by admin | Jan 25, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Non-Profit Combines Charity With Bourbon to #drinkforachange
Chandler, AZ (January 24, 2022) – Bourbon Charity, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which has raised nearly $1.5M for more than 30 charitable organizations by combining charity with bourbon to #drinkforachange, has added John Edwards to its Board of Directors. He joins the current Bourbon Charity Board of Directors which includes: Brandon Hunt (Chairman of the Board), Brian Hunt (Treasurer), Chris Adams (Secretary) and Charles Murrell (Director of Donor Relations). John will spearhead community relations for the organization.
In 2016, John combined his experience in technology and radio to co-found the popular Dads Drinking Bourbon podcast along with Zeke Baker. The podcast goes behind the labels, featuring honest and straightforward reviews and candid interviews with industry professionals in a casual news setting. Originally from Massachusetts, John now lives and works in Nashville in Technology. Prior to that, he served as Operations Manager for ESPN Radio and SuperTalk 96.1 in Lexington and was the Director of Operations and Affiliate Relations for the Horse Racing Radio Network.
“I’m excited to join the Bourbon Charity board and to use my knowledge of bourbon and the distilled spirits industry to raise funds for worthy charities and make a difference in people’s lives,” said Edwards.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have John join the leadership of Bourbon Charity,” said Brandon Hunt, Founder & Chairman of the Board of Bourbon Charity. “His extensive knowledge of the American whiskey industry and deep connections he has made through his podcasting platform will be an invaluable resource. John’s eagerness and ability to help us grow our mission as a charity has our entire team inspired.”
Founded in 2019 when his “Pops” was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Brandon Hunt donated his bourbon collection to start the organization. Since then, Bourbon Charity has enlisted 20,000+ supporters whose passion for combining charity with bourbon to #drinkforachange has raised nearly $1.5M for more than 30 charitable causes, including: Prostate Cancer Foundation, Children’s Tumor Foundation, Fisher House Foundation, Dare to Care, and charity: water. All donations are tax deductible. In 2021, Bourbon Charity became a 100% public donation charity, meaning every dollar pledged during fundraisers goes directly to the charitable organizations being supported.
The online fundraising model has served the organization well, especially given the current state of the world. In addition to barrel picks, Bourbon Charity hosts several online fundraising events throughout the year, featuring rare and allocated whiskey, such as Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Weller, Sazerac, George T. Stagg and more.
Join the Bourbon Hood
Another way to get involved with Bourbon Charity is to join the Bourbon Hood, a passionate community of more than 650 monthly givers that help to ensure every public dollar donated goes to the supported charities. Bourbon Hood members receive ticket entries in each fundraiser as well as exclusive merchandise and discounts. For more information, visit bourbonhood.org
For more information about Bourbon Charity and to donate, visit bourboncharity.org.
Follow Bourbon Charity on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bourboncharity and Instagram @bourboncharity
About Bourbon Charity
Bourbon Charity is a nonprofit organization of more than 20,000 supporters and growing that raises money for charity. Core supported charities include: Prostate Cancer Foundation, Children’s Tumor Foundation, Fisher House Foundation, Dare to Care, and charity: water. Bourbon Charity is registered as a 501(c)(3) as Bourbon Charity. We are a tax exempt organization.
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by admin | Jan 25, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Team of Barrel Breakers & Risk Takers Use Various Types of Barrel Staves to Further Age and Finish Its Portfolio of Premium Whiskeys
Los Angeles, CA (January 25, 2022) – Broken Barrel Whiskey Co., whose portfolio of premium whiskeys showcase the impact a non-traditional barrel finishing practice has on flavor, has officially reintroduced its core lineup of now exclusively Kentucky Straight Bourbon & Rye Whiskeys, which are distilled by eighth-generation Master Distiller Jacob Call at the historic Owensboro Distilling Co., in Kentucky.
While most whiskey is aged in barrels and then bottled, Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. Founder and CEO Seth Benhaim believed that there was a missed opportunity in traditional barrel finishing – namely the reliance on one type of barrel used to finish one type of whiskey. He created Broken Barrel to expand the barrel finishing concept, involving not only broken barrel staves (vs. intact barrels), but also the combination of multiple barrel types all finishing aged bourbon in tandem.
