2019’s Craft Producer of the Year Kentucky Peerless Unveils Double Oak Bourbon

October 16, 2021 by evebushman

LOUISVILLE, KY. (PRWEB) – Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company announces the release of their newest whiskey, Peerless Double Oak Bourbon. This expression was born out of necessity, not marketing tactics. Peerless Double Oak Bourbon will be available in Kentucky, California, Illinois, Florida and New York.

Kentucky Peerless started crafting Double Oak whiskies with the original intention of rescuing whiskey from a leaky barrel, losing too much quantity to Angel’s share. When a barrel has a leak that cannot be repaired, the whiskey is transferred into a new charred oak barrel to continue its journey. By exposing the whiskey to a second barrel, the whiskey develops unparalleled complexity as well as a heavy mouthfeel.

The Single Barrel Double Oak whiskies offered in the past at Kentucky Peerless have received overwhelmingly positive feedback, which has led to this release. Master Distiller Caleb Kilburn said: “With the amazing response to our very limited Double Oak program to date, we have decided to improve the quality and accessibility of the product. Where in the past we would leave things up to chance, we are now intentionally curating barrels to become Double Oak.”

Kilburn shares that the tasting notes reflect the characteristics of both barrels, and the dedicated tasting team is looking for prominent grain, fruit and herbaceous characteristics. Kilburn writes the tasting notes, including spicy oak, cinnamon, honey and leather as the more pronounced elements.

Find out more at kentuckypeerless.com or visit the distillery at 120 N. 10th Street in downtown Louisville. The distillery is open for tours and tastings by reservation Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

About Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.
The Peerless family’s very first bourbon went into a barrel in 1889. They have since revived the craft in their own state-of-the-art distillery in the Bourbon District, where they use the finest ingredients. The Peerless family believes that patience builds character and fine Bourbon and Rye can never be rushed. All under one roof, the select Kentucky Peerless grains are milled, cooked, fermented, double-distilled and barreled as Bourbon and Rye.

2017 Awards
Tricor Braun’s Spirits Division Package of the Year
Small Batch Rye named Top 20 Most Exciting Whiskies of the Year by Whisky Advocate Magazine

2018 Awards
Small Batch Rye named Top 5 Best American Whiskey in Forbes magazine

2019 Awards
“Craft Producer of the Year” for the Americas by Whisky Magazine
“Global Craft Producer of the Year” by Whisky Magazine

2020 Awards
Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon named “Best Kentucky Bourbon” by World Whiskies Awards
Peerless Small Batch Kentucky Straight Rye awarded Category Gold for Rye 12 Years and
Under by Whisky Magazine
Master Distiller Caleb Kilburn was a finalist for best distiller by Whisky Magazine
Peerless was among the 12 final nominees for best distillery tour by Whisky Magazine

2021 Awards
Small Batch Bourbon received 92 points from Wine Enthusiast magazine
Small Batch Rye received 93 points from Wine Enthusiast magazine

For more information, visit kentuckypeerless.com
Contact: Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company
120 North 10th Street, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 566-4999
Contact@KentuckyPeerless.com
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Learning, Tasting and Joining: Vegas Drammers!

October 15, 2021 by evebushman

As we have been in Las Vegas a lot more these days I sought out all kinds of food and drinking establishments. Through my “research” I found the global Drammers club founded by Charlie Prince and their newly established Las Vegas Chapter run by Bob Brown. Eddie and I attended our first meeting at a strip location where we had more than enough brown and clear spirits to warrant a second meeting. Below is the second invitation to join the club, with liquor descriptions by Prince, shared with his permission and in italics are my notes:

Vegas Drammers!

We wanted to make sure everyone had seen that our next Drammers Las Vegas tasting will be Sunday, September 26th at 6:30pm. We’re coming hot off visits to both Scotland/Europe and to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, so we’ve got a bunch of fun bottles in tow that you’re unlikely to get another chance to try! Drumroll please…

Very Old St Nick – Curia – Kentucky Bourbon Fest Exclusive. We’ll be coming to Seattle straight from the Kentucky Bourbon Fest, and we’ve got some fun bottles in tow to share. The team at Preservation (behind Very Old St Nick and Rare Perfection) released this bottle exclusively at the fest. It’s a bourbon bottled at 47.6% abv, and since it was released under the Very Olde St. Nick line, you know it’s not a young whiskey. I’ll try to find out more before we get there, but this is definitely a one-off-shot to pick this up. This was the first whiskey we tasted and was an immediate favorite for many of us. Charlie, along with his notes above, shared that this distiller was making wood-heavy bourbons before vodka took over in the U.S. The flavor was very popular in Japan before becoming well-liked again in the U.S. Aromas included sweet roasted and buttered corn, suede and no burn on the palate. Flavors like suede, toffee, corn nuts, creamy and smooth. Charlie said it had cherry cordial flavor and another bourbon lover noted fig.

Bardstown Bourbon Co. – Distillery Collection – Triple Stave Finish. Released to coincide with the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, this special release was only available at the distillery when we picked it up a few days ago and is almost certainly now sold out. It is a blend of straight whiskies finished with oak staves. 54.% abv. I asked Charlie about this bourbon, as I knew one of my favorite Napa wineries – Phifer Pavitt – collaborated on a bourbon with them. He said they do a lot of collaborations, using a barrel that held Phifer Pavitt Napa Cabernet Sauvignon being one of them. He hadn’t had the Phifer Pavitt collaboration but he had plenty of others, and that the distillery is “huge…well financed…(and) shockingly big like an Olympic swimming pool.” The one we tasted wasn’t a collaboration but instead they had incorporated a “Triple Stave Finish” instead. On the nose there was that cream, white pepper and a lot of vanilla bean and toasted oak. A new friend said she noted maple syrup and waffles, that we all had to agree with. That same maple syrup over waffles was also apparent in the taste with some burn, vanilla, walnut and Charlie noted sweet marmalade.

