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WhistlePig unveils its rarest release: Farmstock Rye

August 16, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Vermont-based producer WhistlePig has bottled its annual limited edition farm-to-bottle whiskey series: FarmStock Beyond Bonded.

Described as the brand’s ‘most ambitious whiskey experiment’, the expressions in the WhistlePig FarmStock Beyond Bonded series have been bottled in bond, having been harvested and distilled at the WhistlePig farm and distillery in Shoreham, Vermont in one season.

“FarmStock Beyond Bonded is at the heart of our strongest commitments to the whiskey world,” said Meghan Ireland, chief blender at WhistlePig.

“First, to relentlessly experiment to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Beyond Bonded is our greatest experiment in that we can control every detail of the process here on the farm.

“Then, to turn that innovative spirit into whiskeys that are truly unique in quality and complexity. It started with rye, and we’re having a grand time doing the same with Bourbon, wheat and other whiskeys.”

For the first time, this year’s FarmStock Beyond Bonded release includes a straight wheat whiskey, straight rye whiskey and a straight Bourbon whiskey.
The three WhistlePig FarmStock Beyond Bonded expressions, all of which rest at 50% ABV, are the product of grains from the brand’s nine grain fields across 500 acres.

All have been distilled and proofed with the farm’s own well water, and aged in their own sustainably-harvested Vermont oak.

WhistlePig said the range is its rarest release with just 23 barrels produced, each of which has been bottled as a single barrel, and are fully traceable at every step of the grain-to-glass journey via a QR code located on each bottle.

The distillery produced 11 barrels of the rye, nine barrels of the Bourbon, and three barrels of wheat whiskey.

The straight wheat whiskey joins the line-up with a mash bill of 100% wheat from WhistlePig’s experimental crop fields, bringing a ‘softer style’ to the range.

WhistlePig has experimented with wheat whiskey within all of its annual ‘Stock’ limited editions.

HomeStock Whiskey, released in 2020, and this year’s SummerStock Whiskey, both include wheat whiskey blended with rye and other grains.

FarmStock Beyond Bonded marks WhistlePig’s first straight wheat whiskey, and is said to demonstrate WhistlePig’s continued expansion beyond rye as it takes its bold style and experimental approach to new categories.

As a nod to WhistlePig’s beginnings at Vermont farmers markets, this year’s release of FarmStock Beyond Bonded can only be found only in its home state until the end of summer.

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

Ross & Squibb Distillery Master Distiller Ian Stirsman Releases 2023 Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey

August 16, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Lawrenceburg, Ind. — Ross & Squibb Distillery announced the newest member of the Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey brand family: Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey. Hand-selected by Ross & Squibb Distillery Master Distiller Ian Stirsman, Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey is set for limited release of 3,000, 6-in cases in time for National Rye Month this month and will be available at select retailers at a suggested price of $49.99 per 700 ml bottle.

Aged six years and offered at 100 proof, Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey features a mash bill consisting of 51% rye and 49% barley malt. This release was distilled in March of 2017.

“I’m proud to continue Ross & Squibb’s tradition of creating high-quality rye whiskey that dates back to 1847. Since that time, we have worked to perfect our craft, giving our rye whiskeys unmatched character,” said Stirsman. “For our Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey we combined our industry leading rye expertise with a new high malt mashbill to create something truly special. We then let the barrels mature for a minimum of 6 years, resulting in aromas of sweet malt, dark chocolate, raisin and saddle leather with tasting notes highlighted by caramel and mocha with a rich, candied-fruit body, followed by a slight green-apple, malted-chocolate and cinnamon finish.”

“With the growing American whiskey market, compounded by the craft-cocktail revival across America, we are seeing a growing interest and demand for dark, more-complex spirits,” said Shanae Randolph, Marketing Director-Brands for MGP’s Luxco Branded Spirits. “Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey arrives at just the right time, as it is made the way rye whiskeys are supposed to be and is perfect in cocktails made the way they used to be.”

About Luxco

Founded in St. Louis in 1958 by the Lux Family, Luxco is a leading producer, supplier, importer and bottler of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Merged with MGP Ingredients, Inc. in 2021 (Nasdaq: MGPI), Luxco operates as MGP’s Brands Division and manages all MGP/Luxco brands. This extensive and award-winning spirits portfolio includes well-known brands from four distilleries: Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers, home of Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson and Daviess County; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery, maker of Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey and Bowling & Burch Gin; Jalisco, Mexico-based Destiladora González Lux, producer of 100% agave tequilas, El Mayor, Exotico and Dos Primos; and Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey are produced. The innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Penelope Bourbon, Everclear Grain Alcohol, Pearl Vodka, Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream, The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey, Green Hat Gin and other well-recognized brands.

