B&M Digest, Volume I, Issue 02

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces Release Of 2024 Heaven Hill Heritage Collection

Heaven Hill Distillery has unveiled the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey as part of its limited annual release. This 2024 edition, priced at $299.99 per 750 ml. bottle, features a bourbon whiskey mashbill of 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye, bottled at 120 proof. The whiskey, aged for 18 years in 133 barrels from December 2005, offers a nose of dried flowers and old oak, a palate with vanilla sweetness, old leather, and oak char, and a dry, spicy finish. The packaging includes detailed information, and the release is set to ship in early March 2024 on a national limited basis. The announcement follows the recent release of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A124.

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Hard Truth Distilling Co. Announces The Release Of Its First Homemade Bourbons

Hard Truth Distilling Co. has announced the release of its first homemade bourbons, including Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon, Hard Truth Sweet Mash Wheated Bourbon, and Hard Truth Sweet Mash Four Grain Bourbon. These bourbons join the brand's existing lineup. The Sweet Mash Bourbon has a mashbill of 73% corn, 19% rye, and 8% malted barley, bottled at 90 proof. The Wheated Bourbon and Four Grain Bourbon are presented as Bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof. The bourbons will be available at the distillery on Feb. 24 and in select markets starting March 1, with prices ranging from $44.99 to $59.99 per 750ml bottle. The release marks a significant moment for the distillery, highlighting their commitment to the grain-to-glass process and showcasing their first batch of sweet mash whiskey, which was bourbon. For the full article from Whiskey Raiders, click HERE.

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Old Forester Names Assistant Master Distiller

Old Forester has appointed Caleb Trigo as Assistant Master Distiller, responsible for quality and innovation at the historic bourbon brand. Trigo will oversee quality control, distillery operations, provide technical leadership, and support brand advocacy efforts. Having been with parent company Brown-Forman since 2009, Trigo spent over five years as an operations leader at the Old Forester Distillery on Whiskey Row in Louisville. Trigo, who holds a Master's Degree in Distilling from Heriot-Watt University and a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Louisville, will work alongside Master Taster Melissa Rift to contribute to Old Forester's growth. He expressed honor in the role, aiming to learn from Master Distiller Chris Morris. Morris praised Trigo's skills and determination, predicting that he will contribute to leading Old Forester to new heights. Trigo, an avid traveler and foodie, resides in Louisville with his husband and favors an Old Forester Boulevardier cocktail.

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Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked Returns As 2024 Winter Distillery Series

Woodford Reserve has released the highly-anticipated 2024 edition of its Double Double Oaked Bourbon, part of an annual series showcasing Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall's dedication to innovation. The bourbon, available in limited quantities at the Woodford Reserve Distillery, features a distinct flavor profile with tasting notes of burnt marshmallows, dried cherry, and bittersweet chocolate. It is created by finishing mature Woodford Reserve Double Oaked for an extra year in a heavily toasted, lightly charred, new oak barrel. The suggested retail price for a 375ml bottle is $79.99, and customers are limited to purchasing two bottles. Sales are in-person only, and the release will also be available at select Kentucky retailers. The full article can be found HERE.

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New Whiskey Pays Tribute to Baseball’s Negro Leagues

The Negro National League, established in 1920 by Andrew “Rube” Foster during a time of racial segregation in American baseball, is being celebrated through a collaboration between the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and Kansas City distillery J. Rieger & Co. The Fielder’s Choice Collection consists of four new whiskeys, each representing a different Negro Leagues team with unique labels. A portion of the sales from the collection will benefit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The whiskeys include a Kansas City whiskey, a small batch straight bourbon paying tribute to the St. Louis Stars, a 100-proof light whiskey honoring the Chicago American Giants, and a small batch 100-proof rye whiskey celebrating the Homestead Grays. The collection is available for pre-sale on the J. Rieger website, and a launch event is scheduled for February 21. The collaboration aims to preserve the legacy of Negro Leagues baseball. The full article can be found HERE.

