distillers

The Glenlivet Adds Surprisingly Old Whisky to Permanent Collection

January 29, 2025 By Dustin Scoggins

Last year, The Glenlivet turned 200 years old. To celebrate, the iconic Speyside brand rolled out a variety of new releases, including its oldest ever bottling. But even with its bicentennial now in the rearview, the Pernod Ricard-owned whisky maker isn’t stepping away from age and innovation. Instead, it’s adding those qualities to its permanent portfolio with newly unveiled The Glenlivet 40-Year-Old.

Bottled at a higher-than-expected cask strength of 46.9 percent ABV, The Glenlivet 40-Year-Old was finished in custom casks from Jerez, Spain. Each cask was seasoned with a bespoke blend of oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherries, giving the whisky stored inside a unique depth and fruitiness.

On the nose, the Scotch whisky offers aromas of strawberry jam, raisins, dark cherries, cinnamon, and nutmeg alongside a hint of toasted oak. The palate offers layers of plums, charred orange, dark chocolate, and licorice to go along with the usual apple notes found in Speyside drams. The finish is long and sweet, filled with warming spices and a lasting hint of sweetness.

The brand made sure to take things a step further when designing the packaging as well, which isn’t the usual teal they use for other releases. Instead, they opted to present the single malt in a copper-colored container that’s supposed to remind imbibers of the copper stills used to make the Scotch. The bottle, meanwhile, is elegant and straightforward with gold lettering.

Credit: Christopher Friedmann

For more information please visit https://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/the-glenlivet-40-scotch-whisky

2XO Whiskey Releases Second Vintage of Gem of Kentucky

January 29, 2025 By Dustin Scoggins

Photo Credit: 2XO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Renowned American whiskey blender Dixon Dedman proudly presents the second vintage of Gem of Kentucky, from his award winning 2XO (“Two Times Oak”) brand. Gem of Kentucky is the only double barreled, single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey on the market, available just in time for the holidays in its stunning black bottle. Dixon exclusively selected 80 single barrels from stocks of his 35% high rye bourbon mash bill that spent up to a year in new charred oak barrels before bottling.

For this year’s release, Dixon partnered with Lexington, Kentucky based glass artist Travis Adams of Trifecta Design Studio to create The Unmined Gem, a one-of-a-kind hand blown glass sculpture that captures the essence of 2XO’s latest Gem of Kentucky expression.

Each Gem of Kentucky barrel is unique and identified by the barrel number on the front label of each bottle. Some barrels are sweeter with notes of chocolate, cinnamon, and toasted marshmallow that flow into baking spices. Other barrels are more savory with notes of dark red fruits, nutmeg, and a black pepper spice.

About 2XO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey:

2XO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was created by renowned American whiskey blender Dixon Dedman. Dixon grew up on the Kentucky whiskey trail infusing the learnings from industry legends with his culinary expertise from running his family’s business, the famed and James Beard award-winning Beaumont Inn. He was originally known for his high-proof, robust Kentucky Owl Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey blends, a brand he relaunched in 2014 from his great-great grandfather, C.M. Dedman, after it went dark in 1916 around the time of Prohibition.

2XO, meaning Two Times Oak, refers to the blending process Dixon pioneered where every 2XO expression has additional oak exposure. The additional oak interaction builds the sweetness to balance out the spice from the rye in the mash bills and creates a unique combination of intense flavors, character, and complexity with each expression.

For more information please visit https://www.2xowhiskey.com

Berkshire Mountain Distillers Launches Craft Brewers Whiskey Project With First Release

January 29, 2025 By Dow Scoggins

SHEFFIELD, Massachusetts – In February 2021, the award-winning maker of a select line of premier craft spirits, Berkshire Mountain Distillers (BMD), will release a trio of whiskeys in partnership with three brewers in the Northeast as part of their Craft Brewers Whiskey Project (CBWP). The five-year collaboration includes the distilling of a dozen different popular beers from a limited group of the country’s top craft brewers across five states. Each addition to the American whiskey collection is the product of a single-sourced craft brew distilled into a unique Berkshire Mountain Distillers whiskey.

