News - BourbonSphere

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. …

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.

ASCA Names Westward’s Kelly Woodcock As President

The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) today announces the election of Kelly Woodcock of Westward Whiskey (OR) as the President of the Board of Directors. She has served as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors since 2022, and as Vice President since 2023. Amber Pollock of Backwards Distilling Co. (WY) has also been elected as the organization’s Vice President, and Jeff Kanof of Copperworks Distilling Co. (WA) as Secretary/Treasurer. Pollock and Kanof have served on the board since 2018. Together, Woodcock, Pollock and Kanof and the current and newly-appointed Board of Directors will work with CEO Margie A.S. Lehrman to address the key issues facing the craft distilling industry, including the organization’s continued push for modern market access. ACSA is also proud to announce the results of its national election for Board of Directors members, adding five new members.

“It is a tremendous honor to be leading the ACSA Board of Directors as president, and it is a responsibility that I do not take lightly,” said Kelly Woodcock, Partner & Vice President at Westward Whiskey and President, ACSA. “As we usher in ACSA’s second decade as a leading industry trade association, I look forward to serving our growing craft spirits community and building on the organization’s remarkable accomplishments thus far. We’ve certainly got our work cut out for us, but I’m excited to be working alongside such an esteemed group of fellow Board members to make great things happen for our vibrant industry.”

Margie A.S. Lehrman, CEO, ACSA, added, “While industry growth continues to climb, albeit slowly, we are also seeing distillery closures and struggles to remain financially secure and profitable. ACSA remains focused on critical issues to ensure our small business manufacturers, who are intricately connected to their local hospitality and agricultural communities, will keep pace with modern society. That includes our efforts to diversify the spirits industry through efforts in the STEPUP Foundation, which executes an immersive internship program to change the face of the drinks industry, reflecting the variety of the consumers who enjoy our innovate products. Our 2024 Board of Directors is proof that our industry continues to advance in the right direction.”

Following these elections, the ACSA Board of Directors will also be appointing leadership to its governing committees. Those committees include Membership, Ethics, Convention, Education, Elections, Safety, ACSA PAC, Mentorship, Judging, Government Affairs, State Guilds, Technology, Finance, Market Access and Development. The new 2024 Board of Directors will be installed on April 25.

Japan’s Hatozaki Produces American-Style Rye

There is more to Japanese Whisky than just Nikka and Suntory, such as Hatozaki. Now available in the US is the Hatozaki Omakase Rye Third Edition Mizunara Cask Finish for a suggested retail price of $95 (750ml), the new limited-edition expression showcases the profound aging and finishing techniques of Kimio Yonezawa, 4^th generation Master Distiller & Blender. This whisky is an American-inspired rye, not a Japanese malt, crafted in small batches of no more than 10 casks. The blend, consisting of at least 51% rye, is aged in new charred oak and then finished in traditional Mizunara casks.

Produced at the Kaikyō Distillery on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea, the Hatozaki Omakase collection was born of Yonezawa-sans vision to create elegant and genuine whiskies that reflect the character of his family distillerys unique terroir and maritime influences. Honoring the age-old Japanese concept of Omakase, known as chefs choice in Japanese dining, the Omakase collection mirrors the idea of trusting the makers intuition allowing for delightful experimentation of flavors and new exploration.

“I am honored to introduce the newest blend in our Omakase Collection to the US market,” says Yonezawa-san. “I was excited to experiment with the flavors of rye, a popular category with American whisky drinkers, and see how they would respond to native Japanese oak influence. We are thrilled with the final blend and confident it will be a surprising and rewarding choice for the seeker of exciting new whiskies to try.”

In that spirit, Kimio Yonezawa presents an innovative new blend consisting of rye whisky, that is aged in new charred oak and then finished in Japanese Mizunara casks, the rare Japanese white oak sourced from the Hokkaido and Tohoku forests. This expression will be limited to less than 3,000 bottles, each numbered and sold exclusively in the US market.

