Author: BourbonBlog News

Kentucky Peerless of Louisville, Kentucky tells BourbonBlog.com the third annual release of its Absinthe Barrel Finished Rye. The release will take place at the Peerless distillery at 120 North 10th Street, Louisville, KY 40202 on Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Bottles will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Bottle signings will be offered throughout the event.

Peerless originally released their Absinthe Barrel Finished Rye in 2020 as we were the first to bring you the story here. After its success, they decided to make the expression a regular offering. Peerless Absinthe Barrel Finished Rye is bursting with warm spices and herbal notes.

How the Peerless Rye is Finished

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.

Peerless Absinthe Barrel Finished Rye embraces the fragrance of sweet candied licorice. Aromas of citrus and sweet oak soon join. The first taste is spicy oak, cinnamon, and absinthe. Orange zest and sweet grasses continue to add depth as the palate evolves.

A second sip introduces more rye, as earthy leather and tobacco become more prominent. The finish pays homage to the Sazerac cocktail.

“I wanted something that would provide the perfect contrasting notes to allow both the rye and the absinthe to be appreciated. Bold, exciting, intriguing, and bursting at the seams with flavor, this crossover is the perfect example of what a few artisans with big ambitions can accomplish when they come together,” explains Caleb Kilburn, Master
Distiller.

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 Rye Whiskey Finished In Absinthe Barrels for 2022 first appeared on BourbonBlog.

WhistlePig Rye Whiskey tells BourbonBlog.com they are releasing their rare and annual Boss Hog limited edition for 2022.

This is a single barrel, bottled at proof and distinctly unique from anything they’ve done before for a suggested retail price of $599.99 / 750 ml bottle.

Each bottle in the ninth edition is graced by the famous pewter pig as it has been in prior releases. However, for this release, there are nine distinct tops that are dressed as the different Muses in Greek mythology.

Thus, this gives collectors yet another reason to be on the hunt!

How They Made The Boss Hog IX: Siren’s Song

WhistlePig says Siren’s Song is an odyssey of maturation: a twice-finished, well-aged Rye that slumbered in casks seasoned with Greek Fig Nectar and barrels suffused with homemade Tentura.

Tentura is a traditional Greek liqueur born in the Peloponnesian city of Patras enlivened by the muses and inspired by Hellenic family recipes.

For the WhistlePig Rye Farm’s Tentura recipe, they scratch-made it with ingredients hailing from both Greece and their own fields of Shoreham, Vermont. It arrives in the glass throwing scents of cinnamon and citrus zest.

The palate finds ambrosial threads of clove, cardamom, and stewed orchard fruit, retreating upon rippled waves of raisin and prune.

Enter a labyrinth of flavor that would make even Homer blush.

“In homage to the Greek Muses who inspired all manner of discovery and creation, our Whiskey Scientist Liz and Head Blender Meghan have concocted a truly tantalizing elixir: Straight Rye Whiskey finished in barrels seasoned with Greek fig nectar and scratch Tentura,” WhistlePIg tells us.

Nine Bespoke Pewter Toppers

The  nine bespoke pewter toppers each represent one of the ancient greek muses: Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania (all pictures below).

The famous pewter toppers which have always been created for WhistlePig by Danforth Pewter of Vermont are.

WhistlePig says, “Amass them all if you dare; these others of creation also birthed the mischievous and mysterious sirens.

They will undoubtedly lure collectors with their melodious call and this Siren’s Song is destined to echo through the ages.” 

The post WhistlePig Rye Whiskey’s The Boss Hog IX: Siren’s Song first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Blue Run Spirits tells BourbonBlog.com they are releasing what is to become a biannual series of “micro-batch” whiskeys. Blue Run Flight Series is a six-whiskey micro batch collection of Blue Run’s lauded Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon Whiskey.

What is a Micro Batch?

Rather than going the route of a single barrel for this particular collection, Blue Run Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon hand-selected the barrels to expertly blended them, making the Flight Series the first Blue Run whiskey release blended by Gammon since joining the company earlier this year.

