It’s This Week in Bourbon for November 11th 2023. A new distillery is coming that is aging barrels in coal mines, Rabbit Hole Distillery announced the release of Seasong, and Buffalo Trace Distillery today announces the release of Eagle Rare 25.
Show Notes:
A new distillery is coming that is aging barrels in coal mines
Rabbit Hole Distillery announced the release of Seasong
Hard Truth Distilling Co. announced the release of Barrel Finished Reserve
Wild Turkey has released a new whiskey that combines three generations of Bourbon making. The launch of Generations
Proof & Wood Ventures has launched The Cabinet
Buffalo Trace Distillery today announces the release of Eagle Rare 25
Barrels play an important role in making whiskey. Most whiskey has to be aged in an oak barrel to be considered whiskey. Corn whiskey is the exception to this rule. The history of barrels is the history of whiskey. The… Continue Reading →
Barrels play an important role in making whiskey. Most whiskey has to be aged in an oak barrel to be considered whiskey. Corn whiskey is the exception to this rule. The history of barrels is the history of whiskey. The... Continue Reading →
Glenfarclas 10 yo 2013/2023 (61%, OB for LMDW New Vibrations, first fill sherry hogshead, cask #2372, 303 bottles)Glenfarclas 27 yo 1995/2022 (48.3%, OB for Wine & Spirits Digest, 200th issue, Taiwan, cask #2295, 278 bottles)
Glenfarclas 10 yo 2013/2023 (61%, OB for LMDW New Vibrations, first fill sherry hogshead, cask #2372, 303 bottles) Glenfarclas 27 yo 1995/2022 (48.3%, OB for Wine & Spirits Digest, 200th issue, Taiwan, cask #2295, 278 bottles)
My Wandering Eye is an ongoing series reacting to the rising prices in the bourbon world. We’ve reached a place where even average products have hit the range where they compete price-wise with other types of aged spirits. If I’m going to be asked to d…
My Wandering Eye is an ongoing series reacting to the rising prices in the bourbon world. We’ve reached a place where even average products have hit the range where they compete price-wise with other types of aged spirits. If I’m going to be asked to drop $40 to $70 on a mid-range bourbon, I might as well see what else I can get for that money. I hope to see if another spirits category offers something downright tasty in that price range. The goal isn’t to find cheap spirits but to maximize the quality I’m getting at a particular price point. The reviews in this series will all be written through a bourbon drinker’s lens.
I hope everyone had a fun Halloween! I took the day off and spent it wth my wife. We went out for lunch, did some record shopping, did a Costco run, stopped off at Fleet-Farm and then came home to hand out candy to the kids. While we manned the door for the nine kids that braved the cold to wander down our practically lightless street, we put together a puzzle and listened to a few of the records that we had purchased during our day off.
It wasn’t until bedtime that I realized that I had forgotten to write this.
Do you ever do that? You’ve been doing something on a schedule for over a decade and then you just…space it out? Happens to me a lot. I’ll blame it on getting old, but I’m pretty sure those that know me well will attest that this is something that I’ve been doing for decades now. I’ve been a space cadet for almost as long as I’ve been alive.
Anyway, let’s move away from my failings of memory and over to tonight’s…brandy? Yes brandy. I’ve been sitting on this one for a bit now (purchased mid-July) as I worked through all the samples sent to me. Though I love my local liquor stores, not everything is distributed to Minnesota so when I learned about Curiada a few years back (coincidentally while buying another Laird’s product) I’ve kept it in mind as a way to purchase things that either are not distributed here, or are distributed in such low quantities that you need to win a lottery to purchase it. And this 12 year old Apple Brandy fit the bill for that.
Here is what the distillery has to say about it:
Laird’s Rare Apple Brandy is the finest, most elegant expression of the Laird’s Apple product line. The aged barrels used in this exclusive brandy are carefully selected by eighth generation Larrie Laird and Master Distiller Danny Swanson for their exceptional taste and character. When first conceived in 1995, tasters agreed 88 proof was the optimum alcohol percentage to highlight the rich and complex flavors of this fine spirit. After peacefully ageing for a minimum of 12 years in our New Jersey barrel-ageing warehouse, the product is then bottled by hand. Each bottle bares a handwritten batch number, date of bottling and bottle number.
So now the I’ve put this off for about 6 months, let’s see how it tastes, shall we?
Laird's 12 year old Apple Brandy
Purchase Info: $122.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Curiada.com
Price per Drink (50 mL): $8.20
Details: 12 years old. 44% ABV.
Nose: This reminds me of a baked apple. Notes of brown sugar, caramel, baking spices, and sweet apple.
Mouth: Baking spices and barrel notes predominate with just a hint of apple underneath. After a couple of sips notes of caramel and brown sugar appear.