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Redwood Empire Announces Launch Of Its Small Lot Series

Redwood Empire, a Northern California distillery, has unveiled three new whiskeys as part of its Small Lot Series. Known for both sourcing and blending whiskey from various distilleries and producing its in-house distillate, the series showcases meticulous attention to detail. The releases include Foggy Burl Single Malt Whiskey, Devil’s Tower High Rye Bourbon, and Screaming Titan Wheated Bourbon. Foggy Burl, a blend of 27 casks of 100% malted barley, offers notes of dark chocolate and caramel at 94 proof. Devil’s Tower, a blend of 25 barrels with a mashbill of 51% corn, 45% rye, 2% wheat, and 2% malted barley, presents sweet and spicy notes at 99 proof. Screaming Titan, with at least 30% wheat in the mashbill, will be available in March and includes sourced whiskey in the blend. Foggy Burl and Devil’s Tower are currently available for purchase, and other expressions like Lost Monarch American Whiskey can be found on platforms like Total Wine. The full article can be found HERE.

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Uncork Me Wine Fest Returns

The Uncork Me Indiana wine festival is set to return to Military Park, Indianapolis, on June 22, 2024, from 2-7 p.m. The event, organized by Brothers Molloy Events, drew around 3,000 attendees and featured 30 Indiana wineries, meaderies, and cideries in its inaugural 2023 edition. New for 2024 is a VIP early access ticket offering privileges like a private shaded area, lounge furniture, temperature-controlled bathrooms, and a private Books Bourbon & Bacon and wine pairing. Participating establishments include Acres Away Winery, Chateau de Pique, Easley Winery, Mad Horn Meadery, Misbeehavin' Meads, and many more. The festival will also feature live entertainment, including music by DJ MaryJane, drag performances by Ana Crusis, and aerial performances by Suspended Animation Aerials. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, pretzel necklaces, and one factory-sealed water bottle per person. Ticket prices range from $10 for designated drivers to $95 for VIP access and can be purchased online.

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Other Bourbon and Mead News

• Tennessee Whiskey For Beginners: Eight To Try from Decanter
• Middle West Spirits Opens One Of The Nation's 10 Largest Distilleries
• The Story Behind The Troy Distillery Honoring Clyde May’s Legacy
• Craft Distilleries in Pennsylvania Preserve Legacy of Nation's First Distillery
• Check Out The World's Longest Bar At The Nearest Green Distillery
• 15 Tennessee Whiskey Brands, Ranked by Tasting Table
• Mead - The Next Buzzy Booze Trend Growing In Louisville?

Bourbon Barrel Blurbs, Volume 2, Issue 01

  

This is our first BBB of the new year and we are happy to be back. This edition features blurbs on Bluegrass Distillers expansion, Heaven Hill's 2023 Heritage Collection release, Horseneck RTDs, Woodford Reserve's new Master Distiller, Sexy Motor Oil whiskey by Breckenridge Distillery and Breckenridge Brewery, Bernheim Barrel Proof, and Uncle Nearest.

Bluegrass Distillers Breaks Ground on Major Expansion

Bluegrass Distillers, a craft spirits distillery based in Lexington, KY, is building a new distillery in Midway, KY at Elkwood Farm. The $8 million investment will include a 36” column still, six 18,000-gallon fermentation tanks, offices, labs, tasting and event space, and a bottling line. The facility will have a production capacity increase of over 100 times to meet the demand for its award-winning bourbons. The former primary residence at Elkwood Farm will serve as a visitor center, gift shop, and cocktail lounge. The distillery will also be growing grains for its bourbon on the property. Bluegrass is celebrating this milestone by releasing Elkwood Reserve, a 9-year single-barrel bourbon whiskey, which will be available at their Lexington gift shop. The distillery is set to open in Fall 2023 and will offer a grain-to-glass experience for visitors. Bluegrass Distillers started in 2013 and is a member of the Kentucky Distillers Association and a part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. The distillery has a philanthropic approach and is committed to giving back to the community. For more information, please visit www.bluegrassdistillers.com.

