CHRIS STAPLETON AND BUFFALO TRACE MASTER DISTILLER HARLEN WHEATLEY UNVEIL TRAVELLER WHISKEY

A first-of-its-kind collaboration from Buffalo Trace Distillery, Traveller is the result of meticulous craftsmanship and a shared commitment to uncompromising quality

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Jan. 8, 2024) – Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley and Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and musician Chris Stapleton today unveiled Traveller Whiskey, a new, premium blended whiskey that represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration of collective artistry. Proudly blended and bottled at the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery under Wheatley’s expert supervision, Traveller is the result of countless hours of testing, tasting and dedication to craftsmanship that have produced powerful songs and world-class whiskeys.

Of the collaboration, Stapleton shared, “Partnering with Buffalo Trace Distillery and Harlen Wheatley feels like a bucket list scenario for me. Some things just make total sense – and this is definitely one of those things. Bottles from barrels that Harlen has cared for have been with us for every note we’ve ever recorded, backstage before shows and in all the moments we’ve celebrated along the way. I believe what we’ve achieved with Traveller Whiskey not only represents our shared history but also a common artistic vision and uncompromising standards of taste. I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve made.”

Wheatley added: “When making art –  and we really do think that both Chris’ music and the whiskey we make at Buffalo Trace is art – you experiment, test, adjust, and don’t give up until you’ve got it right. That’s why we experimented with more than 50 blends before agreeing that Blend No. 40 would be it for Traveller.”

Bottled at 90 proof, Traveller Whiskey is characterized by notes of oak, sweet maple, tart currant and leather. Complex aromas of vanilla, aged fruit and buttery shortbread are rounded off by caramel and a touch of oak. The flavor profile also showcases a touch of sweetness, followed by spice, toasted nut and oak flavors, closing with a robust finish. Traveller is a completely unique combination of whiskeys hand-selected from The Sazerac Company’s award-winning distilleries.

“This is a whiskey for everyone, whether you’ve been enjoying all the variety in the category for years or are just now discovering it. Traveller stands up on its own as a smooth and sippable whiskey or works great in a cocktail, if that’s more your style,” said Wheatley. “But especially if you’ve tried whiskey before and been turned away by the burn – we think you’ll take one sip of this and think to yourself, “OK, now this I can do.”

Born in Lexington, KY, just down the road from Buffalo Trace Distillery, Stapleton’s relationship with Buffalo Trace matured while he recorded his first studio album, Traveller. It was during those recording sessions that he was first introduced to E.H. Taylor, one of the Distillery’s other whiskey offerings, which soon became a staple on his home bar. Since then, Buffalo Trace has collaborated with Chris and Morgane Stapleton’s charitable fund, Outlaw State of Kind, for multiple fundraising initiatives.

Traveller Whiskey has been widely released to retailers, bars and restaurants nationwide as of January 1, 2024 at a suggested retail price of $39.99 (local taxes and fees will vary).

To learn more, visit www.travellerwhiskey.com.

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About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 40 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its George T. Stagg was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2022 and its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named 2nd Finest Whiskey in the World for 2022. Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskeys. Buffalo Trace Distillery also has a deep commitment to supporting charitable initiatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the Distillery’s efforts are encouraged to register their charity here. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com. To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/media.

About Chris Stapleton

Kentucky-born Chris Stapleton is an 8x Grammy, 15x CMA and 10x ACM Award-winner and one of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians. In the midst of yet another triumphant year, Stapleton is nominated for three awards at the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards: Best Country Solo Performance (“White Horse”), Best Country Song (“White Horse”) and Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“We Don’t Fight Anymore” with Carly Pearce). The nominations follow Stapleton’s new album, Higher, which was recently released to overwhelming critical acclaim. Produced by Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton and Chris Stapleton and recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A, the record has landed on several “Best of 2023” lists so far including Billboard, Esquire, Los Angeles Times, Vulture and Rolling Stone, who praises, “dazzling…the best evidence yet for the way one man’s voice has become synonymous with the very idea of a musical genre.” Additionally, The New Yorker declares, “Stapleton is the rare country star with both traditional bona fides and broad commercial appeal. He has an outlaw soul and a pop star’s capacity for inescapable hooks,” while GQ proclaims, “In an age rife with division, he’s maybe the only thing Americans all agree on.” Known for his electric live performances, Stapleton will continue his “All-American Road Show” tour this year and will also join George Strait for select stadium shows this summer with special guests Little Big Town. In addition to his work as a musician, Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, are also founders of the Outlaw State of Kind charitable fund, which supports a variety of causes that are close to their heart.

