American Single Malt

Last Week to Enter ADI 2025 International Spirits Competition!

March 4, 2025 By Dow Scoggins

This is the last week to enter ADI’s 2025 International Spirits Competition. Registration closes Friday, March 7th, so don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your craft.

Register Now

Why Participate?
1. ADI ISC is the only spirits competition that works to expand the sales opportunities of our top winners by connecting them with leading distributors, retails, importers and e-commerce platforms.
2. Gold medal winners receive national media coverage from our partners at Forbes, The Whiskey Wash and Distiller Magazine.
3. All winners receive digital and physical medals with no additional licensing fee.
4. All entrants receive written feedback from our expert judges and free entry into our Excellence in Packaging Awards.

Take advantage of this opportunity to shine and secure your spot Today!

You can find more information about our 2025 International Spirits Competition here, and we look forward to celebrating your craft at this year’s competition!

The Best American Whiskeys of 2024 by Fred Minnick

December 30, 2024 By Dow Scoggins

Fred Minnick’s 2024 Top 100 American Whiskeys – Complete Article
1: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 117.2 Proof, $250
2: Nashtucky “Nashville’s Connected Spirits Small Batch Rye,” 112.4 Proof, $69.99
3: George T. Stagg, 136.1 Proof, $149.99
4: Nashtucky “Nashville’s Connected Spirits Small Batch Bourbon,” 120.4 Proof, $69.99
5: Little Book “The Infinite” Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 119.3 Proof, $249.99
6: Weller Millennium, 99 Proof, $7,500
7: Larceny Barrel Proof C924 Wheated Bourbon, 125.1 Proof, $69.99
8: Old Line American Single Malt Double Oak Series: Sherry Cask (bottled February 2024), 100 Proof, $65
9: OH Ingram River Aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2024 Flagship), 117.7 Proof, $83.99
10: Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 107 Proof, $200+
11: Brothers of the Leaf Bourbon Finished in Toasted French Oak Batch 2, 116.2 Proof, $95.99
12: Pinhook Straight Bourbon Vertical Series 2024 Release (unfiltered) 9 Years Old, 114.3 Proof, $99.99
13: Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 107 Proof, $500+
14: Very Olde St. Nick “Straight Outta Bardstown” 10 Years Old Bourbon, 131.6 Proof, $200
15: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A124, 119 Proof, $79.99
16: Still Austin Tanager Texas Bourbon “Cigar Blend” 5 Years Old, 98.4 Proof, $149.99
17: Rare Perfection 8 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 129 Proof, $199.99
18: Smokeye Hill Blue Corn Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon, 131.4 Proof, $62.99
19: Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2024 Release, 108.2 Proof, $220
20: Larceny Barrel Proof Wheated Bourbon A124, 124.2 Proof, $79.99
21: Starlight Bottled in Bond Indiana Straight Bourbon Batch 2, 100 Proof, $44.99
22: Middle West Straight Wheated Bourbon “Michelone Reserve” Batch 1, 122.2 Proof, $46.99
23: Remus Gatsby Reserve 15-Year-Old Straight Bourbon, 104.9 Proof, $279.99
24: J. Mattingly 6-Year Kentucky Bourbon Double Staved Batch 1, 119 Proof, $120
25: Barrell Mizunara 6 Years (blend of Straight Whiskeys) First Edition, 116.42 Proof, $96.99
26: Woodford Reserve Batch Proof, 119.5 Proof, $164.99
27: Stranahan’s 12 Year Single Malt Aged in Port Wine Casks, 94.6 Proof, $144.99
28: Nashville Barrel Company 7 Year Straight Bourbon, 115.62 Proof, $64.99
29: Booker’s Bourbon 2024-4, 125.8 Proof, $99.99
30: Knob Creek Small Batch 18 Year, 100 Proof, $159.99
31: Bluegrass Elkwood Reserve 9 Year, 120 Proof, $149.99
32: Tumblin Dice 8 Year Curated Small Batch Barrel Proof, 116.4 Proof, $80
33: Bardstown Bourbon Co. Whiskey “Bourbon Lore” Collab, 112.5 proof, $169.99
34: Sazerac Straight Rye 18 Years Old, 90 Proof, $124.97
35: Ponfeigh Westsylvania Rye, 117 Proof, $85
36: Cedar Ridge Distillery ‘The QuintEssential’ Special Release – Portside Single Malt, 92 Proof, $56.99
37: Kentucky Peerless Double Oak Batch 18, 108.7 Proof, $88.99
38: Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Rye, 123.2 Proof, $99.99
39: 2XO The Sneakerhead Blend, 104 Proof, $99.99
40: Kentucky Peerless Rye, 107.6 Proof, $109.99
