carafe and chest sets, Hennessy 8 retails at $39,000 a set.

Kobrand Corporation is rolling out a new Peach expression under its Alizé Passion liqueur brand. A blend of peach flavors with premium French vodka, the new entry joins a brand portfolio that includes Alizé Red Passion, Gold Passion and Bleu Passion. It’s intended to be served on the rocks or in cocktails. Alizé Peach retails at $19.99 a 750-ml. and $23.99 a 1-liter. Back in 2000, Alizé’s volume was at more than 500,000 cases in the U.S. market, but is now at around half that level.

Jonathan Drew, founder of the Drew Estate cigar company, is moving into a spirits with a new venture called John Drew Brands. The new company’s portfolio initially will include Brixton Mash Destroyer—a 90-proof blend of Kentucky Bourbon and Florida rum—John Drew Rye and Dove Tale Rum.