Category: Limited Edition

Last Drop Unveils 2024 Collection, Including Two Ultra-Aged Malts

Last Drop Distillers has unveiled their 2024 Collection of three sourced bottlings: a 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Auchentoshan Distillery (Release No. 34), a 22 Year Old Infinity Rum Blend (Release No. 35) and a 55 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Tomintoul Distillery (Release No. 36). Release No. …

Last Drop Distillers has unveiled their 2024 Collection of three sourced bottlings: a 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Auchentoshan Distillery (Release No. 34), a 22 Year Old Infinity Rum Blend (Release No. 35) and a 55 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Tomintoul Distillery (Release No. 36).

Release No. 34, The Last Drop 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Auchentoshan Distillery

Auchentoshan Distillery is renowned for its unique production processes, honed over two centuries of whisky making. It is the only extant distillery in Scotland to distill its spirit three times, producing a liquid that is delicate, refined and luxurious. With Release No. 34, The Last Drop celebrates the craft and creativity of this Lowland distillery, famed for the soft mellowness of its single malts.

This release has been richly-aged for four decades and with just 74 bottles produced, it presents an inimitable characteristic of Auchentoshan with a surprising sweetness.

 

Release No. 35, The Last Drop 22 Year Old ‘Infinitum Rum Blend’

An ‘infinity rum’ presents the fruits of an experimental process of combining different aged rums from a wide array of distilleries. This example – bottled by The Last Drop – is a tribute to the dedicated process behind its creation. Release No. 35 is an extraordinary blend of rums from around the world; with origins in Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Venezuela, Guadeloupe, Brazil and Fiji  – it is a liquid of international origin.

Sweetness and spice are plentiful in this rare liquid, born from hundreds of duty-suspended samples sealed in an oak rum cask and left to slumber in a Liverpool warehouse for 22 years. Vatted during the first year of the new millennium, only enough for 136 bottles remained at the point of bottling.

 

Release No. 36, The Last Drop 55 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Tomintoul Distillery

The Last Drop’s oldest single malt release to date was born in the ‘Swinging Sixties’ when Scotch whisky was booming and new distillation technology was changing the game. The spirit of innovation was ubiquitous when these casks were put down to rest in Speyside – a time when the Tomintoul Distillery itself was less than 5 years old.

After aging for more than 53 years in six oak casks, and the angel’s claimed their share, the remaining liquid was married into an Amoroso butt for a further 20 months resulting in a liquid of richness and complexity, yielding 582 bottles.

 

The Last Drop 2024 Collection will be rolling out in limited quantities to its United States distributor network, which will ship to select retailers, bars and restaurants as of May 2024 at a suggested retail price of $5,300 for the 40 Year Old Auchentoshan Single Malt Scotch (89.6 proof; 700ml + 50ml miniature); $3,100 for the Infitinum Rum (106.2 proof; 700ml + 50ml miniature); and $8,300 for the 55 Year Old Tomintoul Scotch Whisky (83.4 proof; 700ml + 50ml miniature); state taxes will vary per market.

Milam & Greene Release Mockingbird Bourbon Into The Wild

Milam & Greene Whiskey is introducing the second release of the 2024 Wildlife Collection: Mockingbird Single Barrel Bourbon, a limited-edition, cask-strength spirit. The theme of the Wildlife Collection draws on how extreme weather in the Texas Hill Country influences flavor development of aging bourbon and brings awareness to Texas Parks and Wildlife causes. Mockingbird Single …