The small number of barrels used in Blue Run’s micro batching allowed for Gammon’s award-winning blending artistry to shine through on each bourbon, creating exceptional flavor experiences in each Flight with each uniquely named for top-level flavors.

We’ve listed the entire collection for this year including “Parisian Pâtisserie” and “Washington Apple Orchard” – yes these notes span an international array of flavors.

Each of the six Flights comes from between two to five barrels contract distilled by Blue Run’s Liquid Advisor Jim Rutledge at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.

“Micro-batches are Blue Run’s response to the somewhat meaningless term ‘small batch,’ which has no clear definition or accepted industry standard,” Mike Montgomery, Blue Run Spirits cofounder, and CEO tells BourbonBlog.com. “To make things clearer to the whiskey fan, Blue Run features what it calls ‘micro batches,’ which means the blends came from at least two barrels, but no more than five. With so few barrels to work with, a micro-batch truly highlights Shaylyn’s blending skills, introducing whiskey fans to more defined and pronounced flavors.”

Where to Find This Release..

The first two flights and a limited number of complete sets of all six bottles are now available at select retailers in the United States and online at BlueRunSpirits.com beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET Wednesday, October 19.

Two more Flights will be released each subsequent day at that same time.

Blue Run plans to release two Flight Series annually beginning in 2023. An iridescent white version of Blue Run’s signature butterfly medallion, designed by Devon McKinney, stands out on the sleek bottle and is meant to evoke a brilliant cloud in the sky. The names of each micro batch Flight invite the consumer on a sensory journey to uniquely memorable destinations experienced by Blue Run’s team.

The 6 Releases in the Fall 2022 Micro-Batch Collection

Pricing: Each of the below is available for $119.99 SRP.

#1 Alpine Meadows (available Oct. 19)
Proof: 115.2
Barrels Blended: Three
Total Six Bottle Cases Available: 99

On the nose, Alpine Meadows hints at fresh cut flowers, peach skins, and honeysuckle, followed by tart fruit, then smoky with a side of char. The flavor begins with a subtle campfire matched with honey and spice, leading to bright citrus and green grapes, then ending in light brown sugar. The finish finds toffee and citrus, capped with baking spices and apricot preserves.

#2 Parisian Pâtisserie (available Oct. 19)
Proof: 113.1
Barrels Blended: Three
Total Six Bottle Cases Available: 114

Out of the gate, the aroma includes baked goods, orange peel, and French white wine, moving to roasted coffee beans and fir tree essence. That leads to sweet-fried plantains, charred wood, and tea roses. The flavor opens with a glazed cinnamon roll melded with baking spices, then on to almond biscotti wrapped in brown sugar. The close is warm cinnamon, vanilla bean, and citrus zest. The finish starts with honey and soft pepper, ending with baking spices and sweet fruits.

#3 Seattle Downpour (available Oct. 20)
Proof: 115.2 (cask strength)
Barrels Blended: Two
Total Six Bottle Cases Available: 65

The aroma starts with leather, pineapple juice, dried apricots, and raisins, then transitions to caramel macchiato and white pear, and finally ends in bread pudding, vanilla, and puff pastry. On the tongue, a hint of salt kicks it off with an extra pump of vanilla and butterscotch. The middle finds juicy stone fruit, apricot, and roasted coffee beans, ending with light wood, dark chocolate, and caramelized ginger. The finish is warm with peach-infused maple syrup and light spice drizzled in honey.

#4 Lahaina Luau (available Oct. 20)
Proof: 109.6
Barrels Blended: Three
Total Six Bottle Cases Available: 121

On the nose, Lahaina Luau kicks off with honey and sweet pear, which is followed by caramel, roses, and orange blossom with a crescendo of plumeria, caramelized brown sugar, and light smoke. On the tongue, it enters salty with banana and orange slices, leading to brown sugar and fruit cake spice, then closing with spice and slight maple. The finish highlights light guava and brown sugar.