“We were thrilled to collaborate with all of our brewer-partners and are excited these whiskeys are finally ready to be enjoyed by beer and whiskey aficionados alike,” said Chris Weld, founder and proprietor of Berkshire Mountain Distillers. “This fun collaboration has been an exceptional project-in-the-making involving 12 brewers, 12 beers, 12 whiskeys and 80 barrels of spirits — we’re eager to release each one to the public.”

Produced by the region’s first legal distillery since prohibition, each whiskey will be blended to 86 proof using BMD’s proprietary historic spring water in Sheffield and packaged in custom bottles with brewer-designed labels.

Aged at the distillery since 2015, the whiskeys will be released in the order in which they were distilled. Being a limited collection, each whiskey will be sold in the BMD tasting room and then distributed to select stores and restaurants.

The first release will feature three whiskeys distilled from UFO White Ale from Mass. Bay Brewing Co., Spencer Brewery’s Trappist Ale and Big Elm Brewing’s 413 Farmhouse Ale located in BMD’s hometown of Sheffield.

Scheduled to be released later in 2021, whiskeys will highlight beer from Samuel Adams, Berkshire Brewing Company, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Brewery Ommegang, Captain Lawrence Brewing, Smuttynose Brewing, Long Trail Brewing Company, Two Roads Brewing and Chatham Brewing.

For a listing of release dates and events, visit craftbrewerswhiskeyproject.com and follow BMD on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The distillery, located at 356 South Main Street in Sheffield, is open every day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and to find out where products are available, visit the BMD website.

About Berkshire Mountain Distillers
Nestled in the scenic Berkshires of Sheffield, Massachusetts, Berkshire Mountain Distillers is a trailblazing craft distillery that’s been pouring pure joy since 2007—Massachusetts’ first legal one since Prohibition ended! As pioneers in the small-batch spirits scene, they craft award-winning gems like Berkshire Bourbon, a smooth sipper bursting with spicy rye, vanilla, caramel, and toasted nut vibes, alongside New England Corn Whiskey and even a smoky peated bourbon for those craving adventure. Using local grains and pure spring water, every bottle captures the rugged, fun-loving spirit of the mountains—perfect for fireside toasts or trail-end celebrations. Swing by for tours, tastings, and picnic vibes under the pavilion; it’s whiskey magic in the heart of New England. Discover more at berkshiremountaindistillers.com!

For fun facts about Whiskey, Click Here

Wheel Horse Whiskey Releases Double Oak 5-Year

January 28, 2025 By Dustin Scoggins

Wheel Horse Whiskey, distilled and matured at the historic Green River Distilling in Owensboro, Kentucky, announced the release of its new Double Oak 5-Year Bourbon. With just 2,100 bottles produced, this Bourbon joins the brand’s family of limited edition, seasonal whiskeys.

The new Wheel Horse Double Oak is the first five-year expression from the brand. After aging over four years in its original charred oak casks, the whiskey was transferred to new charred oak barrels to finish aging, giving the Double Oak Bourbon a rich, oak-forward flavor. Like all the brand’s small batch whiskeys, Double Oak Bourbon is bottled at 101 proof, non-chill filtered. The SRP is $34.99.

“Double oak Bourbons have gained in popularity over the last few years,” Stephen Corrigan, Barrel Master of Wheel Horse, said in a news release. “Our goal when crafting Wheel Horse Double Oak was to complement the underlying cherry note of the whiskey with bold flavors of raw sugar and cocoa.

“To achieve this, we hand selected a group of new Char 1 barrels whose staves had gone through extended air seasoning. After a little more than 6 months finishing in these casks, the end result is complex and balanced, and something that we can’t wait for others to enjoy.”