Finish: Warm and on the longer end of medium length. Notes of floral apple and cinnamon blossom after swallowing.
Thoughts: This is a wonderfully apple-forward brandy. In the past, I've had a few apple brandies that were very dried fruit forward, but this is more like a sweet and floral apple note. And 12 years in a barrel has allowed sweet caramel and spicy cinnamon notes to develop and come through even at a relatively low 88° proof. I really like this. And due to the cost, it will be going on the special shelf for sure.
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It’s celebration time at Whitehorse-based Yukon Brewing who stole top awards at the Canadian beverage shows held last month. The Brewery won top medals at the Canada Beer Cup and the Toronto Whisky Awards. According to reports on October 25, 2023, both Yukon Brewing and its sister company, Two Brewers, were winners at the annual […]
It’s celebration time at Whitehorse-based Yukon Brewing who stole top awards at the Canadian beverage shows held last month. The Brewery won top medals at the Canada Beer Cup and the Toronto Whisky Awards.
According to reports on October 25, 2023, both Yukon Brewing and its sister company, Two Brewers, were winners at the annual beverage festival. Yukon’s Lead Dog Ale and Rye IPA were crowned with silver medals, and its single malt whisky Release 36 won the title of “Best Canadian Single Malt Whisky”.
Likewise, Two Brewers was awarded the top spot in the “Cask Strength” category.
Yukon Brewing’s Victory at Canadian Whisky Show
One of the original Staple beers that were produced shortly after Yukon Brewing’s inception is Lead Dog Ale. It has become an international favorite and will likely hit a boost in sales after this prize.
“The beer world changes so much; there are new breweries opening up and new hops being developed and all that jazz. So, to take a legacy recipe that’s 25 years old and still show that it’s got the chops to win an award was pretty cool for us,” Bob Baxter, co-founder of Yukon Brewing, told reporters.
In addition, Baxter revealed that the Rye IPA was a relatively new beer which was rolled out just a few years ago. He noted the stock availability making reference to the upcoming festive season.
Many of Yukon Brewing’s seasonal suds are one-offs, and most don’t reappear on the brewery’s beer list again. However, the most popular seasonals are often brought back
“There are so many good beers out there, quite honestly, and to enter that IPA category, we knew that our chances of getting recognized would be slim to none. So, the fact that [the Rye IPA] came out in the top three, honestly, we were kind of gobsmacked,” Baxter said.
He then added jovially:
“To finish second in the most populated category was a bit of a pat on the back.”
(Shelbyville, KY) On their 7th anniversary, this November 11th, Jeptha Creed is releasing the next batch of their popular Red, White & Blue Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Developed to show appreciation for current and past members o…
(Shelbyville, KY) On their 7th anniversary, this November 11th,Jeptha Creedis releasing the next batch of their popularRed, White & Blue Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Developed to show appreciation for current and past members of our military, a portion of the proceeds will be donated toUSA CARES. This one-of-a-kind bourbon has aged at least 4 years in barrels signed by current and past military members and is proofed right at 50% ABV. The mash bill consists of three different varietals of heirloom corn: Bloody Butcher, Heirloom White, and Bruce's Blue. This bourbon will be available for purchase in the distillery gift shop,online to 41 states, and inselect stores throughout KY & INstarting November 11th, 2023.
November 11th, 2023 Jeptha Creed Distillery will be open to the public from 11am - 6pm for bottle purchase and regular business. Join them starting at 11am for a color guard ceremony, guest speakers, bottle signings, light appetizers, tastings, and more. More info can be found at: https://jepthacreed.com/event/red-white-and-blue-straight-bourbon-release-day-2/
Located in Shelbyville, KY, Jeptha Creed Distillery uses old fashioned methods to meet today’s demanding modern tastes. They use only the finest ingredients, locally grown and sourced to ensure their products meet the highest expectations for quality and flavor. Owned and operated by dynamic mother-and-daughter duo Joyce and Autumn Nethery, Jeptha Creed sits on 64 acres of farmland, where they grow the Bloody Butcher Corn used for all of their products, including vodka, moonshine, and bourbon.
USA Cares’ mission is to provide post-9/11 military veterans, service members, and their families with financial assistance and post service skills training to create a foundation for long-term stability. Our services improve the quality of life for veterans and their families and reduce potential factors that can contribute to veteran suicide.
Bourbon and charity go hand-in-hand. There has been millions of dollars raised thanks to donations and the willingness of others to purchase for a good cause. However, doing it legally is not an easy task. I invited Eric Clements and Kenny Rambo of Give 270 on the show to talk about being legit. They started Give270 by raffling rare bourbons in Elizabethtown, Kentucky to raise money for local charities. Their mission is to make participation affordable and fun through bourbon raffles. This model has proven successful, but required getting licensed for charitable gaming. The founders discuss how they transitioned from a 501C3 nonprofit to operating legally, as well as how they source rare bourbons, select beneficiary charities, do real paper raffles, and handle taxes. While rewarding, they note challenges in navigating regulations and finding inventory amidst secondary market demand.
