U.S. Whiskey Report

Whiskey News, Whiskey Releases and New Distilleries

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Gimlet’s Apollo Inn releases whiskey with The Gospel

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Apollo Inn Trader House’s Apollo Inn is celebrating its opening with an exclusive rye whiskey crafted with Melbourne distillers The Gospel.

The Gospel Projects High Wheat is the work of Apollo Inn Bar Manager Cameron Parish and The Gospel Co-Founder Ben Bowles.

The duo teamed up to select a single cask for the tipple, which was then double-barrelled for three years before release.

“When we were approached by Cam and the team to celebrate the opening of their new venue Apollo Inn, we wanted to honour their renowned level of hospitality by creating an equally refined whiskey,” says Bowles.

The Gospel Projects High Wheat features notes of toasted chestnut with salted caramel, toffee apple, and cherry wood.

“My initial brief to The Gospel was to find something similar to what I enjoy an American rye whiskey with a heavy charred cask – wanting to bring an added richness to the dry style typical of rye whiskey,” says Parish.

“When he talked me through the mash bill of the High Wheat and the double-barrel maturation, inclusive of a heavy toast barrel, it matched perfectly to what I was looking for – there’s a sweetness, richness, and toastiness to the whiskey.”

Parish and the team are serving up the whiskey at Apollo Inn through two new cocktails.

The Cablegram is the venue’s take on a whiskey highball which also sees toasted soba, black lime, and ginger wine added.

The Manhattan Number 6 showcases the whiskey accompanied by dry vermouth and Cocchi Americano.

The Gospel Projects High Wheat is available at Apollo Inn and online through The Gospel.

About the Gospel Projects from Apollo Inn

The Gospel are the only dedicated rye whiskey distillery in Australia, bringing a distinctly Australian approach and flavour to a traditional American whiskey style. Under the guidance of Master Distiller Ian Thorn, The Gospel distils, ages and bottles right here in Melbourne.

As part of their Project Release programme, we’ve selected a single cask of whiskey bottled just for Apollo Inn. We can assure you that it’s exceptional and something hereto unseen in The Gospel’s range.

We launched this limited-release whiskey at Apollo Inn on Tuesday 8th August with a special tasting and cocktails created by Cam Parish. We’ll be pouring the whiskey exclusively at Apollo Inn, with a special few bottles available for purchase directly from The Gospel.

For more information please visit https://apolloinn.bar/

WhistlePig unveils its rarest release: Farmstock Rye

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Whistlepig WhiskeyVermont-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

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Ross & Squibb Distillery
Photo Credit: Ross & Squibb Distillery

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

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Makers MarkMaker’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

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The GlenturretThe 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

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Barrell Craft SpiritsOn 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

Barrell Craft Spirits

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/

291 Colorado Whiskey Releases Wheated Bourbon Made for Summer

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291 Colorado WhiskeyCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— Award-winning distillery, 291 Colorado Whiskey, is thrilled to announce the release of 291 E Colorado Whiskey Batch 12, a four-grain wheated bourbon and its first experimental wheated bourbon presented since the 2013 release of 291 Bad Guy Bourbon. E Colorado Whiskey Batch 12 is an easy drinking, toast to Summer. The “Bad Guy”, released every Fall, was 291 Founding Distiller Michael Myers’ third mash bill and has been a cult favorite of 291 Colorado Whiskey fans since 2013.

Bottled at 121.6 proof, 291 E Colorado Whiskey Batch 12 (MSRP $149.99) is a marriage of barrels from two different wheated bourbon experiments, when combined resulted in a four-grain mash bill. Head Distiller Eric Jett filled the first barrels in 2018, while the founder’s batch was distilled in 2021. Myers was made with corn, malted white wheat, and rye malt; and the other created by Jett, was made with corn, malted white wheat, and malted barley.

“With a commitment to producing exceptional handcrafted American whiskey, we are proud of the release of Batch 12 which highlights 291’s dedication to innovation and experimentation,” said Myers. “This is an approachable bourbon and is a nod to summer, with notes of cinnamon graham cracker, big league chew bubble gum, sweet tarts and hot tamales candies and toasted marshmallow.”

