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Archives for May 2023

Redwood Empire Whiskey Announces Second Release of Cask Strength Expressions

May 9, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Redwood Empire WhiskeyGRATON, Calif. – Redwood Empire Whiskey, a distinct California whiskey made and aged in the ancient forests of the Redwood Empire, doubles down with its second allocation of cask strength whiskey. Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural release in October 2022, the brand has increased its volumes of uncut and unfiltered expressions.

These limited-edition, straight-from-the-barrel cask strength offerings have been highly praised by both the press and consumers. In just seven months, each of Redwood Empire’s cask strength whiskeys have received awards from L.A. Spirits Awards and Tag Global Spirits Awards, as well as notable ratings of at least 91 points from both Whisky Advocate and The Tasting Panel.

“Cask strength represents the best of what spirits have to offer,” says head distiller, Lauren Patz. “Buying whiskey at cask strength empowers drinkers to explore the breadth that the spirit provides.”

Redwood Empire Whiskey’s cask strength range includes three full, undiluted and unfiltered expressions of the brand’s existing offerings: Pipe Dream Bourbon, Emerald Giant Rye, and Lost Monarch, a whiskey blend of Bourbon and Rye. Each expression has its own unique tasting notes. The Cask Strength Pipe Dream Bourbon (116.8 proof) has a rich and complex flavor profile, featuring toffee, cherry, and soft leather on the nose and cherry cola, honey butterscotch and pecans on the palate. The Cask Strength Emerald Giant Rye (116.4 proof) boasts delicate herbal tea, soft cinnamon and dried orange peel on the nose, with earl grey tea, viscous dark chocolate, coffee beans and a warm spice finish on the palate. Finally, the Cask Strength Lost Monarch Whiskey Blend (117.2 proof) offers vibrant, earthy notes and mint chocolate ice cream on the nose, with warm spices, dried apricot and a white pepper finish on the palate.

“Experiencing Redwood Empire straight from the barrel is my preferred way to enjoy our whiskeys,” says master distiller, Jeff Duckhorn.

Consumers who have enjoyed Redwood Empire’s core range at 90 proof can now experience the full intensity and complexity of the whiskeys straight from the barrel. The cask strength expressions are offered annually for those who crave bold and flavorful whiskey.

About Redwood Empire Whiskey:

Redwood Empire Whiskey is a distinct California whiskey made and aged in the ancient forests of the Redwood Empire, a cool fog belt that stretches from San Francisco north along the coast to the Oregon border. Founder Derek Benham and master distiller Jeff Duckhorn recognized that the region’s temperate climate and humidity would allow for a slow, even extraction of flavor during the whiskey aging process. In 2015, they began selecting older barrels from like-minded distilleries across the nation and blending them with their own distillate in Sonoma County. Now with the largest rick house in California, Redwood Empire Whiskey reserves more of its own distillate for 100% grain-to-glass expressions and increasingly features aged whiskeys distilled onsite. The result is consistently complex, bold and balanced. Inspired by John Muir and the old growth forests he sought to protect, they partner with Trees for the Future and One Tree Planted, by planting one tree for every bottle sold – to date they’ve surpassed 1,000,000 trees planted.

For more information please visit https://redwoodempirewhiskey.com/

Filed Under: best whiskey, whiskey

Santa Fe Spirits Releases Colkegan Unsmoked Single Malt Whiskey Nationwide

May 7, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Santa Fe SpiritsSanta Fe Spirits is releasing its Colkegan Unsmoked Single Malt Whiskey nationwide with online orders from its website. Santa Fe Spirits is well known for its Colkegan Mesquite Smoked Single Malt, and for the first time ever they have released an unsmoked Colkegan.

Like Scotch Whisky, Santa Fe Spirits’ Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey is made entirely from malted barley, carefully distilled, aged, and finished in various oak casks to enhance the complex flavors. The key difference is many Scotch whiskies are made with peat-smoked malt while Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey achieves its complex flavor profile using mesquite smoked malt. This approach has earned Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey numerous awards and a 91-point rating from Whiskey Advocate.

“We love experimenting with traditional single malt whiskey to develop new products while honoring the heritage of single malt,” says Santa Fe Spirits founder Colin Keegan. “Our mesquite-smoked Colkegan has won people’s hearts, and we wanted to release a whiskey that would complement our current line-up of American Single Malts, but also stand on its own. Four years ago we made our traditional Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey, but without smoking the malt. We tucked a few barrels of it into a back corner of the rickhouse, aged it in new American Oak, and used bourbon barrels. We’re excited to release it nationwide.”

