WhistlePig Whiskey’s First Bourbon: New “Beyond Bonded” Single Barrel Rye and Bourbon Whiskeys

WhistlePig Whiskey releases its first Bourbon whiskey ever as part of releases two new expressions: FarmStock Beyond Bonded Bourbon and FarmStock Beyond Bonded Rye which are the first 100% fully harvested, distilled, aged, and bottled at the WhisltePig Farm and Distillery in Shoreham, Vermont.

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WhistlePig Beyond Bonded Bourbon and Rye Whiskey
WhistlePig Whiskey tells BourbonBlog.com they are releasing two new expressions which are the first 100% fully harvested, distilled, aged, and bottled whiskeys from the brand as part of their “Triple Terroir at the WhisltePig Farm and Distillery in Shoreham, Vermont. This also marks the first release of a Bourbon whiskey ever from WhistlePig.

As WhistlePig aptly has creative touch and story to naming their expressions, both of these are single barrels that go “Beyond Bonded” as the name suggests. They are both 101.1 proof and over 4 years in age.

In fact, the oldest barrel in the release was aged for four years, 8 months, and 14 days.

With just 24 barrels of Rye and 16 barrels of Bourbon in the 2021 release, Beyond Bonded FarmStock Rye and Bourbon are among the rarest and collectible whiskies ever produced from the WhistlePig Farm.

These releases are both hitting shelves across the United States during June 2021, with no barrel or bottle being exactly alike. The MSRP is  $99.99 per 750ml bottle. The next limited release of Beyond Bonded is expected in Spring 2022.

On my recent visit to WhisltePig Farm and Distillery, I experienced some early versions of these 100% grain-to-glass whiskeys from the WhistlePig Farm. I’m sharing more below on that.

Beyond Bonded Rye follows WhistlePig’s original FarmStock Rye Crop series, released between 2017 and 2019, blending WhistlePig Farm Rye and other aged Straight Rye Whiskeys.

The third and final edition WhistlePig FarmStock “Crop #3“, featuring 52% Farm-to-bottle Rye, will continue to be available alongside the limited release FarmStock Beyond Bonded Rye.

WhistlePig’s FarmStock Beyond Bonded Rye Whiskey

WhistlePig’s FarmStock Beyond Bonded Rye is a Straight Rye Whiskey crafted from 100% Remington Rye harvested from the ‘North Orwell 1’ field of WhistlePig’s 500-acre Farm.

 

WhistlePig FarmStock Rye Beyond Bonded

WhistlePig FarmStock Beyond Bonded Bourbon

is a Straight Bourbon Whiskey made with a high rye mash bill clocking in at 51% Dent Corn and 49% Remington and Rifle Rye varietals harvested from ‘North Orwell 1’ and ‘North Orwell 2’ fields. Both whiskeys were distilled on WhistlePig’s original hybrid still, ‘Mortimer’, proofed with water from WhistlePig’s Farm well, and aged for upwards of four years in Vermont Estate Oak barrels which were produced from local Vermont oak.

 

WhistlePig FarmStock Bourbon Whiskey

Tracing the “Farm-to-bottle Journey”

WhistlePig FarmStock collectors will be able to trace the Farm-to-bottle journey via a unique QR code on the label. Each code reveals thirty unique facts about their individual whiskey, from growing conditions to fermentation days to barrel specs to bottling team.

“Today’s craft spirits drinkers, especially whiskey collectors, are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about process,” Jeff Kozak, CEO tells us. “After working toward a 100% Farm whiskey vision for more than a decade, our team is proud to invite WhistlePig fans to look under the hood at who, where, when, and how our grain-to-glass whiskey is created, and to offer a one-of-a-kind experience from each barrel.”

Beyond Bonded Bourbon takes the whiskey world by surprise as WhistlePig’s first-ever Bourbon release, after quietly seeding, harvesting, and distilling the grain alongside their Rye varietals and other experimental crops.

