Archives for October 2019

LORETTO, Kentucky – Maker’s Mark today announced the launch of its first-ever nationally available limited-release bourbon, Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2019 Limited Release: Stave Profile RC6. This cask strength expression of Maker’s Mark Bourbon is finished with proprietary wood staves, referred to as Stave Profile RC6. The staves amplify notes of ripe fruit balanced with layers of baking spice – a taste profile inspired by the brand’s proprietary yeast strain used to produce its classic Maker’s Mark Bourbon. Only 255 barrels of the limited release bourbon will be produced, with bottles available at select retail locations beginning in late September.

This special edition bourbon is the first limited release in the Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series, a collection of Maker’s Mark expressions that use an innovative wood stave-finishing technique to enhance distinctive characteristics already present in Maker’s Mark® Bourbon. The series includes existing offerings Maker’s Mark 46™ and Maker’s Mark Private Select® and the distillery plans to introduce new limited-edition bourbons to the Series in the coming years.

“We have been experimenting with wood finishing staves and techniques since we first released Maker’s Mark 46 in 2010, and it never ceases to amaze me how much natural flavor we can extract from just ten wood staves interacting with our bourbon over a period of time,” said Jane Bowie, Maker’s Mark Director of Private Select. “Stave finishes allow us to innovate with an already delicious product in a purposeful fashion, exploring different wood types, seasoning periods, cook times, and heat levels until we achieve the exact flavor vision we have in mind. We’re excited to share the distinct possibilities with whisky fans, starting with the 2019 Limited Release.”

The 2019 Limited Release was created to introduce a version of Maker’s Mark that amplified the ripe fruit notes already found in the distillery’s proprietary yeast, balancing sweetness and spice. This specific vision was achieved by finishing fully-matured, cask strength Maker’s Mark Bourbon in a second barrel with ten proprietary “RC6” wood staves. The barrels were then rested in the Maker’s Mark limestone bourbon cellar, allowing the cask strength bourbon to interact with the staves to develop the expression’s unique flavor.

Developed over the course of two years in partnership with barrel producer Independent Stave Company, Stave Profile RC6 is made from American Oak that has first been exposed to the outdoors, or “seasoned,” for an extended 18 months before being toasted in a convection oven.

Bottled at 108.2 proof, each 750mL bottle of the Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2019 Limited Release will retail for a suggested $59.99 and will be available while supplies last.

About Maker’s Mark Bourbon
In 1953, in Loretto, Kentucky, Bill Samuels, Sr., fulfilled his dream to create a handmade and delicious bourbon. He decided to make his whisky in small batches, using soft red winter wheat to enhance the softness and sweetness. He then rotated each barrel by hand for consistency, and finally, aged each barrel to taste. Bill Samuels, Sr., transformed bourbon from a “commodity” into a premium handmade spirit, and today Maker’s Mark® continues to make its bourbon the same way. In recent years, Maker’s Mark has introduced thoughtful, super-premium innovations to its portfolio including Maker’s Mark 46™ Maker’s Mark® Cask Strength, and Maker’s Mark Private Select®, the brand’s first-ever custom barrel program. In 1980, the Maker’s Mark distillery became the first distillery in America to be designated a National Historic Landmark and has also been decreed as the “world’s oldest operating bourbon whiskey distillery” by Guinness World Records. It remains one of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. For more information, visit makersmark.com.

From our peat cutters, to our malt men, to our distillery team and beyond, our whisky has always been a product of the many people past and present who have worked with us to make Laphroaig as unique as it is today. Which is why we’re so proud to be able to honor one of our most memorable spirits: Bessie Williamson.

For those of you who have never heard of Bessie, she arrived on Islay in the summer of 1934 to take up a secretarial position and ended up staying for over 40 years during which time she became the first female manager of a Scotch distillery and a global ambassador for Scotch whisky. Bessie had a character as rich as our whisky and we’re delighted to have created a whisky to honor her that is every bit as delightful as she was!

Bessie Williamson is a limited edition 25YO available exclusively in global travel retail (airports around the world). It is non chill filtered with coastal notes of peat sweetness, herbs and spices, acacia honey and black pepper.

Slàinte,

John and the Laphroaig Distillery Team

DALLAS, Texas – Belfour Spirits proudly announces the launch of its ultra-premium whiskey brand and family of products, The Spirit of Champions™. The company is founded and led by Hockey Hall of Famer, Stanley Cup winner and Olympian Ed Belfour who teamed up with his son and daughter to translate his on-ice intensity into a new passion: hand-crafting spirits with unique character for whiskey aficionados and cocktail enthusiasts.