2 Expressions of Buzzard’s Roost Rye. Bourbon Bistro was arguably the first major whiskey bar in Louisville, a game changer that was way ahead of its time, and today it is rightly celebrated as one of the powerhouse drivers of bourbon culture in Kentucky. So it was particularly exciting to learn on our recent trip that they have launched their own line of whiskies – Buzzard’s Roost! We’ll be trying two of them this evening — a straight rye in a peated barrel (!), bottled at a delicious 52.5% abv (batch 1), and a barrel strength, also bottled at 52.5% abv (batch 2). These releases were limited to 800 and 1100 bottles respectively. We’ve tasted them, and we’re really excited about them. Charlie told a story about the Bourbon Bistro – a game-changing bar in Louisville with a secret menu of prohibition era whisky. Of course he got his hands on that menu, and spent about $1,000 that night enjoying drams from it. These ryes are a launch of their own whisky line. First came the barrel strength. My new whisky pal immediately noted that it was almost like a tawny port, I agreed. Aromas reminded me of sweet frozen vanilla custard, hazelnuts, a wood sauna; with flavors of sweet Kettle corn, caramel corn and a hint of banana. Next we sampled the rye finished in a peated smoked barrel – something none of us had heard of before. Peat bogs were not used, instead the rye was aged in a peated smoked barrel, giving it a more subtle peat flavor. Reminded me a bit of the Ardbeg An Oa. I noted salted nuts and smooth white chocolate on the nose; with a drop of water it became a very easy sipper, maybe a gateway for those new to peated whisky, lots of nuts and others noted flavors of gingerbread and that the peat in the nose came out after tasting it.

Mlody Ziemniak 2020 and The Barell Spirits Whiskey finished in a Pear Brandy Cask at 59.9$ abv, a Drammers Club pick. Whisky enthusiasts tend to be respectful of all other spirits categories except one — vodka. But these bottles might change your mind. The logic goes that by definition, the spirit needs to be tasteless and odorless, so what’s there to be proud of? The culprit here is that vodka is by definition distilled up to at least 96% alcohol, thereby eliminating a lot of the potential flavors. But what if you took the same distillate, and only distilled it once, stopping at 60% abv? And what if Poland’s most prestigious craft vodka distillery made a point to do it in a special limited edition series to highlight flavor differences among potato varietals? That’s exactly what Chopin did, and we were so blown away by the results, we flew to the distillery in Poland to do an event live with the founder, where our US members tried samples and voted to pick an exclusive batch for our club. That batch hasn’t arrived yet, but in the meantime, we’ve secured the very limited 2019 and 2020 special editions (From Eve: The 2019 was unavailable for this tasting) released under their “Mlody Ziemniak” (or “young potato”) line. These bottles can only be found in Poland currently, and in our opinion, they’re a game changer. Very anxious to cleanse my palate with a vodka, one where we could possibly taste the base potato spirit. Most of us didn’t care for this one much. On the Barell Spirits Whiskey Pear finish Charlie said that they make about 100 different weird finishes and this unaged version was finished in a pear brandy cask. Aromas reminded Eddie of bubble gum, while I noted dried berries, a boxload of Harry and David pears, flamed orange peel and fruitcake; with flavors of Triscuit crackers, hay, spam, Umami, and another person noted distinct “burnt popcorn”. This was not a favorite of the group.

Glenkinchie Distillery-Only Cask Strength Handfill. Diageo put a lot of money into revamping the visitor center at this Lowlands distillery just outside Edinburgh, and it opened in the middle of Covid, so that so far, they haven’t been able to welcome many visitors. If you haven’t heard of this distillery, it’s no surprise — over 90% of what they distill goes into the Johnnie Walker blends, so very little has been released under the “Glenkinchie” brand in the US, and of that virtually none of it is at cask strength, making this distillery only handfill bottle a particularly rare treat. Distilled in 2009, bottled in 2021, so approximately 11 years matured. I tried a small sip at the distillery, which was amazing, but otherwise haven’t really had a chance to try this yet. 55.2% Charlie said this was possibly 12 years old, hard to find, he picked up about 30 bottles just for his clubs. This was not the favorite in the line-up, but nothing wrong with it. While Charlie got notes of red apple cider, I noted toast, both sweet and spice notes, and a softness on the palate after adding some water.

Lagavulin Feis Ile Bottling 2020. About 10 of us had made plans to attend Feis Ile in 2020, and but for Covid, we just might have done it. If we had, the only way we would have had a shot at getting this bottle would have been if we’d camped out overnight at the distillery for Lagavulin’s big day. Instead, with the fest taking place virtually, we were able to pick up a bottle in their gift shop a couple weeks ago for us to taste! Bottle 1,924 of 6,000 bottles, it’s a vatting of 20yo refill and PX/Oloroso seasoned hogsheads personally selected by (then) distillery manager Colin Gordon and bottled at cask strength. Charlie said that before Covid maybe up to 3,000 people could score two bottles each of this whisky. This is a 13 year old. Found cream, grass, mushroom and umami notes on the nose, others also noted an earthy quality. The taste reminded me of olive brine and white pepper, another drammer noted Spanish olives.