#5 Washington Apple Orchard (available Oct. 21)
Proof: 118 (cask strength)
Barrels Blended: Five
Total Six Bottle Cases Available: 176

On the nose, Washington Apple Orchard starts with fresh blueberries and dehydrated fruit, leading to delightful bubblegum and shortbread, which is capped with leather, apple juice, and sweet spice. The flavor opens with vanilla bean and honey with a tinge of banana, followed by Fuji apples and oatmeal, then rounding out with the essence of oak and black pepper. The finish includes wood spice, spiced apple cider, and lingering toasted wood.

#6 Marrakech Market (available Oct. 21)
Proof: 110.3
Barrels Blended: Three
Total Six Bottle Cases Available: 106

On the nose, Marrakech Market opens with cloves, butterscotch, and rich maple syrup, moving to dark cherry and nutty grains, and ending in light wood. The flavor enters as bright, with honey and light floral notes, followed by crème brûlée meeting toasted oak, then rounds out with a medley of black pepper, peanuts, and blackberries. The finish is buttery with a dash of light pepper and a hint of cardamom.

Where to Find Blue Run

Blue Run Spirits can be purchased in California, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas (RNDC); Georgia (Savannah); South Carolina and Tennessee (Advintage); Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C.(Prestige-Ledroit); Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Missouri and Nevada (Breakthru); New Jersey (Fedway Associates); New York (Park Street); Canada (Evergreen); and online at www.bluerunspirits.com/shop powered by Seelbach’s.

Non-Bottle Photos Courtesty: Henry Dick and Marcus Loke

The post Blue Run’s First Micro-Batch Whiskey Release is Their Response To The “Somewhat Meaningless Term Small Batch” first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Teeling Whiskey tells BourbonBlog.com it is releasing an exquisite 32-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey finished in a Purple Muscat cask.

Distilled in 1990, matured in bourbon barrels for 28 years, and finished in a single Portuguese Purple Muscat French Oak cask for an additional four years, the result is the first bottling of the Very Rare Casks Collection, available exclusively in the U.S.

Teeling 32-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey Purple Muscat Finish will be available for purchase for $3,499.99 in November 2022, exclusively in the U.S., online at flaviar.com, reservebar.com, and at fine retailers in California, Nevada, Texas, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida.

This rare single cask bottling is an evolution of the award-winning “World’s Best” 24, 28, and 30-Year-Old Single Malt and continues the legacy of excellence in Irish craftsmanship (all pictured below).

This exceptional whiskey comes from one distinct cask yielding only 283 bottles and carries one of the highest ABV (53.7%) bottlings that the Teeling Whiskey Company has released to date. Representing a rare piece of Irish Whiskey history, and hand-decanted into a show-stopping engraved Attitude Haute bottle, the Irish Single Malt Whiskey comes with a gift-ready fine oak case and its own certificate of authenticity.

Best known for its pioneering spirit, Teeling Whiskey is leading a new generation of Irish Whiskey distillers by crafting unique character and flavor in every bottle. Recognized for their commitment to innovation, Teeling Whiskey’s latest release exemplifies their unique distillation and experimental cask maturation techniques.

For this bottling, the team turned their attention to a unique cask, Purple Muscat, to create a truly exceptional single malt unlike any available in the United States. Master Distiller Alex Chasko sourced the Portuguese Purple Muscat barrel from outside of Lisbon in the Setubal region, selecting a toasted French Oak cask with rich berry and fruit notes. The result is a magnificent, fruit-forward Single Malt Irish Whiskey that carries a juicy red berry flavor with spicy tropical notes.

Jack Teeling, founder of Teeling Whiskey, commented, “This whiskey exemplifies our bold approach to innovation as a world-class whiskey company. We are not afraid to take risks to bring something to the market that nobody else has – and we are extremely proud to release some of the oldest ever Irish Single Malt, finished in a unique cask.”

The post Teeling Whiskey 32-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey Purple Muscat Finish first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Never Say Die Bourbon Barrel Strength is believed to be the first-ever Bourbon to make the transatlantic journey from Kentucky where it is distilled, across the ocean to be matured in barrels at White Peak’s Distillery in Derbyshire, England to give it a uniquely British character.

