Kentucky’s Wilderness Trail Distillery has grown over the last decade from a small barrel-a-day distillery to become one of the nation’s largest Bourbon distilleries. Dr.… Read More
Kentucky’s Wilderness Trail Distillery has grown over the last decade from a small barrel-a-day distillery to become one of the nation’s largest Bourbon distilleries. Dr. Pat Heist and Shane Baker founded Wilderness Trail as an offshoot of Ferm Solutions, their consulting business that works with distillers and brewers around the world. This week on WhiskyCast In-Depth, we’ll talk with Pat Heist about the origin of Wilderness Trail — in a rock band, of all places, and the circumstances that led to their decision to sell the distillery to Campari in late 2022. In the news, Laphroaig is planning a major expansion, while whisky auction prices have yet to recover from recent declines.
James Saxon took on the role as chief whisky maker for Compass Box following founder John Glaser’s sudden departure several weeks ago. It’s a journey… Read More
James Saxon took on the role as chief whisky maker for Compass Box following founder John Glaser’s sudden departure several weeks ago. It’s a journey that started with a Compass Box tasting Saxon organized as a student at the University of St. Andrews a decade ago. He’ll answer your questions about Compass Box in this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Port Ellen Distillery is alive and humming once again, while Rosebank plans to open its new visitors center in June. Woodford Reserve has created a $15,000 Bourbon to celebrate the 150th Kentucky Derby May 4, and we’ll have details and tasting notes, too.
The collapse of Washington’s Skagit Valley Malting last month left distillers and brewers alike searching for new suppliers of malted barley. The craft maltster had… Read More
The collapse of Washington’s Skagit Valley Malting last month left distillers and brewers alike searching for new suppliers of malted barley. The craft maltster had more than 270 customers when it closed unexpectedly, including Seattle’s Westland and Copperworks distilleries. We’ll talk with Copperworks co-founders Jason Perkins and Jeff Kanof this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth, along with Kate Bernot, who’s been covering the story for Good Beer Hunting. In the news, the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame gets eight new inductees, while Woodford Reserve is teaming up with Kentucky farmers to develop the state as a rye-producing region. We’ll have all the week’s whisky news, tasting notes for whiskies from the U.S., Japan, and India, and much more on this week’s WhiskyCast.
Beam Suntory is out with the first of three releases in the Hardin’s Creek range of small batch Bourbons. Hardin’s Creek Clermont is named for… Read More
Beam Suntory is out with the first of three releases in the Hardin’s Creek range of small batch Bourbons. Hardin’s Creek Clermont is named for the town of Clermont where the James B. Beam Distilling Company is located, and this whiskey was matured in the rickhouses at Clermont. Later this summer, Hardin’s Creek releases for the other two Kentucky sites in Boston and Frankfort will be released, with Frankfort coming on August 1 and Boston rounding out the Kentucky Series on September 1.
Master distiller Freddie Noe says all three were distilled 17 years ago on the same day. “Probably the most unique part of this is that the barrels from that same couple of fermenters and distillation were dispersed among these three facilities at infancy…there wasn’t no movement afterwards, and that just doesn’t happen,” he said in a Zoom call with whisky writers.
Hardin’s Creek Clermont will be available starting this month with a recommended retail price of $169.99 a bottle.
Also from Bourbon Country…Wild Turkey is releasing its third annual batch of Russell’s Reserve 13 year old. It’s a barrel proof, unfiltered Bourbon selected by Eddie Russell that made its debut two years ago, and will be available starting this month with a recommended retail price of $150 a bottle.
Woodford Reserve has released its annual Batch Proof bottling as part of the Master’s Collection series. It’s the first batch proof release since Elizabeth McCall was promoted to master distiller several months ago, and is bottled at 62-point-3 percent ABV. It’ll be available in select U-S and global markets with a recommended retail price of $129.99 a bottle.
Texas’s Milam and Greene is out with a new small batch Bourbon of their own…in fact, it’s a very small batch of just 75 barrels finished with French Oak staves. It’s the first core addition to the Milam and Greene lineup in more than two years…and part of their partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company. Milam and Greene Very Small Batch Batch number one will be available in limited amounts with a recommended retail price of $69.99 a bottle.
Meanwhile, Bardstown Bourbon Company has a new release of its own, the 10th expression in the Discovery Series, which blends whiskies from around the U.S. Discovery Number 10 combines Bourbons from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. It’ll be available online at Seelbach’s dot com and at retailers in 24 U.S. states with a recommended retail price of $139.99 a bottle.
Blue Run Spirits is releasing a new Double Oak Single Barrel Rye…with 10 different barrels available. It’s finished in new charred oak barrels, and is available now through Blue Run’s web site and starting next month at retailers in Kentucky, California, Illinois, Florida, and Michigan for $199.99 a bottle.