To date twelve batches of experimental Colorado whiskey have been released by the emerging 291 brand. Each “E” Batch is an opportunity to test new ideas and create one-of-a-kind whiskeys and each utilizes different mash bills or finishes to create exciting new profiles of 291 Colorado Whiskey. Several earlier  “E” releases have garnered significant recognition on the world stage, including 291 E Colorado Whiskey Batch 7, named 2021’s World’s Best Wheat by the World Whiskies Awards. “E” Batch 3 was the inspiration for 291’s recent All Rye 100% Rye Malt Whiskey and Batch 9 was a collaboration with Marianne Eaves for the inaugural Eave’s Blind project. Each new release showcases 291’s fearless approach to experimentation.

Recently named Breakout Distiller of the Year at the 2023 ASCOT Awards and the 291 Colorado Rye Whiskey earning “Best of Class” in the SIP Awards, 291 Colorado Whiskey has captivated whiskey enthusiasts with its distinct spirits. The award recognition has solidified the brand’s position as a trailblazer in the whiskey industry. Every whiskey made by the distillery tells a unique story, showcasing the passion and craftsmanship of the 291 team.

About 291 Colorado Whiskey

291 Colorado Whiskey is a uniquely American story honoring the Western whiskey of a bygone era. 291 is the passion project of a former New York City fashion photographer and was first created in a small basement from a one-of-a-kind still, constructed from old copper photographic plates. 291 is Hardmade the Colorado Way®, grain to barrel to bottle, and the distillery’s whiskies are finished with toasted staves of Colorado aspen trees. 291 Colorado Whiskey has been earning awards and recognition since its first run off the still in 2011. 291 was awarded 2022 Icons of Whiskey American Craft Distillery of the Year, World’s Best Wheat Whiskey in 2021 and World’s Best Rye Whiskey in 2018, and our white whiskeys were awarded Best American New Make in 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 by the World Whiskies Awards.  The distillery has also earned 18 Liquid Gold designations from the Whisky Bible and similar high-altitude recognition from the IWSC, San Francisco International Spirits Competition, The American Whiskey Masters and numerous other competitions and publications.

For More Information:
https://distillery291.com/

Doc Swinson’s Garryana Exploratory Cask Straight Bourbon

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Doc Swinson's 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

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Hood River DistillersHOOD 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/

Copperworks Distilling Releases American Single Malt Whiskey Single Cask No. 410

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Copperworks Distilling CompanyCopperworks Distilling recently unveiled one of its latest special releases, Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey Single Cask No. 410.

A statement from the distiller noted that Single Cask No. 410 was made from a single variety of malted barley called Fritz, developed by Washington State University.

The whiskey makers matured this American single malt in a new American oak cask for a little more than three years. It was bottled at cask strength.
The cask itself saw Char #2 on the 24-month seasoned staves from Canton Cooperage.

“Fritz is a single variety of malted barley that is grown and malted in the Skagit Valley just 70 miles north of Seattle,“ said Copperworks Vice President and Co-Owner Jeff Kanof. “This variety was originally intended for dry-land farming on the eastside of Washington. However, trials in western Washington found that Fritz grows plumper and with more flavor on this side of the state, and when making whiskey, the grain you choose matters.”

Different from other American whiskeys, American single malt is made from only one type of grain … malted barley.

“Since day one, Copperworks has sought to explore flavor possibilities by using barley grown in and around Washington to produce our American single malt whiskey,” said Copperworks President and Co-Owner Jason Parker. “Thanks to the Pacific Northwest’s varying climates and soil types, there are numerous barley varieties we can use to craft our whiskeys. We’ve partnered with local farms and malthouses to do just that.”

Their tasting notes for Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey Single Cask No. 410 show that on the nose, it has aromas of cherry cobbler, palm sugar, burnt orange oil and subtle florals. On the palate, it tastes of orange marmalade, black cherry, tart candied orange peel, and cake batter. It finishes with a malty presence, notes of dried dates, yucca, and baking and wood spices.

In all, 211 bottles were made and the single malt clocks in at 60.35% ABV, 120.7 proof. It has a suggested retail price of $89.99 and is available at Copperworks’ Seattle Distillery and Tasting Room and online at www.copperworksdistilling.com.