by admin | Mar 29, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Breakthrough Brand Blended by Barrell Craft Spirits Embraces the Vitality of American Whiskey to Create the Next Generation of Classic Whiskeys
Louisville, KY (March 29, 2021) – Stellum Spirits, a new national brand created to celebrate the modern-day whiskey drinker, today officially launched its inaugural flagship offerings, including bourbon (blue label), rye (green label), and single barrels, which are all bottled at cask strength. By embracing the vitality of American whiskey today, Stellum is focused on creating the next generation of classic whiskeys that include all facets of the American story in its vision.
The new brand is produced by Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the award-winning independent blender and bottler of unique aged, cask-strength sourced whiskey and rum. Stellum strives to improve the flavor, process and ideals of traditional American whiskeys. American culture has always been about reaching towards modernity. Stellum looks beyond outdated assumptions of who whiskey drinkers (and whiskey makers) are to embrace that fundamentally progressive ethos.
The launch of Stellum Spirits is the result of BCS’ years of industry-leading innovation in American whiskey. This new project investigates the importance of nuance and micro differentiation in a paired down and minimalist setting. Stellum is designed to be clean, straightforward, and remarkably polished. This is whiskey factored down to its most defining essentials, blended and packaged with an eye towards clean lines and definition.
“We wanted to create a brand that brings American Whiskey into the modern age with simple elegant blends and single barrels selected with care and intention,” said Founder Joe Beatrice. “Our whiskeys are created through a rigorous process of study, observation, and experimentation. We are driven by progress, polish and—above all—attention to detail. We will always think critically about how to make our whiskey better.”
Joe is intimately involved with every step of the production process, using his exceptional palate to choose and create great spirits alongside Chief Whiskey Scientist Tripp Stimson, Chief Product Innovation Officer Will Schragis, and Assistant Blender Nic Christiansen.
Stellum Bourbon is bottled at 114.98 proof (57.49% ABV) while Stellum Rye is bottled at 116.24 proof (58.12% ABV). Both expressions have an SRP of $54.99 and are available at select retailers in 45 U.S. markets and online via the Stellum website at www.stellum.com.
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 | Mar 15, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Newest Special Release is a Blend of American and Canadian Rye Whiskeys Sourced and Finished in Three Distinct Casks
Louisville, KY (March 15, 2021) – Barrell Craft Spirits® (BCS), the award-winning independent blender and bottler of unique aged, cask-strength sourced whiskey and rum, has introduced Barrell Seagrass, a blend of American and Canadian rye whiskeys, meticulously sourced and finished in three distinct casks. Each ingredient is finished separately in Martinique Rhum Agricole casks, apricot brandy casks, and Madeira barrels. Each component whiskey brings its own attributes to Seagrass, revealing unique layers of flavor from start to finish. In classic Barrell Craft Spirits fashion, Seagrass is a true original, with its own unique personality in the BCS Portfolio and the whiskey landscape at large.
“Seagrass stands alone as a whiskey, while also inviting the drinker to explore the multitude of influences created by a global approach to sourcing, finishing, and blending,” said Founder Joe Beatrice. “It highlights the grassy oceanside notes we love in rye and the opulence and spice of finishing barrels. It’s bottled at cask strength so you can appreciate its true flavor.”
As with all BCS releases, Joe is intimately involved with every step of the production process, using his exceptional palate to choose and create great spirits alongside Chief Whiskey Scientist Tripp Stimson, Chief Product Innovation Officer Will Schragis, and Assistant Blender Nic Christiansen.
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. Every batch is produced as a limited release and has a distinct flavor profile. 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 Seagrass, BCS 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 Infinite Barrel Project, American Vatted Malt, and the Barrell Craft Spirits Line, which was named “Best American Whiskey of 2018” by whiskey authority Fred Minnick in Forbes.
