Archives for April 2020

Michter’s To Release Its 10 Year Bourbon

April 29, 2020 By Dow Scoggins

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – The 2020 release of Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon will go on sale in May. It is 94.4 proof and it sells for a suggested retail price of $130 in the U.S.

Michter’s has a long legacy of offering traditional American whiskeys of uncompromising quality. With each of its limited production offerings aged to its peak maturity, Michter’s highly acclaimed portfolio includes bourbon, rye, sour mash whiskey, and American whiskey. Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2020 Edition named Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon “Best Bourbon, 16 to 20 Years.” In January 2020, Michter’s was named the #1 Top Trending American Whiskey brand by Drinks International in their Annual Brands Report for the second year in a row.

In addition to Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery, the company has Michter’s Shively Distillery in Louisville as well as its 145-acre farm and operations in Springfield, Kentucky. For more information, please visit www.michters.com, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

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Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases Experimental Wheat Bourbon

April 29, 2020 By Dow Scoggins

FRANKFORT, KY – Buffalo Trace Distillery is releasing its first experimental whiskey for 2020, a wheat recipe bourbon aged for four years, cut with water, then re-barreled and left to age for another eight years.

The barrel, filled with Buffalo Trace Wheat Bourbon recipe and entered into the barrel at 114 proof, was put away to age in one new barrel on Dec. 10, 2007. After four years of aging in Warehouse C the barrel was removed, the bourbon was cut with water to lower it down to 100 proof, and then put back into the same barrel and left to age another eight years in the same warehouse.

Although unusual to interrupt the aging process, the distilling team at Buffalo Trace is pleased with the results. “We’ve always known water was a necessary component in making whiskey,” stated Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “This experiment helped us to understand how important role water actually plays in whiskey production. The result of this experiment led us to a bourbon that is actually one of my favorite experiments.”

Wheatley describes this bourbon as having a “nose that is sweet and floral, with notes of oak, vanilla, and a bit of leather. There’s a really smooth creamy mouthfeel here. The taste is a pleasing balance of butterscotch, honey, and wood with a crisp finish.”

This is the 23rd experimental release from Buffalo Trace Distillery, having started with its first experimental release in 2006. In total, there are more than 25,000 experimental barrels of whiskey aging in the warehouses of Buffalo Trace Distillery, the largest number of experimental barrels ever held in inventory at the National Historic Landmark Distillery, and most likely the world. Each experimental barrel has unique characteristics that differentiate them in distinct ways. Some examples of experiments include unique mash bills, types of wood, and different barrel toasts. Buffalo Trace also has an experimental warehouse, Warehouse X, which is designed to explore the extent of environmental influences on the flavor profiles of whiskey.

The Experimental Collection is packaged in 375ml bottles, and each label includes all the pertinent information unique to that barrel of whiskey. These whiskeys retail for approximately $46.99 each and will be available in May. Experimental Collection releases are generally quite small and have limited availability.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye, and vodka on-site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine, and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year by “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018” and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2nd and 3rd finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, in the “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 2020.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com. To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/media

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Buffalo Trace Distillery Announces Kosher Whiskey Release

April 28, 2020 By Dow Scoggins

FRANKFORT, KY – Buffalo Trace Distillery is releasing what it believes to be the first authentic Kosher Whiskey, under the guidance of the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc-Kosher). Buffalo Trace began working with cRc in 2010. The new whiskey is available in three styles, Kosher Rye Recipe Bourbon; Kosher Wheat Recipe Bourbon; and Kosher Straight Rye Whiskey. The three Buffalo Trace Kosher Whiskies will be starting shipping from Buffalo Trace after Passover ends on April 16, 2020.

Kosher law mandates that whiskey should not be owned or consumed by Jews during Passover. In 2012 the cRc oversaw the sale of new American Oak Kosher barrels in a contract of sale to a non-Jewish executive, Buffalo Trace Distillery President Mark Brown, where they were filled with whiskey and put away in specially marked “Kosher whiskey” barrels to age.

