by admin | Jul 13, 2020 | IN THE NEWS
Grain-to-Glass High-Rye Expression Made Using Local Resources And Sustainable Practices Featuring New Bottle and Label Now Available for Pre-Order
Austin, TX (July 13, 2020) –Still Austin Whiskey Co., a homegrown distillery situated in the heart of South Austin, today released its first high-rye straight bourbon whiskey featuring grains that are 100% grown by Texas farmers. The bourbon is handmade from grain-to-glass at the distillery, aged for at least two years in new charred American Oak barrels,and bottled at 98.4 proof (49.2% ABV). It’s comprised of a high-quality mash bill worthy of its hometown: 70% Non-GMO white corn (the same found in Austin’s tortillas), 25% Elbon rye (which imparts a natural spice) and 5% wildfire malted barley.
“After six years of hard work and perfecting our technique, we’re ready to launch our new flagship straight bourbon whiskey,” said Chris Seals, CEO. “We started Still Austin Whiskey Co. because we saw an opportunity to create our own kind of distillery where we do everything intentionally. This bourbon is an expression of true Texas terroir, but also the distillation of all we are, and of all that has created us. We’ve managed to bottle the inclusive spirit of our home city; a complex bourbon with substance, flair, and finesse.”
According to Still Austin’s “Master Nose” Nancy Fraley, who is famous for her peerless ability to detect flavor notes, “the nose offers delightful aromas of ripe tropical fruits such as pineapple, banana, papaya, mango, toasted coconut shavings, and S’mores with melted milk chocolate and caramelized marshmallow. These notes follow through to the palate, where the rye makes its appearance in the form of cinnamon toast with brown butter, and blanched almonds. The alcohol is soft and creamy like vanilla egg custard and the mouth feel is round, with long waves of tropical fruit, toffee, and rye spice on the finish.”
A Fresh New Look
The straight bourbon whiskey boasts a new custom bottle and label, which serves as the perfect complement to the art inside the bottle. For the label, Still Austin commissioned internationally acclaimed artist and native Texan Marc Burckhardt to paint a series of portraits of “archetypical” Austinites. Each provides a sense of the people who have influenced and inspired the team, while paying homage to the Texas terroir. The figure on the new label dubbed “the Musician,” is the first in the series, which will grace the labels of future spirits. 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. The Musician—along with future archetypes like the Naturalist, the Writer, the Visionary, and the Artist—illustrates the fearlessness needed to become truly unique. The Musician in the painting is confident, intelligent, brave and whimsical; essentially, everything Still Austin aspires to be, and everything the distillery loves about its community. The Musician was a natural place to start since Austin is “The Live Music Capital of the World.” Good whiskey is more than just corn, rye and malted barley that’s been fermented, distilled, and aged. Like the various elements of music—chords, rhythms, harmonies—the result is greater than the sum of its parts.
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 Nose 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. The result is a bourbon that highlights the natural flavor of the local grain, with no faults whatsoever.
Where to Buy
Still Austin’s new straight bourbon whiskey will be available for pre-order online via the Still Austin website here: https://still-austin-whiskey-co.square.site/ beginning Monday, July 13. Then, in August, whiskey lovers will begin to see the brand throughout Texas in 750ml bottles at liquor stores for a suggested retail price of $45.
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 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.
# # #
by admin | May 29, 2020 | IN THE NEWS
Award-Winning Independent Bottler and Blender’s Most Ambitious Project To Date Features 24 Expressions Finished in a Secondary Vessel
Louisville, Ky. (May 26, 2020) – Barrell Craft Spirits (BCS) has launched its highly-anticipated Private Release Whiskey Series. Each batch features a unique blend based around Barrell’s 18-year-old stocks of Kentucky Whiskey, which were then finished in a secondary barrel or cask.