“There are a lucky few who do what they love, not once in a lifetime, but twice,” said Ed Belfour, president and CEO of Belfour Spirits, who retired in 2008 after 21 years of playing professional hockey. “For me, this is the perfect career, post hockey. There are so many similarities in this business to the sport – the competition, the art of distilling, the creativity in barrel selection, the dedication required, the camaraderie of the team. I feel blessed to work alongside my family and work to build what I hope is a second legacy for the Belfour name.”

The Belfour Spirits’ debut has been marked with high regards already from industry tasters, including Mark Gillespie of WhiskyCast, who rated the Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Texas Pecan Wood a 93 and the Rye Whiskey a 91, both out of 100 points.

A Five-Year Training Camp
For the past five years, two generations of the Belfour family (including Ed, son Dayn, 30, and daughter Reaghan, 27) have been working toward one goal: to produce a whiskey worthy of a championship; one that tastes as luxurious as its unique packaging: a 1920s-inspired, decanter-like bottle with a pattern that resembles cut crystal.

But additional generations of Belfours had a hand in this in the 1930s. “My grandparents in Canada were moonshiners, so we like to think this was our destiny,” Ed says.

Applying lessons learned by both father and son during their respective, professional hockey careers and industry education from attending two whiskey schools (Canadian Craft Distilling Institute in Kelowna, B.C., and Moonshine University in Louisville, Ky.), they have used teamwork, patience and attention to detail to distill 1,700 barrels of whiskey to date.

From Barrel to Bottle
All but 12 of its 1,700 barrels were distilled and continue to age in Statesville, N.C., by Ed and Dayn, in partnership with Southern Distilling.

They made the other 12 barrels first during Dayn’s internship at Woody Creek Distillery in Basalt, Colo. Those barrels aged the brand’s Limited Edition Straight Rye Whiskey. Fewer than 2,700 bottles exist and all are presented in a one-of-a-kind collector’s bottle and box.

“We meticulously handcraft in small batches, paying attention to the art of barrel selection, charring and blending, and marrying that with the science of fermentation, distillation and aging,” said Dayn Belfour, vice president of distilling and production for Belfour Spirits, who played professional hockey as a goalie until he was 26. “Our whiskey is intentionally well balanced, not too heavy with sweet or spice, and every bottle is infused with our family’s shared, immense passion.”

Three spirits are included in the brand’s debut:

Rye Whiskey 47% ABV, 94 Proof, 750 ML
A nontraditional tasting Rye Whiskey, this spirit honors a nostalgic mash bill profile and has unexpected flavors for its kind.

Bourbon Whiskey Finished With Texas Pecan Wood 46% ABV, 92 Proof, 750 ML
The majestic beauty of a 300-year-old, oversized pecan tree on the old Belfour ranch in North Texas inspired this unique spirit. This Bourbon Whiskey aged in American white oak barrels then spent extra time mellowing with added staves of Texas pecan wood, imparting subtle notes of brown sugar and heavy notes of smoky roasted pecan.

Limited Edition Straight Rye Whiskey 50% ABV, 100 Proof, 750 ML
This Limited Edition is offered at 100 proof and presented in an autographed collector’s bottle, featuring a 1 oz. chalice cork that is plated in sterling silver.

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits will distribute Belfour Spirits in Illinois and Texas beginning Oct. 1, 2019. Consumers are encouraged to visit their local fine spirits stores and restaurants to inquire about the availability of Belfour Spirits.

About Belfour Spirits
Led by Hockey Hall of Famer Ed Belfour, Belfour Spirits is an ultra-premium whiskey producer known for its spirits’ unique character and stunning packaging. In 2014, the Belfour family began their journey to hand craft exceptionally smooth and well-balanced whiskey made from the finest ingredients. Today, the company has distilled and is aging more than 1,700 barrels of whiskey. Belfour Spirits distributes in Illinois and Texas with additional markets expected to follow in 2020. To learn more, visit belfourspirits.com.

LYNCHBURG, Tennessee – The Jack Daniel Distillery introduces Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, a blend of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey with finely crafted apple liqueur. The newest member of the Jack Daniel’s family launches nationally in October.

“Tennessee Apple couples the character of our Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey with the taste of crisp, green apples. It’s like a freshly picked apple in a glass of Jack.”

“Mr. Jack was known for being an innovator and always exploring how to do things differently, including adding different flavors and ingredients,” said Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Jeff Arnett. “Tennessee Apple couples the character of our Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey with the taste of crisp, green apples. It’s like a freshly picked apple in a glass of Jack.”