Spurred by ever-increasing consumer interest and the efforts of the American Single Malt Commission, single malt whiskey made in the U.S. has gained considerable attention in recent years. As a founding member of the American Single Malt Commission, Santa Fe Spirits has helped champion the creation and promotion of American Single Malt Whiskey as an officially recognized category of whiskey. On July 29 the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register which will formally define American Single Malt whisky. In the coming months, the TTB is expected to release an official definition of American single malt. This is great news for the entire industry and for consumers who are eager to purchase whiskey like Colkegan Unsmoked.

About Colkegan Unsmoked

Distiller Stephen Julander created a whiskey with 100% malted barley that focuses on the flavors of the pure malt with Unsmoked Colkegan. After distillation, Unsmoked Colkegan was aged for about four years in new American Oak and used bourbon barrels. The resulting whiskey has a beautiful copper color that evokes the coming of fall in the aspens, a deep amber luster as they welcome in the cooler nights of our Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Unsmoked Colkegan has warm aromas of brown sugar, bubblegum, macadamia nuts, and cinnamon, with a palate of toasted walnuts, wafer cookies, toast, dried pit fruit, and light spice. It has a lovely finish with lasting notes of toasted oak and butterscotch pudding.

About Santa Fe Spirits

Santa Fe Spirits was founded by Colin Keegan in 2010 with the goal of becoming the Southwest’s pre-eminent artisan distillery. With products ranging from silver whisky to barrel-aged apple brandy, Santa Fe Spirits is a relatively small distillery proud to be producing exceptional spirits designed to capture and accentuate the essence of the Southwest.

For more information please visit  https://santafespirits.com/spirits/buy-online.

Filed Under: American Single Malt, best whiskey, single malt, whiskey

‘Wheyskey’: This Brand Is Making a Sustainable Whiskey Alternative Out of Whey

May 7, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Wheyward SpiritsOn Tuesday, Wheyward Spirit unveiled its first dark spirit: Wheyskey.

Wheyward Spirit is a female-owned company that makes sustainably distilled spirits from whey, the liquid left over after the curdling and straining of milk.

Wheyskey by Wheyward Spirit is a barrel-aged version of the original Wheyward Spirit.

“At Wheyward Spirit, our ethos is about breaking boundaries and bringing to market better tasting and more approachable spirits made responsibly and domestically,” Wheyward Spirit said in a news release. “We are so proud of the years of innovation work that went into the launch of Wheyskey and truly believe this spirit will be a game changer for both the liquor and dairy industry as well as consumers who are drinking more mindfully and are seeking more approachable and versatile options where they can actually taste a difference and make a difference.”

Bottled at 80 proof, Wheyskey is aged in oak barrels and contains no additives or flavoring. It is gluten-free, grain-free and lactose-free.

Wheyskey is available in 36 states via the Wheyward Spirit website and regional liquor retailers at a suggested retail price of $69.95 per 750-milliliter bottle.

Wheyward Spirit launched its flagship product, a clear spirit intended to be used in place of gin or vodka, in 2019.

The production of Wheyward Spirit makes use of some of the over 100 billion pounds of whey that goes to waste each year.

About Wheyward Spirit

Our founder and CEO, Emily Darchuk, forged her career as a food scientist in the natural food and dairy industry. While working with dairies she observed firsthand the problem of whey waste impacting small communities. What she saw made her motivated enough to do something about it. As a scientist Emily knew she could convert whey into alcohol. However, as a consumer who cares about flavor and the impact of her purchases, she wanted to make something unique for others, who like her, care about the origin of their food. The opportunity to give a voice to those who care and influence the dairy and spirit industries to work together towards sustainability gave her the inspiration to launch Wheyward Spirit. Emily perfected the signature spirit through years of trials, carefully crafting the recipe while she mastered the distillation process hands on and continues to drive our innovation today.

For more information visit https://www.wheywardspirit.com/

Filed Under: best whiskey, whiskey

Buffalo Trace Releases Peated Bourbon

May 7, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Buffalo Trace DistilleryThe new Buffalo Trace Experimental Peated Bourbon is the 26th release in the brand’s Experimental Collection, created to ‘push the limits of innovation’ in American whiskey.