Milam & Greene Whiskey is introducing the second release of the 2024 Wildlife Collection: Mockingbird Single Barrel Bourbon, a limited-edition, cask-strength spirit. The theme of the Wildlife Collection draws on how extreme weather in the Texas Hill Country influences flavor development of aging bourbon and brings awareness to Texas Parks and Wildlife causes. Mockingbird Single Barrel Bourbon is part of this year’s collector theme which highlights the beautiful and intriguing birds of Texas. It will be available exclusively on the Milam & Greene Whiskey website and in the distillery tasting room beginning at 3:00 p.m. (CST) on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. The Wildlife Single Barrel Bourbon Collection continuously sells out online.
Milam & Greene Mockingbird Single Barrel Bourbon is named for the state bird of Texas which is medium sized with a big personality. Northern Mockingbirds, found throughout Texas year-round, are slender and gray with a long tail and a bold white stripe on each wing. Its signature trait is its ability to mimic the songs of other birds as well as environmental sounds. Mockingbirds use mimicry as a means of communication to attract mates, establish territory, and ward off potential threats. Mockingbirds are also known for their adaptability to diverse urban and rural habitats and resilience to harsh environmental conditions, like the barrels aging in Milam & Greene rickhouses experience in Texas.
“Each release of our Wildlife Collection starts with the selection of excellent, young whiskey barrels, then applying my understanding of how the aging process will affect the final taste,” says Heather Greene, Milam & Greene Whiskey CEO and 2023 Master Blender of the Year. “By carefully studying the impact of the climate on aging whiskey, we better understand how the sense of place will be reflected in each of our barrels. We are looking for differentiating factors that are harnessed by climate, barrel fill, and age that happen when whiskey is matured in various locations. We’ve compared whiskey that has aged its whole life in other states with whiskey completely aged in Texas. Whiskey aged 100 percent in Texas usually tends to be richer and darker. It’s very robust, very spicy, and you can sink your teeth into it. By aging a barrel mostly in another state and then finishing its aging in Texas we’re getting richer, more intense flavor profiles at an earlier phase of its life. That’s what we want in the Wildlife Collection.”

Heaven Hill Marks Buying Bernheim Distillery With New Old Fitz

Kentucky distiller Heaven Hill announced today the release of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition. This is a special release in the Old Fitzgerald line, outside the bi-annual spring and autumn releases, denoted as a “VVS.” The occasion is the 25th anniversary of Heaven Hill’s purchase of the Bernheim Distillery in Shively (an industrial …

Kentucky distiller Heaven Hill announced today the release of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition. This is a special release in the Old Fitzgerald line, outside the bi-annual spring and autumn releases, denoted as a “VVS.” The occasion is the 25th anniversary of Heaven Hill’s purchase of the Bernheim Distillery in Shively (an industrial suburb of Louisville), following the destruction of the company’s original distillery in a 1996 fire.

The barrels used for this VVS Old Fitzgerald release were produced in September 1999, emptied in March 2013 and bottled in February 2024.  When these barrels were tested in 2013, it was decided that the taste profile at 13 years old was exceptional and the profile would be reserved for a special occasion, such as this 25th Anniversary Edition. Presumably, the bourbon was then socked away into stainless steel storage containers. Thirteen is also a lucky number for Heaven Hill, as the company filled its first barrel ever on December 13, 1935.

“The Bernheim Distillery became the lifeblood of Heaven Hill after the setback from the fire and has been ever since,” said Executive Chairman Max Shapira. “We are honored to have been able to continue the Old Fitzgerald legacy since that time and look forward to many more years of exceptional releases from Bernheim Distillery and from the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery set to open early next year.”

This edition is available at the suggested retail price of $229.99.

Town Branch Maple Barrel Stout Finished Bourbon Review

By Richard Thomas Rating: C+ Before there was a Town Branch Distillery or even a sourced brand, there was a Lexington Brewing Company, with the distillery erected on the property of the original brewery. Today’s joint Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company isn’t quite what most people imagine when they think “brewstillery,” because the brewery and …

By Richard Thomas

Rating: C+

Before there was a Town Branch Distillery or even a sourced brand, there was a Lexington Brewing Company, with the distillery erected on the property of the original brewery. Today’s joint Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company isn’t quite what most people imagine when they think “brewstillery,” because the brewery and distillery aren’t under the same roof or even fully adjacent (although there is a brewery next to the distillery, large parts of the brewing operation are conducting elsewhere in Lexington, Kentucky).