There’s a new expression of Bib and Tucker Bourbon coming soon from Deutsch Family Wines and Spirits. Bib and Tucker Double Char is a 6-year-old Tennessee Bourbon finished in a new heavily charred oak barrel that’s also been smoked with sugar maple charcoal in an homage to the Lincoln County Process of charcoal filtering. It’ll be available starting in August with a recommended retail price of $54.99 a bottle.
Ireland’s Teeling Whiskey Company has released the second edition in its Wonders of Wood series. The single pot still whiskey was matured in Virgin Portuguese Oak barrels and carries a $99.99 price tag. Part of the proceeds from each bottle will go to help reforest an acre of woodland near Dublin with native Irish Oak trees.
Crown Royal has released what may well be the oldest flavored whisky on record. Crown Royal Golden Apple Aged 23 Years is part of a partnership with multimedia artist Solange Knowles, and will carry a recommended retail price of $249.99 a bottle.
On the Scotch front, Whyte and Mackay has released this year’s bottling of Fettercairn 18 Year old. It’s finished in locally sourced Scottish Oak barrels, and will be available in the U-K, France, Germany, and other countries for around $275 a bottle.
Finally, Italy’s Puni Distillery has released its third bottling in the Aura range, a cask-strength bottling aged for eight years in virgin French Oak casks. It’s available through the Puni web site for €179 a bottle.
Beam Suntory is out with the first of three releases in the Hardin’s Creek range of small batch Bourbons. Hardin’s Creek Clermont is named for… Read More
Beam Suntory is out with the first of three releases in the Hardin’s Creek range of small batch Bourbons. Hardin’s Creek Clermont is named for the town of Clermont where the James B. Beam Distilling Company is located, and this whiskey was matured in the rickhouses at Clermont. Later this summer, Hardin’s Creek releases for the other two Kentucky sites in Boston and Frankfort will be released, with Frankfort coming on August 1 and Boston rounding out the Kentucky Series on September 1.
Master distiller Freddie Noe says all three were distilled 17 years ago on the same day. “Probably the most unique part of this is that the barrels from that same couple of fermenters and distillation were dispersed among these three facilities at infancy…there wasn’t no movement afterwards, and that just doesn’t happen,” he said in a Zoom call with whisky writers.
Hardin’s Creek Clermont will be available starting this month with a recommended retail price of $169.99 a bottle.
Also from Bourbon Country…Wild Turkey is releasing its third annual batch of Russell’s Reserve 13 year old. It’s a barrel proof, unfiltered Bourbon selected by Eddie Russell that made its debut two years ago, and will be available starting this month with a recommended retail price of $150 a bottle.
Woodford Reserve has released its annual Batch Proof bottling as part of the Master’s Collection series. It’s the first batch proof release since Elizabeth McCall was promoted to master distiller several months ago, and is bottled at 62-point-3 percent ABV. It’ll be available in select U-S and global markets with a recommended retail price of $129.99 a bottle.
Texas’s Milam and Greene is out with a new small batch Bourbon of their own…in fact, it’s a very small batch of just 75 barrels finished with French Oak staves. It’s the first core addition to the Milam and Greene lineup in more than two years…and part of their partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company. Milam and Greene Very Small Batch Batch number one will be available in limited amounts with a recommended retail price of $69.99 a bottle.
Meanwhile, Bardstown Bourbon Company has a new release of its own, the 10th expression in the Discovery Series, which blends whiskies from around the U.S. Discovery Number 10 combines Bourbons from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. It’ll be available online at Seelbach’s dot com and at retailers in 24 U.S. states with a recommended retail price of $139.99 a bottle.
Blue Run Spirits is releasing a new Double Oak Single Barrel Rye…with 10 different barrels available. It’s finished in new charred oak barrels, and is available now through Blue Run’s web site and starting next month at retailers in Kentucky, California, Illinois, Florida, and Michigan for $199.99 a bottle.
There’s a new expression of Bib and Tucker Bourbon coming soon from Deutsch Family Wines and Spirits. Bib and Tucker Double Char is a 6-year-old Tennessee Bourbon finished in a new heavily charred oak barrel that’s also been smoked with sugar maple charcoal in an homage to the Lincoln County Process of charcoal filtering. It’ll be available starting in August with a recommended retail price of $54.99 a bottle.
Ireland’s Teeling Whiskey Company has released the second edition in its Wonders of Wood series. The single pot still whiskey was matured in Virgin Portuguese Oak barrels and carries a $99.99 price tag. Part of the proceeds from each bottle will go to help reforest an acre of woodland near Dublin with native Irish Oak trees.
Crown Royal has released what may well be the oldest flavored whisky on record. Crown Royal Golden Apple Aged 23 Years is part of a partnership with multimedia artist Solange Knowles, and will carry a recommended retail price of $249.99 a bottle.