Barrell Seagrass was bottled at 118.4 proof (59.2% ABV) and is now available at select retailers within the brand’s current 45 U.S. markets and online via the BCS website at www.barrellbourbon.com. The suggested retail price is $89.99.
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.
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by admin | Mar 3, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Grain-to-Glass Distillery’s American Gin Rebrand Underscores Its Commitment to the Innovative People of Austin, Pays Homage to Texas Terroir
Austin, TX (March 3, 2021) – Still Austin Whiskey Co., a homegrown distillery situated in the heart of South Austin, today released a full packaging rebrand for its signature American Gin, the first rye gin made in the Lone Star State. The 100% handmade gin is uniquely crafted from a custom base of 70% Brasetto rye and 30% non-GMO white corn provided by Texas farmers. The spirit is then milled and distilled in-house in small 100-gallon batches in a copper pot still. It’s here that the distilled base spirit absorbs the various gin botanicals, including organic juniper berries, coriander seeds, cinnamon, citrus peels, elderflowers and allspice berries, while passing through the distillery’s 42-foot-tall custom column still. The end result is a perfectly balanced gin bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV), which features an initial brightness, creamy mouthfeel, soft floral and citrus notes, an earthy character, rye spice and a warm finish. In the words of Master Blender Nancy Fraley, who’s famous for her peerless ability to detect flavor notes, the gin is “exceptionally balanced, beautifully blended, and a pleasure to drink.”
A New Label, Naturally
For the new custom gin label, Still Austin commissioned internationally acclaimed artist and native Texan Marc Burckhardt to paint a series of portraits of “idealized” Austinites. These are visual representations of archetypes, a way of conceiving a “new Austin mythology” by celebrating the innovative people who make the city what it is. Each label provides a sense of the people who have influenced and inspired the team, while paying homage to the Texas terroir. The first label in the series, released last July, featured “The Musician,” the figure gracing the distillery’s Straight Bourbon label, which pays homage to the “Live Music Capital of the World.” Now the American Gin, also known as “The Naturalist,” becomes the second in the series. The woman in the picture is content: surrounded by lush landscape, inspired by majestic beauty and satiated with the Earth’s raw treasures, including the spirit’s multitude of botanicals hidden among the verdant surroundings.
“For The Naturalist, we make a custom, in-house base distilled at a lower ABV than your traditional grain neutral spirit,” said John Schrepel, Head Distiller. “The result is an approachable gin with structure and nuance that highlights 12 botanicals, which complement the unique rye base and create a well-rounded, complex experience.”
Grain-to-Glass Philosophy
Still Austin is an independent craft whiskey distillery founded in 2015, focused on a true grain-to-glass concept that produces the highest quality whiskey using local resources and sustainable practices. Like “The Naturalist,” Still Austin views itself as an integral part of a larger landscape, aiming to let the natural world shine through its work as distillers. In pursuit of this goal, the team makes everything from scratch—milling the grains, fermenting the mash, and distilling the spirit in two types of stills—until they’ve created a perfectly balanced gin, made in small batches with real botanicals.
In August of 2020, the New York International Spirits Competition named Still Austin its “Texas Gin Distillery of the Year.” 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 gin is now available for order online via the Still Austin website: https://stillaustin.com/booze/american-gin/. In the coming weeks, gin lovers will begin to see the brand throughout Texas in both 375ml and 750ml bottles at fine liquor stores for a suggested retail price of $16 and $32, respectively.
For more information, visit www.stillaustin.com and follow Still Austin on Facebook at Facebook.com/StillATX, Twitter @StillATX and Instagram @Still_ATX.
