by admin | Nov 3, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Limited Edition Luxury Bottling Features 24-year Canadian Whiskey Barrels
Louisville, KY (November 3, 2021) – Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the award-winning independent blender and bottler of unique aged, cask-strength sourced whiskey and rum, today released its BCS Gray Label Whiskey. This follows the recent release of the company’s BCS Gray Label Bourbon back in September. Going forward, the BCS Line will officially feature the “Gray Label” moniker for the full line of Barrell Craft Spirits®’ Bourbons, Whiskey, and Rums that previously existed.
The BCS Gray Label Whiskey features 24-year Canadian whiskey barrels, a portion of which were finished in Oloroso Sherry barrels and Armagnac casks. When the timing and flavor from the finishing casks peaked, all of the components were carefully blended together and bottled at cask strength at 121.64 proof (60.82% ABV).
The mature, spicy whiskey is front and center, reminiscent of wheat fields edged with wildflowers. There is a rare and noteworthy concentration of aroma, enriched with a candy sweetness and leafy earthiness from the finishing casks, akin to a toasty Belgian waffle.
Over the past two years, the team has experimented with some extended secondary maturation on both the core portfolio and a select number of barrels acquired and earmarked for the BCS Line. This process requires a significant amount of time, experimentation and development in this new set of releases.
“Essentially, the BCS Gray Label Whiskey is a limited edition, luxury bottling, which reflects the overall investment of time, development and ingredients required for these blends,” said Barrell Craft Spirits® Founder Joe Beatrice. “This is blending at its best and the result is a truly exceptional whiskey.”
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.
In addition to the BCS Line, Barrell Craft Spirits® offers several other special releases that allow its creativity to flourish including: Barrell Dovetail, which was awarded the “Chairman’s Trophy” at the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Barrell Armida, Barrell Seagrass, American Vatted Malt, and the Infinite Barrel Project.
The BCS Gray Label Whiskey, which includes a gift box, is now available for an SRP of $249.99 at select retailers within the brand’s current 48 U.S. markets and online via the BCS website at www.barrellbourbon.com.
For more information, follow Barrell Craft Spirits® on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram or visit www.barrellbourbon.com.
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 | Oct 18, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Latest Expression in the company’s “Distillery Reserve Series” Only Available Online Via Secret Link
Austin, TX (October 18, 2021) – Still Austin Whiskey Co., a homegrown distillery situated in the heart of South Austin, is excited for the return of its limited-edition Monster Mash cask strength whiskey under its special “Distillery Reserve Series” just in time for the Halloween holiday.
The whiskey was handmade from grain-to-glass at the distillery, aged for three years in new charred American Oak barrels, and bottled at 105.5 proof (52.75% ABV). The (monster) mash bill features grains that are 100% grown by Texas farmers: 63% Non-GMO white corn, 17% Winter Hawk wheat, 10% malted rye, 8% rye and 2% malted barley.
The genesis of this whiskey started when the team discovered five “super sacks” in the distillery which were all less than half full. Lead Distiller John Schrepel decided to see what happened when he combined each of the remaining grains found in each sack. The result turned out even better than he could have imagined.
The team loved the label for last year’s Monster Mash so much—with its oak monster and his squirrel friend—that they decided to continue working with Austin-based artist Dan Grissom of Biscuit Press. The new label features the same monster though perhaps a bit older and wiser now, with even more moss growing on his bark. This year, the monster is just leaving the fall carnival—and he seems to have had a wonderful time.
When & Where to Buy
The team produced approximately (350) 750ml bottles which will retail for $100 each. Consumers will have the chance to purchase a bottle beginning today by visiting StillAustin.com and submitting their email address. Entrants will then receive an email on Monday, 10/25 at 12pm CST with a secret purchase link. Bottles will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Those who purchase a bottle will receive a complimentary, limited-edition 12×16 poster of the Monster Mash label, signed by Dan Grissom. Folks will be able to pick up their bottles at the Still Austin distillery (440 E. St Elmo Road Unit F) on Friday and Saturday, October 29 & 30, beginning at 12pm each day.
Monster Mash Tasting Notes
This monster greets you with scents of salted pecans, dates and saltwater taffy, followed by subtle hints of caramel, cherries, brown sugar, toffee and peanut butter. The velvety palate brings notes of chocolate cherries, salted pretzels, Whoppers malt candy, fluff, and milk chocolate. These initial notes are followed closely by a fall carnival of allspice, spiced apples and maple syrup. A hint of peaches lingers within a complex finish that is at once smooth, round, sweet and dry.
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.
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 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.