41: New Riff 8 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye, 100 Proof, $86.99
42: Willett Bourbon 8 Year Wheated Bourbon, 108 Proof, $259.99
43: Brothers Bond Bourbon Regenerative Grain, 95 Proof, $59.99
44: Milam & Greene Triple Cask A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskies, 94 Proof, $54.98
45: Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Sherry Finish (dumped on 7-18-2023), 113.1 Proof, $89.99
46: Lost Lantern Far Flung Bourbon, 126.6 Proof, $100
47: Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon Batch 8, 101 Proof, $119.99
48: Booker’s Bourbon 2024-3, 131 Proof, $99.99
49: Angel’s Envy Bourbon Cask Strength 2024, 124.6 Proof, $279.99
50: Bulleit Rye 10 Year Old, 91.2 Proof, $48.99
51: Wild Turkey 8 Year “Jimmy Anniversary,” 101 Proof, $45.99
52: The Magi Blended Rye, $149.99
53: K.Luke Blended Bourbon Batch 10, 120.2 Proof, $109.99
54: Jefferson’s Ocean Double Barrel Rye, 96 proof, $79
55: Brothers Bond Bourbon Cask Strength, 115.1 Proof, $75
56: Chattanooga Whiskey Founders Blend, 100 Proof, $55.99
57: Bomberger’s Bourbon 2024, 108 Proof, $134.99
58: New Riff 8 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 100 proof, $86.99
59: Barrell Bourbon Batch 36, 114.44 Proof, $79.99
60: Keepers Heart Irish + American Whiskey, 110 Proof, $28.99
61: Doc Swinson’s Alter Ego, Sherry and Cognac Finish, 95.8 Proof, $80
62: Epoch Reserve Maryland Straight Rye (100% rye), 100 Proof, $45.99
63: Leopold Brothers 8 Year Bourbon, 110 Proof, $64.99
64: Bardstown Bourbon Rye Amrut Finished Bourbon, 110 proof, $159.99
65: Old Stubborn Potstill Wheated Bourbon Batch 1, 123.8 Proof, $250
66: Union Horse Bourbon Kansas Straight Bourbon Bottled in Bond, 100 Proof, $62
67: Makers Mark Cellar Aged, 115.7 Proof, $229.99
68: Crater Lakes Reserve Straight Oregon Rye, 96 Proof, $45
69: Bywater 4 Grain Louisiana Bourbon, 93 Proof, $48.99
70: Nashville 8-Year Straight Rye Cask Strength, 112.96, $90
71: Woodford Reserve, 90 Proof, $40
72: New Riff Winter Whiskey Bottled in Bond (Malted Oat and Chocolate Malt), 100 proof, $74.99
73: Middle West Straight Wheat Whiskey Batch 1, 125.1 Proof, $49.99
74: Lythgoe 9 Year 4 Grain Kentucky Straight Bourbon Founders Collection, 94 Proof, $89.99
75: Woodinville Founders Find from Bourbon Mash 12 Years, 107 Proof, $129.99
76: Cock of the Walk Proprietors Reserve Lot 3, 112.1 Proof, $150.99
77: Forbidden Bourbon Batch 3, 96 Proof, $134.99
78: Old Pepper Bottled in Bond Rye, 100 Proof, $50
79: Smooth Ambler Contradiction Rye Batch No. 56, 105 Proof, $36
80: Parkers Heritage Malt Cognac Finished Whiskey 14 Years Old, 107 Proof, $170
81: Michter’s Cask Strength Rye, 110.4 Proof, $90
82: Copper Fox Pot Distilled Chestnut American Whiskey, 96 Proof, $65
83: Old Elk Wheated Bourbon 8 Years, 100 Proof, $96
84: Smoke Wagon Small Batch, 100 Proof, $40
85: Penelope Bourbon 4 Grain Blend Batch 19, 114 proof, $64.99
86: James E Pepper Straight Bourbon Decanter, 105.4 Proof, $52.99
87: Preservation Pot Distilled Wheated Bourbon (Cask Strength and Unfiltered), 100 Proof, $149.99
88: Hooten Young Rye, 93 Proof, $64.99
89: High West Bottled In Bond Rye, 100 Proof, $79.99
90: Whiskey Acres 7 Year Illinois Straight Bourbon, 107 Proof, $72.99
91: Boulder Straight Bourbon Cask Strength, 128.4 Proof, $85
92: Garrison Brothers 2024 Laguna Madre, 101 Proof, $399.99
93: Savage + Cooke American Whiskey Finished in Zinfandel Barrels, 113 Proof, $44.99
94: Lawrenceburg 10 Year Rye Whiskey Batch 1 (recently renamed distillery to Larrikin Bourbon Company), 122.3 Proof, $99.99
95: 291 Colorado Whiskey Rye Finished Aspen Wood Staves, 101.7 Proof, $75
96: Green River Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 117.3 Proof, $49.99
97: Lasso Motel Cognac Finish Bourbon, 100 Proof, $74.99
98: Kings County Bottled in Bond New York Bourbon, 100 Proof, $134.99
99: Rabbit Hole Boxergrail 8 Year Cask Strength Rye, 103.8 Proof, $300
100: Pacific Coast Spirits 6 Year California Wheated Bourbon, 114 Proof, $90
101: Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish, 91.4 Proof, $200
102: Pursuit United Double Oaked Rye, 108 proof, $69.99
103: Woodinville Bourbon 8-Year, 100 Proof, $134.99
104: Liberty Pole Peated Rye Batch 6, 111.4 Proof, $64
105: Ben Holladay Rickhouse Proof 6 Year Old Bourbon, 120.1 Proof, $66.99