The new product joins Hatozakis core range including: Hatozaki Finest Whisky ($45.99 ,750ml. bottle, 40% ABV) a blend of premium malt whiskies aged for up to 12 years in imported bourbon casks, imported sherry casks and native Sakura casks, the Japanese cherry wood; and Hatozaki Small Batch Whisky ($65.99, 750ml., 46% ABV), a vatting of 100% malt whiskies aged in imported bourbon casks, imported sherry casks, and native Mizunara oak barrels, yielding a rich profile of sweet cereals and malty dried fruit, with a light touch of smoke and honey on the finish.

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 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.”

Old Overholt Returns To Its Roots With New Expression

Overholt, founded in Pennsylvania and the longest continuously maintained brand in American whisky (it’s been around since 1810), has announced the release of A. Overholt. The whiskey is named for the brand founder, Abraham Overholt, and uses the same mash bill as the original Overholt whiskey: 80% rye grain and 20% soft malted barley. Owners …

Owners Beam-Suntory have been giving the Overholt brand more attention in recent years, and A. Overholt marks a return to the brand’s roots. To date, Overholt rye whiskey expressions have been derived from Jim Beam’s rye stock, which is a Kentucky-style rye, meaning it has a rye content of less than 55% and uses a substantial helping of corn in the mash bill. The same stock is used to make Jim Beam, Knob Creek and Basil Hayden rye expressions. A. Overholt, by contrast, has a very high rye percentage and no corn at all.

“With over 200 years of exceptional craftmanship, Overholt is engrained in American history with its industrial roots and as a spirit that has set the industry standard since inception,” said Freddie Noe. “The newest launch of A. Overholt is the result of highly crafted whiskey, informed and inspired by generational expertise, and I’m honored to steward this brand forward while paying homage to its past and our shared commitment to American whiskey innovation.”

KDA Welcomes Knox County’s Bargo 459 Into Its Ranks

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced Bargo 459 in Knox County is the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Bargo 459 is led by Matthew Bargo II, his wife, Susie, and their son, Matthew Bargo III. Perched on Kentucky Highway 3041 overlooking the …

Perched on Kentucky Highway 3041 overlooking the new Cumberland Run harness racing track, Bargo 459 is a small craft distillery where only a limited number of barrels are finished at a time. Its address is 133 Wes David Road in Corbin, Ky.

Their whiskey is all pot-distilled straight Bourbon that has been proofed with spring water from the Cumberland Gap and finished in either sherry or port casks. “We are focused on quality, not quantity,” said founder Matthew Bargo II.

Before developing his distillery and his whiskey, the elder Bargo said he researched thousands of articles, visited numerous Kentucky distilleries and interviewed older individuals who had been involved in creating moonshine during Prohibition.

“Making Bourbon is hard work,” he said. “Making good Bourbon is really hard work. Our goal is to consistently produce exceptional Bourbon that is a symphony of aroma and color with a rich lingering taste.

“In that spirited journey, we stand honored to join this esteemed association and harness its wealth of knowledge while contributing our own innovative approach. Our alignment with the KDA signifies our commitment to upholding the highest standards in Bourbon production.”

The distillery plans to release speciality small batch and single barrel runs with a diversity of cask finishes and limited-edition releases. It also is preparing to open a tasting room to welcome visitors to experience the Bargo 459 portfolio.

KDA President Eric Gregory said, “Kentucky’s Bourbon legacy is full of storied history and rich traditions that have been passed down and shared across the industry, and we applaud Matt and his family for their passion and dedication to our timeless craft.

“The KDA and our 100 distillery members and partners are excited to welcome Bargo 459 to our growing family of the Commonwealth’s finest distillers and the entire Knox County community that will benefit from their investment, their great whiskey and their tourism experiences.”

Bargo 459 joins the KDA as a “Craft” level member, aging between 1 and 10,000 barrels per year.