“We always say that the truth is in the barrel,” said Benhaim. “Contact with the oak gives whiskey its character and charisma and defines the final whiskey. It’s responsible for 80% of the flavor tasted in every sip, which is why we further age and finish our whiskeys using various combinations of barrel types.”
Once Broken Barrel whiskey ages for a minimum of two years, barrels are carefully selected, dumped and batched in a large tank. The broken barrel staves from multiple different kinds of casks are then added to further age and finish the whiskey. While most whiskey enthusiasts are familiar with a mash bill, or combination of grains used, Benhaim coined the term Oak Bill™, to denote the combination of barrel staves from different types of barrels used in each expression, as listed on every bottle. Individually, these types of oak barrels are not typically used on 95% of all bourbon or rye whiskey produced, and rarely if ever are three types of oak used at the same time to finish any whiskey.
The core portfolio of products, which feature a premium new look, include:
- Small Batch ($35) – A bold, oak-forward 95-proof KY straight bourbon with a spicy finish. Notes of vanilla-laced cake batter and a candy corn sweetness
- Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Barley
- Oak Bill™: 40% Ex-Bourbon, 40% New French Oak, 20% Sherry Cask
- California Oak ($35) – An 88-proof KY Straight Bourbon meets California’s Central Coast, using Cabernet Sauvignon barrels as the prominent oak finish. Balanced caramel sweetness, with dates and dark fruit, and a tannic finish
- Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Barley
- Oak Bill™: 80% California Cabernet Casks, 20% New French Oak
- Awards: Gold Medal, 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Tasting Panel 2022 (91 points)
- Heresy Rye ($35) – A sherry influenced, double oaked, 105-proof workhorse straight rye whiskey featuring sweet cooked vanilla, freshly prepared dough, with traces of charred oak, marzipan sweetness and classic spicy rye finish
- Mash Bill: 95% Rye, 5% Barley
- Oak Bill™: 40% Ex-Bourbon, 40% New French Oak, 20% Sherry Cask
- Awards: Gold Medal, 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Tasting Panel 2022 (93 points)
- Cask Strength ($45) – An unapologetically big bourbon at 115 Proof with hints of fresh blackberry, caramel, notes of orange, corn and cinnamon spice on the finish.
- Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Barley
- Oak Bill™: 40% Ex-Bourbon, 40% New French Oak, 20% Sherry Cask
- Awards: Tasting Panel 2022 (94 points)
Limited-Edition Special Releases
In the spirit of experimentation, Broken Barrel regularly issues special releases which allows the team to further flex its creative muscles and incorporate barrel staves from various combinations of unique casks sourced from all over the world. They’re currently ramping up their Los Angeles whiskey warehouse by regularly collecting and breaking barrels, experimenting with aging and blending, and tasting and bottling new limited-release and single barrel projects.
Availability
Broken Barrel products are sold online via Caskers, Flaviar, Reserve Bar and Wine.com and in select retail locations within 33 US states. The Broken Barrel Stave House & Bottle Shop, located at 2332 East 8th Street in downtown Los Angeles, is open from Monday through Friday from 12-5pm. Limit three bottles per person, per day.
Please follow Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. on Facebook and Instagram.
About Broken Barrel Whiskey Co.
Founded in 2017, Broken Barrel Whiskey is a portfolio of premium whiskeys sourced from the historic Owensboro Distilling Co. in Kentucky. The core expressions feature exclusively Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey, which are further aged and finished using various types and combinations of barrel staves. For more information, please visit www.brokenbarrelwhiskey.com
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by admin | Jan 12, 2022 | IN THE NEWS
Cask Strength Bottling Features 16-Year Canadian Rye Whisky Finished in Martinique Rhum, Madeira, and Apricot Brandy Barrels
Louisville, KY (January 12, 2022) – Last year, Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS) launched Barrell Seagrass, a blend of American and Canadian rye whiskeys finished in three distinct casks, which earned Double Gold at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Now, the award-winning independent blender and bottler of unique aged, cask-strength sourced whiskey and rum, will introduce BCS Gray Label Seagrass which features 100% Canadian rye whisky aged for 16 years, meticulously sourced and finished in Martinique Rhum, Madeira, and Apricot Brandy Barrels, and bottled at 130.82 proof (65.41% ABV).