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

Maker’s Mark Is Releasing Its Oldest Bourbon Ever Next Month

August 16, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Maker’s Mark is one of those quietly appreciated bourbon brands, churning out reliable, high-quality whiskey minus the fanfare that other distilleries sometimes operate under. One thing that has been on many whiskey fans’ wishlists, however, is an older, age-stated expression from Maker’s. At long last, that has arrived in the form of Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged, and we got an early preview of the liquid.

I visited the distillery earlier this month to taste the new bourbon and talk to the team about how it came to be. Regular Maker’s is aged for an average of six to seven years, and according to a rep for the brand every single barrel is rotated by hand and moved from the upper levels of the rickhouses down to the lower levels to ensure flavor consistency. Innovation manager Beth Buckner said that even with that barrel rotation, Maker’s aged for much longer doesn’t quite fit the brand’s “taste vision.” “The number one objective for our taste vision is ‘yummy,’ which for us means bitter free,” she said. “For years, people asked if we could go older. . .We listen to what consumers want, but we’re never gonna innovate solely on that. If we did, we’d have RTDs and all of these trends that last three years and then [disappear].”

That all changed when the distillery opened its proprietary limestone maturation cellar in 2016. The temperature here is always 50 degrees or colder, making this an environment more akin to Scotland than Kentucky. “What if you could take fully mature Maker’s Mark and move it out of the warehouse and into the cellar?” said Buckner. “You change the aging environment where you stop or slow the tannic extraction from the barrel, but allow the whiskey to continue to oxidize and age and create more complex flavor notes.”
That’s exactly what they did, moving six-year-old bourbon from the rickhouses into the cellar to mature for another five to six years. The final blend of Cellar Aged is 13 percent 11-year-old bourbon and 87 percent 12-year-old bourbon bottled at cask strength of 115.7 proof (the TTB label some people saw online erroneously had the proof at 90). According to senior director and head of innovation, Blake Layfield, they sampled about 100 different blends before deciding on the final one.

Cellar Aged is a delicious bourbon, starting off with a strong whiff of honey on the nose. It’s still recognizably Maker’s Mark on the palate, but with deeper, more tannic notes and a huge amount of fruit. There is dried fruit and fresh dark berries, along with caramel, citrus, cinnamon, and other baking spices, and just a hint of menthol on the finish. I was able to sample a 12-year-old Maker’s bourbon aged entirely in the rickhouses to compare, and while that was also pretty good the palate was entirely different with much drier oaky notes.

Buckner said there are more barrels aging in the cellar, and that Cellar Aged will be an annual release going forward with the ages and percentages of the whiskey in the blend changing each year. 30,000 bottles are being released globally, and the whiskey will be available here in the U.S. in September. The price tag is $150, but who knows if this whiskey will go the way of Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old and sell for triple that on the secondary market. In the meantime, you can find the entire Maker’s Mark lineup, including some of the recent Wood Finishing Series releases, available for purchase from ReserveBar.

For more information please visit https://www.makersmark.com/distillery

The Glenturret Releases 2023 Core Collection, Featuring First 35-Year Whisky

August 10, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

The Glenturret recently announced it is releasing its Core Collection for 2023, made up this year of eight signature whiskies.

A statement from the whisky maker noted that for the first time, a 35 Years Old expression will join the range, this one made from a single European oak Sherry butt chosen for its complex personality.

Whisky Maker Bob Dalgarno is responsible for The Glenturret’s collection, this after his four decades in the Scotch industry led him to be inducted in the Whisky Hall of Fame last December.

For the first five whiskies in the 2023 core collection, they are the Triple Wood, the 7 Years Old Peat Smoked, 10 Years Old Peat Smoked, 12 Years Old, and 15 Years Old.

Joining the five new expressions are three highly-limited single malts, the first a 25 Years Old. It was created from six casks stowed in The Glenturret’s traditional Dunnage warehouses for a quarter of a century, including a European oak which brings fruit, aromatic spices and oak notes. Then there’s an American oak cask, which adds sweetness and vanilla with the refill casks offering touches of citrus.

The distiller noted that there will only be 210 bottles of these available worldwide.