Never Say Die Bourbon Whiskey was inspired by the legendary tale of the namesake racehorse, and the brand tells BourbonBlog.com about the launch of its highly anticipated inaugural batch, which will is now available in the UK market only.

It is the brainchild of a transatlantic team of founders, led by US businessmen Pat Madden and Brian Luftman, alongside world-class Bourbon distillers Pat Heist and Shane Baker.

About the Bourbon

This Kentucky Bourbon distilled in Danville, Kentucky, is made with a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley and limestone filtered water rich in minerals from the deepest aquifer in Kentucky.

The brand tells us that the exposure to the ocean air during its 6-week maritime journey, combined with the continued ‘in barrel’ aging in the colder UK climate results in a wholly unique flavor profile, with lively spice and citrus note that melt into vanilla, leather, and caramel, concluding with a lasting smooth finish.

With production beginning in 2017, its long-awaited launch was only made possible when crippling 25% whiskey tariffs on US imports were reversed as a result of the campaigning efforts of the team and the Bourbon Alliance which was co-founded by Never Say Die directors, David Wild and Martha Dalton.

The Inspiration Behind the Bourbon

Never Say Die was inspired by the infamous racehorse of the same name, which was born in 1951 on Hamburg Farm in Lexington, KY, which is the family farm of co-founder Pat Madden. Following a traumatic birth, the foal’s life was in danger due to poor breathing but was revived with a shot of whiskey.

Three years later and at odds of 33-1, Never Say Die became the first American-born horse in 70-years to win the Epsom Derby in front of 250k spectators, which included Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Winston Churchill.

At the same time, on a daring leap of faith, a Liverpudlian woman named Mona Best had fallen in love with the story of Never Say Die and pawned all of her jewelry to literally “bet it all” on the victorious Epsom Derby Race. With her new fortune, she founded a new music venue, Casbah Coffee Club, which was where an at the time unknown band now famously known as The Beatles played their very first gigs, shaping rock and roll history forever. (image of The Beatles performing at Casbah Coffee Club below)

The unique bottle was designed by Stranger & Stranger and draws on the colors of the jersey that jockey Lester Piggott wore when he rode Never Say Die to victory in 1954.

Pat Madden, the co-founder of Never Say Die tells BourbonBlog.com:

“After six years in development, it is fantastic to see the very first bottlings of Never Say Die come to fruition.

“Kentucky is the mecca of Bourbon and horse racing, so we are really excited to be marrying the two. Never Say Die is our opportunity to immortalize our namesake racehorse and celebrate the fascinating story that saw him not only overcome adversity on our family farm in Kentucky to go on and win Epsom Derby in front of Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Winston Churchill but also help shape rock and roll history as we know it”.

“Like the racehorse Never Say Die, our Bourbon has made the trailblazing journey across the Atlantic and is our interpretation of the American Dream, celebrating the special relationship between the US and UK.

Pat Heist, Never Say Die’s Master Distiller tells us, “Our philosophy is to only produce the best and most interesting whiskey possible for drinkers around the world. As such, Never Say Die is made using only the finest ingredients. Our custom mash bill has been designed to highlight the essence of the small grains with consistency, using carefully selected local grains. It is a pioneering sweet mash that results in a smoother, more flavourful whiskey. We also use high-quality, mineral-rich limestone-filtered water sourced from the deepest aquifer in Kentucky.

“We add our Bourbon whiskey to well seasoned, charred American Oak barrels and tuck them away to mature to perfection for up to four years in Kentucky before it embarks on the final leg of its journey across the ocean to the White Peak Distillery in Derbyshire to finish”.

Never Say Die Bourbon Barrel Strength is available to order now for the on and off-trade via N10 Bourbons and is available to buy from Whiskey Exchange from 30th September.

The post Never Say Die Bourbon: World’s First Bourbon Whiskey to be Finished in England first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Buffalo Trace Distillery tells BourbonBlog.com that the upcoming annual release of all six Van Winkle whiskey expressions will be available starting in October.

BourbonBlog.com asks you to raise a roast with us to congratulate them on this year which marks a special milestone as it is the 20th anniversary of the partnership between the Van Winkle family and Buffalo Trace Distillery!

