West Cork Distillers

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

Seattle, Washington’s Westland Distillery has announced the Outpost Range, a new series of whiskies to be released beginning in November and continuing through 2023. First up will be Garryana American Single Malt Whiskey, the fifth edition of the distillery’s Garryana-aged malt. The November release comes in at 50% abv and is made with peated spirit. The second release, Colere, will be released in spring 2021. It’s bottled at 50% abv and is made with Alba barley. Future Colere releases will be dedicated to distilling different varieties of barley. The final release, Solum, will use locally sourced peat.

Bacardi is mounting a renewed push into spiced rum, reintroducing its former Oakheart label in a new incarnation as Bacardi Spiced. Noting that spiced rum is the only segment of the rum category to show volume growth over the past decade, Bacardi is launching Spiced ($13) nationwide this month, targeting at-home occasions and both new and existing spiced rum consumers.

Ireland’s West Cork Distillers has launched a new, limited release IPA Cask Finished Irish Whiskey in the U.S. The 40% abv whiskey is a blend of 75% grain whiskey, distilled from wheat, and 25% malt whiskey that matured for four years before blending and finishing for six months in casks that held Blacks of Kinsale’s IPA. Through M.S. Walker, West Cork Distillers IPA Cask Finished Irish Whiskey will be available across the U.S. for around $33 a 750-ml.

Kansas City, Missouri-based Boulevard Brewing has partnered with West Des Moines, Iowa-based Foundry Distilling Co. to turn Boulevard’s Unfiltered Wheat Beer into a whiskey. The result is called Midnight Ritual, a 44.5% abv malt whiskey that’s aged more than two years in charred oak barrels. The release promises to be the first in a series of partnerships between the two producers, turning more brews into limited edition whiskies. Beginning next month, Midnight Ritual will be available in very limited quantities in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska.

Phillips Distilling Company has launched Prairie Organic Sustainable Seasons, a new line of botanical and fruit flavored spirits. The 30% abv flavored vodka comes in three varieties: Grapefruit, Hibiscus, and Chamomile; Watermelon, Cucumber, and Lime; and Apple, Pear, and Ginger. Each contains 75 calories per serving and all are made with organic ingredients and without added sugar. The trio is rolling out nationwide for a suggested price of $22 a 750-ml.

Proximo has expanded 1800 Tequila with a new, luxury-priced extension, 1800 Cristalino. The 40% abv spirit is made from 100% blue agave and aged for 16 months in American and French oak before finishing for six months in Port barrels. The añejo Tequila is then filtered to remove the color imparted by the barrel. 1800 Cristalino is now rolling out in select markets across the U.S. for $65 a 750-ml.

375 Park Avenue Spirits has added Ming River Baijiu to its import portfolio, effective October 1. The importer, a division of Sazerac, will handle the brand’s sales and will also support Ming River’s marketing efforts in the U.S. Ming River is a young brand—created in 2018—from China’s oldest continuously operating distillery. The spirit is distilled from red sorghum and bottled at 45% abv. 375 Park Avenue will offer Ming River in 750-ml. and 50-ml. bottles.