by admin | May 23, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
The Pinnacle of the BCS Seagrass Series Features 20-Year Rye Whiskey Finished in Martinique Rum, Malmsey Madeira, and Apricot Brandy Casks
Louisville, KY (May 23, 2022) – Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the award-winning independent blender of unique aged, cask-strength sourced whiskey and rum, will introduce BCS Gold Label Seagrass, the pinnacle of the BCS Seagrass Series, which also includes Barrell Seagrass and the limited-release BCS Gray Label Seagrass.
Available for pre-sale beginning today at BarrellBourbon.com, BCS Gold Label Seagrass features ultra-rare 20-year rye whiskey, meticulously sourced and finished in Martinique rum, Malmsey Madeira, and apricot brandy casks. The expression was distilled in Canada, and then crafted and bottled in Kentucky at cask strength, 128.12 proof (64.06% ABV).
“Gold Label Seagrass epitomizes our team’s expertise in global sourcing and blending, both in whiskey and finishing materials,” said BCS Founder Joe Beatrice. “This exceptional whiskey is remarkably flavorful, showcasing the best of the Seagrass profile in a whiskey that can only be made this complex and nuanced with time in the barrel.”
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 limited releases, is currently sold in 48 states throughout the U.S. Beginning in mid-June, BCS Gold Label Seagrass will be available at select retailers and online via the BCS website at barrellbourbon.com. The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle is $499.99.
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 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 | May 18, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
One-of-a-Kind Limited-Release Four-Grain Bourbon Whiskey Available for Purchase on Monday, May 30 at 1:00pm CST
Austin, TX (May 18, 2022) – Still Austin Whiskey Co., a homegrown distillery in the heart of South Austin, today unveiled its latest “Distillery Reserve Series” expression – a four-grain bourbon whiskey – which will be available for purchase beginning on Monday, May 30 at 1:00pm CST via the Still Austin website, www.stillaustin.com. This is not a random lottery drawing. Orders will be fulfilled on a first come, first served basis. Bottles must be picked up at the Still Austin Distillery on either June 3 or 4.
The whiskey was handmade from grain-to-glass at the distillery and is a product of only two barrels (425 bottles) that’s distilled from a lively combination of 68% white corn, 15% Rye, 13% wheat, and 4% malted barley. It was then aged for at least three years and bottled at cask strength at 114.1 proof (57.05% ABV). This subtle spirit greets you with spicy scents of black pepper, followed by buttery and nut-infused notes of sweet corn, apricot, mint and freshly cut grass. The creamy mouthfeel offers up flavors of honey, tobacco, coconut, lavender and toasted biscuits, finishing off with a tannic aftereffect of leather and sweet apples.
For this one-of-a kind release, Still Austin enlisted the incomparable team at Ft. Lonesome to create a beautifully detailed, handmade fabric label with a removable patch. The result: four stunning chain-stitched labels, depicting the Still Austin bird in flight over the Texas Hill Country during four varied seasons or times of day. This woman-led Central Texas outfit—a labor of love in the truest sense—has almost single-handedly revived the erstwhile craft of chain-stitching in Texas. Ft. Lonesome’s dazzling, innovative designs have drawn national attention by marrying traditional embroidery craft with a clever, postmodern-cowgirl perspective.
“This special limited-edition four-grain bourbon whiskey weaves together exceptional beauty both inside and out,” said John Schrepel, Head Distiller. “As far as we know, we’re the first distillery to produce anything like this.”
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.
About Ft. Lonesome
Fort Lonesome exists within the physical boundaries of Austin, Texas. It is, however, more accurately constrained only by the ever-expanding dialogue between a small handful of curious luddites, collectively dragging the shrapnel of a forgotten craft into alignment with our contemporary era. While the invention of digitally deployed embroidery relegated most hand-cranked chainstitch embroidery machines to the basements and attics of pragmatic technicians, one erstwhile machine in Texas captured the imagination of a trained oil painter with a fixation on western wear. The resulting deus ex machina summoned forth from the ether a harmonious collection of individual artists, curious to tap the potential of these forgotten machines; meanwhile fortuitously concocting a collective visual whole vastly greater than the sum of its autonomous parts. Since, Fort Lonesome has blossomed into an evolving ecosystem, focusing primarily on maintaining a dedication to the continuum between art and fashion with a strong focus on heirloom quality and unexpected imagery. Lovingly, the Fort carries forth the torch of the Rodeo Tailor, aiming to midwife the legacy of the craft into its rightful place as an iconic evergreen opportunity to innovate, narrate and adorn. We love you.
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by admin | May 8, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Caribbean Rum Barrels
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (May 9, 2022) – Chicken Cock, the famous old brand since 1856, is kicking off the “Summer of the Rooster” with a bold new limited-edition release of Island Rooster Rum Barrel Rye. The new expression starts with Chicken Cock’s Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey and is finished in Caribbean rum casks for at least six months. Island Rooster has a 95% rye and 5% malted barley mash bill, which is bottled at 95 proof (47.5% ABV) in an apothecary-style embossed bottle featuring a premium metal cup cap – perfect for pouring while outside this summer.
Island Rooster was inspired by a trip to the Caribbean, where roosters announce the coming day. With this new release, Chicken Cock is announcing its “Summer of the Rooster” program where the brand will showcase its bold, confident, and expressive take on the iconic Chicken Cock rooster.