Today’s press release from Buffalo Trace included three messages for consumers that we haven’t been seen accompanied together in their announcements of the Van Winkle release thus far.

We thought it important to note this in the story as the messages do answer important questions that consumers may have.

1st …More Bottles Available, But How Many?

Buffalo Trace tells us there will be more bottles available this year than usual of almost every Van Winkle expression due to both putting away more whiskey to age over 10 years ago and a higher yield than typical when moving from barrel to bottle.

How many more bottles and from which of the expressions in the collection? BourbonBlog.com asked this exact question to Buffalo Trace Distillery as we knew you would be curious.

We received this reply:

As a privately held company, we do not release numbers, so I do not have any additional information to share beyond what is in the press release.

2nd: Message from Van Winkle Family and Buffalo Trace on “No Control” Over What Retailers Charge

The Van Winkle family and Buffalo Trace team would like to remind fans that even though the suggested retail pricing remains at what is considered a fair price, there is no control they can take over the price retailers charge. “Although we would prefer for retailers to charge our suggested retail pricing, unfortunately, we cannot legally force them to do so. The best chance to find our products at a fair price is through lotteries offered by many retailers, where fans have a chance to buy our bourbon at MSRP. Many of these lotteries benefit charities. so it’s a win-win for everyone,” added Van Winkle.

3rd Counterfeit Alert / Warning from Buffalo Trace on Van Winkle Bourbons

Enthusiasts are also reminded to avoid online resellers such as private Facebook groups, Craigslist and other online marketplaces. Unfortunately, Buffalo Trace Distillery has seen an increase in consumers buying Van Winkle bourbons from private sellers, only to find out later the product inside is counterfeit.

“It’s quite common in other countries for consumers to buy alcohol from those outside the system (not a licensed retailer) and for them to drink it and get sick, and in some cases, it’s fatal,” said Mark Brown, president and chief executive officer, Buffalo Trace Distillery. “Fortunately, we haven’t seen a lot of deaths in the United States from those scenarios – yet – and we certainly hope we do not. But we caution people to only buy from a licensed retailer; do not buy from a private seller, even if it’s someone you know, as you don’t know where they got the whiskey. The counterfeiters have gotten very sophisticated with their technology, so it pays to be safe.”

Consumers who believe they have been duped should not drink anything that is questionable and can file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or contact their State Attorneys General’s office.

AND…here are some tasting notes from Buffalo Trace..

Though we don’t think you’ll need additional reasons if you are on the hunt, Buffalo Trace goes a step further in the press release today stating the Family Reserve 15-Year-Old has been noted as particularly delicious by the sensory experts at Buffalo Trace, describing it as, “An unbelievably opulent and flawless bourbon that takes wood and distillate to its absolute pinnacle.”

They tell us:

The wheaed recipe used by Buffalo Trace to make its Weller and Van Winkle Bourbons allows for longer aging, in some cases two decades or more, than the traditional rye recipe used in most bourbons.

This wheated recipe also results in a smoother and somewhat sweeter flavor. The Weller and Van Winkle lines have earned an impeccable reputation among connoisseurs and have almost achieved cult-like status.

The annual Van Winkle collection release consists of six whiskeys. Please note the tasting notes for the 2022 release as follows come from Buffalo Trace.

Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10-Year-Old 107 proof

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $69.99

Tasting Notes:

Color: Tawny in color.
Nose: Very sweet, with notes of honey, dulce de leche, caramel corn, rooibos tea and lightly toasted nuts. Hints of the wheat and corn are present which enhances the complexity.
Taste: Medium-bodied palate with dried fruit and nuts. Each sip finishes with a very long bold wave of floral honey, caramel, and toasted barrel flavors which counter the weight of the alcohol.
Finish: An elegant balance between oak, grain, and maturation.

Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12-Year-Old (90.4 proof)

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $79.99

Tasting Notes:

Color: Brilliant amber.
Nose: Rich and decadent with butterscotch, toffee, vanilla and hints of nectarine and satsuma adding to the complexity. There is still a wisp of bready wheat present which is perfectly balanced with the spicy and rich oak notes.
Taste: Butterscotch and toffee are prominent in the taste but there are also hints of spiced praline which contribute to the long, round finish that is sweet without being cloying.
Finish: An outrageously well-crafted bourbon that pays homage to its source ingredients but shows that oak, the right distillate, and patience can create unparalleled depth and balance.

Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13-Year-Old (95.6 proof)

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE:

$119.99

Tasting Notes:

Color: Rich copper color.
Nose: An incredibly enticing and complex aroma with notes of toasted pumpernickel, plum, fig, and sweet-tobacco aromas
Taste: Smooth with medium-to full-bodied palate bursting with bold and delicious flavors of toffee, caraway, and dried cherry, and a hint of leather and mint.
Finish: A symphony of flavors sits endlessly on the palate, causing the unsuspecting drinker to wish there was an endless supply in their glass.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15-Year-Old (107 proof)

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $119.99

Tasting Notes:

Color: Striking, brilliant, copper color.
Nose: The aroma is seductive with intense sweet brown notes like maple, caramelized sugar, toffee, and toasted almond.
Taste: Waves of caramel and toffee meld into familiar memories of fresh-baked holiday spice cookies made with molasses. The mouthfeel is rich, supple, full-bodied and briefly veers toward decadent before the wood influences lend a balancing dryness.
Finish: Long, flavorful, and complex. An unbelievably opulent and flawless bourbon that takes wood and distillate to its absolute pinnacle.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20-Year-Old (90.4 proof)

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $199.99

Tasting Notes:

Color: Dark amber in appearance with ruby highlights.
Nose: This full-bodied bourbon has a sophisticated forefront of leather with complementary notes of smoke, warm tobacco, treacle, espresso, and charred oak.
Taste: The aromas and flavors are endlessly complex and each new sip reveals something new to discover.
Finish: Suave and confident with layers of bold, integrated nuances.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23-Year-Old (95.6 proof)

SUGGESTED DETAILS PRICE: $119.99

Tasting Notes:

Color: Rich mahogany color.
Nose: Reminiscent of a crisp fall day, with aromas of ripe red apples, cherries and tobacco.
Taste: Wood is the star here with supporting notes of caramel, apple, apricot, leather, walnuts, and vanilla Crème Brulé.
Finish: Long-lasting and rich, opening with bold flavors of oak and caramel that tease the palate before fading slowly and elegantly until the next sip.

20th Year of Distilling Partnership of Buffalo Trace Distillery and The Van Winkles

This year marks a special milestone as it is the 20th anniversary of the partnership between the Van Winkle family and Buffalo Trace Distillery. In 2002, the Van Winkles entered into an agreement with Buffalo Trace to produce, age, and bottle all its whiskeys, entrusting its wheated mashbill exclusively to the distilling team at Buffalo Trace to continue the family legacy started more than 125 years prior.

Given that Buffalo Trace Distillery was already producing the wheated recipe for the W.L. Weller bourbons, it made sense to the Van Winkle family to enter into a formal agreement to produce their bourbons as well. The W.L. Weller Bourbons were formally produced by the Van Winkle family until 1972, when the Weller brand was sold, and eventually acquired by Buffalo Trace Distillery. “Harlen Wheatley and his predecessors had been distilling the W.L. Weller wheated recipe for many years before our 2002 joint venture.

“We trusted their expertise in distilling and aging, and it paid off, as many of Buffalo Trace’s brands are just as sought after as our own,” Julian Van Winkle III, president, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery tells BourbonBlog.com. “My son Preston and I still take care of the marketing and management of our brands, but we leave the rest of it to the team at Buffalo Trace. The twenty-year partnership has flown by, and I feel confident we’re leaving it in good hands for the future Van Winkle generations.”

The post Annual Van Winkle Bourbon and Whiskey Release 2022: “More Bottles Available This Year Than Usual”..but how many? first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Beam Suntory tells BourbonBlog.com they are releasing a limited edition Konb Creek 18 Year Old. Knob Creek 18 Year Old is available now for a limited time at retailers nationwide with an SRP of $169.99 for a 750 ml bottle.

