Bourbon Barrel Blurbs, Volume 2, Issue 02

We are back and it's been a busy couple of days. In this edition we have blurbs about the KY Bourbon Trail, Garrison Brothers, Cask & Coast Spirits Co., the Oregon liquor board scandal, Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Historic Barrel Entry, Old Dominick's Alex Castle, Yellowstone American Single Malt, Buffalo Trace Distillery, A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon, and a look at some "underrated bourbons."

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Sets Attendance Record in 2022

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail has seen remarkable growth in attendance over the last decade, with a staggering 370% increase in visitors. Last year alone, the trail welcomed a record-breaking 2.1 million visitors, surpassing the previous record of 1.7 million set in 2019. The numbers are a clear indication of the growing popularity of bourbon, not just in Kentucky, but across the United States and around the world. With such a huge jump in attendance, it's clear that the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience the world of bourbon. For more information on the Kentucky Bourbon Trails, click HERE. 

Garrison Brothers Releases 2023 Guadalupe Ultra-Premium Port Cask Finished Bourbon

Courtesy of Garrison Brothers Bourbon

Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, has released Guadalupe 2023, a limited edition port-cask finished bourbon named after a river in the state. This special expression has won multiple awards and is bottled at 107 proof. Each step of the production process is made by hand by the Master Distiller and his team. Guadalupe is a creamy dessert bourbon with flavor notes of fruit, chocolate, and honey. The story of Guadalupe began in 2015 when the distillery teamed up with Texan winemakers. Guadalupe will be available for purchase at fine liquor retailers nationwide with a suggested retail price of $149.99. For the full story, click HERE.

Former Councilman Takes a Shot at Making Bourbon

Courtesy of Cask & Coast Spirits Co.

Mark Kersey, a former San Diego councilman, has transitioned into the alcohol industry by becoming the CEO of Cask & Coast Spirits Co. His company produces a California bourbon, which is made from a four-grain bourbon distilled in the Midwest and matured in charred American oak casks. The bourbon is then finished in Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wine barrels from Montaño’s vineyard. Kersey and Montaño work with distillery partners to import ingredients from the Midwest and blend it in California. Cask & Coast’s initial 750-bottle release debuted in November and received a gold medal in a San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge with a 91 rating. The company's biggest market is online, but it is also available in local stores and restaurants. The former mayor, Jerry Sanders, thinks the bourbon is excellent and is grateful for a new industry to attract tourism to San Diego. Kersey believes his experience with bureaucracy as a councilman was valuable training for the highly regulated alcohol industry. For the full story, click HERE.

 Heads May Roll in Oregon Agency Due to Love for Rare Bourbon

The executive director and several top officials of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission face the possibility of losing their jobs due to their thirst for rare bottles of bourbon. An internal investigation found that they had used their knowledge and connections at the agency to obtain high-end whiskeys, such as Pappy Van Winkle's 23-year-old whiskey, for their own use, which violated state statutes that prohibit public officials from using confidential information for personal gain. In response, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has asked the agency's board of commissioners to remove the implicated individuals and has requested an independent civil investigation by the attorney general to determine the extent of any wrongdoing and to recommend stronger protocols for ethics compliance. For the full story, click HERE.

Woodford Reserve Releases Winter 2022 Master’s Collection

Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Historic Barrel Entry.

Woodford Reserve has released its 2022 Master's Collection, called the Historic Barrel Entry. This bourbon was made with newly distilled whiskey that entered the barrel at 100 proof, which was the standard for barrel entry proof in the 19th century. Today, the standard is 125 proof. The lower entry proof, which results in a greater amount of water in the barrel, contributes to richer and sweeter flavors from the barrel's red layer. The aroma is a mixture of vanilla bean, dried apple, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and a hint of cocoa, with notes of roasted coffee, hazelnut, dark cherry, plum and spearmint. The taste is a balance of toasted oak and overripe banana with hints of cooked berry fruits, leather, coffee and baking spices, before ending with a finish of charred oak, leather, and orange oil. This limited-edition release is the 18th in the Master's Collection series, which began in 2004, and will be available in select U.S. and global markets at a suggested retail price of $129.99 for a 700 ml bottle. For the full story, click HERE.

