Month: March 2022

NEW RELEASE: Bardstown Bourbon Co Releases Dual Series, Fusion #7 and Discovery #7

Bardstown Bourbon Co Discovery and Fusion SeriesThe Field of Dreams whiskey maker Bardstown Bourbon Company has just released two new bottlings from their sought-after Fusion and Discovery expressions. Fusion Series #7 and Discovery Series #7 are now available at the distillery, and distributed in 20 markets across the country. Both expressions highlight complex mashbills and explore the art of modern bourbon blending. […]

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Bardstown Bourbon Co Discovery and Fusion Series

The Field of Dreams whiskey maker Bardstown Bourbon Company has just released two new bottlings from their sought-after Fusion and Discovery expressions. Fusion Series #7 and Discovery Series #7 are now available at the distillery, and distributed in 20 markets across the country. Both expressions highlight complex mashbills and explore the art of modern bourbon blending.

The Discovery Series was designed to showcase the art of blending with an emphasis on old and rare whiskies sourced from a variety of origins. Discovery Series #7 is no exception, which for the first time incorporates not only aged bourbons and rye, but also features aged Canadian Whiskey sourced from Ontario. This is the first time the series reaches into international territory, pushing the boundaries of contemporary bourbon blending practices.

“The Canadian Whisky blends beautifully with the bourbon and rye, adding a subtle sweetness and rounded finish,” said Dan Callaway, Vice President, Hospitality & Product Development. “With our Discovery Series, we continue to push boundaries through innovation, passionately pursuing new flavor.” 

Discovery #7 includes three aged straight bourbon whiskies blended with rye and Canadian whiskey to create a smooth and complex expression. As noted by the brand, baked cherry with a touch of mint rests on a rich raspberry genoise. A creamy, round mouthfeel highlighted by baked apple and brown sugar leads to a luxurious, lasting finish. Discovery Series #7 is presented at 114.5 proof and offered at an SRP of $139.99.

The Fusion Series bridges the past and the future through blending older sourced whiskies with more recently distilled stock produced by the company at its Bardstown, Kentucky distillery. The journey of the unique series has been to see the changing product as the Bardstown Bourbon Co. bourbon ages, becoming more prominent in the blends over time. Fusion series releases show a range of mash bills across the selected aged products and includes corn, rye, wheat and malted barley. 

Fusion #7 is 70 percent three-year-aged bourbon produced by Bardstown Bourbon Co. and 30 percent twelve-year-aged sourced whiskey. It includes five distinct mashbills – three from three-year-old Bardstown Bourbon Co. distilled whiskey and two from 12-year-old sourced stock. As noted by the brand, exquisite contrast of vibrant nectarine with toasted almond and honey leads to cedar and rich toffee with light tannin on the palate. An elegant finish showcases the delightful balance between youthful and aged Kentucky Bourbon. Fusion #7 is presented at 98.1 proof and is offered at a suggested retail price of $64.99.

Discovery #7 

Three aged straight bourbon whiskies, blended with an Indiana rye and Canadian whiskey to create a smooth and unique expression.

31 percent – 12-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon 

75 percent corn

13 percent rye

12 percent malted barley

21 percent – 12-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon

78 percent corn

10 percent rye

12 percent malted barley

21 percent – 12-year-old Canadian whiskey from Ontario

100 percent corn

15 percent – 7-year-old Indiana straight rye whiskey

45 percent corn

51 percent rye

4 percent malted barley

8 percent – 17-year-old Tennessee straight bourbon

84 percent corn

8 percent rye

8 percent malted barley

Fusion #7

Bardstown Bourbon Co Fusion Series #7
BBCo Fusion Series #7

The Fusion series celebrates the blending of newer and older bourbons to create something unique. The younger spirits, distilled and aged by Bardstown Bourbon Company and aged three years are mellowed with hand-selected, supremely aged sourced bourbon. Fusion #7 includes five distinct mash bills.

