sazerac - BourbonSphere

Original Cocktails by Heublin: Manhattan and Old Fashioned

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Memorial Day cookouts are over, and summer is here, even if the calendar has a little catching up to do. And honestly, though I often have a pour of bourbon in the summer, I tend to like cocktails just a bit more on a hot day, especially those that are served cold. Nothing beats an ice-cold drink on the deck with a little music playing while reading a book or visiting with friends.

That said, I’m a busy guy. I’m cleaning up after dogs, I’m designing junk mail for plumbers, I’m building things for my wife. I don’t always have the time or the energy to build a cocktail. Even an easy one. This is why we continually take a look at the ever-increasing selection of ready-to-drink cocktails on the market. Sure, they aren’t usually as good as the ones you make at home, but they sure are easy. Open the fridge, pour a little in a glass, and add ice. Couldn’t be simpler.

Tonight, we are looking at a pair of ready-to-drink cocktails from Sazerac’s 1792 brand—oddly, not including a Sazerac cocktail. I mean, maybe Sazerac makes a ready-to-drink version of a Sazerac cocktail, but I didn’t see one on the shelf, and I can’t find a website for these to find out more information. Aside from what I can find during some internet sleuthing, I know next to nothing about them. In fact, I only know for sure that tonight’s bottles come from Sazerac because I did a trademark search for Heublein, and they came up as the owner.

Heublin is an old name in the cocktail game. According to Wikipedia:

Heublein began as a restaurant founded in 1862 in Hartford, Connecticut, by Andrew Heublein, a German American entrepreneur. His two sons, Gilbert F. and Louis, soon joined the business. In 1875 they accepted a large order for pre-mixed martini and Manhattan cocktails for the annual picnic of the Governor's Foot Guard. Rain forced the event's cancellation. When a restaurant employee whom the brothers had instructed to dispose of the canceled cocktails several days later determined them to have withstood shelf storage safely, they began selling the pre-mixed cocktails from the restaurant. So popular were the ready-made cocktails that Heublein built a distillery just to satisfy the demand. When the focus of Andrew Heublein's business turned more heavily toward its lucrative line of ready-made cocktails in 1890, he transferred the business to his sons, and it became Gilbert F. Heublein and Bro. In 1892 they introduced their brand of “Club Cocktails” pre-mixed cocktails, an early form of ready to drink (RTD) cocktails.

When your name has been associated with something for over 130 years, that’s a trademark worth holding on to. And boy, have a lot of folks held onto this name. After a series of acquisitions over the course of a half-century (including Grey Poupon, Kentucky Fried Chicken, the US rights to Smirnoff’s Vodka, and others), the Heublein company was purchased by RJ Reynolds in 1982. After corporate mergers caused some divestiture, the name was sold to a company that would go on to become Diageo. I’m not feeling the need to go any further on the topic of corporate history, but suffice it to say that “Original Cocktails by Heublin” is currently a trademark held by Sazerac.

So now that we’ve read a bit of history, let’s see if these are worthy additions to our arsenal of deck drinks, shall we?

Original Cocktails by Hueblein

Purchase Info: $11.99 each at Lakeville Liquors, Lakeville, MN

Price per Drink (50 mL): $1.60

Details: 35% ABV

Manhattan:

The nose has notes of baking spice and cherry. The mouth continues the theme with a good hit of sweetness, and cherry notes that play nicely with the baking spice. The finish is sweet and medium to long with the same notes as the mouth and nose. I know this says 1792 Bourbon on the label, but it tastes a lot like a bottle of Very Old Barton. Very tasty. I especially like that the Vermouth influence is pretty light, as I’m not a Vermouth fan.

Old Fashioned:

The nose has orange and baking spice notes, which continue into the mouth. The mouth also introduces notes of sweet vanilla to the mix. And I mean sweet. This is very sweet with a thick, syrupy mouthfeel, even after stirring with ice. The finish is of medium length and has notes of orange and baking spice. Personally, I find this too sweet for my tastes, but I almost always use way less sweetener than the recipe calls for when I make an old Fashioned at home. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, though.

Thoughts: I probably wouldn’t take the Old Fashioned camping with me like I would the Manhattan (a bitters bottle is easier to tuck in the bag along with the bourbon than a bottle of vermouth is). However for relaxing on the deck after a busy day, both of these are just fine. I prefer the Manhattan to the Old Fashioned mostly due to the intense sweetness of the Old Fashioned. You will probably enjoy the Old Fashioned more if you have a bigger sweet tooth than I do. But all in all, I like them.