“We knew we had something special with the launch of Barrell Seagrass last year and decided to take that same method of global sourcing and blending, both in whiskey and finishing materials, and apply it to a very special set of barrels,” said BCS Founder Joe Beatrice. “BCS Gray Label Seagrass is an expression rooted in the profile of Barrell Seagrass, but at a level only achievable with older and higher proof whiskies.”
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 BCS Gray Label Seagrass, 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, the various BCS Gray Label bottlings and the ultra-rare BCS Gold Label Bourbon.
BCS Gray Label Seagrass is 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 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.
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by admin | Dec 7, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Meticulous Blending Approach Incorporates Reserve Barrels To Add New Dimension of Flavor and Complexity
Louisville, KY (December 7, 2021) – Earlier this year, Stellum™ Spirits launched its flagship Stellum™ Bourbon and Stellum™ Rye whiskeys to celebrate the modern-day whiskey drinker. Today, the brand proudly introduces Stellum™ Black: a limited-release premium expression of the inaugural offerings, designed to carry the same classic, cask strength flavor profiles into a more refined, elegant, and complex blend.
Produced by Barrell Craft Spirits®, Stellum™ Spirits is the result of years of industry-leading innovation in American whiskey. The brand strives to improve the flavor, process and ideals of traditional American whiskeys, while underscoring the importance of nuance and polish in a paired down and minimalist setting.
Stellum™ Black reveals a natural evolution of the inaugural cask strength bourbon and rye whiskey blends, using a meticulous blending approach to layer older reserve barrels into the original blends. The result is something both entirely new and deeply familiar.
“For Stellum Black, we maintained the soul of Stellum while creating a new dimension of flavor by adding reserve barrels from our stocks,” said Joe Beatrice, Barrell Craft Spirits Founder. “We’ve refined this layering technique over time which produces whiskeys focused on both immediate flavor and a long-developed complexity. The result is an entirely new set of whiskeys that has its roots firmly planted in the inaugural whiskeys.”
Stellum Black Bourbon™ and Stellum Black Rye™ were distilled and aged in IN, KY and TN, and bottled at 109.22 proof (54.61% ABV) and 114.26 proof (57.13% ABV), respectively. Stellum™ Black will be allocated nationwide and online via the Stellum™ website at www.stellum.com for the suggested retail price of $99 per 750ml bottle.
For more information, follow Stellum™ Spirits on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit www.stellum.com.
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 | Dec 6, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Aged for 20 Years, New Expression and Commemorative Tin Honors “The Famous Old Brand’s” Prohibition-era History
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (Dec 6, 2021) – Grain & Barrel Spirits’ (“G&B”) has released a limited-edition Chicken Cock Cotton Club Canadian Rye Whiskey, which was aged for 20 years and bottled in a Prohibition-era Chicken Cock replica apothecary-style bottle at 100 proof (50% ABV). The mash bill contains 90% rye and 10% malted barley.
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.” It was around this time that Chicken Cock rose to fame as the featured house whiskey at The Cotton Club (located in Harlem at 142nd St. and Lenox Avenue), one of Prohibition’s most legendary speakeasies. Here the brand was ceremoniously opened table-side where Duke Ellington and his orchestra regularly performed on the Cotton Club’s stage. In an excerpt from ‘Music is my Mistress,’ Ellington said, “during the prohibition period, you could always buy good whiskey from somebody in the Cotton Club. They used to have what they called Chicken Cock. It was a bottle in a can, and the can was sealed. It cost something like ten to fourteen dollars a pint.” ($140+ today).