Known best for sourcing and blending award-winning, unique aged spirits at cask strength, BCS’ Private Release Whiskey Series is a project in detailed blending on a scale small enough to allow extreme precision. It affords the team the opportunity to exercise its blending expertise while maintaining a single barrel-like scale controlled entirely by hand and by palate. While the company previously released a Private Release Rum Series last July, which sold out in two months, this is their first whiskey-focused series.
Led by Founder Joe Beatrice and Master Distiller Tripp Stimson, the BCS teamconsistently strives to become the most creative, forward-thinking and progressive whiskey blenders in the nation.That meanssourcing 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 that reason, these whiskeys take months to polish and perfect.
“The Private Release Whiskey Series is hands down our most ambitious project to date,” said Company Founder Joe Beatrice. “We pride ourselves on pushing the creative envelope every day, exploring opportunities to source and blend outside the box, and showcase the world’s most exciting spirits.”
Private Release Barrels, which are a blend of whiskeys (vs. single barrels), offer retailers, bourbon clubs and whiskey aficionados alike, something truly unique. At BCS, every batch is produced as a limited release and has a distinct flavor profile. Because certain batches 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 of offerings and suggestions for where to buy. Each offering contains between 150-180 total bottles. The SRP for each 750ml bottle is $109. The “Private Release Whiskey Series” includes the following:
|
AH01 – KY Whiskey Finished in a Sauternes Barrel |
| AH02 – KY Whiskey finished in a Tokaji Barrel |
| AH03 – KY Whiskey finished in a Washington State Ice Wine Barrel |
| AH04 – KY Whiskey finished in a Jamaican Rum Cask |
| AH05 – KY Whiskey finished in a Sicilian Amaro Cask |
| AH06 – KY Whiskey finished in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Barrel |
| AH07 – KY Whiskey finished in a Oloroso Sherry Barrel |
| AH08 – KY Whiskey finished in a Malmsey Madeira Barrel |
| AH09 – KY Whiskey finished in a Ratafia de Champagne Barrel |
| AH10 – KY Whiskey finished in a Ruby Port Barrel |
| AH11 – KY Whiskey finished in a Gewurztraminer Ice Wine Barrel |
| AH12 – KY Whiskey finished in a New York State Ice Wine Barrel |
| AH13 – KY Whiskey finished in a German Ice Wine Barrel |
| AH14 – KY Whiskey finished in a Calvados Cask |
| AH15 – KY Whiskey finished in an Apricot Brandy Barrel |
| AH16 – KY Whiskey finished in a Jamaican Rum Cask |
| AH17 – KY Whiskey finished in a Pear Brandy Cask |
| AH18 – KY Whiskey finished in an Armagnac Cask |
| AH19 – KY Whiskey finished in an Armagnac Cask |
| AH20 – KY Whiskey finished in a Pear Brandy Cask |
| AH21 – KY Whiskey finished in a Rhum Agricole Cask |
| AH22 – KY Whiskey finished in an Indiana Rye Barrel |
| AH23 – KY Whiskey finished in an Islay Single Malt Scotch Cask |
| AH24 – KY Whiskey finished in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Barrel |
Founded in 2013, BCS selects and blends products that explore different distillation methods, barrels and aging environments, and bottles them at cask strength. The company’s extensive stocks of high-quality casks means it can craft extraordinary blends and creative finishes that maximize the nuances of each ingredient. Every batch is produced as a limited release and has a distinct flavor profile.
At the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Barrell Bourbon Batch 021 received Double Gold and was named Best Bourbon and Best Small Batch Bourbon – both overall and within the 6-10 year category. Additionally, Barrell Bourbon Batch 020 and Barrell Rye Batch 003 were awarded Double Gold medals, while Barrell Bourbon Batch 022 earned a Gold Medal. The previous year, BCS captured “Best Small Batch Bourbon over 11 years old” (Barrell Bourbon Batch 018) as well as three Double Golds.
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 is produced as a limited release and has a distinct flavor profile.
