Changing of the Guard at Seattle’s Westland Distillery

Westland Distillery co-founder Matt Hofmann is leaving the Seattle distillery at the end of the month to pursue new adventures. With no specific plans for… Read More

Westland Distillery co-founder Matt Hofmann is leaving the Seattle distillery at the end of the month to pursue new adventures. With no specific plans for the future, Matt and his successor as production manager, Tyler Pederson, join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth to discuss Matt’s move and how the distillery will ensure continuity going forward. We’ll also have tasting notes for Westland’s new Colere American single malt and the new Clermont Steep American single malt from Beam.

In the news, the company administering Scotland’s controversial Deposit Return Scheme is on life support, while The Dalmore is preparing to double production capacity with a new stillhouse. We’ll have the details and much more on this week’s episode of WhiskyCast!

Episode 1009: June 18, 2023

Links: Westland Distillery | The Dalmore | Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery | Woodford Reserve | Heaven Hill | Clonakilty Distillery | Faer Isles Distillery | Clermont Steep | Westward Whiskey | Jacob’s Pardon | The Glenturret

Hardin’s Creek Clermont Bourbon Tops the Week’s New Releases

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.

Published June 4, 2023

Hardin’s Creek Clermont Bourbon Tops the Week’s New Releases

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.

Published June 4, 2023

Old Pulteney Shutting Down for 8 Weeks to Protect Water Supply

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.

Episode 1007: June 4, 2023

Links: Old Pulteney | Russell’s Reserve | Woodford Reserve | Hardin’s Creek | Milam & Greene | Bardstown Bourbon Company | Blue Run Spirits | Bib & Tucker Bourbon | Teeling Whiskey Company | Crown Royal | Fettercairn | Puni Distillery | Ardbeg | Lagavulin

Old Pulteney Shutting Down for 8 Weeks to Protect Water Supply

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.

Episode 1007: June 4, 2023

Links: Old Pulteney | Russell’s Reserve | Woodford Reserve | Hardin’s Creek | Milam & Greene | Bardstown Bourbon Company | Blue Run Spirits | Bib & Tucker Bourbon | Teeling Whiskey Company | Crown Royal | Fettercairn | Puni Distillery | Ardbeg | Lagavulin

James B. Beam Distilling Company Launches Hardin’s Creek Brand

The James B. Beam Distilling company has announced the creation of a new brand called Hardin’s Creek that will be specialize in ‘highly limited and rare releases’. This will be an ongoing brand that releases some of James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s rares…

The James B. Beam Distilling company has announced the creation of a new brand called Hardin's Creek that will be specialize in 'highly limited and rare releases'. This will be an ongoing brand that releases some of James B. Beam Distilling Co.'s rarest and most unique liquids on an annual basis.

This year's inaugural Hardin's Creek series will launch with two expressions: Jacob's Well Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a blend of a 16-year-old traditional bourbon and one 15-year-old high-rye bourbon, and Colonel James B. Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a crafted young whiskey.

Freddie Noe, the newly appointed Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery states: 

We couldn't be more excited to launch Hardin's Creek, particularly after the refresh of the James B. Beam Distillery and the opening of the Fred B. Noe Distillery. This has been a long time in the making, and I can't wait to share it with the world. Every detail, from the blending techniques to the labels, draws inspiration from centuries of our family's history, paying homage to our heritage while looking towards our future.

The two releases are:

  • Jacob's Well - 54% alcohol (108 proof) - $149.99

    Nose - Sweet vanilla and caramel paired with hints of rich oak
    Taste - Oak and char married with stone fruits
    Finish - Smooth with lingering notes of vanilla and brown sweets

  • Colonel James B. Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey - 54% alcohol (108 proof) - $79.99

    Nose - Robust vanilla and caramel notes
    Taste - Deep and complex flavors of vanilla, nuts, and oak
    Finish - Long and full finish

No locations were announced where this new brand will be available. 

My Take

Those bottles look awesome and I have a feeling they'll be hard to find. Especially the Jacob's Well... a 15-16 year blend for $149.99 is going to spur a ton of demand. If you see this out in the wild, this is a no-brainer to pick up a bottle at the retail price. 

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


Source: Beam Suntory

Freddie Noe named 8th Generation Master Distiller at James B. Beam Distilling Company

The James B. Beam Distilling Company and Fred Noe, the James B. Beam Distilling Company’s 7th Generation Master Distiller, announced the appointment of Freddie Noe as Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery.Fred Noe states:There is nothing …

The James B. Beam Distilling Company and Fred Noe, the James B. Beam Distilling Company's 7th Generation Master Distiller, announced the appointment of Freddie Noe as Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery.

Fred Noe states:
There is nothing in this world that would give me more pleasure and make me prouder than seeing Freddie step into the role of Master Distiller. One of my biggest regrets is to never have distilled alongside my own father, Booker, so working side-by-side with Freddie will be a dream come true. I believe that a Master Distiller should understand the craft of distilling, uphold quality, and honor tradition while spearheading innovation. Freddie embodies this wholeheartedly and I look forward to seeing Freddie lead the charge in creating the next generation of whiskeys that help to grow the American Whiskey category around the world.

This is the first time in the history of James B. Beam Distilling that there are two family members, working alongside one another, sharing the Master Distiller title. The breakout of roles will see Fred Noe will maintain his role as Master Distiller, overseeing the James B. Beam Distilling Company's portfolio of brands that include Jim Beam Bourbon, Knob Creek Bourbon, Basil Hayden, and others, Freddie Noe will oversee the Fred B. Noe Distillery as Master Distiller. In this role, Freddie will experiment with new fermentation, distillation, and blending techniques to produce category-defining and boundary-pushing whiskey of the highest quality. Freddie will also lead experiential distillation sessions and seminars with hands-on activities in the blending lab.

My Take

This makes me really resent my parents for not being master distillers and being able to pass that down to me. Really cool announcement for Jim Beam and a special moment for the Noe family. Congrats to all. 

Source: Beam Suntory