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11th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: The Championship Rounds

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Welcome back, folks! We are now at the end of the 2024 contest. Eight whiskeys entered the arena. Four have fallen by the wayside. There have been some delicious treats, with not a single stinker in the bunch. Let’s see how it all ends and see if we’ve learned anything along the way. First, we have the Round Two matchups.

Division 2: Whiskey A (Buffalo Trace) vs. Whiskey B (George Dickel Bourbon)

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: The noses are pretty similar. “A” is more vibrant, “B” is nuttier. In the mouth, “A” is very nicely balanced with a nice sweetness. “B” is spicier, also with a nice flavor.

Winner: “B” (George Dickel Bourbon) moves on to the Championship Round based on the nice spiciness.

Division 1: Whiskey A (Old Forester 100 Proof) vs. Whiskey B (Old Grand-Dad 114 Proof)

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: The nose on “B” has more caramel and nuttiness. The nose on “A” is more muted with a faint medicinal note. “B” is very spicy on the month. “A” has notes of red fruit and marzipan.

Winner: “B” is spicier, but that spiciness overwhelms the other notes. “A” is more well-rounded, which I prefer. “A” (Old Forester 100 proof) moves on to the Championship Round

Championship Round: Whiskey A (George Dickel Bourbon) vs. Whiskey B (Old Forester 100 Proof)

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: The nose on “A” shows more caramel and vanilla versus the fruit notes on “B.” The mouth on “A” is showing spice, caramel, and oak. “B” shows more fruit. It’s close, but I think “A” pulls ahead based on the oak and spice.

Winner: “A” (George Dickel Bourbon)

Congrats to George Dickel 8-Year-Old Bourbon, the 2024 BourbonGuy.com Bracket Champion!

Lessons Learned:

This was an interesting contest for me. I like contests where I know I won’t need to brace myself before taking the first sip in a tasting. Every one of the bourbons was good. I don’t think I’d say there is anything in here that would warrant a “meh/neutral” rating if it were being tasted alone. That might be a first.

So, what did I learn about each of these?

Ok, right off the bat, I expected a little blowback on George Dickel Bourbon even being in the contest. I got it last year when I included their Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey, and I honestly expected the same this year. I am personally shocked that Dickel won the contest. I honestly expected Old Forester 100 proof to win based on what I thought my personal preferences were. That said, upon reflection, I’m not shocked that the only age-stated bourbon in the batch won the whole thing. It’s hard to beat time in a barrel for making good whiskey. Add in the fact that it was less than $25 and less than 100 proof, and the whole thing just makes me happy. I love an underdog story.

Moving over to the other Championship contender, as stated above, Old Forester 100 Proof would have been my favorite to win the contest at the outset. Not only does it sit in my favorite proof point, but it was also the most expensive of the bunch. Not that price always correlates to quality (that’s one of the reasons we run this contest each year), but it certainly correlates to how much a company thinks people would be willing to pay for something. And that has at least a passing relationship with how good something is, especially with a product that has been on the market for a long time like this. That said, it came in second and won its division. It’s a good bourbon and one that is often on my shelf.

Newcomer Wheel Horse Bourbon handled itself admirably. It didn’t quite have the gusto to knock off a competitor with lots of age on it, but it should hold its head up high. It lost to the eventual champion this year. That’s nothing to sneeze at. It’s good whiskey and a good value. It may have advanced if it had had a different matchup in the first round. I think I’ll be doing a full review of this one in the near future if I don’t drink it all first.

Elijah Craig is a great bourbon. It is more delicate than other bourbons in this list, having neither the age nor the proof of other contestants. Because of that, it doesn’t surprise me that it lost in the first round. But with no comparisons, I'm a happy camper if this is in my glass.

When I think of Buffalo Trace, the old chant from high school sports of “O-Ver-Rate-Ed clap clap clapclapclap.” That isn’t to say that it is a stinker or even a “meh” bourbon. No, it is very good. But when I get comments from people saying that it goes for $50 in their neck of the woods, it’s hard to take it seriously these days. Especially when contrasted with other comparable products. Sazerac won the PR lottery when they got the contract to have Pappy chosen from among their stocks oh-so-many years ago.