Heaven Hill’s Latest Limited Release Will Have Bourbon Nerds Clamoring for Corn Whiskey

 Heaven Hill

Heaven Hill is releasing a 20-year-old corn whiskey as part of its Heritage Collection. This is the second release in the collection, which highlights one of the distillery's six mashbills. The whiskey is 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye and was distilled in 2002 and aged in used bourbon barrels. The whiskey is bottled at 115 proof and comes with a special box and information about the mashbill, warehouse location, and production date. The bottle launches on March 1 with an SRP of $289.99, but the 2022 release is already selling for almost $1,700. For the full story, click here.

Horse Neck Kentucky Bourbon RTDs Launch in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana

Firsty Thursday, LLC has launched its new beverage brand "Horse Neck" which features a premium ready-to-drink (RTD) spirit-based canned cocktail made with Kentucky Straight Bourbon in four unique flavors: Bourbon Ginger Ale, Bourbon Cherry Rye, Bourbon La Paloma, and Bourbon Mule Spice. The drinks are made with real juice, natural ingredients, and have 9% ABV. The brand will begin distribution in Texas in late February and will expand to additional states later in the year with a focus on Arkansas, California, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Horse Neck will be available for direct-to-consumer purchase at horseneck.com and at select retailers. Firsty Thursday is a privately-held beverage company based in Dallas, TX.

 

Woodford Reserve Names Elizabeth McCall Master Distiller

Elizabeth McCall has been named as the third Master Distiller in the 26-year history of the bourbon brand Woodford Reserve. She will oversee quality and innovation and bring new products to market. McCall has been training for this role for over a decade and has been a part of the Woodford Reserve's parent company, Brown-Forman, since 2009. Chris Morris, the previous Master Distiller, will assume the role of Master Distiller Emeritus. McCall is the second generation of her family to work in the spirits industry and holds a master's degree from the University of Louisville. Read the full article HERE.

Breckenridge Distillery Celebrates Valentine’s Day with Third Edition of Sexy Motor Oil Whiskey

Breckenridge Distillery and Breckenridge Brewery have announced the release of their limited edition Sexy Motor Oil whiskey aged in beer barrels for 10-13 months. This year's edition of Sexy Motor Oil will have tropical banana and apple flavors over a layer of dark chocolate, caramel, and honey, and will be available at Breckenridge Distillery and Tasting Room in Breckenridge, Colorado starting February 10, 2023. Breckenridge Distillery and Breckenridge Brewery are known for their barrel exchange programs and previous releases include the Imperial Stout Cask Finished Whiskey and Whiskey-Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout Beer. Read the full article HERE.

Want to Drink Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey? Heaven Hill’s New Bernheim Is Here to Help

 Heaven Hill

Heaven Hill distillery has announced a new barrel-proof version of its Bernheim straight wheat whiskey, which is made from 51% winter wheat, 37% corn, and 12% malted barley. It is aged between 7 and 9 years and bottled at 118.8 proof. The whiskey will be released in two batches per year and will have a starting price of $64.99. It is a less common type of whiskey compared to bourbon or rye and only a few distilleries have a straight wheat whiskey in their lineup. This is not Heaven Hill's first attempt at barrel-proof wheat whiskey as they released two batches of the limited-edition Parker's Heritage Collection in 2014. Read the full article HERE.

 

Fawn Weaver's Premium Whiskey Brand Honors the Legacy of Uncle Nearest, the Enslaved Man Who Pioneered Tennessee Whiskey

Courtesy of Uncle Nearest

Fawn Weaver started Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey in 2017 after learning about the story of Nearest Green, a formerly enslaved Black man who was a master distiller and whiskey trailblazer in the 1850s. Nearest taught Jack Daniel the process of distilling Tennessee whiskey, but his work was uncredited until recently. Weaver brought together 20 historians and experts to research Nearest's story and gathered thousands of original documents and artifacts. She interviewed nearly 100 descendants of Nearest and Jack Daniel and found that the best way to honor Nearest was by making whiskey.