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RD1 Spirits Celebrates a Year of New Bourbons, Top Industry Awards, and U.S. Distribution Growth

Best of 2023: A Year in Review

LEXINGTON, Ky. (December 27, 2023) – As 2023 wraps up, Lexington-based RD1 Spirits celebrates a year of tremendous growth, including portfolio expansion, 66 product awards, distribution across 15 states, and an invitation to join the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

As a brand founded to celebrate meaningful firsts, RD1 – which stands for Registered Distillery One – was founded in 2020 to honor Lexington’s bourbon’s history and help write the next chapter.

“We are an entrepreneurial brand founded on the principles of honoring the mavericks from our past, and layering in modern-day innovation to evolve the story,” said RD1 Chief Executive Officer Mike Tetterton. “Contributing to the Kentucky bourbon industry is an opportunity we take seriously, and our accomplishments in 2023 speak to our teamwork, creativity, and resolve.”

New Releases and Top Awards

RD1 kicked off the year by adding two, unique, wood-finished bourbons to its portfolio. RD1’s 110-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished With Brazilian Amburana Wood and its 99.9-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Double Finished In Oak and Maple Barrels joined the two RD1 expressions released in October 2022 (98-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and 101-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished With French Oak).

The entire RD1 portfolio was met with incredible reception from beverage wholesalers, retailers, restaurant owners, and consumers – earning 66 awards in 2023 – 42 representing gold, double gold, platinum, double platinum, and century awards.

“As a young, craft bourbon brand, to consistently take home this many top competition awards – awards across all four of our bourbons – is extremely powerful in gaining credibility among our distributor and buying network, but most of all, in earning the trust of discerning consumers,” Tetterton said.

Top recognitions from 2023 include:

• RD1 Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 98 proof

  • Double Gold in 2023 Sip Awards

  • 95 points and Gold in 2023 New York International Spirits Competition

• RD1 Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished With French Oak, 101 proof

  • 96 points from The Tasting Panel

  • Double Platinum from Fred Minnick’s 2023 Ascot Awards

• RD1 Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished With Brazilian Amburana Wood, 110 proof

  • 100 points from the 2023 Pr%f Awards

  • 95 points from the 2023 Ultimate Spirits Competition

• RD1 Straight Bourbon Whiskey Double Finished In Oak and Maple Barrels, 99.9 proof

  • 100 points from the 2023 Pr%f Awards

  • 100 points in 2023 MLSA Competition

Multi-State Expansion

RD1 Spirits also reached milestones in its market distribution. At the beginning of the year, RD1 was available for purchase in its home state of Kentucky. Today, the brand is available across 15 states: Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. RD1 participated in more than 45 bourbon events from coast to coast in 2023, tasting consumers on its award-winning bourbon portfolio.

KY Distillation Home

In addition, RD1 signed a significant contract in 2023 with Western Kentucky Distilling (WKD) – a $30-million, new production house in Beaver Dam, Kentucky – where 8th generation Master Distiller Jacob Call continues to handcraft RD1’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey. RD1 team members handle the wood finishing of its barrels across bourbon warehouses in Central Kentucky.

RD1’s five-year agreement – for production of up to 15,000 barrels a year – gives RD1 a strategic home with Call at the helm. WKD features a 40-foot tall, 36-inch copper still, complemented by copper condensers, a copper doubler, and 15 state-of-the-art fermenters.

“RD1 owners are also part owners of Western Kentucky Distilling, and we have the utmost respect for Jacob Call and the fantastic team he has built,” said Tetterton. “Our partnership is built on shared business values of Kentucky owned and operated.”