On the Scotch front, Whyte and Mackay has released this year’s bottling of Fettercairn 18 Year old. It’s finished in locally sourced Scottish Oak barrels, and will be available in the U-K, France, Germany, and other countries for around $275 a bottle.
Finally, Italy’s Puni Distillery has released its third bottling in the Aura range, a cask-strength bottling aged for eight years in virgin French Oak casks. It’s available through the Puni web site for €179 a bottle.
With some parts of Scotland facing another long, dry summer, distilleries are making plans to cope with expected water shortages from the lochs and rivers… Read More
With some parts of Scotland facing another long, dry summer, distilleries are making plans to cope with expected water shortages from the lochs and rivers that provide essential water for distilling. Wick’s Old Pulteney Distillery has already announced plans to shut down production for eight weeks this summer after losing much of the last two summers to drought. We’ll talk with distillery manager Malcolm Waring on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Balmenach Distillery has received a £4 million upgrade to make the distillery more energy-efficient, a bottle of the rare 81-year-old The Reach from The Macallan is up for grabs in British Columbia, and there’s a host of new whiskies being released in time for Father’s Day.
With some parts of Scotland facing another long, dry summer, distilleries are making plans to cope with expected water shortages from the lochs and rivers… Read More
With some parts of Scotland facing another long, dry summer, distilleries are making plans to cope with expected water shortages from the lochs and rivers that provide essential water for distilling. Wick’s Old Pulteney Distillery has already announced plans to shut down production for eight weeks this summer after losing much of the last two summers to drought. We’ll talk with distillery manager Malcolm Waring on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Balmenach Distillery has received a £4 million upgrade to make the distillery more energy-efficient, a bottle of the rare 81-year-old The Reach from The Macallan is up for grabs in British Columbia, and there’s a host of new whiskies being released in time for Father’s Day.
LOUISVILLE, KY (February 6, 2023) – Woodford Reserve today named Elizabeth McCall as Master Distiller, the third in the bourbon brand’s 26-year history, succeeding Chris Morris, who will assume the role of Master Distiller Emeritus.McCall, who ha…
LOUISVILLE, KY (February 6, 2023) – Woodford Reserve today named Elizabeth McCall as Master Distiller, the third in the bourbon brand’s 26-year history, succeeding Chris Morris, who will assume the role of Master Distiller Emeritus.
McCall, who has been training for this Master Distiller role for over a decade, will oversee quality and innovation efforts and bring new Woodford Reserve products to market. She will lead the brand’s special, rare bourbon releases, including the Master’s Collection and Distillery Series, bringing her unique touch and point of view to new whiskies.
McCall said she is deeply honored to take the baton from her mentor and friend, whom she called a legend in the spirits industry.
Morris will remain an essential part of the Woodford team in an emeritus role, the highest honor one can achieve as a distiller.
“I am humbled to stand upon the foundation built by Chris Morris, who is one of the most well-known and respected Master Distillers in the world,” McCall said. “I look forward to following in his footsteps and crafting the world’s finest bourbon.”
Morris began mentoring McCall to take the Master Distiller role in 2015, when she became Master Taster. McCall became Woodford Reserve Assistant Master Distiller five years ago this month, in February 2018.
“I am proud of and confident in Elizabeth’s ability to maintain the award-winning flavor profile of the Woodford Reserve family into the next generation,” Morris said. “Her inquisitive nature bodes well for those who have come to expect innovative flavor concepts from our Master’s Collection and Distillery Series offerings. The future couldn’t be more promising for Woodford Reserve.”
McCall joined Brown-Forman, Woodford Reserve’s parent company, in 2009 as a member of the Research & Development department. She began her career setting up tasting panels to ensure quality and consistency with the company’s products.
She is the second generation of her family to work in the spirits industry - following her mother’s footsteps - after earning her master’s degree from the University of Louisville.
McCall and her husband, Matt, live in Louisville and have one child.
My Take
Congrats to Elizabeth McCall and congrats to Woodford for putting a woman in this position. I'm excited to see her continue the Woodford brand.
What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below.
Woodford Reserve Distillery (Versailles, KY) has just named Elizabeth McCall its new Master Distiller, succeeding longtime MD Chris Morris, who will assume role of Master Distiller Emeritus. She will be the third Master Distiller in the brand’s 26 year history. McCall, who has been training for the Master Distiller role for over a decade, will […]
Woodford Reserve Distillery (Versailles, KY) has just named Elizabeth McCall its new Master Distiller, succeeding longtime MD Chris Morris, who will assume role of Master Distiller Emeritus. She will be the third Master Distiller in the brand’s 26 year history.
McCall, who has been training for the Master Distiller role for over a decade, will oversee quality and innovation efforts and bring new Woodford Reserve products to market. She will lead the brand’s special, rare bourbon releases, including the Master’s Collection and Distillery Series, bringing her unique touch and point of view to new whiskies.