Memphis’s First Modern Whiskey Is Crafted by Tennessee’s First Female Master Distiller

Master distiller, Alex Castle. Courtesy of Old Dominick Distillery

Old Dominick Distillery in Memphis was started after two of Domenico Canale's great great grandsons discovered an unopened bottle of Old Dominick whiskey. Old Dominick Straight Tennessee Whiskey was the first whiskey distilled, aged, and bottled in Memphis since Prohibition. The master distiller of the whiskey is Alex Castle, the first known female master distiller in Tennessee history. Castle grew up in Kentucky and was set to become a marine biologist until a high school science class changed her career path to chemical engineering. She received a crash course in operating pot stills and eventually landed a job at Wild Turkey as a production supervisor. She was then hired to start a distillery in Memphis and was given free rein to design the production space. Castle blended bourbons from other distillers into the first bottles to bear the Old Dominick label in a century, and all involved had to wait for the first juice distilled on site to mature. Castle's whiskey is Tennessee Straight Whiskey and is sold only in Memphis, but will be available in Arkansas, Missouri, and the rest of Tennessee by spring. For the full story, click HERE.

Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey Launches This Spring

Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey is the latest offering from Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Stephen Beam. This whiskey will be available in March at a retail price of $54.99. It is a four-year-old whiskey bottled at 108 proof (54% ABV) with a 100% barley malt mash bill. It has a unique taste profile compared to its sister product, Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, with notes of cereal malt, honey, peach blossom, stone fruit, oak, cinnamon, and English walnuts. The packaging features a design-forward label with the iconic Lower Falls artwork and blue top-wrap to differentiate it from other Yellowstone variants. The brand supports the National Parks Conservation Association, having donated nearly $370,000 to the organization so far. Limestone Branch Distillery was opened in 2011 by Stephen Beam, a seventh-generation distiller with a family history of distillation. It is home to several spirits, including Yellowstone Select, Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey, Yellowstone Limited Edition, Minor Case Rye Whiskey, and Bowling & Burch Gin. For the full story, click HERE.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Unveils New Still House That Will 'Double Production'

Courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery has officially commissioned a new still which is 40 feet tall and capable of producing 60,000 gallons per day. This allows the distillery to double its production of whiskey. The new stillhouse is adjacent to the existing one and is designed to match the existing still to maintain consistency in the whiskey produced. The new still is part of a larger $1.2 billion expansion project which includes new cookers, fermenters, and a new dry house that can produce 12,000 pounds of dried grain per hour. Visitors can see the new stillhouse on Buffalo Trace's new "Hard Hat Tour" which includes expanded tour routes and new sites. The bourbon industry invested over $2.1 billion in the state of Kentucky last year, with many distillers upgrading their facilities and equipment. Buffalo Trace Distillery is based in Frankfort, Kentucky and has a history dating back to 1775. For the full story, click HERE.

15 Underrated Bourbons You Need To Buy

Courtesy of Brother's Bond Bourbon's Facebook.

This article from Tasting Table lists several bourbons that the author thinks are underrated and deserve more attention. These include the entire Benchmark line-up, Brother's Bond Cask Strength, Evan Williams' 1783 Small Batch or Bottled in Bond white label, Four Roses Small Batch Select, and Garrison Brothers Small Batch. The author recommends trying each of these bourbons, which are all reasonably priced and offer a great value for their quality. The author also mentions that some of the bourbons, such as Four Roses Single Barrel, are a bit pricier but still offer a similar experience as the other options. The author ends the article by highlighting the recently released 2023 Guadalupe from Garrison Brothers, which is a pricier option for those who want to try Texas whiskey. The full article can be found HERE.

Robb Report Reviews A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon

 Courtesy of A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman introduces their Cask Strength Bourbon Batch #2, a whiskey bottled at 144.5 proof, which is considered a "hazmat" whiskey with a high alcohol content of nearly 70%. Despite its high alcohol content, this particular whiskey is said to have a delicious flavor, with notes of cherry, apple pie, cinnamon, chocolate, dried orange, milk chocolate, candied pecan, vanilla, and underlying spice and heat. The whiskey's high proof is attributed to the hot and humid climate in Virginia, where the whiskey was aged, which resulted in more water evaporation and less alcohol loss. The reviewer suggests adding water to the whiskey to reduce its strength and bring out its sweet candy and spicy flavors. The full article can be found HERE.

Until next time...

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.

