Archives for October 2023

Laws Whiskey House Announces Third Release of Laws Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey

October 24, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Laws Whiskey House, the award-winning distillery in Denver, today announces the third annual release of their Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey Finished in a Cognac Foeder. First introduced in 2017 as a pioneering addition to their Special Finish Series, this year’s offering represents a captivating blend of whiskeys aged between four and eight years, nurtured in an array of distinct wooden casks. This limited release is set to hit select markets nationwide beginning in October 2023, with a suggested retail price of $79.99.

Laws Whiskey House’s new Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey Finished in a Cognac Foeder marks the third annual release of a dynamic and evolving blend. After years of meticulous experimentation and refinement, Laws developed an innovative solera process where only a portion of their specially finished bourbon is harvested at a time, allowing the remainder to harmonize with future blends of this exceptional whiskey.

Founder of Laws Whiskey House, Al Laws, emphasizes their central philosophy, stating, “One of our core principles is continual improvement. This whiskey exemplifies that philosophy, as with this release, we’re pushing ourselves and our whiskeys to new heights. It’s a truly unique release, and we’re excited to invite you on this journey to savor how this whiskey evolves over time, not only in the glass but from year to year with each release as well.”

This whiskey’s journey commences with Laws Four Grain Straight Bourbon, matured for a minimum of two years in freshly charred American oak barrels. Select barrels then undergo a secondary aging process in French oak casks that previously held Cognac. These distinct spirits are harmonized in a 50-year-old French oak blending vat, known as a foeder. Each year’s release includes whiskey from prior vintages, ensuring a consistent style. Following each annual harvest, the foeder is replenished with Four Grain Bourbon finished in Cognac casks, perpetuating the cycle.

Laws’ distinctive process was developed in collaboration with sixth-generation Cognac producer Alain Royer, who provided invaluable technical expertise in cask finishing and blending. Additionally, Royer assisted the Laws team in sourcing the foeder from its original home in France

The foeder is a critical component of this finishing process, facilitating not only the solera blending process but also the gradual integration of flavor from the spirit these casks once held. The French oak foeder staves add an elegant finish to this whiskey, with this year’s batch displaying a more pronounced French oak influence than the previous year. This balance enhances the solera process by accentuating herbaceous pepper and spice, leafy tobacco, and an overall toasted oak character.

For this third release, 400 gallons of finished spirit were harvested from the French oak foeder, yielding only 2,418 750ml bottles. This year’s release captures the essence of previous batches while introducing fresh nuances. Aromas of toasted oak, dry leaves, wet leather, fennel fronds, caraway seed, and dark fruits greet the senses. The spirit delivers flavors of cinnamon raisin toast, salted Marcona almonds, fig jam, and sweet, nutty malt, culminating in a dry finish accentuated by the influence of French oak. It lingers on the palate, offering complexity and depth.

About Laws Whiskey House

Grown, distilled, aged and bottled in Colorado.

Founded in 2011, Laws Whiskey House makes intentionally bold and terroir-driven whiskeys from Colorado. The distillery’s grain-forward style whiskeys are made with the highest quality corn and heirloom wheat, barley, and rye grown by two Colorado family farms. Laws uses time-tested production techniques that showcase each individual grain’s terroir resulting in singular and novel whiskeys.

For More Information:
https://lawswhiskeyhouse.com/crafted-in-colorado-with-french-influence-laws-four-grain-bourbon-whiskey-finished-in-a-cognac-foeder/

Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Features the Oldest Eagle Rare Bourbon Yet

October 24, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Buffalo Trace Distillery` — Photo Credit: Buffalo Trace Distillery

Every year, Buffalo Trace’s highly anticipated Antique Collection, nicknamed the BTAC, gathers significant attention in the bourbon world. For each annual unveiling, the Kentucky-based distillery debuts four to five rare bottlings, showcasing the finest whiskeys from their brands. This year, enthusiasts, collectors, and fanatics look forward to new editions of Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Whiskey, Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Whiskey, William Larue Weller Bourbon, and Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon, and the return of the George T. Stagg Bourbon after it was omitted in 2021 for not meeting taste standards.

