Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery was once Tennessee’s largest distillery in pre-Prohibition times. The great-great-great grandsons of Charles Nelson revived the family business in downtown Nashville,… Read More
Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery was once Tennessee’s largest distillery in pre-Prohibition times. The great-great-great grandsons of Charles Nelson revived the family business in downtown Nashville, and have been making Tennessee whiskey along with sourced Bourbons and now, a Rye Whiskey. The distillery underwent a major expansion recently, and we’ll talk with co-founder Andy Nelson on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, time is running short to avoid a return to Europe’s import tariffs on American whiskies, while a new Wild Turkey Bourbon features something different…three generations of Russells on the label.
Anyone can blend one whisky, but to blend a whisky with long-term consistency between batches takes a true talent. This week, we’ll share an informal… Read More
Anyone can blend one whisky, but to blend a whisky with long-term consistency between batches takes a true talent. This week, we’ll share an informal blending session with Widow Jane head distiller and blender Sierra Jevremov on WhiskyCast In-Depth, along with tasting notes for Widow Jane’s latest release, The Vaults 15-year-old Bourbon. In the news, Kentucky is getting a massive new distillery project, while we were on hand as The Hearach single malt from Isle of Harris Distillery made its U.S. debut in New York City Thursday night. We’ll have tasting notes for that one, too, along with the new Glenglassaugh 12-year-old and Bruichladdich’s Octomore 14.3 single malts.
Heaven Hill is leveraging its partnership with this year’s Ryder Cup with a new version of Elijah Craig Bourbon. The Bourbon is finished in European… Read More
Heaven Hill is leveraging its partnership with this year’s Ryder Cup with a new version of Elijah Craig Bourbon. The Bourbon is finished in European Oak barrels that were toasted with a profile similar to that used in Italy’s Lazio wine region near where the Ryder Cup will be contested next month. The commemorative bottling is a one-time only release that will carry a recommended retail price of $99.99 a bottle.
Heaven Hill has also released the Spring 2023 batch of Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Bourbon….this whiskey was distilled in the spring of 2013, and the 10-year-old Bourbon carries a recommended retail price of $139.99.
Hemingway Whiskey Company has unveiled the new Signature Edition of Hemingway Rye Whiskey. The whiskey comes from the Call family, which sourced and blended the whiskey to be finished in rum-seasoned Oloroso Sherry Casks. Look for tasting notes soon at the WhiskyCast web site.
We featured the revival of Rosebank Distillery on the show a couple of weeks ago, and Rosebank has now released a 30-year-old bottling exclusively for the Asian market. It’s the first expression in Rosebank’s Revival Series, with a total of six expressions to be released in the coming years. Only 800 bottles are available in Asia, with a recommended price of $86,000 Taiwanese dollars…about $2700 U.S. dollars at current exchange rates.
Tomintoul Distillery has released a new travel retail exclusive series of whiskies inspired by the Cairngorms National Park that surrounds the distillery. The lineup includes the Tundra Bourbon Cask and Tor Oloroso Sherry cask bottlings, along with the Tarn peated single malt. Prices range from £40 for the Tundra to £55 for the Tor. The collection is available at World Duty Free airport shops worldwide.
Finally, Brooklyn’s Widow Jane Distillery has rolled out its Paradigm Rye nationally in the U-S after a soft launch in key markets. It’s the first nationally available Widow Jane release that includes whiskey distilled at the Widow Jane Distillery in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood.
It’s bottled at 46-point-5 percent ABV, and carries a recommended retail price of 49-99 a bottle…I tasted this whiskey last year when it was first released, and you can find my tasting notes for it at WhiskyCast dot com.
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.
Hot off the press, Brooklyn based Widow Jane Distillery’s Master Distiller, Lisa Rope Wicker, just announced she is departing the distillery in November. Widow Jane just celebrated its tenth anniversary and has received substantial praise for its award-winning signature 10 year-old bourbon as well as seasonal old-and-rare releases in the Vaults collection. RELATED ARTICLE: “Founders […]
Hot off the press, Brooklyn based Widow Jane Distillery’s Master Distiller, Lisa Rope Wicker, just announced she is departing the distillery in November.
