Archives for January 2024

The Speyside distillery’s new, limited-edition whisky is unsurprisingly expensive—and exceedingly hard to find.

Throughout the past decade The Macallan has been busy enshrining itself as the name in ultra-luxury Scotch whisky. But the storied legacy of this Speyside malt-maker actually stretches back for centuries. In fact, 2024 marks the 200th birthday of the brand, and it’s eager to celebrate the milestone with a new release in its ongoing Tales of the Macallan series.

Tales of The Macallan Volume II isn’t some everyday bottle you can rundown at your local liquor store. The whisky was collected from a 1949 vintage and wrested from cask some 73 years later. By that time, what remained of the stock was only enough to fill 344 bespoke Lalique decanters. That precious package will be sold at select boutiques—as well as at The Macallan Estate, in Craigellachie, Scotland—for a cool $89,000 per unit.

If your pockets are adequately deep and you’re lucky enough to encounter one in the wild, you’ll be met by a 44.8 percent ABV liquid that’s especially auburn in hue and abnormally smoky in flavor compared to the typical house style. This is all by design, according to Euan Kennedy, The Macallan’s lead whisky maker. He took inspiration from the distillery’s original founder, Alexander Reid, whose surname means “the Red One” in Scots.

“Displaying beautiful tones of bronzed oak and subtle red hues, this rare and unique single-malt whisky possesses an incredible complexity achieved through age and patient maturation,” says Kennedy. “Enjoying a lingering smokiness redolent of whiskies of Alexander’s time, it’s a fitting tribute to his living legacy as we celebrate our 200th anniversary year.”

The new release is a followup to Tales of the Macallan Volume I, which debuted in the summer of 2021. The original was more of a citrus-forward affair, though equally as elusive and sporting nearly the same age and ABV. Also like its predecessor, the new edition is inlayed within hand-crafted leather-bound tomes. Volume II comprises 800 pages worth of paper, arranged by an artisan printer out of Paris. More than just a set piece, each chapter of the book actually tells tales of Alexander Reid and features illustrative accompaniment from renowned British illustrator Andrew Davidson.

At any rate, you’re just as unlikely to actually sip Tales of the Macallan Volume II as someone who manages to purchase it. Because most of the folks who do, will preserve it as a collectible keepsake rather than drinkable dram. It’s lamentable, but a tale we keep having to tell in this modern era of ultra-luxury spirits.

For more information please visit https://www.themacallan.com/en-us

Buzzard’s Roost American Whiskey, a rising star in the world of premium sipping whiskeys, was born in 2019 when co-founders Judy Hollis Jones and Jason Brauner—veterans of Louisville’s vibrant bourbon scene—met during a barrel pick and decided to launch their own brand. Headquartered in the heart of Kentucky whiskey country, Buzzard’s Roost is a non-distiller producer that sources high-quality spirits and elevates them through a groundbreaking secondary maturation process. Partnering with Independent Stave Company, they use proprietary American oak barrels seasoned for at least 18 months (far longer than the industry standard of six) and lightly charred to a #1 level, preserving caramelized wood sugars while applying custom toast profiles to unlock unique flavors. This “barrel alchemy” transforms sourced whiskey into distinctive expressions, earning the brand multiple awards, including double golds and platinums at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The Buzzard’s Roost portfolio shines with innovative bourbons, ryes, and American whiskeys designed for slow sipping or creative cocktails. Standouts include the Char #1 Bourbon with its cherry and dark fruit notes, Toasted American Oak Bourbon blending confectionary sweetness and baking spices, and acclaimed ryes like the Cigar Rye and Barrel Strength offerings. The approachable Buzzard’s Roost American Whiskey, bottled at 105 proof, uses reused proprietary barrels for secondary aging of a three-year-old sourced spirit (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley), delivering aromas of roasted almonds, cinnamon, and orange zest, with palate notes of vanilla wafers, zingy spice, and subtle toasted oak—perfect for neat pours or elevating classic mixes. Visitors can explore this craftsmanship at the Buzzard’s Roost Whiskey Row Experience in downtown Louisville, where tastings and tours highlight the brand’s commitment to redefining American whiskey.

Proofed to 105 and with an SRP of $39.99, Buzzard’s Roost American Whiskey makes it easy for whiskey lovers and cocktail enthusiasts to experience the quality for which Buzzard’s Roost Sipping Whiskeys are known.

Quick Facts

PROOF: 105 proof (52.5% abv)

AGE: 36 months (base age)

FINISH: Char #1 barrels

MASHBILL: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley

SRP: $39.99

 

For more information please visit https://www.buzzardsroostwhiskey.com/home

Wild Turkey Distilling Company has unveiled Wild Turkey Generations, a first-ever collaboration from three generations of the iconic Russell family of whiskey makers.

This is a blend of four whiskies meant to showcase the varied palates, personal preferences and expertise of Jimmy, Eddie and Bruce Russell. It’s the first release from the distillery to feature the signatures of the grandfather, father and son trio on the the custom-etched bottle.

“With Generations, we set out to make a whiskey that was truly a celebration of family and bold spirit,” says Bruce Russell, the newly named Wild Turkey Associate Blender. “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.”

Bruce, like his grandfather Jimmy, prefers bold bourbon flavors, the company says, 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, the company says, such as his 15-year-old selection and the 14-year-old whiskey he and Bruce picked together. Jimmy selected a nine-year-old bourbon consistent with the classic Wild Turkey profile.

“I’ve made some great whiskies throughout my career, and Generations is going in my hall of fame,” says 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 originated the family tradition when he began working at Wild Turkey distillery in 1954. He soon started teaching his son Eddie, then a union worker. Eddie rose through the ranks and was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2010, joining his father, who earned the recognition in 2001. Before long, Eddie’s son, Bruce, became involved with the business, first as an ambassador and recently as a blender.

Wild Turkey fans in the U.S. will also have exclusive access to a limited online pre-sale in the coming days, by signing up for the Wild Turkey community newsletter

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