This will be their oldest and most mature age statement to date.

They say it will be a full-flavored product that has been aged twice as long as their flagship bourbon and bottled at 100 proof.

In the late 1980s, Booker Noe, grandson of Jim Beam and Sixth Generation Master Distiller, set out to define the standards for pre-prohibition style bourbon and introduced Knob Creek.

The video at the bottom of this comes from 1988-1989 when the brand was introducing the original Small Batch Bourbon Collection including Booker’s, Knob Creek, Baker’s, and Basil Hayden’s.

“As we celebrate 30 years of Knob Creek, it’s clear to me that Dad was ahead of his time in creating innovative expressions with big, bold flavors that defined pre-prohibition whiskey,” = Fred Noe, Booker Noe’s son and Seventh Generation Master Distiller tells BourbonBlog.com “This new 18-Year-Old liquid is a nod to his vision and commitment to quality and craftsmanship, and I know this is a whiskey he’d be proud to serve. I’m honored to further his legacy with Knob Creek’s oldest and boldest expression yet.”

 

The post Knob Creek 18 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey: The Oldest Knob Yet! first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Drew Estate Cigars tells BourbonBlog.com they are releasing a new cigar in partnership with Blackened American Whiskey’s Rob Dietrich and Metallica’s James Hetfield.

During the Kentucky Barn Smoker this weekend, Bourbon expert Tom Fischer is spending time with long time friend Master Distiller Rob Dietrich and the brand tasting the stunning new all-Maduro cigar and trying it with whiskey pairings.

The passion project that brings together three immensely talented and vastly experienced cigar enthusiasts—Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate; James Hetfield, Metallica co-founder, singer and guitarist; and Rob Dietrich, the Master Distiller and Blender of BLACKENED American Whiskey. The collaboration began with Hetfield and Dietrich, who frequently enjoy cigars together.

About the Cigar

Presented in beautiful copper-accented black 20-count boxes, BLACKENED Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate debuts in four sizes: Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), Corona Doble (7 x 50), and Corona (5 x 43). Exclusively available to Drew Diplomat Program participants beginning on Sept. 29, BLACKENED Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate’s MSRPs are: $183/box or $9.15/cigar for the Corona; $189/box or $9.45/cigar for the Robusto; $197/box or $9.85/cigar for the Toro; and $207/box or $10.35/cigar for the Corona Doble.

“It is really a fun social thing for me, a fellowship, to have a few buddies sit around with a few sticks,” Hetfield says. “My buddy, Rob Dietrich, BLACKENED’s Master Distiller, and I frequently enjoy cigars together and he introduced me to Jonathan from Drew Estate. The three of us connected and shared each other’s vision and story about where we’ve been, what we like to see and what is important to us now, and we all came up with what a BLACKENED ‘M81’ Cigar would look and taste like. I love the Maduro leaf and I’m super excited for everyone to try this.”

Having been friends for well over a decade, Dietrich and Drew always wanted to combine their talents to collaborate on something special, and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity. Samples from the Drew Estate portfolio were sent to Hetfield and Dietrich who kept cigar journals to critique the cigars and identify what they liked and disliked about each one. After two years of enjoying and sampling cigars together, the group decided on the exact flavor profile that would become BLACKENED Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate.

“This was a project that was purely born from passion …for music, for fellowship, for life, and all the in-between moments within,” says Dietrich. “James, Jonathan and I worked together to create what we feel like is the perfect cigar. The result is truly a monster of flavor—all-maduro, designed with definitive depth for darker and bolder palates.”

BLACKENED Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate presents a journey through different Maduro leaves, starting with a thick and oily Maduro wrapper that’s grown in the rich volcanic soil of Mexico’s San Andres Valley. The blend includes a thick and meaty Connecticut River Valley Broadleaf Maduro binder and a filler blend of Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro tobaccos, including the boldest Pennsylvania Broadleaf ligero in Drew Estate’s vast tobacco inventory. Maduro to the Core, BLACKENED Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate is dark, bold, rich and powerful with alluring notes of espresso, leather and dark chocolate.

