Back with another BBB and this time we are blurbing... Blurbing? Is blurbing an actual word? Hmmm... well, it is now. Where were we? Oh yeah... This time we are blurbing about Woodinville Whiskey Company, Green River Distilling Co., Ben Holladay Distillery, Uncle Nearest, and Breuckelen Distilling. We're also looking at Buzzard’s Roost, World Whisky Awards, Northcross Irish Whiskey from Latitude Beverage, Stellum Black Hunter’s Moon, and The Lone Cyprus plus I Bourbon. We also revel in a few factoids about Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr., blurbs on Doc Howard’s Distillery, Pouncey Twins open Tropical Distillers, a national bourbon investigation, the TC Bourbon Fest, and more. So grab a drink and dive in before the big game.
5 Up and Coming Bourbon Brands You Need to Know About in 2023
This article from Whiskey Raiders highlights five up-and-coming bourbon brands to look out for in 2023. These brands include Woodinville Whiskey Company, Green River Distilling Co., Ben Holladay Distillery, Uncle Nearest, and Breuckelen Distilling. Each brand has its own unique history and flavor profile, ranging from the rapidly expanding Woodinville Whiskey Company with the support of LVMH, to the historic Ben Holladay Distillery, to the award-winning Uncle Nearest. Breuckelen Distilling is also noted for its focus on producing high-quality craft spirits in Brooklyn. This article provides a starting point for anyone looking to discover new bourbon brands. Read the full article HERE.
Buzzard’s Roost Whiskey Lands a Nest on Whiskey
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| Buzzard’s Roost Lineup of Barrel Finished Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys |
Buzzard's Roost Sipping Whiskey, a startup whiskey brand, has found a new home in Louisville, Kentucky's famous Whiskey Row. The brand takes fully aged, sourced bourbon and rye whiskies and re-barrels them for approximately 90 days using a second barrel created using specific seasoning, toasting, and charring methods. Their new home will include a micro-distillery, retail space, bar, and tasting room. The micro-distillery will produce about a barrel per day or from five to seven barrels of new-make bourbon or rye per week. The distillation process will start with a 70-gallon doubler and the whiskey will be finished in the doubler before being matured using unique barrel combinations. The facility will also have a bar for tastings, a small retail space, and a classroom on the second floor for educational purposes. Buzzard's Roost has a three-phase plan, with Phase 1 being the launch of the brand, Phase 2 being the opening of a bricks and mortar homeplace, and Phase 3 being the ownership of their own distillery in the future. Read the full article HERE.
The World’s Best American Whiskeys
24 American whiskeys won awards at the recent World Whisky Awards, with 5 being named "World's Best" and 19 being named "Best." Three of the top five American whiskeys were from craft distillers outside of Kentucky and Tennessee, where most American whiskeys are made. The top prize, World's Best Bourbon, went to The Representative Small Batch Bourbon bottled by Proof and Wood Ventures, a spirits company based in Connecticut. The whiskey was distilled at MGP in Indiana and has a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. The World's Best Finished Bourbon was Ironroot Republic, Apotheosis from a Texas-based distillery. The World's Best Single Barrel Bourbon was Tumblin Dice, Single Barrel, another brand from Proof and Wood Ventures sourced from MGP. The World's Best Small Batch Bourbon was Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922 and the World's Best Tennessee Whiskey was Jack Daniel's Bonded. Other awards went to Breckenridge Distillery and Ironroot Republic. Read the full article HERE.
Latitude Beverage Is Launching Northcross Irish Whiskey
Boston-based company Latitude Beverage is launching Northcross Irish Whiskey, with its first product being Triple Wood. The whiskey comes from Ireland's Great Northern Distillery and is made by experienced Irish whiskey maker John Teeling. It is bottled at 43% alcohol and is not chill filtered. The aging process took place in ex-Bourbon barrels, Oloroso Sherry casks, and virgin American Oak. The suggested retail price is $25 and it will be available for purchase online in most states, with the first retail distribution starting in nine states: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.
Stellum Black Hunter’s Moon and The Lone Cyprus
Stellum Spirits has added two new Black Label specialty blends, Hunter's Moon bourbon and The Lone Cyprus rye, to its collection of limited edition offerings. The blends are created using an alternate profile compared to standard Stellum releases and include older reserve barrels. Hunter's Moon bourbon is an oak-forward blend with aromas of creamed corn, dried vanilla bean, sawdust, and butterscotch. On the palate, it has a dark caramel sweetness, cinnamon toast, red chili heat, and a dry finish of pralines and RedHots. The Lone Cyprus rye has an earthy aroma with green tea and pine resin, followed by rosemary, fresh citrus, cinnamon, pepper, and peach candies. On the palate, it has a balance of sweet and savory flavors with notes of sea salt, orange peel, ripe peach, wintergreen, and a warming peppery heat. The finish is generous with sweet grass and green apple Jolly Ranchers notes. Hunter's Moon bourbon has a proof of 115.52 and retails for $100, while The Lone Cyprus rye has a proof of 115.34 and is also priced at $100. Read the full article HERE.
I Bourbon?
