Archives for July 2020

Memphis, Tennessee – B.R. Distilling Company has released, Blue Note Juke Joint, the newest iteration under its award-winning Blue Note Bourbon product line. This new bourbon release is designed to complement the Blue Note Bourbon expressions already on the market by offering imbibers an easy drinking, everyday bourbon that is perfect for any occasion.

“With a suggested retail price of $29.99, Blue Note Juke Joint is our Blue Note Bourbon brand’s youngest and most cost-friendly expression to date,” said McCauley Williams, B.R. Distilling Company’s President & CEO. “Make no mistake about it, however, Blue Note Juke Joint is a fine bourbon that is better than any whiskey on the market within a competitive price range. We think it is pretty special and bet the customer will, too.”

Like Blue Note’s nine-year-old Premium Small Batch expression, Blue Note Juke Joint is unfiltered and bottled at 93 proof. Tasting notes describe this bourbon as having a nose of sweet corn and oak with loads spice and vanilla. On the palate, there are rich flavors of caramel, allspice, vanilla, and crisp pear. This finish is a bit longer than that of the Premium Small Batch, which retails for approximately $50, but the brand’s tagline of “smoother than smooth” rings true. Blue Note Juke Joint is an easy sipping, approachable bourbon that is surprisingly complex for the price. Designed to be mixologist-friendly, this expression offers taste-seekers and cocktail enthusiasts a new way to enjoy America’s native spirit.

The spirit’s packaging is also unique and quintessentially Memphis. Metallic blue music notes accent the front label, which features a guitar-like illustration, further reinforcing the product’s connection to the Bluff City’s musical roots.

“We really wanted to highlight Memphis with the package design, and like the product, the design is meant to be fun,” said B.R. Distilling’s Marketing Director, Nora Boone. “America’s best music began right here in Memphis, and we could not think of a better way to introduce our newest bourbon to the world than to pair it with the bold personality of the Memphis Blues.”

This is the first release of Blue Note Juke Joint. Currently, it is available primarily in the Memphis metropolitan area, although a more widespread release scheduled in the coming months.

About Blue Note Bourbon
Blue Note Bourbon is artfully crafted to honor the blues music that came from the streets of Memphis. Like the blues, Blue Note Bourbon is bold, yet smooth. Blue Note Juke Joint along with Blue Note Premium Small Batch are part of B.R. Distilling Company’s bourbon portfolio. Follow us on Instagram (@BlueNoteBourbon) and like us on Facebook (facebook.com/bluenotebourbon) for news and information about Blue Note Bourbon. More information can be found at bluenotebourbon.com.

About B.R. Distilling
Founded in 2014 in Memphis, TN, B.R. Distilling Company, is the oldest distillery in Memphis. Currently, B.R. Distilling Company produces two flagship brands, Blue Note Bourbon and Riverset Rye, which are distributed across nine states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, New York, and Tennessee.

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Spokane, Washington — Spring is in full bloom and summer is just around the corner. It’s time to pack your cooler with some premium, canned cocktails and Dry Fly has just the ticket! Joining Dry Fly’s already delicious lineup of Gin and Tonic, Moscow Mule and Spicy Lemonade is the highly anticipated Huckleberry Lemonade. It’s a Pacific Northwest favorite and it is coming soon to a retailer near you.

“We are excited about our new Huckleberry Lemonade,” said Head Distillery Patrick Donovan. “There has been a great response to our canned cocktails. All of us here at Dry Fly really wanted to give people a true taste of the Pacific Northwest and nothing says that better than huckleberries. We hope folks enjoy this new addition to our lineup.”

As with all the “On the Fly” canned cocktails, only the finest ingredients are used to create these portable concoctions. For the Huckleberry Lemonade wild berries were picked and sent to be processed into a syrup consisting of just huckleberries, white cane sugar and citric acid. The syrup was blended with Dry Fly house-made lemonade—containing the award-winning Dry Fly Vodka—sugar, natural flavoring and carbonation.

