Wood Hat Spirits in New Florence, Missouri, is quite the unique distillery. From using a scrap wood fire to heat their still and mash, to growing and breeding their own heritage corns, to using barrels seasoned for 3 or more years…the list seems almo…
Wood Hat Spirits in New Florence, Missouri, is quite the unique distillery. From using a scrap wood fire to heat their still and mash, to growing and breeding their own heritage corns, to using barrels seasoned for 3 or more years...the list seems almost endless. We had the opportunity to visit and spend some time with owner/distiller Gary Hinegardner. Read on to learn more!
The post Wood Hat Spirits Distillery Visit & Tour appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .
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
Suntory is celebrating its 100th anniversary with two special releases: a Yamazaki 18-year-old single malt matured in Mizunara Oak casks and a peated Hakushu 18-year-old.… Read More
Suntory is celebrating its 100th anniversary with two special releases: a Yamazaki 18-year-old single malt matured in Mizunara Oak casks and a peated Hakushu 18-year-old. The Yamazaki will be priced at $1,500 per bottle, while the Hakushu will carry a $1,200 price tag. There will also be anniversary editions of the flagship Yamazaki and Hakushu 12-year-old whiskies with special labels to celebrate the anniversary.
Rod Stewart is launching his own blended Scotch whisky brand. Wolfie’s Whisky is being bottled by Loch Lomond Distillers. It goes on sale in June in the UK, Ireland, and Europe, with a U.S. launch planned for later this year.
Basketball star Steph Curry has teamed up with the Game Changer Distillery in Kentucky and Napa Valley winery owner John Schwartz to produce Gentlemen’s Cut Bourbon. It’ll be available worldwide with a recommended retail price of $79.99 a bottle.
Glengoyne has released its ninth batch of the Teapot Dram, named for the distillery’s teapot in which workers once shared their daily drams with their overnight colleagues.
Back then, workers were given three drams a day of whisky from first-fill sherry casks, and the Teapot Dram continues that tradition. It’s matured in first-fill European and American Oak sherry casks and bottled at 58.9 percent ABV. It’s available at the Glengoyne distillery shop and web site for £140 a bottle.
Glencadam Distillery has released a limited edition Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish using whisky distilled back in 2007. Reserva de Jerez is available in the UK and select European markets with a recommended retail price of £105 a bottle.
Chattanooga Whiskey is out with the latest release in its Bottled in Bond series. The Spring 2019 Vintage features a blend of four different mashbills, including two high-malt mashbills. It’s available at the distillery and in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, and South Carolina with a recommended retail price of $52.99 a bottle.
Hotaling and Company has released the latest Hirsch Bourbon. The Single Barrel Double Oak has ben double barreled in new American Oak and finished in used oak barrels. It’s available in 15 U-S states with a recommended retail price of 99 dollars a bottle.
Kentucky’s New Riff Distilling has turned to heirloom corn strains for its two new releases. Yellow Leaming is distilled with what the distillery bills as the “granddaddy of yellow corn,” while Blue Clarage comes from a unique blue corn varietal. Both whiskies are five years old and bottled-in-bond. They are available at the distillery in Newport, Kentucky for $55.99 each.
Missouri’s Holladay Distilling has also released a new bottled-in-bond Bourbon. Holldaay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon is distilled using Holladay’s traditional mashbill, except that the rye is replaced with soft red wheat. It also qualifies as a Missouri Bourbon under the state’s strict law that requires Bourbons carrying that label to not only be distilled, matured, and bottled within the state, but be matured in oak barrels manufactured in Missouri and made with corn grown exclusively in Missouri.
Published May 29, 2023
Suntory is celebrating its 100th anniversary with two special releases: a Yamazaki 18-year-old single malt matured in Mizunara Oak casks and a peated Hakushu 18-year-old.… Read More
Suntory is celebrating its 100th anniversary with two special releases: a Yamazaki 18-year-old single malt matured in Mizunara Oak casks and a peated Hakushu 18-year-old. The Yamazaki will be priced at $1,500 per bottle, while the Hakushu will carry a $1,200 price tag. There will also be anniversary editions of the flagship Yamazaki and Hakushu 12-year-old whiskies with special labels to celebrate the anniversary.
Rod Stewart is launching his own blended Scotch whisky brand. Wolfie’s Whisky is being bottled by Loch Lomond Distillers. It goes on sale in June in the UK, Ireland, and Europe, with a U.S. launch planned for later this year.
Basketball star Steph Curry has teamed up with the Game Changer Distillery in Kentucky and Napa Valley winery owner John Schwartz to produce Gentlemen’s Cut Bourbon. It’ll be available worldwide with a recommended retail price of $79.99 a bottle.
Glengoyne has released its ninth batch of the Teapot Dram, named for the distillery’s teapot in which workers once shared their daily drams with their overnight colleagues.
Back then, workers were given three drams a day of whisky from first-fill sherry casks, and the Teapot Dram continues that tradition. It’s matured in first-fill European and American Oak sherry casks and bottled at 58.9 percent ABV. It’s available at the Glengoyne distillery shop and web site for £140 a bottle.
Glencadam Distillery has released a limited edition Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish using whisky distilled back in 2007. Reserva de Jerez is available in the UK and select European markets with a recommended retail price of £105 a bottle.