Ezra Brooks Launches 99 Port Cask

Lux Row Distillers announced the latest addition to the Ezra Brooks brand family: Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish. Finished in port casks from Portugal for six months, Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish delivers the great spicy ryed bourbon taste and smooth finish Ezra Brooks is known for in its already bold 99 proof bourbon, with additional flavor notes. The new variant will start shipping to retailers later this month at a suggested retail price of $34.99 per 750 ml bottle.

With a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malt, Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish is distilled using the highest quality ingredients, aged the old-fashioned way and bottled at 99 proof (49.5% ABV). Distinctive packaging features prominent callouts and a special label color highlighting the port cask finish.

“We created Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish for bourbon fans looking for an elevated taste profile and unique flavor option,” said Eric Winter, Ezra Brooks brand manager. “Lux Row Master Distiller John Rempe was intrigued by the juxtaposition of ryed bourbon’s spicy flavor profile and the sweeter, dark fruit notes often found in port wines.”

“This special finish brings notes of vanilla, tobacco and leather together on the nose, and sweet fruitiness and dark chocolate on the palate,” said Rempe. “We’re excited to share this special new variety with consumers as the first in a planned series of annual finishes for the Ezra Brooks 99 family.”

Ole Smoky Launches Its Bourbon Natonwide

Ole Smoky Distillery, best known as the Gatlinburg, Tennessee moonshine-maker and tourist destination, has announced the nation-wide distribution of its Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The distillery is already well-known outside of Tennessee, and is the most prominent of the legal moonshine brands. Now it is staking out a place in the bourbon market with this …

“The American Whiskey category is continuing to grow, and as one of the fastest growing spirits companies in the country, Ole Smoky is excited to offer consumers a straight whiskey from a distillery they know and trust,” says Robert Hall, CEO of Ole Smoky Distillery. “We’re pleased to offer consumers, who may have first tasted a flavored whiskey in one of our distilleries, an accessibly priced, high-quality Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey option from Ole Smoky.”

This product release follows the launch of James Ownby Reserve, the premium whiskey brand commemorating the remarkable history and spirit of James Ownby, the 5th generation great-grandfather of Ole Smoky Distillery’s Founder, Joe Baker. The 94-proof whiskey is aged in American virgin charred oak barrels and filtered utilizing the Lincoln County Process, passing through sugar maple charcoal before aging. Enjoyed neat or on the rocks, James Ownby Reserve Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey is available in select markets and at Ole Smoky’s four distillery locations.

By contrast, Ole Smoky Bourbon is not a Tennessee Whiskey. The distinction between bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey is the Lincoln County Process, and without the charcoal-filtration prior to barreling, all Tennessee Whiskeys would otherwise be bourbon.

Ole Smoky first launched its moonshine products in 2010, shortly after Tennessee legalized the distillation of moonshine in 2009, followed by the launch of their whiskey products in 2016. Ole Smoky’s whiskey line is a testament to the brand’s commitment to quality and creativity, with each flavor adding a unique twist to the classic whiskey profile, making it an excellent choice for both cocktail enthusiasts and those who prefer to sip their whiskey straight. As the first legal moonshine in East Tennessee, the brand makes a wide range of moonshines and whiskeys in four distillery locations across the state and hosted more than 5 million visitors in 2023 alone.

Storm-Felled Tree Becomes Basis For Rare New Irish Oak Whiskey

A thousand-year-old wild Irish oak tree toppled by a storm is set to be resurrected as rare new Irish oak casks. The ancient giant, with a 10 meter (32 foot) girth, stood tall on the historic grounds of Meath’s Swainstown Farm in Kilmessan, Co. Meath. In a unique project between Boann Distillery – also in …

In a unique project between Boann Distillery – also in Meath – and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel cooperage in Kildare, the storm-battered oak will be transformed into barrels that will age and produce Preston’s brand of Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

The Preston family, who reside on Swainstown Farm, are descendants of the renowned Preston’s of Drogheda, Co Louth – operators of a major whiskey bonding business for almost a century from 1886.

