by admin | Oct 3, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Local Event Kicks Off Release of Iconic Barrel Proof Cherry Whiskey
Traverse City, MI (October 3, 2022) – Traverse City Whiskey Co. (TCWC), will kick off its third annual Cherry Whiskeyfest on Thursday, October 6, with the release of its highly sought after Barrel Proof Cherry Whiskey – a limited-release, enhanced strength version of its classic American Cherry Edition, the best-selling craft spirit in the state of Michigan. The team will make a blend of 10 premium barrels available for purchase at The Stillhouse in Traverse City and The Outpost in Ferndale, MI, for $89.99 (750ml). Non-locals can order a limited-edition Cherry Whiskeyfest kit ($85) at www.cherrywhiskeyfest.com, which includes 200ml bottles of both the Barrel Proof Cherry and American Cherry Edition whiskeys, a jar of TCWC’s premium cocktail cherries and TCWC branded golf balls.
TCWC Barrel Proof Cherry
TCWC’s Barrel Proof Cherry Whiskey features the same mash bill (75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malt barley) and recipe as American Cherry Edition, but a higher proof (between 109-112). Additionally, the team infuses the Barrel Proof version with 10 pounds of Montmorency Sour Cherries from Fredrickson Orchards, which are wrapped in cheesecloth and suspended in the batch to fully infuse their rich, fruity flavor for approximately three days (versus 10 for the Bottle Proof version). The batch is then tasted at multiple points by the team’s Master Distiller and Master Blender to ensure the proper balance and addition of the cherry essence. Once the perfect taste is achieved, the cherries are removed and the whiskey is bottled. The finished expression exhibits notes of rich dark chocolate, cherries, raspberries, vanilla, hints of cinnamon and star anise.
“Barrel Proof Cherry Whiskey is extremely authentic to northern Michigan and exhibits a subtle cherry taste,” said Chris Fredrickson, Co-founder, Traverse City Whiskey Co. “Folks who aren’t necessarily fans of flavored whiskey will appreciate this higher-proof version.”
Known as the “Whiskey of the North,” the craft whiskey producer draws upon its early family roots in the distilled spirits industry dating back to the late 1800s, sourcing all their grains (corn, rye and malted barley) from the Midwest. The distilling team, led by Chris Fredrickson, Jared Rapp and Moti Goldring, 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.
Located at 201 E. 14th St. in downtown Traverse City, the Stillhouse is open to the public seven days a week. 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 800 barrels of whiskey per year. The facility also contains a visitor center and gift shop, where guests can purchase brand gear and limited-edition whiskey expressions.
TCWC products are available online via Reserve Bar and Beverage Warehouse and at 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, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Washington DC, and Wisconsin. Retail prices may vary by market.
For more information, please visit www.tcwhiskey.com and use the “whiskey finder” in the top right corner to find retailers that sell the brand. Please also 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 member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
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by admin | Sep 15, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Limited Release Seven-Year Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Available at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (September 15, 2022) – For the first time ever, Chicken Cock Whiskey – known as “The Famous Old Brand” – will release 15 barrels of limited-release Private Cask in honor of National Bourbon Heritage Month. Handpicked by Master Distiller Gregg Snyder, the casks contain Chicken Cock’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which has been aged for seven years. Each barrel is unique in flavor and proof, celebrating the evolution of Chicken Cock Whiskey over the last 150+ years. Chicken Cock’s Private Cask is available at select retailers in eight states (MI, IN, CT, IL, SC, GA, KY and WI), but attendees at this year’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown from September 16-18 will be able to purchase a bottle from the very first barrel.
“We’re thrilled to launch one of our most limited-release whiskeys in the birthplace of bourbon during National Bourbon Heritage Month,” said Matti Anttila, founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits, which owns Chicken Cock.