“Hetfield, Dietrich, and the DE team have dedicated an immense amount of time into this historic brand,” adds Drew. “BLACKENED Cigars ‘M81’ by Drew Estate reveals layer-after-layer of Maduro’s deepest, darkest, most magical, and mysterious character that narrates a defining story of just one thing … passion!!!”

The post The All-Maduro Blackened Cigars “M81” By Drew Estate: Partnership with Metallica and Blackened American Whiskey first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Cohiba tells BourbonBlog.com that they are releasubg a second iteration of Weller by Cohiba this week.

The 2022 limited-edition blend marks the first Cohiba blend to be made with bourbon barrel-aged tobacco. As a follow-up from the 2021 Weller by Cohiba which was blended to Compliment Weller Bourbon Whiskey,  the 2022 edition features a Connecticut-grown Broadleaf binder leaf that has been aged in authentic Weller Bourbon barrels.

These barrels were transported from the = Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY to General Cigar Dominicana in Santiago, DR where the cigars were crafted.

Bourbon expert Tom Fischer will bring you a live interview and review of the 2022 edition as he welcomes Sean Williams of Cohiba to a live video broadcast on Sunday, Sept 25 at 7 pm ET on this link or the BourbonBlog YouTube link above.

Pricing and Release

This release will be in one size, a 6” x 50 Tor for a suggested retail price of $24.99 per cigar or $249.99 for a box
containing ten cigars.

This special release will be available through fine cigar shops across the U.S. following its ship date on Friday, September 23.

About The Cigar

Dressed in a rich Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper that crowns the barrel-aged Connecticut-grown Broadleaf binder, the
the blend is made with hand-selected filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Esteli in Nicaragua, and three Honduran
growing regions including La Entrada, Jamastran, and Olancho San Agustin.

 

What Sean Williams Says About the 2022 Release

Cohiba Brand Ambassador Sean Williams tells BourbonBlog.com, “For our second expression of Weller by Cohiba, we set out to deepen the
connection between the cigar and the spirit, and we did this through our proprietary barrel aging process for tobacco. In
allowing the binder leaf to age in bourbon barrels, we have added another dimension to the smoking experience which
offers rich notes of cedar, honey, and a subtle spice that come to life on the palate and in the aroma. This blend is
exceptional.”

Weller by Cohiba was blended to complement Weller Bourbon, a rare and highly-coveted wheated bourbon prized by
connoisseurs for its sophisticated, moderately sweet taste and intensely smooth finish.

The blend also makes for a sophisticated pairing with any bourbon or aged brown spirit and smokes elegantly on its own.

The post Weller by Cohiba 2022 Cigar Release: Weller Bourbon Barrel-Aged Tobacco first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Chicken Cock tells has released a new and limited-edition expression called the Island Rooster Rum Barrel Rye. The new expression starts with Chicken Cock’s Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey and is finished in Caribbean rum casks for at least six months.

Bourbon expert Tom Fischer tasted a pre-release version of it earlier in 2022 with Chicken Cock Whiskey Master Distiller Gregg Snyder on this video link and also below.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE..

Island Rooster is available for the suggested retail price of $199.99 per 750ml bottle in the following states: CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, KY, MA, NO, NY, SC, TN, TX, and WI.

The brand says it was inspired by a trip to the Caribbean, where roosters announce the coming day.

They finished 25 barrels of our Signature Kentucky Straight Rye  Whiskey in Caribbean rum casks.

From spicy notes of the rye to candied molasses notes from the rum barrels, it is well-balanced, bold and original.

About the Chicken Cock Island Rooster

* Non-chill filtered
* Finished in Caribbean Rum Barrels for 6 months
* 5% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
* 95 Proof (47.5% ABV)
* Bottled in a Prohibition-era Replica Apothecary-Style Bottle

The post Chicken Cock Whiskey Island Rooster Rum Barrel Rye Whiskey first appeared on BourbonBlog.