The new Double Oak Bourbon Winter 2024 release joins the brand’s family of limited edition whiskeys, which this year have also included Cigar Blend Bourbon (Fall), Rye Whiskey finished in Caribbean Rum barrels (Summer) and Toasted Barrel Bourbon (Spring).

About Wheel Horse Whiskey

Wheel Horse Whiskey is crafted at the historic Green River Distilling in Owensboro, Kentucky. The whiskeys are blended, batched and bottled at Wheel Horse’s facility in Rhode Island. The brand’s flagship expressions, 101 Rye and 101 Bourbon, have acquired numerous accolades since hitting the market in 2020.

For more information, visit https://www.wheelhorsewhiskey.com.

Jack Daniel’s New Stellar Makes New Stellar Rye Whiskey

January 28, 2025 By Dustin Scoggins

Jack Daniel’s has been releasing some seriously good new whiskeys over the past few years.

The portfolio now ranges way beyond Old No. 7, the classic Tennessee whiskey workhorse that anchors the distillery’s lineup and is one of the most popular whiskeys in the world. There have been new age statements expressions (and rumors of even older ones to come), single malts, and various blends and cask finishes, but the best category the distillery has been releasing is rye whiskey—and the latest limited-edition release is proof of this.

The result is a very appealing rye that retains the Jack Daniel’s character, but has become something truly unique and delicious. The banana notes that are often associated with the distillery’s whiskey are toned down, with flavors of spiced nuts, apple, pear, cherry, orange, oak, and cinnamon taking centerstage. There is a sweetness from the maple barrel (maple wood, not a cask used to age maple syrup it should be noted), but it is not overpowering or cloying. And the higher than usual 107 proof pushes this whiskey even further, giving it a soft blanket of heat on the finish.

Distillery Series #14 is one of the better rye whiskeys produced at Jack Daniel’s, and just a really good rye whiskey overall.

Credit of article: Jonah Flicker

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

Chattanooga Whiskey Releases Amaro Barrel Finished Rye

January 26, 2025 By Dustin Scoggins

Chattanooga Whiskey has announced the newest release in its Experimental Single Batch Series – Batch 042: Amaro Barrel Finished Rye.

This unique rye malt whiskey explores the complementary flavors of a 5-grain rye malt mash bill finished within Chattanooga Whiskey’s very own amaro liqueur casks.

“Whenever we finish any whiskey, our goal is to find a cask that complements its strongest, most unique characteristics,” Grant McCracken, Founding Distiller, said in a news release. “In this case, our sweet and spicy amaro liqueur barrels enhance the malty, baking spice characteristics of the pot distilled rye malt whiskey.”

Made from a 5-grain mash bill, this finished whiskey was made with four varieties of malted rye, including a cherrywood smoked malted rye and a dark roasted caramel malted rye. Aged for over four years, the whiskey was finished for three months in barrels which previously held a German-style amaro liqueur made by the Chattanooga Whiskey distilling team.

Together, the whiskey and finishing barrel showcase a harmonious one-of-a-kind flavor profile – rimming with sweet and spicy characteristics – perfect for the winter months.

“Both the whiskey and the finishing barrel are extremely unique in their own rights,” McCracken said. “Our rye malt whiskey was made with a custom-smoked malted rye, crafted by our friends at Riverbend Malthouse in Asheville, North Carolina. Meanwhile, our finishing barrels previously held an amaro that was made with 14 fruits and botanicals, including dried bilberries, sour cherries, star anise, and sarsaparilla. Together, the rye and the amaro work beautifully together, bringing out the best of both worlds.”

Experimental Batch 042: Amaro Barrel Finished will be available at the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery at $69.99 for a 750ml bottle.

About Chattanooga Whiskey

Starting in 2011, Chattanooga Whiskey challenged the laws and won the right to distill whiskey in Chattanooga for the first time in 100 years. The distillery now hosts over 50,000 visitors annually and serves as a hub of innovation and creativity to push the boundaries of craft whiskey. For more information, visit http://www.chattanoogawhiskey.com.