Yet no romantic and crafty image changes what the actual value of a brewstillery is, and Lexington Brewing & Distilling certainly enjoys that: synergy. Such is the case with the Town Branch Maple Stout Finished Bourbon. This starts with an imperial stout, brewed with brown sugar “for extra kick;” and an ex-bourbon barrel that has been used to age maple syrup. The imperial stout is then aged for 18 months in what is now ex-bourbon maple syrup barrels, becoming Kentucky Maple Barrel Stout.

Those barrels were then taken over to the distillery and filled up with already mature bourbon again. This second, November 2023 batch of Town Branch Maple Barrel Stout Finished Bourbon has received two years in the finishing casks; the third batch due out later this year will raise that finishing period to three years. After that lengthy finishing spell, the bourbon was bottled at 94 proof.

The Bourbon
The pour took on a light, dulled amber look in the glass. The nose had a core current of benchmark bourbon notes: vanilla, candy corn, a sliver of oak, but add to that a whiff of earthy cocoa. The flavor spun around a bit to lead with the earthy, coffee-ground bitter flavor of stout, but behind that came up those previously mentioned benchmark bourbon notes. The dry finish mixed that bitter coffee-stout current with the oak sliver, but didn’t linger for a particularly long time.

Certainly the stout influence on this bourbon is strong, but not so much so that it overwhelms the core point of it being bourbon. The one thing I thought was largely absent was the maple syrup part, but having never actually tried the Kentucky Maple Barrel Stout, I can’t say how strong the maple influence was on the root beer. The problem here is that while some people like their bourbon spicy, I can’t recall anyone ever saying to me that they like it to have a bitter aspect. I find myself wondering if perhaps this would not have been a better effort on their rye, but that is just me being speculative.

The Price
This bottle is listed at $70.

 

Northern Kentucky’s New Riff Unveils Its Oldest Bourbon Yet

New Riff Distilling has announced the release of its 8 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the distillery’s oldest bourbon yet released and an unprecedented “first fruit” of initial whiskeys set back for further aging. Available beginning today, March 8th—a nod to the age of the whiskey—this addition is the newest installment to New Riff’s …

New Riff Distilling has announced the release of its 8 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the distillery’s oldest bourbon yet released and an unprecedented “first fruit” of initial whiskeys set back for further aging. Available beginning today, March 8th—a nod to the age of the whiskey—this addition is the newest installment to New Riff’s core product lineup.
A new riff on a coveted classic, this 8-year-old expression of New Riff’s award-winning flagship bourbon is bottled without chill filtration at 100 proof with a mashbill of 65% corn, 30% rye and 5% malted barley.
“As much acclaim as we have received from the bourbon community for our 4-year-old, bottled-in-bond and single barrel offerings, we knew the real excitement would come from genuinely older whiskey,” said co-founder Jay Erisman. “And here it is — the beginning of the future and the next wave of New Riff. Oaky flavors throughout are richer yet, importantly, not at all tannic or drying. Rather, the freshness evident here is exceptional, suggesting a barrel of New Riff bourbon at 8 years old has a long life of aging ahead of it.”
While known for their commitment to bottled-in-bond standards, Erisman said New Riff made the difficult but necessary decision to waive that status for this release, focusing on a wider distribution network than previous specialty releases. Despite meeting all other requirements of a bonded whiskey, due to the comparatively small production from the earliest years of New Riff, this release blends bourbons from two distilling seasons aged a minimum of 8 years.
“New Riff remains entirely committed to producing bottled-in-bond whiskey,” Erisman said. “Ongoing production and future releases at younger ages will absolutely continue with our groundbreaking paradigm of Bottled-In-Bond Without Chill Filtration.”
New Riff 8-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has a suggested retail price of $67.99.