Widow Jane just celebrated its tenth anniversary and has received substantial praise for its award-winning signature 10 year-old bourbon as well as seasonal old-and-rare releases in the Vaults collection.
Starting out in wine, Lisa soon found her way to whiskey, helping distilleries like Limestone Branch, Starlight, Preservation, and George Washington create award-winning recipes and begin distilling, before making her way to Widow Jane 5 years ago.
Lisa Wicker. Courtesy Image
Says Wicker “After five incredible years at Widow Jane, I am excited to return home to Kentucky for a new challenge. In the last few years we have made some amazing whiskey that has gained international recognition, established ourselves as a leader in the art of whiskey blending, and nurtured a talented team of distillers and blenders. I am proud of the smart and capable team who will lead Widow Jane into the future and grateful for my time there.”
Leading Widow Jane going forward will be Michele Clark, Director of Operations; Sienna Jevremov, Head Distiller; and Jacob Melinger, Head of Hospitality.
Commented Widow Jane President Robert Furniss Roe, “We’d like to thank Lisa for all the extraordinary work she has done in distilling, blending, leading, and educating. It has been a privilege to work closely with her and watch her also assemble such a talented team that represents Widow Jane’s next generation. We look forward to the dynamism this team will surely bring to Widow Jane Distillery as we enter our second decade.”
About Widow Jane Distillery (Brand Provided) Widow Jane is an award-winning artisanal distillery located in the New York City neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn. The company is named in homage to one of the legendary mines of Rosendale in Upstate New York, from which the brand sources its proofing water. Before becoming a natural reserve of extraordinary mineral water, the mines produced the natural cement used to construct some of the most iconic American landmarks, such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building, among others. The pure, limestone-filtered water from the mine, plus one of the country’s largest holdings of long-aged Bourbons, and a refusal to compromise the product with chill-filtration, are just three elements that make Widow Jane a stand-out whiskey company.
When Widow Jane Distillery opened in Brooklyn, New York, I thought the whiskey they were bottling was average at best. Then the distillery and brand were sold to Samson and Surrey and they hired Lisa Roper Wicker as their president… Continue Reading …
When Widow Jane Distillery opened in Brooklyn, New York, I thought the whiskey they were bottling was average at best. Then the distillery and brand were sold to Samson and Surrey and they hired Lisa Roper Wicker as their president... Continue Reading →
Fresh off claiming they didn’t have enough money to properly pay their workers a living wage and trying to hire scab workers, Heaven Hill has announced they have acquired Samson & Surrey. For those unfamiliar with Samson & Surrey, the…
Fresh off claiming they didn't have enough money to properly pay their workers a living wage and trying to hire scab workers, Heaven Hill has announced they have acquired Samson & Surrey. For those unfamiliar with Samson & Surrey, they have $40 million dollars in annual sales and have been growing at 60% per annum so we can assume the cost wasn't cheap (no financials of the sale were disclosed).
Max Shapira, Heaven Hill President says:
Throughout our 86-year history, our focus has been building a business with a portfolio of great brands sold through a great team. The Samson & Surrey portfolio strategically enhances our portfolio with emerging brands in strong growth categories. Together with their team, Heaven Hill is poised to leverage the tremendous potential of these exciting brands.
The brands included in this sale include:
Widow Jane American Whiskey
Tequila Ocho
Few Spirits
Brenne French Whisky
Bluecoat Gin
Mezcal Vago
My Take
It's not the best look to spend millions of dollars after having workers on strike for six weeks over preserving affordable healthcare, increasing pay, maintaining overtime provisions, and strengthening retirement security. It goes to show that Heaven Hill had plenty of money to pay their workers but would rather nickel and dime the workers only to buy up other companies. Additionally, while researching this article, I learned that another one of their brands (Blackheart Spiced Rum) is partnered with noted anti-vaxxer Jenny McCarthy. Again, not a great look during a pandemic that has killed over 900,000 American's.
