Angel’s Envy Announces Latest Cellar Collection Release – Rye Whiskey Finished in Ice Cider Casks

Angel’s Envy has announced their latest Cellar Collection release which is a rye whiskey finished in ice cedar casks. This is the first rye that is joining the Cellar Collection, which is their top shelf collection.Kyle Henderson, Angel Envy’s Distille…

Angel's Envy has announced their latest Cellar Collection release which is a rye whiskey finished in ice cedar casks. This is the first rye that is joining the Cellar Collection, which is their top shelf collection.

Kyle Henderson, Angel Envy's Distillery Production Manager says:
The flavor profile of this whiskey is very unique – the spiciness of the rye is balanced by the fruity sweetness from the ice cider casks, and there’s a crispness that is really distinct. We’ve never seen a whiskey finished in ice cider casks before, so we’re excited to introduce this finish as part of our Cellar Collection. My brother, Andrew, was the one who found these barrels and raised the idea of an ice cider finish; he’s really championed this project from the beginning. As we tasted samples and learned more about the craftsmanship, time and resources required to create each bottle of ice cider, we fell in love with the product and the process and knew these special casks would be an excellent match for our rye.

This release is Angel's Evy 7-year rye whiskey finished in ice cider casks from Vermont-based Eden Specialty Ciders for a very specific 364 days. For more on ice cider....

Ice cider is a dessert-style cider that is produced primarily in the northern US and Canada. The French oak casks used to finish this ANGEL’S ENVY release were used by Eden Specialty Ciders to create an ice cider from tart, late-season Northern Spy apples that had been naturally cold-concentrated in Vermont before partial fermentation and aging.

There are a total of 6,000 bottles total. Additionally, Angel's Envy 500 Main members have the opportunity to enter a lottery for 1 of 500 bottles that have been allocated for pickup at the distillery. The lottery runs from today (February 15th) through 11:59 PM ET on February 17th. It's free to become an Angel's Envy 500 Main Member. You can learn more here


Angel's Envy 2022 Cellar Collection carries an MSRP of $249.99 and comes in at 107-proof (53.5% alcohol). The bottles will be available for purchase beginning on February 25th at select retailers in NY, CA, FL, TN, IL, TX and KY, as well as at Angel's Envy's downtown Louisville distillery. 

The taste profile is:
Notes of caramel candy apple and toasted oak, with faint notes of nuttiness and cinnamon. The palate features bold peppery and cinnamon notes accompanied by vanilla, ripe apple, toffee and butterscotch. The finish is long and transitions from spicy to sweet, with notes of brown sugar and apple with hints of earthiness and oak
My Take

It's unfortunate that this isn't going to be available in Ohio, but it shouldn't come as a surprise at this point. I find the finishing in the ice cider casks fascinating. I love the science behind different woods and aging techniques and everything that comes with it. As weird as it is for me to say about a bottle this expensive, I think I would buy this if I saw it at the distillery. It's a really cool idea and a neat story to tell when sharing the bourbon. The only question is how good is it and that's the real $249.99 question... 

What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below. 

Source: Angel's Envy

Watershed Announces Watershed Eaves Cask Strength Bourbon Release and Lottery

Watershed has announced a collaboration with Marianne Eaves on a new cask strength collaboration blend (bottled at 130.3 proof) that will be available via lottery beginning Feb. 16th. For those unfamiliar with Marianne Eaves, I’ve writte…

Watershed has announced a collaboration with Marianne Eaves on a new cask strength collaboration blend (bottled at 130.3 proof) that will be available via lottery beginning Feb. 16th. 

For those unfamiliar with Marianne Eaves, I've written about her here and here. For those unfamiliar with her, she started at Brown Forman (Woodford, Old Forester, Early Times, etc.) where she started in a research and development co-op while in college and worked her way up to the title of Master Taster and then became Kentucky’s First Female Bourbon Master Distiller since Prohibition while at Castle & Key. It's notable that she left prior to releasing any bourbons to market, but was instrumental in creating and barreling a lot the bourbon aging there now. 

Of this release, she says: 

My ‘aha moment’ was realizing that there are so many other regions and distilleries outside of Kentucky that are making exceptional bourbons, too. This Ohio collaboration gave me the chance finally to work with some energetic and trailblazing industry friends. Watershed should be on everyone’s shortlist of amazing bourbons and believe me when I say they are only going to get better from here.