Laws Whiskey House Releases Three Limited-Edition Bottled in Bond Whiskies

May 27, 2024 By Dustin Scoggins

DENVER, CO— Laws Whiskey House, one of Colorado’s leading distilleries, releases its 2024 Bottled in Bond Bourbon, Rye, and Wheat whiskies. This marks the first time Laws has released three bonded expressions simultaneously, allowing for a side-by-side tasting of the trio, each offering a unique character influenced by the varying grain characteristics from year to year. The 7-year expressions of Laws’ whiskey highlight delicate fruity notes and flavors, perfectly balanced with oak. With the addition of these three whiskies, Laws furthers its mission of adding to the fabric of American whiskey with a Colorado twist.

“I am very excited about the entire Laws Whiskey 2024 bottled in bond line-up.” says Al Laws, founder and president of Laws Whiskey House. “This year, we liked how the 7-year barrels tasted for the Four Grain Bourbon, as we were looking to elevate the sweet caramel notes. So, those who like a sweeter backbone to their bourbon are going to love this. Additionally, I particularly like the classic sour mash bourbon finish in the 2024 release.”

Laws’ 2024 Limited-Edition Bottled in Bond Whiskies

7-Year Bonded Bourbon: Features aromas of sweet florals, thyme, honey, and graham cracker, with rich flavors of walnut, grapefruit pith, dried stone fruit, and a lingering cedar finish. The mash bill comprises 60% corn, 20% heirloom wheat, 10% heirloom rye, and 10% heirloom malted barley. It is aged in new 53-gallon charred oak barrels, with an alcohol by volume (alc/vol) of 50%.

7-Year Bonded Rye: Presents aromas of fresh pastry, cherry cola, and eucalyptus, along with flavors of Red Hots candy, sweet sea grass, mandarin orange tea, and a bright, effervescent tea tree finish. It is made from 100% heirloom rye and aged in new 53-gallon charred oak barrels, with an alc/vol of 50%.

7-Year Bonded Wheat: Offers aromas of apricot and turbinado sugar, along with flavors of cola, pastry dough, and licorice followed by a clean and peppery finish. The mash bill is 100% soft white Centennial spring wheat. It is aged in new 53-gallon charred oak barrels.

Laws is revered for its dedication to showcasing the best of Colorado – from its heirloom grains to its mountain-fresh river water – through its robust portfolio of award-winning spirits. The grains in Laws’ whiskey are grown by the Cody Family Farm in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. At 7,500 feet of elevation, the rugged growing conditions of this valley impart unique flavor profiles to the grains including a distinct minerality that comes from the calcium- and mineral-rich soil of what used to be a prehistoric lake. This, combined with the effects of Denver’s high altitude during the aging process, results in singular and novel whiskies that reflect the state’s unique terroir.

“The San Luis Valley Rye always has the most range with true vintage year terroir stemming from the grain. This year we elevated the brightness and strived for greater balance in its traditional flavor notes,” says Al Laws. “In the Bonded Centennial Wheat, balance was also the goal, with some focus on bringing root beer and/or sarsaparilla notes forward. These, coupled with the creamsicle elements, are what I like about this excellent summer sipper over ice.”

Laws is proud to carry forward the quality standard set by the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 with the addition of these three whiskies. To qualify as a Bottled in Bond whiskey, the expression must be made by one distillery in a single season, must be bottled at 100 proof (50% abv), and must be aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse. Meeting and exceeding these standards allows the distillery to fully explore the distinctive properties of a whiskey made with heirloom grains. These releases reflect Laws Whiskey House’s dedication to craftsmanship, showcasing exceptional quality and distinctive character in each bottle.