Seven New Irish Whiskeys To Try For St. Patrick’s Day

By Richard Thomas St. Patrick’s Day has grown from being the feast day commemorating the death of Ireland’s patron saint into an international (often unofficial) holiday celebrating all things Irish. There is no better time to expand your knowledge of the surging Irish Whiskey scene and get acquainted with some new expressions. I’ve drawn up …

By Richard Thomas

Bushmills 25 Year Old Single Malt
(Credit: Bushmills)

St. Patrick’s Day has grown from being the feast day commemorating the death of Ireland’s patron saint into an international (often unofficial) holiday celebrating all things Irish. There is no better time to expand your knowledge of the surging Irish Whiskey scene and get acquainted with some new expressions. I’ve drawn up a list of seven such new Irish whiskeys, each interesting in its own right and collectively representing the whole price range.

Blackwater Peat the Magic Dragon Single Malt (€96/$105)
Released only two months ago, this one is as new to shelves as they come. Blackwater Distillery is one of the many craft scale distilleries that have sprung up in Ireland in recent years, located in what used to be a hardware shop on the banks of their namesake, the Blackwater River. Their whimsically named Peat the Magic Dragon is an Irish single malt, single barrel release made with barley that was grown, malted and smoked with peat/turf all on and from the same sight. Blackwater details all this in a way that would make the heart of any militant purist sing. They matured it in a French oak barrel that had seen a previous use aging cherry liqueur. It’s also a rare one: the yield of the one cask was just 350 bottles (and those are 500 ml bottles at that) at 49% ABV. This bottle was only released in Ireland, but the few retailers who still have it ship to the US.

Boann Winter Solstice Preston’s Mash
(Credit: Boann Distillery)

Boann Winter Solstice Preston’s Mashbill (€150/$163)
This one is also brand new, having been released just in the last couple of months. Boann Distillery is located in the Boyne Valley, and what they’ve done is recreate a whiskey using a 140 year old grain recipe from Preston’s, a famous Drogheda negociant from the heyday of Irish Whiskey. What that mash is exactly Boann won’t say, but they put the new make into a Oloroso hogshead for this single barrel, cask strength (59.9% ABV) release. So, Winter Solstice Preston’s Mashbill is also a limited edition with a small production run, and it’s also something you’ll need to acquire as a special import unless you happen to be reading this from Ireland.

Bushmills 25 Year Old Single Malt ($900)
Since St. Paddy’s 2023, the world’s oldest licensed distillery has expanded their permanent line-up with two ultra-aged expressions, a 25 and 30 year old single malt. As the 25 year old is the more approachable of the two, that is the one chosen for this list. Previously (and going back decades), the oldest Bushmills in regular release had been their 21 year old. This whiskey started life as pretty typical Bushmills, spending five years in ex-bourbon and ex-Sherry casks. What sets it apart is it then went on for a dominant, extraordinary secondary maturation of twenty years in first-fill ruby Port pipes. These are available in the US, UK and Europe in the 700 ml format.

Keeper’s Heart 10 Year Old Single Malt ($100)
I will hopefully head off an ignorant comment by stating that while O’Shaughnessy Distillery is in Minnesota, not Ireland, this one is sourced and is an Irish Whiskey. Once we get past that pedigree (because Irish Whiskeys sourced by for a US-based label are pretty rare), this single malt has a more ordinary story: aged for 10 years and finished in Malaga wine casks before bottling at 43% ABV. Just keep in mind the crew behind it includes Brian Nation, former Master Distiller of New Midleton, so O’Shaughnessy certainly has the expertise to do this right.

Method & Madness 7 Year Old Single Malt
(Credit: Irish Distillers)

Method & Madness 7 Year Old Single Malt (€95/$103)
New Midleton is where Jameson, Powers, Redbreast and the Spots are all made, but if you think about those brands, the one thing none of them do is a single malt. It just isn’t something Irish Distillers is known for, so it shouldn’t be surprising that when the company put out a single malt, it came from their experiments Method & Madness brand. Most Method & Madness whiskeys are made in New Midleton’s in-house craft distillery, and this first-ever 7 year old single malt is an example. Aged in ex-bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, it’s bottled at 43% ABV.

Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais ($5,000)
The very rare, very expensive entry on this list is also from New Midleton. That distillery’s Kevin O’Gorman was their chief wood and maturation specialist before becoming Master Distiller in 2020. It was in that preceding role that O’Gorman was in France in 2017, looking for cask stock. That was when he explored oak from the Tronçais forest in central France, built into casks by the Taransaud cooperage, typically a supplier to the wine and Cognac industries. They made what are called T5 casks for O’Gorman, with that French oak air-seasoned for five years before the cask is made.

The actual whiskey is (like Midleton Very Rare) a marriage of single grain and single pot still whiskeys, drawn from a range of ex-bourbon barrel aged stock distilled between the 1980s and 2000s. Reading between the lines, that means the minimum age on the marriage is over twenty years, and some of the whiskeys could be older than forty years. Then it went to those new T5 casks for an additional three years before bottling at 48% ABV.

Waterford Peated Woodbrook (€94/$104)
Waterford Distillery has taken peated Irish whiskeys to a new level with two new expressions, the first- and second-most peated Irish malts of modern times, with Woodbrook being the title holder. Waterford specializes in relatively young, grain-forward whiskeys that rely on flavorful, estate-grown choices in barley. So, this malt was made with barley from Woodbrook farm in County Dublin. The barley was peated up to 74 ppm, and to put that into perspective, a typical Laphroaig malt is peated to between 40 and 50 ppm. This smoky take on Irish Whiskey is bottled at a healthy 50% ABV.

Chivas Unveils Three Lunar New Year Designs

The Year of the Dragon – which is scheduled to begin on February 10, 2024 – received a trio of new limited edition box designs from Chivas, two for The Glenlivet and one for Royal Salute. Specifically, the Year of the Dragon whiskies are Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Signature Blend, The Glenlivet 18-Year-Old Single Malt and […]

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The Year of the Dragon – which is scheduled to begin on February 10, 2024 – received a trio of new limited edition box designs from Chivas, two for The Glenlivet and one for Royal Salute.

Specifically, the Year of the Dragon whiskies are Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Signature Blend, The Glenlivet 18-Year-Old Single Malt and The Glenlivet Rare Cask Single Malt.

Royale Salute 21-Year-Old Signature Blend box was designed by Chinese-born artist Yunshu Li with artwork featuring a ‘gun salute’ fired by The Tower of London.

Both The Glenlivet’s 18-Year-Old Single Malt and The Glenlivet’s Rare Cask Single Malt highlight a golden dragon for their design illustration.

The Royal Salute 21 Year Old Signature Blend Lunar New Year gift pack is being made available for $200 per gift pack; The Glenlivet Limited Edition Lunar New Year 18-Year-Old is being made available for $175 per gift pack [but only in China and Taiwan] and The Glenlivet Lunar New Year Rare Cask Limited Edition is being made available for $160 per gift pack [but for global travel retail venues only].

The post Chivas Unveils Three Lunar New Year Designs first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Heaven Hill Makes An 18 Year Old Bourbon The 2024 Heritage Collection Release

Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the release of Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Each spring, this annual, highly limited release features some of the distillery’s oldest inventory of aging whiskey, continuing the standard of excellence Heaven Hill has practiced since 1935. Each release in the ultra-premium collection features one of the …

Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the release of Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Each spring, this annual, highly limited release features some of the distillery’s oldest inventory of aging whiskey, continuing the standard of excellence Heaven Hill has practiced since 1935.

Each release in the ultra-premium collection features one of the six traditional American Whiskey mashbills produced by Heaven Hill, one of the only heritage distilleries to produce this range. This 2024 edition features Heaven Hill’s Bourbon Whiskey mashbill, comprised of 78% corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye, and is bottled at 120 proof. With an age statement of 18 years, this release is made up of 133 barrels produced in December 2005 pulled from the third floor of Rickhouse 1I.

With its subtle nose of dried flowers, black tea and old oak alongside hints of toasted almond, this edition of the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection is sure to be a unique addition to any whiskey collection. A testament to its age, the initial notes on the palate include vanilla and caramel sweetness up front followed by old leather and a note of oak char with lingering peppery spices and orange oil adding to the depth and complexity.  The finish is long, warm, and dry and includes large amounts of spice.