This release was created as part of the Eaves Blind Series which was concepted by Marianne to showcase regions outside of Kentucky that make great bourbon. There are seven other distillers in addition to Watershed that are part of this series

  • Oregon Spirit Distillers (Bend, OR)
  • Distillery 291 (Colorado Springs, TX)
  • St. Augustine Distillery (St. Augustine, FL)
  • Stumpy’s Spirits Distillery (Columbia, IL)
  • Treaty Oak Distillery (Dripping Springs, TX)
  • Journeyman Distillery (Three Oaks, MI)
  • King’s County Distillery (Brooklyn, NY)

Watershed Eaves Cask Strength Bourbon is bottled at 130.3 proof (65.15% alcohol), barreled for four years, and will come with a price is $150 per 750 ml bottle. The bottle lottery will open on Feb. 16th and closes on March 9th. Must be 21 years or older to enter. Winners will be notified and given the opportunity to purchase one bottle in person from Watershed’s bottle shop. The tasting notes provided are warm cinnamon and brown sugar, citrus peel and toasted oak with a sweet creamy palate. 

You can enter the lottery starting on the 16th here:

https://www.watersheddistillery.com/lottery

My Take

Very cool that Watershed is part of the Eaves Blend Series. Anything to get some exposure for Ohio and Columbus is always awesome and a great opportunity for Watershed. In terms of the actual release, $150 per bottle is a lot, but not crazy for a four year cask strength. I haven't reviewed Watershed and don't have a lot of experience with the brand, so this is one I'll probably be sitting out. However, if you're a fan, this is definitely something you'll want to take your chances on to try to win the lottery. 


Source & Images: Watershed Distillery

Review / Glenmorangie The Accord, The Elementa & The Tribute

These three whiskies form the core range of travel retail exclusive single malts from the north Highalnd distillery of Glenmorangie. They were launched in Autumn 2021 as the world began travelling again following 18 months of Covid-19 lockdown restrict…


These three whiskies form the core range of travel retail exclusive single malts from the north Highalnd distillery of Glenmorangie. They were launched in Autumn 2021 as the world began travelling again following 18 months of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. They are available now in airports globally and have been created by Dr. Bill Lumsden - the Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks at Glenmorangie.

The Accord is bottled at 12 years old and 43% ABV, and is a classic marriage of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry barrels. It costs £59/ $79 US. The Elementa has been predominantly matured in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in charred virgin oak casks. It is also bottled at 43% ABV and costs £68/ $92 US. The Tribute is the oldest at 16 years old and has been created from a 'heritage spirit batch' matured in ex-bourbon casks. The spirit is lightly peated. It is bottled at 46% ABv and costs £85/ $115 US.

Glenmorangie is one of the biggest selling single malt Scotch whisky brands in the world and was founded in 1843 by William Matheson. It is located in the north Highland town of Tain. The distillery was originally named as Morangie and changed to Glenmorangie in 1887. It has an annual production capacity of six million litres and the stills are the tallest in Scotland. They stand at over five metres (16.5 feet) tall. It also uses the hardest water of any Scotch whisky distillery in production - this bubbles up from the nearby Tarlogie Springs. The distillery and brand are currently owned by Moet Hennessey.

 

Our tasting notes


Glenmorangie The Accord 12 years old
The colour is deep golden yellow with a hint of amber and the nose is rich and fruity. Aromas of toffee, caramel and dried fruits (especially raisin and candied orange) rise first. They are followed by further aromas of dried apple, cereal bars, heather honey and a hint of almond. 
 
On the palate this whisky follows a similar path to the nose. It is rich and fruity. Juicy dried fruits (think of raisin and sultana), crumbly brown sugar and caramel notes lead the way. These are joined by candied orange peel and hints of marzipan and milk chocolate. There is also a background green vegetal note that is difficult to pinpoint. A distinct woodiness comes through early on and evolves well. This gives grip and a drying oaky quality, which is accentuated with a pinch of baking spice. The finish continues on this theme and this aids the length.


 

Glenmorangie The Elementa 14 years old
The colour is pale gold and the nose is delicate, sweet and woody. Aromas of dessicated coconut, vanilla and honey mingle with those of white chocolate, icing sugar and candied lemons. Hints of jasmine, orange blossom oil and fresh sawdust sit in the background. 