“Summer is the ideal season for Chicken Cock to take traditional indoor whiskey drinking occasions outside and Island Rooster’s rum barrel finish makes this a whiskey you’ll want to throw in your pack as you head outdoors,” said Matti Anttila, founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits, which owns Chicken Cock.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: beautiful, rich dark Amber in color
- Aroma: an elegant array of spices, pepper, with a hint of rye grassiness and sweet molasses softly touched with oak overtones
- Flavor: a tremendous complexity of spices, vanilla, butterscotch and pepper, beautifully complimented with just enough rum sweetness
- Finish: very long and enjoyable, with the rye characteristics predominant but wonderfully enhanced with a touch of sweet, and an amazing buttery mouthfeel
Chicken Cock Island Rooster Rum Barrel Rye was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Production was limited to only 25 barrels. Island Rooster is available for the suggested retail price of $199.99 per 750ml bottle online on Chicken Cock’s website, via Reserve Bar, or at fine retailers in CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, KY, MA, NY, SC, TN, TX, and WI.
About Chicken Cock Whiskey
Originally established in Paris, Kentucky in 1856, Chicken Cock – known as “The Famous Old Brand” – was forced to move production up to Canada during Prohibition. The Canadian Rye whiskey produced during that period was then smuggled back into the U.S. in tin cans, earning the brand the nickname, “the whiskey in a tin can.” After Prohibition, Chicken Cock enjoyed a resurgent couple of decades before a distillery fire just after World War II put it out of business. In 2012, Anttila rediscovered the brand and set out to resurrect it to its Prohibition-era glory alongside Master Distiller Gregg Snyder. Since that time, 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.
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. One of the company’s core brands is Dixie Vodka, the leading premium homegrown vodka produced in the Southeast and the Official Vodka of NASCAR; one of the fastest-growing craft brands in the United States, Dixie won the prestigious 2019 and 2020 and 2021 “Rising Star” Growth Brands Awards from Beverage Dynamics magazine. Other brands in the Grain & Barrel portfolio include Virgil Kane Lowcountry Whiskey; High Goal Luxury Gin, a small batch, ultra-premium gin produced in Charleston; and Elvis Whiskeys, a duo of Elvis Presley-inspired whiskeys. 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 and is a proud member of 1% For The Planet.
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by admin | May 8, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
New Expression from “The Whiskey of the North” Crafted in the Essence of its Award-Winning American Cherry and Michigan Apple Whiskeys
Traverse City, MI (May 9, 2022) – Traverse City Whiskey Co. (TCWC), is excited to announce the launch of its new limited-edition American Lakeside Peach Whiskey. Crafted in the essence of the company’s award-winning American Cherry and Michigan Apple whiskeys, Lakeside Peach infuses the best flavors Michigan has to offer with premium bourbon, adding hints of maple, sweet cream and brown sugar. Michigan peaches are delicate and sweet, surprisingly resistant to the harsh Northern Winters, and grown off the shores of Lake Michigan, producing some of the worlds tastiest fruit.
“Michigan peaches are full of flavor, and when combined with our premium aged bourbon, they create a delicious spirit,” said Chris Fredrickson, Co-founder, Traverse City Whiskey Co. “Our new Lakeside Peach is on par with our cherry and apple whiskeys and just won a silver medal at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition.”
Known as “The Whiskey of the North,” TCWC draws upon its early family roots in the distilled spirits industry dating back to the late 1800s, sourcing grains from the Midwest. The distilling team, led by Fredrickson, makes quality products, inspired by patented distilling techniques invented by his great grandfather during the prohibition era.
American Lakeside Peach is currently available for purchase in GA, IL, IN, MI, OH, TN, and WI. The SRP for a 750ml bottle (35% ABV) is $29.99, which may vary by market.
The core TCWC portfolio of products, including its award-winning Barrel Proof offerings, 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.
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 member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
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by admin | Apr 13, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Traverse City, MI (April 13, 2022) – Traverse City Whiskey Co. (TCWC), a portfolio of premium whiskies and bourbon made in Michigan, today announced that its Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey and Barrel Proof Straight Wheat Whiskey were awarded Double Gold medals at the prestigious 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The Barrel Proof Rye also won Gold at the 2021 competition. In 2019, TCWC’s Signature Edition Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey was named “Best Small Batch Bourbon” and received Double Gold.
The Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey contains a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley (sourced) that’s bottled at 117.6 proof (58.8% ABV). The whiskey showcases a classic rye spice, notes of allspice, black peppercorns and sage and a warm buttery finish. The expression was aged a minimum of six years and retails for $79.99 per 750ml bottle.
The Barrel Proof Straight Wheat Whiskey, which TCWC will allocate to approximately 200 leading US retailers for the first time this Fall, features a mashbill of 95% wheat and 5% malted barley (sourced) that will be bottled at barrel proof (typically 55-59% ABV). The award-winning whiskey exemplifies a more delicate palette of most TCWC expressions, presenting notes of honey and caramel that give way to a light bready spice with an early, sweet finish. The expression has a minimum age statement of five years and retails for $89.99 per 750ml bottle.
Known as “The Whiskey of the North,” TCWC draws upon its early family roots in the distilled spirits industry dating back to the late 1800s, sourcing their grains from the Midwest. The distilling team, led by Chris Fredrickson, Jared Rapp and Moti Goldring, makes quality products, inspired by patented distilling techniques invented by Fredrickson’s great grandfather during the prohibition era.
“We’re absolutely psyched to not only take home two Double Gold medals but to also consistently be recognized by one of the most prestigious competitions in the world,” said Chris Fredrickson, Co-founder, Traverse City Whiskey Co. “We’re thrilled at the response to our various barrel proof offerings and are incredibly proud of our barrel selection and blending team.”
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 1800s, sourcing all grains from the Midwest.
Traverse City Whiskey Co. is a proud member of the Michigan Spirits Association and Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).
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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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