Madison County Distillery in Cazenovia plans to offer outdoor activities(March 1) – On Monday, Feb. 22, the Town of Cazenovia Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special use permit application from Madison County Distillery to expand its operating concept to include outdoor activities. The specific requests include permission to build an in-ground fire-pit, to install a live music platform, and to construct outdoor game courts for activities like foosball, corn hole and horseshoes. Complete Story
Portland Has a New Distillery and Restaurant with the Aimsir Distilling(February 27) – Portland’s distillery scene, already a proud tradition in the city, recently got a new addition with The Aimsir Distilling Co. Sharing a building with Culmination Brewing on NE Oregon Street, Aimsir makes whiskey and gin and serves full cocktails as well as a full menu of food inspired by Irish cooking. Complete Story
Landmark status approved for new Cleveland Whiskey distillery(February 24) – It’s a revival in action. Cleveland Whiskey’s plan to turn an early 1900s fruit and auction building into their new headquarters, got some good news this week. Cleveland City Council voted to grant the building landmark status, which will assist the company in their large renovation plan. Complete Story
Scotch Whisky Exports Fell By 23% In 2020(February 24) – The Scotch Whisky Association has revealed that exports of Scotch whisky have decreased by 23% in 2020, representing a $1.5 billion drop in sales. It is the lowest the figures have been in a decade. The SWA says that the Covid-19 pandemic and punishing U.S. tariffs on single malt Scotch are largely responsible for the significant dip. Complete Story
Dewar’s Debuts A New Port Cask Finished Blended Scotch Whisky(February 23) – Dewar’s Scotch Whisky, a popular blended Scotch label owned by Bacardi, recently announced the launch of Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth — an 8-year-old Portuguese port cask finish that is said to combine the flavors of Portugal and Scotland. Complete Story
A Look Inside the World of Distilling in the Hudson Valley(February 22) – Located in the bones of a 1900s Nabisco factory, Albany Distilling doesn’t shy away from paying tribute to its predecessors. In addition to two-year-aged bourbon and rye whiskey, the deal here is unaged Quackenbush Still House Rum. Complete Story
The next great whiskey trail is not where you think it is, guess Germany(February 17) – The whole scene along this whiskey road trip is strangely familiar: historic castles and deer-filled forests, then rows of ploughed soil, golden barley fields, and the sweet scent of cereal grains. But this isn’t somewhere in Scotland. Nor is it in Ireland or the United States. This is Brandenburg, a sparsely populated region in Germany surrounding Berlin. Complete Story
Can a Fine Whiskey Age Overnight?(February 15) – Whiskey, in other words, is ready to be hacked — at least according to Stuart Aaron and Martin Janousek. Their company, Bespoken Spirits, in Menlo Park, Calif., says it can make whiskey in just a few days, using heat and pressure to force alcohol in and out of small pieces of wood that give the spirit its characteristic flavor and color. Complete Story
Ohio Bourbon Comes of Age(February 11) – Watershed Distillery has a curious history. Greg Lehman, the founder, played professional volleyball in Switzerland and followed that up with a successful career selling medications to commercial producers of pigs and hogs (seriously). When he became bored with sports and swine, he found a business partner, raised some cash, and opened Watershed in 2010. Complete Story
Rare Bourbon for the Masses: How Barrel Picks Became the Latest Craze in American Whiskey(February 11) – The continued demand for so-called “barrel picks,” where bars or retailers purchase all the bottles from a single cask and sell them as an exclusive offering, will hardly surprise those with an eye on whiskey trends. Though they’ve existed for multiple decades, only in recent years have private barrel selections crossed into the mainstream and become the most sought-after products for consumers and retailers alike. Complete Story
Travel + Leisure magazine names Green River distillery to visit(February 10) – Travel + Leisure magazine, which bills itself as “The World’s Most Influential Travel Brand,” recently listed Owensboro’s Green River Distilling Co. among “12 Kentucky Distilleries All Bourbon Lovers Should Visit.” Complete Story
MGP Announces 2021 George Remus Bourbon Single Barrel Program(February 9) – On the heels of their announcement of the 2021 Rossville Union Single Barrel Program, MGP, the largest distiller of rye whiskey in the U.S., has revealed that they will be offering a 2021 George Remus Bourbon Single Barrel Program. This follows up to a similar undertaking under this label last year. Complete Story
The Montana Distillery Moves to Stevenville(February 4) – So, The Montana Distillery packed up and moved down the Bitterroot. Someplace with less taxes, but thirsty residents. On Christmas Eve of 2020, Montana Distillery opened up in the heart of Stevensville. Located just across Main street from the popular Valley Drug. Complete Story
Hibiki Blossom Harmony 2021 and Yamazaki Limited Edition 2021 will be available worldwide from May 25(February 2) – Whisky lovers – especially those still searching for last year’s special releases – have a new date to look forward to: May 25. It’s the day that two new limited edition Suntory whiskies are set for worldwide release, Hibiki Blossom Harmony 2021 and Yamazaki Limited Edition 2021. Complete Story
10 Things You Should Know About Old Forester Bourbon(January 30) – When it comes to whisky, it doesn’t get more classic than Old Forester. Based in Louisville, Ky., Old Forester has been known and loved by Americans for generations, and is consistently praised by aficionados for its great-value bourbons and ryes. The veteran brand knows how to keep things fresh, however, and consistently integrates itself into celebrations both big and small. Complete Story