About Laws Whiskey House

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 please visit https://lawswhiskeyhouse.com/

Laws Whiskey House Wins “World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon” at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards

February 23, 2024 By Dow Scoggins

DENVER, Colorado — Laws Whiskey House celebrates its coveted win at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards, the most respected whiskey competition in the world. Laws Cask Strength Four Grain Bourbon earns recognition as the “World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon” for its exceptional quality and superior flavor that sets the standard of excellence.

“We couldn’t be prouder of this achievement. We consider this a win for the entire state of Colorado because our unique growing and distilling conditions create the bold flavor,” says founder and CEO Al Laws. “This award is a testament to the hard work and talent of our team, and we’re proud to be among all the winners who are pushing the boundaries in American Whiskey.”

Laws Cask Strength Four Grain Bourbon is the pinnacle of the brand’s distilling expertise. Laws Whiskey House crafts its flagship Four Grain Bourbon and Cask Strength Bourbon from whiskey aged for a minimum of three and up to ten years in new, 53-gallon oak barrels. While both the flagship Four Grain Bourbon and Cask Strength Four Grain Bourbon are created from the same mashbill and marriage of barrels, the Cask Strength is bottled at a higher proof to highlight the whiskey’s unadulterated characteristics coming straight from the barrel. The finished product offers aromas of baking spice, black tea, and honeysuckle, with bold flavors of orange, clove, and dried fruit.

This achievement further establishes Laws as a leader in the booming Colorado whiskey scene. Laws’ bold, flavorful whiskeys capture the adventurous spirit of Colorado by adding its unique twist to the time-tested traditions of Kentucky, harnessing the power of Denver’s high elevation to age whiskey, and embracing Colorado’s bounty of ancient grain varieties. At Laws, everything is done with care to maximize the flavor of each grain, regardless of the time-intensive methods required.

For more information about Laws and to purchase Laws Cask Strength Four Grain Bourbon nationwide, visit www.lawswhiskeyhouse.com. Follow Laws on Instagram @lawswhiskey and on Facebook facebook.com/lawswhiskey.

The Glenlivet unveils ultra-rare AI-enhanced whisky

February 16, 2024 By Dustin Scoggins

If groundbreaking whisky sounds like your kind of dram, then The Glenlivet’s latest ultra-rare release ought to be on your radar.

Fusing tradition and technology, The Glenlivet: The Twelve Elements’ collection forms part of the brand’s 200th birthday celebrations.

We covered another of the brand’s limited-edition anniversary releases just the other week, with this fine bottle of 12-year-old Speyside single malt a delectable dram worth savouring.

Now, the brand’s latest tech-led release sees them venture into previously untrodden territory. More specifically, blockchain territory.

Harnessing both AI and blockchain technology, this limited-edition release sees the brand team up with The Whisky Exchange to release the AI-designed range through their all-new tech-enabled marketplace – The Whisky Exchange Cabinet.

Those who fancy gaining access ought to read on.

The first to be sold via the all-new platform, this 50-year-old, ultra-rare whisky collection melds the past with the present as far as whisky retailing is concerned.

So, how exactly does it work?

Buyers looking to purchase a bottle from the collection will be offered a digital certificate upon purchase to ensure authenticity and traceability, alongside 5cl samples of the rare cask liquid at 48, 49 and 50 years old, as well as the full bottle come release day.

The digital certificate is transferable, making resale and subsequent proof of ownership a seamless experience.

Each bottle in the collection is priced at €40,000 + VAT.

Plus, unlike most blockchain-enabled platforms, The Whisky Exchange Cabinet will also accept debit and credit cards, alongside digital currency.

It’s a range that pays homage to what the brand describes as ‘the twelve essential elements’ of The Glenlivet single malt – from the spiritual to the scientific.

Aged in two hand-selected casks, both have been undergoing maturation since 1974.

In no particular order, the releases are The Glenlivet: Air, Angel Share, Barley, Cooper, Copper, Distiller, Earth, Fire, Heritage, Time, Water and Wood.

The distinctive whisky combines caramel sweetness and honeycomb according to the whisky minds over at The Glenlivet, notes brought forth from the first-fill bourbon barrel.

The whisky then undergoes a stint in re-fill hogshead casks, which impart truly distinctive and warming toasted oak and ginger spice undertones.

Each of the 12 bottles will be exclusively available via The Whisky Exchange Cabinet, ahead of bottling in summer 2024.

Speaking of the 200th anniversary release, The Glenlivet’s cask expert, Kevin Balmforth, says: “This luxurious whisky showcases the art of balance, where nature and human elements combine to create a liquid of remarkable depth and character.