On the palate this whisky is equally as delicate, sweet and woody. It has an immediate freshness and uplifting vibrancy. Notes of vanilla, coconut and freshly sawn oak lead the way and offer a delicious introduction. Further notes of green apple, white chocolate and a good pinch of baking spice follow. Underneath are hints of candied lemon, marshmallow and that orange blossom oil from the nose. The finish is slightly short and becomes quite dry and oaky. It also becomes a little hot and peppery, especially at the end.

 

Glenmorangie The Tribute 16 years old
The colour is pale lemon yellow and the nose is full of sweet cereals, vanilla and a whiff of earthy smoke. Further aromas begin to develop - think of lime marmalade with a hint of tropical fruits, especially pineapple and peach. 
 
On the palate this whisky is initially sweet and sugary but the earthy peat smoke undertones quickly develop. The smokiness has a softness and sweetness to it as it gently licks around the other elements. It sits in the background and becomes increasingly savoury with time. Notes of vanilla, white chocolate and cookie dough are prominent and joined by hints of walnut, lime zest and dried pineapple. The finish is of decent length and sees the sweetness fade slowly. The background smoke then comes to the fore and gives a pleasant warmth and dryness.


What's the verdict?
This travel retail range is interesting as it pushes Glenmorangie in three different and very distinct directions. The Elementa is classic Glenmorangie - bourbon cask (although with the twist of virgin oak on this occasion) and packed with vanilla and oak notes. The Accord is much richer and shows the distinct influence of good sherry casks, and is reminiscent of the Lasanta expression from the core range. The Tribute offers the rare chance to taste a smoky Glenmorangie. 
 
Which is our favourite? That is a difficult call as one of us chose The Accord and the other The Elementa. We would definitely recommend checking these whiskies out next time you are passing through an airport.
 

Boone County Announces 2022 Version of Oloroso Sherry Cask Bourbon

Boone County has announced their third edition of their Oloroso Sherry Cask Bourbon. This bourbon is their small batch bourbon aged and finished in oloroso sherry casks. This release comes in at 113.7 proof (56.85% alcohol) and was aged for 26 wee…

Boone County has announced their third edition of their Oloroso Sherry Cask Bourbon. This bourbon is their small batch bourbon aged and finished in oloroso sherry casks. 

This release comes in at 113.7 proof (56.85% alcohol) and was aged for 26 weeks to create the oloroso sherry profile, which provides a nuttiness paired with dark flavors. 

If interested, the Oloroso Sherry Cask bourbon is available at the distillery beginning yesterday, February 8, 2022 (limit two per customer) for $69.99 a bottle.

Boone County Distilling Company
10601 Toebben Drive
Boone County, KY 41051

My Take

I've had a little bit of experience with Boone County. I reviewed their sourced 12 year bourbon and it scored a Solid 74/100. I also toured the distillery in 2019 and really enjoyed it. In terms of the product, I haven't had a ton of exposure with Oloroso Sherry bourbons. Angel's Envy released one a few years ago, but I never saw it on the shelves. One thing I'd like to know on this one is the entire aging process. Boone County mentions 26 weeks, but how long was the total maturation process? I think this would be a good pickup if you're a big Oloroso Sherry or Boone County fan, but it is a bit too random for me to justify driving to Kentucky. 

What do you think? Drop a note in the comment box below.


Source: Boone County Email

Stoli Group Announces Kentucky Owl St. Patrick’s Bourbon

Alcohol conglomerate Stoli Group has announced the limited release of Kentucky Owl St. Patrick’s Limited Edition Bourbon Whiskey. This new release celebrates the long-standing ties that connect Irish and Kentucky whiskey making. For this rele…

Alcohol conglomerate Stoli Group has announced the limited release of Kentucky Owl St. Patrick's Limited Edition Bourbon Whiskey. This new release celebrates the long-standing ties that connect Irish and Kentucky whiskey making. For this release, Kentucky Owl Master Blender John Rhea partnered with Louise McGuane, Ireland's first modern whiskey bonder and founder of J.J. Corry Irish Whiskey.