Originally established in Paris, Kentucky in 1856, Chicken Cock rose to fame as the house whiskey at The Cotton Club, one of Prohibition’s most legendary speakeasies. Chicken Cock Whiskey managed to survive prohibition by swiftly moving production around and smuggling bottles into the United States in a tin can. After Prohibition, Chicken Cock enjoyed a resurgence before a distillery fire just after World War II put it out of business. In 2012, Matti Anttila rediscovered the brand and set out to resurrect it to its Prohibition-era glory alongside Master Distiller Gregg Snyder. Since then, the team has introduced a flagship KY Straight Bourbon and KY Straight Rye Whiskey, made in partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company as part of its collaborative distilling program, along with several other highly sought after limited-releases.
The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle of Chicken Cock’s Private Cask is $130. To learn more about Chicken Cock Whiskey and the Private Cask, please visit www.chickencockwhiskey.com
About Grain & Barrel Spirits
Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Grain & Barrel Spirits develops and scales craft spirits that connect the best artisans to consumers worldwide. The company’s core brands include: Chicken Cock Whiskey, an historically significant whiskey brand established in Paris, Kentucky, in 1856; Dixie Vodka, the leading premium homegrown vodka produced in the Southeast, the Official Vodka of NASCAR and one of the fastest-growing craft brands in the United States, having won the prestigious 2019 and 2020 and 2021 “Rising Star” Growth Brands Awards from Beverage Dynamics magazine; Virgil Kane Lowcountry Whiskey; High Goal Luxury Gin, a small batch, ultra-premium gin produced in Charleston; Elvis Whiskeys, a duo of Elvis Presley-inspired whiskeys, and; Tequila Eterno Verano, a range of ultra-premium tequilas made for adventurous souls. Grain & Barrel has been named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in America three years in a row.
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by admin | Aug 29, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Collaboration Encourages Outdoor Adventures of a Lifetime While Highlighting Historic Chicken Cock Whiskey and New Ultra-Premium Tequila Eterno Verano
CHARLESTON, Sc. (August 29, 2022) – Grain & Barrel Spirits, which develops and scales craft spirits that connect the best artisans to consumers worldwide, has partnered with Wilderness Collective, which operates best-in-class adventures to help people disconnect and discover character through exploration. As Wilderness Collective’s official spirits partner, the collaboration will showcase our high quality spirits made for the outdoor drinking occasion for both Chicken Cock Whiskey and Tequila Eterno Verano.
Originally established in 1856 and known as “The Famous Old Brand,” Chicken Cock Whiskey boasts an incredibly rich heritage. In addition to its flagship Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Kentucky Straight Rye, the brand recently introduced Island Rooster Rum Barrel Rye, a bold new limited-edition release of Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey finished in Caribbean rum casks for at least six months.
Tequila Eterno Verano which officially launched this summer, is a range of new ultra-premium tequilas (Blanco, Reposado and Añejo) made for adventurous souls. Inspired by Bruce Brown’s classic 1966 surf film “The Endless Summer,” Eterno Verano is for anyone who’s ever wanted to strap a surfboard to a van and head south. The new lifestyle brand embodies the adventurous and wanderlust spirit of the surf culture epitomized in the film in which viewers embark on a journey with Robert August and Mike Hynson to undiscovered locales like Cape St. Francis, a small village in South Africa, Senegal, Australia, and Hawaii.
“We’re thrilled to work with Grain & Barrel Spirits, whose dedication to making bold and interesting spirits aligns perfectly with our vision for timeless experiences,” said Steve Dubbeldam, who founded Wilderness Collective in 2011 with a goal to inspire and equip people to discover a rhythm of adventure in their own lives. “We bring together some of the best things in life into one experience—adrenaline-filled adventure, exploration of wild spaces, incredible food and beverage, and deep, soulful conversations.”
“Summer is the ideal season to embark on an unforgettable outdoor adventure and we can’t think of a more likeminded partner than Wilderness Collective. Both Chicken Cock and Eterno Verano are adventure driven spirits brands that you’ll want to take along for the ride on all your outdoor adventures,” said Matti Anttila, founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits, which owns both brands.
To learn more about Wilderness Collective and to find your next adventure including motorcycle and UTV trips, visit the Wilderness Collective 2022-2023 Trip Calendar. Chicken Cock Whiskey and Tequila Eterno Verano products are available in WC’s backwoods bar on every Wilderness trip, both brand websites and Reserve Bar.
