Traverse City Whiskey Co. Strikes Double Gold at the TAG Global Spirits Awards

Traverse City Whiskey Co. Strikes Double Gold at the TAG Global Spirits Awards

Distiller’s Flagship XXX Straight Bourbon Whiskey Called a “Smart Pick for Bourbon Lovers Delivering Balance and Complexity”

 

Traverse City, MITraverse City Whiskey Co. (TCWC), a portfolio of premium whiskeys and bourbon made in Michigan, is thrilled to announce its flagship XXX Straight Bourbon Whiskey was awarded a Double Gold medal and received 91 points at the 2024 TAG Global Spirits Awards. The competition, which features a leadership team composed of four individuals whose sum experience exceeds 160 years, celebrates the world’s great and emerging spirits brands and those who create them.

Known as the “Whiskey of the North,” TCWC draws upon its early family roots in the distilled spirits industry dating back to the late 1800’s, sourcing all its grains (corn, rye, and malted barley) from the Midwest. Led by Chris Fredrickson, the distilling team strives to make quality products, inspired by patented distilling techniques invented by Fredrickson’s great grandfather that were approved by the US PTO during the prohibition era.

“We’re beyond thrilled for our flagship bourbon to be recognized on a global level,” said Chris Fredrickson, Co-founder, Traverse City Whiskey Co.

The award-winning XXX Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which retails for a suggested price of $33, is aged for four years and bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof). This sophisticated bourbon offers a timeless profile of 71% corn, 25% rye and 4% malted barley.

Tasting Notes, courtesy of TAG Global Spirits Awards

  • Bright, medium mahogany color. The aromatics are very intense, presenting scents of baking spices, charred oak, baked apple, and vanilla bean with notes of crème brulee, chocolate, and red cherry. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a baking spices-driven core with flavors of red currant and roasted nuts. The finish is long and lingering. Full-bodied and ideally balanced with a chewy texture.

At the brand’s Stillhouse in Traverse City, Michigan at 201 E. 14th St, guests can experience the complete distilling process firsthand. A 400-gallon, custom Kothe still sits next to the Tasting Room and Stillhouse Cocktail Bar where visitors conclude their tour. When the still, which is naturally cooled by Michigan ground water, is running at full capacity, it can create up to 4,000 barrels of whiskey per year.

TCWC products are available in 750ml bottles at both on- and off-premise establishments in the following markets: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, 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 1800’s, sourcing all grains from the Midwest.

Traverse City Whiskey Co. is a proud member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

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Barrell Foundation Bourbon Awarded Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Barrell Foundation Bourbon Awarded Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Crafted to be Enjoyed Neat and in Cocktails, 100-Proof Expression is Barrell Craft Spirits® First Non-Cask Strength Bourbon

Louisville, KY (April 30, 2024) – Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS) first non-cask strength bourbon, Barrell Foundation, struck Double Gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), the largest international spirits competition in the United States. With two decades of experience, the SFWSC is one of the most respected competitions in the world. Judging is blind and done by a prestigious panel of nationally recognized distilled spirits judges, each selected for their distinct and trusted palate.

“We’re ecstatic that Barrell Foundation, our first non-cask strength bourbon, has been recognized by the esteemed San Francisco World Spirits Competition,” said BCS Founder Joe Beatrice. “For 10 years we’ve led the blending movement in the U.S. and welcomed this exciting opportunity to be a trailblazer of an entirely different style of bourbon whiskey. Barrell Foundation showcases our ability to blend complex flavors with bourbon whiskey from a variety of different distillery partners across the world at a lower ABV and for all occasions.”

Barrell Foundation is a blend of Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, and Maryland bourbon whiskeys all ranging from five to nine years and bottled at 100-proof (50% ABV). The expression features a derived mashbill of 73% corn, 23% rye, and 4% malted barley. It can be enjoyed neat and works well in classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned. The new ongoing release, which is available at fine retailers throughout the U.S. and online, has a suggested retail price of $59.99 per 750ml bottle.