The 2023 BTAC collection features an especially thrilling bottling—the oldest-ever stock of Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon. You might wonder, doesn’t its name imply that all Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old bottles are 17 years old? A fair question, but it turns out that 17 refers to the minimum age to bottle the barrels. The whiskey’s actual barrel age varies each year to achieve the ideal flavor profile—and this year’s edition is the oldest yet.

Over the next couple of weeks, the bottles will roll out to a variety of retailers, where they’re priced around $125. After that, they’ll make their way on to the secondary market where it could cost around five to 20 times as much to get a bottle. So if you’re looking to pick one up for the right price, you’d better hurry to your local liquor store—it might already be too late.

Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon

Buffalo Trace aged the 2023 Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon for 19 years and three months, making this year’s bottling the longest-aged since its introduction in 2000. In tribute to the original Eagle Rare that launched in 1975, Buffalo Trace bottled the 2023 edition at 101 proof. The nose offers dark chocolate and cherry pie notes, which complement the well-balanced caramel-drizzled chocolate spongecake flavor. Then, the bourbon finishes with the dry, spicy notes of an earthy cigar box. The Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old was distilled in the spring of 2004, and its barrels were aged in Warehouses C, I, K, M, and Q.

For more information please visit https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/

Knob Creek’s Oldest Bourbon Is Back

October 21, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Knob Creek released its oldest expression to date last year, an 18-year-old bourbon that delighted fans of older age statement American whiskey. That limited release has returned for 2023, and for the launch the brand collaborated with Smithey Ironware on a cast iron skillet that was seasoned—you guessed it—a total of 18 times.

The core Knob Creek bourbon carries a nine-year-old age statement, a marker it regained in 2020 after a four-year absence that rankled some whiskey drinkers’ nerves. But that wasn’t the only news from the brand, part of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection (along with Booker’s, Baker’s, and Basil Hayden). 12, 15, and 18-year-old expressions were added to the lineup over the past few years, the first as a permanent addition and the others in more limited numbers. Knob Creek 18 is bottled at the same 100 proof as the other expressions, and while for some the 15-year-old might hit that sweet spot of the older bourbon flavor profile, if you like something a bit oakier the 18 is a good whiskey to try. Look for notes of brown sugar, leather, caramel, and maple on the palate, with a healthy dose of tannins.

As mentioned earlier, this release comes along with a partner collaboration with cookware brand Smithey Ironware in the form of a cast iron skillet seasoned 18 times instead of the usual three. “The partnership between Knob Creek and Smithey Ironware came from the passion that both brands have for the details, whether it’s with cooking or in a fine glass of bourbon,” said seventh generation master distiller Fred Noe in a statement. “With this special 18x seasoned cast iron skillet, we were able to come together and create a product that celebrates those fine details, alongside the re-release of Knob Creek’s oldest release to date.”

You can find the Knob Creek & Smithey 18X Seasoned Skillet Set (SRP $300) for sale at the brand’s website along with some whiskey-themed recipes—but no bourbon is included with your purchase. To get a bottle of the new re-rerelease of Knob Creek 18, check out online retailers like ReserveBar.

For more information please visit https://www.knobcreek.com/

Wild Turkey Unveils Generations, A Historic Release Honoring Bourbon Mastery

October 21, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. – Wild Turkey Distilling Company is proud to unveil Wild Turkey Generations, a first-ever collaboration from three generations of the iconic Russell family of whiskey makers. This ultra-premium and highly limited release from the storied Wild Turkey distillery reflects more than a century of bourbon-making prowess; it is an expert blend of four hand-selected whiskies that showcase the varied palates, personal preferences and exacting expertise of Jimmy, Eddie and Bruce Russell. Generations represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a whiskey created by the legendary grandfather, father and son trio, and this historic and extremely rare release is the first to feature the signatures of all three Russells on the custom-etched bottle, including that of newly appointed Associate Blender, Bruce Russell.

Commemorating the Russell family’s immeasurable impact on the art of bourbon making, Generations is made of four bourbons that were chosen by Jimmy, Eddie and Bruce for their unique characteristics, then masterfully blended in varying increments for a harmonious flavor profile. The result is a richly layered and complex whiskey, bottled at barrel proof and non-chill filtered to deliver the utmost character in each sip.