The Glenturret 30 Years Old, which is limited to 500 bottles, comes from a European oak cask that imparts a rich fruit flavor combined with hints of brandy and ginger; a Port pipe that brings a warm ruby hue and touches of red fruits; then there’s sweeter notes of tropical fruit salad and bananas brought on by The Glenturret’s new make spirit added by two American oak hogsheads.

The final new expression in the 2023 release is the 35 Years Old, with only 185 bottles available. The liquid comes from a single European oak Sherry butt, which alongside the expected character of dried fruits, spices and oak features notes of tropical fruit and vanilla.

John Laurie, The Glenturret’s managing director, said that the passion, time and energy that has gone into each of the expressions the team’s created is something that they are quite proud of. “We release a new collection each year, trying to create something special each year, so hopefully our customers will enjoy the new 2023 Collection as much as we do.”

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

Barrell Craft Spirits Continues to ‘Push the Creative Envelope’ With 2 Whiskey Releases Including Highly Anticipated Rye

August 10, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

On Tuesday, Barrell Craft Spirits announced the launch of two new expressions: Barrell Bourbon Batch 035 and Rye Batch 004. Barrell Bourbon Batch 035 won a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Rye Batch 004 is Barrell Craft Spirits’ first rye batch since 2020. The rye batch will debut a new back label that will share the rye components in the blend.

Barrell Bourbon Batch 035 is a blend that consists of 6- and 7-year-old high-rye and high-proof bourbons. Barrell Craft Spirits said the more oak-forward expressions are mingled with 8-year-old subtler, lower-proof expressions for two months. Thirteen-year-old barrels with a more “dominant fruit” profile were layered into the final blend, which was bottled at a cask strength of 116.24 proof.

Rye Batch 004 consists of a blend of straight rye whiskeys from Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Canada. The Indiana rye barrels were 10 years of age and blended with 14-year-old Canadian rye barrels, which BCS says were chosen for their herbaceous qualities. The mashbill consists of 89% rye, 7% corn and 4% malted barley. The expression was bottled at a cask strength of 115.7 proof.

“It’s incredible to think we’ve launched 35 unique bourbon batches over the past 10 years, which truly speaks to our passion for pushing the creative envelope every day,” Barrell Craft Spirits founder Joe Beatrice said in a news release. “We’re also thrilled to launch our first rye batch since 2020 which marks the debut of our new back labels that will become a staple of nearly all our future releases. As longtime champions of transparency, this further underscores our commitment to informing consumers about what’s in their glass of whiskey.”

Barrell Craft Spirits is no stranger to producing critically acclaimed expressions of rye. Its 16-Year Gray Label Seagrass received a perfect score on Whiskey Raiders

Barrell Bourbon Batch 035

Nose: Lemon curd, cherry, and banana bread intermingled with olive and thyme.

Taste: Mexican hot chocolate, cinnamon and dried chili peppers.

Finish: Lime zest and amaretto.

Barrell Rye Batch 004

Nose: Copper tones, pumpkin highlights.

Taste: Blackberry, dried apricot and concord grape.

Finish: Burnt marshmallow, rich espresso, black licorice and umami.

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

Jack Daniel’s Releases Limited Edition Añejo Tequila Barrel-Finished Tennessee Whiskey

August 9, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Lynchburg, Tennessee (July 27, 2023) – The Jack Daniel Distillery introduces Distillery Series selection #11, a Tennessee Whiskey finished in añejo tequila barrels, which marry the flavors of agave and oak. The American White Oak barrels for this experimental whiskey first aged Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, then they matured añejo tequila in Mexico before returning to Lynchburg to finish this Tennessee Whiskey.

“As one of the most complete distilleries in the world, we’re fortunate to have the ability to experiment with every part of the whiskey making process, and that’s what our Distillery Series is all about,” said Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “This añejo tequila barrel-finished whiskey pushes the bounds on what people may expect out of a Tennessee Whiskey, yet still has the familiar characteristics that are uniquely Jack Daniel’s.”

Finishing the whiskey in añejo tequila barrels brings together flavors of agave and oak, with aromas of sweet citrus and light oak on the nose and a taste of brown sugar and dried spices. It’s crowned with notes of the matured añejo tequila with a sweet Tennessee Whiskey finish, achieved through the distinctive barrel aging process.

