by admin | Apr 12, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Austin, TX (April 12, 2022) – Still Austin Whiskey Co., a homegrown distillery situated in the heart of South Austin, is excited to announce that its Cask Strength straight bourbon whiskey was awarded a Double Gold medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The expression features grains that are 100% grown by Texas farmers, handmade from grain-to-glass at the distillery, aged in new charred American Oak barrels, and bottled at 118 proof (59% ABV). The expression is a deeper, darker, more robust version of its fruit-forward sibling (aka The Musician Straight Bourbon), which is also a Double Gold winner. Both bourbons feature a mash bill comprised of 70% Non-GMO white corn, 25% Elbon rye and 5% wildfire malted barley.
“We’re honored that both of our straight bourbon whiskeys have now won Double Gold at this prestigious spirits competition where entries are judged blindly,” said Brandon Joldersma, Chief Operating Officer, Still Austin Whiskey Co. “Cask Strength is a masterpiece of complex, dark flavors with a deep spice finish.”
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. Still Austin Cask Strength “offers 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 presents 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 image of The Musician, the black starry night sky is meant to reflect the mysterious nature of the stronger, “darker” whiskey inside the bottle.
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.
Where to Buy
Still Austin’s Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey is available for purchase online via Reserve Bar and the Still Austin website as well as throughout retail stores in Texas, for a suggested retail price of $60 per 750ml bottle.
For more information, visit www.stillaustin.com and follow Still Austin on Facebook at Facebook.com/StillATX, Twitter @StillATX and Instagram @StillATX.
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, Cask Strength 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 | Apr 11, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Independent Blender and Bottler of Unique Aged, Cask Strength Whiskey and Rum Proud to Support Women’s Soccer and the Local Community
Louisville, KY (April 11, 2022) – Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the independent blender and bottler of unique aged, cask-strength sourced whiskey and rum, has become an official 2022 Cornerstone Partner of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Racing Louisville Football Club. This marks the first major local sponsorship for the award-winning craft spirits company, which is known for its blending expertise.
“Our team at Barrell Craft Spirits, more than half of which are women, is thrilled to support women’s sports and Racing Louisville, the highest level professional sports team in our community,” said BCS Founder Joe Beatrice. “We’ve been excited since learning that the stadium was being built for Racing Louisville, knowing how significant it was for the community. The women’s team and the facility are both among the best in the country.”
Founded in 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky, BCS selects and blends products that explore different distillation methods, barrels and aging environments, and bottles them at cask strength. BCS’s extensive stocks of high-quality casks mean they can craft extraordinary blends that maximize the nuances of each ingredient. Creative finishes, a liberated approach to blending, and a deep-seated commitment to releasing each whiskey at cask strength and without chill filtration guides every product release.
The BCS award-winning line of products, which includes batches, ongoing releases and regular releases, is currently sold in 48 states throughout the U.S. For more information, visit www.barrellbourbon.com and follow Barrell Craft Spirits® on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
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.
Barrell Craft Spirits®, Barrell®, Barrell Bourbon® and Barrell Rye® are registered trademarks owned by Barrell Craft Spirits LLC.
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by admin | Mar 29, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Minority Founded RTD Lifestyle Company Offering Wine Spritzer Cocktails Now Available at Citi Field in New York and Levi’s® Stadium in the Bay Area
Miami Beach, FL (March 29, 2022) – Cool Cat, an RTD lifestyle company offering a refreshing line of naturally flavored wine spritzer cocktails, has secured sponsorships with the New York Mets and San Francisco 49ers.
The sponsorship at Citi Field kicks off on April 15, 2022, when the New York Mets host the Arizona Diamondbacks for their season home opener. Fans will have a chance to play the Cool Cat Memory Game for the chance to win a branded Swag Bag and receive 20% off their first order by entering the QR code provided at the Cool Cat stand.
“We’re excited to welcome Cool Cat as an official partner of the New York Mets to kick off the 2022 season,” said Brian Fling, Mets VP of Partnerships. “The brand has local roots having been founded in New York and we appreciate that Cool Cat offers a refreshing line of low-calorie wine spritzer cocktails with a unique taste profile for fans seeking new RTD options.”
Beginning May 15, Cool Cat will also become the “preferred wine spritzer” of the San Francisco 49ers and be available for purchase in Levi’s® Stadium.
“Music and sports are incredibly relevant to the Cool Cat lifestyle,” said co-founder and CEO Rocco Venneri. “We’ve been successful with music sponsorships and are excited to incorporate sports into the mix, which will help raise brand awareness in our priority markets. We’re grateful to organizations that stand behind both our brand DNA and product and are allocating resources to help minority brands like ours succeed.”
