Bourbon Barrel Blurbs, Volume 02, Issue 19

In the ever-evolving world of whiskey, there is no shortage of exciting developments and innovations. Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the most-awarded Bourbon and American Whiskey of recent years, is launching its highly sought-after Single Barrel Whiskey. They are conducting an online public vote called 'Single Barrel Showdown: America's Choice' to determine the first five states to receive the product in stores. The voting period runs until August 2nd, coinciding with the sixth anniversary of the brand's launch. Participants have a chance to win a trip to Tennessee. The winning states will receive the Single Barrel Whiskey first, just in time for September 5th. The whiskey has received numerous accolades and is hand-selected by hand-selected by Victoria Eady Butler, a four-time Master Blender of the Year, and the great-great-granddaughter of Nearest Green. It goes through a triple filtration process and is priced at $89.99.

Nelson's Green Brier Distillery has opened a new distillery restaurant in Marathon Village. The restaurant offers gourmet distillery-inspired cuisine with a refined twist on comfort food, reflecting Southern flavors and local influences. It features an impressive selection of Nelson's spirits and imaginative cocktails. The executive chef and hospitality team have curated a menu that strikes a balance between approachability and sophistication while celebrating the Nelson family heritage. The restaurant seats 100 guests and also offers private event spaces for booking. This establishment is part of a large-scale transformation of the distillery, with educational tours, expanded hospitality offerings, private event spaces, and other enhancements planned for completion by the end of summer.

Mile High Spirits, Denver's only fully operating urban distillery, is introducing four limited edition Fireside Whiskeys: Wheated Bourbon, Port Barrel Finish, Six-Year Single Barrel Bourbon, and Champions Select, chosen by the Colorado Avalanche after their 2022 Stanley Cup win. These whiskeys are made with locally sourced ingredients and aim to represent Denver's craft spirit culture. The Fireside Bourbon collection features complex flavors with notes of vanilla, campfire, chocolate, spices, toasted sugar, and toffee. The whiskeys can be pre-ordered and purchased at their Tasting Room, starting at $60 per bottle. To celebrate the release, Mile High Spirits is hosting a Fireside Release Party. The distillery is also known for producing other award-winning spirits and serving as a popular downtown nightlife and music venue.

The first bourbon barrel has been filled at the Western Kentucky Distilling Company's new Beaver Dam facility. This marks the beginning of significant whiskey production, with hundreds of thousands of barrels planned to be filled on-site. The bourbon is made in Kentucky from locally sourced corn and will be aged for at least four years. The Beaver Dam facility, which just recently opened, is Ohio County's first official distillery.

Maker's Mark, the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon, has launched Star Hill Farm Experiences, a new series of visitor tours at its distillery in Loretto, Kentucky. These tours provide guests with a deeper understanding of the 1,100 acres of natural land where Maker's Mark Bourbon is crafted, including sustainability, agriculture, and research initiatives. The tours allow visitors to see the production process and participate in Maker's Mark's pursuit of flavor through nature. Three initial tour offerings include The Oak Experience, The Seasonal Star Hill Farm Tour, and The Maker's Mark Art and Design Tour. Additional experiences will be introduced regularly, reflecting the Kentucky seasons. For more information and bookings, visit the Maker's Mark website.

Spirit Hound Distillers is expanding in Colorado with the opening of a new tasting room in Denver's Highlands neighborhood. The address is 3622 Tejon Street, and visitors can enjoy craft cocktails made with special-release liquors, live music, trivia, and mixology nights. The venue will also feature a dog-friendly patio and a food menu with 'small nibblers'. Abby Robertson, Chief Commercialization Officer, expressed excitement about the opening, and CEO Brad Stevenson mentioned more future plans. The original tasting room in Lyons will continue to operate, and the Denver Tasting Room will have its grand opening celebration on August 4th.

15 STARS is expanding its fine-aged bourbon whiskey portfolio with the limited release of its award-winning Platinum expression. This 98-proof blend of straight bourbon whiskeys aged 18, 15, and 10 years pays homage to America's "First West" and is available in select retailers in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Georgia, and Louisiana, as well as online through 15STARS.com. The Platinum expression has already received prestigious awards from various spirits competitions. It offers a luscious nose with maple, peanut brittle, candied orange, and lavender notes, a palate with layers of pastry, ginger, and honeycomb, and a finish of herbal spice, cigar box, and leather. Each bottle is topped with a classic metal stopper representing Kentucky's historic craftsmanship. Platinum is priced at $279.99 MSRP.