Celebrate Black History Month With Fort Mosé 1738 Bourbon Whiskey (Discount Code Inside)

Courtesy of Fort Mosé

In 1726, thirty-eight African-born slaves escaped from the Carolinas and headed south to seek refuge amongst the Spanish just two miles north of St. Augustine, Florida. Skilled workers and farmers, these brave men and women also fought alongside the Spanish and their Indian allies against their former masters. In 1738, the governor of Florida would declare Fort Mosé the first free Black town in the United States. Over 250 years later, an African American spirits maker, Victor G. Harvey Sr., created Fort Mosé 1738 Bourbon Whiskey was created to pay homage to the town established by those escaped slaves. The whiskey is bottled at Mr. Harvey's very own Palm Beach Distillery located in West Palm Beach, FL. He created an exceptional mash combining corn, rye, and malted barley aged to perfection to deliver an unmatched flavorful taste.

Courtesy of Fort Mosé

As an Ambassador for Fort Mosé and in honor of Black History Month, I encourage you to grab a bottle and raise a glass to those brave men and women of Fort Mosé. You can order your bottle online HERE and use the code BAMBHM10 to receive 10% off.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Apology for Absence

Dear readers,

I hope this post finds you well. I wanted to reach out and offer a sincere apology for my extended absence. I understand that many of you enjoy my content and I am truly sorry for the inconvenience my absence may have caused.

The reason for my absence was due to some medical complications that arose unexpectedly. I won't go into too much detail, but they required my immediate attention and resulted in a temporary break from my online presence.

I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the support and understanding I have received during this time. Your messages and well wishes mean the world to me and have helped me through a difficult period.

I am now somewhat on the road to recovery (I will never fully recover but I am trying) and am excited to be back, ready to create and share more content with all of you. I have missed the community we have built here and am eager to reconnect and continue our discussions.

Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience my absence may have caused and I thank you for your patience and understanding. I am looking forward to getting back to what I love and providing the content you have come to expect from me.

 

[Review] Shady Mile High Wheat Bourbon

The “backstory” above is taken from the Shady Mile Bourbon website. I honestly have no idea if it’s true but it sounds awesome.

Now, this review has been a long time in the making. A couple of months ago Shady Mile Bourbon asked me to review their two bourbon releases. I said, "Sure, I'd be happy to" and then life got in the way. The next thing I know my wife is in the hospital and I am suffering from ongoing medical complications and I’m not allowed to drink alcohol. I finally got to where I could drink again and what do you know, it is Bourbon Heritage Month. I decided to coincide my review for Shady Mile with the opening of the NFL season. My selections for the 9th and 10th days of my 30 Days of Bourbon Challenge were the Shady Mile Wheated Bourbon and the High Rye Bourbon, respectively. I enjoyed both expressions and prepared my notes but the more I thought about it, the more I became dissatisfied with my tastings. Both bottles are young and it shows but what if I did another tasting after they had a month to… breathe?

Before I get into my actual review, let me explain how I review bottles. I like what I like. That's it. I can detect some of the different flavors and tastes but don't expect me to post a review saying I am “getting a slight hint of wet pavement with a bit of dried corn husk baking on an adobe wall in New Mexico on a Thursday” or something wild like that. I'll give you my impression, plain and simple, and there will be no sugarcoating. After all, I'm not Willy Wonka. Also while I'm at it, let's get this disclaimer out of the way.

DISCLAIMER: Samples of the products reviewed were provided by the respective company for a no strings attached review.

Now, let's get on with the review. I am extremely partial to wheated bourbons so I decided to try the Shady Mile High Wheat Bourbon first. 

• Product: Shady Mile High Wheat Bourbon
• Company: Specialty Cellars
• Classification: Straight Bourbon
• Distillery: Green River Distillery (DSP-KY-10)
• Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
• Mashbill: 70% corn, 21% wheat, 9% malted barley
• Color: Medium amber
  
• Price: ~$30

Method: Rested in a Glencairn for 15-20 minutes; tasted a second time after a month

Initial Tasting

Nose: Light alcohol, cinnamon, cherry with a hint of chocolate

Palate: Cherry is back along with notes of honey, caramel and vanilla

Finish: Warm lingering medium-to-long finish with a sweet pepper spiciness

Second Tasting After A Month

Nose: Still young but the alcohol has dissipated, cinnamon, cherry but the chocolate is more pronounced

Palate: Cherry is back along with notes of honey, caramel and vanilla, maybe a little tobacco and cereal 

Finish: Warm lingering medium-to-long finish with a sweet heat giving hints of cereal/bread

Conclusion: Not what I have come to expect from a wheated bourbon but it is young. The chocolate notes caught me by surprise and the caramel played well off of that. My initial impression was "it was okay" but after revisiting it a month later, I could see it becoming part of the rotation, especially future releases that will have more age to them. I'll say it gets a 3 (just barely) out of 5.

