by admin | May 16, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
1,100 Cases Now Available Throughout Texas & at the Still Austin Distillery
Austin, TX (May 17, 2020) – Still Austin Whiskey Co., a homegrown distillery situated in the heart of South Austin, today launched its first limited-release Cask Strength Bourbon, in on- and off-premise establishments throughout Texas and at the Still Austin Distillery Tasting Room. Unlike the company’s Distillery Reserve Series which typically yields up to 600 total bottles and is only available at the Tasting Room, the Cask Strength Bourbon is a limited-release, meaning a larger quantity will be available in the marketplace as well. This year, the team will make 1,100 cases available now and an additional 1,100 cases available in September.
Made from 100% Texas grains, the new expression contains the same mash bill as the company’s flagship straight bourbon whiskey – 70% Non-GMO white corn, 25% Elbon rye and 5% wildfire malted barley – but without utilizing the slow water reduction process, resulting in a higher proof. The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle is $65.
To create this robust bourbon, the team asked Master Blender Nancy Fraley to search through their barrels of Straight Bourbon and select the most complex and full-flavored ones—those that were begging to be blended and released at “barrel proof,” meaning the whiskey was bottled at the same proof at which it was aged. The resulting spirit is a masterpiece of complex, dark flavors with a deep spice finish.
At 118 proof (59% ABV), the new Cask Strength Bourbon is a “deeper, darker, more robust version of its beloved 98.4 proof fruit-forward sibling (aka The Musician), offering a nose of brandied cherries with fresh muddled mint, old fashioned blackberry cobbler with biscuit crust, and cinnamon toast in brown butter,” according to Fraley. “The palate offers notes of grilled peaches drizzled with balsamic vinegar, butterscotch pecan pie, and dark brown sugar, followed by warming waves of rye spice, nutmeg, and clove.”
The artwork on the label, created by internationally acclaimed artist and native Texan Marc Burckhardt, is a slightly modified version of the Straight Bourbon artwork, a series which portrays “archetypical” Austinites. Each provides a sense of the people who have influenced and inspired the team, while paying homage to the Texas terroir. While the Cask Strength bottle also features The Musician, the black night sky is meant to be representative of the stronger, “darker” whiskey.
Grain-to-Glass Philosophy
Still Austin is an independent craft whiskey distillery founded in 2015, focusing on a true grain-to-glass concept that produces the highest quality whiskey by perfecting every part of the process and using local resources and sustainable practices. The team is committed to carrying out each part of the process in-house. That means never sourcing whiskey from another distillery, and instead always hand-making everything from scratch, and managing everything in-house – milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, barreling and bottling.
The Still Austin distilling team is led by Head Distiller John Schrepel, Master Blender Nancy Fraley and veteran Master Distiller Mike Delevante, one of the most experienced and respected distillers in North America who designed the distillery to make the highest quality of bourbon. That includes a 42-foot custom-made column, “Nancy,” (and her sister copper-pot still, “The Queen”) which give the distillers serious creative license to create unique new flavors and spirits. The team also uses Texas weather to its advantage. The region’s high heat, humidity and rapidly shifting temperatures encourage spirits to move rapidly in and out of the oak barrels and mature relatively quickly—but, if this process is left unchecked, it can also cause the bourbon to have heavy oak flavor or harsh tannic qualities. To prevent this, Still Austin uses a meticulous slow water reduction technique focused on flavor and balance, which gives the alcohol a softness on the palate and brings more “mature” notes to the forefront. For more information, visit www.stillaustin.com
About Still Austin Whiskey Co.
Founded in 2015 by three Austin families, Still Austin Whiskey Co. is a true grain-to-glass distillery, located at 440 East St. Elmo Road in the heart of Austin, Texas. All spirits are hand crafted using grains grown by Texas farmers. Still Austin’s collection of spirits includes the flagship Straight Bourbon Whiskey (aka “The Musician”) and American Gin (aka “The Naturalist”). Still Austin places a high value on sustainability, with a focus on cutting carbon emissions through local sourcing, increasing the biodiversity of the region through heritage grains, returning spent grains to local ranchers to feed their animals, and operating a distillery that is designed for energy efficiency and water conservation.