I’m just going to copy and paste what I said last year about Old Tub, as nothing has changed in my assessment: “Old Tub reminded me that Jim Beam makes good whiskey. It just needs some proof. Go below 100° proof, and it gets way too nutty for many folks, including me, when the mood isn’t right.”

I didn’t learn much from Old Grand-Dad 114 that I didn’t already know. I knew it was a great bourbon that didn’t cost much, and nothing about that has changed. The proof adds a nice spice to what might otherwise be a lackluster bourbon that would be too grain-forward for my personal tastes. That’s why I like Bonded and 114 so much better than the 80 proof.

Finally, Ezra Brooks 99 is right there with the other bourbons in this group. It was great as a 90° proof. And with that great base, the proof bump makes it an absolute winner. Sure, the price is higher than the now-discontinued 90, but I think the quality went up more. If I’m not buying for content, this is one that I pick up a lot.

Ok, so we have one further contest to take a look at before we put the brackets to bed this year. I retired Wild Turkey 101 from the yearly bracket contest a few years ago. It won every time it appeared until I paired it against other, more expensive, 100-ish proof bourbons during the pandemic. It is literally the GOAT when it comes to inexpensive bourbon. One of the guys I talk to at a local liquor store describes more expensive bourbons using Wild Turkey 101 as the measuring stick. “Is this worth four bottles of Wild Turkey 101?” And I love that. So, I decided to bring it out of retirement to see how this year’s winner stacked up against the old bird. (You may notice it hiding in the back of the photo above.)

Emeritus Round: Whiskey A (George Dickel Bourbon) vs. Whiskey B (Wild Turkey 101)

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: “A” has a lot of oak on both the nose and mouth, along with toffee on the mouth. “B” shows nice cinnamon on the nose and mouth along with some caramel on the mouth. Both have a nice spice.

Winner: Very close, but I'm leaning toward “B” (Wild Turkey) in the Emeritus Contest.

Now that we are done, it’s time to turn the page to the future. Next week, we will look at the samples that have been stacking up while the contest was going on. As much fun as this was, it’s fun to try new bourbons, too.

Once again, congrats to George Dickel 8-Year-Old Bourbon on their 2024 Championship!

11th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: The “Not Quite Bottom-Shelf” Edition

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Welcome back, my friends, to my favorite posts of the year. It’s bracket time!

Historically, this has been a series where we take a look at the cheapest of the cheapest bourbons, pit them against each other, and decide which you should pick up and which you should leave down on that bottom shelf. The 2022 edition broke me; I dumped out about 7 liters of bourbon, so last year, I tossed out all pricing requirements and did a series of Bonded Bourbons. This year, I’m reinstating the price requirements, but I’ve decided to keep them a bit “relaxed.” My goal was to find readily available bourbons all at about the same price point, in this case, the $20 to $30 price range.

Here is how we set everything up. And it is an oh-so-simple process. I seed the whiskey in the bracket, in this case, by price. Then, I pour 200 mL bottles of each contestant whiskey and label them with a nonsense name. Finally, I make a separate bracket with the nonsense names and give that and the 200 mL bottles to my wife. After that, she takes care of everything. She has no idea what is in each bottle due to the nonsense name. She pours and keeps track of the winners while we do our tastings. And all I need to do is taste and write. It’s a pretty slick system.

So, who are the participants, and how did they get chosen?

Well, every year, I try to put in limitations that will force me to choose a new set of participants. Well, mostly new, anyway. We still have four this year that were in previous editions. Because the “bottom-shelf” ones have gotten so much worse than they used to be due to inflation and strategic price increases, this year, I limited myself to only bourbons priced between $20 and $30 for a 750 mL bottle. This allowed me to get some names that are familiar to the general public but that might be overlooked due to the general public’s idea that “more expensive equals better whiskey.” A while back, I also asked what you guys wanted to see included as part of a giveaway. I included as many of those as I could. Some weren’t available in my market. Others were quite expensive. Some had just been in so many contests that I looked for fresh faces. But I included what I could.

The contestants were seeded by price. If there was more than one at the same price, the tie was broken by proof.