 Check back tomorrow for my Shady Mile High Rye Bourbon review. Until then...

Bourbon Barrel Blurbs, Volume 01, Issue 17

Just in time for NFL pregame perusing, another issue of BBB is live. With blurbs on MB Roland, Willow Creek Distillery, Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., Fierce Whiskers Distillery, Woodford Reserve's Holiday Bottle, Unbound Spirits, and more, there's sure to be something to pique your interest.

MB Roland Introduces First 7-Year and 8-Year Single Barrels & Dark Fired Bourbon Returns

Images courtesy of MB Roland

The wait is finally over for two very special releases from MB Roland Distillery.

The 7-year single barrel has:

• An earthy nose with hints of toasted marshmallow.
• On the palate, tastes of leather, clove, and pine tickle the taste buds.
• The medium mellow finish will leave you with notes of tobacco and anxiously awaiting your next sip.

The 8-year single barrel:

• Graces the nose with scents of caramel, vanilla, and ginger spice.
• Expect tastes of charred oak, rich molasses, and dark cherry.
• The finish is long with charred oak prominent.

Hitting the MB Roland gift shop shelves on Sunday, October 16th, the 7-year single barrel is priced at $99.95 and the 8-year single barrel is $124.95. There is a limit of one bottle each per customer due to the high demand and limited supply.

Arriving to gift shop shelves in November: a very special single barrel release of fan-favorite Dark Fired Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

"This barrel aged for 4 years and is a perfect combination of smoky and sweet. Sipping on a pour is reminiscent of sitting by the campfire on a crisp Autumn evening."

Pre-orders to secure a bottle are being accepted at MB Roland's online store!

 

Willow Creek Distillery Releases Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Willow Creek Distillery Straight Bourbon

Willow Creek Distillery in Paso Robles, California, has released its first-ever straight bourbon. The artisanal spirit was aged for two years in new charred American oak barrels. The bourbon is the latest spirit to come from Willow Creek Distillery, which was established by sister winery Opolo Vineyards in 2013.

Read the full story here.

Three Boys Farm Distillery Changes Name Back To Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.

After a decade of distilling bourbon on a 127-acre working farm in Franklin County, Kentucky, Three Boys Farm Distillery is going back to its old name, Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., according to a news release. Whiskey Thief is the original brand of bourbon distilled on site. Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. is the first Kentucky distillery to offer every visitor a single-barrel experience with the opportunity to fill their own bottle. 

Read the full story here. 

Five Facts About Austin’s Up-And-Coming Local Distillery, Fierce Whiskers

Image courtesy of Fierce Whiskers website.

The Austin Chronicle’s Wayne Alan Brenner gives us a view of Fierce Whiskers Distillery, an "up-and-coming spirits company" at 5333 Fleming in Southeast Austin.

1. Fierce Whiskers was founded by Houston natives Tri Vo and Tim Penney.
2. Fierce Whiskers' bright array of equipment is anchored by a copper pot still from Vendome Copper and Brass Works out of Louisville, Kentucky.
3. Sept. 24 of this year was the first time the company ever sold a bottle.
4. Fierce Whiskers is often promoted as an Asian-owned business.
5. The company's name is from a comment by Rutherford B. Hayes in 1849: "Austin is an inconsiderable village with large expectations … full of discharged 'Rangers' … costumes of every variety … fierce whiskers, gaming, and drinking very abounding in all quarters."

Read the full facts and story here.

UPROXX Ranks Every Standard Bottle Of The Jim Beam Whiskey Line

Image courtesy of Jim Beam website.

Zach Johnston with UPROXX ranks “all eight bottles of Jim Beam that you can pick up on pretty much any shelf, nationwide (and internationally), right now.”

“Look, these bottles are crazy cheap all things considered. It’s 2022 and a good $20 bottle of whiskey is getting a little harder and harder to find these days. What’s amazing about Jim Beam is that you could go to your local liquor store and buy all eight of these bottles and still spend less than what you’d likely pay for a single “premium” expression which, honestly, isn’t going to be that much better.”