“On the Fly” cocktails launched last year in the Northwest and the consumer response has been very positive as distribution continues to grow. The cocktails are available in four packs and sell for approximately $12.99 each. There are plans to add new cocktails to the lineup over time and to continue to increase distribution.

Dry Fly Distilling
Founder Don Poffenroth created Dry Fly Distilling out of a passion for fly-fishing and the Pacific Northwest. They reflect the beauty of the area into spirits made from local ingredients and from sustainable farms. Because of this, Dry Fly Distilling has achieved a true farm to bottle operation. Every drop of liquor is hand-crafted and pure. This is obvious in the unique flavor, which has won awards worldwide.

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San Jose, California — San Jose’s 10th Street Distillery announces the release of their Distiller’s Cut, an exceptional peated single malt whisky that has already distinguished itself by winning Gold at the Whiskeys of the World competition.

The first release of 1000 cases is available now throughout California at all Total Wine & More stores; The Whisky Shop in San Francisco; Ledger’s Liquor in Berkeley; Willibee’s in Petaluma; and Southgate Liquors in San Jose among others. Visit retailers’ web sites for hours and availability.

It is double distilled using all copper pot stills, and aged in first-fill bourbon barrels, just like the Distillery’s flagship peated single malt; however, the unique Distiller’s Cuts during distillation create a bolder and smokier, yet smooth single malt, designed to appeal to malt and peat lovers

This expertly crafted whisky has hints of citrus and berry with strong woody, earthy, and smoky statements.

An independent review by the Whisk(e)y Apostle says, “If you’re a whiskey geek and looking to try something unique…, I’d definitely look to try this one.”

 10th Street Distillery combines old-world tradition and modern ingenuity to make super-premium small-batch whiskies at San Jose’s first craft distillery. In just two years since opening, 10th Street has earned significant industry recognition for its Peated Single Malt, including Best in Class Gold at the 2019 Whiskies of the World and Double Gold at the 2019 N.Y. World Spirits Competition. Its STR Single Malt recently won a Double Gold at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits competition. The award for Distiller’s Cut further establishes 10th Street’s reputation as a top-shelf American maker of exceptional single malts.

As co-founder Virag Saksena explained to the East Bay Express, custom Scottish peat and local microflora interact with water from the Sierra Nevada snowmelt and grains to create “a complex sourdough flavor” that “lends a unique Bay Area terroir.” The hot San Jose weather imparts its own unique aging properties.

DISTILLER’S CUT TASTING NOTES
Nose: Sour nose with bright citrus, vanilla, and peat; heavy mesquite smoke
Color: Golden Palate: Sweet high notes of blackberry, brown sugar, honey, and molasses; bran cereal, burning chocolate. Finish: Smooth and lingering on the sides and back of the tongue ABV: 44% MSRP: $65

About 10th Street Distillery:
San Jose’s first craft distillery, 10th Street Distillery was founded by two engineers with just one objective – creating world-class whiskies. A grain-to-glass distillery, it reinterprets time-honored traditions using modern techniques and engineering ingenuity to create its award-winning products. Their first product is a Peated Single Malt Whisky, a new American classic that respects tradition, but is not afraid to forge a new path.

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SAN SAN FRANCISCO – It’s time to brighten up the bar cart with a new blended whisky from the award-winning Nikka Whisky. With more than 80 years of mastery in blending, Nikka introduces NIKKA DAYS (40% ABV), a delicious whisky for everyday drinking occasions. Imported by San Francisco’s Hotaling & Co., NIKKA DAYS features bright and modern packaging to reflect the floral and smooth whisky within and will be available for purchase at select retailers for $49.99, beginning in July 2020.

Both the flavors and appearance of NIKKA DAYS were designed to highlight the bright side of whisky and whisky consumption. The blend is structured by the mellow and smooth Coffey Grain Whisky and aromatic non-peated Miyagikyo malts, along with a touch of Coffey Malt Whisky and Yoichi malts to enhance the bright sweetness and rich body. The complex and delicate blend results in an extremely silky mouthfeel, with fruity and floral flavors that rise and expand, leaving behind a delightful aftertaste.

