by admin | Feb 10, 2025 | IN THE NEWS
Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys Finished in 10 Different Casks is the Latest Expression in the Company’s Cask Finished Series
Memphis, TN (February 10, 2025) – Blue Note Bourbon™, the award-winning whiskey portfolio which is artfully crafted to honor the rich blues music that is synonymous with Memphis, has launched its second-annual Special Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
Crafted in Memphis, the limited-release is a blend of 10 casks from Kentucky and Tennessee – cognac, madeira, sherry, port, triple sec, madeira, apricot brandy, amontillado, vanilla cognac and vino de Naranja – ranging in age from four to 19 years with varying mashbills. The new expression was bottled at 116.3 proof (58.15% ABV), unfiltered.
Special Reserve Tasting Notes
- Nose: Bright fruit, cherry, peach, leather, oak and vanilla
- Palate: Creamy and light, oak, vanilla, roasted nuts, dark chocolate, and citrus
- Finish: Light warmth with a chewy, slightly dry texture that lingers
In addition to last year’s Special Reserve, Blue Note has introduced several other highly awarded limited-release offerings, which include Premium Small Batch, Single Barrel Reserve, 17-year, and most recently a Honey Rye and Honey Bourbon Cask.
“Having launched several wildly successful limited releases in recent years, whiskey enthusiasts have come to expect these types of unique offerings from Blue Note,” said Chris Crosbie, Vice President, Sales, B.R. Distilling Company. “This year’s Special Reserve is both exceptional and uncommon having been crafted from 10 unique types of casks.”
Approximately 2,000 bottles of Blue Note Special Reserve are now available for purchase online at BlueNoteBourbon.com and in 20 U.S. states (as listed below). The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle is $225.
Blue Note’s whiskey portfolio is distilled in partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company (parent company of Green River Distilling) 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.
In addition to the aforementioned limited releases, award-winning flagship Blue Note portfolio includes Juke Joint ($34.99), Crossroads ($44.99), Uncut ($49.99), and Straight Rye Whiskey ($34.99). 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.
Production Facility & Tasting Room
Blue Note’s 110,000 square foot production facilities, located on Royal Avenue just North of downtown Memphis, are open from Monday through Friday from 10am – 4:00pm CST and include a unique and intimate tasting room. Guided tours are available on Thursdays and Fridays for $10 plus tax & fees. Guests can add a Tasting Flight Experience for an additional $5. For more information and to book a guided, behind-the-scenes tour, visit www.bluenotebourbon.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 20 U.S. states, including AL, AR, CO, CT, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MA, MI, MS, MO, NY, NJ, OK, RI, SC, TN, and TX, and online at BlueNoteBourbon.com via Bevstack, which can be shipped to: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, VA, WA and WI. Take note. Sip responsibly.
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by admin | Feb 4, 2025 | IN THE NEWS
Company Will Also Release Limited-Edition Package and Label Design Created by Benchetler for its High n’ Wicked Whiskeys and Lágrimas Tequilas
Corona del Mar, CA (February 4, 2025) – Altamar Brands Founder and CEO W. L. Lyons Brown today announced a collaboration with artist, filmmaker, and pro skier Chris Benchetler and the company’s High n’ Wicked Whiskey brand in support of Mr. Benchetler’s Mountains of the Moon, an immersive experience coming out in fall 2025.
Earlier today, Benchetler unveiled the first episode in the “Ship of Fools” series, which offers backstage-access to the creativity, chaos, and ingenuity that is going into the making of Mountains of the Moon. The series is a raw and unfiltered look into the creative process featuring the cast, crew, and characters as they collaborate on this ambitious project. Subsequent episodes will drop each Tuesday for 32 weeks leading into Mountains of the Moon’s release.
“Chris’ skills as an athlete, a painter, a sculptor, and a filmmaker are beyond me to fairly describe in words. It is one hell of a compelling package,” said Brown. “We are grateful that he has an appetite to express his art in our medium. The combination of his expression with the art of our distillates will enhance the rare and collectible nature of our brands.”
“I’m thrilled to have such incredible support from partners like Lyons and Altamar Brands on this special project, which stays true to the authentic and experimental spirit that always came with it,” said Benchetler. “Pushing my creativity into the unknown inspires me as an artist, much in the same way Lyons and his team relentlessly pursue distinctive distillates for the incredible High n’ Wicked whiskeys.”