That’s our lineup! And you never know with us, we might show up with a bonus surprise or two. We hope you can join us.

We’ll also provide yummy pizza as usual. A huge thank you to our Las Vegas chapter head Bob Brown for organizing!

Of course, we’re only getting started here in Las Vegas, and looking to continue to grow our chapter, so if you know anyone you think might be a good fit for the club, please feel free to invite them to join us…

Cheers,

Charlie Prince

President, Drammers Club

www.drammers.com

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Blue Run Spirits Unveils Award-Winning Fall Release

September 23, 2021 by evebushman

GEORGETOWN, KY. (PRWEB) – Blue Run Spirits’ first Rye Whiskey – already a Gold Medal winner at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – is now available at select retailers in the U.S. and will be sold online at BlueRunSpirits.com beginning Monday, September 6 at 3 pm Eastern. Blue Run Kentucky Straight Golden Rye Whiskey is the fourth whiskey release since Blue Run launched in October of last year, having unveiled three award-winning, sold-out Bourbons in that time.

Blue Run Kentucky Straight Golden Rye Whiskey is a small-batch whiskey coming from just 91 select barrels, bottled at a very approachable 95 proof. Each bottle, adorned with an oxidized version of the Blue Run’s signature viceroy butterfly emblem, can be individually identified through a green neck strip with gold accents indicating the bottle number and the date it was bottled. The Golden Rye name is derived from both the distinct color of the choice grains that were used in the creation process and the resulting golden-hued whiskey.

“As any bartender or whiskey maker will tell you, Rye Whiskey can be a tough horse to train,” said Mike Montgomery, CEO and Co-Founder of Blue Run Spirits. “Our goal with our Golden Rye was to make it just as approachable as our Bourbons, but still maintain spicy elements that are the hallmark of Ryes. I think we were able to achieve the drinkability of Bourbon with the pronounced personality of Rye.”

This inaugural Rye Whiskey from Blue Run features a honey baked graham cracker aroma surrounded by sweet grains and wood sugar. The easygoing finish rests with honey and a dash of pear syrup, highlighted by touches of ginger that add just the right tingle.

Blue Run Kentucky Straight Golden Rye Whiskey follows Blue Run’s summer release, Blue Run 14-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon, which was awarded top honors at the prestigious 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition winning Best Small Batch Bourbon – 11 Years & Older, along with a Double Gold Medal. The company’s spring release, Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon, was awarded Best Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 Years & Older, as well as a Double Gold Medal. Both bottlings sold out in minutes online.

Blue Run Kentucky Straight Golden Rye Whiskey is available for $99.99 SRP. It will be followed by a high-rye Bourbon in October. Additionally, Blue Run is contract distilling at Bardstown Bourbon Company this year, as they did at Castle & Key Distillery in 2020.

Blue Run Spirits can be purchased in Kentucky (RNDC); Georgia (Savannah); South Carolina and Tennessee (Advintage); Washington, D.C., Maryland and Delaware (Prestige-Ledroit); Illinois and Colorado (Breakthru); California and Florida (Park Street); and Canada (Evergreen) and online on http://www.bluerunspirits.com/shop.

Find Blue Run Spirits online at http://www.bluerunspirits.com, and on social media: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT BLUE RUN SPIRITS
Blue Run Spirits is a new kind of spirits company, creating a unique luxury proposition by tapping into the deep heritage and craft that makes a truly great whiskey, then elevating it through a modern design and marketing lens to reach a younger, broader and more diverse whiskey drinker. The company’s founders include a Nike designer, the first director-level employee at Facebook, a hospitality executive, a political advisor, and a philanthropist – all huge whiskey fans and individuals who acutely understand how to build demand and buzz for a contemporary consumer product. They are backed by a team of advisors including Nike marketing experts; the Campari communications veteran behind the U.S. launch of Espolòn Tequila and the Aperol Spritz; a former spirits distributor; and others with deep industry experience. The Blue Run name is a nod to one of our founder’s upbringing in Georgetown, KY, where Bourbon began in the Bluegrass State.

Introducing Basil Hayden Toast, A New Style Of Bourbon Marrying Innovation And History In Every Sip

September 5, 2021 by evebushman

CLERMONT, Ky., /PRNewswire/ — Basil Hayden® proudly announced the launch of Basil Hayden Toast, a super-premium Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and the newest addition to the award-winning Basil Hayden portfolio.¹ Consisting of an entirely new mash bill, Basil Hayden Toast breaks away from preconceived notions of American Whiskey to deliver an inviting spirit for both familiar and new bourbon drinkers.

Expertly crafted by eighth generation Beam family distiller, Freddie Noe, Basil Hayden Toast represents a reimagining of Basil Hayden with the use of a toasted barrel. In lieu of traditional rye grain, Basil Hayden Toast is made using US-grown brown rice, which imparts a hint of sweetness and a touch less spice, while a secondary toasted barrel finish draws out notes of caramelized sugar and toasted wood. After aging, the toasted brown rice bourbon is blended back with more brown rice bourbon, which has been rested in level four char barrels, to achieve a final product with complex flavor grounded in sweet vanilla and rich roasted notes. In an ever-expanding and often intimidating bourbon market, the light, approachable palette of Basil Hayden Toast offers a fresh perspective.