Louise McGuane says:
We tasted through the lens of bringing fruit-forward profiles that are desirable to us as Irish whiskey makers, but we also wanted something still representative of the Kentucky Owl style. This blend tastes like the Kentucky Owl products whiskey drinkers love, with an echo of big and bold juicy fruit flavors so familiar in Irish whiskey.

This release is made up of blends of various bourbons aged 4 to 11 years and contains only 6,500 cases. It comes in at 100 proof (50% alcohol) and contains an MSRP of $135. The tasting notes are:

Nose: Notes of sweet caramel and honey, with just enough spice married in to tease the palate. 

Taste: Long notes of caramel, butterscotch and frosted cinnamon roll, with hints of chocolate, orange, candy floss and some citrus peel. There's bright forest fruit on the mid-palate and a longer lingering finish with vanilla pod and balanced wood influence. 

My Take

I just learned that St. Patrick's day always falls on March 17th so it'll be here before we know it. I think this is a really interesting concept and a wonderful marketing tactic by Kentucky Owl and Stoli Group and I'm not sure why other brands don't do similar releases for specific holidays. The closest is Woodford coming out with Kentucky Derby and December Holiday bottles. 

In terms of this specific release, the $135 MSRP is a steep price, but this is a unique release so if you're a Kentucky Owl fan, this could be for you. Additionally, this isn't showing up on the State site as being available in Ohio, so if this is something you're interested in, it may mean a trip out of state. 

What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below. 

Source: Stoli Group

Cù Bòcan Tweet Tasting

Continuing our teeming throng of industry leading, Twitter trending Tweet Tastings (the original series of virtual tastings),
we’re thrilled to announce that on Thursday March 10th, we’ll be teaming up again with our
friends at Cù Bòcan, to pour and ex…

Continuing our teeming throng of industry leading, Twitter trending Tweet Tastings (the original series of virtual tastings), we’re thrilled to announce that on Thursday March 10th, we’ll be teaming up again with our friends at Cù Bòcan, to pour and explore a gaggle of their glorious lightly peated single malts; headlined by their two dramspankingly new Creation releases. Produced at the Tomatin

Heaven Hill Acquires Samson & Surrey – Makers of Widow Jane and Few

Fresh off claiming they didn’t have enough money to properly pay their workers a living wage and trying to hire scab workers, Heaven Hill has announced they have acquired Samson & Surrey. For those unfamiliar with Samson & Surrey, the…

Fresh off claiming they didn't have enough money to properly pay their workers a living wage and trying to hire scab workers, Heaven Hill has announced they have acquired Samson & Surrey. For those unfamiliar with Samson & Surrey, they have $40 million dollars in annual sales and have been growing at 60% per annum so we can assume the cost wasn't cheap (no financials of the sale were disclosed).

Max Shapira, Heaven Hill President says:
Throughout our 86-year history, our focus has been building a business with a portfolio of great brands sold through a great team. The Samson & Surrey portfolio strategically enhances our portfolio with emerging brands in strong growth categories. Together with their team, Heaven Hill is poised to leverage the tremendous potential of these exciting brands.

The brands included in this sale include:

  • Widow Jane American Whiskey
  • Tequila Ocho
  • Few Spirits
  • Brenne French Whisky
  • Bluecoat Gin 
  • Mezcal Vago
My Take

It's not the best look to spend millions of dollars after having workers on strike for six weeks over preserving affordable healthcare, increasing pay, maintaining overtime provisions, and strengthening retirement security. It goes to show that Heaven Hill had plenty of money to pay their workers but would rather nickel and dime the workers only to buy up other companies. Additionally, while researching this article, I learned that another one of their brands (Blackheart Spiced Rum) is partnered with noted anti-vaxxer Jenny McCarthy. Again, not a great look during a pandemic that has killed over 900,000 American's. 

It's unfortunate in that we want the companies we follow to do the right thing and reflect our values... after researching and following Heaven Hill for the last few months, it's clear they don't care about anything other than their profits... As consumers, we have a choice on where we spend our money... For me, I'm going to be dropping all future Heaven Hill brand purchases... those brands include Few, Whiskey Jane, Heaven Hill, Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Old Fitzgerald, and Pikesville. It may not make a difference to their bottom line, but there are a ton of bourbon brands out there... and I don't want to feel like I'm supporting a horrible company or horrible people when I purchase from one. 

What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below. 