Shiner Bock beer, a well-known Texas icon, has expanded its offerings with a new distillery, K. Spoetzl Distilling Company. Head of Distilling Operations, Jessica Michalec, led the venture, inspired by the region's history of distilling during Prohibition. The distillery features a copper pot still and two rectifying columns from a Scottish still maker. All spirits start as Shiner beer, infusing the brewery's character into each batch. The vodka is distilled twice and passes through both columns, resulting in a smooth 190-proof spirit with sweet grain and vanilla notes. The London Dry-style gin undergoes a second distillation with botanicals like juniper and grapefruit peels. Shiner Shine, an unaged whiskey, is grain-forward and will be released as bourbon after maturing in oak barrels. The distillery plans to release more spirits, including rye whiskey and Scotch-style single malt. Shiner's spirits are currently available exclusively at their distillery in Shiner, Texas. Visitors can take a tour and enjoy cocktails on tap at the tasting room.

Manassas native, Pete Evick, music director for the Bret Michaels Band and author, has collaborated with Manassas craft distiller KO Distilling to release Bare Knuckle Evick Edition Bourbon. The bourbon is hand-crafted from 70% corn, 20% wheat, and 10% malted barley sourced from local Virginia farms and aged in charred new American Oak barrels from Kentucky. Bottled at 98 proof to represent the year Pete signed his first record deal and filled during his birth month of August, the bourbon holds personal significance. Pete signed all the bottles sold during the release at KO Distilling, where fans and family celebrated the Single Barrel bourbon featuring an image of Pete playing his guitar on the label. The Bare Knuckle Evick Edition Bourbon is priced at $62.99 for a 750mL bottle and will be available initially at the Distillery Store with shipping options for Virginia residents. Future Evick Edition Barrel Select bottles will be sold online for bourbon enthusiasts across the nation.

Ross & Squibb Distillery from Lawrenceburg, Indiana, has introduced Remus Highest Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey as the latest extension of its Remus Bourbon brand family. Priced at $54.99 per 750ml bottle, this new offering is a permanent year-round line extension. Remus Highest Rye Bourbon is aged for six years and comes at 109 proof, featuring a mash bill with 51% corn, 39% rye, and 10% malted rye to emphasize the rye profile. The bourbon delivers a sweet and rich fruit aroma with maple notes and a palate that offers robust candied-fruit flavors, followed by a lingering finish with hints of spicy cinnamon and saddle leather. Ross & Squibb Distillery, formerly known as MGP, pays tribute to its rye tradition through this high-rye bourbon.

New Riff Distilling is introducing its Sour Mash Single Malt project, an innovative exploration of malted barley combined with the sour mash Kentucky whiskey-making process. The distillery began producing malt whiskey in 2014, and the first batch is set to debut in the fall. Inspired by Celtic tradition and Head Distiller Brian Sprance's brewing experience, the project aims to create a unique whiskey showcasing various malted barley varieties. New Riff has developed six different malt whiskey mashbills, including Golden Promise, Maris Otter, Chevallier Heirloom, peated Scottish barley, and two beer-inspired mashbills based on classic Barleywine and Belgian Quadrupel recipes. These whiskeys have matured in diverse barrels, such as new charred oak, red wine casks, and classic sherried oak casks. The core offering, a blend of five recipes, will be released in the fall of 2023 at cask strength and without chill filtration.

In conclusion, the world of whiskey continues to evolve with exciting new releases, innovative techniques, and a deep appreciation for tradition. From award-winning bourbons to craft distilleries pushing the boundaries of flavor, there's something for every whiskey enthusiast to discover and enjoy. So, raise your glass and savor the stories behind each bottle as you embark on a journey of taste and craftsmanship. Cheers to the world of whiskey and the endless possibilities it holds.

 

Bourbon Barrel Blurbs, Vol. 1, Issue 6

Sazerac buys Irish whiskey distillery

Buffalo Trace owner Sazerac has acquired Lough Gill Distillery in County Sligo, Ireland, which will become the new home for its Irish whiskey brands Paddy and Michael Collins.

New Orleans-headquartered Sazerac has purchased Hazelwood Demesne, the owner of Lough Gill Distillery in the northwest of Ireland.