“Basil Hayden Toast is truly a whiskey for fans of all taste and experience levels to share. When my grandfather Booker Noe first made Basil Hayden, his intention was always to create bourbon that opened people’s minds to what bourbon can be. Inspired by his mission, I’ve spent many years working to produce a new bourbon that speaks to this sense of discovery,” said Freddie Noe. “The unexpected addition of brown rice, as well as the toasted barrel finish of Basil Hayden Toast does just that. It delivers an intriguing avenue into the warm and memorable bourbon sipping occasion. I encourage you to raise a toast with friends to this exciting addition to the Basil Hayden family!”

In addition to being the newest permanent expression to join the Basil Hayden portfolio, Basil Hayden Toast marks the debut of a sophisticated, design-forward packaging update for the brand that elevates its most distinctive brand asset – the monogrammed belt. A nod to the metal hoops that encircle bourbon barrels, the belt holds both the physical bottle and liquid stories of Basil Hayden together. This new packaging will be featured across the portfolio, while leaving the liquid inside untouched. As a bourbon beloved for its warm and welcoming characteristics, the new Basil Hayden packaging better reflects the brand personality, inviting others to discover what bourbon can be and the many moments it’s made for.

“As one of the fastest growing super-premium bourbons on the market, Basil Hayden has been quick to respond to the increasing demand for elevated offerings in the bourbon category,” said Jonathan Marks, Senior Brand Director for Global Small Batch Bourbon at Beam Suntory. “The launch of Basil Hayden Toast is a testament to our expanding fan base and an exciting moment in our continued journey to redefine what it means to be a whiskey.”

To celebrate the launch of Toast, Basil Hayden is partnering with contemporary design studio and manufacturer, Fort Standard to help one lucky winner level up their entertaining space with a custom-made oak home bar crafted to show off the new toasted oak bourbon. For more information on how to enter for a chance to win, please follow @basilhaydens on Instagram.

Basil Hayden Toast is now available in the United States at a suggested retail price of $49.99/750mL. Enjoyed stirred into your favorite aperitif cocktail, neat or on the rocks, this 80-proof bourbon delivers an intriguing invitation into the warm, refined bourbon sipping occasion to both familiar and new friends.

About Basil Hayden®

Crafted in 1992 by Booker Noe as part of the Small Batch collection, Basil Hayden introduced a more subtle side of bourbon compared to its counterparts. Inspired by bourbons with high-rye mash bills, Booker set out to create a bourbon that would offer an approachable taste profile and defy preconceived bourbon perceptions. Basil Hayden Bourbon welcomes new drinkers into whiskey and showcases new occasions to drink it. Beyond its flagship Basil Hayden Bourbon, the brand has pushed the boundaries of innovation in recent years. These intriguing offerings have included expressions such as Basil Hayden Dark Rye, Basil Hayden 10 Year, the limited time release of Basil Hayden 10 Year Rye Whiskey and Basil Hayden Toast.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands, Suntory whisky Kakubin and Courvoisier cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek, Basil Hayden and Legent bourbon; Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig and Bowmore Scotch whisky; Canadian Club whisky; Hornitos and Sauza tequila; EFFEN, Haku and Pinnacle vodka; Sipsmith and Roku gin; and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

¹ Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, New York International Spirits Competition, Gold (2020)

Blue Run Spirits 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon – Winner of Top Category Prize At the San Francisco World Spirits Competition – Now Available

May 27, 2021 by evebushman

GEORGETOWN, KY. (PRWEB) – A Bourbon treasure hunt is about to commence as Blue Run Spirits unveils its Spring release, which recently won Best in Class and a Double Gold Medal at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon launches today as ten separate limited-edition bottlings from ten different barrels, each hand numbered to denote the proof, barrel number and bottling date, enticing whiskey sleuths to find the entire collection and whiskey enthusiasts around the country to discover their favorite flavor profile. Each bottle comes in a custom, handmade black lacquered wooden box, adding to the collectability.

The unveiling of Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon comes on the heels of Blue Run’s inaugural release in October of 2020. Blue Run 13-Year-Old Bourbon received exceptional reviews and sold out quickly. With Jim Rutledge as the company’s Liquid Advisor, this new batch of Blue Run will delight Bourbon drinkers around the country. Rutledge is a 50+ year whiskey industry veteran and a managing partner of J.W. Rutledge Distillery.

Each of the ten barrels comes from the same mash bill, same yeast, same still and same warehouse, but how the liquid reacted to the wood and its position in the warehouse can delicately change the characteristics of the whiskey. Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon has the brand’s characteristic smooth and mellow flavor; a long, sweet and dry finish; little to no burn on the back end – even at cask strength – and a long tail.

Between 104 to 150 bottles will be available from each barrel, with the proofs varying from 124 to 132. The secret to which barrel the Bourbon came from can be found on the hand-numbered label, which gives a hint at that whiskey’s particular characteristics and flavor profile:

Barrel #1: Mellow sweet corn and brown sugar apple butter that develops into mellow oak tannins

Barrel #2: Deep chocolate and honey-drenched s’more

Barrel #3: Gorgeous crème brûlée with a burst of dark brown sugar and streaks of ginger

Barrel #4: Creamy toffee with bites of cocoa and black pepper

Barrel #5: Sultry black cherry and oak with clove honey

Barrel #6: Decadent dark chocolate with a marshmallow frame and clove cascade

Barrel #7: Layers of char smoke and rich vanilla wood sugar

Barrel #8: Roasted pecan and nutty campfire smoke

Barrel #9: Spice forward with bold black pepper and baking spices and an herbaceous wrap

Barrel #10: Oak tannin and dark raisin combination with a whip of smoke on the finish

Though each barrel has its own subtle flavor differences, consumers can expect the liquid in each bottle to have a deep glow, streaked with bronze highlights; an alluring aroma of molasses and brown sugar with a toasted, nutty frame that reveals itself around baking spices and cocoa; and a long, sweet and dry finish wrapped in dark cherry highlights.