# # #
by admin | May 7, 2020 | IN THE NEWS
Newest Six Barrel Limited-Edition Expression Will Be Allocated in Small Quantities to Select States
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (May 6, 2020) – Grain & Barrel Spirits has launched Chicken Cock Ryeteous Blonde, its newest limited-edition expression, in partnership with Goodwood Brewing based in Louisville, Kentucky. This marks the company’s second beer barrel finish collaboration with Goodwood. With only six barrels produced, Ryeteous Blonde will be allocated in limited quantities to select states.
Six barrels of this very special, high-quality Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey were finished in original Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Bourbon barrels that were used by Goodwood to age their Blonde Ale. Once the ale had completed its finishing process in the Chicken Cock Bourbon barrels and the beer removed for consumption, the barrels were then shipped back to the distillery and refilled with Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. They were sampled periodically during the finishing process by Master Distiller Gregg Snyder, to evaluate the spectacular transformation, as the Rye flavors married perfectly with the complimentary flavors of the Blonde Ale. Gregg determined that the flavor combinations reached their peak in the barrel at 90-proof, adding the proper amount of water to “open up” the amazing flavors, without over-diluting them.
This beautifully balanced Rye Whiskey features a mash bill of 95% Rye and 5% Malted Barley. It was not chill-filtered, allowing it to retain a beautiful amber color, and an amazing array of complex spice notes, with cinnamon, brown sugar, hint of dark chocolate, slight grassiness, with complimentary overtones of malted barley and sweet oak. The taste features a plethora of spectacular flavors with notes of butterscotch, caramel, toffee, and allspice, followed by a hint of Toasted Oak. The “flavor explosion” on the palate fades slowly into a sweet, long-lasting finish.
Established in 1856 in Paris, Kentucky (10 years before Jack Daniels), Chicken Cock rose to fame as the house whiskey at The Cotton Club, one of Prohibition’s most legendary speakeasies. Known as “The Famous Old Brand” and “The Whiskey in a Tin Can,” Chicken Cock was smuggled into the Club in sealed tin cans, then ceremoniously opened table-side. After Prohibition, the brand enjoyed a resurgent couple of decades before a distillery fire just after World War II put it out of business. In 2012, Matti Anttila, founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits, rediscovered the brand and set out to resurrect it to its Prohibition-era glory. Master Distiller Gregg Snyder was enlisted to provide the knowledge and experience needed to help achieve that goal. Snyder’s 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.
Chicken Cock Ryeteous Blonde Whiskey was 100% distilled, aged, finished and bottled in the Bluegrass State and bottled in a Prohibition-era replica apothecary-style bottle.It is a very limited-edition offering with only 1,428 total 750ml bottles available online and in select markets, including: AL, AR, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, NY, OK, SC, TN, WV, for the suggested retail price of $89.99.
About Grain & Barrel Spirits
Founded in 2012 by Matti Anttila, Grain & Barrel Spirits is an award-winning craft spirits company at home in the Southeast with production and sales partners around the world. The company was recently named to the Inc. 5000 list, coming in within the top 25% of America’s fastest-growing, independently owned businesses. In addition to pre-Prohibition favorite Chicken Cock Whiskey, wholly owned brands include Dixie Southern Vodka, the largest premium craft vodka produced in the Southeast, and The Endless Summer Spirits Company. Please visit https://www.chickencockwhiskey.com and follow on Instagram @chickencockwhiskey and Facebook
Chicken Cock Whiskey is also proud to be associated with the Bardstown Bourbon Company’s collaborative distiller’s program.
# # #
by admin | Apr 29, 2020 | IN THE NEWS
Chandler, AZ (April 29, 2020) – Bourbon Charity, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, today launched an online charitable private whiskey barrel fundraiser to benefit key organizations within the hospitality industry in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, including the James Beard Foundation, United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) and local restaurants and retail stores in its home state of Arizona.