“With Generations, we set out to make a whiskey that was truly a celebration of family and bold spirit,” said Wild Turkey Associate Blender Bruce Russell. “My dad always says we are more than the name on the bottle – and this was my first opportunity to bring my own point of view while also applying everything I’ve learned from him and my granddad. We love this whiskey and are so proud of the story it tells.”

Bruce, like his grandfather Jimmy, prefers bold bourbon flavors, which come through in the 12-year bourbon he selected for the blend. Eddie has a penchant for a softer honeyed, vanilla-laden flavor that typically comes from older bourbons, such as his 15-year-old selection and the 14-year-old whiskey he and Bruce picked together. Jimmy stayed true to his palate, as he has for decades, by selecting a nine-year-old bourbon consistent with the classic Wild Turkey profile. While each of the Russells have slightly different tastes and preferences, they share the highest standards of quality for workmanship. The meticulously blended final bourbon seamlessly merges whiskies from the distillery’s finest barrels, capturing the heart and spirit of the Russell family.

“I’ve made some great whiskies throughout my career, and Generations is going in my hall of fame,” said Wild Turkey Master Distiller Jimmy Russell. “The experience of working with my son and grandson to create a blend that celebrates our family and tradition has been a highlight of my career.”

Generations is a tribute to one of the most iconic families in bourbon-making. Jimmy Russell, the longest-tenured, active Master Distiller in the global spirits industry and an instrumental figure in shaping Kentucky bourbon as it exists today, started the family tradition when he began working at Wild Turkey distillery in 1954. He soon began to teach his son Eddie, then a union worker, the craft. Eddie was a quick study who rose through the ranks and was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2010, joining his father who earned the prestigious recognition in 2001. Before long, Eddie’s son, Bruce, became involved with the business, first as an ambassador and recently as a blender. As Associate Blender, Bruce spends his days tending to bourbons and ryes from the fabled Wild Turkey rickhouses, then blending to achieve new flavor profiles, bringing his own approach to the teachings and techniques passed down through the family.

“From the moment Jimmy, Bruce and I started talking about Generations, I knew we had something incredibly special on our hands,” said Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell. “Not only am I proud of the rich, intricate whiskey that we created, but I’m honored to have worked alongside my son for his first release as Associate Blender. Seeing his name etched into the bottle next to ours will forever bring me back to the memories we shared when creating this rare release.”

Generations is a 120.8-proof blend that showcases sweet notes of vanilla, caramel and dark cherry that give way to warm notes of pepper and aged oak. An aroma of oak and vanilla is followed by floral and spice notes with hints of baked apple, toffee and cloves. The unique combination of aromas and flavors caps off with a finish of dark fruit and baking spice with lingering notes of sweet toffee and oak.

With a suggested retail price of $450, Wild Turkey Generations will be available in limited quantities; approximately 5,000 bottles will be available at select retailers nationwide. Wild Turkey fans in the United States will also have exclusive access to a limited online pre-sale in the coming days; by signing up for the Wild Turkey community newsletter here, fans can explore the story behind this special release and ensure that they are the first to learn more about pre-sale availability.

This historic whiskey embodies three generations of bourbon making mastery, and Wild Turkey encourages fans to savor it and to drink in moderation.

ABOUT WILD TURKEY

The distillery for Wild Turkey Bourbon is in Kentucky, situated on a deep limestone shelf on the Kentucky River. The shelf acts as a natural filter and provides the distillery with crystal clear water, vital to making such a high-quality product. Wild Turkey features the legendary father and son Master Distilling team of Jimmy and Eddie Russell, who have over 100 years of collective experience working at the Wild Turkey distillery.

The famous Wild Turkey brand name first came about back in 1940 when distillery executive Thomas McCarthey took a few warehouse samples on a Wild Turkey hunting trip with a group of friends. The following year, his friends asked him for “some of that Wild Turkey whiskey” and the brand was born.