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour

RD1’s Tasting Room and Gift Shop in Lexington was named to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour in July 2023, giving the brand national and international attention. When visiting RD1 in Lexington’s Distillery District, guests hear stories of the Ashland and Old William Tarr Distilleries from the late 1800s. Guests then explore their palate, learning more about wood’s powerful yet delicate influence on bourbon.

Visit RD1spirits.com, and follow @RD1spirits on Facebook and Instagram to learn about RD1’s aggressive growth plans for 2024.

About RD1 Spirits

Based in Lexington, Kentucky, RD1 Spirits exists to explore the bourbon frontier. Lexington entrepreneurs founded the company in 2020 to help give life to the stories of Lexington’s bourbon firsts, namely its first federally registered distillery, established in 1865. RD1 is paving its own path, focusing on Kentucky Straight Bourbon and its interaction with various wood finishings in the barrel. For more information on this growing brand, visit RD1spirits.com or follow @RD1spirits on Facebook and Instagram.

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BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Very Olde St. Nick proudly presents its newest addition to the renowned  collection of esteemed Bourbons and whiskeys – Very Olde St. Nick Winter Maple , a deliciously finished Bourbon and Rye blend.. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this limited-edition whiskey embodies the essence of the winter season, offering a unique and delightful flavor profile that will captivate any bourbon lover.

Combining the rich, warm tones of carefully selected Kentucky Bourbon and rye whiskey between four and seven years old finished with maple and french oak, Very Olde St. Nick Winter Maple creates an unparalleled tasting experience. The 102 proof whiskey presents a unique tasting experience with the infusion of sweet maple, punctuated by the richness of the whiskeys.

Each new release of Olde St. Nick is a unique expression featuring the signature label.  These unconventional bottlings are tributes to the company’s decades-long history of releasing flavor forward, intense with complexity Bourbon and Whiskey.

Created in 1986, and under the same ownership for more than 35 years, Olde St. Nick is not an old brand “resurrected,” or a crafted story to make the new sound old, but exciting small releases from many years of methodically collecting vintage stocks, barrels that are now coming of age. Preservation has the luxury of owning its own Kentucky distillery producing in extremely small batches, and today, are in the position to produce and bottle slightly more of these gems with a focus on distribution in key North American markets.

Each Bourbon or whiskey from Preservation Distillery is produced in extremely small batches typically of 1-3 barrels, featuring an eclectic assortment of hand-designed labels with wax preserving the unique flavors. The limited edition Very Olde St. Nick Bourbons is consistent with its many expressions of Bourbon and Rye Whiskey featuring bold, complex flavors rarely encountered in the modern Bourbon world.

Preservation Distillery + Farm was founded in 2015 in the Bourbon Capital of the World with a commitment to crafting world-class whiskeys. The former historic 40-acre tobacco farm is home to a family-owned, pot-distilling craft producer with decades of experience in the Bourbon industry. The distillery’s collection of products includes Very Olde St. Nick, Rare Perfection, Wattie Boone & Sons and many more.

Media Contact:
Josh Hafer

Team Hafer

jhafer@teamhafer.com

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Are you looking for a new tasting experience in downtown Louisville?  Bardstown Bourbon Co. has its new tasting room open at 730 W. Main Street, Louisville, KY.  The Bourbon Road can’t wait to get down there to enjoy the experience!  If you have ever been to Bardstown Bourbon Co. you know this new spot in Louisville will not disappoint!

Most importantly, reservations are encouraged!  bardstownbourbon.com/plan-a-visit

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Comes to Downtown Louisville

Louisville, Ky. (October 25, 2023) – Bardstown Bourbon Company’s new tasting experience is now open in the heart of downtown Louisville’s storied Whiskey Row. As the modern bourbon experience, the Louisville Tasting Room will feature highly interactive education, innovative craft cocktails, augmented reality and immersive digital environments, curated retail merchandise and exclusive bottles.

Bardstown Bourbon Company is pushing the boundaries of innovation while honoring the traditional art of whiskey-making. The new experience is located at 730 W. Main Street, which anchors the west end of Main Street just past 21c Museum Hotel and a block from the Frazier Museum, enables consumers to experience the brand in a variety of ways. In true Bardstown Bourbon Co. fashion, the Louisville Tasting Room features a full-service bar with innovative craft cocktails and unique tasting experiences. The fresh, modern environment matches their expertise in blending, finishing and whiskey-making with immersive digital environments.