About the Artist
Dan Grissom is an illustrator, designer, painter, and printmaker based in Austin, Texas. He specializes in screen printed concert posters and has done work for a diverse list of musicians including many local Austin bands. His gallery work includes solo exhibitions at the University of New Mexico Gallup and Northwestern State University in Louisiana. Dan has been a part of many group exhibitions including several through Spoke Art Gallery based in San Francisco and New York. His work has also been featured in several art books as well as magazines based in the U.S., France, and Brazil. In 2015, Dan built a screen printing and letterpress shop in his garage called Biscuit Press where his work is printed, as well as the work of other local artists and designers. He’s taught multiple screen printing workshops with art students at both the University of Texas in Austin and the University of New Mexico in Gallup. Find him on Instagram @dangrissom and Facebook @dangrissomart.
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by admin | Oct 13, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Breakthrough Brand Embraces the Vitality of American Whiskey to Create the Next Generation of Classic Whiskeys
Louisville, KY – (October 13, 2021) Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the award-winning independent blender and bottler of unique aged, cask-strength sourced whiskey and rum, today expands its footprint in Australia with the introduction of Stellum® Spirits. The inaugural cask-strength bourbon and rye expressions will be joined by single barrel releases later in 2021. The new brand will be distributed via Orrsum Spirits, an importer, marketer, retailer and distributor of premium spirits focused on providing the Australian whiskey community, including clubs like Whiskey Hunt Australia, access to sought after bourbon, whiskey and rye.
“We’re fortunate to have amazing whiskeys like Stellum Bourbon & Rye in our portfolio,” said John M. Weifert, Director, Orrsum Spirits. “The quality and price point of these cask strength American Whiskeys will appeal to a broad audience. I’m excited for the future of Stellum Spirits and future growth of the American whiskey category in Australia.”
Founded in 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky, Barrell Craft Spirits has created a unique niche within the spirits industry by focusing on the art of sourcing and blending. Stellum Spirits is the result of BCS’ years of industry-leading innovation in American whiskey. This new brand investigates the importance of nuance and micro differentiation in a paired down and minimalist setting. Stellum is designed to be clean and straightforward. This is whiskey factored down to its most defining essentials, blended and packaged with an eye towards clean lines and definition. Originally launched in the U.S. this past March, the new brand has already exceeded the team’s expectations.
“Stellum brings American Whiskey into the modern age with simple elegant blends and single barrels selected with care and intention,” said Barrell Craft Spirits Founder Joe Beatrice. “U.S. sales have exceeded our first-year projections in less than six months. We’re confident Australians will also embrace this exciting new brand.”
Stellum Bourbon® is bottled at 114.98 proof (57.49% ABV) while Stellum Rye® is bottled at 116.24 proof (58.12% ABV). The Bourbon and Rye were awarded Gold and Double Gold medals, respectively, at the prestigious 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Both expressions are now available via Orrsum Spirits. For wholesale inquiries, please email [email protected].
For more information about Stellum Spirits, follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit www.stellum.com.
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.
Stellum Spirits
Stellum® Spirits is devoted to bringing American whiskey into the modern age with simple, elegant blends and single barrels selected with care and intention. Stellum Spirits is produced by Barrell Craft Spirits®, the award-winning independent blender and bottler of unique aged, cask-strength sourced whiskey and rum.
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by admin | Oct 13, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Chris Blatner to lead the organization and spearhead its growth initiatives
Chandler, AZ,. October 13, 2021 – Bourbon Charity today announced the recent hiring of Chris Blatner as Executive Director of the organization. Mr. Blatner will implement new strategies to grow Bourbon Charity and position it as the premier charitable organization within the American whiskey community.
“After serving as an ambassador for the past two years, we are extremely happy to now have Chris join our leadership team to help expand our overall impact on the great organizations we support with our fundraising efforts,” said Brandon Hunt, Founder & Chairman of the Board of Bourbon Charity. “Chris brings a wealth of business experience, an enthusiasm for whiskey, and most importantly a passion for our mission to improve the lives of people through our fundraising efforts.”
Blatner comes to Bourbon Charity after years as a leading Sales Director in the aviation industry with Mitchell Aircraft Spares, Inc. and Magnum AirDynamics. Chris is also currently Director of Operations for nutrition consulting company Dawn Nutrition Strategies, LLC and Founder of UrbanBourbonist, LLC an independent spirits consultancy and social media marketing company. Blatner is also an Executive Bourbon Steward certified by Moonshine University, the exclusive education provider of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
“I am very excited and honored to be joining Bourbon Charity in this capacity and to help propel the organization forward and really establish us as the leading charity of the American whiskey community. I know that our efforts will build upon the amazing foundation created by Brandon Hunt and everyone that has been associated with the charity up until this point,” said Blatner. “Bourbon Charity will be an integral part of the fabric of American whiskey and I look forward to growing our mission.”