“As the name suggests, NIKKA DAYS has been developed for whisky lovers who appreciate fine drinks on any casual day,” says Emiko Kaji, Nikka Whisky international business development manager. “This elegant whisky can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, in a simple highball or refreshing cocktail. We hope that NIKKA DAYS will complement and elevate your day.”

“With a unique and modern design, NIKKA DAYS is an exciting addition to Hotaling & Co.’s extensive portfolio of curated whiskies and artisanal spirits,” says Hotaling & Co. CEO and President Dan Leese. “NIKKA DAYS comes after the release of Nikka From The Barrel, named the 2018 Whisky of the Year by Whisky Advocate, both showcasing the blender’s skills at their peak.”

Tasting Notes
(40% ABV; 750ml; $49.99 SRP)
AROMA: Fresh and fruity with white flowers, orange blossoms, pear, and citrus
FLAVOR: Light and smooth – cereals, malt, toffee, roasted nuts and vanilla
FINISH: Dry apricot, malt, vanilla, elusive peat

The Nikka range also includes Nikka From The Barrel (51.4% ABV, $65 SRP), named the 2018 Whisky of the Year by Whisky Advocate, Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky (45% ABV, $75 SRP), the only malted barley whisky distilled in a column still, Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky (45% ABV, SRP $70), an elevation of the style of whisky that is more typically used for blending and rarely bottled on its own, and Nikka Coffey Gin (47% ABV, $50 SRP) and Nikka Coffey Vodka (40% ABV, $45 SRP) which arrived stateside in 2017.

NIKKA DAYS will be distributed in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Florida and Tennessee, expanding in 2021. For more information, visit HotalingandCo.com or email info@hotalingandco.com.

About The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co.
The founder of Nikka and the father of Japanese whisky, Masataka Taketsuru, received his training in Scotland before founding Nikka in 1934 with the establishment of the Yoichi Distillery on the island of Hokkaido. Taketsuru’s early successes prompted the development of a second distillery, Miyagikyo, in 1969, this time built on the island of Honshu in the foothills of the Miyagi prefecture, in the Northern part of Honshu.

About Hotaling & Co.
Hotaling & Co., the leading San Francisco importer & distiller, offers the finest curated portfolio of premium artisanal spirits. Hotaling & Co., originally named Anchor Distilling Company, was established in 1993 and is credited with releasing America’s first craft whiskey (Old Potrero) and American craft gin (Junípero Gin) after Prohibition. In 2010, Anchor Distilling Company was sold to a business partnership that included Tony Foglio and London’s oldest wine and spirit merchant, Berry Bros. & Rudd and began expanding to incorporate a collection of super-premium artisanal spirits imported from around the world. In 2017, Anchor Distilling became Hotaling & Co. The new name is a nod to one of Anchor Distilling’s most beloved small batch whiskies (Old Potrero Hotaling’s Whiskey) and to the San Francisco legend A.P. Hotaling, who came out West during the Gold Rush and quickly became one of the most reputable spirits dealers in the country. Today, Hotaling & Co. celebrates exciting growth and achievements; marking its 26th year of distilling and its 10th year of commercially uniting artisan distillers from around the world and sharing their stories to discerning consumers.

Hotaling & Co.’s portfolio includes Luxardo Liqueurs & Cherries, Nikka Whisky, Junipero Gin, No.3 Gin, HINE Cognac, Lot 40 Rye Whisky, Convite Mezcal, Kavalan Whisky, Denizen Rum, HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys, Writers’ Tears Whiskey, Old Pulteney Whisky, Speyburn Whisky, Balblair Whisky, Arran Whisky, Old Potrero Rye Whiskey, and more. Visit HotalingandCo.com for a full list of brands.

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