54 percent – 3-year-old Bardstown Bourbon Company bourbon

75 percent corn

21 percent rye

4 percent malted barley

10 percent – 3-year-old Bardstown Bourbon company bourbon

60 percent corn

40 percent rye

6 percent –  3-year-old Bardstown Bourbon Company bourbon

60 percent corn

26 percent rye

10 percent wheat

4 percent malted barley

20 percent – 12-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon

78 percent corn

10 percent rye

12 percent malted barley

10 percent – 10-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon

75 percent corn

13 percent rye

12 percent malted barley

About Bardstown Bourbon Company:  

Founded in 2014 by Peter Loftin in the heart of Bourbon Country on 100 acres of active farmland, Bardstown Bourbon Company, 1500 Parkway Drive, Bardstown, Ky., is one of the country’s most modern and technically advanced whiskey distilleries. Celebrating the art of making high-quality, authentic bourbons, the innovative distillery produces custom rye, whiskey and bourbon for prominent brands including High West, Belle Meade, Hirsch and many others through its one-of-a-kind collaborative distilling program. Bardstown Bourbon Company honors tradition and drives innovation with their exceptional destination experience for visitors, offering the only full-service restaurant located within a distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, The Kitchen and Bar at Bardstown Bourbon Company.

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9th Annual BourbonGuy.com Bottom-Shelf Bourbon Brackets: 2022 Championship Rounds

W…

IMAGE: 1.75 L bottles of Evan Williams 1783, Winchester, Banker's Club, McFarlane's Reserve, Old Crow, Four Roses, Colonel Lee & Evan Williams Bottled in Bond. Winchester, McFarlane's Reserve, Old Crow & Colonel Lee have large Xs over them.

Welcome back, folks! We come now to the end of the 2022 contest. Eight bourbons entered the arena. Four have fallen by the wayside. There have been some delicious treats and there have been some real stinkers. Let’s see how it all ends and see if we’ve learned anything along the way. First, we have the Round Two matchups.

Division 1: Arctic Mama (Evan Williams Bottled in Bond) vs Giant Charmer (Four Roses)

Thoughts: Giant Charmer has a nicer nose. Nothing wrong with Arctic Mama, but Giant Charmer is fruity and creamy which I really like in a bourbon. Arctic Mama is spicy on the mouth with notes of caramel and vanilla. Giant Charmer is spicy on the mouth with notes of mint and fruit. Arctic Mama has a nicer finish, showing lots of baking spice. Arctic Mama (Evan Williams Bottled in Bond) advances on the strength of that lovely finish.

Division 2: Fire Pirate (Banker's Club) vs. Quark Juggler (Evan Williams 1783)

Thoughts: The nose on Fire Pirate initially presented more grain notes and Quark Juggler initially presented more spice, but after a moment they both settled in and became very similar. Fire Pirate has a thinner mouthfeel and shows more grains notes. Quark Juggler is spicier and sweeter with a nicer mouthfeel and finish. Quark Juggler (Evan Williams 1783) advances to the Championship. Nothing wrong with Fire Pirate though. Nothing at all.

Championship Round: Quark Juggler (Evan Williams 1783) vs. Arctic Mama (Evan Williams Bottled in Bond)

The noses are very similar with Quark Juggler being slightly mintier while Arctic Mama is slightly fruitier. Arctic Mama is fruity and spicy on the mouth. Quark Juggler shows a lot of baking spice and some mint on the mouth. Arctic Mama wins a squeaker. It is a very well-rounded bourbon whereas Quark Juggler seems more focused on the spice. Both are very tasty and either would be an easy winner against other competition.

Congrats to Arctic Mama! Evan Williams Bottled in Bond is the 2022 Bottom-Shelf Champion!

IMAGE: Evan Williams Bottled in Bond is the 2022 Bottom Shelf Champion!