Widow Jane distillery is making bourbon in maple syrup barrels(January 29) – Yes, the New York City borough, which has acquired a reputation in recent years as a foodie and hipster haven, is increasingly being recognized for its spirits brands. Among them is Widow Jane, which was founded in 2012 and has surged in popularity of late, with company officials saying sales grew by 50% in the past year. Complete Story
Lee Greenwood, Soldier Valley Spirits Announce Signature Bourbon Whiskey(January 29) – Known for the patriotic anthem, “God Bless America,” Lee Greenwood recently partnered up with Soldier Valley Spirits to develop the Lee Greenwood Signature Bourbon Whiskey (45% ABV). The 90 proof, six-year-old bourbon whiskey is bottled in a canteen-shaped bottle embossed with the number “6” as a reminder of unity, especially with the veterans, nonprofit veterans’ groups and first responders Soldier Valley Spirits supports. Complete Story
Belle of Dayton Distillery Bottling Success With New Whiskey Release(January 28) – At Belle of Dayton distillery, bottler Matthew Kitze is working to build up a stock of their award-winning vodka Vodka. “We just released out Detrick Rye Whiskey with overwhelming support from the Dayton community,” said Belle of Dayton distillery co-owner Murphy LaSelle. “We were kind of astonished by how many people ended up coming out.” The new whiskey sold out in just eight hours. Complete Story
Kentucky distillery keeps wild family moonshine story alive while making its own bourbon(January 14) – Outside the distillery store is this 1941 Chyrsler with a straight V-8 was the Neeley family moonshine hauler for years. It has truck springs that handled the load on rough Kentucky backroads. There’s also a few bullet holes as well. Complete Story
New whiskey alert: Ezra Brooks bourbon gets an upgrade in look, proof(January 8) – Luxco announced on Wednesday that the St. Louis-based spirits company is releasing a higher proof version of its popular Kentucky bourbon, Ezra Brooks. Ezra Brooks 99 also is a Kentucky straight bourbon, charcoal filtered and bottled at 99 proof rather than the brand’s 80- or 90-proof versions. Complete Story
Why Your Whiskey Belongs in A Decanter(January 1) – Whiskey decanters have been long-rooted in the cultural lexicon as a place for booze to sit on an office bar cart or in a home study. In fact, they were originally used for the very practical purpose of transporting whiskey from the distillery to one’s home. Complete Story
Couple finds more than 66 bottles of Prohibition-era whiskey hidden in the walls of their New York home(December 27) – When a New York couple was told their over 100-year-old home was built by a notorious bootlegger, they passed it off as small town legend. But during a recent home renovation, the couple discovered something that revealed the legend could be true. Complete Story
The 35 Best Gifts for People Who Take Their Whiskey Seriously(Christmas) – Whiskey is like a religion, and the people who follow it are intense. They can wax philosophical about Scottish terroir and Kentucky’s limestone water. They have strong opinions about single malts versus blends. They own every limited release from their favorite distillery, and they wouldn’t dare settle for well whiskey drinks. Complete Story
A Christmas tree made out of whiskey bottles isn’t always a marketing campaign(December 22) – Some are wishing for a white Christmas. But others prefer it to be green. The owners of the Shamrock Jack’s Irish Pub prefer it to be green. Green as in the color of Jameson Irish whiskey bottles. Don’t believe me? If you happen to be in Irondequoit, New York (which is just outside of Rochester) any time between now and the New Year, go ahead and visit the pub. Outside you’ll see a big green Christmas tree. Complete Story
Spectacular And Affordable Bourbon Whiskeys For Christmas 2020(December 21) – There may not be a better time of year to sip on a dram of whiskey than this week. Even if you don’t have a tree in the house and aren’t mainlining eggnog, having a good bourbon on hand for a little letting loose as 2020 winds down certainly isn’t a bad thing. We could all use a drink after this (very) long year. Complete Story
Top 10 New Craft Distilleries in the United States according to USAToday(October 4) – The number of craft distilleries in the United States grew by more than 11 percent between 2018 and 2019; the country now has more than 2,000 of them. With so many distilleries opening up each year, we decided to highlight some of the best on the scene. Complete Story
The World’s Most Underrated Bourbon—According To A Whiskey Expert(September 30) – The rumors are true: bourbon keeps creeping up in cost these days. It wasn’t long ago that some of our favorite bottles collected dust on the shelf at prices south of $40. Complete Story
Another rare Buffalo Trace bourbon will be coming to U.S. shelves for the first time(September 23) – The Frankfort distillery announced last week that it will release a limited quantity of Blaton’s Straight From The Barrel in the U.S., something fans have been asking for for years. Complete Story
Bourbon Pricing Is Getting Out of Control, and Only the Consumers Can Stop It(September 2) – It’s no shock, or particularly astute observation, to note the way that American whiskey prices have climbed in the last 15 years. The brown liquor revival brought along a boom period for the industry as a whole, and many of the largest and most popular American distilleries responded to this new wave of interest by embracing an increasingly premiumized model for their whiskey lineups. Complete Story
Peyton Manning, Andy Roddick stake claim as Tennessee’s premium bourbon with Sweetens Cove(August 30) – With a limited release strategy, Sweetens Cove’s partners — including Tennessee Vols and NFL legend Peyton Manning and tennis great, Andy Roddick — hope to stake a claim as Tennessee’s signature premium bourbon, rather than a celebrity brand. Complete Story