“This limited-edition, high-proof release offers a uniquely customized experience based upon each whiskey fan’s palate, pairings and passions,” said Mike Montgomery, CEO of Blue Run Spirits. “While a bottle of Blue Run Bourbon will definitely stand out on your bar, it’s the flavor we are most proud of and glad to see experts like the judges at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition agree.”

Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon will be found in May initially in Kentucky, California, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington, DC, as well as online. But here’s the twist: No state will receive bottles from all ten barrels. Each will get up to nine, encouraging collectors to reach out to friends to help amass the entire collection. The product will also be available through Seelbachs.com, with bottles from a different barrel made available every few weeks (but again, with only nine available). Seelbach’s will also offer a very limited number of ten-bottle complete sets.

Blue Run’s latest release will stand out on store shelves due to the modern design by Devon McKinney, the creative mind behind some of the world’s most-sought-after sneakers. The brand’s signature butterfly medallion, a nod to the Commonwealth of Kentucky butterfly the Viceroy, will be matte black on the Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon bottle. This new offering will come housed in a striking, handmade black lacquered display box made of sustainable birch and imprinted with gold leaf.

Blue Run Bourbon will be available at $229.99 SRP. The company’s next release, a 14-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon that also won Best in Class and a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, will be launched this summer, followed by a Gold Medal-winning Rye Whiskey in late summer.

Blue Run Spirits’ distribution partners include Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) in Kentucky; Breakthru Beverage Group in Illinois and Colorado; Savannah Distributing Company in Georgia; Advintage Distributing in South Carolina and Tennessee; Prestige-Ledroit Distributing Co. in Washington D.C., Maryland and Delaware; American Spirits Exchange in California; and Evergreen Beverage Canada in Canada.

Find Blue Run Spirits online at http://www.bluerunspirits.com, and on social media: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT BLUE RUN SPIRITS
Blue Run Spirits is a new kind of spirits company, creating a unique luxury proposition by tapping into the deep heritage and craft that makes a truly great whiskey, then elevating it through a modern design and marketing lens to reach a younger, broader and more diverse whiskey drinker. The company’s founders include a Nike designer, the first director-level employee at Facebook, a hospitality executive, a political advisor, and a philanthropist – all huge whiskey fans and individuals who acutely understand how to build demand and buzz for a contemporary consumer product. They are backed by a team of advisors including Nike marketing experts; the Campari communications veteran behind the US launch of Espolòn Tequila and the Aperol Spritz; a former vice president of innovation from Brown-Forman; a former spirits distributor; and others with deep industry experience. The Blue Run name is a nod to one of our founder’s upbringing in Georgetown, KY, where Bourbon began in the Bluegrass State.

New-To-Me Puncher’s Chance Kentucky Straight Bourbon

May 21, 2021 by evebushman

Bourbon fans unite! No one can argue against the popularity of Bourbon whisky these days, certainly not me. I recently wrote that I prefer Bourbon with dessert after a night of wine. I have my favorites, but love discovering new-to-me Bourbons. And here was my chance in sampling Puncher’s Chance!

Eve’s Tasting Notes

Dark caramel color, with a gamut of aromas (I sampled in a Neat tasting glass) including sweet toasted corn, caramel candy, rich molasses, roasted nuts, golden honey, vanilla bean, milk chocolate, toasted sesame seeds, charred oak, sweet pipe tobacco smoke and no nose burn whatsoever.

Going in for a taste there was a very full mouthfeel, and some burn, with many of the same remarkable notes I found on the nose with the addition of dried red berries, banana and with an unexpected strength. I added a capful of water to see what would happen and found that the aromas, thankfully, were unchanged. The taste benefitted from that small bit of water and softened some of the perceived strength, making this a perfect bourbon to serve on the rocks or a single extra-large rock.

This was a bourbon to linger over. My new What to Drink with What you Eat app (by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page) recommended pairing with chocolate brownies or cheese, which left me with a major craving!

From Puncher’s Chance™ 100% Kentucky Straight Bourbon:

Wolf Spirit Distillery’s newest brand, Puncher’s Chance™, is pure Kentucky Straight Bourbon inspired by two great American traditions: whiskey, and fighting for what we believe in. Famed sports and entertainment announcer Bruce Buffer, also known as the “Voice of Mixed Martial Arts,” explains: “A puncher’s chance means that anyone has the potential to succeed, whatever the odds, if he or she works for it. Being the underdog is often the greatest strength. Puncher’s Chance™ is the bourbon for everyone who believes and lives that credo.”

PUNCHER’S CHANCE ™ BOURBON, for those who believe they can win against all odds.

Where to Find it: As of Jan. 2021, sold in 19 states: AZ, CA, FL, GA, IN, KY, MA, MI, MN, MS, NE, NH, NV, OK, RI, TN, TX, WA, and WI.

