by admin | Jul 28, 2026 | IN THE NEWS
Crafted By One of the Most Influential Unknown Families in the Spirits Industry, These New Offerings are Three Generations in the Making
Cambridge, Wisconsin (July 28, 2026) – Dancing Goat Distillery has announced the launch of Stillman’s Sonder: two new premium whiskey expressions – a 10-year Bourbon and a 10-year American Single Malt, each representing three generations of dedication to the craft.
At the heart of the story is Duane Maas, a foundational stillman whose behind-the-scenes work helped shape modern whiskey production. Beginning in the 1950s, Duane contributed to advancing production methods and quality standards across iconic spirits, including Seagram’s and Chartreuse. He remained active in the industry for decades, consulting on the early development of Dancing Goat Distillery prior to his passing in 2016. Though often unseen, his influence continues to resonate across the category.
His son, Tom Maas, carried that legacy forward as a visionary brand builder, helping guide growth and innovation strategies for heritage whiskey brands and helped usher in the era of small-batch bourbon. Tom bridged the discipline of the maker with the imagination of the storyteller, ensuring that every story told was rooted in authenticity and respect for the stillman’s art.
Today, Nick Maas, Tom’s son, continues that lineage at the still and blending table. Stillman’s Sonder reflects his reverence for his father and grandfather, with each bottle embodying precision, curiosity, and the dedication of the stillman.
Whiskey A Decade in the Making
What began as a collection of orphaned barrels evolved into a project more than 10 years in the making. From 2010 to 2016, distillation at MGP in Indiana included a series of large exploratory test runs which resulted in a number of unused barrels. Recognizing their potential, the Maas family quietly acquired and curated these stocks over time, with a vision to release them as 10 plus year aged whiskey. Included in these lots were American Single Malt whiskey and Andean oak aged bourbon barrels used in Stillman’s Sonder.
Led by father and son Tom and Nick Maas, the team embarked on an 18-month process of analysis, blending, finishing, and refinement to take the most choice barrels from their elusive aged stocks. Through careful selection, these once-overlooked stocks were transformed into cohesive, high-quality expressions.
Stillman’s Sonder Straight Bourbon Whiskey was aged in both Andean and American Oak barrels with texture and concentration pushed through several double oaked components. Barrels were spoon proofed at times with encouraged oxidation through short fills and vatting before bottling at 94 proof (47% ABV). The new expression received a Double Gold Medal and 98 points at the prestigious 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was nominated for “Best in Class 6- to 10-year-old Small Batch Bourbon.”
Stillman’s Sonder American Single Malt was distilled in Indiana and aged in Wisconsin. After initial maturation, it underwent three rounds of blending, re-barreling, and finishing across a range of casks – including virgin oak, ex-bourbon, Wisconsin brandy, Cognac, and Calvados – before bottling at 96.4 proof (48.2% ABV).
“Stillman’s Sonder is both a tribute and a celebration of everything made possible by the spirit makers of America’s Heartland,” said Nick Brady Maas, Contemporary Stillman and Blender, Stillman’s Sonder. “Our work especially honors my late grandfather, Duane, whose rich and complex life in the world of spirits continues to inspire our every step. These expressions were also created for what he represented at the beginning – a Stillman. These two new whiskeys are an invitation to pause, connect, and reflect on the tapestry of our lives and the moments we share.”
What’s in a Name?
The name Stillman’s Sonder reflects both craftsmanship and perspective. “Stillman” speaks to patience, process, and precision, while “Sonder” captures the awareness that every individual carries a life as vivid and complex as your own. Together, the name reflects a whiskey rooted in intention and connection.
The bottle labels showcase a mid-century modern aesthetic, abstractly depicting “Wiscy City” in Cambridge, Wisconsin. The stylized artwork was inspired by the architectural and cultural landscape of the Midwest while reflecting the founder’s appreciation for design, distillation, and community. Whiskey lovers will appreciate the distinct visual cues between the two expressions: the American Single Malt evokes daytime, while the Bourbon reflects nighttime, together representing the balance between the natural and engineered worlds.
Stillman’s Sonder 10-year Bourbon Whiskey and 10-year American Single Malt are now available for purchase online via the brand’s website and at select U.S. retailers with a suggested retail price of $70 per 750ml bottle. Limited single barrel selections are also available for both expressions.
For more information, please visit www.stillmanssonder.com and follow the brand on Instagram.
Stillman’s Sonder is represented by Small Victories Imports, a boutique firm specializing in the development and distribution of emerging beverage brands.