Division 1, Seed 1: Old Forester 100: This was purchased at South Lyndale Liquors in Minneapolis, MN, for $27.99 or $0.037 per milliliter.
Division 2, Seed 1: Buffalo Trace: This was purchased at Total Wine in Burnsville, MN, for $27.99 or $0.037 per milliliter.
Division 1, Seed 2: Old Grand-Dad 114: A reader suggested Old Grand-Dad Bonded, but since I saw this fit the price constraints, I upgraded. This was purchased at Total Wine in Burnsville, MN, for $26.99 or $0.036 per milliliter.
Division 2, Seed 2: Wheel Horse Bourbon: This was a reader suggestion. It was purchased at Top Ten Liquors in Chanhassan, MN, for $25.96 or $0.035 per milliliter.
Division 1, Seed 3: Ezra Brooks 99: This was purchased at South Lyndale Liquors in Minneapolis, MN, for $24.99 or $0.033 per milliliter.
Division 2, Seed 3: George Dickel Bourbon: This was purchased at France 44 in Minneapolis, MN, for $24.99 or $0.033 per milliliter.
Division 1, Seed 4: Elijah Craig: This was purchased at Top Ten Liquors in Chanhassen, MN, for $24.96 or $0.033 per milliliter.
Division 2, Seed 4: Old Tub: This was a reader suggestion. It was purchased at France 44 in Minneapolis, MN, for $21.99 or $0.029 per milliliter.

I’m going to tell you right now, that there were some real surprises here. I was honestly shocked at the winner. But that is for the future. In the mean time, who you got? Let us know down in the comments.

NEW RELEASE: George T. Stagg and Weller 12 Barrel Finished Tequila included in the 2023 Corazón Collection

A PRESS RELEASE today from Sazerac (owner of Buffalo Trace Distillery) revealed some tasty news in its partnership with Corazón Tequila. The Jalisco based family owned company is releasing a super premium 6 bottle collection including 5 labels finished in Sazerac primo barrels. Price range SRP being $59.99 – $79.99, all at 80 proof. COPY […]

The post NEW RELEASE: George T. Stagg and Weller 12 Barrel Finished Tequila included in the 2023 Corazón Collection first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

COPY FROM PRESS RELEASE

Corazón Tequila is thrilled to announce one of its most extensive Expresiones del Corazón Collections to date. Showcasing the extraordinary partnership between Casa San Matías, Mexico’s fourth oldest tequila distillery, and Buffalo Trace, the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery, the 2023 Collection features six premium tequilas, including two brand new añejos aged in French Oak and ex-Weller 12 Year Old Bourbon barrels. In addition, the award-winning Artisanal Blanco and William Larue Weller, George T. Stagg and Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye Añejo Tequilas return as part of this year’s Collection.

Produced in limited-quantities, Expresiones del Corazón celebrates excellence in distillation, aging and experimentation by marrying Corazón’s premium tequila with barrels that once held some of the world’s most-coveted whiskeys produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery.

2023 Corazón Tequila Collection

· Corazón Weller 12 Añejo Tequila (NEW): matured for 26 months in ex-Weller 12 Kentucky Straight Bourbon barrels, where some of the finest bourbon at Buffalo Trace Distillery rested for 12 years, this añejo is moderately sweet with heavily cooked agave, toasted vanilla and a silky-yet-intense oak finish.

· Corazón French Oak Añejo Tequila (NEW): aged for at least 13 months in French oak barrels that formerly aged Old Charter Oak French Oak bourbon, the resulting liquid offers aromas of rich oak and vanilla and a smooth and lightly-sweet taste offering hints of cooked agave, apple and caramel.

· Corazón Sazerac Rye 18 Añejo Tequila: 24 months of aging in barrels that formerly held Sazerac Rye for 18 years has produced a moderately sweet tequila with strong hints of fresh fruit met with notes of oak, caramel, almond and cinnamon.

· Corazón George T. Stagg Añejo Tequila: 22 months of maturation in barrels that previously aged the high-proof George T. Stagg bourbon has resulted in salted caramel flavors that burst on the tongue followed by charred pineapple that slowly transforms to tobacco, leaving a sweet-yet-smoky lingering flavor.

· Corazón William Larue Weller Añejo Tequila: 15 months of aging in barrels that formerly held this beloved wheated bourbon has created a harmoniously smooth and dense tequila with lightly-sweet undertones. The taster is greeted with aromas of wood, caramel and almond, then met with notes of chocolate, intense vanilla, nut, eucalyptus and chamomile.