The distillery was founded in 2015 after the discovery of a huge warehouse complex, hidden by a forgotten 300-year-old Palladian house in Hazelwood Forest. The warehouse complex was repurposed into a distillery in 2019, producing the Athrú Irish whiskey brand.

Lough Gill Distillery was founded in 2015

Sazerac will develop the 100-acre site into a ‘world-class’ whiskey facility and visitor attraction. Once complete, the facility will welcome up to 150,000 visitors every year.

In addition, former Bushmills master blender Helen Mulholland has joined the company to lead the Lough Gill Distillery team.

She will be responsible for the selection and management of casks for Athrú, supporting the Athrú portfolio of aged single malts, as well as new product development.

Check out the full story at The Spirits Business.

                                                                                   

US distiller calls IWA claim ‘ridiculous’

Kings County Distillery’s ‘Irish Style American Whiskey’

New York City-based Kings County Distillery has hit back at the Irish Whiskey Association’s (IWA) claim that it was misleading consumers with its Irish Style American Whiskey.

The Brooklyn-based distillery tweeted last week (14 June) that it had received a cease-and-desist letter from the IWA on 1 June.

The letter was issued over the labeling and description of the distiller’s ‘Irish Style American Whiskey’, which was created to mark St Patrick’s Day on 17 March.

According to the Kings County website, the expression is produced in an ‘Irish style’, and is triple distilled and aged in ex-Bourbon barrels. The one-year-old spirit is made with New York barley and bottled at 45% ABV. The product is now sold out on the company’s website.

Kings County Distillery took to Twitter to refute the IWA’s claim: “Dear @IrishWhiskeyAsc, we’ll answer for a lot, but accusing us of misleading consumers is fighting words around here. You want to pick a fight, we return the effort.”

For all the details, check out the full story at The Spirits Business.

                                                                                   

Small Batch 2022. Photo courtesy of Garrison Brothers

Garrison Brothers pioneered bourbon distillation in the Lone Star State

Fans of America’s native spirit are aware that spectacular bourbon is now made all around the country. The situation was very different back in 2006, when Dan Garrison obtained a permit for the first legal bourbon distillery outside of Kentucky and Tennessee—in Hye, Texas, of all places.

Garrison was a survivor. Prior to 2001, he was a happy bourbon drinker and Vice President of Marketing for a software company in Austin. In the fall of that year, his biggest client, Enron, abruptly declared bankruptcy in one of the biggest fraud scandals in history, and he was faced with the need to reinvent himself.

Read the rest of Mark Spivak’s Garrison Brothers article for Naples Illustrated here.

                                                                                  

New distillery planned in northern Kentucky town

AUGUSTA, Ky. (AP) — A distilling group is working to develop a new $23 million distillery planned in the northern Kentucky community of Augusta.

Augusta Distillery will be located in the historic F.A. Neider building, which provided metal stamping services dating back to 1883 until its closure in 2007.

The 40,000-square-foot building situated on 1.8 acres will house Augusta Distillery’s first full-scale operation, with plans to reach full production capacity by summer 2024, according to a news release from Gov. Andy Beshear’s office. Beshear attended a groundbreaking for the distillery on Monday.

The distillery received its Class B distiller’s license in July.

Company leaders expect construction to begin this summer and said the facility will be operational by summer 2024.

“This project breathes new life into a historic building in Bracken County, and I look forward to seeing what this location will become in the years ahead,” the governor said.

Augusta’s initial brand expression, Buckner’s 13-year single barrel cask strength bourbon, is distributed nationally and is available at retail in Kentucky and Ohio. Augusta’s next product offering is expected to arrive later this year.

                                                                                  

What is in a bourbon label and how to read it

Trying to read a bourbon label can be challenging. But if you know the procedures and all that is involved, it may help you find a needle in the haystack that will blow your socks off.

A bourbon label typically gives you the age, state, and brand. And, with these, you can easily lay your hands on the dram of your liking and speak in-depth about the drink.

Brand and Distillery

• The most striking and vivid detail on a bourbon label is the name of the brand or distillery. This is what sets the bottle apart and gives the first impression of the drink to the customer. However, there are more interesting things to it. Generally, the brand name gives the details of the distillery where the bourbon was produced.
  