Lessons Learned:

This was an interesting contest for me. When I decided to set myself the restriction to only include bourbons that were sold by the handle and only for less than $35, I eliminated a lot of the usual candidates. There was nothing from Buffalo Trace, Sazerac did have one entry in Colonel Lee, but it certainly isn’t one of their best offerings. Beam only offered Old Crow in the price/format needed for this contest. All their Jim Beam branded offerings were too pricy in this market. Same with Wild Turkey. Usually I’d be able to at least get the 81 proof release, but it was not in stock at the stores that carry it at a low enough price.

All that left me scrambling to fill four slots. I was in the process of rethinking this crazy plan—which I really only implemented because I found a handle of the new 1783 on sale for $29.99 and I wanted all the bottles the same size so the photos would look better—when I wandered into Total Wine and decided that I could probably take a look at a few items that I really could only find there. So I ended up with four contestants that I’d never before included in the contest and three that I’d never even tasted before. That kind of thing is fun for me. At least before the first sips.

So what did I learn about each of these?

With Evan Williams Bottled in Bond and Evan Williams 1783 meeting in the Championship, they prove once again that if you are looking for inexpensive bourbon, grab a Heaven Hill product. You have the best odds of getting something really tasty for not a lot of money with them.

Four Roses finally got out of the first round on their fourth try. I really like their “Beige Label” standard bourbon, but when you put it head to head with other products in the price range they are hampered by their signature mellowness. On it’s own? Delicious. But put it against a Bonded bourbon and it just can’t compete. You better believe that I’m still going to finish the handle though.

McFarlane’s Reserve lost in the only upset. And that was a huge surprise for me. For the price, I expected more. I honestly don’t understand the description that it got from my buddy Fred Minnick. In a completely blind tasting, I thought it was the worst thing in the contest. It pains me to dump a $35 handle, but there is now way this is going back in my mouth. I even liked the TerrePURE entry better.

And speaking of the TerrePURE entry, let’s skip ahead to Winchester. This was one that I hesitated on including. It claims to be a straight bourbon, but much like the conversation around flavored bourbons and their status as even being a bourbon, does the TerrePURE process constitute “flavoring” (thus disqualifying it as even being a bourbon, much less a straight bourbon)? But then, I figured I was overthinking things. If they got it approved as straight bourbon, and they want to compete with straight bourbons, then who am I to let keep them out of a silly little contest on a small whiskey blog? To the surprise of no one in this house, when the winners of each contest were revealed, Winchester didn’t make it out of the first round. It was just too unpleasant, minty and…weird.

I learned nothing from Old Crow. The last time I included it in the contest, I stated that I would never buy it again…I should have stuck with that philosophy because I’m probably dumping this bottle too. When I said: “if you had never had bourbon, had it described for you by someone who didn't like it, and then tried to make a bourbon using only their description as a guide, you would make this bourbon” I think I was being generous.

As long as we are on the topic of bottles to be dumped, let’s look at Colonel Lee. I like bourbons from Barton. I like all of their flagships. Very Old Barton and 1792 are very tasty bourbons. But Colonel Lee is just bad. Not as bad as Mc Farlane’s Reserve or Old Crow, but not much better either. At least Colonel Lee tastes like bourbon, bad bourbon, but still bourbon. It might taste like the bourbon you take multiple rounds of shots of just before bar close, but that is still bourbon. Old Crow merely resembled bourbon and McFarlane’s Reserve tasted like buttered raisins…that’s not a bourbon flavor.

So now the final, and the most surprising, contestant: Banker’s Club Bourbon. Banker’s Club is a line of spirits sold by Laird’s (the AppleJack people). It has gin, vodka, bourbon, etc in the line. Think of it like a Seagram’s, Mr. Boston, or Fleischmann’s line. Some of everything, none of it high-end enough to be worthy of its own brand name. Banker’s Club was the least expensive entry in the contest. In fact, it is the least expensive entry in the nine years we have been doing this contest. You’d have to round up to make one cent per milliliter. That’s a very inexpensive bourbon. And it’s decent. Not like, drink- it-neat-in-a-Glencairn decent. But certainly throw-it-in-a-whiskey-sour or use-it-with-coke decent. Heck I won’t be dumping the bottle. I’ll probably mix it with higher proof and more flavorful bourbons to make them last longer. I’m super impressed with this one.