Fawn Weaver and Victoria Eady Butler. Courtesy of Uncle Nearest

Weaver has an all-women leadership team and a 50 percent women-employed company. Victoria Eady Butler, a fifth generation descendant of Nearest, is the master blender and has been named Master Blender of the Year four times. Weaver aims to make Uncle Nearest the seventh spirit conglomerate and pass down a legacy of excellence for women and people of color leaders to follow. Uncle Nearest's first principle is "We do it with excellence or we don't do it at all." Read the full article HERE.

Heaven Hill Press Release: Elijah Craig announces new Toasted Barrel Bourbon

Here is today's press release from Heaven Hill announcing the Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel release:

New expression finished in custom toasted new oak barrels continues Elijah Craig’s spirit of innovation
Elijah Craig, a leading premium Kentucky Bourbon, today announced the launch of Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The latest line extension from the award-winning Elijah Craig family, Toasted Barrel adds an extra layer of sweet oak complexity to the traditional Bourbon.

The process begins with fully matured Small Batch, which is dumped and then re-entered at barrel proof into a second, custom toasted new oak barrel designed in partnership with Independent Stave Company. Made with 18-month air dried oak, the finishing barrel is first toasted and then flash-charred using a moderate toast temperature and toast time. An extensive research and development process resulted in a final barrel toast profile bringing forward dark sugar flavors within the wood to create a balance of smokiness and sweetness after months of finishing. The resulting taste is big, rich and complex with spice and pepper notes that fade into milk chocolate with a hint of smoke as the finish lingers with chocolate and baking spices. Only charred new American oak barrels are used throughout the process to maintain the standards of identity class and type designation for Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

“Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel pays homage to our namesake’s pioneering spirit as the first to char oak barrels through thoughtful innovation in the barrel-aging process,” said Max Stefka, Elijah Craig Senior Brand Manager. “It was a pleasure partnering with Independent Stave Company to create a custom toast profile and char level designed to best complement fully matured Elijah Craig. Twice barreled for nuanced flavor, Toasted Barrel showcases a Straight Bourbon process unique in the marketplace.”

In 1789, Elijah Craig was the first to char oak Barrels to make Bourbon, earning his place in history as the “Father of Bourbon.” Toasted Barrel celebrates this pioneering spirit by pushing the Bourbon barrel-aging process a step further. Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel is bottled at 94 proof, consistent with Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon and Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey, and joins the rest of the award-winning lineup of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Elijah Craig Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Packaged in the iconic Elijah Craig bottle, Toasted Barrel is distinguished by new bottle decoration, face, side and neck labels with smoky blue features. With an SRP of $49.99, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel will launch nationally on an allocated basis this September.

About Elijah Craig Bourbon
Elijah Craig Bourbon bears the name of the Reverend Elijah Craig, known as “The Father of Bourbon,” who established his distillery in 1789 on the banks of Elkhorn Creek in modern day Georgetown, Kentucky. He is credited with being the first distiller to age his wares in charred oak barrels. The clear, unaged corn liquor became transformed into a bold amber liquid with a distinctively smooth flavor that makes Bourbon what it is today. Produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, the family of whiskeys includes Elijah Craig Small Batch, Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and Elijah Craig Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
First brought to market in 1986, Heaven Hill Distillery’s Master Distillers were selecting a small number of barrels of the finest Bourbon to make Elijah Craig Small Batch long before the term “small batch” even existed. It is this attention to detail and superb craftsmanship that give Elijah Craig an ideal balance of age, robust body and rich flavor. Elijah Craig accolades have included Whisky Advocate’s Whisky of the Year, Best Small Batch Bourbon and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Excellent Highly Recommended honors at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. For more information, please visit www.elijahcraig.com.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.7 million barrels aging in 60 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, and previously held the titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year and 2016 Rye Whiskey of the Year from “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.” For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.