McCall said she is deeply honored to take the baton from her mentor and friend, whom she called a legend in the spirits industry.
Morris will remain an essential part of the Woodford team in an emeritus role, the highest honor one can achieve as a distiller.
Woodford Reserve New Master Distillery, Elizabeth McCall. Courtesy
“I am humbled to stand upon the foundation built by Chris Morris, who is one of the most well-known and respected Master Distillers in the world,” McCall said. “I look forward to following in his footsteps and crafting the world’s finest bourbon.”
“I am proud of – and confident in – Elizabeth’s ability to maintain the award-winning flavor profile of the Woodford Reserve family into the next generation,” Morris said. “Her inquisitive nature bodes well for those who have come to expect innovative flavor concepts from our Master’s Collection and Distillery Series offerings. The future couldn’t be more promising for Woodford Reserve.”
McCall joined Brown-Forman, Woodford Reserve’s parent company, in 2009 as a member of the Research & Development department. She began her career setting up tasting panels to ensure quality and consistency with the company’s products.
She is the second generation of her family to work in the spirits industry – following her mother’s footsteps – after earning her master’s degree from the University of Louisville.
McCall and her husband, Matt, live in Louisville and have one child with another on the way.
PRESS RELEASE provided by Woodford Reserve: Versailles, KY (March 1, 2022) — Today,Woodford Reserve®, the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby®, is honoring “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” with the release of its 2022 commemorative Derby bottle. This year’s bottle features the artwork of Kentucky native Jaime Corum, an equine artist known for her stunning […]
Versailles, KY (March 1, 2022) — Today,Woodford Reserve®, the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby®, is honoring “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” with the release of its 2022 commemorative Derby bottle.
WR Derby Bottle Artist Jaime Corum. Courtesy Image
This year’s bottle features the artwork of Kentucky native Jaime Corum, an equine artist known for her stunning horse portraits. Corum’s painting, titled “Dreams in Bloom,” features three thoroughbreds racing neck-and-neck, surrounded by a spray of vivid spring flowers, including the iconic red roses of Derby.
“The attention to detail in Jaime’s artwork is remarkable – and so realistic,” Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris said. “This year’s bottle celebrating the 148th Kentucky Derby will make a gorgeous addition to anyone’s bar.
Woodford Reserve also announced that it has partnered with retailer Williams Sonoma to help bring a favorite Derby cocktail to parties nationwide. The Woodford Spire was introduced at the track in 2018 – and it quickly became a favorite.
As part of Woodford Reserve and Williams-Sonoma’s partnership, the Woodford Spire joins the line of co-branded cocktails mixers for sale nationwide that includes the Mint Julep and Whiskey Sour. Made with cranberry and lemon, the Woodford Spire is an official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby.
“The Woodford Spire is a staple for any Kentucky Derby celebration, and this year, Williams-Sonoma is making it easier than ever to make this delicious cocktail,” said Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall.
The Woodford Spire 16-fluid-ounce bottle will soon be available on WilliamsSonoma.com and Williams Sonoma retail stores. The one-liter Derby bottles of Woodford Reserve Bourbon are on sale across the United States and the globe with a retail price of $49.99. It is available for pre-sale starting March 1 on ReserveBar.
Corum’s portraiture captures the conformation and spirit of the horse in a way that’s unlike anyone else, with skill developed through years of studying art, enhanced by her personal experience with horses and the equestrian world.
She spent her formative years riding horses, painting and drawing them in her free time, and continued to focus on her equine subject after receiving her Masters of Fine Arts from The University of Kentucky. Each equine artwork begins with the foundation of her understanding of equine conformation and movement and enhances that with the intangible quality of the horse’s character, capturing the essence of each equine subject.
“As a born horse lover, the Kentucky Derby has always been a time of great anticipation and excitement for me, and a great source of pride in my home state,” Corum said. “I am honored to help celebrate the 148th running of the Derby with this new artwork for Woodford Reserve.
“For me, Dreams in Bloom symbolizes that greatest moment on the First Saturday in May when the horses are in the final stretch of the race. A trio of front-runners have separated from the field, and from these three, one winner will emerge. They strive with every sinew in their being for the lead, giving their all. In this moment, time stands still, colors heighten, the roar of the crowd disappears until, in a flash, the new champion crosses the wire in front. For that fortunate one, the dream of winning the Kentucky Derby comes true.”
Courtesy Image.
Woodford Reserve’s Derby bottle has been an annual collector’s item anticipated by bourbon and racing fans since 1999.
PRESS RELEASE provided by Woodford Reserve: Versailles, KY (March 1, 2022) — Today,Woodford Reserve®, the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby®, is honoring “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” with the release of its 2022 commemorative Derby bottle. This year’s bottle features the artwork of Kentucky native Jaime Corum, an equine artist known for her stunning […]