It's unfortunate in that we want the companies we follow to do the right thing and reflect our values... after researching and following Heaven Hill for the last few months, it's clear they don't care about anything other than their profits... As consumers, we have a choice on where we spend our money... For me, I'm going to be dropping all future Heaven Hill brand purchases... those brands include Few, Whiskey Jane, Heaven Hill, Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Old Fitzgerald, and Pikesville. It may not make a difference to their bottom line, but there are a ton of bourbon brands out there... and I don't want to feel like I'm supporting a horrible company or horrible people when I purchase from one.
What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below.
Kentucky-based Heaven Hill Brands has acquired Miami-based Samson & Surrey – owner of Few Spirits, Widow Jane American Whiskey and Brenne French Whiskey – for an undisclosed sum. Through the deal, Heaven Hill has also purchased Samson & Surrey’s other three brands in their six-brand portfolio [Bluecoat Gin, Mezcal Vago and Tequila Ocho] as well […]
Kentucky-based Heaven Hill Brands has acquired Miami-based Samson & Surrey – owner of Few Spirits, Widow Jane American Whiskey and Brenne French Whiskey – for an undisclosed sum.
Through the deal, Heaven Hill has also purchased Samson & Surrey’s other three brands in their six-brand portfolio [Bluecoat Gin, Mezcal Vago and Tequila Ocho] as well as the Samson & Surrey’s facilities.
In addition to their purchase of Samson & Surrey’s spirits, Heaven Hill now owns Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey, Black Velvet Canadian Whisky and Elijah Craig Bourbon.
Samson & Surrey was founded in 2016 by former Bacardi executives.
February 1, 2022 – Heaven Hill is expanding its portfolio to include “craft” whiskey brands such as FEW Spirits, Widow Jane, and Brenne with its acquisition of Samson & Surrey. The craft producer has been one of the fastest-growing spirits companies in the industry since it was founded by industry veterans Robert Furniss-Roe and Juan Rovira five years ago, and will operate as a standalone unit within the Shapira family’s Heaven Hill Brands. Heaven Hill president Max Shapira said in a statement released following the close of business Tuesday “the Samson & Surrey portfolio strategically enhances our portfolio with emerging Read More »
February 1, 2022 – Heaven Hill is expanding its portfolio to include “craft” whiskey brands such as FEW Spirits, Widow Jane, and Brenne with its acquisition of Samson & Surrey. The craft producer has been one of the fastest-growing spirits companies in the industry since it was founded by industry veterans Robert Furniss-Roe and Juan Rovira five years ago, and will operate as a standalone unit within the Shapira family’s Heaven Hill Brands.
Heaven Hill president Max Shapira said in a statement released following the close of business Tuesday “the Samson & Surrey portfolio strategically enhances our portfolio with emerging brands in strong growth categories. Together with their team, Heaven Hill is poised to leverage the tremendous potential of these exciting brands.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In addition to the FEW, Widow Jane, and Brenne brands, the deal also includes Philadelphia Distilling’s Bluecoat Gin, Tequila Ocho, and Mezcal Vago. Heaven Hill will also acquire the FEW Spirits Distillery in Evanston, Illinois, Widow Jane’s distillery in Brooklyn, New York, and Philadelphia Distilling’s distillery along with the company’s other production facilities.
“Over the last five years we have enjoyed unprecedented success thanks to the talents of our team, the truly remarkable award-winning liquids we make, and the engaging consumer stories we tell. The combined talent, scale, and resources of Heaven Hill now present a unique opportunity to provide a long-term home for Samson & Surrey and to further accelerate our growth,” Furniss-Roe said in a statement.
The acquisition is the first for Heaven Hill since its 2019 purchase of Black Velvet Canadian Whisky and the Black Velvet distillery in Lethbridge, Alberta from Constellation Brands.
WhiskyCast has requested interviews with Heaven Hill and Samson & Surrey executives. This story will be updated with additional information.
The year 2021 has been a productive year for the Bourbon industry. There have been many Bourbons that I liked quite a bit. Some of them came from the established Kentucky distilleries, but many of them have been made by… Continue Reading →
The year 2021 has been a productive year for the Bourbon industry. There have been many Bourbons that I liked quite a bit. Some of them came from the established Kentucky distilleries, but many of them have been made by... Continue Reading →