I. Bourbon is a blend of three Tennessee-distilled bourbons aged for 5, 6, and 13 years, made from 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. The whiskey is bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky, but not billed as Tennessee whiskey. The whiskey has a sweet aroma of peanuts and popcorn, butterscotch and caramel. On the palate, it has a strong corn flavor with a light sprinkle of rye-driven spice and an applesauce finish. The whiskey is considered enjoyable but is priced a bit high for what it offers ($60 SRP). It has a proof of 86 and the bottle is a nice design, with the name "I" embossed on the back and just "bourbon" on the front. Read the full article HERE.
9 Things You Should Know About E.H. Taylor, Jr.
Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. played a significant role in the history of bourbon. His commitment to high-quality spirits revolutionized both production and marketing of bourbon. His life was filled with turmoil, including a career in politics and scandalous business practices, but the quality of his bourbon never wavered. Today, Taylor is honored with his own line of whiskey, E.H. Taylor, Jr., produced at the Buffalo Trace distillery using some of the same practices he introduced. The full line of E.H. Taylor, Jr. whiskey includes 12 varieties, with the flagship being bottled in bond small-batch bourbon, honoring Taylor's role in the Bottled in Bond Act. The demand for E.H. Taylor, Jr. whiskey exceeds the supply, leading to limited availability and high prices. Warehouse C, one of Taylor's original warehouses, is still in use at the Buffalo Trace distillery. After being passed between companies for several decades, the Old Taylor distillery and E.H. Taylor, Jr. brand was finally brought back to Buffalo Trace in 2009. To read the full article on Vine Pair (and see all 9 factoids), click HERE.
Doc Howard’s Distillery Changes Ownership
Doc Howard's Distillery, located in Perry Township, Lake County, has new owners in the form of Anthony Schimizzi and Ron Johnston. The duo plans to keep the distillery's focus on whiskey, just as the previous owner, Ken Howard, did. Howard established the distillery in 2016 and made seven types of whiskey that are available in liquor stores in Cleveland. Schimizzi and Johnston formed a partnership after Howard suggested they work together due to their complementary skills and shared vision. They are now in charge of the distillery's operations and are learning the recipes for the spice and maple rums, as well as the seven whiskeys. They have also ordered a new still and are working on improving their distilling skills. The tasting room is open on Fridays and Saturdays, and they plan to change the name and create a new label in the future. You can find the full article
HERE.
Former NFLers, The Pouncey Twins, Open Tropical Distillers
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| Courtesy of Tropical Distillers |
This seems like a fitting story for Superbowl Sunday. The Pouncey twins (Mike and Maurkice), who are former NFL All-Pros, have opened up a new distillery called Tropical Distillers in Allapattah, Florida. This 8,000-square-foot establishment offers a range of liqueurs, including espresso, mango, lemon-lime, and soon to come, lychee. The brothers aim to create whiskey that they can enjoy rather than spending money on other brands. The whiskey they created honors the teams they have played for, including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins. At the distillery, visitors can see the process of bottling, labeling, and aging of the whiskey, as well as the fine details that have been put into the space. Tours of the distillery are available for $25 and include a five-spirit tasting experience, with pick-up locations across Miami. The brothers have also set up a merch store at the distillery, where visitors can purchase merchandise. You can read the full article HERE.
High-Profile Kentucky Liquor Store Raid Linked to National Bourbon Investigation
A recent raid on two bourbon stores in Kentucky may be part of a larger investigation into illegal bourbon shipments across state lines. The raid, which took place at Justin’s House of Bourbon locations in Louisville, is believed to be linked to a national investigation into illegal alcohol transportation. A report filed in Washington, D.C. mentions 11 alleged violations in multiple states, including the illegal importing of alcohol from outside the U.S. and its transport into D.C. illegally. D.C. investigators are working with alcohol agencies in Kentucky, Texas, and Pennsylvania, and have seized numerous bottles of Blanton’s single-barrel bourbon. No charges have been filed yet and the number of individuals, businesses, or products involved in illegal activity has not been disclosed. The full article can be found HERE.
Traverse City Prepares For First TC Bourbon Fest
The inaugural TC Bourbon Fest is taking place on Saturday, February 18th at Visions Weddings & Banquets on West Bay Shore Drive. The festival offers a chance to sample over 200 bourbons, whiskeys, cocktails, and high-end bottle selections. Attendees can expect a mix of well-known industry players as well as local establishments like Traverse City Whiskey. The event also includes beer, wine, nonalcoholic drinks, food trucks and live music. Ticket prices start at $50 and include a souvenir glass and 10 tasting tickets. The proceeds from the event will go towards Friends of the River, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving water quality and access on Michigan rivers. Learn more at traversecitybourbonfest.com.
And our final blurb has nothing to do with bourbon or mead...
Superbowl Sunday Alpaca Party in Austin?
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The Chawar alpacas in Marfa. Chawar
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Chawar, a South American distillery, is inviting the public to a pop-up event at the South Congress store Noah Marion on Sunday, February 12th, from 12pm to 4pm During the event, visitors will be able to sample Chawar's Ecuadorian agave spirit, miske, and spend time with alpacas. This pop-up offers a unique chance to experience both the liquor and the animals, making for a memorable and enjoyable afternoon. Read the original article HERE.
That wraps up this edition of triple-B. Hopefully you enjoyed it. Have a great Superbowl Sunday and enjoy the game. Raise a glass and tell me who you're cheering for in the game.