Overall this was a fun contest. It ended up right about where I would have guessed and I got a few surprises along the way. And heck I even like trying bad bourbon once in a while. It’s fun to know what not to buy too. Though, with three of dumpable bourbons in the mix this time around, I’m thinking that I’ll be happy to switch to tasting the top-shelf Barton and Heaven Hill samples that have been stacking up while the contest has been running.

Once again congrats to Heaven Hill and their Arctic Mama, Evan Williams Bottled in Bond!

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NEW RELEASE: Kentucky Owl’s “The Wiseman” Straight Rye Whiskey is Hitting Soon

Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Straight Rye WhiskeyKentucky Owl, HQ’d in Bardstown, KY, has announced the second release in “The Wiseman” series, a new straight rye whiskey available in April across the U.S. The new whiskey joins The Wiseman Bourbon released by Kentucky Owl® in September 2021 and named one of Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 and Bourbon Review’s Top 10 whiskies of the year. The […]

The post NEW RELEASE: Kentucky Owl’s “The Wiseman” Straight Rye Whiskey is Hitting Soon appeared first on The Bourbon Review.

Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Straight Rye Whiskey

Kentucky Owl, HQ’d in Bardstown, KY, has announced the second release in “The Wiseman” series, a new straight rye whiskey available in April across the U.S.

The new whiskey joins The Wiseman Bourbon released by Kentucky Owl® in September 2021 and named one of Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 and Bourbon Review’s Top 10 whiskies of the year.

The Wiseman Straight Rye is a 95% rye mash bill selected by Kentucky Owl Master Blender John Rhea. Bottled at 100.8 proof, The Wiseman Straight Rye has a rich and spicy nose with hints of fresh rye bread and slight hints of sweet caramel and cinnamon (notes provided by KO). The spicy character instantly fills the mouth with rich rye flavor with a long finish that starts as fresh rye bread and slowly moves towards buttered cinnamon toast and ends with a hint of English walnut. 

“Following the successful launch and customer response to our Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Straight Bourbon, we’re delighted to quickly follow this with the launch of Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Rye. We’re confident our customers will also love this product — it is exciting times ahead with Kentucky Owl.”

– NIK KEANE, GLOBAL CATEGORY LEADER at Stoli

This is the third Kentucky Owl release under Rhea, who previously served as Four Roses Distillery’s chief operating officer, where his responsibilities included quality control, maturation, evaluation and product blending. He was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2016 and served as chair of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association board of directors.

Stoli Group purchased Kentucky Owl in 2017. Originally founded by C.M. Dedman in 1879, the Kentucky Owl Bardstown distillery went dark during the Prohibition era and remained dormant until a descendant revived the brand in 2014. Since then, the company’s small batch releases have sold out quickly and received rave reviews. 

The Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Straight Rye (100.8 proof/50.4% ABV, $60 MSRP/750mL), is the latest addition to the Kentucky Owl portfolio. The Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Straight Rye will soon be available starting in April at a limited number of retailers across the brand’s national distribution footprint.

More info available at www.kentuckyowlbourbon.com.

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Review / Mackmyra Limousin

This whisky is the latest seasonal limited edition release from the Swedish single malt distillery of Mackmyra. The Mackmyra Limousin is a limited edition that features ex-Cognac barrels from Pierre Ferrand. Ferrand is one of France’s oldest Cognac hou…


This whisky is the latest seasonal limited edition release from the Swedish single malt distillery of Mackmyra. The Mackmyra Limousin is a limited edition that features ex-Cognac barrels from Pierre Ferrand. Ferrand is one of France's oldest Cognac houses and was founded in 1702. These barrels are made of the renowned Limousin oak, a sub-species of European oak that is often used to mature Cognac eaux-de-vie and Bordeaux wines. Ferrand barrels are made to a specific size of 270 litres for the brand. Other casks featured in the recipe include ex-bourbon, ex-Oloroso sherry, virgin American oak, plus Swedish ex-cherry wine and ex-forest raspberry wine.