Since launching last October, Barrell Foundation has also won the following awards:

  • L.A. Spirits Awards 2024 Platinum Medal
  • Whisky Advocate rating of 91 points
  • World Whiskies Awards 2024 Best Blended Bourbon
  • Whiskey Raiders 2023 Best Whiskey Awards

Collectively, Barrell Craft Spirits has won 26 Double Gold and 20 Gold medals at the SFWSC, including “Best Small Batch Bourbon Up to Five Years” and “Best Over-Proof Rum” in 2021, “Best Bourbon and Best Small Batch Bourbon” – both overall and within the 6–10-year category for Barrell Bourbon Batch 021 in 2020; “Best Small Batch Bourbon over 11 years old” (Batch 018) in 2019, and “Best Bourbon” (Batch 011), “Best Small Batch Bourbon,” and “Best Over Proof Rum” (Batch 001) in 2017.

Founded in 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky, 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 now sold in 49 US states, Australia, Canada, and the UK. Follow Barrell Craft Spirits on FacebookLinkedIn, and Instagram 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.

Barrell Craft Spirits®, Barrell®, Barrell Bourbon® and Barrell Rye® are registered trademarks owned by Barrell Craft Spirits LLC.

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Blue Note Bourbon Achieves Platinum Status at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Blue Note Bourbon Achieves Platinum Status at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Flagship Juke Joint and Crossroads Bourbon Expressions Awarded Double Gold Medals for the Third Consecutive Year

Memphis, TN (April 30, 2024) – Blue Note Bourbon™, the award-winning whiskey portfolio which features big notes and a smooth structure, has taken winning to the next level at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Two of the brand’s flagship straight bourbon expressions – Juke Joint and Crossroads – were awarded Platinum medals, a rare honor meaning that each received Double Gold medals for the third consecutive year.

“Having not one, but two of our flagship bourbon whiskeys achieve platinum status at the most prestigious spirits competition in the U.S., is simply incredible,” said Logan Welk, President and Chief Operating Officer, B.R. Distilling Company. “Every spirit brand likes to speak to the quality of their products; very few have the external affirmation of the world’s most respected blind tasting panel. To do this once was an achievement, twice amazing, and now three times is extraordinary. We are proud of the consistency of our products – all presented at an approachable value – and this incredibly rare achievement underscores our team’s dedication to making world-class Kentucky straight bourbon with a signature Memphis twist.”

Blue Note bourbon is artfully crafted to honor the rich blues music that is synonymous with Memphis. The whiskey portfolio is distilled in partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company (parent company of Green River Distilling Company) and then aged just north of downtown Memphis where the Mississippi and Wolf Rivers collide. The long summers filled with the infamous Memphis heat and cooler evenings forces the whiskey deep into the oak, creating an unmistakably rich flavor that’s bold yet smooth.

Blue Note Juke Joint ($34.99) features a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley, and is bottled at 93-proof, unfiltered. Conversely, Blue Note Crossroads ($44.99) highlights two different mash bills: 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley and 78% corn, 13% rye, 9% malted barley, and is finished with several types of toasted French oak staves and bottled at 100-proof, unfiltered. The flagship portfolio also features Blue Note Uncut and the recently introduced Blue Note Rye, in addition to several highly awarded limited-release offerings, which include Premium Small Batch, Single Barrel Reserve, 17-year, and Special Reserve.

Blue Note’s whiskey portfolio is currently distributed in 17 U.S. states and online at BlueNote.com. Please follow Blue Note on Facebook and Instagram.

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 four flagship expressions, along with regular limited releases, which are distributed across 17 U.S. states, including AL, AR, CO, CT, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, OK, MO, NJ, NY, SC, TN, and TX and online. Please sip responsibly.

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Barrell Craft Spirits® Unveils Newest Bourbon Blend in its Cask Finish Series: Mizunara

Barrell Craft Spirits® Unveils Newest Bourbon Blend in its Cask Finish Series: Mizunara

Limited-Edition Offering Showcases the Company’s Blending and Finishing Expertise

Louisville, KY (April 30, 2024) – Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the original independent blender of unique aged, cask strength whiskey since 2013, today launched the third offering in its Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Mizunara. The limited-edition Series utilizes the company’s blending and finishing expertise to make bespoke blends of straight bourbon whiskeys with unique finishes. The first two bourbon blends, which launched last Fall, included Amburana and A Tale of Two Islands Rum Finish.