Chattanooga Whiskey is out with the latest release in its Bottled in Bond series. The Spring 2019 Vintage features a blend of four different mashbills, including two high-malt mashbills. It’s available at the distillery and in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, and South Carolina with a recommended retail price of $52.99 a bottle.
Hotaling and Company has released the latest Hirsch Bourbon. The Single Barrel Double Oak has ben double barreled in new American Oak and finished in used oak barrels. It’s available in 15 U-S states with a recommended retail price of 99 dollars a bottle.
Kentucky’s New Riff Distilling has turned to heirloom corn strains for its two new releases. Yellow Leaming is distilled with what the distillery bills as the “granddaddy of yellow corn,” while Blue Clarage comes from a unique blue corn varietal. Both whiskies are five years old and bottled-in-bond. They are available at the distillery in Newport, Kentucky for $55.99 each.
Missouri’s Holladay Distilling has also released a new bottled-in-bond Bourbon. Holldaay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon is distilled using Holladay’s traditional mashbill, except that the rye is replaced with soft red wheat. It also qualifies as a Missouri Bourbon under the state’s strict law that requires Bourbons carrying that label to not only be distilled, matured, and bottled within the state, but be matured in oak barrels manufactured in Missouri and made with corn grown exclusively in Missouri.
Published May 29, 2023
There’s a new bourbon in town with incredible history and the wherewithal to release under the strict rules to be called Bottled in Bond. But it’s not from Kentucky. Or Indiana. Or Tennessee for that matter. In July 2019, Missouri passed a state law…
There’s a new bourbon in town with incredible history and the wherewithal to release under the strict rules to be called Bottled in Bond. But it’s not from Kentucky. Or Indiana. Or Tennessee for that matter.
In July 2019, Missouri passed a state law for labeling whiskey as “Missouri Bourbon.” Not only must it comply with the federal standards of identity, it must also be mashed, fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled in Missouri, and the barrels must be manufactured in the state. Beginning with distillate produced on January 1, 2020, “Missouri Bourbon” must also be made with corn grown exclusively in Missouri.
Enter Ben Holladay. With localized climate and geology similar to Kentucky, and better access to prized oak for barrels, it’s a wonder that this area of Missouri didn’t develop as more competitive to Kentucky in whiskey production over the course of history. Ben Holladay has that history though, dating back to 1856, and it’s picking up making bourbon the right way and labeling it with transparency. The label shows that this bottle is comprised of 21% from the 1st floor and 79% from the 5th floor of their Warehouse C, along with distillation season and precise bottling date. The Missouri law and this labeling transparency can give Kentucky legislators and distillers some sound ideas.
Ben Holladay Tasting Notes
| Whiskey: | Ben Holladay Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Bottled in Bond. |
| Age: | 6 years |
| ABV: | 50% ABV (100 proof) |
| Cost: | $60.00 |
Appearance:
Standard amber.
Nose:
Grassy, dry wood, grain, and baking spice dominate, but I’m not really getting any of the sweet aromas that I expect. It’s mostly one-dimensional. I get a little bit of leather with deep inhalation, but we really shouldn’t be working this hard for aromas.
Taste:
The aromas had me ready to be underwhelmed, but I was misguided. It’s creamy on the palate with a base of leather and dry oak, with intriguing ginger and licorice flavors. It’s still missing caramel sweetness so it lacks some traditional balance, but the creaminess is so noteworthy that it deserves this second mention. This is best enjoyed neat.
Finish:
No real intensity and seemingly crisp before it revives itself with a lingering cola flavor, slight tobacco, and a faint slow burn.
Bottom Line
They’re onto something in Missouri. It’s not robust and instead is an easy sipper, but I’m most intrigued by the incredible creaminess. The transparency on the label is unparalleled, which earns extra points in my book. So to sum it up, since Ben Holladay is only available in select markets in Missouri and Kansas, that really means that if you’re traveling through, you have to map out liquor stores on your route.
Disclaimer: The brand managers kindly
sent me a sample for this review,
without any strings attached.
Thank you.
Brian Nation is best known for his work as Master Distiller at Ireland’s Midleton Distillery, and he shocked Irish whiskey lovers when he stepped down nearly a year ago to join the startup O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co. in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Covid kept him from making the move with his family until a couple of weeks ago, so he did much of his work remotely from Ireland with occasional trips to Minnesota. Now, the distillery is complete along with Brian’s first batch of Keeper’s Heart Irish + American Whiskey, a blend of Irish Single Pot Still and grain whiskies with American Rye Read More »
Brian Nation is best known for his work as Master Distiller at Ireland’s Midleton Distillery, and he shocked Irish whiskey lovers when he stepped down nearly a year ago to join the startup O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co. in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Covid kept him from making the move with his family until a couple of weeks ago, so he did much of his work remotely from Ireland with occasional trips to Minnesota. Now, the distillery is complete along with Brian’s first batch of Keeper’s Heart Irish + American Whiskey, a blend of Irish Single Pot Still and grain whiskies with American Rye whiskey. He joined us from the distillery for our #HappyHourLive webcast the other night, along with J. Rieger & Co. co-founder Ryan Maybee. The Kansas City distillery is releasing its first Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey this week, and it’s the first whiskey legally distilled in Kansas City since the end of Prohibition.