Mackmyra was founded in 1999 by eight friends who decided to build Sweden's first single malt distillery. The original distillery was replaced in 2012 by a larger new eco-friendly distillery in the town of Gävle. This state-of-the-art distillery is 37 metres high, cost an estimated £50 million to build and uses gravity during production - malted barley is fed in the top and new make spirit comes out of the bottom. The distillery has won an Icon of Whisky award for sustainability. The annual production capacity is around 525,000 litres.

The Mackmyra Limousin is released at 46.1% ABV and there are just 16,000 bottles. These will be available in selected worldwide markets including Germany, Sweden and the UK. A bottle will cost £60/ €70/ 730 SEK.  

Our tasting notes

The colour is vibrant gold and the nose is sweet, fruity and bright. Aromas of baked apple dusted with cinnamon and orange peel are joined by dried fruits (especially plump juicy sultanas), vanilla custard, white chocolate and a crack of black pepper. Underneath are hints of cocoa and freshly sawn oak.

On the palate the whisky is just as bright and vibrant. Distinct notes of candied orange peel and vanilla shortbread rise first and are quickly joined by raisins, sultanas and the baked apple from the nose. With a little time, further notes of over ripe pear, milk chocolate and gingerbread begin to evolve. Then comes something reminiscent of marzipan and peach. The combinations are delicious and have great depth and complexity. Late hints of caramel, citrus oil and pinches of cocoa powder and cinnamon round things off nicely.

The finish is of decent length and becomes more woody and spicy with time. This is especially true once the sweet and fruity elements begin to fade. The juicy dried fruits go first, then the sweet baked apple and finally the vanilla and chocolate. This leaves an increasing warmth and dryness.

What's the verdict?

We have long been big fans of what Mackmyra are doing, and their seasonal range in particular. They use it as an experimental platform to showcase less common cask types in particular. Pierre Ferrand is a Cognac house of fine repute, and their barrels really shine here. The result is a deliciously vibrant and Spring-like whisky that should prove to be a real crowdpleaser.


A Brief History of Whisky

So often it has been said that no companion could ever measure up to a glass of whisky. Let’s venture into the world of whisky and become members of the prestigious whisky club. The Origins Of Whisky Production Often referred to as the ‘nectar of the gods’ and for good reason, the origins of whisky …


(Credit: Michael Stern/Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0)

So often it has been said that no companion could ever measure up to a glass of whisky. Let’s venture into the world of whisky and become members of the prestigious whisky club.

The Origins Of Whisky Production

Often referred to as the ‘nectar of the gods’ and for good reason, the origins of whisky production are not known to many.

The earliest whisky distilleries date back to the late 1400s in Scotland. Scotch whisky, which can only be called scotch if it was made in Scotland, was first made in monasteries and used for medicinal purposes.

The ancient practice of distilling spirits, namely whisky, is rather fascinating and filled with a strong heritage.

It wasn’t long before the “water of life” was taxed by governments, in fact, in 1823 the excise act was put in place which sanctioned distilling whisky.

How Is Whisky Made?

There are multiple ingredients used in the production of whisky. Some of the most common are fermented grain mash or fermented mash, malted barley, rye grain or cereal grains.

Then comes the distillation, every distillery has a unique process but almost age their whiskey in wood barrels.

The aging process can be anywhere from 2-3 years up to 12 years for a high-quality whiskey.

Types Of Whisky

Whisky lovers around the world have their particular favourite when it comes to whisky. It’s not surprising that there are multiple varieties of whisky, unique to certain regions.