“It is extremely rare that Irish oak is used to craft casks, making this a unique project,” said Peter Cooney of Boann Distillery.

“The idea was first mooted six years ago after I told Arthur Preston about our plans to revive the trademark ‘Preston’s Whiskey’ brand, using an old whiskey recipe dating back to the late 19^thcentury.”

“We made a deal that, in return for the casks I gave him for his Swainstown Farm shop, he would let me know when an old Irish Oak tree on his grounds would become available for cutting.

“Arthur had one old tree in mind that had stood in the front paddock of the Preston’s Estate, and when it fell during last December’s Storm Elin I got the call from him to come and check her out.”

Ireland is one of the most deforested countries in Europe, so Irish oak suitable for fashioning cask staves is rare and even more rarely harvested. To date, the only expression in semi-regular production based on new Irish oak for secondary maturation is Midleton Dair Ghaelach.

A large section cut from the lower body of the tree will now be shipped to a facility in France, where it will be split and made into staves and air-dried for 24 months. The staves will then be transported back to Kildare where coopers will turn them into 3 to 4 Irish Oak casks before they are filled with a unique mash bill to reproduce Preston’s whiskey.

“We typically source our barrels from American white oak shipped directly from bourbon and whiskey distilleries,” said Mark Quick, managing director of Kentucky Bourbon Barrel.

“With this venture we will revive traditional whiskey cask crafting in Ireland using Irish oak from a tree that stood for over 1,000 years, so we are naturally very excited about this whole project.”

“It’s great to see the idea evolve from a conversation in 2018 to an innovative collaboration between heritage-rich estates, seasoned distilleries, and renowned cooperages,” said Arthur Preston of Swainstown Farm.

“I can’t wait to taste the final product.”

The Preston’s mashbill that will be laid down once the casks are ready is secret Vintage Mashbill XI from the Boann’s 2021 Vintage Mashbill Project.

“We have been laying down stock for this brand since 2021 in a variety of casks such as Bourbon, Oloroso, PX, NEOC and Jamaican Rum,” said Peter Cooney.

“By using Irish Oak we can bring a piece of ancient Ireland to the glasses of future connoisseurs.”

Gordon & MacPhail Honor Founder With 65 Year Old Malt

Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled the fourth edition in its annual series celebrating the legacy of George Urquhart – the man described by whisky writer Charlie MacLean as ‘the father of single malt whisky’. The Mr. George Legacy 1958 from Glen Grant Distillery was laid down by ‘Mr George’, as he was known to those …

The Mr. George Legacy 1958 from Glen Grant Distillery was laid down by ‘Mr George’, as he was known to those who knew him best and has been left to mature for 65 years in cask no.3818, a first-fill Sherry butt made to his exact specifications. Bottled in November 2023 at a cask strength of 56.5% – remarkable considering its age – the release is priced at £7,000. Just 376 bottles are available for sale worldwide.

This edition’s packaging and support campaign is themed around having the courage of one’s convictions, symbolized by ‘The Lone Oak’. Mr George’s approach – to age whisky for as long as it needed – was seen by some as eccentric during his lifetime. The theme celebrates this philosophy of occasionally going against the grain but always standing firm to one’s principles in pursuit of perfection.

Stuart Urquhart, Operations Director at Gordon & MacPhail, said, “My grandfather had a particular affinity with Glen Grant Distillery. Local to our home in Elgin, Mr George had a strong relationship with the owners and distillers through the decades and he enjoyed experimenting with different casks to complement the distillery’s lighter spirit style. Back in the 1950s, the spirit would have been slightly smoky due to floor maltings and a small level of peat being used, which is a style rarely seen in today’s modern Speyside whiskies, giving this whisky a charred oakiness, balanced by long-term maturation in a Sherry cask made of European oak.”