“The Heaven Hill Heritage Collection is our opportunity to showcase some of the oldest stock in Heaven Hill’s incredible inventory of aging whiskey,” says Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll. “We pride ourselves on having the necessary patience to age, taste, re-taste and select our whiskey at the moment we feel it is perfectly matured. This 18-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey epitomizes what consumers have come to expect from the highest quality of Heaven Hill’s releases.”

Along with its innovation-focused counterpart the Parker’s Heritage Collection, the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection is a testament to Heaven Hill’s patience and ultra-aging techniques.  Releases from both collections offer a glimpse into the long-term plan across Heaven Hill’s American Whiskey stock and commitment to quality, craft, and innovation.

As with the inaugural release, the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 750ml bottle will be accompanied by a premium box in signature Heaven Hill blue. The updated Heaven Hill Distillery seal is prominently positioned on the box, strip stamp and label, and will mirror that of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond and a new Heaven Hill line extension launching later this year. A signature of the Collection, specific attributes such as warehouse site location, production date, mashbill percentages, and other designations are noted prominently on the packaging.  Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will launch nationally and internationally on a limited basis with a MSRP of $299.99 and will begin shipping in early March 2024.

The Macallan Commemorates Founder With New Ultra-Rare, 200th Anniversary Malt

The Macallan has unveiled Tales of The Macallan Volume II, the second edition in a remarkable series of rare single malt Scotch whiskies which tells the story of The Macallan pioneers and their whisky-making legacy. The second release is a homage to Alexander Reid, founder of The Macallan, and depicts him as a teacher, farmer, …

The Macallan has unveiled Tales of The Macallan Volume II, the second edition in a remarkable series of rare single malt Scotch whiskies which tells the story of The Macallan pioneers and their whisky-making legacy.

The second release is a homage to Alexander Reid, founder of The Macallan, and depicts him as a teacher, farmer, and distiller, on his journey to ultimate mastery. It is a fitting tribute that encapsulates Alexander’s story and the standards of excellence in craftsmanship he instilled then, that have passed on through each generation of whisky masters and held today as The Macallan marks its 200th anniversary year.

Alexander, fascinated with the alchemy of distillation that transformed barley into whisky, established the Distillery on Easter Elchies Estate, Speyside, Scotland, in 1824.

A driven individual with a keen sense of curiosity and thirst for knowledge, he strove for perfection by establishing core production principles. Holding firm that small stills produce better flavor and character, he resisted the adoption of large, higher volume stills, instead preferring the value of patience to deliver the uncompromised excellence for which The Macallan continues to be renowned.

The curiously small stills favored by Alexander Reid continue to be a fundamental guiding principle for The Macallan, featuring in its Distillery and remaining one of the brand’s Six Pillars, the foundation stones for The Macallan’s character.

Crafted by The Macallan Lead Whisky Maker, Euan Kennedy, his exemplary 1949 vintage whisky, bottled in 2022, was selected at the apex of its maturation, for its release in honor of our founder, Alexander Reid, in our 200th anniversary year.

Euan Kennedy said, “Tales of The Macallan Volume II is a tribute to our founder Alexander Reid, whose commitment to quality and craftsmanship established the pursuit of uncompromised excellence that has continued to guide successive generations of The Macallan’s whisky makers, like myself, to this day.”

Encased in a bespoke handcrafted Lalique crystal decanter, this exceptional single malt is concealed within an extraordinary almanac. A true work of art, each chapter tells the story of The Macallan’s founder, Alexander Reid, and features beautiful illustrations by renowned British illustrator, Andrew Davidson. Known for his traditional print techniques using wood engravings, Andrew’s work has included postage stamps for the UK’s Royal Mail and designs for the glass doors at Wimbledon’s Centre Court.