About Grain & Barrel Spirits
Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Grain & Barrel Spirits develops and scales craft spirits that connect the best artisans to consumers worldwide. The company’s core brands include:
Chicken Cock Whiskey, an historically significant whiskey brand established in Paris, Kentucky, in 1856; Dixie Vodka, the leading premium homegrown vodka produced in the Southeast, the Official Vodka of NASCAR and one of the fastest-growing craft brands in the United States, having won the prestigious 2019 and 2020 and 2021 “Rising Star” Growth Brands Awards from Beverage Dynamics magazine; Virgil Kane Lowcountry Whiskey; High Goal Luxury Gin, a small batch, ultra-premium gin produced in Charleston; Elvis Whiskeys, a duo of Elvis Presley-inspired whiskeys, and; Tequila Eterno Verano, a range of ultra-premium tequilas made for adventurous souls. Grain & Barrel has been named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in America three years in a row.
About Wilderness Collective
Wilderness Collective operates best-in-class adventures to help people disconnect and discover character through exploration. Founded in 2011, Wilderness Collective’s goal is to inspire and equip people to discover a rhythm of adventure in their own lives. Our motto is: “Wilderness Makes You Better” and we really believe it. We’re a team of talented guides, filmmakers, chefs, photographers and folks you’d want to go camping with. We work extremely hard to bring together some of the best things in life into one experience—adrenaline-filled adventure, exploration of wild spaces, incredible food and deep, soulful conversations. Oh and yes, we really do take our guests’ phones away for the weekend 😉
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by admin | Aug 23, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Newest Ongoing Release is a Blend of Straight Bourbons Finished in Mizunara, French and Toasted American Oak Casks
Louisville, KY (August 23, 2022) – Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the award-winning independent blender of unique aged, cask-strength whiskey and rum, will introduce Barrell Vantage, a blend of straight bourbons finished in three distinct expressions of virgin oak: Mizunara, French and toasted American oak casks. As the newest ongoing release in the BCS portfolio, this expression emphasizes each wood characteristic and flavor contribution in the blend and skillfully highlights the toasted-characteristics and elegance of these finishing casks.
BCS’s unique vantage point in the whiskey world, combined with a passion for experimentation and nuance, enables the team to discover new flavor profiles and complexities in bourbon blends. Barrell Vantage is the result of deliberately pairing specifically identified bourbons with carefully selected cooperage, giving rise to a final expression that focuses on the subtle flavors and their compounding profiles.
Each component whiskey in Barrell Vantage is finished separately, then systematically combined according to a blending process fueled in equal parts by a scientific approach, experience, creativity, and experimentation. This process focuses on the wood characteristics and the specific flavor contributions that each cask contributes to the blend. The result is a masterfully blended, perfectly balanced representation of the harmonious synergy between bourbon and barrel.
Through past introductions including Armida, Dovetail, and Seagrass, the BCS team has many years of experience with three-part barrel finishing. With Barrell Vantage, the team applied those same techniques to the oak itself, using different char levels, toast levels, and oak origins to create a multidimensional blend. Ultimately, Barrell Vantage is defined by balance and depth of flavor and highlights the blending expertise that’s come to define Barrell Craft Spirits.
“Barrell Vantage is a bourbon dedicated to the arts of barrel selection and blending,” said BCS Founder Joe Beatrice. “We drew upon our years of blending expertise, creativity, and testing to create a bourbon with impeccable balance and depth of flavor that embraces different char and toast levels, along with its oak origins. Barrell Vantage is an exciting step forward in our never-ending journey to take bourbon to new heights.”
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 guides every product release.
Barrell Vantage was distilled in Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee, and then crafted and bottled in Kentucky at cask strength, 114.44 proof (57.22% ABV). It is now available at select retailers and online via the BCS website at barrellbourbon.com for the suggested retail price of $89.99 for a 750ml bottle. The BCS award-winning line of products, which includes batches, ongoing releases and limited releases, is currently sold in 48 states throughout the U.S.
For more information, follow Barrell Craft Spirits® on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram or visit barrellbourbon.com.