The partnership will also feature limited-edition packaging created by Benchetler for the distilled spirits company’s High n’ Wicked Whiskeys and Lágrimas Single Estate Tequilas. These will be sold online and in select U.S. markets later this year.
Brown and Benchetler previously collaborated on a private project for the Alterra Group, the owners and managers of Mammoth Mountain and IKON Pass, in which Altamar created a High n’ Wicked single barrel bourbon decorated with Benchetler’s work (pictured above). See more on that in the promotional video called ‘The Spark.’
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.
Brown founded High n’ Wicked in 2019. The firm’s mission is to present premium whiskeys that honor traditional methods of delivering complex flavors. High n’ Wicked produces two flagship offerings – a straight bourbon whiskey and straight rye whiskey – in addition to singular limited releases featuring cask strength, single barrel, and double wood finishes.
Lágrimas demonstrates that the centuries old concept of “terroir” exists in agave fields as well as in the vineyards of France. It celebrates the distinctive characteristics of single ranches of agave grown at different altitudes in different micro-climates in different regions of Mexico. Produced in collaboration with third generation Master Distiller “Chava” Rosales Trejo, at Cascahuin, each bottling carries a familiar profile but will be distinctly unique in flavor and aroma based on its terroir. Most brands aim to create a consistent taste profile, Lágrimas embraces the uniqueness of each individual ranch and delivers a diversity of character. Its expressions are available throughout the U.S. and online.
For more information, please visit https://altamarbrands.com/
With Cocktailing, Quality Bests Quantity.
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by admin | Feb 3, 2025 | IN THE NEWS
“La Loma” Plata and Reposado Expressions are a Celebration of Terroir
Corona del Mar, CA (February 3, 2025) – Lágrimas del Valle, the award-winning tequila which celebrates “terroir,” has launched its newest ranch, “La Loma” (The Hill). The Plata and Reposado expressions represent the fourth field harvested for the brand and the first to come from the state of Michoacán.
Lágrimas del Valle is produced in collaboration with Tequila Cascahuin (NOM 1123) and current Master Distiller Salvador “Chava” Rosales Trejo. Their distilling tradition dates back three generations to 1904 in El Arenal, Jalisco, Mexico, in the heart of the “Valley” of Tequila. Each bottling carries a familiar profile but will be distinctly unique in both flavor and aroma.
Lágrimas begins by selecting the best single ranch of Blue Weber Agave available – looking for ripeness, but also for signs of complexities of flavor. The agaves are then loaded into their small 12-16-ton steam powered masonry ovens. Cascahuin utilizes a unique intermittent cooking method for eight hours per day, then stopping until the following day, and repeating over the course of four days. This allows for deep layers of flavor to be developed. The cooked agaves are then removed from the ovens, and their “agua miel” (honey waters) extracted. 70% of the agaves are crushed utilizing a roller mill and then fermented in stainless steel tanks, while the other 30% are crushed using a Tahona, and fermented in open air wooden tanks.
“Lágrimas demonstrates that terroir exists in agave fields as it exists in the vineyards of Burgundy,” said Brandon Cummins, Director of Education. “While many brands aim to create a consistent profile year over year, Lágrimas embraces the uniqueness of each individual ranch and produces in such a way as to emphasize that distinct character. We do this intentionally, to demonstrate the rich complexity of the Blue Weber Agave.”
La Loma Tasting Notes:
- Plata showcases an agave forward presence, with hints of citrus peel, ripe melon, roasted pine nuts, and clover – with a creamy and rich palate, bright citrus notes, subtle minerality and rich agave throughout.
- Reposado is rested for just three months in ex-Bourbon barrels. The vintage showcases notes of tangerine, canela, and lemongrass, all around a core of roasted agave, anise, salted caramel, and cantaloupe.