· Corazón Artisanal Small Batch Blanco Tequila: this premium blanco tequila is the extraordinary base spirit created by the artisans at Casa San Matias specifically for the Expresiones del Corazón Collection. Utilizing the finest estate-grown agave with a higher sugar content and artisanal distillation techniques, the result is a refined liquid with a sweet, gentle flavor and powerful notes of cooked agave intertwined with hints of citrus and green apple.

“Our dedication to exploring the unique liquid that emerges from the aging process drives our experimentation with new barrels,” says Rocio Rodriguez Torres, Master Distiller at Corazón Tequila. “We are thrilled to embark on this flavor adventure utilizing the exceptional barrels from Buffalo Trace Distillery, allowing us to expand the tequila landscape. Offering aficionados an entirely new experience, these tequilas unveil a symphony of flavors reminiscent of the liquid that graced the barrels before them.”

Crafted from the finest blue agave grown in the Los Altos region of Jalisco using time-honored methods, the agave hearts used for Corazón Tequila are slow cooked in stone ovens and then pressed, fermented and distilled with expert care at the renowned Casa San Matías Distillery. Careful maturation in Buffalo Trace’s best seasoned whiskey barrels for varying lengths results in an aged tequila that exemplifies the finest artistry in Mexican and American spirits making.

The Expresiones del Corazón line has garnered several top awards over the years for various limited release expressions. Top distinctions received for expressions returning to this year’s Collection include a Gold medal for Corazón William Larue Weller Añejo at the 2022 International Spirits Challenge, Gold medal for Corazón Artisanal Blanco at the 2022 TAG Global Spirits Awards, and Silver medals for Corazón Artisanal Blanco and Corazón George T. Stagg Añejo Tequila at the 2022 International Wine & Spirits Competition.

PRICING & AVAILABILITY: Each tequila is sold separately in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection’s iconic glass bottle with a cork stopper and handwritten label specifying the barrel, bottle number and date of bottling. The Expresiones del Corazón 2023 Collection is now available in limited quantities at select retailers, bars and restaurants across the United States. The suggested retail price for the Artisanal Blanco is $59.99; the William Larue Weller, Weller 12, French Oak, George T. Stagg and Sazerac Rye 18 year Old Añejos are $79.99 each (750ml; taxes and fees vary by market.) All six tequilas are 80 proof. For more information about Corazón, visit https://www.tequilacorazon.com/.

About Corazón Tequila

Corazón Tequila is distilled and aged at Casa San Matías, a family-owned distillery in Jalisco, Mexico that has more than 130 years of experience. These tequilas are single-estate cultivated, distilled and hand-bottled. Made from 100% blue weber agave, only the highest quality plants are selected to create Corazón. The Corazón portfolio includes the Single Estate Tequilas, Single Barrel Tequilas and the Expresiones del Corazón Collection. For more information about Corazón visit www.tequilacorazon.com.

About Sazerac

Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac visit https://www.sazerac.com/.

For the latest in Bourbon, visit www.thebourbonreview.com.

The post NEW RELEASE: George T. Stagg and Weller 12 Barrel Finished Tequila included in the 2023 Corazón Collection first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

A New Future for Single Cask Nation

The week’s top story was the sale of the independent bottler Single Cask Nation to the Artisanal Spirits Company, which also owns the Scotch Malt… Read More

The week’s top story was the sale of the independent bottler Single Cask Nation to the Artisanal Spirits Company, which also owns the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. The two bottlers will co-exist under one corporate umbrella, with SCN founders Joshua Hatton and Jason Johnstone-Yellin remaining in charge. We’ll talk with them on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, there’s new life planned for a long-closed Speyside distillery and the winners of the 2023 John Barleycorn Awards have been announced.

Episode 1038: January 7, 2024

Photo courtesy Single Cask Nation.

UPDATE: “Traveller Whiskey”, Chris Stapleton and Harlen Wheatley Collaboration, set for early 2024 Debut

Be on the lookout for incoming news starting early 2024 on Sazerac’s “Traveller Whiskey“, a collaboration between country singer and Kentucky native superstar Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. News broke in September ’23 of an alliance between the Bourbon Industry’s superstar Master Distiller at Buffalo Trace and the global sensation […]

The post UPDATE: “Traveller Whiskey”, Chris Stapleton and Harlen Wheatley Collaboration, set for early 2024 Debut first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Be on the lookout for incoming news starting early 2024 on Sazerac’s “Traveller Whiskey“, a collaboration between country singer and Kentucky native superstar Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley.