Once the whiskey reached its desired age earlier this year, the bottling lines at the Distillery were flushed completely beforehand to ensure the whiskey was not exposed to any non-Kosher spirits. This allocated whiskey will be released after Passover ends this year on April 16. Bottles will sell through wholesalers and retailers before Passover begins again in 2021.

“This is a milestone in the spirits industry to produce a truly Kosher whiskey,” said Mark Brown, owner of the Kosher barrels at Buffalo Trace. “We know Kosher products are very important to the Jewish community as well as a broader audience, we are fully committed to ensuring that the entire chain of custody remains Kosher so the purchaser has 100% confidence this is a Kosher whiskey.”

“We’re excited that our partnership which we began ten years ago has come to fruition,” stated Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, kashrus administrator Chicago Rabbinical Council, “Our members have shown great interest in the prospect of being able to enjoy a Kosher whiskey. We are very happy Buffalo Trace has taken the steps to make sure this happens.”

The new Buffalo Trace Kosher Whiskey line is limited, but it will be an annual release each year after Passover. The labels depict both Buffalo Trace Distillery logo and the cRc-Kosher logo. Each expression of Buffalo Trace Kosher Whiskey has a suggested retail price of $39.99 per 750ml bottle.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year by “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018” and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2nd and 3rd finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, in the “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 2020.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

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New Holland’s RTD Rum Punch Wins Best in Class at American Distilling Institute

April 16, 2020 By Dow Scoggins

HOLLAND, Michigan — In 2019, New Holland Spirits made home bartending a cinch when they released their ready-to-drink Rum Punch. Fans immediately took to the delicious blend of Freshwater Rum mixed with passionfruit, orange, pineapple, and coconut flavors, and now, after taking home best in class at this year’s American Distillers Institute (ADI) awards, Rum Punch has the accolades to back the hype.

Founder and President Brett Vanderkamp expressed pride in receiving this prestigious award for New Holland Rum Punch. “Winning Best-In-Class at ADI is an incredible honor and is a testament to the hard work and talent of our distilling team,” Vanderkamp said.

The team’s hard work paid off in other categories too, with a gold medal for their Beer Barrel Bourbon, a silver for the Barrel Aged Knickerbocker Gin and a bronze for Lake Life Vodka. A bronze for their ready-to-drink Blueberry Gin Lemonade also proved that New Holland’s canned cocktail line is no fluke. For brand manager Adam Dickerson, the secrets to their success are quality and inclusivity.

“At New Holland, we do our best to make something for every person and every palate, anyway we can,” Dickerson said. “The New Holland Rum Punch has enough complex rum flavor for a rum critic to enjoy but is balanced with the fruit, making it very refreshing and approachable.”

In addition to the Rum Punch and Blueberry Gin Lemonade, the Gin Mule rounds out New Holland’s canned cocktail lineup, but as the market for these products grows, expect New Holland’s portfolio to do the same.

Next in line is Blackberry Bramble, a canned cocktail made with New Holland’s Lake Life Vodka, blackberry, and lemon fruit flavors. It arrives May 1, signaling the beginning of warmer season, and it should provide the perfect summer beverage for those who don’t want to fuss with a muddler and Boston Shaker.

“Our ready-to-drink cocktails are a fantastic way to experience our handmade spirits with the convenience of a pre-made cocktail,” Vanderkamp said.

To find cans, check your local Michigan retailer, including Meijer.

About New Holland Spirits
In early 2002, New Holland Brewing Co-Founder & President Brett VanderKamp visited the Caribbean with the intention of enjoying sun, sand, and waves. Instead, he found world-class rum, and a lifelong obsession with fine craft spirits was born. He returned to Holland, MI with a mission: to create spirits that live up to his artful way of life and to share them with the world. For more information, visit their website.