“This truly exceptional rare expression is a testament to the unique combination of the two hand-selected single malt casks, aged and crafted by a long line of makers presiding over the casks for half a century.

“As we commemorate 200 years of The Glenlivet, this ultra-rare collection represents a look to the future and offers whisky enthusiasts worldwide a foray into the evolution of luxury investments.”

Those wanting to get their paws on a bottle as part of the Twelve Elements release to celebrate the 200th anniversary can make a purchase from the The Whisky Exchange Cabinet.

Those looking to dig deep and purchase a €40,000+ bottle should contact the Whisky Exchange to secure pre-access to the site now.

The marketplace will go live to the public from 11.00am GMT on Wednesday 21st February 2024.

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

Breckenridge Distillery and Breckenridge Brewery Announce Fourth Edition of Sexy Motor Oil Whiskey

February 13, 2024 By Dow Scoggins

BRECKENRIDGE, Colorado— Breckenridge Distillery, one of the most-awarded craft distilleries in the U.S., and Breckenridge Brewery, two subsidiaries of Tilray Brands, announced the fourth edition of Sexy Motor Oil, a limited-release collaboration barrel-aged whiskey alongside a new collaboration, a whiskey-barrel aged beer, of the same name. The two iconic Colorado brands have come together to bring the two new releases of Sexy Motor Oil to lovers of both whiskey and beer this Valentine’s Day.

The ongoing Sexy Motor Oil collaboration between Breckenridge Distillery and Breckenridge Brewery, which are located three miles from one another, involves aging the brewery’s Imperial Oatmeal Stout in the distillery’s bourbon whiskey barrels. After the beer has been emptied from the barrels, the distillery fills the barrels with Breckenridge Bourbon Whiskey where it ages for more than a year to become Sexy Motor Oil whiskey.

This year’s Sexy Motor Oil whiskey is 107 proof, with delicious cherry and caramel cream notes, perfectly balanced with a cinnamon and oak backdrop; dry cacao envelopes the tongue after every sip. The Sexy Motor Oil beer plays up big warming notes of rich chocolate and robust coffee flavors.

The barrel-aged beer is an imperial oatmeal stout aged over six months in a Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon Barrel with a 13.1% abv. With a velvety mouthfeel, this enticing beer is a great cold-weather sipper. The Imperial Oatmeal Stout imparts notes of dark chocolate-covered cherries, espresso, and toffee; and its time in the Breckenridge Distillery’s high-rye bourbon barrels imparts hints of caramel sweetness layered with notes of vanilla. While the bourbon barrels impart bourbon characteristics, it’s the time in the barrel that makes a smooth, complex, and sexy beer.

Starting Valentine’s Day on Feb.14, 2024, the limited-edition Sexy Motor Oil whiskey will be available for purchase at Breckenridge Distillery and the Breckenridge Distillery Tasting Room on Main Street in Breckenridge, Colorado, and will retail for $200. The limited-edition Sexy Motor Oil beer will be available in Crowlers and single-serve 16 oz cans at the Breckenridge Brewery Brewpub for $9 and offer 10oz pours in-house for $8.

“Our collaboration with Breckenridge Brewery has deepened over the years, rooted in a mutual commitment to craftsmanship and innovation,” said Bryan Nolt, founder and CEO of Breckenridge Distillery. “Sexy Motor Oil represents the harmonious blend of our expertise and the embodiment of our shared values. We invite connoisseurs to savor a fusion of distinct flavors, meticulous attention to detail, and a passion for creating exceptional libations.”

“Having both Breck Distillery and the Breck Brew Pub in the same town since the beginning has created a natural hometown partnership–allowing us the ability to talk shop over lunch and come up with creative collaborations like Sexy Motor Oil,” said Jimmy Walker, Head Brewer for Breckenridge Brewery. “Moreover, having them down the street allows us to exchange the freshest barrels possible which maximize the flavor impact on the barrel-aged beer, and the beer barrel-aged whiskey creating something extraordinary.”

Breckenridge Distillery and Breckenridge Brewery are no strangers to barrel aged collaboration projects. In previous years, the two iconic Breckenridge businesses have released Buddy Pass a similar collaborative concept featuring an Imperial Stout Cask Finished Whiskey and Whiskey-Barrel Aged Oatmeal Stout Beer–that is available in select states.

Visit Breckenridge Distillery and Breckenridge Brewery locations to pick up bottles of this year’s limited edition Sexy Motor Oil whiskey and beer to gift on Valentine’s Day.