Distiller Emily Harrison

Behind the scenes at WhistlePig, you’ll find Distiller Emily Harrison. Beyond Bonded Bourbon is especially close to her heart, having started out in Kentucky’s large bourbon distilleries before discovering her true passion for craft whiskey, and following it to Vermont.

Recently, I spent some time with Emily at the WhistlePig Farm and Distillery in Shoreham, Vermont. Watch the video below or on this link as Emily describes the process of Koji and wild yeast fermentation.

WATCH: Interview and tasting with Emily Harrison at WhistlePig Farm and Distillery

Emily leads a team of 4 distillers at WhistlePig Farm and manages the Farm-to-bottle process from the beginning. This includes creating crop plans with WhistlePig’s farmer, checking the quality of the mash ingredients and distilled whiskey, and creating schedules for mashing, fermentation, and distillation. Emily works closely alongside Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig’s Chief Blender, who in college, after reading an article about a female chemical engineer turned Master Blender, knew that she also wanted to get into the craft spirits industry.

At the WhistlePig Farm, Meghan picks up when the barrels are filled, seeing the process through to ensure WhistlePig maintains its award-winning quality and taste.

“Beyond Bonded has been our most ambitious experiment to date. Whiskey making is a labor of love, with challenges at every step of the process” Emily Harrison, WhistlePig Distiller tells BourbonBlog.com.

“In Vermont, the short growing season and extreme temperatures make for much tougher farming than in the south. After harvest, Rye is a notoriously difficult grain to distill, but we’ve always believed that the benefits of its complexity are well worth the effort. FarmStock Beyond Bonded shows its incredible potential once again, in both Rye and Bourbon. Seeing it leave the Farm is a dream come true.”

Earlier this month, to debut the Beyond Bonded collection, the first-ever barrel of Beyond Bonded FarmStock Rye, Barrel No. 0001, was auctioned off at Dana Mecum’s 34th Original Spring Classic in Indianapolis. After whiskey fans across the country bid on Barrel No. 0001, the winning bid resulted in a total contribution of $100,100.00 to Farm Aid.

WhistlePig FarmStock Whiskey CollectionThe post WhistlePig Whiskey’s First Bourbon: New “Beyond Bonded” Single Barrel Rye and Bourbon Whiskeys first appeared on BourbonBlog.

The Last Drop Distillers First Signature Blend – A 50 Year Old Scotch Whisky created by Master Blender Colin Scott

The Last Drop Distillers Limited of London’s new and very rare “The Last Drop 50-Year-Old Signature Blended Scotch Whisky”, created by Master Blender Colin J.P. Scott, formerly of Chivas Regal, with only 500 bottles available. So how does this $4,600 Scotch taste?

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Last Drop 50 Year Old Scotch Whisky

Back in November 2020, I interviewed The Last Drop Distillers of London, Manager Director Rebecca Jago in the video interview below as we tasted the 1980 Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey live.

Now, The Last Drop Distillers of London, curators of the world’s most remarkable spirits, tell BourbonBlog.com they are releasing  “The Last Drop 50 Year Old Signature Blended Scotch Whisky”, created by Master Blender Colin J.P. Scott.

Release no 22: Colin JP Scott’s 50-Year-Old Signature Blend. RRP: £3,250 (inc VAT) – or around $4,600 available from the 17th of May on lastdropdistillers.com and fine spirits retailers.

The release, just the 22nd in The Last Drop’s history, is their very first Signature Blend, marking their first foray into the creation, as well as curation, of remarkable spirits.

This unique and unrepeatable blend, limited to just 500 bottles worldwide, bears not just the physical signature but all the stylistic hallmarks of one of the great architects of the world of blended Scotch Whisky.

As with all The Last Drop releases, each bottle comes packaged with a signature 50ml miniature for private enjoyment and a pocket-sized tasting book with additional pages for personal tasting notes.

