distillers

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

Louis XIII Unveils Limited Lunar New Year Coffret

January 27, 2025 By Dustin Scoggins

Louis XIII, the iconic cognac house, has unveiled a limited-edition coffret in celebration of the Lunar New Year. Now available for purchase for $4,200 a piece, the coffret is an ultra-luxurious Lunar New Year gift or memento for those in your life who celebrate.

Designed by Chinese artist Liu Li Hong, the latest Louis XIII Lunar New Year Coffret features a gold snake motif, representing prosperity, wisdom, and transformation, alongside a blooming Winter Jasmine. This marks the second limited edition Lunar New Year release from Louis XIII, blending traditional symbolism with contemporary design.

The beautiful decanter, modeled after a 16-century flask found near the site of the Battle of Jarnac, contains Rémy Martin Grande Champagne Cognac. The Grande Champagne region is the most prestigious cru in Cognac – it has high-quality, chalky soil that produces sweet grapes perfect for making eaux-de-vie.

This luxurious release follows the Rémy Martin Year Of The Snake editions, which also celebrate the Lunar New Year with striking designs by artist Huang Yuxing.

For more information please visit https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-new-releases/louis-xiii-unveils-limited-lunar-new-year-coffret/

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 is Brown-Forman’s founding brand, founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown. Brown believed Old Forester was so pure and consistent that he sealed it, signed it, and pledged, “There is nothing better in the market.”

For more information please visit https://www.breakingbourbon.com/bourbon-whiskey-press-releases/old-forester-announces-return-of-117-series-1910-extra-old

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

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.

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/

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/

Woodford Reserve’s Limited Time New Bourbon

February 15, 2024 By Dustin Scoggins

Fans of Woodford Reserve, rejoice. Just weeks after launching the latest edition of its beloved Double Double Oaked Bourbon, the Kentucky-based whiskey maker has unveiled its latest limited-edition bottle, the annual Woodford Reserve Batch Proof.

Coming in at an un-sobering 121.2 proof (the usual whiskey comes in at 90.4 proof), the 2024 Woodford Reserve Batch Proof celebrates Woodford Reserve’s proprietary distillation process. As a “barrel-proof” expression, the whiskey is created from 100-plus barrels blended into a batch and bottled at its actual proof. The barrels hail from many different dates of production and mature on different floors in a variety of warehouses.

“Barrels drawn from the upper floors of our heat-cycled warehouses tend to possess higher proof presentations, including this limited-edition batch,” says Woodford Reserve master distiller Elizabeth McCall said. “Batch Proof allows consumers to taste Woodford Reserve exactly as it comes out of the barrels.”

Burnt umber in color, the nose offers aromas of vanilla bean, brown sugar pecans, and citrus fruits, with a dusting of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. The palate features toasted oak, cocoa, pineapple, strawberry, and spiced berries. The finish finds more strawberry and toasted oak, alongside notes of raw honey.

The 2024 limited-edition Woodford Reserve Batch Proof is available in select U.S. and global markets, as well as at the distillery.

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