Barrell Craft Spirits®
Barrell Craft Spirits® is an independent blender of unique aged, cask-strength 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 | Aug 17, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Available Online Monday, August 22, Latest Distillery Reserve Series Offering is a Tribute to the Heart and Soul of Austin
Austin, TX (August 17, 2022) – Still Austin Whiskey Co., a homegrown distillery in the heart of South Austin, will introduce its latest Distillery Reserve Series offering—a double barreled straight bourbon whiskey— beginning Monday, August 22 at 1:00pm CST via the Still Austin website, www.stillaustin.com.
The whiskey was handmade from grain-to-glass at the distillery using 100% Texas grains and is a product of two barrels, which were double-oaked using two char-three new American white oak barrels. The expression was distilled from a combination of 70% White Corn, 25% Rye and 5% Malted Barley. It was then aged for at least three years and bottled at cask strength at 120.2 proof (60.1% ABV).
This spirit pays homage to one of Austin’s most enduring legacies: the coffee-shop philosophers, the late-night scholars, and the countless freethinkers who started in Austin and went on to change the world. For these intrepid Texas souls, the team distilled a dark and alluring spirit which greets the nose with hints of allspice, cherry and clove, followed by echoes of spruce and cinnamon, fig, carrot cake and cigar smoke. On the palate, look for intimations of heavy oak, leather, tobacco and salted pretzel, with the underlying sweetness of maple-and-brown-sugar-topped fried vanilla ice cream. The whiskey finishes with lingering aftereffects of white pepper, black tea and rye spice.
“This extra-special Distillery Reserve Series release commemorates the indomitable spirit that lies at the heart of our hometown,” said Brandon Joldersma, Chief Operating Officer, Still Austin Whiskey Co. “Like Austin itself, this spirit is both diverse and welcoming, combining bourbon from two of our finest American White Oak barrels.”
For the label design, Still Austin collaborated with Shaylon Elmore, an Austin-based illustrator and graduate of the University of Texas’s School of Fine Arts who grew up in Hunt, Texas, and frequently traveled to Austin to attend UT football and basketball games.
The new Still Austin Double Barreled Straight Bourbon Whiskey retails for $100 per 750ml bottle. Limit one per person. Orders will be fulfilled on a first come, first served basis. Bottles must be picked up at the Still Austin Distillery beginning on Friday, August 26.
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.
For more information, please 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.
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by admin | Aug 1, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Limited Edition Cask Strength Bottling Features Older and More Rare Barrels Aged up to 20 Years
Louisville, KY (Aug 1, 2022) – In 2018, Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), launched Barrell Dovetail™, which has since become a prominent expression within the company’s portfolio and the American Whiskey world, winning the Chairman’s Trophy at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and earning a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Recently, the independent blender of unique aged, cask-strength sourced whiskey and rum, became intrigued with applying the concept of “Dovetail” to some of its older stocks.
The result is BCS Gray Label Dovetail, a limited edition expression which boasts the same award-winning blend of American Whiskey finished in rum, port and Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Barrels and uses the same finishing and blending method. The difference however, as with all of the company’s Gray Label offerings, is that BCS used older and more rare barrels, aged up to 20 years, to create this blend. The result is a beautifully balanced whiskey that is rooted in its classic, iconic counterpart.
“Barrell Dovetail quickly became an industry and fan favorite within our portfolio,” said BCS Founder Joe Beatrice. “BCS Gray Label Dovetail provided us with the opportunity to showcase this unique flavor profile with an elegant new depth. Innovation is the lifeblood of our company and we’re proud to push the boundaries of blending each day.”
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 guides every product release.
In addition to BCS Gray Label Dovetail, Barrell Craft Spirits® offers multiple other special releases that highlight its blending expertise including: Barrell Seagrass, which won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition; Barrell Armida, which earned Best Barrel-Aged Bourbon at the LA Spirits Awards; the various other BCS Gray Label bottlings; and the ultra-rare BCS Gold Label line.
BCS Gray Label Dovetail was distilled in IN, TN and Canada, and bottled at 131.54 proof (65.77% ABV). It’s now available at select retailers within the brand’s current 48 U.S. markets and online via the BCS website at www.barrellbourbon.com. The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle is $249.99.
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 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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