Old Forester Announces Return of 117 Series: 1910 Extra Old

January 26, 2025 By Dustin Scoggins

Louisville, KY, Jan. 22, 2025 – Today, Old Forester announces the return of 1910 Extra Old, a limited-edition whisky derived from an extra-long double-barreling process. This liquid was first released in February 2022 as the third installment of the brand’s acclaimed and limited-expression lineup, the 117 Series.

To create this unique expression, Old Forester aged its 1910 whisky in a secondary barrel for an additional 18 months, resulting in a rich flavor profile with pronounced caramel notes.

“Our 117 Series is focused on innovation and gives us a chance to blend our longstanding values with a contemporary vision. This expression showcases the exceptional quality that can come from this experimentation,” Master Taster Melissa Rift said. “Whisky lovers will be able to taste the history captured in this bottle.”

Old Forester 1910 is a coveted expression commemorating the October 22, 1910 distillery fire at 117 Main Street. A batch of mature whisky, ready to be bottled, was then re-barreled in new barrels so it could be removed due to the fire damage. What emerged from the re-barreling was a full-bodied whisky, remarkable enough to become an entirely new expression – Old Fine Whisky. For Extra Old, the brand left the 1910 whiskey aging in a secondary barrel and extracted a more heavily charred influence.

About Old Forester Bourbon:
Old Forester, America’s First Bottled Bourbon™, proudly traces its roots to 1870 when pharmaceutical salesman George Garvin Brown founded the brand in Louisville, Kentucky, revolutionizing the industry by selling bourbon exclusively in sealed glass bottles to guarantee unmatched quality and consistency. As the only bourbon continuously distilled and marketed by the same family company—Brown-Forman—before, during, and after Prohibition, Old Forester earned a rare medicinal license that kept production alive through challenging times. Today, crafted with a signature mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley at the historic Old Forester Distillery on Whiskey Row, it remains a benchmark for authentic Kentucky straight bourbon heritage.

The acclaimed Old Forester portfolio offers versatile expressions for every palate, from the smooth and approachable 86 Proof and robust 100 Proof signature bourbons—perfect for classic cocktails—to the evocative Whiskey Row Series, including 1870 Original Batch, 1897 Bottled in Bond, 1910 Old Fine Whisky, 1920 Prohibition Style, and innovative releases like the annual Birthday Bourbon and limited 117 Series. With rich notes of caramel, spice, oak, and vanilla, Old Forester invites enthusiasts to savor timeless craftsmanship, whether sipped neat, on the rocks, or in an iconic Old Fashioned, embodying over 150 years of unwavering dedication to bourbon excellence.
Address: 119 West Main Street Louisville, KY 40202
Website: https://www.oldforester.com/

Bernriach Distillery Releases Premium Aged Whisky

June 30, 2024 By Dustin Scoggins

The whisky industry continues its deluge of premium, limited edition releases with a 1966 cask offering from Speyside-based distillery Benriach. It will set the collector back a neat £25,000 ($31,000) and represents, as you might expect, a serious milestone for a distillery consolidating a long history.

The 50 year old statement is an important symbol for Benriach, which under its current owners, has now accumulated almost a decade’s worth of positive momentum. Known for rich, multi-layered Speyside whiskies, this is their oldest and most exclusive expression to date, and with just 37 bottles on the market, this is likely to excite collectors world wide.

Dr Rachel Barrie, who has held the position of master blender since 2017, notes that, “I am proud to present the Benriach 1966 Cask Aged 50 Years as our ultimate treasure. Here we have fifty years of opulent refinement, with notes of sublime honeyed dates and delicate oak spices, all in harmony with the lingering finesse of apple, pear and traces of grapefruit.”