Selected by Whiskey Taster Danny Lamb, Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series selection #11 is bottled at 90 proof (45% abv) and is now available in 375ml bottles with a suggested retail price of $41.99 at the White Rabbit Bottle Shop at the Jack Daniel Distillery and in select stores in Tennessee.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

For more information, visit www.jackdaniels.com.

Doc Swinson’s Garryana Exploratory Cask Straight Bourbon

August 9, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

The company, founded in 2017, is an independent bottler and the house brand of Distillers Way LLC. As an independent bottler, they source barrels of whiskey to bottle under their own label, often blending them to create a signature style, finishing them in a wide variety of wood types, and cutting to proof, though, here, the whiskey tends to be released close to cask proof.

Doc Swinson’s calls Ferndale, WA home. This tiny town is located near Vancouver, BC about 100 miles north of Seattle along the bay. Here, a team of four runs the entire operation: Jesse Parker, the Head Spirits Master; Steve Main, the Sales Director; Chris Cearns, the Chief Financial Officer; and Keith Seidel, the Director of Operations.

Parker is young with no formal training, but he cut his teeth at a small, family-owned distillery where he began racking up primo awards for his creations. He’s gone on to win several dozen more for his blends for Doc Swinson’s, including winning best in class for finished bourbon at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

As an independent bottler, the brand sources all of their whiskies—nothing is distilled in house. The current line up all hails from Midwest Grain Products Distillery in Lawrenceburg, IN, aka MGP. Sourcing from this large distillery in Indiana can be a prickly subject for some, but the team at Doc Swinson’s makes no attempts to hide and certainly excels with their selections (see the aforementioned awards).

The lineup reminds me of some releases from Buzzard’s Roost I tasted last year, another producer that releases finished whiskies from rye-heavy MGP mash bills in a similar price range, though with a radically different char for the finishing barrels. Doc Swinson’s lineup tends not show the lushness, pillowy sweetness, and aromatic intensity I often associate with MGP bourbons. Instead they manage an unusual twist of reserved yet complex aromatics. Perhaps it’s just that salty Vancouver bay air.

This whiskey being tasted today, the Doc Swinson’s Garryana Exploratory Cask Straight Bourbon, is one of several from the “Exploratory Cask” series. The house base, a blend of two different rye-heavy bourbons distilled by MGP, was finished in 350L Garryana oak casks for two and a half months.

Garryana oak is a white oak native to the Pacific Northwest along the coastal area. Working with local wood is of growing interest in the wine trade, too, as producers explore alternative techniques and focus on sustainability by sourcing locally. It’s exciting to see its use in whiskey.

In the glass, the local oak finishing is described by the company as showcasing “the richness of the Pacific Northwest terroir offering deep, dark, and complex notes ranging from molasses, toffee, clove, BBQ plums, and a subtle wood smoke.” If you’re looking to explore some PNW terroir, Doc Swinson’s is distributed in 26 states and Canada.

About Doc Swinson’s

The Doc Swinson’s Collection began with an extremely small cache of Bourbon Barrels that were just too good to pass up. It has since grown into a unique and on occasion extremely rare, collection of American whiskies. The proof is in the palate. Each whiskey brought in is personally tasted by the four of us at Doc Swinson’s. If it’s good we will find a place for it in either the Flagship, Exploratory or Rare Release series.

When it comes to finishing techniques, we look to the old-world traditions that have stood the test of time, from Scottish whiskey blenders to the timeless sherry pyramids of the Spanish solera. However, sometimes we stumble upon a whiskey that needs no perfecting and we simply bottle at cask strength.

Whatever whiskey comes through these doors, our small group of tastemakers at Doc’s work hard to create flavor profiles that hold our expectations of great whiskey to a higher standard; and that starts by always letting the whiskey shine.

For more information please visit https://www.docswhiskey.com/about

Hood River Distillers Releases McCarthy’s 6-Year Oregon Single Malt Whiskey

August 4, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

HOOD RIVER, Ore.— Hood River Distillers (HRD), the largest and oldest importer, distiller, producer, bottler, and marketer of distilled spirits in the Northwest, has continued to innovate in the American Single Malt category with the limited release of McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt Whiskey, aged for six years in Oregon Oak casks and finished for 4 months in Oloroso Sherry Casks.

The McCarthy’s Portfolio now includes McCarthy’s 3-year Oregon Single Malt Whiskey, McCarthy’s 6-year Oregon Single Malt Whiskey, McCarthy’s 6-year Oregon Single Malt Whiskey finished in PX Sherry Casks and McCarthy’s 6-year Oregon Single Malt Whiskey finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks.