Previous Lágrimas del Valle releases include:
- Palo Verde (2022)
- Top 100 Spirits of 2022, Wine Enthusiast, 94 points (Plata)
- Best Sipping Tequilas of 2024, Men’s Journal (Plata)
- El Chiqueño (2022)
- “This is what tequila is supposed to taste like” -Doug Price, Agave Social Club Podcast
- El Sabino (2023)
- 30 Best Tequilas for 2024, Vinepair, 96 points (Plata)
- Top 100 Spirits of 2024, Wine Enthusiast, 94 points (Reposado)
Lágrimas del Valle “La Loma” Plata and Reposado tequilas are double-distilled, blended, and bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV). Each bottle notes the vintage date of harvest, name of the single ranch, as well as details pertaining to its elevation, location, and distinctive characteristics. Both expressions are available throughout the U.S. and online for the suggested retail price of $59.99 and $64.99, respectively.
For more information, please visit https://altamarbrands.com/brands/lagrimastequila/
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: High n’ Wicked Whiskeys, Foursquare Exceptional Cask Selections Rums, Probitas Rum, R.L. Seale’s 12-Year-Aged Barbados Rum, Elvelo Tequila, Kubler Absinthe, Right Gin and Lágrimas del Valle Tequila.
For more information, please visit https://altamarbrands.com/
With Cocktailing, Quality Bests Quantity.
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by admin | Jan 27, 2025 | IN THE NEWS
New Release Using Secondary Maturation Now Available in Select Markets
Louisville, KY (January 28, 2025) – Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the original independent blender of unique aged, cask strength whiskey since 2013, today launched Barrell Foundation Double Barrel Bourbon. The new release is a line extension of Barrell Foundation, the company’s first non-cask strength bourbon, which was crafted to be enjoyed neat and in cocktails.
Barrell Foundation Double Barrel Bourbon exhibits all the complexity found in a Barrell Craft Spirits bourbon at a lower proof. Secondary maturation in new American oak casks enhances the notes of dark chocolate, leather, dried fruit, and toasted marshmallows, while the 23 percent rye in the mash bill gives a richness to the blend. This is a versatile, full-flavored bourbon perfect for enjoying neat, over ice, or in a cocktail.
The new expression is a blend of Kentucky (8yr), Indiana (5, 6, and 9yr), Tennessee (8yr), and Maryland (5 and 6yr) bourbon whiskeys. It features a derived mashbill of 73% corn, 23% rye, and 4% malted barley and is bottled at 100-proof (50% ABV).
Barrell Foundation Double Barrel Bourbon is now available for purchase online via the Barrell Craft Spirits website and in select U.S. markets beginning this month for the suggested retail price of $54.99 per 750ml bottle.
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 sold in 49 US states, Australia, Canada, South Korea, and the UK. 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 | Jan 22, 2025 | IN THE NEWS
New Expression Aged in Untoasted French Oak Barrels, Toasted French Oak Barrels, and Cognac Cask
Chicago, IL (January 21, 2025) – Cambio Tequila, a new brand which explores the possibilities of barrel finishing respective to flavor and character more than any other tequila, has added a flagship Añejo expression to its award-winning brand portfolio.
As with all Cambio tequilas, this exceptional spirit is carefully crafted at every step using only sustainable practices to change the way tequila enthusiasts think about Añejo. The new expression starts with 100 percent whole, high-altitude estate-only Blue Weber Agave cooked at lower temperatures and pressed with a traditional tahona wheel to extract greater flavor. Cambio also uses a unique wine yeast and a longer, two-week fermentation process in open-air, oak and pine wood tanks, which is distilled at the lowest temperature for superior flavor and character. The expression is then triple barrel-aged for up to 22 months in a series of wine barrels: first use Untoasted French Oak Barrels, second use Toasted French Oak Chardonnay Barrels, and 30-year-old Limousin Cognac Casks, and then bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV). The palate greets tequila lovers with toasted grapes and bight floral notes as well as deeper notes of roasted agave from Cambio’s slow and low-heat distillation process. The long barrel aging lends this Añejo notes of butterscotch and warm spice, and delivers a lingering finish characterized by rich, buttery oak that both warms and invites a second sip.
“Cambio Añejo is what happens when you expect more from your tequila,” said Founder and CEO John des Rosiers. “Cambio stands for change that matters —the relentless pursuit to improve, build and evolve. We’re committed to flavor and quality first and every choice we made with Cambio was designed to show the true potential of the spirit.”