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 the flagship Straight Bourbon Whiskey (aka “The Musician”) and American Gin (aka “The Naturalist”). 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 | Jan 24, 2021 | IN THE NEWS
Service Starts Saturday, January 23, Beginning with Brunch at 11am
Austin, TX (January 23, 2020) – Still Austin Whiskey Co., the homegrown distillery situated in the heart of South Austin, is launching a new on-site food truck in partnership with Chef Wesley Dills of The Bearded Baking Company. Beginning today, the company will welcome guests to the new hot spot in town, located in the company’s Whiskey Garden at 440 East St. Elmo Road, Ste. F in Austin. The full food menu will be available Tuesday-Friday from 12-8pm and Saturday & Sunday from 11am-8pm, with brunch and brunch-specific cocktails served on the weekends from 11am-3pm. Reservations are not being accepted at this time and COVID guidelines will be followed, meaning all guests must wear a mask anytime they are not seated, and maintain social distancing throughout their stay.
“Wes has been one of our favorite partners, having catered for several Still Austin music concerts and distillery events,” said Brandon Joldersma, General Manager, Still Austin Whiskey Co. “He has a knack for creating delicious dishes that highlight sweet and savory elements. His food sings with flavor. He even created a signature cookie called the ATX C4 using our straight bourbon whiskey, which is a must have!”
A native of North Carolina, Wes Dills grew up surrounded with the idea that “when we meet, we eat.”Whether it was church, community, or family, he quickly developed a love for the dessert table. After earning his Associates in Fine Arts from Johnson & Wales University with a concentration in the Culinary Arts, Wes served as the Foodservice Director for Louisburg Dining – Chartwells. He also held positions atEast Carolina University – Aramark (Chef Manager/Retail) and Zoës Kitchen (Catering Manager), before putting down roots in Austin in 2018 and founding The Bearded Baking Company.
The new food menu will feature a variety of savory and sweet dishes including: Bubba’s BLT (chicken fried bacon, tomato, lettuce, dukes), Gravy Biscuit (house bacon sausage gravy), Savory Cheesecake (caramelized onion, pesto, bacon, arugula, parm, crostini) and the aforementioned Still Austin Whiskey Co. ATX C4 Cookie. While the full cocktail menu is available anytime in Still Austin’s Tasting Room, the team has created a brunch-specific cocktail list featuring four of Still Austin’s signature bourbon whiskey and gin libations, from the classic Bloody Mary and Gin & Juice, to the more adventurous Lady Marmalade and Wakey Wakey Bourbon Bakey. To view the full menu including prices, click the link below: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xuoqbyiw8t0fg6h/AABSWaX-YJTfZ9tke2VUhLc9a?dl=0
About Still Austin Whiskey Co.
Founded in 2015 by three Austin families, Still Austin Whiskey Co. is a true grain-to-glass Distillery, located at440 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. For more information, visit www.stillaustin.com
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by admin | Dec 4, 2020 | IN THE NEWS
Third Expression in the company’s “Distillery Reserve Series” Available for Purchase on Saturday, December 12, Beginning at Noon
Austin, TX (December 12, 2020) – Still Austin Whiskey Co., a homegrown distillery situated in the heart of South Austin, will unveil a limited-release 100% Rye Whiskey finished in Sherry Casks, the third expression in its “Distillery Reserve Series.” The team only produced (565) 750ml bottles of the Rye whiskey, which retail for $120 each. Whiskey lovers can purchase this special release exclusively at the distillery’s Tasting Room, located at 440 East St. Elmo Road, Ste. F in Austin, beginning on Saturday, December 12 at 12:00pm. Previous expressions in the Series sold out swiftly.
Made from 100% Texas rye grains, the new expression represents a true expression of the distiller’s art. The rye whiskey (from three separate barrels) was finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for eight months and aged at least two years. It was bottled at 107.8 proof (53.9% ABV).
Like the spirits inside, the bottles themselves are works of creative expression. Still Austin enlisted local abstract artist Rachel Dickson who applied her traditional skills with color and composition to create several hundred unique versions of the bottle featuring one-of-a-kind labels. Each conveys a singular mood while maintaining a unified color palette.