Irish Whiskey

Irish whisky, or whiskey, dates back more than 400 years! The oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world, the old Bushmills distillery, is located in Northern Ireland.

Irish whisky is typically triple distilled from unmalted barley, though some distilleries produce malt whisky. The flavour profile of Irish whiskey is light and slightly sweet.

Scotch Whisky

Typically known as Scotch is grain whisky or malt whisky. Although larger commercial distilleries started producing rye whisky towards the end of the 18th century.

The Scottish are known as some of the most prominent whisky connoisseurs. There are many distilleries in Scotland, more than 130 to give you an estimate. Single grain scotch whisky is made from cereal grains as opposed to only malted barley. The flavour profiles include oak, malt and smoke.

Blended whiskey is known to be delightfully aromatic with hints of caramel and vanilla.

Japanese whisky

Native to Japan, the local whisky industry produced some fine blended style whiskies in the 1870s. Blended whiskies from Japan are modelled similarly to scotch whiskies, by distilling malted barley which is then placed in wooden barrels.

American Whiskey

Bourbon is the whisky produced by American distillers. Bourbon is made primarily a corn whiskey. American blends are different to other whiskeys because bourbon is a grain whisky.

Bourbon is distinctly sweet when compared to other whiskies. Rye whiskey is another favourite that is similar in style to bourbon but must be distilled from rye grain.

How to Drink Irish Whisky

The whisky guide to enjoying these perfectly distilled spirits. Purists would always suggest drinking whiskey neat, and never adding ice.


(Credit: Richard Thomas)

Technically, there is no right or wrong way to drink whisky. Some would argue that adding a tiny bit of water tends to smoothen the taste, especially because of the high alcohol content.

Whiskeys vary drastically in taste but it’s advised that you at least try whiskey neat to fully immerse yourself in palatable sensation.

Whether you’re drinking Tennessee whiskey or Irish whisky, you’re privileged to enjoy a masterfully crafted drink of the ages.

Summary

The magic of whiskeys has been around for centuries and keeps touching mouths and hearts around the globe. The tradition behind whisky can be characterized by articulation and immense pride.

For many, whisky is the finest drink of them all. An absolute taste of perfection is an understatement.

It’s believed that the entire UK economy was on the backs of master crafters who envisioned whiskey to be the saviour of the nations.

Some even suggest that world wars have been waged and ended over a bottle of the finest scotch. Although it may all sound like hearsay, once you quench your lips on the nectar of the gods, you too will have a newfound respect and appreciation for the magical drink.

Becoming a member of the whisky club should be your easiest ‘yes’.

 

MSL Monthly Whiskey Picks – April 2022

The hosts of the Capital City Bourbon Show are thrilled to be teaming up with the gentlemen at the original Market Square Liquors in Tallahassee to offer monthly whiskey picks! Each month, Jon and I will each be selecting a bottle of whiskey to feature on this page. These picks may be barrel picks from … Continue reading MSL Monthly Whiskey Picks – April 2022

The post MSL Monthly Whiskey Picks – April 2022 appeared first on The Capital City Bourbon Blog.

The hosts of the Capital City Bourbon Show are thrilled to be teaming up with the gentlemen at the original Market Square Liquors in Tallahassee to offer monthly whiskey picks! Each month, Jon and I will each be selecting a bottle of whiskey to feature on this page. These picks may be barrel picks from Market Square, special releases, or just standard releases that we happen to be enjoying at the time. During that month, you can find these bottles at a special location inside Market Square Liquors at 1415 Timberlane Road in Tallahassee. Just look for the Capital City Bourbon sign and check out our monthly picks!

Luke’s Pick: MSL Woodford Reserve the Four Musketeers

What happens when only four members of the barrel team show up for a barrel pick, but all four members agree that Woodford gave you one damn fine barrel of whiskey? Well, you take that barrel and name it accordingly!