Tales of The Macallan is a culmination of creative collaborations of the greatest craftspeople, reflected in each detail of the collection. To create the unique packaging, The Macallan has partnered with an array of suppliers, combining the skills of master craftsmen in crystal, leather and paper. Long-standing partner, master French crystal maker Lalique fashioned the flawless crystal decanter to house the whisky, etched with Andrew Davidson’s captivating illustrations depicting Alexander Reid as a teacher, farmer and distiller. Attracted by a shared sense of heritage, craftsmanship and creativity, Lalique and The Macallan first came together in 2005 and have since collaborated on a range of exquisite decanters and products.

Traditional London-based bookbinders, Shepherds, Sangorski & Sutcliffe and Zaehnsdorf, which specializes in fine binding, restoration and conservation of books and manuscripts, created the unique, hand-crafted Tales of The Macallan Volume II book which demanded extraordinary technical expertise to conceal the decanter within its 800 pages. Artisan printer, Imprimerie du Marais in Paris, which creates luxury pieces using specially developed paper, ink and printing processes, expertly printed each individual page.

To mark the launch of Tales of The Macallan Volume II, a remarkable zoetrope-style animation has been created to bring to life the story of Alexander Reid. The short film features a selection of Andrew Davidson’s illustrations and is set to a captivating, original piece of music composed by acclaimed Scottish composer, Craig Armstrong. His bespoke, modern folk piece reflects on legacy, and what it means to create and be influenced by the landscape of Scotland.

Tales of The Macallan Volume II is a limited-edition release of 344 decanters and will be available starting January 26, 2024 for an SRP of $89,000 at The Macallan Estate, The Macallan Boutiques and premium off-trade retailers.

Wild Turkey Generations Bourbon Review

By Richard Thomas Rating: A- The Russells are set to become a three-generation dynasty of master distillers at Wild Turkey Distillery. First came Jimmy Russell. Although his father was a distillery worker, Jimmy was the first to rise to the top production spot, a post he held for so much of modern history that the …

By Richard Thomas

Rating: A-

Wild Turkey Generations
(Credit: Richard Thomas)

The Russells are set to become a three-generation dynasty of master distillers at Wild Turkey Distillery. First came Jimmy Russell. Although his father was a distillery worker, Jimmy was the first to rise to the top production spot, a post he held for so much of modern history that the identity of Wild Turkey as an actual bourbon (i.e. the liquid, not the marketing) as we know it today is very much his invention.

Jimmy was eventually succeeded by his son Eddie Russell in 2015, after several years of working as  de facto or de jure co-master distiller. Now the company is grooming Bruce Russell, Eddie’s son, as the next master distiller.

Part of that grooming is Bruce’s participation in new Wild Turkey releases, such as the appropriately named Wild Turkey Generations. All three Russells are said to have worked on the bourbon, which was released this past autumn, drawing on stocks of nine, twelve, fourteen and fifteen year old bourbons. They bottled it at a healthy cask strength of 120.8 proof, with a production run of 5,000 bottles.

The Bourbon
The color here is a dark, nutty amber. Nosing yielded a current of spices up front: nutmeg backed with cloves and cinnamon. Behind that was tossed handful of fat dried cherries. A splash of water added a note of damp pipe tobacco in for good measure, which to me just underlines how its usually a good idea to add a little water once the ABV approaches 60%.

The palate also opens up spicy, and rather dry to boot. The sweet follow up is less cherry, being more in the traditional bourbon vein of candy corn and vanilla bean. That dry aspect on the front end fades as the sweetness gains. That splash of water allows this transition to develop into something akin to baked apples as the journey draws to its conclusion. From there, the finish rolls off to a musty, oaky spiciness, but that dissipates quickly to leave behind just a touch of vanilla.

Complex is not the word I would use to describe Generations. I think sophisticated is better. No individual aspect of it is really all that amazing. Instead, it’s the transitions that take place and develop, especially after being watered down a touch to a lower proof, that give it some real character.

The Price

Officially, this bottle goes for $450. It’s been described as the most expensive Wild Turkey bourbon ever, which I can neither confirm or deny at present, but I would not be surprised if that is true. A quick (and hardly scientific) survey of online retailers as I wrote this piece showed no one asking that price, instead demanding between $600 and $900.