Here is a look at numbers eight through five.

For the full list, including Zach's tasting notes, click here.

Woodford Reserve Unveils Their 2022 Holiday Bottle.

Woodford Reserve has introduced its 2022 Holiday Bottle in preparation of this year's gift-giving season. This edition of this yearly launch comes with a gold label. The bottle includes a festively-decorated version of Woodford Reserve's regular bourbon expression.

Woodford Reserve Holiday Bottle 2022.

“A Woodford Reserve holiday bottle is the perfect gift for any whiskey lover,” says Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris. “This bottle is guaranteed to put everyone in the holiday spirit and will stand out beautifully on a bar cart.”

With a suggested retail price of $50, the one-liter Woodford Reserve holiday bottle is offered for purchase all around the world. It may also be found on Reserve Bar.

Great Lakes Bourbon Boat?

We’ve seen river-aged whiskey, ocean-aged bourbon and whiskeys aged while being hauled in trucks across America's roadways. Now we have Great Lake-aged bourbon. Green Bay’s WBAY profiles Kerry Shaw Brown and his Unbound Spirits in Oconomowoc.

Kerry initially imagined this moment years ago, when he couldn't find the good bourbon he was looking for and began to wonder.

“Could I blend a series of bourbons and create something that was really complex and refined, but still a really smooth type of sipping bourbon,” questioned Kerry.

Image courtesy of Unbound Spirits website.

Kerry has spent the last five years making at least two dozen different batches of bourbon. He wanted an aggressive aging method, one that could age the bourbon years in just a few months. Following his ancestors path as Great Lakes captains, he turned to a charter boat, named The Kinndred. Once the six 15-gallon casks of bourbon were loaded onto The Kinndred and placed in her berth, the waves of Lake Michigan awaited. Three months later, and countless charter fishing trips by The Kinndred, the day Kerry had been waiting for was finally here.

Kerry named his whiskey The Maelstrom, a reference to the famed whirlpool off the coast of Norway known for “eating boats.”

Read the full story here.

UPROXX Blind Tasted And Ranked Affordable & Good Bourbon Whiskey

UPROXX’s Zach Johnston blind taste-tested and ranked 10 of the most recognizable and affordable bourbons on the shelf. Those cheap straight bourbons that actually win awards and make those subjective “underrated” lists all the time. These are all bottles that are also still gettable and affordable (depending on where you live). 

Bottles tested were: Maker’s Mark, Old Tub, Elijah Craig Small Batch, Wild Turkey 101, Benchmark Small Batch, Heaven Hill Old Style Bourbon 6 Years Old, Jim Beam Single Barrel, George Dickel Bourbon Whisky Aged 8 Years, Weller Special Reserve, and 1792 Small Batch.

Here's a peek at bottles 10 through 7.

For the full list, including Zach's tasting notes, click here.

Latest Buzz in the World of Mead, Volume 01, Issue 08

Hey there my fellow mead connoisseurs. We are back with another issue of the Latest Buzz. It has been a while since we’ve had an update but it’s not from lack of trying. There just doesn’t seem to be an abundance of mead news floating around out there. But I did manage to find some so without further adieu, let’s rundown the topics for this edition. Getting us started is  the announcement for Washington’s 2nd Annual Mead Fest featuring 9 different meaderies. Then we have the latest on Fitzgibbon Meadery, Loew Vineyards, W A Meadwerks, and new releases from B. Nektar. So grab your favorite mead, enjoy a quick read, and have a wonderful day! Skål!

Washington's 2nd Annual Fall Mead Festival at Skål Beer Hall

Plan on heading out to Seattle's Skål Beer Hall on Sunday, October 30th for a celebration of Washington Mead! Nine local meaderies will be on hand to pour their Fall favorites. Come mead the makers, sample a variety of meads, and take home a bottle or two! 