The ‘one-of-a-kind’ Bourbon uses smoked peated malt to add a ‘hint of smoke’ to the rye mashibill. The use of peated malt is rare in American whiskey production, the Kentucky distiller said.

The distillate was aged for nearly 10 years in new charred white oak casks before being bottled at 45% ABV.

The resulting liquid offers a ‘smoky and nutty’ aroma, with hints of leather, mahogany and cacao beans, with flavours of ‘light smoke’, brown butter, and a sweet toffee finish.

“The Experimental Collection is not about breaking the rules of Bourbon; in fact, 95% of our experiments stay within the confines of traditional methods of making whiskey,” said Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace’s master distiller.

“We conduct this research to better understand the variables that affect our final flavour profiles.

“We were eager to experiment with peat to see how the grain influenced our mashbill from a recipe perspective. We anticipated it providing the perfect hint of smoke, just enough to compliment the sweet and spicy notes from the rye, and I’m happy to report our hypothesis was correct.”

Buffalo Trace Experimental Peated Bourbon is priced at US$46.99 per 375ml bottle. It is available to buy across retailers and restaurants in the US.

In December 2022, Buffalo Trace filled its eight-millionth barrel of Bourbon after its US$1.2 billion expansion.

Buffalo Trace’s WL Weller 12 Year Old secured the Taste Master accolade in last year’s American Whiskey Masters blind tasting.

In June 2022, Sazerac acquired Lough Gill Distillery in County Sligo, which will become the new home for its Irish whiskey brands Paddy and Michael Collins.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery History

Throughout the challenges of floods, fires, tornadoes and even Prohibition, the American family-owned Buffalo Trace Distillery has never compromised. A timeless dedication to respecting the past while fearlessly innovating for the future has served us well for more than two centuries. No matter the challenge, be it Mother Nature or man, the people of our Distillery have been part of the story that shaped America and the spirit industry as well.

For more information please visit https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2023/05/buffalo-trace-releases-peated-bourbon/

Filed Under: distillers, whiskey

Blue Run Spirits Releases First Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

May 7, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Blue Run SpiritsBlue Run Spirits announces its first ever Single Barrel Rye Whiskey, dropping just in time for Mother’s Day. Blue Run Kentucky Straight Emerald Single Barrel Rye Whiskey marks the second release from Blue Run’s award-winning Emerald Rye series. Blue Run Emerald Single Barrel Rye will be available only online at BlueRunSpirits.com beginning at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Tuesday, May 2.

Like the Gold Medal-awarded Blue Run Emerald Rye Whiskey (released in November 2022), this single barrel offering was contract distilled by Blue Run Liquid Advisor Jim Rutledge at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Shaylyn Gammon, Blue Run’s Whiskey Director, carefully selected these barrels to echo the rich, complex flavors from Emerald Rye Whiskey, but with each featuring its own personality found only in a single barrel release. Adding to the complexity, these are also bottled at barrel proof with no water added to dilute the flavor or aroma, thus allowing subtle individual nuances to shine through.

“With Blue Run’s Emerald Rye Whiskies, I am trying to work towards a baseline flavor foundation for the entire collection, then find interesting or unexpected interpretations that are wholly unique but don’t stray too far from the original profile,” said Gammon. “This might be somewhat easier when blending, but when you are working with single barrels at barrel proof, the art lies in the barrel selection, understanding how the distillate interacted with the barrel char level, and to the extent I can, what climate factors impacted that barrel as it aged over the years.”

In keeping with releasing a whiskey just before Mother’s Day, each of the single barrels from this Emerald Rye collection are named for the mothers in the lives of Blue Run founders. As noted by Shaylyn, each barrel has its own unique personality, just like these amazing women. Thanks moms!

About Blue Run Spirits

Georgetown, Kentucky-based Blue Run Spirits is an evolution of the traditional spirits company, creating award-winning bourbons and rye whiskies through time-honored traditions matched with inclusive, forward-looking vision. It all starts with the whiskey itself, carefully crafted by Blue Run Liquid Advisor and Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge and Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon. That precious liquid is then housed in striking packaging adorned with Blue Run’s signature butterfly medallion, marking the metamorphosis of a centuries-old industry as Blue Run reaches across the bar to welcome today’s younger, broader and more diverse whiskey drinker. Blue Run Spirits was founded in 2020 and was named one of the 50 most innovative companies in America by Bloomberg.

For More Information:
https://www.bluerunspirits.com/

Filed Under: American Single Malt, whiskey

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