Puncher’s Chance™ 90 Proof

Puncher’s Chance™ Kentucky Bourbon is a marriage of 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old Kentucky Straight bourbons. The palate leads with caramel, spicy, slightly sweet, and creamy vanilla notes. The palate shows complex oaky sweetness alongside orange, dark chocolate, leather, and baking spices. The finish is long with sweet maple and sugar notes. Puncher’s Chance™ received a 95-point review from The Tasting Panel in January 2021.

Suggested Retail Pricing: $34.99/750mL

ABV and Proof: 45% and 90

Puncher’s Chance™ Private Barrel Selections

Once in a while a special barrel, with the perfect nose, taste, mouthfeel, and complexity, will be hand selected as a standalone bourbon. Each year we find a limited amount of these unique barrels and offer them to select accounts. Every bottle is customized with the store’s name on an elegant craft label.

Suggested Retail Pricing: $59.99/750mL

ABV and Proof: 57-61% and 115-122

About Wolf Spirit Distillery:

Wolf Spirit Distillery was founded in 2017 by a 17-year veteran of Campari, Umberto Luchini, who – in his late 40s, with his own savings at stake – walked away from his CMO position, hell-bent on upending the system to follow his dream as well as his personal mission to live courageously, honestly, and with great purpose. An initial $1.5M investment converted a laundromat into the distillery, and in its first full year the distillery sold 5K 9L cases across 23 states. The Wolf Spirit portfolio currently comprises Blood x Sweat x Tears Vodka, Tom of Finland Organic Vodka, and Puncher’s Chance™ Bourbon.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Coalition Whiskey Introduces the First 100% Rye Whiskey Finished in Bordeaux Wine Barrels

March 4, 2021 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – A fascinating intersection of traditional hand-crafted American Whiskey and world-renowned French wines is on the horizon with the release of Coalition Whiskey – the first 100% Rye Whiskey finished in hand-selected Bordeaux wine barrels. Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey comes in three separate expressions: Finished in Margaux Barriques (barrels), Pauillac Barriques, and Sauternes Barriques. For those wanting to taste where it all started, Coalition uniquely also offers the original base 100% Rye Whiskey at barrel proof. All expressions became available in the U.S. in January.

Coalition Whiskey is a new brand started by three whiskey fans who form the actual “Coalition:” Leonid Yangarber, former CEO of Russian Standard Vodka USA; Steve Thompson, owner of Kentucky Artisan Distillery; and Ludwig Vanneron, a 20+ year veteran winemaker and global wine consultant. Together, they envisioned a new frontier for the industry using their collective skills to reimagine and elevate super premium whiskey.

The 100% Rye Whiskey in Coalition Whiskey heralds from Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Crestwood, KY. It is created utilizing time-honored, true handcrafting techniques, including zero automation and an all-copper pot still dating back to pre-Prohibition. Attention to detail is paramount at each step in creating the blend of five-year-old Rye Whiskies, including selecting the rye grain from just one mile away from the distillery.

“A 100% Rye Whiskey is a true rarity in the industry,” said Thompson. “While most rye whiskies use malted barley or added corn, Coalition Whiskey is made completely from rye. It’s a more expensive way to go, but there was truly no other way to create that truly deep, rich and spicy flavor we knew would be the ideal match for our velvety Bordeaux wine barrel finishing.”

Vanneron manages the time-consuming process of carefully hand-selecting each wine barrel used for Coalition Whiskey. With his deep relationships with local Bordeaux wine chateaus and cooperages, he knows exactly where to go looking for only the finest barrels. Extensive visual and, more importantly, smell inspections are required to unearth just the right Margaux and Pauillac red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot) and Sauternes white sweet/dessert wine (Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc) barrels.

“It took the inspection of nearly 150 barrels just to find the perfect 25 we are using to finish our Rye Whiskey,” said Vanneron. “You have to first start with the best, most voluptuous wines from the finest chateaus in all of France to get the best possible barrels for Coalition Whiskey. Following up to nine months of finishing, each barrel from the separate Bordeaux wine appellations enhances the whiskey in a different, intriguing way.”

Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Margaux Barriques (90.8 proof) features delicate and gentle flavors of red fruit and floral aromas. Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Pauillac Barriques (92.6 proof) delivers rich flavors of black fruit and spice, with an exceptionally long tail. Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Sauternes Barriques (94.2 proof) captures rounded, velvety flavors of dried fruit and honey with an engaging sweet spice.

“Our goal with Coalition Whiskey is to coax even more flavor out of our 100% Rye Whiskey,” said Yangarber. “A keen understanding of the science behind Rye Whiskey served as the foundation for this grand experiment. From there, we could use our deep wine knowledge to pick just the perfect Bordeaux wine barrels to gently enhance the handcrafted whiskey. This is a deep, rich Rye Whiskey like you have never before tasted.”

The original, base Rye Whiskey is also offered to whiskey aficionados at full barrel strength (108.8 proof), allowing for side-by-side sampling to clearly identify how each Bordeaux barrel enhances the base spirit.

Coalition Whiskey comes packaged in an Art Deco-inspired ridged glass bottle echoing the cut crystal decanters made famous during the 1920s – Rye Whiskey’s heyday. It is crowned with a glass domed closure and accentuated with 18k gold accents, providing a hint to the precious liquid contained within.

Each Coalition Whiskey barrel finished expression retails at $90 MSRP. The barrel-proof whiskey retails at $130 MSRP. Coalition Whiskey can be found at fine whiskey stores in New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, Kentucky, Illinois and Colorado, as well as online at https://www.coalitionwhiskey.com. The company plans to explore additional barrel finishes in the near future.