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by admin | May 5, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Made in Michigan, “The Whiskey of the North” Also Takes Home Gold for its Signature Edition Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey
Traverse City, MI (May 5, 2021) – Traverse City Whiskey Co. (TCWC), a portfolio of premium whiskies and bourbon made in Michigan, proudly announced that its North Coast Rye Whiskey and Signature Edition Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey, were awarded Double Gold and Gold medals, respectively, at the prestigious 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. At the 2019 competition, TCWC’s Signature Edition Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey was named “Best Small Batch Bourbon” and received Double Gold.
The North Coast Rye expression is a unique blend of two mash bills: 100% rye (TCWC) and 95% rye and 5% malted barley (sourced) that’s barreled around 120 proof and bottled at 90 proof. The whiskey features bright, peppery and spicy tones backed by soft vanilla bean and hints of dill, pink peppercorns and mint. It has a minimum age statement of three years and retails for $36-40 per 750ml bottle.
The Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey contains a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley (sourced) that’s barreled around 120 proof and bottled at 118.2 proof. The whiskey showcases a classic rye spice, notes of allspice, black peppercorns and sage and a warm buttery finish. The expression was aged a minimum of six years and retails for $79.99 per 750ml bottle.
Known as “The Whiskey of the North,” TCWC draws upon its early family roots in the distilled spirits industry dating back to the late 1800s, sourcing their grains from the Midwest. The distilling team, led by Chris Fredrickson, Jared Rapp and Moti Goldring, makes quality products, inspired by patented distilling techniques invented by Fredrickson’s great grandfather that were approved by the US PTO during the prohibition era.
“It’s incredibly rewarding that several of our brands were recognized both in 2021 and previous years,” said Chris Fredrickson, Co-founder, Traverse City Whiskey Co. “Both the North Coast Rye and Signature Edition Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey are unique gems within our whiskey portfolio, which offers something for everyone, from the bourbon novice to the collector and aficionado.”
TCWC products are available at both on- and off-premise establishments in the following markets: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin. Retail prices may vary by market.
For more information, please visit www.tcwhiskey.com and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @tcwhiskey
About Traverse City Whiskey Co.
Traverse City Whiskey Co. is an independent and locally owned distilled spirits company based in Traverse City, Michigan, that’s dedicated to producing approachable premium to super-premium whiskey and bourbon. Known as “The Whiskey of the North,” the upstart company draws upon its early family roots in the distilled spirits industry dating back to the late 1800s, sourcing all grains from the Midwest.
Traverse City Whiskey Co. is a proud member of the Michigan Spirits Association and Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).
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by admin | May 3, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Austin, TX (May 3, 2021) – Still Austin Whiskey Co., a homegrown distillery situated in the heart of South Austin, is thrilled to announce that “The Musician” straight bourbon whiskey was awarded a Double Gold medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The company’s flagship high-rye bourbon features grains that are 100% grown by Texas farmers. The expression is handmade from grain-to-glass at the distillery, aged in new charred American Oak barrels, and bottled at 98.4 proof (49.2% ABV). It’s comprised of a high-quality mash bill worthy of its hometown: 70% Non-GMO white corn, 25% Elbon rye and 5% wildfire malted barley.
“We’re thrilled to receive this prestigious award from the largest international spirits competition in the U.S.,” said Chris Seals, CEO, Still Austin Whiskey Co. “It’s even more special because all spirits were judged blindly by an esteemed panel of judges. ‘The Musician’ is an expression of true Texas terroir. We’ve managed to bottle the inclusive spirit of our home city; a complex bourbon with substance, flair, and finesse.”