Those interested in supporting the organization can visit BourbonCharity.org to secure their bottle(s) from among two super-premium offerings:
- Beginning April 29
- Rossville Union® Straight Rye Whiskey ,a bottled-in-bond (100-proof) release aged for four-seven years from MGP; 198 bottles at $49.99 each
- Beginning May 15
- Barrell Craft Spirits TN Whiskey aged for 14 years (private barrel selection); 88 bottles at $89.99 each
Participants will have the opportunity to select from among four Arizona retail and restaurant locations to place their order for online delivery or curbside pickup: Phoenix City Grille (Phoenix), All American Modern Sports Grill (Scottsdale), Batch Café and Bar (Tucson), Liquor Express (Tempe), and Gilbert Convenience Market (Gilbert). $15 per bottle sold will be given to both the James Beard Foundation and the USBG.
Founded in 2019 when his “Pops” was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Brandon Hunt donated his bourbon collection to start the organization. In one year’s time, Bourbon Charity has enlisted 2,000+ supporters whose passion for combining charity with bourbon to #drinkforachange has raised more than $200,000 for a variety of charitable causes, including: Prostate Cancer Foundation, Children’s Tumor Foundation, Fisher House Foundation, Dare to Care, and charity: water. All donations are tax deductible.
“I’ve always felt the desire to give back and to help others, especially in light of my Pops’ diagnosis,” said Brandon Hunt, Founder, Bourbon Charity. “During these challenging and uncertain times as the hospitality industry struggles, our passionate and likeminded bourbon community is dedicated to making a difference.”
The online fundraising model has served the organization well, especially given the current state of the world and social distancing. 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.
The organization’s next big event is The Ultimate Bourbon Giveaway on Father’s Day. Tickets are now available online through June 18, 2020 in the following denominations: $10 (25 tickets), $25 (150 tickets), or $50 (500 tickets). Each ticket affords participants a chance to win any giveaway. The drawing will take place on Father’s Day, June 21, 2020.
Join the Bourbon Hood
Another way to get involved with the organization is to join the Bourbon Hood, a passionate community of monthly givers that help to ensure that every public dollar donated in the organization’s online fundraisers help 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 2,000 supporters and growing that raise 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 Brandon’s Bourbon dba Bourbon Charity and a tax exempt organization.
# # #
by admin | Apr 11, 2020 | IN THE NEWS
Distillery’s Tasting Room Will Also Make Free Bottled Hand Sanitizer Available for Local Residents Beginning Saturday, April 11
Austin, TX (April 11, 2020) – Still Austin Whiskey Co., the homegrown grain-to-glass distillery, will produce more than 100,000 gallons of hand sanitizer over the next several months. Through a partnership with the City of Austin and Travis County COVID-19 emergency response, Still Austin will provide bulk hand sanitizer to those on the frontlines battling the coronavirus pandemic, at no cost. In addition, Still Austin Whiskey is supplying hand sanitizer to hospital systems and other healthcare providers who are caring for COVID patients as well as businesses and non-profits supplying essential services.
The distillery will also begin making 6.6oz bottled hand sanitizer available to local residents via its Tasting Room, located in South Austin at 440 East Saint Elmo, Building F, starting at noon on Saturday, April 11. Orders can also be placed at www.stillaustin.com in advance and collected via curbside pickup. The sanitizer will be provided free of charge. A $4 suggested donation will help to cover costs and 100% of funds collected will support further production. Limit two bottles per person.
Still Austin, which continues to produce its signature bourbon whiskey and rye gin, has also been making large batches of hand sanitizer over the past three weeks. This became possible when the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized production of ethanol-based hand sanitizers by permitted distillers. Still Austin has to date provided 415 gallons of sanitizer to the City of Austin and local governments, and 900 gallons for essential businesses. Additional batches will be allocated to hospitals, cancer centers, local firefighters, police and public health officials and EMS services, nursing care facilities and other high risk groups within underprivileged areas.