Follow Coalition Whiskey on Instagram and Facebook.

About Coalition Whiskey
Coalition Whiskey was created when three whiskey fans had a radical thought: what if we found the absolute best wine barrels from world-renowned chateaus in Bordeaux – arguably the most famous wine region on the planet – and used them to draw even more flavor out of their favorite brown spirit. The result is Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Margaux Barriques, Pauillac Barriques and Sauternes Barriques. The “Coalition” is Leonid Yangarber, former CEO of Russian Standard Vodka USA; Steve Thompson, owner of Kentucky Artisan Distillers; and Ludwig Vanneron, a 20+ year veteran winemaker and global wine consultant. Together, they envisioned a new frontier for the industry using their collective skills to reimagine and elevate whiskey.

Judith Hollis Jones Named New President of Les Dames d’Escoffier International

November 29, 2020 by evebushman

LOUISVILLE, KY. (PRWEB) – Les Dames d’Escoffier announces its new president for the 2020 – 2021 year, Judith Hollis-Jones. The announcement was made at the 2020 LDEI Conference, which took place virtually on Oct. 17.

Hollis-Jones steps into the role as Beverly Shaffer, owner of Cook. Write Travel. Repeat, a culinary consulting company, transitions into the position of Immediate Past President. In her new role, Hollis-Jones will lead Les Dames d’Escoffier International’s more than 2,400 women leaders and luminaries in the food, beverage and hospitality industries, on its mission to support its members and mentor others in the industry through education and philanthropy.

Prior to her appointment as president, Hollis-Jones served on the LDEI board as First Vice President, overseeing sponsorship and partner development. Hollis-Jones also is a founding member and board member of Les Dames d’Escoffier’s Kentucky Chapter.

“LDEI’s members are some of the smartest, most inspiring women in our industries and it’s my privilege to lead this organization – even through a pandemic – as we work to support our industries through education, philanthropy and friendship,” said Hollis-Jones.

Hollis-Jones brings decades of experience to her new role, including executive roles in supply chain management for large multinational food companies including YUM Brands and Wendy’s International. She established her consulting company, Hollis Jones & Associates, in 2009, to help guide companies in achieving their business goals. Hollis-Jones also is a founding partner of Buzzard’s Roost Spirits, a Kentucky whiskey company launched in 2019.

While her career has been at the intersection of food and drink, Hollis- Jones also has been active in industry organizations, including the Global Supply Chain Forum of The Ohio State University, Arizona State University’s Center for Advanced Purchasing Study, and recently, the Kentucky Distillers Association. Her community involvement includes serving as President of the Louisville Jazz Society, board member of the Columbus (OH) Jazz Orchestra, board member of the Louisville Visual Arts Association, and member of Bourbon Women.

LDEI is an international organization of women leaders who create a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in the food, beverage and hospitality fields. To do this, 2,400 members in 43 chapters worldwide provide leadership, educational opportunities and philanthropy within their communities. For more information, visit LDEI.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Linked-in and Twitter.

Jaw Dropping Results Breaking for BTI’s 2020 Whisk(e)y Awards

September 16, 2020 by evebushman

CHICAGO /PRNewswire/ — Beverage Testing Institute, conductors of the oft-imitated first international spirits competition in the United States, has completed its evaluation of 2020’s Best Whiskies. Twenty-one all-trade blind tasting panels assessed the spirited contenders for quality in the BTI Lab using its proprietary methodology and custom software.

From small US artisans, to Canadian distilleries, to Kentucky powerhouses, here are some of the best of category winners:

Colorado’s Old Elk Distillery came out with gloves on. The 15-year Old Elk Straight Rye and Old Elk Straight Wheat dressed to impress winning Gold and leading their categories. The secret to Old Elk’s success? We think it’s likely the combo of the lifetime experience of Master Distiller Greg Metze (38 years at Seagram’s Distillery) and the exceptional palate of Head Distiller Kate Douglas.

Also, from the “The Centennial State”, the Boulder Bottled-In-Bond American Single Malt from Vapor Distillery set the bar for what ASMW can produce with its 95-point, Gold Medal winning, liquid treasure. Nods to The QuintEssential ASMW from Iowa’s Cedar Ridge Distillery for a great showing as well at 93 points.

For the Blended Rye Whiskey category, Utah’s High West Double Rye! received a golden accolade solidifying its place as a bar and consumer top-performer.

Rye Whiskey craft dominators Old Potrero from California and Evanston Illinois’ FEW Rye Whiskey excelled at 94 and 92 points, respectively. And Kentucky stalwart, Wild Turkey Rye 101 shined as an expert expression of the Rye persuasion.

There’s no denying that there’s something about that Kentucky limestone-filtered, “branch” water… The big winner was Kentucky scion Doc Swinson’s 15 Year Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which grabbed the only BTI Platinum Medal—the beverage world’s ultimate honor for a spirits brand.

Heavy-medal-laden Kentucky distillery, Sazerac belted out some big Bourbon anthems. Their Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel, Weller Full Proof and Stagg Jr. all hit 95-point high notes.

The Knob Creek 12-Year-Old 100 Proof Bourbon from Clermont Kentucky’s legendary Jim Beam Distillery not only proved that it provides great bang for the buck, but with an sensational 95-point score, will make your taste buds sing.

Flavored Whiskey nods go to the Michigan craftsmen at Journeyman Distillery for their 92-point Field Rye Fig Flavored Whiskey and the from-left-field, only-in-America Skrewball Peanut Butter Flavored Whisky, which are both delicious and far more than just guilty pleasures.