About Breckenridge Distillery
Founded in Colorado in 2008, Breckenridge Distillery is the “World’s Highest Distillery,” and is best known for its award-winning blended bourbon whiskey, a high-rye mash American-style whiskey.

One of the most highly awarded distilleries in the U.S., the Breckenridge Distillery is proudly a 3x Icons of Whisky and 9x winner of Best American Blended winner at the World Whiskies Awards by Whisky Magazine (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 3x in 2023) and a 4x winner of Colorado Distillery of the Year by the New York International Spirits Competition. Most recently, their Breckenridge High Proof won World’s Best Blended Whiskey at the World Whiskies Awards joining Breckenridge Gin named 2021 World’s Best Compound Gin at the World Gin Awards by Gin Magazine.

The Breckenridge Distillery is more than award-winning spirits, offering an immersive guest experience. Named as one of the country’s Top Visitor Attractions by Whisky Magazine, guests can dine at their award-winning restaurant, enjoy show-stopping cocktails, learn about their highly awarded spirits with an in-depth tasting, and get an inside look at their active production facility. New to the distillery, guests have the opportunity to blend their own whiskey as they learn the inner workings of whiskey production.

About Breckenridge Brewery
Breckenridge Brewery opened its doors in 1990 in the ski town of Breckenridge, Colorado. What started as a small brewpub has grown into one of the largest breweries in the U.S. The original brewery still serves its craft beer and delicious pub fare at a high altitude. The production brewery outside of Denver sends beer to 49 states and offers tours, dining, and a welcoming Colorado beer garden experience. With a focus on balanced, approachable, and interesting beer, the brewery’s portfolio contains classics like Vanilla Porter, Avalanche Amber Ale, Agave Wheat, Strawberry Sky, and Hop Peak IPA, along with a variety of specialty beers that include seasonals, barrel-aged beers, the Brewery Lane Series, and a nitrogen-charged canned series. Visit www.breckbrew.com for more information.

Both Breckenridge Distillery and Breckenridge Brewery are subsidiaries of Tilray Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY and TSX: TLRY), a leading global cannabis-lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company inspiring and empowering the worldwide community to live their very best life.

50+ Fun Whiskey Trivia, Facts and History

New Riff Distilling Names First Master Distiller, Brian Sprance

February 2, 2024 By Dow Scoggins

Newport, Kentucky — New Riff Distilling announced head distiller Brian Sprance has been named master distiller, the first designation in the distillery’s history. Sprance has been with the company since its inception in 2014.

Ahead of the distillery’s founding in 2014, Sprance was recruited as head distiller by New Riff founder, co-owner and chief executive officer Ken Lewis, who, rather than hiring a distiller, understood that fermentation is where a spirit’s flavors are created; distillation only concentrates them. To Lewis, Sprance’s extensive expertise in fermentation as a former brewer for the Boston Beer Company in Cincinnati spoke for itself.

“When I founded New Riff in 2014, my goal was, and still is, for our Northern Kentucky distillery to become one of the great small distilleries of the world,” Lewis said. “The person at New Riff leading that charge to make world-class whiskey to share with the world is our head distiller Brian Sprance. So it’s fitting as we approach our tenth anniversary, that we recognize Brian for his leadership role in moving us forward toward that aspirational goal and for sharing with us all such outstanding whiskey by conferring on him the well earned title of master distiller.”

Upon joining New Riff, Sprance was mentored by consulting master distiller and “godfather of rye whiskey” Larry Ebersold, an unrivaled authority in the world of distillation and American whiskey. Together with New Riff co-founder Jay Erisman, they launched the distillery and laid the foundation for the flavor profiles of its spirits and aging regimen.

“Larry Ebersold was instrumental in my training as a distiller and I consider myself extremely lucky to count him as a mentor,” Sprancesaid. “Larry was an excellent teacher who rarely gave the answer, but instead, motivated me to reach a full understanding of each situation that presented itself in the whiskey making process. While I consider Larry one of my biggest influences in whiskey today, I’m even luckier to consider him a trusted and valued friend.”

While this transition serves as a unanimous nod to his exceptional contribution to the company’s quest to become one of the greatest small distilleries in the world and a testament to a decade’s worth of profound work mastering his craft, Brian’s primary focus as master distiller will remain in making world-class whiskey.

The master distiller announcement kicks off an eventful year for New Riff that will include expansion into new states, tenth anniversary celebrations and the release of older whiskey.

“2024 will be a transformational year for New Riff,” Lewis said. “The team has put in a lot of work behind the scenes and I’m excited to share those efforts with our customers.”