The release is in part a response to the growing interest in small batch, special edition whiskies, but also a celebration of the company’s heritage. Founded in 1898, but closed two years later due the Patterson crash, it didn’t produce whisky again until 1965. Throughout that period however the floor maltings remained in constant production. The first single malt was released in 1994. In 2016 the distillery became part of the Brown Forman portfolio.

In an increasingly crowded landscape, with startup brands increasingly prevalent though, the ability to showcase something with this level of provenance sends a strong commercial message. Barrie says, “I don’t think I’ve tasted a whisky that had such beauty. The perfect whisky has to have character, balance, complexity. When I dipped my nose in this particular cask I was really surprised. It was such a wonderful expression, undoubtedly the fruit laden signature of Speyside. Just from experience, I decided not to leave it. I didn’t want to risk losing it.”

The whisky has spent its whole life in warehouse 13, surrounded by different cask types that over the years have come and gone. It was discovered in the heart of the distillery, close to the mashing area and the stills. First filled with unpeated Benriach spirit on the September 21, 1966, Bourbon cask 2383 has spent decades slowly maturing and has now become what Barrie describes as “our art—a testament to the expertise in, and commitment to, extraordinary cask maturation at Benriach Distillery.” Barrie goes on to describe the contents as “a fountain of fruit, but honeyed and rich.”

Needless to say, the liquid is packaged appropriately. The whisky is held within a bespoke crystal decanter, made in Scotland by Glasstorm. Each decanter is displayed in a presentation box made by master craftsman John Galvin, its design inspired by the colorful array of eclectic casks which fill Benriach’s warehouses.

Joe Wilson of Whisky Auctioneer, a global broker of rare and collectable whiskies in Perth, says, “The ability to leverage yourself into the luxury category is attractive for any distillery and there is something about that number 50. It has a psychological impact.” Wilson believes that the arms race in the luxury whisky space is a new element to the market—one we are seeing in Scotland, Ireland and America—but feels the market is growing as new collectors engage with the subject.

“My educated guess is that it should sell out fairly quickly. That low bottle count will be a pull for collectors, in addition to the age statement.” Wilson feels that the Whisky Auctioneer is likely to see these come through the business at some point in the future, but appreciates the scarcity of it. “I’m always surprised at how many bottles can come out of these old whiskies. There’s a forward planning strategy involved where the casks have been managed accordingly to retain as much as possible.” With something like this though, he agrees there wouldn’t have been a plan to retain casks for that long. “They didn’t get a single malt blend until the 90s. The fact they’ve found a 50 year old means they’ve stumbled across this and decided it is good enough to represent the distillery at this level.”

Under the ownership of Brown Forman there is now a steady hand. Without knee jerk reactions, a portfolio of old whiskies can be put away for the next generation. Barrie notes that her first job at the distillery was to sort through the inventory. “I decided to dive into old and rare stock, to work out what we’ve got lying around. After all, we are custodians of the whisky. Like anyone making a work of art, I want to release it at its optimum, for it to be the most beautiful expression of what could be created.”

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

2XO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Releases The Kiawah Blend

April 23, 2024 By Dustin Scoggins

KENTUCKY— Renowned American whiskey blender Dixon Dedman is excited to launch The Kiawah Blend, a limited-time small batch blend and the fourth release in 2XO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey’s Icon Series. The Kiawah Blend (SRP $99.99) is a nod to Dixon’s happy place, Kiawah Island, a barrier island on the Atlantic coast located 25 miles southwest of Charleston, South Carolina. It’s where Dixon goes with his family and friends to relax, unwind, and recharge. The Kiawah Blend will be available nationwide and online at ReserveBar.

“Kiawah Island is a special place for me,” says Dixon. “It’s where my family has been vacationing since I was a kid, where my wife and I have been taking our children. It’s my happy place – where I can get away with family and friends and step off the grid.”

