Author: BourbonBlog News

Orphan Barrel Whisky Co. tells BourbonBlog.com they are releasing the third and final Single Grain Scotch Whisky in its series of Muckety-Muck: Muckety-Muck 26 Year Old.

Hailing from the storied Port Dundas Distillery which closed in 2010, this blend pays homage to the 24 and 25-Year-Old Muckety-Muck bottles yet has a distinct profile on its own as the oldest whisky in the collection. (See the image below of Port Dundas).

The limited edition bottle is available in limited quantities at select spirits retailers nationwide with an SRP of $299.99 for 750ml.

As BourbonBlog.com was first to break the story of The Orphan Barrel Whisky Co. in 2013, we continue to follow the story of how the brand searches for rare whiskies hidden away and nearly forgotten.

This 26 Year Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky is one of those remaining stocks, from Port Dundas in Scotland.

Set beside the canal on a hill overlooking the vibrant city of Glasgow, Port Dundas was a prominent local landmark established in 1810 and gifted the world two centuries of exceptional whisky. Although it closed its doors in 2010, there are rare remaining stocks that provide a glimpse into the past of one of Scotland’s most respected distilleries.

Port Dunas History and Piggery

Port Dundas was also home to a piggery with hundreds of pigs during the distillery’s most successful years. Legend has it that these storied swine fed on spent, leftover malts (called draff), and one particularly special prized pig named Muckety-Muck won over passersby with his decorated wall of medals in the breeding shed.

Six Variants of the Bottle

The three gentlemanly hogs on the Muckety-Muck 26-Year-Old bottle label celebrate the fabled prize pig of Port Dundas and the trilogy of whiskies in his honor.

Six variants of the bottle label are available, with the three pigs proudly boasting a Scottish tartan sash in either red, green, blue, gray, orange or yellow, making the range of label variations a truly collectible keepsake. This limited edition whisky and caricature are a tribute to traditional Scottish culture and Port Dundas’ beloved heritage story.

Bottle Photo Credits: Miguel Buencamino of @HolyCityHandcraft and Wikipedia for the Distillery pic.

The post Muckety-Muck 26 Year Old Scotch Whisky: Orphan Barrel Whisky Co. Releases Final in the Series first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Patrón Tequila tells BourbonBlog.com  they have released Patrón El Alto which is primarily crafted with Extra Añejo and blended with Añejo and Reposado tequilas each aged to their maximum potential.

Patrón Tequila says this demonstrates over four years of craftsmanship, ingenuity, and artistry. Handcrafted from the finest 100% Weber Blue Agave is grown in the highest parts of Jalisco, Mexico, yielding the sweetest agaves for an incredibly smooth taste, Patrón El Alto is described by the brand as impressively rare and masterfully aged tequila.

About The Tequila

Patrón says they have used 100% naturally perfect ingredients — agave, water, and yeast — and crafted in small batches to ensure consistency and quality.

The sweet, dried fruit notes the tequila is said to have are a result of having been expertly aged in 11 types of barrels, mostly hybrid barrels of American oak body and French oak heads.

Master Distiller David Rodriguez and his team of distilling artisans didn’t limit themselves in how to cultivate the best flavors but rather, as a result of over 300 tastings, masterfully combined an exceptional selection of the best Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo tequilas.

Patrón Tequila El Alto is in a distinctive bottle, that matches the azure hues of the agave fields in the Jalisco Highlands.

Patrón El Alto is available in U.S. markets only: New York, Miami, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, at SRP $179. It can also be found online.

 

The post Patrón El Alto Luxury Reposado Tequila first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Join us in raising a congratulatory toast to Jefferson’s as Pernod Ricard tells BourbonBlog.com  they will invest approximately $250 million over five years to build a state-of-the-art, carbon neutral distillery, with related aging warehouses in Marion County, Kentucky for its fast-growing Jefferson’s Bourbon brand!

This investment will also include the building of a world-class visitor center facility that will welcome whiskey aficionados on the historic South Trail of Kentucky Bourbon.