According to Still Austin’s “Master Blender” Nancy Fraley, who is famous for her peerless ability to detect flavor notes, “the nose offers delightful aromas of ripe tropical fruits such as pineapple, banana, papaya, mango, toasted coconut shavings, and S’mores with melted milk chocolate and caramelized marshmallow. These notes follow through to the palate, where the rye makes its appearance in the form of cinnamon toast with brown butter, and blanched almonds. The alcohol is soft and creamy like vanilla egg custard and the mouth feel is round, with long waves of tropical fruit, toffee, and rye spice on the finish.”
The straight bourbon whiskey features a custom label which serves as the perfect complement to the art inside the bottle. Still Austin commissioned internationally acclaimed artist and native Texan Marc Burckhardt to paint a series of portraits of “archetypical” Austinites. These are a way of conceiving a “new Austin mythology” by celebrating the innovative people who make the city what it is. Each provides a sense of the people who have influenced and inspired the team, while paying homage to the Texas terroir. The figure on “The Musician” was a natural place to start since Austin is “The Live Music Capital of the World.” “The Musician” in the painting is confident, intelligent, brave and whimsical; essentially, everything Still Austin aspires to be, and everything the distillery loves about its community.
Grain-to-Glass Philosophy
Still Austin is an independent craft whiskey distillery founded in 2015, focusing on a true grain-to-glass concept that produces the highest quality whiskey by perfecting every part of the process and using local resources and sustainable practices. The team is committed to carrying out each part of the process in-house. That means never sourcing whiskey from another distillery, and instead always hand-making everything from scratch, and managing everything in-house – milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, barreling and bottling.
The distilling team is led by Head Distiller John Schrepel, Master Blender Nancy Fraley and veteran Master Distiller Mike Delevante, one of the most experienced and respected distillers in North America who designed the Still Austin distillery to make the highest quality of bourbon. That includes a 42-foot custom-made column, “Nancy,” (and her sister copper-pot still, “The Queen”) which give the distillers serious creative license to create unique new flavors and spirits. The team also uses Texas weather to its advantage. The region’s high heat, humidity and rapidly shifting temperatures encourage spirits to move rapidly in and out of the oak barrels and mature relatively quickly—but, if this process is left unchecked, it can also cause the bourbon to have heavy oak flavor or harsh tannic qualities. To prevent this, Still Austin uses a meticulous six-month slow water reduction technique focused on flavor and balance, which gives the alcohol a softness on the palate and brings more “mature” notes, like vanilla and caramel, to the forefront. The result is a bourbon that highlights the natural flavor of the local grain, with no faults whatsoever.
Where to Buy
Still Austin’s straight bourbon whiskey is available online via the Still Austin website: https://shop.stillaustin.com/ and throughout retail stores in Texas for a suggested retail price of $45 per 750ml bottle.
For more information, visit www.stillaustin.com and follow Still Austin on Facebook at Facebook.com/StillATX, Twitter @StillATX and Instagram @Still_ATX.
About Still Austin Whiskey Co.
Founded in 2015 by three Austin families, Still Austin Whiskey Co. is a true grain-to-glass Distillery, located at 440 East St. Elmo Road in the heart of Austin, Texas. All spirits are hand crafted using grains grown by Texas farmers. Still Austin’s collection of spirits includes Still Austin’s flagship Straight Bourbon Whiskey, High-Rye Bourbon Whiskey, and Still Rye Gin. Still Austin places a high value on sustainability, with a focus on cutting carbon emissions through local sourcing, increasing the biodiversity of the region through heritage grains, returning spent grains to local ranchers to feed their animals, and operating a distillery that is designed for energy efficiency and water conservation.
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by admin | May 1, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Louisville, Ky. (April 29, 2021) – Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS) is thrilled to announce that two of its special Private Releases took top honors and were awarded Double Gold at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC): Barrell Private Release Bourbon BA1C for Best Small Batch Bourbon Up to Five Years, and Barrell Private Release Rum B617 for Best Over-Proof Rum. Additionally, the team earned Double Gold Medals for Barrell Bourbon Batch 024, 025, 026 and 027, Barrell Private Release Whiskey DH34, and the newly-released Barrell Seagrass; plus Gold Medals for Barrell Armida and five additional Private Release Bourbons and Whiskeys.