Named “Best Spritzer” by Liquor.com, Cool Cat Wine Spritzers are available in four flavors – Original (Elderflower Mint Lime), Citrus, Berry and Grapefruit. The naturally flavored spritzers feature a base of California white wine and are naturally gluten free. At 6.9% ABV, just 150 calories and two grams of carbohydrates per 12-ounce can, Cool Cat offers a better alternative to many other alcoholic beverages.
Cool Cat tastes great right out of the can, but can also be poured over ice or used to create specialty cocktails. The spritzers are ideal while on the go – they’re portable; recyclable; park, beach and festival friendly; and provide more bang for the buck than a traditional bottle of wine. The suggested retail price for a 4-pack of 12oz cans (355ml) is $15.99.
For more information and to purchase Cool Cat Wine Spritzers, visit drinkcoolcat.com and reservebar.com and follow the brand @drinkcoolcat on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Spotify.
About Cool Cat
Cool Cat is a minority founded, led, and operated beverage lifestyle company established in 2018 in Chelsea, NYC. Launched in April 2020, Cool Cat Wine Spritzers are currently distributed in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Discover the brand online at drinkcoolcat.com and on Instagram and Facebook @drinkcoolcat.
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by admin | Jan 25, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Non-Profit Combines Charity With Bourbon to #drinkforachange
Chandler, AZ (January 24, 2022) – Bourbon Charity, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which has raised nearly $1.5M for more than 30 charitable organizations by combining charity with bourbon to #drinkforachange, has added John Edwards to its Board of Directors. He joins the current Bourbon Charity Board of Directors which includes: Brandon Hunt (Chairman of the Board), Brian Hunt (Treasurer), Chris Adams (Secretary) and Charles Murrell (Director of Donor Relations). John will spearhead community relations for the organization.
In 2016, John combined his experience in technology and radio to co-found the popular Dads Drinking Bourbon podcast along with Zeke Baker. The podcast goes behind the labels, featuring honest and straightforward reviews and candid interviews with industry professionals in a casual news setting. Originally from Massachusetts, John now lives and works in Nashville in Technology. Prior to that, he served as Operations Manager for ESPN Radio and SuperTalk 96.1 in Lexington and was the Director of Operations and Affiliate Relations for the Horse Racing Radio Network.
“I’m excited to join the Bourbon Charity board and to use my knowledge of bourbon and the distilled spirits industry to raise funds for worthy charities and make a difference in people’s lives,” said Edwards.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have John join the leadership of Bourbon Charity,” said Brandon Hunt, Founder & Chairman of the Board of Bourbon Charity. “His extensive knowledge of the American whiskey industry and deep connections he has made through his podcasting platform will be an invaluable resource. John’s eagerness and ability to help us grow our mission as a charity has our entire team inspired.”
Founded in 2019 when his “Pops” was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Brandon Hunt donated his bourbon collection to start the organization. Since then, Bourbon Charity has enlisted 20,000+ supporters whose passion for combining charity with bourbon to #drinkforachange has raised nearly $1.5M for more than 30 charitable causes, including: Prostate Cancer Foundation, Children’s Tumor Foundation, Fisher House Foundation, Dare to Care, and charity: water. All donations are tax deductible. In 2021, Bourbon Charity became a 100% public donation charity, meaning every dollar pledged during fundraisers goes directly to the charitable organizations being supported.
The online fundraising model has served the organization well, especially given the current state of the world. In addition to barrel picks, Bourbon Charity hosts several online fundraising events throughout the year, featuring rare and allocated whiskey, such as Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Weller, Sazerac, George T. Stagg and more.
Join the Bourbon Hood
Another way to get involved with Bourbon Charity is to join the Bourbon Hood, a passionate community of more than 650 monthly givers that help to ensure every public dollar donated goes to the supported charities. Bourbon Hood members receive ticket entries in each fundraiser as well as exclusive merchandise and discounts. For more information, visit bourbonhood.org
For more information about Bourbon Charity and to donate, visit bourboncharity.org.
Follow Bourbon Charity on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bourboncharity and Instagram @bourboncharity
About Bourbon Charity
Bourbon Charity is a nonprofit organization of more than 20,000 supporters and growing that raises money for charity. Core supported charities include: Prostate Cancer Foundation, Children’s Tumor Foundation, Fisher House Foundation, Dare to Care, and charity: water. Bourbon Charity is registered as a 501(c)(3) as Bourbon Charity. We are a tax exempt organization.