New Riff (Newport, KY)
New Riff is an independently-owned distillery in Northern Kentucky — the gateway to bourbon country. In 2014, founder Ken Lewis, a visionary Kentucky liquor retailer and entrepreneur, saw a need for a new riff on an old tradition when it came to Kentucky bourbon. The Newport, Ky., distillery produces bourbon, rye and Kentucky Wild Gin. Bourbon and rye are made with traditional sour mash methods and bottled-in-bond without chill filtration. Bourbon and rye are also available in single barrel selections, and the distillery boasts a popular private barrel selection program. New Riff sources its water from an aquifer under the distillery, accessed via a 100’ deep private well and providing water with four times as much dissolved minerals than found in other water supplies. New Riff believes in transparency, so all products feature an age statement and the mashbills are public. The modern venue hosts a variety of events and offers an on-site bar, The Aquifer.

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

50+ Fun Whiskey Trivia, Facts and History – Click Here

Winter Park Whiskey Brand Celebrates New Product Release

November 23, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Eight months after opening their Winter Park blending house and tasting room, Forward/Slash Premium Blended Whiskey co-owners Tim Bradstreet and Michael Buffa are evolving the brand through new partnerships and a landmark product tie-in to the holiday season.

“We wanted to create a holiday whiskey, but also something no one has ever seen before,” Buffa told the32789 of the company’s new Krampus Rye: a limited-edition blended whiskey aged in a spiced rum barrel.

The idea came during a product sampling at Lugo’s Craft Distillery in Lakeland. “Spiced rum isn’t something that typically is aged, but it just so happens they were working on a project for someone,” Bradstreet explained. Once the aging process was complete, distillery owner Christian Lugo agreed to part with the empty barrel “and we immediately filled it with a blend of rye whiskeys to see what would happen.” The result is a rich color with an added spice and sweetness to the traditional rye whiskey flavor profile that Buffa calls “Christmas in a glass.”

Named after the mythical creature who punishes the naughty at Christmastime, the November 24 Krampus Rye release at Forward/Slash’s 650 S. Capen Ave. tasting room featured holiday decor, a heavy-metal Spotify soundtrack and looped showings of the 2015 fantasy/horror film “Krampus.”

The process may seem like a happy accident, but trial-and-error is what blending is all about. And the limited quantities that result from unique pairings are what make the Forward/Slash experience special.

Buffa and Bradstreet work with independent distilleries from across the country, choosing and combining the best products based on flavor characteristics. Forward/Slash bottles its own line of whiskeys and a blended vodka, but experiments can often result in small batches of unique flavors that are only served in the company tasting room. Tours provide a glimpse into the Forward/Slash process and include a lesson in blending distillates to achieve specific flavors.

The Krampus Rye label even comes courtesy of a business pairing with Orlando-based Leviathan Artworks.

“I had this Krampus shirt design already made,” said artist/owner Robert Fischer. “They saw it and asked about using it for the label.” Fischer also created an exclusive Forward/Slash t-shirt that features a skeleton carrying a bourbon barrel.

“We’ve known Robert for a while, he even had his wedding reception here at Forward/Slash,” said Buffa. “It’s cool when you can work with people who have that kind of appreciation and understanding about you do.”

The Forward/Slash staff is currently serving Krampus Rye pours and cocktails in the tasting room with a yet-to-be-determined number of bottle sales. “We have about 281 bottles,” said Buffa. “We want to have enough to serve in pours and cocktails through December, so we’ll see what we’ve got left after the event.”

As for 2024, Buffa and Bradstreet are working on additional partnerships and events. This year, they hosted car shows in partnership with Porsche Club of America, attended their first Cows ‘n Cabs on November 11 and were among the beverage providers at the 2023 Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival.

“We have lots of exciting plans for the new year, but we’re not releasing details on those items yet,” said Buffa. “It’s been a great first year for us and we can’t wait to expand upon the experiences we offer here.”

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

CT spirits retailers, distillery partner to launch whiskey fundraiser to build homes for veterans

November 23, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

NEW MILFORD — It was over a single barrel of bourbon whiskey that John NeJaime, owner of NeJaime’s Wine & Spirits and New Milford Spirit Shoppe, hatched the idea for a fundraiser to support a nonprofit that gifts homes to military veterans.

NeJaime said the inspiration for the fundraiser came after a visit to Litchfield Distillery in Litchfield with friends from “CT Bourbon Bastards,” a Facebook bourbon community with over 1,600 members.

After their visit to Litchfield Distillery, the “CT Bourbon Bastards” promoted a barrel of whiskey purchased from Litchfield Distillery on the group’s Facebook page and the barrel “sold out immediately,” according to NeJaime.

NeJaime was inspired to pick a special Litchfield Distillery single-barrel whiskey to sell at his business and donate all the proceeds to a nonprofit.