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Rite Aid Launches Eastside Distilling’s Redneck Riviera Whiskey to 521 Locations

April 16, 2020 By Dow Scoggins

PORTLAND, Oregon – Eastside Distilling, today announced expanded distribution for its Redneck Riviera Whiskey to 521 Rite Aid stores throughout the state of California. The initial shelf sets by Rite Aid marks a significant milestone in the development of the brand as Rite Aid becomes the first retailer in the drug store segment to begin carrying the product. The Rite Aid shelf sets are expected to be placed in the month of May for the start of the busy summer season.

“We are very excited to be able to offer the Rite Aid customers Redneck Riviera American Blended Whiskey, a small batch whiskey with vanilla honey smoothness and a subtle oak finish,” said Eastside Distilling’s President, Robert Manfredonia. “We greatly appreciate Rite Aid’s commitment to Eastside Distilling and the Redneck Riviera Whiskey brand as they become the first distribution for the brand into the drug store segment which is usually reserved for fully mature bellwether brands. At just 24 months old now, this is a huge win for the Redneck Riviera Whiskey brand and Eastside Distilling.”

Redneck Riviera Whiskey is a joint collaboration between Eastside and John Rich, the multi-platinum country-music artist and one-half of the award-winning duo Big & Rich. John Rich and Eastside have taken to heart the Folds of Honor mission and have been active advocates on behalf of the foundation, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars through the sale of Redneck Riviera Whiskey. Since 2007, the Folds of Honor Foundation has carried forth this singular, noble mission – to provide educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service-members. Their motto says it best: “Honor Their Sacrifice. Educate Their Legacy.” Redneck Riviera Whiskey is currently available in 48 states.

For more information on Redneck Riviera Whiskey, please visit redneckriviera.com.

About Eastside Distilling
Eastside Distilling has been producing high-quality, award-winning craft spirits in Portland, Oregon, since 2008. The Company is distinguished by its highly decorated product lineup that includes Redneck Riviera and Granny Rich Whiskey, Azuñia Tequilas, Burnside Whiskeys and Rye, Hue-Hue Coffee Rum, and Portland Potato Vodkas. All Eastside spirits are crafted from natural ingredients for quality and taste. Eastside’s Craft Canning subsidiary is one of the Northwest’s leading independent spirit bottlers and ready-to-drink canner.

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American Distilling Institute Names 2020 “Best-in-Class” Rum Produced by Next Century Spirits

April 8, 2020 By Dow Scoggins

RALEIGH, North Carolina – The American Distilling Institute (ADI) recognized Raleigh-based technology and spirits company, Next Century Spirits, as producer of the “Best-in-Class” Rum 2020 today. Next Century Spirits received three awards from the 2020 Judging of Craft Spirits hosted by ADI, which is the oldest and largest trade association dedicated to craft distilling in the world. The competition was well attended with over 1,300 spirit samples judged representing 16 countries throughout five continents; Next Century Spirits outperformed 85 entrants participating in the rum category.

Next Century Spirits’ aged Exalted Rum is a “Traditional, Caribbean style rum made in the Virgin Islands, aged in second fill barrels for subtle, toasted oak and vanilla nuances, layered onto overtones of caramelized banana, ripe mango, fresh pineapple and toasted coconut,” said Nick Scarff, Master Blender of Next Century Spirits. Judges of ADI noted the rum’s well-made distillate offering a pleasant floral aroma with a clean entry mixed with a toasty taste.

“As a technology-based company, our team values innovation of spirits distilling without sacrificing traditional tastes as we serve clients around the world with our technology,” said Scott Bolin, CEO of Next Century Spirits. “This achievement to take home ‘Best of Class Rum’ was made possible by the dedication of our inventive team whose passion to curate top flavor profiles is evident.”