According to Pierre Joncourt, SVP, Operations, Pernod Ricard North America, “Construction of the new distillery – which will have a 7.5 million proof gallon capacity — is expected to begin in January 2023. Our target completion date for the distillery and related warehouses is 2025.”

“American whiskey is an extremely vibrant spirits category, and our strategic investments over the last few years have proven successful,” said Alexandre Ricard, Chairman, and CEO, of Pernod Ricard. “Our philosophy of partnering with entrepreneurial brand founders, while preserving the heritage and terroir associated with the brands they created, has made us an established player in premium American Whiskey. Jefferson’s founder Trey Zoeller is no exception. This new investment will allow us to grow our share of category sales not only in the U.S., but also in export markets,” Ricard said.

Ann Mukherjee, Chairman, and CEO of Pernod Ricard North America said the new distillery will enable Jefferson’s to efficiently keep up with very strong consumer demand while staying true to the company’s longstanding commitment to sustainability. “American whiskey is booming, and Jefferson’s growth has been phenomenal,” Mukherjee said. “We’re very bullish on the brand’s potential, and we’re committed to making our new Jefferson’s facility one of the most exemplary distilleries in the world in order to achieve it.

Jefferson’s has long been a brand we are fans of at BourbonBlog.com. Bourbon expert Tom Fischer says he has been honored to feature Jefferson’s in Bourbon tastings he has hosted at Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami to top events from London to Los Angeles.

Additionally, Fischer was the first to break the story on the creation of Jefferson’s Ocean in 212 and has followed the growth of the brand.

Carbon Neutral

Pernod Ricard has announced the intention for this new distillery to be carbon-neutral once operational. The facility is also expected to be the first distillery of its size in the U.S. to achieve LEED certification, an internationally recognized sustainability framework for healthy, efficient, carbon, and cost-saving environmentally friendly buildings. The distillery and warehouses will include such low carbon technologies as:

• Electrode boilers powered by certified renewable electricity, enabling the distillery to not use fossil fuels during bourbon production
• On-site electric trucks and facility vehicles are also powered by renewable electricity. Extensive use of solar and natural lighting throughout the property and facility.

In addition, as part of Pernod Ricard’s commitment to protect and nurture the terroir surrounding its facilities, Jefferson’s will continue to partner with local farmers and suppliers to source ingredients and casks.

“Our company is an agricultural company at its core and so it is vital that we lead the category forward – in partnership with our farmers and growers – and remain committed to the long-term sustainability of our people, our industry, and our planet. This investment is the latest illustration of that belief,” said Mukherjee.

Pernod Ricard’s Irish Distillers and Chivas Brothers brand companies recently announced plans to invest in decarbonizing their distilleries and creating new carbon-neutral facilities, following the example set by The Absolut Company, which has consistently set the industry standard for sustainable production. Pernod Ricard is on track to meet the ambitious targets set out in its 2030 global sustainability & responsibility roadmap, ‘Good Times from a Good Place,’ which aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Jefferson’s History Timeline

Founded in 1997 by Trey Zoeller and his father Chet, Jefferson’s joined the Pernod Ricard portfolio in 2019 when the company acquired the brand’s parent, Castle Brands. Known for his unrelenting thirst for adventure, as well as a decades-long passion for crafting the world’s most unique expressions of bourbon, Trey Zoeller continues to guide Jefferson in his role as Founder and Chief Strategist. Since the acquisition, Jefferson’s U.S. sales have doubled.

“For the last 25 years we have been sourcing, contract distilling and — through Kentucky Artisan Distillery — distilling ourselves,” Zoeller said. “It is now time for us to take more control of our destiny. The carbon neutral, state-of-the-art distillery we are building would not be possible without Pernod Ricard’s forward-thinking, integrity, and commitment to Jefferson’s and the Bourbon category’s future.”

Pernod Ricard USA’s capital investment in the new distillery and visitor center is expected initially to add roughly 55 new company jobs in Kentucky while generating extra economic benefits for Kentucky-based businesses during the construction period. It is the latest in a series of moves made by Pernod Ricard to expand its investment in U.S. manufacturing and grow its share in the lucrative American spirits and wine market.