1980 Buffalo Trace Bourbon with Rebecca Jago of The Last Drop Distillers Limited

Colin Scott joined The Last Drop as their first Master Blender after a distinguished career at Chivas Brothers where, as Master Blender, he created the iconic Chivas Regal 18 Year Old, alongside the original founders of The Last Drop.

Colin Scott has used his knowledge and experience in blending to craft a whisky that speaks of the past yet also to the present.

Each of the 500 bottles evokes memories of this sumptuous whisky’s long journey to perfect maturity, presenting smooth, rich flavours from all corners of Scotland. The journey for this sumptuous whisky started as the new distillate of single malts and grains, filled into casks over fifty years ago. Over time, malt and grain whiskies have been selected and special blends created to be secured in oak cask for further maturation.

Final selections were made from casks of malts, grains, and aged blends and blended together resulting in a truly remarkable 50-year-old Signature blend.

As expected for a whisky that has seen such a long and patient maturation in both sherry and bourbon cask, The Last Drop Distillers of London tell us the resulting liquid is rich and luxurious, yet it retains a balance and freshness which belies its age, with dried fruits and scented floral notes enhanced with sweet spices and creamy toffee.

 

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Gable Erenzo of Gardiner Liquid Mercantile and Hudson Whiskey Passes Away at age 41

Gable Erenzo passes away at age 41. To remember his life, we are sharing videos from recent interviews we did with the owner of Gardiner Liquid Mercantile and co-founder of Hudson Whiskey and Tuthilltown Spirits, New York.

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Gable Erenzo

It is with shock and sadness that we share the news of the passing of Gardiner Liquid Mercantile owner Gable “Gabe” Erenzo. Gable and his father Ralph Erenzo started Tuthilltown Spirits and Hudson Whiskey, of Gardiner, New York. He was a great supporter, friend, and champion of the industry.

This tragic and sudden loss was shared by Gable’s father, our good friend Ralph Erenzo, on Facebook.  I was in disbelief upon reading it, and I still am today.

Gable was one of the most passionate and kind gentlemen I had the experience of working with and getting to know in the whiskey business the last 15 years.  I was lucky to have him as a friend. I met the Erenzos early on in our adventure of BourbonBlog.com as they were one of the first distilleries outside of Kentucky.

About a year ago, I interviewed Ralph and Gable during the pandemic as part of our BoubonBlog Live virtual series. I’ve included that video below along with several other video interviews and adventures we shared with Gable.

Watching these videos from our archive reminds me of Gabe’s vibrancy for life, humor, talent as a distiller, an innovator, and leader in craft distilling, and his enormous heart.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and all those affected by his death. I welcome you to share your favorite memories. I will be searching for other videos to share.

Interview with Gable and Ralph Erenzo, May 2020

Interview with Gable Erenzo and Han Shan, Former Hudson Whiskey National Brand Ambassador from Tales of the Cocktail 2014

Interview with Gable Erenzo and Speakeasy Motor Whiskey Co, June 2020

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Blood, Sweat, & Cheers Cocktail at Soho Cigar Bar

Around this time last year before the pandemic and shutdown, I spent some time with Jared Bailey, Manager and Mixologist at Soho Cigar Bar in Manhattan. He made this Mexcal cocktail for me. This is one of the best cocktail pairings I’ve ever had with a cigar. Enjoy… Blood, Sweat, & Cheers! 2 oz Ilegal… Read more »

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Around this time last year before the pandemic and shutdown, I spent some time with Jared Bailey, Manager and Mixologist at Soho Cigar Bar in Manhattan.

He made this Mexcal cocktail for me. This is one of the best cocktail pairings I’ve ever had with a cigar. Enjoy…

Blood, Sweat, & Cheers!

2 oz Ilegal Mezcal Reposado
1 oz Coffee-Orange Syrup**

3 Dashes Fee Brothers Molasses Bitters
3 Dashes Infuse Bitters Spicy Tres Amigos Bitters

In a mixing glass combine all ingredients and stir until well-chilled. Strain neat into a rocks glass and garnish with a flamed orange twist.