This Woodford single barrel is particularly unique and departs from the typical sweet Woodford profile that many of us know and some of us love. There is plenty of that classic Woodford vanilla and sweetness present, especially on the nose, but this barrel picked up a particularly spicy characteristic that really sets it apart from all the other barrels we tasted. This barrel is also heavier on the oak, which balances nicely with the spice and makes this pick a little bit more challenging on the palate. I’ve also found that this barrel works nicely in some cocktails that I would usually prefer with a rye character or a heavier oak presence, like a Manhattan.

Jon’s Pick: Wild Turkey 101

Wild Turkey 101 is an easy choice for my first Capital City Bourbon feature. You won’t find a more balanced and complete bourbon for twice the price. I’ve tasted it side-by-side with other bourbons many times. It never fails to rate at or near the top.


Wild Turkey 101 hits all the right notes and it presents as a bourbon at it’ peak of maturity. I enjoy it neat as a sipper with a perfectly complimenting Luxardo cherry. Ahhh, but there’s more! It finishes long and warm. Enjoy!

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Aberlour IB vs OB

Aberlour 12 yo 2008/2021 (52.3%, Maltbarn, sherry cask, 160 bottles)Aberlour 21 yo 1999/2020 (51.2%, OB, selected by La Maison du Whisky for Jack Tar, Poland, 1st fill American oak barrel, cask #3856, 156 bottles)

Aberlour 12 yo 2008/2021 (52.3%, Maltbarn, sherry cask, 160 bottles)
Aberlour 21 yo 1999/2020 (51.2%, OB, selected by La Maison du Whisky for Jack Tar, Poland, 1st fill American oak barrel, cask #3856, 156 bottles)

351 – How Marketing On The Road Built Brands Like Booker’s with Kathleen DiBenedetto of Beam Suntory – Part 2

Welcome back to Part 2 of my interview with Kathleen DiBenedetto. In […]

The post 351 – How Marketing On The Road Built Brands Like Booker’s with Kathleen DiBenedetto of Beam Suntory – Part 2 appeared first on BOURBON PURSUIT.



Welcome back to Part 2 of my interview with Kathleen DiBenedetto. In part 1, Kathleen shared some of her greatest memories with Booker as she learned the business inside and out from him. In part 2, Kathleen talks about her own successes in the industry from going on the road and leading the bourbon tastings herself to eventually have her own batch of Booker’s named after her. Kathleen oversaw the brands of Booker’s, Baker’s, and Knob Creek for many years and we talk about how marketing strategies changed when you enter the digital revolution.

Show Notes:

  • Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks steel and flasks.
  • Were you there when Booker’s began introducing different batch numbers?
  • Do remember when you received a phone call to come create your own batch of Booker’s?
  • When you started building brands can you talk about those early marketing tactics?
  • When you were on the road, was there ever a moment of shock?
  • Were you confident when you led your first tastings on the road?
  • Were you still taking care of the Booker’s, Baker’s, and Knob Creek brands when you get into the digital revolution?
  • What are the next brands people should be looking at?
  • @jimbeamofficial @knobcreek @knobcreekbourbon
  • Support this podcast on Patreon

The post 351 – How Marketing On The Road Built Brands Like Booker’s with Kathleen DiBenedetto of Beam Suntory – Part 2 appeared first on BOURBON PURSUIT.

March 22 Month In Review

Welcome to the March 2022 Columbus Bourbon recap. As always, A big thank you to all my readers! As a friendly reminder, follow ColumbusBourbon on Facebook and tell a friend.Miss Fiona being a goobThis month I posted 15 articles. The site saw …

Welcome to the March 2022 Columbus Bourbon recap. As always, A big thank you to all my readers! As a friendly reminder, follow ColumbusBourbon on Facebook and tell a friend.

Miss Fiona being a goob

This month I posted 15 articles. The site saw 10,000+ page-views, down from the 20,700 views in March of 2021. The site earned a bit over $20 in ad revenue.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support. 