2XO, meaning Two Times Oak, refers to Dixon’s pioneering blending process where every 2XO expression has additional oak exposure. The Kiawah Blend is comprised of two proprietary mash bills, a high rye 35% bourbon mash bill and a moderate rye 18% bourbon mash bill. Dixon double barrels the high rye 35% bourbon mash bill into new charred oak barrels, both #3 and #4 char levels, for 9 months to a year. The double-barreled high rye mash bill makes up 60% of The Kiawah Blend, and that additional oak interaction builds the sweetness to balance out the spice from the rye in the mash bills. The Kiawah Blend’s mouthfeel is viscous and rich with notes of vanilla, oak, clove, lemon, and a light peppery spice.

The Kiawah Blend follows previous award winning 2XO releases, including limited-time blends from the Icon Series (The Phoenix Blend, The Innkeeper’s Blend, and The Tribute Blend), American Oak, the first in the Oak Series, an everyday offering perfect for classic whiskey cocktails, and Gem of Kentucky, a double-barreled, single barrel limited-time annual release. The Kiawah Blend should be sipped neat or on the rocks in your happy place, and as with all 2XO Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys, enjoyed responsibly.

All 2XO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys are brought to life in partnership with Prestige Beverage Group, an industry leading importer and brand innovator of award-winning wines and spirits. Together, Dixon and Prestige Beverage Group aim to offer the most unique, sought-after whiskey blends to spirits enthusiasts everywhere.

About 2XO

For More Information:
https://2xowhiskey.com/

New Riff Celebrates Earth Day With Park Dedication

April 22, 2024 By Dustin Scoggins

A Newport distillery is giving back to the community and celebrating Earth Day with the dedication of a new park and the release of some new spirits.

On Monday, New Riff Distilling joined the Silver Grove Community Foundation to dedicate the new park at Green Valley Pond in Silver Grove. The distillery says funds raised through sales of its Silver Grove commemorative edition whiskey were donated to the foundation to help establish the park.

“When we built our new barrel warehouse in Silver Grove in 2022, we knew we wanted to support that community through our philanthropic efforts like we do Newport,” New Riff president Mollie Lewis said in a press release. “We’re thrilled to see people loved the 2023 Silver Grove release so much that we’re able to donate $16,830 to the foundation — and we are excited to see what more we can accomplish together with our 2024 releases.”

With the money, Silver Grove Community Foundation was able to complete the initial phase of improvements around Green Valley Pond, including installing benches made from recycled plastic, trash bins and a message board. Future project phases include creating a recreational trail around the pond that will also connect to the current sidewalks.

New Riff says its Silver Grove whiskey is a nod to a past whiskey released under the Silver Grove name in the ‘30s. The original Silver Grove was a 1933 bottling distilled in 1917 at the Edward Brinkmann Distillery in Cincinnati’s Carthage neighborhood, says New Riff co-founder Jay Erisman. New Riff’s first barrel-proof blend, the Silver Grove releases are a “nod to both the area’s distilling past and to New Riff’s future,” he added.

A 2024 bottling of the Silver Grove Bourbon will be available in New Riff’s gift shop beginning Tuesday, April 23. New Riff’s assistant head distiller, Bryon Martin, describes the bourbon as “having notes of dark red fruits and rye spices on the nose and a deep, full mouthfeel that flows briefly into dark brown sugars then wood spices and tannins,” with a 65% corn, 30% rye and 5% malted barley mashbill bottled at 116.2 proof.

In addition to a 2024 bottling of Silver Grove Bourbon, New Riff also announced the debut of its Silver Grove Rye. Martin says it has “huge mint, black pepper and hints of citrus, caraway and oak on the nose,” along with an upfront cinnamon spiciness; hints of vanilla and singed toffee; and a bold, rye-spice finish with a minerality and eucalyptus notes. It has a 95% rye and 5% malted rye mashbill bottled at 116.4 proof.

Both the 2024 Silver Grove Bourbon and Silver Grove Rye will be available in New Riff’s gift shop for $55.99 beginning April 23. A portion of the proceeds from each will continue to benefit the Silver Grove Community Foundation.

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