Sourced from Spain, the finishing casks are shipped soon after draining to retain all the walnut and spice notes imparted by the wine. Oloroso Sherry is typically dry and produced by oxidative aging, allowing the slow development of sugar and flavors to build over time. The result is a blend inspired by the sherry and custom made for these casks.
“Oloroso has long been one of our favorite sherries, and we are very excited about this latest release as it pushes our familiar profile in a lighter and brinier direction than previous editions,” said Caitlin Bartlemay, Head Distiller. “Our newest distiller Garrett Trotter took inspiration from Oloroso Sherry’s renowned balsamic and nutty flavors and put together a blend that is a sunny and welcoming dram. This bottle of McCarthy’s spotlights the charm of America’s first single malt in a whole new way. With less smoke, more honey, and higher acid, this will make your summer sip memorable.”

McCarthy’s 6-year Oregon Single Malt Whiskey finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks will be available in limited quantities through retailers in Oregon, New York, Colorado, Texas, Washington state and California, as well as online.

About Hood River Distillers

Founded in 1934 and headquartered in Hood River, Ore., Hood River Distillers is the Northwest’s largest and oldest importer, distiller, producer, and marketer of distilled spirits. Timberline Vodka, Forthwest Whisky, Big Gin, Batanga Tequila, Easy Rider Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Trail’s End Finished Small Batch Bourbon, DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo and New World Amaro, Clear Creek, McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt, Old Delicious, Sinfire Whisky, Lucid Absinthe Supe´rieure, ULLR Nordic Libation, Yazi Ginger Vodka, Lewis and Clark, HRD Vodka and the complete line of Monarch distilled spirits are distributed across the country.

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

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Releases Voyage Its Best Expression To Date

August 3, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

Master’s Keep is a range of limited-release whiskeys offered each year by Wild Turkey Distilling Company, a division of Campari Group. Now in its seventh year, it was initially developed by Master Distiller Eddie Russell in 2015.

Six yearly releases have been bourbon whiskeys, while one has been a rye whiskey. There was no release in 2016. Recently, I sat down with Eddie Russell to talk about Master’s Keep Voyage, his latest release.

Master’s Keep Voyage is a 10-year-old bourbon that has been finished for approximately eight weeks in a rum cask from Appleton Estate in Santa Cruz, Jamaica, which previously held 14 YO pot still rum. Appleton, one of Jamaica’s most storied rum producers, is also owned by Campari Group. This expression was the first rum cask finish in Wild Turkey’s history.

The project was a collaboration between Russell and Dr. Joy Spence, the renowned Master Blender of Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum. The two producers have over 80 years of combined experience crafting fine spirits. According to Russell:

Every year, we look forward to the release of Master’s Keep as an opportunity to rethink what our bourbon can be. Creating Master’s Keep Voyage in collaboration with Dr. Joy Spence was a real privilege, and I think our shared passion for telling a story through our spirits comes through in this one-of-a-kind whiskey.

With Voyage, we set out to develop a spirit that allows the notes of the rum and bourbon to work in harmony. By aging Eddie’s hand-selected batch of 10-year-old bourbon in the finest casks we have at Appleton Estate, we were able to achieve a new level of flavor that gives whiskey and bourbon lovers a new way to enjoy their favorite drinks.

Voyage is the third Master’s Keep expression that underwent a cask finish. The other two were Master’s Keep Revival (2018), which experienced a finish in a cask that previously held 20 YO Oloroso Sherry, and Master’s Keep One (2021), which underwent a cask finish in toasted oak barrels.

The Sherry cask finish added fruitiness and sweetness and enhanced the nuttiness typical of Wild Turkey. The toasted oak barrel finish imparted a rich and smooth flavor, extenuating the vanilla, toasted oak, and caramel notes characteristic of Wild Turkey.

All six bourbon releases were based on the Wild Turkey mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley and were matured in barrels with a #4 char. The exception was Master’s Keep Cornerstone (2019), a rye whisky with a mash bill of 52% rye, 36% corn, and 12% malted rye.

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

Introducing Hemingway Rye Whiskey Signature Edition

August 3, 2023 By Dustin Scoggins

BEAVER DAM, Ky. — Hemingway Whiskey Company today announced the highly anticipated debut of its core expression, Hemingway Rye Whiskey Signature Edition. This new offering is family-made and builds upon eight generations of Kentucky whiskey heritage. In addition to Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida, Signature Edition will be available in 10 new states for the brand.