“As a company focused on exploring and showcasing what’s possible in whiskey, we’ve spent years creating a new tradition that celebrates the past while looking into the future. For this space, integrating leading-edge technology and building tasting experiences unlike anything else in the state was key to doing that. Bardstown Bourbon Company has the opportunity to speak to a much larger audience in Downtown Louisville and merged the best of design, experience, and story-telling in order to do so,” said Dan Callaway, Vice President of New Product Development at Bardstown Bourbon Co.

Bardstown Bourbon Company worked with international agency 3rockAR to create a 3D engagement as you enter the spaces, showcasing the family of brands. Hidden augmented reality elements throughout the space — created by local experiential agency HumanX — will tie back to the state-of-the-art distillery in Bardstown, Ky.

“More than 2 million visitors came to the Kentucky Bourbon TrailTM last year and more people are enjoying bourbon experiences all across the state. While many make the pilgrimage to Bardstown, Louisville is really Kentucky’s open arms. House Bill 500, which granted the ability to open a tasting room, made way for us to educate people about how we’re moving bourbon forward in a distinctly Bardstown Bourbon Co. way, right here in Louisville,” said Mark Erwin, CEO of Bardstown Bourbon Co.

Features

The Tasting Room will offer three distinct educational experiences ranging from $25-35 per person and last up to 40 minutes.

The Collaborative Series Experience showcases some of the most innovative and complex whiskies on the market, discovering the influence of barrel finishing in partnership with leading producers in a variety of spirits categories. The Origin Experience showcases the brand’s 100 percent estate-distilled flagship products. The Art of Blending Experience explores the sensory characteristics of the unique bourbons of the Discovery Series, studying the aroma, flavor, and finish.

Reservations are encouraged and can be booked online at bardstownbourbon.com/plan-a-visit.

The space also features a retail shop that will sell the full portfolio of Bardstown Bourbon Co. products, merchandise, and distillery-only releases at select times. Selections include the latest sought-after collaborations with Goose Island and Foursquare Rum, Discovery 10 and 11, and new releases that will only be available at the Louisville Tasting Room.

The bar menu has been carefully curated to open with a mixture of bespoke cocktails and innovative twists on classics. It will evolve seasonally to feature local ingredients and new riffs.

The Bardstown Bourbon Co. Louisville Tasting Room took nearly a year to construct and was brought to life by a collaborative team of Kentucky vendors, including architecture and interior design by Joseph & Joseph (Louisville, Ky.), Buzick Construction (Bardstown, Ky.), fabrication by Rustic Nail & Co. (Bowling Green, Ky.) and interior design consultants Willie Martin’s (Lebanon, Ky.)

The Bardstown Bourbon Company Louisville Tasting Room will be open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Private event bookings will be available later in the year. For more information or to book experiences, visit bardstownbourbon.com.

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Another Fall release! Woodford Reserve always has a great lineup of fall releases.  This year is no different with the release of the Master’s Collection.  The suggested MSRP is $150.

Woodford Reserve Releases Fall 2023 Master’s Collection:

Sonoma Triple Finish

Versailles, KY (October 17, 2023) — Today, Woodford Reserve announces the fall 2023 Master’s Collection release – Sonoma Triple Finish. The whiskey is a rich, fruity, vanilla and spice-forward expression of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

This 2023 Master’s Collection was made with a unique blend of Woodford Reserve that has been finished in Sonoma County Pinot Noir, Brandy, and former Bourbon barrels used to age red wine. For this release, Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall drew upon previous creative Master’s Collection releases and the brand’s continued product experimentation for inspiration. The product is available for $149.99 at Woodford Reserve Distillery in limited quantities starting at October 17 – and at select retailers globally.