News broke in September ’23 of an alliance between the Bourbon Industry’s superstar Master Distiller at Buffalo Trace and the global sensation Stapleton. Below is an update provided this week from Sazerac.

UPDATE FROM SAZERAC:

Created in partnership with Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley and Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and musician Chris Stapleton, Traveller is proudly blended and bottled at the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery under Wheatley’s expert supervision and is the carefully curated result of countless hours of testing, tasting and dedication to craftsmanship.

Traveller brings together the collective artistry of Stapleton and Wheatley to create a uniquely approachable, sippable whiskey. Over 50 blends were considered on the journey to find the chosen recipe for Traveller – Blend No. 40.

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.

Traveller Whiskey will be widely released to retailers, bars and restaurants nationwide beginning in early 2024 at a suggested retail price of $39.99 (local taxes and fees will vary). Learn more about this upcoming release HERE.

The post UPDATE: “Traveller Whiskey”, Chris Stapleton and Harlen Wheatley Collaboration, set for early 2024 Debut first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Announces The Prohibition Collection

The entire collection is housed in a custom wooden display case, with each of the five 375ml bottles heavily-inspired by their Prohibition Era packaging and original bottle size: even the back cartons feature the cut-out for doctors to apply the prescription for medicinal whiskey.

One of the only distilleries to remain open during Prohibition has recreated five historic whiskeys that existed during one of America’s most unique time periods.

Buffalo Trace Distillery is thrilled to announce The Prohibition Collection: an annual limited-edition, multi-bottle collection honoring the whiskeys that were legally produced and sold at the distillery during arguably the most contentious time period in alcohol history. Known then as the George T. Stagg Distillery, the debut release tributes five Prohibition Era-brands that have, until now, disappeared: Old Stagg, Golden Wedding, Three Feathers, Walnut Hill and George T. Stagg Spiritus Frumenti.

From 1920 to 1933, the production, sale and transportation of alcohol was banned in the United States due to the ratification of the 18th amendment to the United States Constitution, an era known as Prohibition. Purchasing alcohol was only legal with a medical prescription. At the time, many doctors believed spirits to be a cure for a wide variety of ailments. As such, the U.S. Government granted licenses to six distilleries to bottle medicinal whiskey: one of those distilleries was the George T. Stagg Distillery in Frankfort, KY. Known today as Buffalo Trace Distillery, it is the longest continually-operating distillery in America.

The inaugural Prohibition Collection features five whiskeys, each created in tribute to a historic brand that was housed at the Buffalo Trace Distillery site during Prohibition:

Old Stagg, a barrel-proof (132.4 proof), uncut and unfiltered whiskey featuring an oaky, vanilla aroma; sweet and mellow taste with notes of leather and dark cherries and a smooth vanilla finish. Old Stagg was originally created in honor of former owner George T. Stagg and replaced O.F.C. Bourbon as the Distillery’s flagship brand. Today, the brand lives on as Stagg and George T. Stagg, both barrel proof whiskeys that have their roots in this Prohibition era brand.

Golden Wedding, a 107-proof rye whiskey that has heavy rye on the nose; a grainy, herbal taste with notes of dill pickle and rye; and a spicy, smokey finish with a hint of banana. The brand, which dates back to 1869, was originally produced by Schenley Distilling at the Joseph S. Finch Distillery in Pennsylvania. During Prohibition, its bottling was split between Schenley’s Pennsylvania distillery and the George T. Stagg Distillery. In the late 1940’s, the brand was moved to Schenley’s distillery in Canada and would become a Canadian whiskey before ceasing to exist in the late 20th century.

Three Feathers, a 100-proof, bottled-in-bond whiskey created by Buffalo Trace Master Blender Drew Mayville. Dating back to at least 1812, Three Feathers was first advertised as a luxurious rye before becoming a bonded and then a blended whiskey. Today’s recreation presents a vanilla, charred oak aroma with stone and light tropical fruit taste, and smokey, caramel and a slight cocoa finish.