Participating Mead Makers include: 

• Æsir Meadery - Everett, WA 
• Artivem Mead - Bellingham, WA 
• Ethereal Mead - Battleground, WA 
• Hierophant Mead - Freeland, WA 
• Contrivance Mead - Tukwila, WA 
• Oppegaard Meadery - Tukwila, WA 
• Thunderland Mead - Duvall, WA 
• Sky River Mead - Redmond, WA 
• BeeHaven Mead - Tukwila, WA

Skål Beer Hall is located at 5429 Ballard Avenue Northwest, Seattle, WA 98107. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

 

Fitzgibbon Meadery Brings Authentic Mead to Ellwood City, PA

Image Courtesy of Fitzgibbon Meadery

When Eric and Misa McAnallen first met, both were into medieval culture and reenactments with a closet full of medieval costumes. On a trip to Tennessee in 2019, the pair visited a Nashville meadery (Honeytree?) which inspired them to open their own place. The two opened their own meadery to sell their products in 2020 as Fitzgibbon Meadery at 536 Lawrence Ave. in Ellwood City. Fitzgibbon Meadery is inspired by Norse and Viking mythology. “It’s not terribly realistic, but it’s fun,” Misa said. Since their opening, their products have won eight awards, including seven this year.

For the full story, click here.

MD Winemaker Creating Her Own History

Image Courtesy of Loew Vineyards

In March 1982, William and Lois Loew purchased a 37-acre tract in Frederick County, planted grapes, and by 1986, they were selling their first bottles of wine. When her grandfather died in April, Rachel Loew Lipman, 29, was already working full-time at Loew Vineyards in Mt. Airy, Maryland.

While Lois remains the winery's owner, Lipman is keen to resuscitate the business and use it as a vehicle to communicate the family story, which spans multiple generations of wine and mead producers.

So learning a few weeks ago that two of the Loew meads had been acknowledged in multiple competitions couldn't have come at a better time. Its Klara mead, named for Klara Margulies Löw, "the lovely mother of our co-founder, William Loew," was a 2022 Maryland Governor's Cup gold medal winner and the Jack Aellen Award winner for the best fruit wine, mead, or cider. Meanwhile, the Malka, a traditional mead, won a gold medal in both the Maryland Governor's Cup and the Valkyries Horn Mead competitions.

For the full story, click here.

W A Meadwerks in Lindenhurst Moving Tasting Room Into Its Production Space

Image courtesy of W A Meadwerks/Facebook

Roger Wanner, a co-founder of W A Meadwerks in Lindenhurst, NY, confirmed earlier this month his meadery is not closing, but rather relocating. W A Meadwerks will remain in Lindenhurst Village, according to Wanner, and the tasting room at 26 West Hoffman Ave. will be relocated to the company's manufacturing site at 290 N. Wellwood Ave.

Wanner stated that the intention is to fully reopen the tasting room in the North Wellwood Ave. storefront by the end of the year. Customers can also anticipate new meads, adjustments to W A Meadwerks' tasting and flight programs, as well as an expanded food menu.

Meanwhile, W A Meadwerks is planning a brunch fundraiser for the Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition, according to Wanner. The "Bees for Boobs" event will take place at W A Meadwerks' tasting room on October 23 from 1-6 p.m. Participants can enjoy mead and food, enter a 50/50 raffle, and participate in a Chinese auction.

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B. Nektar Announces New Releases

B. Nektar, everyone's favorite Ferndale, MI, meadery, announced their latest releases in an email blast.

Dark Dark Goose, 16.9% ABV
This one time, we tasted some coffee... and then we made a honey wine with the coffee... and then we aged it in a bourbon barrel... and then we went on a road trip to pick up an imperial stout barrel... and then we put it on top of the car... and then we drove home... and then we put the honey wine in the stout barrel... and it was so good... and then we made some for you.

Ain't Misb.havin', 14.4% ABV
B. Nektar's collaboration with Misbeehavin' Meadery
Starring Orange Blossom Honey, Pineapple Puree, Raspberry Puree, Raspberry Juice, Pineapple Juice, Natural Ginger Extract. Producers Brad Dahlhofer and Clint Wadsworth

Black Fang, 6% ABV
Don't be afraid. We're going to give you the choice to accept this dark gift. The mead is the life, and it can be yours. The seductive honey, clove, and orange zest penetrate the flood of blackberry in this forbidden libation. You never know what life was until it ran out in a cold black rush over your tongue. Drink up and meet your maker.

Eyeball, 16% ABV
They watch, but they do not see. They hear, but they do not listen. Don't think you are anonymous, however. Your digital fingerprints are everywhere, revealing all of your likes, fears, and secrets. Watch yourself, and stay in line. BigBrother is watching us, but are we watching him? Open your eyes and speak out.

For all the latest, or to order a bottle or five, visit B. Nektars website.