whiskey

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company, a family-owned and operated craft distillery in Louisville, announces the release of its Toasted Rye Whiskey.

The release will occur with Batch 1 on March 15, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the Peerless Distillery located at 120 North 10th Street. Peerless Toasted Rye will then begin distribution in Kentucky and eventually, nationwide. There is a two-bottle purchase limit per person.

Peerless Toasted Rye is aged in two separate oak barrels. The small batch rye is initially aged in the distillery’s standard, char level 3 barrel. This process develops the desired flavor profiles of caramel, brown sugar, and toffee. The already barrel-aged whiskey is then placed in a toasted barrel to finish. The toasted barrel adds more complexity with honey, vanilla, toasted spices, and chocolate. The unique aging process allows for an elevated nose and palate.

“We hand-select each barrel for the finishing process. We chose to use a medium toast because it contains less tannins, which results in a more aromatic whiskey with warm, sweet, savory character and strong vanilla overtones, ”explains Peerless Head Taster John Wadell. “May 2017 marked a historic moment for Kentucky Peerless and the Taylor family. On that day, we released our first brown spirit in over a century: a rye whiskey. Peerless rye holds a special significance for us, as it represents the revival of a family legacy dedicated to crafting exceptional spirits. At Kentucky Peerless, we maintain the highest standards, and this release is a beautiful example of what we can come together to craft. We’re thrilled to introduce our Toasted Rye to you. We believe you’ll enjoy it as much as we do.”

The Toasted Rye follows the successful release of their Toasted Bourbon, which has made quite a splash. Kentucky Peerless Toasted Bourbon was awarded top in its class, given a score of 98 in the 2024 International Wine and Spirits Competition. Peerless High Rye Bourbon was named top Bourbon of the Year and their Double Oak Rye has consistently received Gold medals.

About Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.

The family-owned and operated craft distillery is located in Louisville, Kentucky. It was established in 1889 and resurrected in 2013 by Corky Taylor, 4thGeneration, and Carson Taylor, 5th Generation. The distillery is known for its commitment to producing handcrafted, sweet mash bourbon and rye whiskey using traditional methods and the finest ingredients.

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

OWENSBORO, Ky.– The historic Green River Distilling Co. will not only continue to grow its distribution footprint this year, it will also expand its lineup of barrel-strength offerings. Green River Kentucky Straight Wheated Single Barrel Bourbon, the newest release from this heritage distillery, offers the signature smooth yet full-bodied character of the brand’s classic Kentucky recipe with a high proof punch.

Presented at barrel strength, ranging from 110 to 130 proof (55 – 65 percent alc. by vol.), and aged a minimum of five years, each Green River Kentucky Straight Wheated Single Barrel selections burst with ripe apricot and tangerine over luscious barrel notes of oak, cinnamon, and vanilla creme. The hallmark soft finish is bolstered by rich, full-proof flavor. Every barrel is unique and offers a distinct flavor fingerprint.

Just 100 barrels will be available in 2025, exclusively for purchase by the barrel to on- and off-premise retailers. Each retailer will be able to hand-select their unique single barrel on-site at the historic Green River Distillery in Owensboro, Ky., now with the option to choose between the brand’s signature high-rye recipe and the smooth and sweet wheated mashbill.

A limited number of bottles will be available to the general public beginning February 13, 2025, exclusively at the Green River distillery gift shop in Owensboro, and Bardstown Bourbon Co. retail shops at the distillery in Bardstown and Tasting Room in Louisville.

“Green River takes pride in our approach to whiskey – simple, timeless recipes and a commitment to quality and value. This single barrel release carries on that promise with a balance of rich barrel character, rounded out by soft, sweet, winter wheat,” said Dan Callaway, VP of Product Development for Green River Distilling Co.

About Green River Distilling Company

Green River Distilling Co. was purchased by Bardstown Bourbon Company in July 2022. Growing from just four states in 2022, Green River’s continued expansion will reach 45 states in 2025, recently adding distribution in New Jersey and Washington, and is on-track to be a top-10 super-premium American Whiskey in the coming years. This summer, Green River will open a tasting room and retail shop in Louisville, bringing the “Pride of Owensboro” to the historic Whiskey Row.

For more information please visit http://www.greenriverwhiskey.com

Family-owned Boann Distillery announced the release of its first Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys in the U.S. The three core expressions – Marsala, Madeira, and Pedro Ximénez – will be available in select states, including CA, FL, IN, MN, NE, ND, NY, SD, TX, and WI.

These releases join Boann’s celebrated portfolio of spirits, including Silks Irish Dry Gin and The Whistler Irish Whiskey. Each whiskey (47% ABV | SRP $69/700 ml) is crafted with award-winning Single Pot Still spirit and aged in carefully selected casks to deliver unique and distinct flavor profiles.

The new expressions honor the 160-year tradition of Single Pot Still whiskey distillation in the heart of Ireland’s Boyne Valley. Boann’s Managing Director and Founder, Pat Cooney, shared the vision behind the release: “This is the beginning of a journey to bring Irish whiskey back to its rightful place as a global leader. Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is uniquely Irish, and we’re reviving the heritage of Ireland’s lost distilleries while uniting traditional methods with modern innovation.”

The three expressions are presented in bespoke bottles designed to reflect the essence of grain, water, and wood. Each bottle features a textured surface that evokes images of barley blowing in the wind, the bark of oak trees, or the flames used to char the casks.

Key highlights of the new expressions include:

Marsala Cask Finish

Initially matured for three years in heavily charred ex-bourbon barrels sourced from Brown-Forman distilleries in Kentucky, followed by finishing in French oak Superiore and Fine Marsala casks from Cantine deVinci in Sicily.

Madeira Cask Finish

After initial aging in charred ex-bourbon barrels, this expression is finished in premium vintage Madeira casks sourced from Justino’s, a renowned Madeira house.

Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish

Matured for 3.5 years in Oloroso Sherry hogsheads from Bodegas Garvey in Spain, then finished in rare vintage PX Solera Chestnut and Oak casks from Malaga.

“This has always been our dream—to distill our own Irish whiskey in the heart of the Boyne Valley,” Cooney said. “These whiskeys carry the character and provenance of the land, writing a new chapter in the story of Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.”

About Boann Distillery

Boann Distillery is a family owned, state-of-the-art distillery located on the edge of the historic town of Drogheda, County Meath, in the heart of the Boyne Valley of Ireland. Boann Distillery produces a range of triple-distilled Irish Single Malt and Irish Single Pot Still whiskey from three handmade bespoke copper pot stills.

For more information, visit https://www.boanndistillery.ie/.

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

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, 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.