“This luxury spirit and commemorative tin honor Chicken Cock’s Prohibition-era history and a period where the brand ventured north to carry on its tradition of bringing high quality whiskey to patrons across the country,” said Matti Anttila, founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits. “This rare straight rye whiskey signals a return to pre-prohibition times when the classic spirit was more prevalent, while also honoring the brand’s history and heritage. We even maintained the spelling of ‘whiskey’ versus ‘whisky’ on the original tin from Prohibition.”
Tasting Notes:
- Appearance: aged 20 years in a used bourbon barrel, the whiskey glistens with a soft, yellowish-brown hue
- Aroma: sweet candy combined with slight grassy rye, earthy notes, hints of citrus/orange peel, spice and white pepper
- Flavor: a wonderful combination of vanilla, spice and sweet molasses, nicely complimented with mild overtones of pepper, citrus and toasted oak
- Finish: a long finish with a wonderful balance of pepper, spice and sweetness, that lingers with a buttery mouthfeel
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 whose résumé includes distilling, cooperage, and executive positions with Brown-Forman, Austin Nichols, as well as board positions with the Associated Cooperage Industries of America, Kentucky Distillers’ Association, and others. 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.
Chicken Cock Cotton Club Canadian Rye Whiskey (1,595 6-pack cases) is available for the suggested retail price of $499.99 per 750ml bottle online via Passion Spirits, Flaviar, Caskers, and Cask Cartel and soon nationally via special allocation.
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 Chicken Cock Whiskey, an historically significant whiskey brand established in Paris, Kentucky, in 1856; 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 | Nov 30, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
100% Rye Whiskey Finished in French Cognac Barrels Available for Purchase on Monday, December 6 at 12:00pm
Austin, TX (November 30, 2021) – Still Austin Whiskey Co., a homegrown distillery situated in the heart of South Austin, will launch its latest “Distillery Reserve Series” expression on Monday, December 6 beginning at 12:00pm: a 100% Rye Whiskey finished in French Cognac barrels.
The rye whiskey was handmade from grain-to-glass at the distillery, aged for 33 months in new charred American Oak barrels, finished for six months in French Cognac barrels and bottled at 108.6 proof (54.3% ABV). Featuring grains grown by Texas farmers, the whiskey opens with aromas of pear, vanilla, orange peel, honey, and fig, followed by hints of butterscotch, honeycomb, and white grape. The creamy and nutty palate offers up notes of whipped cream and apricot jam, alongside rye spice and further echoes of French butter pears. The silky taste tapers off with an easy, round finish and lingering impressions of sugar cookies.
For the label, the team paired the distiller’s art with the work of Zuzu Perkal, an Austin-based visual artist and muralist. Zuzu is a self-taught contemporary visual artist and muralist committed to the exploration, experimentation and unconventionality of blurring the lines between fine and street art. She spray painted every individual bottle by hand, allowing her dynamic vision to echo the spirit inside.
“This Distillery Reserve Series release combines two of our most exciting ventures: our 100% Texas rye whiskey and French cognac cask finishing,” said John Schrepel, Head Distiller. “The aging process resulted in a smooth and complex spirit with a fruit-forward nose layered with hints of spice that’s perfect for the holidays.”
When & Where to Buy
Whiskey lovers will have the chance to purchase a 750ml bottle by visiting StillAustin.com on Monday, December 6, beginning at 12:00pm. Bottles will be sold on a first come, first served basis for $120 plus tax. All bottles must be picked up at the Still Austin distillery (440 E. St Elmo Road Unit F) beginning on Friday, December 10 at 12:00pm.
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, 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 the Artist
With the coalescence of unrestrained imagination, vigorous dedication, and inevitable trial and error, Zuzu Perkal has cultivated a distinct style and process. By pursuing multiple style disciplines, all of her work exemplifies dynamic movements, vibrant colors, and contemporary design, which lay the foundation for an engaged and energetic viewer. Zuzu graduated from one of the nation’s top rated Advertising Portfolio Programs at the University of Texas at Austin in 2010. After years of working at various creative agencies and organizations, she became a full-time visual artist and muralist. Zuzu is on the Board of Directors for the HOPE Campaign, a nonprofit 501(c3) supporting visual artists and musicians through community programming and projects.
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