Hemingway Rye Whiskey Signature Edition represents the coming together of three families, eight generations, and one mission: to tell a new story, rich in history, via high-quality Kentucky rye whiskey. The new whiskey draws its inspiration from the legacy of the legendary American author, journalist, and storyteller, Ernest Hemingway. His family works in true collaboration with Hemingway Whiskey Company, sharing behind-the-scenes stories of the writer and helping the team uncover hidden gems to be used as inspiration for the brand.

The Groth family, including Hemingway Whiskey Company Founder and Leader Steve Groth, a whiskey pioneer and co-founder of the revered Angel’s Envy Bourbon, brought the brand to life through rich storytelling and authentic promotion. The Call family, Seventh-Generation Master Distiller Ron Call and his sons, Call Family Ambassador Clayton Call and Eighth-Generation Master Distiller Jacob Call, hand source, blend, and finish the rye whiskey, building on generations of distilling expertise and innovation. The Call Family’s whiskey roots reach back to the earliest days of Bourbon when Samuel Call distilled whiskey on his Kentucky farm in the late 1700s. This whiskey stands as a testament to their passion, tradition, and commitment to crafting high-quality spirits.

“We’ve been thrilled to see the overwhelmingly positive reception to our inaugural whiskey releases, and we couldn’t be more proud to share our Signature Edition,” said Steve Groth, Founder of Hemingway Whiskey Co. “Our families came together to create this new whiskey, filled with tradition and passion, and we can’t wait to hear what people think.”

The first batch of Hemingway Rye Whiskey Signature Edition is a blend of straight rye whiskeys – 90% 6-year-old Indiana Straight Rye and 10% 4-year-old Kentucky Straight Rye, the latter crafted by Master Distiller Jacob Call. Both whiskeys undergo a special finish in Master Distiller Ron Call’s own rum-seasoned Oloroso Sherry casks, resulting in a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors. The whiskey is a robust 102 proof and a dark amber color. Rich and full of character, this new rye whiskey has notes of dried fruits and raisins, toasted nuts, nutmeg and cocoa on the palate, and followed by a hint of citrus zest. This leads to a complex grand finale of baked fruit, a touch of baking spices, and a lingering caramel sweetness. Judges at the ASCOT Awards called Signature Edition “a lovely, lovely whiskey” and commented that it has “a beautiful balance between this warm, spicy, and orange peel flavored whiskey and the wine barrel influence.”

“Crafting a new signature whiskey is a significant endeavor for any distiller, and the entire Hemingway Whiskey team has worked hard to get it just right,” said Jacob Call, a Master Distiller of Hemingway Whiskey Co. “When tasting the new Signature Edition Rye Whiskey, you’ll get a smoothness mixed with complexity. It has the traditional rye spice notes but because it was finished in my dad’s rum-seasoned Oloroso Sherry casks, it has just the right sweetness to soften the spice. This is a whiskey we were all extremely proud to put our signatures on.”

The home for Hemingway Rye Whiskey will be the new Western Kentucky Distilling Co. in Beaver Dam, Kentucky, co-founded by Jacob Call. The distillery is proud to support the Kentucky economy by purchasing all equipment in the state and using all locally grown Kentucky corn. The distillery will be open for visitors in the future, when Hemingway Rye Whiskey fans will be able to see the passion that goes into each bottle first-hand.

About Hemingway Rye Whiskey

Hemingway Rye Whiskey is a premium rye whiskey brand from the Hemingway Whiskey Company, a team with deep roots in Kentucky whiskey, inspired by the legacy of the legendary American author, journalist, and storyteller, Ernest Hemingway. It is led by Steve Groth, a whiskey pioneer and co-founder of the revered Angel’s Envy Bourbon brand, alongside the Call family, represented by Ron, Jacob, and Clayton, a distilling dynasty with more than 230 years of whiskey-making expertise. The Hemingway Whiskey Company, with its home at Jacob Call’s Western Kentucky Distilling Co. in Beaver Dam, Kentucky, is part of Old Man and the Sea Brands®, an innovative spirits company known for bringing high-quality spirits and captivating stories to enthusiasts. The Hemingway Whiskey Company invites all whiskey enthusiasts to join the Hemingway Social Club, a vibrant community offering exclusive access to new releases and exciting merchandise drops.

For more information please visit www.hemingwaywhiskeys.com