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by admin | Jan 25, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Team of Barrel Breakers & Risk Takers Use Various Types of Barrel Staves to Further Age and Finish Its Portfolio of Premium Whiskeys
Los Angeles, CA (January 25, 2022) – Broken Barrel Whiskey Co., whose portfolio of premium whiskeys showcase the impact a non-traditional barrel finishing practice has on flavor, has officially reintroduced its core lineup of now exclusively Kentucky Straight Bourbon & Rye Whiskeys, which are distilled by eighth-generation Master Distiller Jacob Call at the historic Owensboro Distilling Co., in Kentucky.
While most whiskey is aged in barrels and then bottled, Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. Founder and CEO Seth Benhaim believed that there was a missed opportunity in traditional barrel finishing – namely the reliance on one type of barrel used to finish one type of whiskey. He created Broken Barrel to expand the barrel finishing concept, involving not only broken barrel staves (vs. intact barrels), but also the combination of multiple barrel types all finishing aged bourbon in tandem.
“We always say that the truth is in the barrel,” said Benhaim. “Contact with the oak gives whiskey its character and charisma and defines the final whiskey. It’s responsible for 80% of the flavor tasted in every sip, which is why we further age and finish our whiskeys using various combinations of barrel types.”
Once Broken Barrel whiskey ages for a minimum of two years, barrels are carefully selected, dumped and batched in a large tank. The broken barrel staves from multiple different kinds of casks are then added to further age and finish the whiskey. While most whiskey enthusiasts are familiar with a mash bill, or combination of grains used, Benhaim coined the term Oak Bill™, to denote the combination of barrel staves from different types of barrels used in each expression, as listed on every bottle. Individually, these types of oak barrels are not typically used on 95% of all bourbon or rye whiskey produced, and rarely if ever are three types of oak used at the same time to finish any whiskey.
The core portfolio of products, which feature a premium new look, include:
- Small Batch ($35) – A bold, oak-forward 95-proof KY straight bourbon with a spicy finish. Notes of vanilla-laced cake batter and a candy corn sweetness
- Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Barley
- Oak Bill™: 40% Ex-Bourbon, 40% New French Oak, 20% Sherry Cask
- California Oak ($35) – An 88-proof KY Straight Bourbon meets California’s Central Coast, using Cabernet Sauvignon barrels as the prominent oak finish. Balanced caramel sweetness, with dates and dark fruit, and a tannic finish
- Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Barley
- Oak Bill™: 80% California Cabernet Casks, 20% New French Oak
- Awards: Gold Medal, 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Tasting Panel 2022 (91 points)
- Heresy Rye ($35) – A sherry influenced, double oaked, 105-proof workhorse straight rye whiskey featuring sweet cooked vanilla, freshly prepared dough, with traces of charred oak, marzipan sweetness and classic spicy rye finish
- Mash Bill: 95% Rye, 5% Barley
- Oak Bill™: 40% Ex-Bourbon, 40% New French Oak, 20% Sherry Cask
- Awards: Gold Medal, 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Tasting Panel 2022 (93 points)
- Cask Strength ($45) – An unapologetically big bourbon at 115 Proof with hints of fresh blackberry, caramel, notes of orange, corn and cinnamon spice on the finish.
- Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Barley
- Oak Bill™: 40% Ex-Bourbon, 40% New French Oak, 20% Sherry Cask
- Awards: Tasting Panel 2022 (94 points)
Limited-Edition Special Releases
In the spirit of experimentation, Broken Barrel regularly issues special releases which allows the team to further flex its creative muscles and incorporate barrel staves from various combinations of unique casks sourced from all over the world. They’re currently ramping up their Los Angeles whiskey warehouse by regularly collecting and breaking barrels, experimenting with aging and blending, and tasting and bottling new limited-release and single barrel projects.
Availability
Broken Barrel products are sold online via Caskers, Flaviar, Reserve Bar and Wine.com and in select retail locations within 33 US states. The Broken Barrel Stave House & Bottle Shop, located at 2332 East 8th Street in downtown Los Angeles, is open from Monday through Friday from 12-5pm. Limit three bottles per person, per day.
Please follow Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. on Facebook and Instagram.
About Broken Barrel Whiskey Co.
Founded in 2017, Broken Barrel Whiskey is a portfolio of premium whiskeys sourced from the historic Owensboro Distilling Co. in Kentucky. The core expressions feature exclusively Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey, which are further aged and finished using various types and combinations of barrel staves. For more information, please visit www.brokenbarrelwhiskey.com
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