Travel-Retail - BourbonSphere

Crunch Time for Craft Distillers

U.S. craft distillers are facing a crisis, with an average of one distillery shutting down each week over the past year. Inflation and cutbacks in… Read More

U.S. craft distillers are facing a crisis, with an average of one distillery shutting down each week over the past year. Inflation and cutbacks in consumer spending get part of the blame, but there’s also a distribution crisis. Just three companies control the route to market for many craft distillers, and their focus is on high-volume brands as opposed to the low-volume craft distillers. Margie Lehrman of the American Craft Spirits Association is one of the leading advocates for “direct to consumer shipping,” which would allow distilleries to ship their whiskies directly to consumers. The option is only available in 10 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and wholesalers have vehemently opposed any attempts to expand that number. We’ll talk with Margie Lehrman on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, economic headwinds cut into sales for both Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman, while Angel’s Envy co-founder Wes Henderson plans to build a $93 million dollar distillery in Kentucky.

Episode 1072: September 1, 2024

Woodinville Whiskey Marks 15 Years

Washington’s Woodinville Whiskey is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and hundreds of people lined up this weekend to get first crack at the distillery’s… Read More

Washington’s Woodinville Whiskey is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and hundreds of people lined up this weekend to get first crack at the distillery’s latest release, an 8-year-old Bourbon that’s the oldest Woodinville release yet. We’ll talk with co-founder Orlin Sorenson on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, a proposed alcohol tax increase in Nebraska has been voted down, while the Justice Department is appealing a Texas judge’s ruling that a ban on home distilling is unconstitutional.

Episode 1070: August 18, 2024

Image courtesy Woodinville Whiskey Co.

Touring the New Heaven Hill Springs Distillery

Heaven Hill’s new $130 million distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky is still about six months away from being finished, but this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth, we’re… Read More

Heaven Hill’s new $130 million distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky is still about six months away from being finished, but this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth, we’re getting a hard-hat preview tour from Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll. We’ll also have details and tasting notes for the new Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Collection of whiskies as well. In the news, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is celebrating 25 years of Bourbon tourism, the owners of Justins’ House of Bourbon have reached a settlement with state regulators, and the International Whisky Competition announces its 2024 winners.

Episode 1062: June 23, 2024

The Outlander and the Distiller

Actor Sam Heughan is best known for his starring role on TV’s “Outlander,” but he’s a whisky lover, too. Sam started his own whisky brand,… Read More

Actor Sam Heughan is best known for his starring role on TV’s “Outlander,” but he’s a whisky lover, too. Sam started his own whisky brand, The Sassenach, and he’ll join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth to talk about his love for whisky. We’ll also hear from the new master distiller at Angel’s Envy, Owen Martin. He’s just unveiled this year’s Angel’s Envy Cask Strength releases, a Bourbon, and for the first time, a Rye. In the news, Pernod Ricard is planning a new distillery on Islay, while Compass Box wants to build one in the Highlands.

Irishman Offers 22-Year-Old…But Only In Ireland

The Irishman – owned by Amber Beverage Group – has released a 22-year-old single malt Irish whiskey, the oldest age statement in their range. The Irishman 22-Year-Old was aged in American oak bourbon barrels for 21 of those years before spending the final 12 months locked up in tawny Port casks from the Douro Valley […]

The post Irishman Offers 22-Year-Old…But Only In Ireland first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

The Irishman – owned by Amber Beverage Group – has released a 22-year-old single malt Irish whiskey, the oldest age statement in their range.

The Irishman 22-Year-Old was aged in American oak bourbon barrels for 21 of those years before spending the final 12 months locked up in tawny Port casks from the Douro Valley in Portugal, then was bottled at cask strength of 49.43% alcohol by volume[98.86 proof].

Alas, only 600 bottles of The Irishman 22-Year-Old are being made available this year – along with another 600 bottles next year – but only in the Irish airports at Cork and Dublin for $550 per bottle.

The post Irishman Offers 22-Year-Old…But Only In Ireland first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Whisky and Music Come Together in Rhythm & Booze Records

Whisky and music go perfectly together, but Felipe Schrieberg and Paul Archibald are taking the volume up to 11 with Rhythm & Booze Records. They’re… Read More

Whisky and music go perfectly together, but Felipe Schrieberg and Paul Archibald are taking the volume up to 11 with Rhythm & Booze Records. They’re combining an independent record label with an independent bottler and making whiskies to match their music, which can be streamed using a QR code on each bottle. We’ll talk with Felipe Schrieberg on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth and share tasting notes for their debut release, Rhythm & Booze Records Release #1. In the news, Molson Coors has acquired Blue Run Spirits to expand its presence in the whisky business, and we’ll talk with David Coors and Blue Run’s Mike Montgomery about the deal. David Beckham is splitting with Diageo’s Haig Club Scotch Whisky brand, and there’s a new Elijah Craig Bourbon out to celebrate next month’s Ryder Cup.

Episode 1017: August 13, 2023

Photo courtesy The Rhythm & Booze Project.

Stauning Whisky Enters International Markets

Stauning Whisky, the oldest Danish distillery, has appointed SipWell as its exclusive travel retail sales and brand building partner across multiple international markets. Sipwell will distribute the brand’s whisky to its network of travel retail stores and partner sites around the world. The agreement goes into effect immediately and will include global hubs such as […]

Stauning Whisky, the oldest Danish distillery, has appointed SipWell as its exclusive travel retail sales and brand building partner across multiple international markets.