About Stillman’s Sonder
Stillman’s Sonder is a range of polished and reimagined 10-year whiskey blends, which pay homage to Duane Maas and Stillmen everywhere. The portfolio currently includes an American Single Malt and Bourbon expressions, alongside limited single barrel offerings.
About Dancing Goat Distillery
Dancing Goat Distillery, located in Cambridge, Wisconsin, began as a gathering of friends and family centered around Tom Maas’ remarkable whiskey collection. Tom built this trove not just as a connoisseur but as someone who saw spirits as vessels for stories, laughter, and legacy. Today, the diverse portfolio of spirits includes: Beren’s Old Fashioned Brandy, Dancing Goat Presents, Death’s Door Gin, Limousin Rye, Travis Hasse Pie Liqueurs, Single Barrel Releases, and Stillman’s Sonder. For more information, visit https://www.dancinggoat.com/
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by admin | Jul 20, 2026 | IN THE NEWS
Aged 20 Years, Carefully Crafted Blend of Whiskeys Distilled Each Year from 1995 to 2005 Showcases Secondary Maturation in Spanish Brandy and Hungarian Oak Casks
Louisville, KY (July 22, 2026) – Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the original independent blender of unique aged, cask strength whiskey since 2013, today introduced Barrell Decade 2, a carefully crafted blend of whiskeys distilled each year from 1995 to 2005 showcasing secondary maturation in Spanish brandy and Hungarian oak casks.
Crafted from the same barrels and using the same finishing techniques as Barrell Decade which launched to great success last summer, the second release is also part of the company’s Black Label Series which also includes the 20-year-old Toasted Single Barrel, Toasted Vantage, Full Proof Bourbon, and 33-year-old Whiskey Finished in French Oak and Oloroso sherry casks.
Barrell Decade is now available for purchase online via the BCS website at barrellbourbon.com and at select retailers for the suggested retail price of $199.99 per 750ml bottle. The new expression was distilled in Canada and contains liquid from 20 to 30 years old. It was expertly crafted and bottled in Kentucky at 141.3 proof (70.65% ABV) and delivers a remarkably similar flavor profile, while bringing additional layers of dried fruit, spiced chocolate, and a more textured mouthfeel.
Founded in 2013 in Louisville, KY, BCS selects and blends products that explore different distillation methods, barrels, and aging environments. BCS’s extensive stocks of high-quality casks mean it can craft extraordinary blends that maximize the nuances of each ingredient. Creative finishes and a liberated approach to blending guides every product release.
The award-winning line of BCS releases are sold in 49 US states, Puerto Rico, the UK, South Korea, the Ukraine, and Australia. Follow Barrell Craft Spirits on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, or visit barrellbourbon.com.
Barrell Craft Spirits®
Louisville-based Barrell Craft Spirits® is the original, pre-eminent independent blender of unique, aged, cask strength whiskey and rum. Recognized for our blending expertise since 2013, we skillfully design, produce, and launch leading, unique products that surprise and delight whiskey aficionados and novices alike. Our cask-strength small-batch and single-barrel releases have quickly become an influencing force in American whiskey, winning awards from the world’s most prestigious distilled spirits publications and competitions. Barrell Craft Spirits®, Barrell®, Barrell Bourbon® and Barrell Rye® are registered trademarks owned by Barrell Craft Spirits LLC.
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by admin | Jul 11, 2026 | IN THE NEWS
Award-Winning Whiskey Brand Also Changes Distributors in Kentucky
Memphis, TN (June 22, 2026) – B.R. Distilling, parent company of Blue Note Bourbon™, the award-winning whiskey portfolio which is artfully crafted to honor the rich blues music that is synonymous with Memphis, has broadened its distribution into Indiana and Nebraska, selecting Vino Indiana and Quench Fine Wines, respectively. B.R. Distilling also selected Heritage Wine & Spirits as its new distributor in Kentucky.
“Choosing the right distribution partners is one of the most important decisions a growing whiskey brand can make,” said Dan Jurkovic, National Sales Director, B.R. Distilling Co. “As consumer demand for Blue Note Bourbon increases, we’re excited to welcome these three new distribution partners to our network. Their market expertise, strong retail relationships, and shared commitment to building premium spirits brands will help us expand our reach while ensuring more consumers have access to our award-winning portfolio. We look forward to working together to accelerate growth in these key markets.”