Source: Heaven Hill

Woodford Releases 2021 Double Double Oaked Bourbon & Announces Sweepstakes

Woodford has announced the limited release of the 2021 Double Double Oaked bourbon, available exclusively at the Woodford Distillery (limit 2 per person) starting February 1. New this year is a sweepstakes for people who can’t make it to the distillery…

Woodford has announced the limited release of the 2021 Double Double Oaked bourbon, available exclusively at the Woodford Distillery (limit 2 per person) starting February 1. New this year is a sweepstakes for people who can't make it to the distillery on opening day (more on that below). 

Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked starts in standard new oak barrels and finished in heavy toasted new oak barrels. This results in a bourbon that is spicier in character than Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.

As mentioned above, there is also a sweepstakes to have the opportunity to purchase one bottle at the distillery for those who can’t make it to the release (which is all of us since it was yesterday). The sweepstakes is open from January 31, 2022 at 9 AM ET through 11:59 PM ET on February 8, 2022. Winners will be notified by email on or about February 10, 2022. Prize will be available to be collected from February 10, 2022, through April 10, 2022 at 5:00 PM ET. You can enter the sweepstakes at this link. MSRP is $49.99. 

My Take

I actually picked up a bottle of the Double Double Oaked the last time I visited the Woodford Distillery years ago. My plan is to do a review at some point comparing it to regular Woodford and Woodford Double Oaked. If you are planning a trip to Kentucky before April 10th, I think it's worth an entry to the sweepstakes, and if you see this at the Distillery, I'd recommend picking it up. 

What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below. 


Source: Woodford Email

Buffalo Trace Distillery Sets Visitor Record – Blowing Past Pre-Pandemic Levels

Buffalo Trace has set a new yearly record for visitors in 2021, welcoming a whopping 340,000+ visitors, a 134% increase over 2020. The last time I wrote about this was in 2019 when they had a record 231,000+ visitors the previous year (2018). This…

Buffalo Trace has set a new yearly record for visitors in 2021, welcoming a whopping 340,000+ visitors, a 134% increase over 2020. The last time I wrote about this was in 2019 when they had a record 231,000+ visitors the previous year (2018). This means there has been over a 100,000 person increase in only a 3 year time period... crazy!

One of the main reasons for the expanded visitor count is the recently upgraded Visitor Center that was completed in 2020. The new Visitor Center tripled the size of the previous version and allows for easier social distancing and provides ample space and comfort for checking out the Gift Shop or tasting. To accommodate the insatiable demand of visitors, Buffalo Trace is renovating its historical Freehouse, located in the visitor parking lot into a full welcome center with a target completion date of next month (Feb. 2022). 

Director of Homeplace Development, Meredith Moody says:
We are thankful that, despite the challenges the last couple of years have brought, our
fans continue to feel comfortable at the Distillery and are traveling from all over to visit us. We look forward to incorporating our new Welcome Center into our visitor operations in the coming months and are excited to welcome even more guests throughout the year.

If you are planning a visit, Buffalo Trace has created the following page on what to expect when visiting. Some of the safety measures include social distancing and limiting tour group sizes. Additionally, they are only accepting tours and visitors by reservation only. 

Reservations can be made at https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/visitus.html. All tours are complimentary and include a socially distanced tasting. Operating hours are 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

The distillery is located at:

113 Great Buffalo Trace
Frankfort, KY 40601

My Take

Holy cow, that is a ton of people! Almost a 1000 a day! I've had the pleasure of visiting the Buffalo Trace distillery a few times. I documented my last visit for the site in 2018. It's definitely worth checking out and one of the best tours and distilleries in Kentucky. With all the visitors, it may be worth checking out on a weekday to try to avoid some of the crowds. 

What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below. 


Source: Buffalo Trace

    January 2022 in Review

    Welcome to the January 2022 Columbus Bourbon recap. As always, A big thank you to all my readers! Miss Fiona and Baby Leo enjoying the fireThis month I posted 5 articles. The site saw 12k+ page-views, down from the 20,774 views in January of …

    Welcome to the January 2022 Columbus Bourbon recap. As always, A big thank you to all my readers! 


    Miss Fiona and Baby Leo enjoying the fire

    This month I posted 5 articles. The site saw 12k+ page-views, down from the 20,774 views in January of 2021. 

    Thank you to everyone for your continued support.