Sipwell will distribute the brand’s whisky to its network of travel retail stores and partner sites around the world. The agreement goes into effect immediately and will include global hubs such as airports, tourist centers, etc.

Andrew Torrance, who signed the agreement on behalf of SipWell brands considered Stauning as a “fabulous addition to our portfolio – the Stauning team is justifiably highly-rated for its innovative engineering, fermentation and a boldness in whisky making that is setting new standards.’

Sipwell is a distributor of spirits and beverages on a global scale and services many brands of whisky and other alcoholic drinks such as wine, and gin.

For his part, Keiran Cusker, global head of sales at Stauning, expressed satisfaction with the partnership. Calling it a necessary move to ‘simply take our unique whiskies around the world with the help of the SipWell team.’

He also focussed on the long-term goals of the distillery, saying that “We are not slowing or stopping the innovation and will be bringing more specials and limited edition Danish creations to market. It’s also important to us that SipWell wants to tell our story and help us grow lifelong advocates for Stauning Whisky.’

Stauning Whisky is a well-known distillery in Denmark, located in the western part of Jutland just south of a small village called Stauning near Skjern. The company was named after the town. The distillery was founded in 2005 by nine Danish whisky enthusiasts and is the oldest whisky distillery in Denmark.

Craigellachie Travel Retail Release Leads the Week’s New Whiskies

Craigellachie is releasing a 37-year-old Bourbon cask finished single malt. The whisky was distilled in 1984, and originally was matured in refill casks before being… Read More

Craigellachie is releasing a 37-year-old Bourbon cask finished single malt. The whisky was distilled in 1984, and originally was matured in refill casks before being transferred to ex-Bourbon barrels.

3,012 bottles will be available first at Gebr. Heinemann airport shops in Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Istanbul, then at retailers in the U-K, Germany, France, Taiwan, and China starting August 1 with a recommended retail price of £3,800.

Arran is releasing a new 25-year-old single malt. It’s the oldest in the Arran range so far, and will become part of the distillery’s core range. Only 3,000 bottles will be available globally, with 240 coming to the U.S. at a price tag of $789.99 a bottle…

Meanwhile, Arran’s sister distillery, Lagg, has released its first whisky. The peated Kilmory is matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and bottled at 46 percent ABV with no chill filtering. It’s available now through the Arran web site for £49.99 a bottle.

Douglas Laing and Company has released a new edition of its Timorous Beastie Highland blended malt. It’s finished in Port wine casks and kicks off the brand’s Cheese Cellar Collection of whiskies crafted to be paired with cheeses. In particular, this one is said to pair well with a Stilton. It’ll be available globally, and will carry a recommended retail price in the UK of £65 a bottle.

O’Shaughnessy Distilling in Minneapolis has released a cask-strength bottling of its Keepers Heart Irish whiskey and Bourbon blend. The blend brings together Irish Pot Still and grain whiskies from Great Northern Distilling in Ireland with four year old MGP Bourbon. It’s bottled at 58.5% ABV, and will carry a recommended retail price of $49.99 a bottle.

Nevada’s Frey Ranch is releasing what it calls a farm-strength uncut Bourbon using the same mashbill as the distillery’s award-winning Bourbon. It’s five years old and bottled at 62.1% ABV, and will be available at the distillery, online, and at retailers in California and Nevada for $79.99 a bottle.

Finally, it’s not a new whisky release, but Four Roses is marking the distillery’s 135th anniversary with a new tasting pack featuring all ten of the distillery’s recipes. It’s the first time all ten recipes have been available in one package, and comes with a QR code for a tutored online tasting with Master Distiller Brent Elliott. The pack costs $129.99 and will be available starting Friday at the Four Roses gift shops in Lawrenceburg and Cox’s Creek, Kentucky. In July, they’ll go on sale at select retailers in Kentucky, Georgia, Illinois, and California.

Published June 25, 2023

Tomatin Offers 16-Year-Old Scotch Whisky

Highland-based distillery Tomatin has released a 16-year-old Scotch whisky matured in Moscatel wine casks. Tomatin 16-Year-Old was matured in Portuguese Moscatel wine barriques, bottled at 46% alcohol by volume [92 proof] and is said to contain notes of dark chocolate, ginger and orange marmalade. Tomatin 16-Year-Old is being made available exclusively at worldwide travel retail […]

Highland-based distillery Tomatin has released a 16-year-old Scotch whisky matured in Moscatel wine casks.

Tomatin 16-Year-Old was matured in Portuguese Moscatel wine barriques, bottled at 46% alcohol by volume [92 proof] and is said to contain notes of dark chocolate, ginger and orange marmalade.

Tomatin 16-Year-Old is being made available exclusively at worldwide travel retail venues for $100 per 700ml bottle.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed NCF

By now, many of you have seen photos of NCF Rare Breed 116.8 on social media. This Wild Turkey travel-retail exclusive has made its way to online retailers, most notably Must Have Malts, and surely secondary whiskey markets as well. But the question re…

The post Wild Turkey Rare Breed NCF appeared first on Rare Bird 101.