Walnut Hill, a 90-proof high-rye bourbon featuring a slightly citrus aroma with light corn and oak notes; sweet molasses, stone fruit and vanilla taste; and a smokey, woodsy finish. This historic spirit was bottled by the George T. Stagg Distillery during Prohibition with production overseen by President Albert Blanton.

George T. Stagg Distillery Spiritus Frumenti, a 110-proof wheated bourbon honoring the medicinal whiskey produced at the George T. Stagg Distillery. “Spiritus Frumenti,” which translates as “Spirit of the Grain” in Latin, existed as a generic name for medicinal whiskey during Prohibition. Tasting notes include an aroma of caramelized brown sugar; fruity yet floral taste with notes of cherry and oak; and finishes with vanilla, wheat and citrus.

“We stand behind our motto, ‘Honor Tradition, Embrace Change’,” says Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace Master Distiller. “Each of these brands disappeared slowly in the years after Prohibition, but they were integral to our survival. Without them, today there would be no Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare or Weller bourbons. The Prohibition Collection is a tribute to these great whiskeys from our past.”

“At Buffalo Trace Distillery, we build brands based on real, authentic stories firmly rooted in the rich history of excellent whiskey making in America,” says Andrew Duncan, Global Brand Director for Buffalo Trace Distillery. “When we discovered these brands – and others – in our distillery’s history, we could not wait to bring them back to life and tell their stories again. By aging and selling barrels from numerous distilleries all over the country, the Buffalo Trace Distillery site played a key role in keeping American Whiskey alive during one of the most unique periods in the history of the spirits industry.”

The entire collection is housed in a custom wooden display case, with each of the five 375ml bottles heavily-inspired by their Prohibition Era packaging and original bottle size: even the back cartons feature the cut-out for doctors to apply the prescription for medicinal whiskey, without which one could not legally purchase alcohol.

The Prohibition Collection will be rolling out in limited quantities to its distributor network, which will ship to select retailers, bars and restaurants across the United States as of October 2023 at a suggested retail price of $999.99 (five 375ml bottles); state taxes will vary per market.

A Deep Dive Into Scotch Whisky Data

There’s a lot of data behind the whiskies we enjoy, and analyzing that data can give us some insights into the health of the whisky… Read More

There’s a lot of data behind the whiskies we enjoy, and analyzing that data can give us some insights into the health of the whisky industry. Martin Purvis and Duncan McFadzean examine whisky data for their Commercial Spirits Intelligence newsletter, and concluded that last week’s Scotch Whisky export numbers aren’t as bad as they might appear on face value. We’ll talk with Martin Purvis about the analysis on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, we have details on this year’s crop of annual releases from Four Roses, Heaven Hill, and Old Forester, along with the rest of the week’s new releases. We’ll also have our Community segment and explain in Behind the Label why you can’t get a Kentucky Bourbon Trail passport stamped at one of the Commonwealth’s most popular distilleries.

Episode 1019: August 27, 2023

Four Roses Bourbon Celebrates 135 Years

Back in 1888, Paul Jones Jr. started selling Bourbon under the Four Roses brand. 135 years later, the brand is stronger than ever, and to… Read More

Back in 1888, Paul Jones Jr. started selling Bourbon under the Four Roses brand. 135 years later, the brand is stronger than ever, and to mark the anniversary, Four Roses is releasing a first-ever tasting kit with all 10 of the distillery’s unique recipes. We’ll talk with Master Distiller Brent Elliott about the anniversary, and what makes each of those 10 recipes different, on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth.

In the news, new distilleries are opening up in Japan, Wales, and Pennsylvania this week, while Sazerac has won a counterfeiting lawsuit against a company that was selling miniature bottles of its W.L. Weller Bourbon online.

Episode 1012: July 9, 2023

FIREBALL has a LIMITED EDITION Release for Father’s Day. Rob Riggle is the Honorary Master Distiller. This Is Real.

OK Fireball, we know what you’re up to here. We see what you’re doing. You’re having FUN! In the intricate world of Bourbon collectors, hey, this subculture of fanatics can sometimes take itself perhaps a little too #amn serious. There…we said it. And don’t get us wrong, we love the passion. It’s interesting, ironic, and […]

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It’s interesting, ironic, and perhaps just refreshing to see the world’s most decorated American Whiskey making company (Sazerac) not take itself too seriously. They have every reason to. Yes, the same company that distills Pappy, BTAC, Weller, et et also has Fireball coursing through its spirit veins. And folks, let it be said, that Fireball money ain’t nothing to scoff at. Per Buffalo Trace Distillery’s ongoing $1.2B expansion conquest, you can bet Fireball is helping to pick up the tab.