A 30-year veteran of the world’s finest kitchens and bars, des Rosiers believed that there was a missed opportunity in the tequila category. A classically trained Chef, he began working at some of the Midwest’s best restaurants—before opening several of his own unique concepts—and was fortunate to be part of a team that built and managed a 1,500-bottle wine list, which drove his interest in all types of spirits along with a desire to create a tequila brand. John’s Somm’s palate combined with his natural creativity allowed him to bring a completely different viewpoint and meaningful change to the spirit and how it’s aged in unique finishing barrels. With the belief that tequila is the only spirit in the world that retains a sense of place (terroir) through its entire process, he created Cambio with deep respect for tequila’s traditions, while finding opportunities to improve the spirit that honors the older heritage of slow, handmade craftsmanship.
The Distillery
Cambio partnered with ZB Distillery (NOM 1605) to deliver exceptional quality and attention to detail. After a comprehensive search, only Distillery Empresa Ejidal Tequilers de Amatitá in Jalisco (Los Altos) was eager to explore Cambio’s innovative distilling techniques and longer production times. They also committed to the unprecedented practice of exploring secondary barrel finishes for each of Cambio’s products and provided a separate building designed for a 100% natural artisanal process. ZB has been instrumental in allowing Cambio to modify their distillery, and experiment, test, and verify results with their modern laboratory.
Availability
Along with the brand’s flagship Blanco ($49.99) and Reposado ($59.99) expressions, Cambio Añejo ($69.99) is sold online and in select on- and off-premise retail locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. For more information, please visit www.cambiotequila.com.
Please follow Cambio Tequila on Facebook and Instagram.
About Cambio Tequila
Cambio stands for change that matters, and it’s what drives this tequila—the relentless pursuit to improve, build and evolve. Founded by classically trained Chef and Sommelier John des Rosiers, Cambio is a distillation of classic tequila tradition filtered through the culinary science and restless craftsmanship of a 30-year veteran’s experience in the world’s finest kitchens and bars. Cambio deeply respects tequila’s traditions while finding opportunities for improvement that honor the older heritage of slow, hand-made craftsmanship. More than any other tequila, Cambio relentlessly pursues the possibilities of what barrel-finishing can bring to a spirit’s flavor and character. There is always a better way, regardless of the extra work, cost, or time, and Cambio constantly strives for perfection from their tequila—because that’s the change you deserve.
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by admin | Nov 26, 2024 | IN THE NEWS
Trio of New Offerings Available Beginning Saturday, November 30
Traverse City, MI – Traverse City Whiskey Co. (TCWC), a portfolio of premium whiskeys and bourbon made in Michigan, will welcome the holidays with the launch of three limited-release Holiday Reserve bottlings beginning on Saturday, November 30 at 10am at the Stillhouse (201 E. 14th St. Traverse City) and Outpost (22812 Woodward Ave. #200 Ferndale).
- 2024 Holiday Bourbon ($230)
- This 16-year bourbon from MGP highlights a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, and was finished at 49% ABV (98 proof). Only 139 bottles available
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- Nose: Tobacco, dates, and toasted almond
- Body: Sticky toffee pudding from deep caramel and dried fruit
- Finish: Spiced rye with burnt marshmallow and oak
- 2024 Holiday Rye ($140)
- This 12-year expression boasts a classic mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. It was finished at 58.6% ABV (117.2 proof). Only 141 bottles available
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- Nose: Poached pears with herbal notes of dill, and lemon thyme
- Body: Rich demerara sugar and gingery spice
- Finish: Molasses with bold barrel char and cooling mint
- 2024 Holiday Maple-Finished Bourbon ($100)
- A first-of-its-kind expression from TCWC, this unique bourbon was aged in barrels seasoned with northern Michigan maple syrup. First, the bourbon was aged for five years, developing a strong foundation of flavor. Next, the emptied barrel was filled with Grade-A maple syrup and aged for three months, allowing the syrup to fully permeate the wood. After purging the syrup, the original bourbon was reintroduced to the barrel, finishing its aging for nearly four more years. Featuring a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley and finished at 57.2% ABV (114.4 proof). Only 177 bottles available.
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- Nose: Intense sweet maple syrup, spiced oranges, shortbread cookies
- Body: Toasted pecans with cocoa and candied citrus rind
- Finish: Warming cinnamon apples, brown sugar, buttery pie crust, and lingering leather
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.
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.
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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