ADI competitions offer rigorous requirements for spirits to be considered for award recognition. An expert panel of spirit judges blindly tastes and evaluates each registered spirit without receiving information about the producer. ADI provides a holistic reflection of the spirit’s quality by combining each judge’s numerical scores and a facilitating discussion on which medal should or should not be awarded.

To see a complete list of 2020 Judging of Craft Spirits winners, visit the American Distilling Institute. For information about Next Century Spirits, visit NextCenturySpirits.com.

About Next Century Spirits
Next Century Spirits blends together traditional distilling techniques with advanced and unique finishing technologies to create enhanced spirits. Our patented processing technology allows traditional distillers to expand their repertoire of achievable flavors and aromas. The technology allows for tight control over the production process, maintaining consistency and high quality resulting in the ability to create bold, complex flavor profiles for spirits used in everything from craft brands to large, bulk blends.

Our creations have been recognized internationally at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, London Spirits Competition, New York International Spirits Competition, Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, International Spirits Challenge, Pr%f Awards, Sip Awards, USA Spirits Ratings, Ultimate Spirits Challenge and most recently the American Distiller Institute.

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Rogue Ales & Spirits Turns Distillery Into Hand Sanitizer Production Facility

April 2, 2020 By Dow Scoggins

Newport, Oregon — Rogue Spirits is producing and packaging hand sanitizer at our distillery in Newport, Oregon to donate to local emergency response and public safety officials. To date, Rogue has donated its ‘Helping Hand Hand Sanitizer’ to fire departments from Newport, Toledo, Waldport, Yachats, Depoe Bay, and Lincoln City, police services, county offices, local ambulance services and Life Flight. It is critical to keep those servicing the community safe and healthy so that they can protect the rest of the country during this public health crisis.

Rogue’s ‘Helping Hand Hand Sanitizer’ is made with 80% ethanol, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide and distilled water and packaged in 375 ml, 4 oz and 16 oz bottles. The Food and Drug Administration changed their guidelines on March 18 to give distilleries permission to start making hand sanitizer for distribution as long as they were abiding by the formula outlined by the World Health Organization. This change allowed Rogue and distilleries around the country to make hand sanitizer because of the shortage.

“There’s a massive shortage of so many life-saving supplies right now and we wanted to do something to help,” adds Brian Pribyl, Head Distiller of Rogue Ales & Spirits. “As a distillery, we make alcohol every day, so a hand sanitizer was an obvious way to help. It’s been amazing to watch the entire distilling community come together during this crisis. We can’t make gowns, gloves or medical equipment but we can keep a steady supply of alcohol flowing. If we can supply a hand sanitizer to the front-line of this pandemic, even if that means one less thing they have to worry about sourcing, we’re calling that a win.”

“What’s really great about our hand sanitizer initiative is that it came about as an employee passion project and their dream became a reality thanks to a collaborative team effort,” adds Jack Waibel, Vice President of Production at Rogue Ales & Spirits. “Since day one we have been dedicated to giving back to our community and are so honored to be able to step up and help in this time of need.”

Rogue’s ‘Helping Hand Hand Sanitizer’ is currently available to first responders in Lincoln county and we are working to make it available throughout the nation to businesses and consumers to help reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

Learn more at Rogue.com.

About Rogue Ales & Spirits
Rogue Ales & Spirits, the only farmer-brewer-distiller-cooper in the United States, was founded in Oregon in 1988 as one of America’s first microbreweries. Rogue has won more than 2,000 awards for taste, quality and packaging, and is available in all 50 states as well as 54 countries. Proudly rooted in Oregon soil, Rogue’s beers, spirits and sodas are made with ingredients grown on Rogue Farms in Independence, Oregon. Rogue Spirits are hand-distilled on a 550-gallon still in Newport, Oregon, aged in the thick ocean air of the Yaquina Bay and bottled by hand. Since 2008, Rogue has remained committed to sharing the terroir of Oregon hops, honey, cucumbers and pumpkins one acre at a time by growing its own.

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