“We’re pleased to provide hand sanitizer for all the local heroes on the frontlines fighting this virus to ensure their safety while keeping the rest of us safe,” said Chris Seals, CEO of Still Austin. “In the coming days, we’ll continue to work closely with the City of Austin to and Travis County Emergency Response for Covid-19 to provide support for the greater Austin community however we can.”
Still Austin also recently started supplying high proof ethanol to local Austin pharmacies, which will use it to produce hand sanitizer and augment local supply for their patients and customers.
Still Austin’s hand sanitizer meets all FDA requirements to ensure consumer safety. That includes using only USP-quality alcohol and following guidelines for FDA formulation and for pharmacies (USP).
For more information, visit www.stillaustin.com. 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 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 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 our 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. At this time, the distillery is only open for bottle sales. Curbside pickup is available Mon-Sat from 12-6pm.
# # #
by admin | Apr 6, 2020 | IN THE NEWS
100% Distilled, Aged & Bottled in KY
BARDSTOWN, Ky.(April 7, 2020) – Grain & Barrel Spirits’(“G&B”) has released Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey in select markets, “The Famous Old Brand’s” first Rye in more than 70 years. The introduction follows the fall 2019 launch of the brand’s anchor expression, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The reintroduction of a 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.
Made in partnership with the Bardstown Bourbon Company as part of its collaborative distilling program, the new Straight Rye Whiskey was 100% distilled, aged, and bottled in the Bluegrass State. It’s a beautifully balanced non-chill filtered 95% rye whiskey, which features a caramel color with a hue of dark orange. The nose reveals a tremendous complexity of spices including pepper and cinnamon, with a hint of dryness and slight overtones of citrus and oak. A creamy, almost buttery mouthfeel is complemented by vanilla and butterscotch, followed by a long, slow peppery finish with a hint of sweet honey. At 90 proof (45% ABV), there is a slight, welcome heat. Like the new KY Straight Bourbon, the KY Straight Rye is bottled in a Prohibition-era Chicken Cock replica apothecary-style bottle.
“The number one question I’m asked since resurrecting Chicken Cock Whiskey is, where can I find it?” said Matti Anttila, founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits. “In the beginning, we were limited geographically by liquid so we were forced to allocate to a small group of select markets. Now, several years into the comeback, we’re able to broaden our distribution with our two top quality, everyday expressions – first, our Kentucky Straight Bourbon and now our Kentucky Straight Rye. Both of these will be the cornerstones of the brand as it rolls out nationally throughout 2020.”
Established in 1856 in Paris, Kentucky (10 years before Jack Daniels), Chicken Cock rose to fame as the house whiskey at The Cotton Club, one of Prohibition’s most legendary speakeasies. Known as “The Famous Old Brand” and “The Whiskey in a Tin Can,” Chicken Cock was smuggled into the Club in sealed tin cans, then ceremoniously opened table-side. After Prohibition, the brand enjoyed a resurgent couple of decades 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. Master Distiller Gregg Snyder was enlisted to provide the knowledge and experience needed to help achieve that goal. Snyder’s 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.
Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is now available for the suggested retail price of $69.99 per 750ml bottle online and in the following markets: FL, IL, KS, KY, MO, NY, OK, SC, and TN, with broader national distribution to follow shortly.
About Grain & Barrel Spirits
Founded in 2012 by Matti Anttila, Grain & Barrel Spirits is an award-winning craft spirits company at home in the Southeast with production and sales partners around the world. The company was recently named to the Inc. 5000 list, coming in within the top 25% of America’s fastest-growing, independently owned businesses. In addition to pre-Prohibition favorite Chicken Cock Whiskey, wholly owned brands include Dixie Southern Vodka, the largest premium craft vodka produced in the Southeast, and The Endless Summer Spirits Company. Please visit https://www.chickencockwhiskey.com and follow on Instagram @chickencockwhiskey and Facebook
# # #