At 70 proof, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple features a perfect blend of green apples enhanced by the sweet bold notes of Jack. It hits shelves nationally October 1 in 50 ml, 375 ml, 750 ml and 1-liter bottle sizes with a suggested retail price of $26.99 for 750 ml.

About Jack Daniel’s
Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

BARDSTOWN, Kentucky — Cult favorite, Kentucky Owl, announced the launch of its newest release, Bourbon #9. Crafted in the same careful, detail-oriented process as the rest of the Kentucky Owl whiskies, the latest arrival packs a punch. With a mouthfeel that will take bourbon fans on a flavorful ride, this is master blender Dixon Dedman’s highest-proof batch to-date at 127.6-proof and 63.8% alcohol-by-volume.

To best enjoy this dynamic bourbon, Dedman recommends pouring it neat and letting it breathe. Once Batch #9 opens up, it hits you with a complex, yet pleasing taste. Beginning with a union of the sweet fruitiness from white grape and creamy notes of cinnamon roll and vanilla, the liquid crawls back for significant oak, honeysuckle and caramel notes, and ends with a spice finish that stretches across the back of the palate. This release is made with four different distillates from four different mash bills, including a 15-year old, two different lots of 14-year old, a 12-year old, a seven-year old and a six-year old distillate.

Dedman claims, “This is the most robust Kentucky Owl batch I’ve ever created. It may be the most flavorful liquid ever bottled for the brand. To me, it’s a bourbon monster in the best way possible. I hope it’s something both serious and casual whiskey drinkers appreciate.”

“Bourbon Batch #9 has an intensity and a boldness in its complexity that really make it stand out from Dixon’s past releases,” added Lee Tatum, managing director for Kentucky Owl. “We’re looking forward to rolling out our bourbon to some new states, but this is still a highly allocated product.”

Kentucky Owl Bourbon Batch #9 will be releasing 10,314 bottles in the following U.S. states beginning next month with a suggested retail price of 299.99 for a 750mL bottle: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

For more information, visit http://www.kentuckyowl.com.

About Kentucky Owl Bourbon
Kentucky Owl Bourbon was founded in 1879 by C.M. Dedman and today is led by master blender, Dixon Dedman, who resurrected the brand and released his first batch in 2014, nearly 100 years after Prohibition ended his great-great-grandfather’s original endeavor. It is an artfully blended line of craft bourbons, each bottled at barrel proof for the truest expression of whiskey, and now, a rye whiskey with the same craft approach in mind. Kentucky Owl is for those who appreciate high quality, attention to detail, craftsmanship, and authentic heritage. Kentucky Owl Rye Batch #1 was rated 95 points by Whisky Advocate and crowned the “Top Whisky” in their Summer 2018 Buying Guide.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The Tennessee Distillers Guild has named Sara Beth Urban its new Executive Director. In her role, Urban will continue to move the Guild and its initiatives, including the Guild’s flagship Tennessee Whiskey Trail, forward.

“The Guild has worked hard to get the Trail up and running. We have a large opportunity to grow the Trail and to continue to enhance our position in the State of Tennessee as a primary player for tourism,” said Kris Tatum, President of the Tennessee Distillers Guild. “Sara Beth brings the right combination of enthusiasm, energy, and relationships to elevate the Guild and Trail to a whole new level.”

Urban is a Nashville native and graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. She comes to the Guild following three years with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, where she promoted Tennessee as a global destination for music, food, and one-of-a-kind experiences.

“I am thrilled to take on this opportunity with the Guild. The team has already created this one-of-a-kind trail experience that allows visitors to explore and taste this legendary Tennessee product, and I can’t wait to enhance that vision,” Urban said. “From the well-established distilleries to the new brands that are crafting the next generation of whiskey, you won’t find a more dedicated group of individuals devoted to honoring Tennessee’s legacy. After all, when you have stars like George Jones and Chris Stapleton singing about your product, you know you’ve got something special.”

Urban joins an already-established team that has worked hard to market Tennessee whiskey since the formation of the Guild in 2014. Jill Talbert has served since 2014 and will continue to collaborate with the Guild as its lobbyist and advocate. Kim Mitchell currently manages operations for the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, and Mariko Hickerson handles PR and media relations.

Urban previously served as the Executive Director at Historic Rock Castle, a nonprofit house museum in Hendersonville, and obtained her master’s degree in public history and museum management from MTSU. She resides in East Nashville with her husband, J.P., an attorney with the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General. They have one son, James, and are expecting their second son, Dominick, in February 2020.

About Tennessee Whiskey Trail:
The Tennessee Whiskey Trail is a 26-stop tour of distilleries across Tennessee. For more information, visit www.tnwhiskeytrail.com.