SFWSC is the largest international spirits competition in the United States. Judging is blind and done by a prestigious panel of nationally recognized spirits judges, each selected for their distinct and trusted palate. With two decades of experience, the SFWSC has become one of the most respected competitions in the world.
“Being awarded 14 Double Gold and Gold medals and taking top honors in two categories at this prestigious competition is simply incredible,” said Company Founder Joe Beatrice. “In our quest to become the most creative, forward-thinking and progressive blenders in the nation, we introduced our most ambitious project to date last year, launching both a Private Release Whiskey and Bourbon Series. It is incredibly satisfying to see just how well our full portfolio of products, including bourbon, whiskey and rum, has been received.”
Double Gold Medal Winners:
- Barrell Private Release Bourbon BA1C – Shows a fresh corn-forward sweetness and has a component age statement of 45% 5-year, 25% 10-year, 25% 14-year, and 5% 16-year bourbons.
- Barrell Private Release Rum B617 – The base rum, which is from Barbados, makes up 61% of the final blend. The marrying and finishing were done in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Barrel.
- Barrell Bourbon Batch 024 – A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys with a gentle nose balancing blonde tobacco, pear, and coffee ice cream that belies an intense palate of cola and spice. A selection of 9, 10, 13, and 15-year-old barrels.
- Barrell Bourbon Batch 025 – A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys that’s citrusy and peppery, without losing the opulence and oaky ease of the older ingredients. A selection of 5.5, 9, 13, and 15-year-old barrels.
- Barrell Bourbon Batch 026 – A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys that dances between fruit and spice long into its finish. A selection of 9, 10, 11, 13, and 15-year-old barrels.
- Barrell Bourbon Batch 027 – A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys featuring a cohesive, yet extremely complex flavor profile. A total cherry bomb featuring a selection of 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, and 15-year-old barrels.
- Barrell Private Release Whiskey DH34 – A blend of KY Whiskeys, the largest component being 18-year-old KY whiskey, finished in an Oloroso Sherry Barrel.
- Barrell Seagrass – A blend of American and Canadian rye whiskeys, with each ingredient sourced and finished separately in Martinique Rhum Agricole casks, apricot brandy casks, and Madeira barrels.
Founded in 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky, BCS is known for sourcing and blending whiskey, bourbon, rye and rum products that explore different distillation methods, barrels and aging environments, and bottling them at cask strength. BCS’s extensive stocks of high-quality casks means it can craft extraordinary blends that maximize the nuances of each ingredient. Every batch is produced as a limited release and has a distinct flavor profile.
At the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, BCS’ Barrell Bourbon Batch 021 received Double Gold and was named Best Bourbon and Best Small Batch Bourbon – both overall and within the 6-10 year category. The team also earned Double Gold Medals for Barrell Bourbon Batch 020 and Barrell Rye Batch 003. In previous years, BCS captured the 2017 Best Bourbon and Best Small Batch Bourbon, (Barrell Bourbon Batch 011) and Best Over Proof Rum (Barrell Rum Batch 001).
The Barrell Craft Spirits award-winning line of products is currently sold in 45 US states and online via www.barrellbourbon.com. Follow Barrell Craft Spirits on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Barrell Craft Spirits
Barrell Craft Spirits® is an independent blender and bottler of unique aged, cask-strength sourced whiskey and rum spirits, that is recognized for its blending expertise. The company selects and blends products that explore different distillation methods, barrels and aging environments, and bottles them at cask strength. Every batch and single barrel is produced as a limited release and has a distinct flavor profile.
Barrell Craft Spirits®, Barrell®, Barrell Bourbon® and Barrell Rye® are registered trademarks owned by Barrell Craft Spirits LLC.
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