whiskey

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

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

The Family Jones releases Inauguration Day Rye Whiskey

January 27, 2025 By Dustin Scoggins

It does not matter if you are celebrating or commiserating this Inauguration Day, one thing the entire country can agree on is good whiskey. Thankfully, Colorado’s own The Family Jones is here with a new limited Bottled-in-Bond whiskey aptly named Inauguration Rye Whiskey.

Timed with the Inauguration, this new whiskey was barreled on Jan. 20, 2021, the inauguration date of President Joe Biden, the 46th president. Now, a full four years later, the barrel will be dumped and bottled on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, the inauguration day of President Donald Trump.

Inauguration Rye Whiskey adheres to the strict Bottled-in-Bond designation, which means it is exactly 100 proof, made by one distillery in one season, and aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse.

Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys are known to be reliable with a deeper flavor profile. They are usually smooth and quite drinkable due to the mandatory aging process. The Family Jones describes the Inauguration Rye Whiskey as having a toasted oak and toffee nose with dark cherry on the palate and warming spices on the finish. The Family Jones notes that the double distillation process creates a spirit with a well-balanced rich texture that lingers.

Friday, distiller Bryan Johnson pulled some of the new Bottled-in-Bond whiskey out of a 53-gallon barrel at The Family Jones distillery in Loveland using a cask thief. There are two of the Bottled-in-Bond barrels, which will make around 210 bottles of the new Inauguration Rye.

This is actually the second Inauguration Rye Release for The Family Jones following its debut after the 2020 presidential election. Like our nation, the Bottled-in-Bond designation is steeped in history. It was enacted in 1897 as the Bottled-in-Bond Act by the U.S. government in order to protect consumers from bad whiskeys on the market at the time.

The act was the first consumer protection law in U.S. history and mandated that the distiller follow the three requirements under the Bottled-in-Bond designation.

Rye is also a staple for American bourbon as it has been used in making whiskey dating back to the 1700s, when President George Washington ran a rye distillery in Mount Vernon after leaving office in 1797. It proved to be quite profitable at the time, producing nearly 11,000 gallons of whiskey.

Credit for the article: David Young

For more information please visit https://www.thirstcolorado.com/source/2025/1/20/inauguration-day-rye

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

Rolling Fork Releases New Small Batch 10 Year Old Barbados Rum

June 24, 2024 By Dustin Scoggins

Louisville, KY–June 25, 2024 – Rolling Fork, the Indiana-based producer of award-winning rums, is releasing a new small-batch rum distilled in Barbados titled, “The Wheated Cask Wonder.” The name refers to the more than two years that the rum was aged in rare, 10-year-old wheated bourbon casks sourced from Frankfort, Kentucky.

“We’ve been excited about this one for a while now,” says Rolling Fork Co-Founder Turner Wathen. “The combination of 8-year-old100% molasses rum distilled in Barbados and the rich flavor and soft texture that a wheated bourbon cask brings to the party makes this one of our most exciting releases.”

Rolling Fork sourced an8-year-old rum distilled in Barbados by Foursquare Distillery and then transferred it to bourbon casks that had held wheated bourbon for 10 years from one of Kentucky’s most iconic whiskey brands.

“We love the flavor profiles that developed in this rum after it aged in the 10-year-old wheated bourbon casks,” says Rolling Fork Co-founder Jordan Morris. “There’s a complex mix of orange peel, dark fruit and buttery pastry layered over some great caramel notes. At cask strength-114.9 proof–it’s a great rum experience.”

With four casks produced, only 900 bottles of The Wheated Cask Wonder are up for grabs. It has an SRP of $99 and is available online and in select markets.

About Rolling Fork:

Rolling Fork Spirits was founded by Turner Wathen and Jordan Morris in 2017 as independent blenders and bottlers of rum. Rolling Fork Spirits offers unique expressions of rums without additives. Located at Starlight Distillery in Borden, Indiana, Rolling Fork uses hand-selected casks (bourbon, rye, port, cognac and more) and rick house aging to develop unique flavor profiles in rums in the region synonymous with American whiskey.

Rolling Fork has been recognized by the most prestigious spirits competitions, including: Double Platinum for Lost Cask 15 YO Jamaica Rum, Platinum for Heart of Gold Rum and 9 YO Barbados Rum, and Gold for 12 YO Brazil rum in the 2024 Ascot Awards; Gold at 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for Heart of Gold Rum; Double Gold for 9 YO Barbados and Lost Cask 15 YO Jamaica rums and Gold for Heart of Gold Rum and 12 YO Brazil Rum in the 2024 Barleycorn Awards. Last year, Rolling Fork won Best Rum at the 2023 New Orleans Spirits Competition and was named Independent Bottler of the Year in the 2023 ASCOT Awards (where they also took Best Rum for 9 YO Barbados Rum).Rolling Fork’s Lost Cask 15 YO Jamaica was just named Best Rum in the 2024 Barleycorn Awards.

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

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

May 27, 2024 By Dustin Scoggins

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

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

Laws’ 2024 Limited-Edition Bottled in Bond Whiskies

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Laws Whiskey House

Founded in 2011, Laws Whiskey House makes intentionally bold and terroir-driven whiskeys from Colorado. The distillery’s grain-forward style whiskeys are made with the highest-quality corn and heirloom wheat, barley, and rye grown by two Colorado family farms. Laws uses time-tested production techniques that showcase each individual grain’s terroir, resulting in singular and novel whiskeys.

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