In 2022, the company’s Ft. Smith, Arkansas manufacturing plant has invested in new canning and bottling lines.

in August 2019, Pernod Ricard acquired the TX Whiskey brand, based in Fort Worth, Texas. TX is known for its bourbon made from a proprietary yeast derived from the pecan tree, the official state tree of Texas.

In July 2019, Pernod Ricard acquired a majority stake in Rabbit Hole Distillery, known for its super-premium bourbon and iconic distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.

In 2016, the company bought a majority stake in Smooth Ambler, the award-winning West Virginia whiskey distiller. Pernod Ricard assumed full ownership of the brand late last year.

“U.S. whiskey sales are expected to account for a significant amount of Pernod Ricard USA’s total volumes within the next 5-10 years, and the U.S. whiskey export business also has enormous growth potential,” Craig Johnson, SVP American Whiskey Collective, said. “To help achieve these ambitious performance goals, the American Whiskey Collective was created the result will be further accelerated growth from our ‘new fashioned’ whiskey portfolio, focused on pushing boundaries rather than adhering strictly to tradition,” said Johnson.

The post Jefferson’s Bourbon New $250 Million State-of-the-Art, Carbon Neutral Distillery to Be Built first appeared on BourbonBlog.

BourbonBlog.com recommends Flaviar’s 2022 Whiskey Advent Calendar for the spirit lovers you are shopping for.

This is a carefully-curated chest of 24 whiskies that is available online at this link in select retail stores, including  Total Wine & More for $260.

Not only is the theme “The Depths of Whiskey” with a painting of Santa riding a submarine visually impressive, but the design of the entire chest is also a masterpiece and well-thought for the whiskey enthusiasts in your life.

For both whiskey connoisseurs and even those beginning their journey, each vial opens a new realm and the chance to discover a gem.

Twenty-four precious finds from seven seas ranging from Bourbon and Rye, Scotch and Irish, Japanese and Taiwanese, Danish, Welsh, and Israeli — and more.

Powers, Rabbit Hole, and Westward Whiskey are included…just to name a few.

With purchase, you will also receive an embossed leather coaster, a collectible Glencairn glass, and a tasting journal.

 

The post Whiskey Gift Idea: Flaviar’s 2022 Whiskey Advent Calendar first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Watch Tuesday, December 6, 2022 on the link here and above as Hard Truth Distilling Co  Mater Distiller Bryan Bryan Smith joins Bourbon experts to do a live tasting of the Origin Series – three, limited-supply, single barrel whiskeys crafted in Kentucky.

Yes, their distillery is based in Nashville, Indiana, but this very limited collection happened during Hard Truth’s early exploration into what is now their distinguished whiskey portfolio, including the award-winning Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey.

But we did say 6 whiskeys. Here is a little more on the first three.

Kentucky Sweet Mash:  Hard Truth Distilling Co.’s Origin Series of Limited Edition Whiskeys

Limited to only 35 barrels and three expressions, bottles of

• Hard Truth Kentucky Sweet Mash Bourbon Whiskey (BW-1, 12 barrels),
• Wheated Bourbon Whiskey (BW-2, 12 barrels) and
• Rye Whiskey (RW-1, 11 Barrels), are currently available in six states: Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee.

“It’s a rare opportunity to taste our history,” said Hard Truth Master Distiller Bryan Smith. “We are calling this limited release our origin story, and we are thrilled that others can experience
and taste it. It’s fait to say we will never produce a whiskey with these flavor profiles again,” Smith tells BourbonBlog.com

Wait, we said Six Rare Whiskeys..

Hard Truth Distilling Co., the 2022 Master Distiller’s Reserve collection.

Now available at the Hard Truth Distilling Co. distillery campus, Hard Truth bars, and sister brand Big Woods restaurants, this trio includes a Caramel Malt Sweet Mash Rye, Malted Rye Sweet Mash Rye, and a Chocolate Malt Sweet Mash Rye.