For more information please visit https://www.wildturkeybourbon.com/

Nikka Whisky Releases The Final Installment of “Nikka Discovery” Series: Nikka The Grain Whisky

October 20, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.— Nikka Whisky announces the 2023 release from its “Nikka Discovery” series in the U.S.: Nikka The Grain Whisky. This expression is the third and final release in the “Nikka Discovery” series and features a rare blend of grain whiskies from four unique Nikka distilleries; Miyagikyo, Nishinomiya, Moji, and Satsumatsukasa. An inside look at the various experiments made during the whisky-making process at Nikka Whisky, the “Nikka Discovery” series explores every part of its production method and was created in anticipation of Nikka Whisky’s 90th anniversary in 2024.

This year’s “Nikka Discovery” series limited edition bottling focuses on the diversity of grain whisky produced throughout the history of Nikka Whisky, an expression designed to highlight the past and future of grain whisky distillation, which has been instrumental to Nikka’s founding and evolution. Nikka The Grain Whisky (48% ABV) is crafted from seven unique personalities, with Coffey Grain from the Miyagikyo Distillery at the core. This bottling is the brand’s first introduction to grain distillates from the historic Moji Distillery and the Satsumatsukasa Distillery, which have been distilling Shochu for domestic market. Careful blending is practiced, creating a beautiful chemistry of Nikka’s wide variety of grain whiskies such as specially reserved old Coffey Grain and Coffey Malt and experimental new grain made from corn and rye.

“We are excited to introduce this very special expression for the final release of our ‘Nikka Discovery’ series, a celebration of the past and future of grain whisky.” says Emiko Kaji, Nikka Whisky Global Marketing & Sales General Manager. “This creation is achieved by both Nikka’s tradition and innovation. Our signature Coffey stills are great assets inherited from our founder Masataka Taketsuru, who learned how to distill Coffey grain whisky in Scotland and installed the 1st still in 1963. While accumulating know-how of Coffey distillation for 60 years, we have also developed distinctive new grain whiskies incorporating shochu techniques. For this special release, we even designed the label with a four-row pattern to highlight each of the four distilleries.”

“The Nikka Whisky team has done it again, created a spectacular whisky that will intrigue and excite enthusiasts in the U.S.,” says Hotaling & Co. CEO and President Dan Leese. “Approaching their 90th anniversary, Nikka Whisky has proven with this series that they are firmly rooted in history and tradition yet will never stop pushing the limits of innovation within Japanese whisky.”

The Nikka the Grain Whisky release is non-chill filtered to best maximize its distinct flavors and enhance the rich texture. This limited bottling retails at an SRP of $174.99 and only 2,600 bottles will be available in the U.S. at select retailers.

About The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co.

Founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, the father of Japanese whisky, Nikka Whisky Distilling Co. is a world-renowned artisanal spirit brand with more than 85 years of mastery in blending behind it. Nikka Whisky continues its steadfast legacy of marrying tradition and innovation, as set forth by Masataka. Guided by his philosophies, variations of malt whiskies distilled at Nikka’s two distinct distilleries – Yoichi and Miyagikyo – and grain whiskies distilled in Coffey Stills remain the core pillars of Nikka’s complexity and creativity. Today, Nikka offers a wide variety of artisanal expressions brought by its unique assets and skillful blending, which is imported by Hotaling & Co. Those expressions include Nikka Days, Nikka from The Barrel, Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky, Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky, Nikka Coffey Gin, Nikka Coffey Vodka, Nikka Yoichi Single Malt, Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt, Nikka Whisky Taketsuru Pure Malt.

About Hotaling & Co.

A born and bred San Francisco original, Hotaling & Co. is the leading distiller and importer of artisanal spirits and cocktail essentials. Our dedication to artisanal spirits first started 30 years ago under the name Anchor Distilling Company – heralding the return to copper pot distilling in the U.S. with the original craft introductions of Junipero Gin & Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey. We carry on that pioneering legacy with the name Hotaling & Co. as a nod to the local legend A.P. Hotaling, who ventured West during the Gold Rush and quickly became one of the most reputable spirits dealers in the country and a notable figure in American drinking culture. Fueled by a passion for beverage expertise, education and hospitality, Hotaling & Co. carries on this tradition of artisanal excellence by bringing together a family of like-minded spirits that share our commitment to craft and care.

For More Information:
https://www.nikka.com/eng/