He partnered with “CT Bourbon Bastards” and Taylor Deegan from Worldwide Wine & Spirits in Southington to pick a single barrel of 5-year-old bourbon whiskey from Litchfield Distillery for the fundraiser.

A total of 150 bottles of the whiskey were released for sale at NeJaime’s Wine & Spirits and Worldwide Wine & Spirits on Friday. For $59.99, customers can purchase a bottle of whiskey that will go toward creating homes for veterans and their families. All proceeds will be donated to Building Homes for Heroes.

NeJaime’s choice of nonprofit for the fundraiser came from his connections to Building Homes for Heroes, a New York-based nonprofit that builds or modifies homes and gifts them mortgage-free to injured veterans and their families, according to the nonprofit’s website.

Building Homes for Heroes also provides family team-building and support services for veterans’ physical, emotional and financial wellbeing, said Tony Sigillito, a friend of NeJaime’s and founding board member and treasurer for the nonprofit.

“There’s a lot of needs out there, but Building Homes for Heroes relates to our product,” Baker said. “Our tagline is, ‘The spirit of hard work,’ and nobody works harder than the vets. And we think the values between that nonprofit and everybody involved seemed to link up to our values.”

Five different barrels of Litchfield Distillery’s whiskey were tasted before the group picked the 5-year-old bourbon whiskey for the fundraiser.

Baker said the selected bourbon whiskey is 122-proof and “one of our first releases of that proof in a five-year range.”

“I think it’ll go pretty quickly,” he said. “We expect it to sell out right away.”

That same evening, Baker presented Chloe Sigillito, Tony Sigillito’s daughter, with a $500 check to support Building Homes for Heroes, said Tony Vengrove, whose firm Miles Finch Innovation handles the branding and marketing for Litchfield Distillery.

An additional $275 was raised for Building Homes for Heroes in an auction for a limited six-year Litchfield Distillery bourbon whiskey.

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

Barrell Craft Spirits debuts first 100-proof bourbon

November 4, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Barrell Craft Spirits may have only opened its doors in 2013, but it’s already one of the most popular whiskey producers in the country. Located in Louisville, in the heart of bourbon country, the brand is well-known for its innovative blending techniques, hand-selected barrels, and unique finishing processes.

When it comes to spirits specifically, it’s known for its myriad numbered batches of bourbon, American whiskey, rye, and rum, as well as ongoing releases like Dovetail, Armida, Seagrass, and others. But where it shines is with its cask strength bourbon releases.

For those unaware, cask strength means that after the maturation process, the distillers didn’t add any water to proof the whiskey down. Instead of 80 or even 90-proof, the whiskeys will be more like 110-120-proof.

While the terms “sourcing” and “blending” seem like naughty words to some whiskey drinkers, they don’t bother the folks at Barrell Craft Spirits. Unlike some whiskey producers, Barrell Craft makes its name with blends. The Barrell bourbon brand is highly regarded for its blending prowess, melding sourced whiskeys from various distillery partners throughout the U.S. (and the world in some cases). That’s why it’s so exciting when the brand announces a new expression. Especially one that takes it a little off course: Its first non-cask strength bourbon. One created to be enjoyed on “all occasions.”

Its newest expression is called Barrel Foundation Bourbon, and its whiskeys come from all over the country. But this whiskey is more than a unique and interesting name. It’s a blend of eight-year-old Kentucky bourbon, five, six, and nine-year-old Indiana bourbons, eight-year-old Tennessee bourbon, as well as five and six-year-old Maryland bourbons. It carries a mash bill of 73% corn, 23% rye, and only 4% malted barley, making it a high-rye spicier bourbon yet remaining at a low ABV (as compared to its other offerings).

“Barrell Foundation is a delicious and easy-drinking bourbon whiskey with all the flavor of a cask strength bourbon whiskey at 100-proof,” Barrell Craft Spirits founder Joe Beatrice said in a press release. “We believe that a true art form in bourbon-making is the ability to produce bourbon whiskey that can be enjoyed by everyone, and we welcomed the challenge to show that we can produce great bourbon whiskey at a more approachable strength and price for all occasions.”

He added, “For 10 years, we’ve led the blending movement in the U.S. and now welcome this exciting opportunity to be a trailblazer of an entirely different style of bourbon whiskey.”

If you want to get your hands on a bottle of this mellow, easy-drinking bourbon, you can purchase one online on the Barrel Craft Spirits website or at select retailers in Arizona, California, DC, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Washington State. It was released in October for a suggested retail price of $59.99 for a 750ml bottle. If you don’t live in one of those states, it will roll out nationally in January of 2024.

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