Age

• Mentioned right below the brand and distillery, the age of the drink is the next most distinguishable detail on a bourbon label. Bourbon must be made from at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak barrels. Nonetheless, there are many instances in which the bourbon brand does not reveal the age of the dram. These are branded as no age statements. In the U.S., the lack of an age statement on bourbon is not uncommon. Bourbon whiskeys only display an age statement if the whiskey used is under four years old. Like scotch, a blended Bourbon’s age statement must reflect the age of the youngest Bourbon used. But this doesn’t imply that the higher the age, the better the bourbon. The alcohol ages as long as it sits in the oak barrel.

Type of Barrel

• Bourbons are stored in new charred oak barrels and corn whiskey, which contains at least 80 percent corn, is stored in a used charred oak barrel or in a new un-charred oak barrel. Straight whiskies, aged for two years straight, mature in new oak barrels while straight corn whiskey can be aged in new un-charred ones as well.

Bourbon State and Type

• Another unmissable detail on the label, mentioned below the brand and age, is the state and the type of bourbon that is in the bottle. All the details are mentioned on the label. This gives information about the state which may affect the aroma and flavor undertones of the pour.

Alcohol Content

• Needless to say, the alcohol content is what defines the quality and the type of whisky that is being produced. This is denoted by the alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage or by the term ‘Proof’ for American bourbons. The latter is just twice the ABV; which means 80-proof denoted 40 % ABV. Bourbons are distilled at not more than 160 proof and then stored at less than 125 proof and corn whiskey is stored at 160 proof. The coveted ‘bonded’ or ‘bottled-in-bond’ bourbon has 100 ABV or 50-proof and is produced in a single distilling season (January to December). It is then matured for four years under the US government’s supervision. This American whiskey label must specify the distillery and other details of bottling as the government takes responsibility for its safety.

Size of the Bottle

• Regular bourbon drinkers can easily guess the bottle size by taking a glance at it. However, you can simply eliminate all the guesswork and be sure of the volume by a quick look at the whisky label.

Other Details

• The Expression is another detail that you may or may not find in most details these days. Brands mostly give their or the distillery’s name which is popularly known, along with the age. However, to commemorate special occasions or to attract audience attention, some special expressions are launched. Another term that might be printed on the whisky label is small batch. This generally indicates a handcrafted limited edition release but it is commonly used as a marketing strategy to attract buyers.

Originally reported on The Bourbon Flight.

                                                                                  

DISCUS launches Destination Distillery

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) launched Destination Distillery (www.destinationdistillery.com), a new website providing a tourism-driven experience and educational journey into the cultural heritage and history of spirits in America.

Visitors to the website will be able to explore many of America’s most famous distilleries as well as up-and-coming ones, state-by-state trails, the economic impact of the spirits industry by state, and important sites connected to the history of distilling and spirits in our country.

Visitors can locate distilleries based on the type of spirits they produce or by location. Categories of spirits are also listed, and each can be selected for an in-depth history of the category. Another unique part of the site is the “Stories” section which features information on historical milestones related to the spirits industry.

Destination Distillery builds upon the foundation of the American Whiskey Trail, a tourism initiative created in 2004 by DISCUS in partnership with Mount Vernon and George Washington’s historic distillery. Over the nearly two decades since, there has been a proliferation of more than 2,000 small distilleries in cities and towns across the country.

Destination Distillery is the ultimate destination for those interested in planning a spirited journey or learning more about U.S. distilleries and the history of spirits in our country. To learn more, visit destionationdistillery.com.

Check out this article on The Bourbon Flight for more.

                                                                                  

Samuel Maverick Barrel Proof Bourbon

 

According to a recent article at CraftSpiritsMag.com, San Antonio distillery Maverick Whiskey is releasing their limited-edition Samuel Maverick Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This Certified Texas Whiskey is pot-distilled from a mash of 72% Texas grown corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. After being aged a minimum of two years in new charred White Oak barrels, the whiskey is non-chill filtered and hand-bottled at 114 proof (57% ABV).

Tasting Notes (per CraftSpiritsMag.com)

A nose of deep earthiness with notes of vanilla and caramel gives way to a palate that is delightfully smooth with notes of sweet caramel, cola, and spices. The silky finish has the peppery bite of rye and a touch of mint. Best served neat or with one large ice cube in a Glencairn.

The full article from Craft Spirits Mag can be found here.