For the newest expression, the BCS blending team created a blend of Indiana (6, 7, and 9-year), Kentucky (8-year) and Tennessee (8 & 14-year) bourbon whiskeys featuring multiple mash bills. The blend was then further matured in Mizunara casks for one and a half years and bottled at cask strength (116.42 proof) in Kentucky with a derived mash bill of corn (76%), rye (20%) and malted barley (4%).

Casks made from rare Mizunara hardwood are a true work of art. The wood is meticulously cut, and the barrels carefully raised due to the wood’s characteristics. Mizunara finishing imparts subtle notes of sandalwood, herbal spice, and coconut to bourbon, and precision is required to craft a harmonious blend.

Founded in 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky, 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 new expression is available for purchase online via the BCS website at barrellbourbon.com and in select retailers beginning in April for the suggested retail price of $89.99 per 750ml bottle. The award-winning line of BCS releases are now sold in 49 US states, Australia, Canada, and the UK. Follow Barrell Craft Spirits on FacebookLinkedInInstagram, 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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Blue Note Named Official Bourbon of Major League Pickleball

Blue Note Named Official Bourbon of Major League Pickleball

Award-Winning Whiskey Portfolio Proudly Partners with America’s Leading Professional Team Pickleball League for the Upcoming 2024 and 2025 Seasons

Memphis, TN (April 29, 2024) – Blue Note Bourbon™ has announced a multi-year partnership as the official bourbon of Major League Pickleball (MLP), the preeminent professional coed team pickleball league featuring nearly 100 of the world’s best players participating in America’s fastest-growing sport.

The exclusive and first major sponsorship for the burgeoning brand will shine a spotlight on the award-winning whiskey portfolio during nine MLP events across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The brand will have a presence in both the VIP hospitality and sponsor village areas at three events this year – MLP Atlanta (May 9-12), MLP Miami (Oct 24-27) and MLP Playoffs: Round 1 in Dallas (Nov 1-3). Attendees will have the opportunity to learn all about the Blue Note brand and sample a variety of signature cocktails.

Additionally, the partnership affords Blue Note the following broadcast (TV/MLP livestreams) and on-court assets throughout 2024-25 season: brand logo, signage, advertisements, and public address announcements; presence on MLP’s website and social media channels; and rights to pour at all 2024-2025 MLP events.

“We’re thrilled to be the first official bourbon sponsor of Major League Pickleball,” said Logan Welk, President and Chief Operating Officer, B.R. Distilling Company. “Like MLP and the sport of pickleball, Blue Note is experiencing unprecedented interest and growth. The sport aligns perfectly with the Blue Note drinker, and we look forward to introducing our award-winning bourbons to the players and fans alike.”

Launched in 2018, Blue Note is artfully crafted to honor the rich blues music that is synonymous with the soul of Memphis. The brand’s whiskey portfolio is distilled in partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company (parent company of Green River Distilling Company) and then aged just north of downtown 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.

“Blue Note Bourbon and Major League Pickleball share many of the same core qualities for fans – they are both approachable while also being bold and smooth,” said MLP Chief Executive Officer Bruce Popko. “We look forward to welcoming them to the MLP family, starting with MLP Atlanta.”

Availability

Blue Note’s whiskey portfolio includes Juke Joint, Crossroads, Uncut, and Rye whiskey, and is currently distributed in 17 U.S. states and online at BlueNote.com. Please follow Blue Note on Facebook and Instagram.

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 four flagship expressions, along with regular limited releases, which are distributed across 17 U.S. states, including AL, AR, CO, CT, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, OK, MO, NJ, NY, SC, TN, and TX and online. Please sip responsibly.

About MLP by Margaritaville

MLP by Margaritaville (Major League Pickleball) is the preeminent team-based professional pickleball league, featuring nearly 100 of the best athletes across 22 teams, a unique coed format, easy to understand scoring, iconic team owners, and the most electric live events and fan experience in the sport. Founded in 2021, MLP named its first-ever title sponsor, Margaritaville, branding the league MLP by Margaritaville in December 2022. For more information on Major League Pickleball, visit the official website and follow MLP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

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