“This Distillery Reserve Series extremely limited release combines two of our most exciting ventures: our currently aging barrels of 100% Texas rye whiskey and sherry cask finishing,” said John Schrepel, Head Distiller. “The aging process resulted in a cozy mahogany color that’s perfect for the holidays and a fruit-forward nose layered with hints of holiday spices, dark chocolate, and tannic and citrus underpinnings that will surely satisfy.”
Tasting Notes
- Look: deep red, amber, mahogany
- Nose: chocolate cherries, cinnamon, fig, cranberry, dates, sweet/tannic, citrus, pine needles, caramel
- Palate: dark chocolate, wood tannins, allspice/nutmeg/gingerbread cookie, cherry pie filling, strawberry rhubarb pie
- Finish: fruit/wood notes, spicy peppercorn, oatmeal cookie, toasted marshmallow
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 Still Austin 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 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 slow water reduction technique focused on flavor and balance, which gives the alcohol a softness on the palate and brings more “mature” notes to the forefront. For more information, 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
Austin based artist, Rachel Dickson, has been honing her artistic skills for the past decade. After the death of her brother in 2014 and then of her son’s biological mom in 2015, she used art as a form of therapy to deal with anger and heartache. She decided to pursue painting as a full-time career in 2018. She uses art as a therapy, and her work showcases the vast mix of emotions that encompass grief. She specializes in watercolors and frequently uses acrylic and collage. The female form is prevalent in her work and her use of color and white space are the foundation of each piece. She sells her original art and takes commissions. For custom commissions or art licensing/publishing inquiries, please email [email protected].
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by admin | Nov 17, 2020 | IN THE NEWS
New Series Features 49 Unique Releases Married in Ex-Bourbon Barrels
Louisville, Ky. (November 17, 2020) – Following the successful launch of its award-winning Private Release Rum and Whiskey Series, Barrell Craft Spirits (BCS) will introduce its first-ever Private Release Bourbon Series later this month.
For this special release, BCS selected bourbons sourced from Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana, spread across four different ages and then blended them into 49 different recipes. Each blend number has its own ratios, printed on the label and is constructed in its own ex-bourbon barrel. With each release, a new set of base bourbons is selected, so every recipe is only made once.
Known best for sourcing and blending award-winning, unique aged spirits at cask strength, BCS’ Private Release Bourbon Series is an exercise in micro-blending and variations on a theme. It affords the team the opportunity to showcase its blending expertise while maintaining a single barrel-like scale controlled entirely by hand and by palate. Private Release Barrels also offer retailers, bourbon clubs and whiskey aficionados alike something truly unique.
“The Private Release Bourbon project was designed to synthesize a growing demand for exclusive store, group, and state ‘picks’ with our belief that blending can make bourbons that span the greatest spectrum of flavor,” said Company Founder Joe Beatrice. “Our Private Release program allows an entirely new set of options for those looking for unique and exclusive products.”
Joe is intimately involved with every step of the production process, using his exceptional palate to choose and create great spirits alongside Chief Whiskey Scientist Tripp Stimson, National Director Will Schragis and Assistant Blender Nic Christiansen. Together, they strive to be the most creative, forward-thinking and progressive whiskey blenders in the nation. That means sourcing the finest ingredients from around the world, and using them to blend spirits that are far greater than the sum of their parts. It also means maximizing the best attributes of each element. Every component changes the overall character of these blends, as does the barrel in which each is aged. For those reasons, these whiskeys take months to polish and perfect.
Each offering in the Series is produced as a limited release, has a distinct flavor profile and contains between 150-180 total 750ml bottles, with an SRP of $109.99. Because some were purchased through retailers or clubs, or may only be available online, BCS has added a special section to its website which contains the full list. Suggestions for where to buy will be updated as they become available. Click the link below for more information:
https://www.barrellbourbon.com/privatereleasebourbon
The Barrell Craft Spirits award-winning line of products is currently sold in 45 US states and online via www.barrellbourbon.com. Follow Barrell Craft Spirits on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About 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.
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