Blue Note’s whiskey portfolio is distilled in Kentucky and then aged just north of downtown Memphis where the Mississippi and Wolf Rivers collide. The long summers filled with infamous Memphis heat and cooler evenings forces the whiskey deep into the oak, creating an unmistakably rich flavor that’s bold yet smooth. The award-winning portfolio includes the flagship Juke Joint ($34.99), Toasted (formerly known as Crossroads) ($44.99), Uncut ($49.99), and Straight Rye Whiskey ($34.99) expressions. At the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Juke Joint and Crossroads were awarded Platinum medals, a rare honor meaning that each expression has received Double Gold medals for three consecutive years. In recent years, Blue Note has also introduced several other highly awarded limited-release offerings, which include Premium Small Batch, Single Barrel Reserve, Special Reserve, 17-year, and a Honey Rye and Honey Bourbon Cask.
About B.R. Distilling Company
Founded in 2014 in Memphis, TN, B.R. Distilling Company is the oldest licensed distillery in Memphis, TN, and producer of world-famous Blue Note Bourbon. Currently, the company produces five flagship expressions, along with regular limited releases, which are distributed across the following U.S. states: AL, AR, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, OK, RI, SC, TN, TX, Washington, DC and WI as well as online at BlueNoteBourbon.com via Bevstack, which can be shipped to: AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MN, MO, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, VT, WA, WI, WV, and WY. Take note. Sip responsibly.
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by admin | Jul 11, 2026 | IN THE NEWS
Higher-Proof Line Extension Expands Upon First Joint Venture Between Caribbean Distilleries to Produce a Multi-Island Blended Rum
Corona del Mar, CA (June 23, 2026) – Probitas, the award-winning white blended rum which has set a new gold standard for White Rum used in cocktails, has launched a new Green Label Blended Rum. Like Probitas White, Green Label comes from two of the most iconic distilleries in two of the most respected islands in the Caribbean for rum making – Foursquare Rum Distillery in Barbados and Hampden Estate in Jamaica.
The new expression is a blend of three distinct rums, blended by Master Distiller and Master Blender Richard Seale of Foursquare Rum Distillery in Barbados. The components include Unaged Double Retort Pot Still Rum from Hampden Estate in Jamaica, along with Unaged Twin-Column Coffey Still Rum, Unaged Double-Retort Pot Still Rum and two-year aged Double-Retort Pot Still Rum all from Foursquare Rum Distillery in Barbados. The Green Label also includes caramel made by Richard at Foursquare in Barbados that is produced through a process of super heating sugar, while leaving zero residual sweetness.
Probitas Green Label Tasting Notes
- Aroma: rich figs, fresh caramel, brown butter and vanilla, layered with hints of pineapple, orange peel, coconut and an overripe banana and subtle grassy note
- Palate: bold and complex, but surprisingly easy considering its proof. Notes of brown sugar and caramelized pineapple with layered tannins, giving way to a bright and almost citrus forward finish
Probitas Green Label plays well in traditional cocktails, and especially with bold and intense tropical cocktails.
“The newest release from Probitas has somehow managed to fill an unexpected gap in every rum bar’s backbar,” said Joe Mele of Coastal Kitchen & Daiquiri Bar in Bayshore Long Island.
“Probitas Green Label is an incredibly flavor packed pure expression of Barbados and Jamaica. The higher proof and rich molasses notes allow for it to hold its own in place of whiskey in classics like an old fashioned and sazerac, while still staying light enough on its feet to put forth incredible daiquiris. Mix this into your secret mai-tai specs, your house rum blends, and anywhere else you can. Outstanding.”
“I love mixing up cocktails with Probitas Green Label because it’s an incredibly versatile rum with a depth of flavor that shines on its own in a simple Daiquiri, but also in cocktails with big, bold flavors like a Negroni or a Corn ‘n’ Oil,” said Pepper Stashek, Bar Kabawa, in New York City.
Probitas Green Blended Rum was distilled, matured, blended, and bottled entirely in the Caribbean. No sugar, nor neutral/multi column spirit added. The expression was bottled at 57% ABV (114 proof) and is now available throughout the U.S. and online for the suggested retail price of $34.99.
For more information, please visit https://altamarbrands.com/brands/probitas-rum/ and Probitas on Instagram.
About Altamar Brands LLC
Founded in 2005 by W. L. Lyons Brown, III, Altamar Brands is a small, entrepreneurial outfit founded to develop and import esoteric, artisanal spirits brands that offer unique and distinctive production stories in their respective categories. They include: Elvelo Tequila, Foursquare Rum, High n’ Wicked Whiskeys, Kubler Absinthe, Lágrimas del Valle Tequila, Probitas Rum, Right Gin, and R.L. Seale’s Barbados Rum.
For more information, please visit https://altamarbrands.com/
With Cocktailing, Quality Bests Quantity.
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