All three Kentucky Single Barrel releases are bottled at barrel strength, uncut and unfiltered.

 

The post 6 Rare Whiskeys To Get Now From Hard Truth Distilling Co. first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Kings County Distillery of Brooklyn, New York tells BourbonBlog.com that their 2022 allocation of Empire Rye has just been launched. This includes two expressions of this great whiskey.

First, their perennial 102 proof, 80% rye 20% malt, pot-distilled Empire Rye, composed of barrels anywhere from 2.9 to 4.9 years.

This is what rye whiskey should taste like and we’ll soon feature Colin Spoelman, Kings County Distillery Co-Founder & Distiller, on our BourbonBlog Live Show to taste these whiskeys.

Barrel Strength Empire Rye

Additionally, Kings County tells us a new Barrel Strength Empire Rye has been released, Registering at 119.6 proof, this is a 6-year 53-gallon single barrel from the fall of 2016. Age-stated, high-proof ryes are becoming more difficult to find, and the distillery says is one of the richest, most flavorful rye whiskeys they’ve ever made.

This is a $149 bottle and is highly limited.

Both are these expressions on sale at the distillery and have been rolling out to NY retail and distributors starting this week. Some expressions can also be found on their website.

Kings County will also feature rye cocktails and specials at the Gatehouse for anyone who swings by for one of the first bottles of this year’s run.

The post Kings County Empire Rye Whiskey 2022 Allocation Released first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Blue Run Spirits tells BourbonBlog.com the second release in its Rye Whiskey series – Blue Run Emerald Rye Whiskey.

This marks the first Blue Run Rye Whiskey to be contract distilled by Blue Run Liquid Advisor Jim Rutledge at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, and the first Blue Run Rye to be bottled at barrel proof.

Blue Run Emerald is available for $109.99 SRP and is barrel-proof at 116.7.

Blue Run Emerald Rye is now available at select retailers in the United States and online at BlueRunSpirits.com

Blue Run Emerald Rye serves as the follow-up to Blue Run Golden Rye Whiskey. Emerald, a limited collection, was crafted from just 189 barrels and embraces the distinct, spicy characteristics of Rye Whiskey, yet with the approachability and depth of a fine Bourbon.

Blue Run Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon expertly blended Emerald to highlight a myriad of Blue Run’s favorite flavor characteristics.

“This was an incredibly fun project to work on as I asked the Blue Run team what aspects of Rye Whiskey they truly loved,” Gammon tells BourbonBlog.com. “I then went about focusing my blend on those key attributes, zeroing in on fragrant herbs, fresh peppers, and robust spice. Those three prominent notes provide the foundation for a complex, deep flavor experience all the way through to the finish.”

Adding to the complexity, several Emerald barrels were aged at different locations more than fifty miles apart in Bardstown and Frankfort. The difference in aging environments helped contribute to the blend’s approachability at this high of proof.

In addition, Shaylyn crafted Emerald with whiskies born from three different mash bills with varying degrees of the core grain of rye, creating a rich liquid palette for her to work with when applying her award-winning blending skills.

How Does it Taste?

Our review coming soon. For now….

On the nose, Blue Run Spirits says Emerald Rye has dreamy butterscotch and creamy caramel leading to toasted oak and spicy peppers.

The palate is awakened with a quick hit of buttercream and shishito peppers followed by a blast of apples and pears evolving into a woody sprinkling of cloves and rye spice. The finish will leave you with lasting memories of leather, oak and brown butter.

Blue Run’s signature butterfly medallion on the bottle glimmers with anodized emerald green, making it easily identified by whiskey enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Designed by renowned Nike sneaker designer and Blue Run cofounder Devon McKinney, Emerald is the second butterfly medallion in Blue Run’s Rye Whiskey series inspired by precious objects.

The post Blue Run’s First Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey: Emerald Rye first appeared on BourbonBlog.

WhistlePig Rye Whiskey releases their 2022 release of their PiggyBack Legends Series. WhistlePig tells BourbonBlog.com they teamed up with the Grammy Award-winning country music duo Brothers Osborne to celebrate the holiday season with the launch of our new whiskey collaboration.

The WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series: Brothers Osborne Barrel is a single barrel, limited-edition 100% Rye Whiskey, created for and selected by John and TJ Osborne.

This is the second iteration of WhistlePig’s single barrel PiggyBack Legends Series. The Brothers Osborne Barrel is aged in American Oak Barrels for no less than 6 years before finishing its journey with high toast custom barrel heads.

This PiggyBack 100% Rye Whiskey was selected by the Brothers themselves for the perfect melody of balanced flavors in each sip from start to finish. It is bottled at 96.56 proof, with a balance of sweetness, spice, and smoke.

How to Purchase a Bottle and The Cause That It Benefits

The Brothers Osborne Barrel is now available for purchase on the web and will soon be in select stores across Texas, Tennessee, and Illinois this fall.

A limited number of autographed bottles are available for pre-order as well in honor of Deuce & a Quarter, the Brothers’ original family band with their father.

Proceeds from the sales of each bottle will benefit Rogers Behavioral Health and its foundation, Mission Possible Fund, raising funds to provide free mental health treatment to low-income patients.

Purchase the bottle for $49.95 via the WhistlePig website here.

Signed bottles are available for Pre-Order at $225 on this link.

Video About How Brothers Osborne Selected this Barrel

“We’re very proud to release a new kind of single for our family to enjoy this holiday season. At its core, music is a string of notes that creates a perfect melody, and the same applies to whiskey. You want a combination of various components that complement one another, and whether it’s music or whiskey, it’s always a dynamic mix.

We are huge fans of WhistlePig, so much so we included them in our recent music video. We’re inviting everyone to raise a glass with us to something dangerously good,” John and TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne tell BourbonBlog.com.

“We had a blast collaborating with Brothers Osborne to bring something new to PiggyBack 100% Rye that represents their unique sound and style. High toast barrel heads bring sweet, spice and smoke notes to our bold high Rye profile, and nod to what’s been called the band’s instrumental slash-and-burn style,” Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender shares with us.

“Like WhistlePig, John and TJ are true originals, and the Brothers Osborne Barrel release invites our collective families to join in and celebrate that individuality,”

The post WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series: Brothers Osborne Rye Whiskey Barrel first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Kentucky Peerless tells BourbonBlog.com they will release of their Small Batch Double Oak Rye Whiskey.

The release will take place at the Peerless distillery at 120 North 10th Street, Louisville, KY 40202 on Friday, November 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m ET. Bottles will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Bottle signings will be offered throughout the event.

Peerless originally released their Double Oak Bourbon in 2021. This release marks their first-ever Small Batch Double Oak Rye Whiskey.

We can personally tell you that we’ve tasted Single Barrel expression of the Double Oak Rye at BourbonBlog.com and they are complex and divine.

.

After its success, they decided to explore Double Oak Rye Whiskey and ultimately make the expression a regular offering.  Exposing Peerless whiskey to two separate casks allows for two full barrel extractions resulting in enhanced notes and complexity.

The dedicated Peerless tasting team strategically selects barrels that are complemented well by the extra barrel character.

This population of barrels is packed with flavor yet balanced enough to uphold the Peerless name. “With the amazing response to our limited Double Oak program, we decided to improve the quality and accessibility of the product.

Where in the past we would leave things up to chance, we are now intentionally curating barrels to become Double Oak,” explains Caleb Kilburn, Master Distiller.

Peerless Double Oak Rye offers a beautiful nose bursting with roasted nuts, citrus zest, and sweet oak. The first sip offers notes of toasted sugar, bold oak, spicy cinnamon, and sweet grasses. Elements of citrus and  and warm leather and rich tobacco are also present. The finish returns to celebrate the sweet oak of the barrel and the mouthfeel thickens to a chew.