Bourbon Charity was founded in 2018 and has raised nearly $1.5 million dollars for nearly 30 charitable organizations through the generous donations of more than 12,000 supporters. In 2021, Bourbon Charity became a 100% public donation charity. Every dollar pledged during fundraisers goes directly to the charitable organizations being supported. For more information visit bourboncharity.org.
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by admin | Sep 27, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Founder Steven Busch Carries Family Legacy Into the Distilled Spirits Industry With Guidance from His Father, August A. Busch III
St. Louis, MO – For nearly two centuries, people worldwide have trusted the Busch family’s standard of excellence. Now Steven Busch, Founder of King Spirits and the son of August A. Busch III, is carrying that legacy into the world of distilled spirits with the launch of the company’s heritage line of inaugural brands: Walker’s Cay Bourbon™ and Hope Town Vodka™.
Steven grew up in the brewing industry and has owned a beer wholesaler for the past 15 years. Although he comes from a multi-generational world-famous family, he has managed to stay behind the curtain. He is launching his own spirits line with guidance from his father, who brings strategic oversight, unmatched liquid development, sound leadership, and distinguished brand-building skills.
“Our inaugural small-batch spirits were inspired by quality time spent with my father on the water and our family’s passion for saltwater fishing for the past 100 years in Mexico, Florida, and the Bahamas,” said Steven Busch, King Spirits Founder. “My family has a deep history with The Bahamas and I’ve seen firsthand how hurricanes can destroy the islands and disrupt the livelihoods of the communities. To that end, we proudly make donations as well as contribute a portion of our profits from Walker’s Cay bourbon and Hope Town vodka to charities that directly help the Bahamian citizens.”
Walker’s Cay Bourbon Whiskey
Like the Bahamian island of its namesake, Walker’s Cay Bourbon is a touchstone of the fisherman’s lifestyle and designed to help people rediscover life’s simplest pleasures. As a nod to the family’s brewing heritage, Walker’s Cay is aged in new Missouri oak barrels and finished on sherry cask staves for a rich and balanced taste. Handcrafted at Green River Distillery in Kentucky, the expression features a mash bill of 70% Kentucky Corn, 21% Winter Rye, and 9% Malted Barley and is distilled to 90 proof (45% ABV). A complex yet approachable spirit, it delivers toasted oak, grain, fig, vanilla, and a hint of pepper.
Hope Town Vodka
Hope Town Vodka is handcrafted in small batches in Charleston, South Carolina, and inspired by a tiny village in Elbow Cay, located in the Abaco chain in the northern Bahamas. The company’s proprietary method yields an all-natural, gluten-free, ultra-premium spirit. Distilled six times and available in Original and Lime expressions, Hope Town has a delicate, clean, subtly sweet character and an exceptionally smooth finish.
Bottle Artwork
King Spirits partnered with globally acclaimed marine artist, Carey Chen, to create the unique art featured on the Walker’s Cay and Hope Town bottle labels. Carey shares the company’s affinity for saltwater fishing. His masterful use of aquatic colors gives the bottles an eye-catching look that distinguishes them from other products on the shelf while honoring this iconic sport and connecting with the people who love it.
Where to Buy
King Spirits are available online via Mash & Grape and Drizly, as well as on- and off-premise establishments in the following markets: DC, FL, MA and MO and launching soon in GA, IL, MD, SC, WI and more. The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle of Walker’s Cay Bourbon Whiskey and Hope Town Vodka is $34.99 and $22.99, respectively. Retail prices may vary by market.
For more information, visit King Spirits and follow the brands online:
King Spirits
For nearly two centuries, people worldwide have trusted the Busch family’s standard of excellence. Now, King Spirits Founder Steven Busch is building upon that legacy as he embarks on a new adventure into the world of distilled spirits to provide outstanding quality, superior drinkability, inspirational and approachable brands, and everyday enjoyment for consumers everywhere. The company’s inaugural offerings in the U.S. include Walker’s Cay Bourbon, Hope Town Vodka, and Hope Town Lime. The King Spirits Giving Initiative is committed to support and help rebuild The Bahamas by giving to as well as donating a portion of its profits to three organizations: Hope Town United, Green Turtle Cay Foundation, and Restore Hope Foundation. Enjoy responsibly.
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