Lets get back to the storyline at hand. Fireball has announced it has a special Father’s Day Limited Release in the works – Fireball Dragon Reserve. This is the brand’s FIRST EVER limited edition, bourbon barrel aged whisky. And to help fuel the “fire”, they’ve linked up with one of our fave comedy faces, Rob Riggle.

We get it, this certainly isn’t for everyone. But it’s nice to see some light heartedness these days in the industry.

Doing the quick math, a 53 gallon barrel can hold around 267 750ml bottles worth of juice. No need to factor in the angel’s share here, lol. This would equate to less than 3 barrels of Fireball aging “to perfection”;) Would we take the Pepsi Challenge to see how standard Fireball stacks up and compares to this limited firebreather? Sure, why not!

QUICK FACTS: Fireball Dragon Reserve

Limited Edition
618 Bottle Release (Hint Hint: Father’s Day 6/18)
Dragon-Charred Barrels (Months Aged)
Rob Riggle: Honorary Master Distiller
SRP $19.99
SALE DATE: June 16th, 11am EST
PURCHASE HERE via ReserveBar

PRESS RELEASE from Sazerac:

Fireball Dragon Reserve has been resting in dragon-charred barrels (aka, American oak premium whiskey barrels) for months in preparation for this moment of spicing up Dad’s Day gifting and giving basic bourbon the boot. This exclusive product tastes like the iconic Fireball Cinnamon Whisky we all know and love, but imbued with a subtle smoky, oaky undertone sure to impress the most (or, least) discerning spirits lover.

“With Dragon Reserve, we asked ourselves: what does dad love, and how can we make that even better?” said Danny Suich, head dragon tamer and global brand director for Fireball. “We know whiskey drinkers are always looking for the hottest, most exclusive new offering, but most of those products are way too expensive. That’s why we created Dragon Reserve… because the best gifts don’t have to break the bank, but they should break convention and bring the heat!

To help bring this historic product to market, actor/comedian, father, and professional dad joke-maker Rob Riggle was crowned the first honorary Fireball Master Distiller. In his obviously highly coveted role, Rob helped shape the final result of Dragon Reserve through rigorous product testing and unwavering quality control. The result, according to Master Distiller Riggle? “Absolute fire.”

“Just like Fireball, Rob is known for bringing the laughs and spicing up anything he touches,” said Suich. “It was a no-brainer to make him our honorary Master Distiller for Dragon Reserve – his deadpan delivery and rebellious, irreverent personality was the perfect combination to bring this anything-but-boring product to life.”

While Fireball Dragon Reserve was not [entirely] conceived as a way to convince dads to throw a Fireball shot back with their adult kids… it’s still likely to get the job done. A more nuanced and refined version of classic Fireball, Dragon Reserve brings the heat – and ignites the fun – for Father’s Day celebrations and beyond. Plus, dads love rare whiskey collectibles, making Fireball Dragon Reserve a covetable must-have. Speaking of the Father’s Day holiday on 6/18, that’s also how many bottles of Dragon Reserve will be available for pre-order, 618 bottles.

Per Rob Riggle:

“Attention Children 21+: what dad wants for Father’s Day is some peace and quiet so he can enjoy his new favorite whisky, Fireball Dragon Reserve. All jokes aside, Fireball has a huge legion of fans who we know are going to love toasting pops on Father’s Day after he’s cut the grass, cleaned his car, or napped through hours of golf on TV (you know, dad stuff). Or Fireball lovers can buy one for themselves instead – I won’t tell dad, just like you didn’t tell him about that party you threw at the house when he went out of town that one spring break.”

Fireball Dragon Reserve will be available in select states at www.dragonreserve.fireballwhisky.com for $19.99 beginning at 11 am EST on June 16th. Bottles will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.

For the newest and latest on The Bourbon Lifestyle, visit www.thebourbonreview.com

The post FIREBALL has a LIMITED EDITION Release for Father’s Day. Rob Riggle is the Honorary Master Distiller. This Is Real. first appeared on The Bourbon Review.