 

Find out more at kentuckypeerless.com or visit the distillery at 120 N. 10th Street in downtown Louisville. The distillery is open for tours and tastings by reservation Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The post Kentucky Peerless Releases Small Batch Double Oak Rye Whiskey first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Buffalo Trace Distillery tells BourbonBlog.com they are releasing its full lineup of the 2022 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) this fall, including perennial favorite George T. Stagg – this year at 138.7 proof.

Last year, Buffalo Trace opted not to release its uncut, unfiltered 15-year-old George T. Stagg Bourbon because it did not meet the Distillery’s standards for the Stagg brand.

The full tasting notes that are specific to 2022 of each are included below and from the distillery.

This year, they tell us they are happy to report that the 2007 Stagg barrels showed up with their classic Stagg presence, full of maturity, balance, and flavor, with a hefty proof at 138.7, its highest proof since 2016.

The five ensemble members of the Antique Collection are George T. Stagg Bourbon, William Larue Weller Bourbon, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Whiskey, Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon and Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Whiskey. These whiskies utilize three distinct mash bills, or recipes, from Buffalo Trace Distillery: rye mash bill #1, wheat mash bill and straight rye mash bill. Aged and proofed at the pinnacle of their taste profile set by the distilling and lab team experts at Buffalo Trace, this collection is sold separately and only available once a year. Bottles should be available at retail starting early to mid-November. Suggested retail pricing is $99 each, state taxes will vary per market. Here are details of each expression in the collection:

George T. Stagg Bourbon

Created in 2002 at the request of a fan for a well-aged and barrel-strength whiskey, George T. Stagg bourbon is well respected amongst bourbon connoisseurs and spirit judges. This year’s offering was distilled in the spring of 2007, making it 15 years and 5 months old at bottling. The proof is 138.7, the highest proof for this whiskey in the past six years. This year’s barrels were aged in warehouse K. Tasting notes for this bourbon call out toasted pecan and chocolate sauce on the nose, a rich blend of baking spice, vanilla and cherry pie on the palate, and a robust finish of black coffee, molasses and oak.

William Larue Weller Bourbon

The Antique Collection’s uncut, unfiltered, wheated recipe bourbon is William Larue Weller. The previous release of this wheated bourbon was honored with a Double Gold medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The 2022 release was distilled in the spring of 2010 and barrels were aged in warehouses C, K and N. This bourbon registers at 124.7 proof. A nose of toasted coconut, butterscotch and caramel, followed by a touch of mint, dark cherry and molasses on the palate and a full-bodied finish with hints of leather, nutmeg, toffee and vanilla can be found in this year’s offering.

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Whiskey

Thomas H. Handy is the uncut and unfiltered straight rye whiskey. Last year’s release earned 97 points and was named in the top 100 spirits by judges at the 2022 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. This year’s Handy was distilled in the spring of 2016; aged in warehouses I, L and M and weighs in at a hearty 130.9 proof, the highest proof for this whiskey since 2012. The flavor profile includes a nose with floral notes, anise, marmalade and meringue, followed by a palate with baking spice, a burst of orange peel and subtle dark chocolate, and a long finish of cinnamon, praline and candied orange.

Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon

This 101-proof whiskey was distilled in the spring of 2005 and barrels were aged in warehouses H, K and L. The 2021 Eagle Rare release was honored with the Chairman’s Trophy at the 2022 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. This bourbon has a nose with a hint of tobacco, chocolate-covered cherries and a touch of oak, followed by caramel, vanilla bean, dark chocolate and oak on the palate and a full-bodied finish with baking spice, vanilla and butterscotch.

Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Whiskey

Previous releases of Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old were named in the top three finest whiskeys in the world by the “Whisky Bible.” This 2022 straight rye whiskey release has a nose of orange peel, lemon zest and molasses, a palate with a bold blend of black pepper, coriander seeds and maple syrup, and a well-rounded finish with mint, tobacco leaf and oak. The barrels for this whiskey were filled in the spring of 2003 and 2004 and rested in warehouses K, M and P. It is bottled at 90 proof.

The post Buffalo Trace’s 2022 Antique Collection Whiskeys: Stagg Returns At 138.7 Proof! first appeared on BourbonBlog.