In 2014, Woodford Reserve released the first Pinot Noir finished Kentucky Bourbon in history, Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Finish. This was followed in 2016 with the first-ever American Brandy Cask finished Bourbon. The Pinot Noir and brandy barrels used for these releases were obtained from famous Sonoma County wineries. These releases featured big, bold, red and dried fruit flavors along with dark chocolate and baking spice notes.

“The result is a whisky that brings together the worlds of bourbon and wine in a way unlike any we’ve released before,” Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall said.

Finishing is a process where fully-mature Woodford is placed for a year or longer in a second barrel, sourced from a different spirits/wine producer. This brings enhanced flavors and depth to the whiskey, and picks up flavor notes from that second barrel.

Many wineries age their red wines in used Woodford Reserve barrels, creating a new “Bourbon Barrel Aged” genre. Wines aged in spirit barrels have become more popular as this technique results in distinct flavors and aromas.

Woodford Reserve Distillery introduced the Master’s Collection, a new era of innovation to the historic Kentucky bourbon industry, in 2004 with the first release of its Master’s Collection, “Four Grain”.

Tasting Notes

Color:  Burnt Sienna.

Aroma: Vanilla and cinnamon dusted grilled pineapple slices and red plum fruit.

Taste:  Vine and red fruit warmed with rich vanilla bean and oak notes.

Finish: Long oak and red grape tannins.

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About Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve, “Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby,” is crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery, tucked in the heart of thoroughbred country in Versailles, Kentucky. A National Historic Landmark, the Woodford Reserve Distillery represents craftsmanship with a balance of historic heritage and modern practices. Woodford Reserve is a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation, a premier producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands including Jack Daniel’s, Korbel, Tequila Herradura, Old Forester, Sonoma-Cutrer and Chambord. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly. To learn more about Woodford Reserve, visit us www.woodfordreserve.com  or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/woodfordreserve.

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Jack Daniel’s New American Single Malt Whiskey

Jack Daniel’s is releasing the New American Single Malt Whiskey to be available in duty-free outlets worldwide.  The first time I had a whiskey finished in Oloroso barrels it was a release from Angel’s Envy.  Since that time there have been a good amount of brands releasing whiskey finished in Oloroso Sherry Cask barrels.  The label on this bottle will jump out in any lineup.  The blue label was a great pick and sets it apart from other Jack Daniel’s releases.

The suggested retail is $99 which makes me want to find this release.

Jack Daniel’s Goes Global with New American Single Malt Whiskey

The brand’s first permanent expression crafted from 100% malted barley is available now at duty-free outlets worldwide

Lynchburg, Tennessee (September 26, 2023) – The Jack Daniel Distillery introduces Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt Whiskey as the brand’s first permanent expression crafted from 100% malted barley. Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt is offered in a 1-liter size packaging at 90 proof for a suggested retail price of $99.99 and is available now exclusively in select duty-free retail locations across the globe.

Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt is the latest innovation from the Jack Daniel Distillery, featuring a 100% malted barley mash bill that is ground, fermented and distilled in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The special whiskey is charcoal mellowed and then aged in new, charred American oak barrels before being finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks.

“When we began experimenting with a 100% malt grain bill back in 2012, we knew it would be critical to put our own stamp on timeless Single Malt traditions and craft something that was uniquely Jack Daniel’s,” said Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Chris Fletcher. “There was a lot of excitement surrounding our limited edition American Single Malt Special Release last year, and we are thrilled to now offer Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt to our friends around the world.”

Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt is rich and complex with aromas of soft oak, fruit and cocoa and notes of dark chocolate-covered nuts and berries with a subtle, sweet Oloroso Sherry finish. Distinctive packaging features a cork stopper and an embossed distillery stamp of America’s First Registered Distillery.

Offered in a 1-liter size at 90 proof (45% abv), Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt is available in select duty-free outlets worldwide beginning this month. To mark the launch, Jack Daniel’s is hosting more than 40 activations at airports across the globe, reaching an estimated 13 million shoppers and offering 60,000 tastings.

 For more information, visit www.jackdaniels.com.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Bonded, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

Please Drink Responsibly.

Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt Whiskey, 45% alc. by vol. Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee. JACK DANIEL’S is a registered trademark. ©2023 Jack Daniel’s. All rights reserved.

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