***Coffee-Orange Syrup-In a French Press Coffee Maker add 3/4 cup of coffee grounds (I used Lavazza Intenso Espresso Roast) and 1 cup of water, let sit, and strain into medium-size saucepan.

Over medium heat wait for the coffee to simmer and stir in 1 cup of sugar and 1/4 oz of pure orange oil extract. remove from heat and let sit until cool.

 

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Jefferson’s Rye Cognac Finish Whiskey

Jefferson’s releases Jefferson’s Rye Cognac Whiskey Finish, the whiskey marries the spice of American Rye with the refinement of cognac. Double-barreled for at least 9 months and up to 19 months. We talk with founder Trey Zoeller about the release.

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Jefferson’s tells BourbonBlog.com they are releasing the Jefferson’s Rye Cognac Finish. The whiskey is scheduled to be on shelves by the end of March 2021.

This whiskey marries the spice of American Rye with the refinement of cognac. Double-barreled for at least 9 months and up to 19 months, it exemplifies Jefferson’s renowned and innovative maturation techniques. Jefferson’s Rye Cognac Finish (ABV: 47%) It will retail at $69.99 for the 750 ml bottle and be available at venues and retail locations both in-store nationwide and online via Drizly and via ReserveBar.

The brand has been sharing the insights with BourbonBlog.com for a while about this release.

I had the opportunity to taste an early version of this whiskey and I was impressed by the bold notes of the rye against the elegant sweetness of the Cognac finish. When I interviewed Trey Zoeller and about the new single barrel release in the video below for BourbonBlog.com/live, he shared a little on this rye.

For this latest innovation, the double-barreled straight rye whiskey was fully matured prior to being finished in hand-selected Cognac casks.

Ever since the brand’s first rye release in 2008 was a runaway success, Jefferson’s Bourbon Founder, Trey Zoeller says he has been eager to revisit the category and put his signature stamp of innovation on rye.

Zoeller took fully matured whiskey and finished it in ex-Cognac casks to bevel the edges, round out the flavor profile, and add dimension. This imparted complexities intrinsic to Cognac while maintaining a strong rye backbone, resulting in an elegant spirit with spice upfront, notes of orange, peach, and honey, and a lingering, luscious finish and a full-bodied mouthfeel.

“I wanted to look at rye through a new lens and elevate it past the supporting role it’s commonly associated with,” Zoeller tells us. “The spirit’s spice and character have historically made it an ideal base for cocktails, but Jefferson’s Rye Cognac Finish is just as well-suited for sipping.”

The Cognac finish adds complexity and depth to the typical one-dimensional character of the spice of rye whiskey

To be first to learn about other releases like this, visit BourbonBlog.com/signup.

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BourbonBlog’s New Bourbon Barrel-Aged Coffee

If you love Bourbon in your coffee, you are going to love this new Bourbon barrel-aged coffee that we partnered with Janus Coffee Roaters on.

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Janus COffee ROasters

BourbonBlog.com has partnered with Janus Coffee Roasters to launch a new and innovative Bourbon barrel-aged coffee. Buy this barrel-aged coffee on this link.

This delicious coffee hails from Wyoming and spent the perfect amount of time aging in a used Breckenridge Bourbon barrel from Colorado.

After a highly adventurous that included blizzards, 60 mph winds, road closures, fully booked hotels, and a 3-hour detour trip to pick up some Breckinridge Distillery Bourbon Barrels, we got to work.

Janus Coffee Roasters took an amazing bean from Peru for a month in Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon Barrels and roast it medium to create this absolutely amazing Bourbon Barrel Aged coffee.

The medium roast allows for the bean to retain some of the flavor profile of dark chocolate, raisin, walnut, and brown sugar while pushing the amazing Breckinridge Bourbon to the forefront.

If you like Barrel Aged Coffee, get a bag now as it is currently is a limited production release.


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