Show Notes:
Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about single barrels not being regulated.
Why did you all want to start doing alcohol reform in Elizabethtown, KY?
What was the mission behind Give270?
Do you feel the success of raffles are because of the secondary market?
How did you move from a 501C3 to getting a charitable gaming license?
Does the pool get bigger by having a raffle versus an auction?
Do you really cut up names on a piece of paper and put them in a tumbler?
Has there ever been a situation where you are underwater on a raffle?
How do you discover and choose the charities you work with?
What are the biggest challenges of trying to do all this the legal way?
Are people letting you buy from their private collections?
What sort of taxes are involved?
Is there anything about the current system you would change?
By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ From its modern revival in 2000, Bruichladdich has built an identity around a grain-driven whisky, rather than a maturation-driven whisky. That isn’t to say maturation isn’t important to Bruichladdich; it’s important to any whisky that isn’t on the market as some version of moonshine. But this brand doesn’t old and …
By Richard Thomas
Rating: B+
Bere Barley 2013 Single Malt (Credit: Bruichladdich)
From its modern revival in 2000, Bruichladdich has built an identity around a grain-driven whisky, rather than a maturation-driven whisky. That isn’t to say maturation isn’t important to Bruichladdich; it’s important to any whisky that isn’t on the market as some version of moonshine. But this brand doesn’t old and ultra-aged whiskies. Their neighbors at Lagavulin have a 16 year old as their signature expression, while Bruichladdich tends to peak around a decade. This is a distillery that wants maturation to develop the flavors of their new make, rather than have maturation become those flavors.
It’s a key distinction. That goes a long way to explaining their Octomore line, which consists of the most heavily peated whiskies around. It’s not just waving a flag at the smokeheads out there. Long maturation moderates peat.
Bere barley is a strain of that grain which Bruichladdich has been working with academics to revive and bring back to the industry since 2005. With its specialized grain type, this was made unpeated. The 2013 in the name is the date of distillation, and it was matured in first-fill bourbon barrels and second-fill Pauillac wine casks, and bottled at 50% ABV.
The Scotch This pour is pale straw colored, so pale that it is almost translucent. The nose smacked of an oily tropical fruit extract paired with the creamy vanilla one gets in the soda, with a sliver of dry oak.
Sipping on this whisky is a genuine, not-guilty pleasure, and those who beg sophistication to age will be surprised by how it got this way after just a decade (because a decade is still rather young in Scotch terms). That current of non-descript tropical fruit is still leading, but now it’s holding hands with cinnamon and brown sugar oatmeal. As I keep sipping on it, the fruit flavors evolve into dried apricot and pineapple, and hints of vanilla and coconut rise up. The finish delivers a light touch of dry, mildly spicy oak.
Canadian luxury whisky brand, Crown Royal, has added a new expression to its whisky portfolio. The launch of the Crown Royal Aged 30 Years became the most aged spirit from the award-winning distillery. In this new expression, whisky connoisseurs and collectors will be delighted by the characteristics of the new whisky. Especially with its notes […]
Canadian luxury whisky brand, Crown Royal, has added a new expression to its whisky portfolio. The launch of the Crown Royal Aged 30 Years became the most aged spirit from the award-winning distillery.
In this new expression, whisky connoisseurs and collectors will be delighted by the characteristics of the new whisky. Especially with its notes of orchard fruits and a sweet, creamy savor of vanilla.
Notably, there are only a few pot stills of its kind in North America. Its mouthfeel and flavors deliver an unforgettable taste journey. Crown Royal 30-Year-Old whisky is distilled in the brand’s Coffey still.
Crown Royal to Celebrate New Whisky Launch
Crown Royal will host a tasting and dining event to celebrate the release of its 30-Year-Old Whisky. Guests will enjoy the whisky alongside an exquisite menu. When prompted on the new whisky, Tatiana Conti Vice President of Crown Royal said:
“We are incredibly proud to introduce this exceptional 30-year-old whisky as the second evolution of our Extra Rare series. In crafting this special release, we wanted every detail to reflect the specialness of this whisky – from the exceptional liquid to the meticulously designed bottle to the hints of gold and iridescent pearl-like sheen on the packaging. This is truly a unique blend of our oldest expression to date.”
The Crown Royal Canadian Whisky brand is a world leader in the whisky industry and one of the most popular brands in the world. It was developed in commemoration of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s tour of Canada in 1939. The company is owned and operated by Diageo. The company is the owner or partner of many international and local companies.
Diageo is a global beverage company with a large collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray, and Guinness