Big Expectations for Hart Davis Hart’s Upcoming Whiskies Auction

Get the details including which bottles to target or HDH’s upcoming whisky auction beginning March 31st.

The post Big Expectations for Hart Davis Hart’s Upcoming Whiskies Auction appeared first on Whisky Advocate.

Hart Davis Hart (HDH) is expecting its fifth annual spirits auction to reach the highest value yet for an American whiskey sale. The Chicago-based auctioneer has valued some 2,189 lots of American whiskey, to be auctioned on March 31st – April 1st, at $1.9 million–$3 million. Hart Davis Hart entered the wine auction business in 2005, and expanded into spirits sales in March 2019. Macallan 50 year old Anniversary Malt was HDH’s biggest-ticket item of 2021, hitting 13th place on our list of Auction Houses’ Most Expensive Whiskies of last year.

Contenders for the most expensive bottle in this auction include a Colonel E.H. Taylor Old Fashioned Sour Mash Bourbon signed by Buffalo Trace Distillery master distiller Harlen Wheatley (est. $12,000–$18,000), an Old Rip Van Winkle 25 year old decanter (est. $12,000–$18,000), and a Twisted Spoke 16 year old distilled at Stitzel-Weller Distillery (est. $7,000–$10,000). A bottle of Twisted Spoke attracted bids of over $18,000 in 2021, so it could still be a frontrunner despite the lower pre-sale estimates. Outside the American whiskey space, The Macallan Fine & Rare 22 year old 1990 (est. $9,000-$14,000) is priced in keeping with the $13,175 bid at Whisky Hammer in 2021, but is presented at a slightly lower estimate after Hart Davis Hart failed to attract a bidder for the same bottle in 2020.

If you’re in the market for 50 year old scotch, check out the Benromach 50 year old 1969 (est. $5,500–$8,500), one of only 125 bottles and priced below its original $10,000 retail price, or the The Last Drop 50 year old (95 points), or take a look at the Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Caol Ila 50 year old 1968 release (est. $4,200–$6,500). Aside from over 100 bottles of largely contemporary Macallan, the other choice scotch whiskies include Port Ellen 32 year old 1979 12th release (est. $2,400–$3,500), Glenfarclas 1962 Family Casks Release III bottled in 2008 (est. $2,200–$3,200), and a couple of bottles from closed distillery Convalmore. There are 10 Diageo Special Releases from Brora to buy, which you can track to see if they beat the prices in our What’s It Worth? series. Also on offer are several hidden gems from Compass Box, with some great value mixed lots, as well as stellar collectibles like the  Compass Box The General (est. $850–$1,300) (96 points) and the rarely seen Compass Box Lady Luck (est. $500–$750) (91 points).

To help achieve its multimillion-dollar sale ambitions, HDH has attracted bankable lots in large quantities, including 47 bottles of Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 year old. Make sure to check which vintage you’re targeting as prices vary, but as a guide, $5,500 was the highest bid at the recent Sotheby’s auction. For vintage bourbon imbibers who enjoyed the history behind the Century of American Whiskey sale, HDH has an attractive selection of Very Old Fitzgerald, Old Forester, Old Taylor, and Old Grand-Dad bottlings from the 1950s and 1960s, and 11 bottles of A.H. Hirsch from 1974 for sale. Our recent What’s It Worth? series looked at the WhistlePig Boss Hog series, and this sale includes multiple opportunities to buy editions II–VIII to help complete your collection.

Bidding on this auction can be done through Hart Davis Hart’s online bidding system and app, which are both well designed and easy to use. The website includes condition reports and high quality photography that allows you to magnify the images to examine every detail on the labels. Live bidding opens at 9 a.m. ET on March 31st. Note that buyer’s premiums are 19.5% on top of the hammer price plus applicable taxes, and there are no delivery options—all purchases must be collected from Hart Davis Hart’s Illinois warehouse. That said, for the bourbon and rye drinker and collector, this annual extravaganza in Chicago has plenty to offer.

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