For the full list of BTI’s 2020 North American Whiskey Results visit their free consumer buying guide Tastings.com: http://www.tastings.com/Calendar-Spirits/Review-2020-09-01-North-American-Whiskey.aspx

Across the pond in the World Whiskey Review a record 7 Platinum BTI Medals were awarded to Midleton, Redbreast, Jameson and Kavalan this year. Kavalan from Taiwan shows off its whisky finishing and how their liquid gold and barrels benefit from the region’s warmer temperatures.

Do you know about Jameson’s Bow Street 18 Year Old Cask? It made our judges’ knees buckle as they fell in love with it. At 96 points, gifting this beaut will ensure that your in-laws write you into their will.

Midleton’s Dair Ghaelackh Knockrath may be difficult for Americans to pronounce but even harder to put down. Savory, warming and a spiritual experience. Consistently golden Aberlour grabs 5 gold medals.

On our radar, newcomer Archie Rose from Australia will be a collector’s dream whiskey as we suspect the brand grow and get better and better and better. Slightly peated Irish Blended Whiskey The Legendary Silkie is highly recommended.

The takeaways?

No matter the size of the budget of the consumer, delicious North American drams are plentiful.
Digging for gold? Get lucky in Kentucky.
Ready to venture beyond the bluegrass state? Craft distilleries Journeyman and FEW deliver and show that craft spirits producers have truly honed their technique and distilling skills.
Learn to leave the Steakhouse Single Malts to the uninspired. Instead try Aberlour, the malt of the individual.
And if you do have some extra dough to dish out for some quality whiskies—our results show, they should be Irish.

For a full list of BTI’s 2020 World Whiskey Review along with detailed tasting notes and cocktail recommendations visit: http://www.tastings.com/Calendar-Spirits/Review-2020-08-01-Scotch-Irish-and-World-Whiskey.aspx

About BTI: Beverage Testing Institute was founded in 1981 with the mission of making the beverage industry better, one brand at a time. Creators of the first international spirits competition in the U.S. they have a rotating monthly category call for their unbiased, professional published reviews. For more information about BTI’s reviews, competitions and other services visit: www.bevtest.com

Vintage Eve Circa Oct 2017: Live at Whisky Live LA 2017

June 30, 2020 by evebushman

Thrilled to attend Whisky Live LA this past October with my husband Eddie, I found many new spirits beyond single malt whisky to sample and met up with many whisky people that I’ve seen enough times now to call friends.

Newcomer Brenne Whisky from France, and fellow wine/spirits writer Judi Laing.

If you don’t have time to read this article you can view 18 of my pictures in two little grids here. This caption on one of the photos will tell you a little of how much fun there was to be had, “Ran into lots of pals from LA Scotch Club, LA Wine Writers, That Boutique-y Whisky Company, JVS Wines Import, Inc. and dead center is SENIOR WHISKY MASTER STEPHEN BEAL. OMG I met him at the end of the night, in the VIP lounge, where I almost didn’t get in…but you can see how welcoming Stephen looks! If you don’t know him Google him. He has built up an AMAZING wealth of knowledge spanning decades. I had just read an article about him in Artisan Spirit Magazine. — with Monique Huston, Ries Michael, Kerry Moynahan, Chris Uhde and Judi Laing.”

Let’s Begin

Treated to VIP tickets we had early access to whisky sampling, a very nice VIP Experience Area, souvenir etched crystal tasting glasses, a full-sized event program with articles, a dinner buffet that included many items made with whisky and even some nice live entertainment.

What We Tasted

From this VIP Pour List below, many were also available in the main tasting area. I will bold the ones that I had time to taste (at this event and/or previous events) and enjoyed.

Glenfarcias 25 Years
Al Young 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch
2017 Limited Edition Four Roses Small Batch – ranked 96 points by Fred Minnick
Evan Williams Single Barrel – limited special Whisky Magazine bottling
Breckenridge Dark Arts Malt Whisky
Garryana Single Malt by Westland Distillery
Aberfeldy 21
Bladnoch Talia 25 Year Old Port Pipe Finish
Master’s Keep Decades
Glen Grant 18 years
Four Roses Single Barrel – limited Whisky Magazine bottling – Al Young Celebration
Maker’s Mark Private Selections
Woodford Single Barrel Special Selections by Whisky LIVE
Kentucky Peerless Single Barrel
Brenne 10
Johnnie Walker Blue
Old Forester 1920
Tobermory 21 years
Deanston 20 years
Jack Daniel’s #27 Australia Exclusive – Double Matured in Maple Barrels
– (Australia/Euro-Asia Duty Free Exclusive)

The Main Arena Tasting (all listed here are the ones I was lucky enough to taste, maybe one third of what was available!)

The Spirit of Mulholland Distilling had a tasty gin distilled from corn; Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company had a bourbon and rye, Kavalan single malt both the sherry and bourbon oak finishes; Nikka Coffee Malt Whisky; Old Portrero straight rye; everything I sampled from That Boutique-y Whisky Company*; Johnnie Walker Blender’s Batch 10-year-old; everything from Balcones distillery in Texas that included Baby Blue made from roasted blue corn, Rumble made from wildflower honey, turbinado sugar and mission fig spirit that was more spice than it was sweet, their Texas Single Malt and Brimstone which is labeled as Texas Scrub Oak Smoked Whisky; Mixwell ginger ale; Widow Jane’s lineup that were all made with “pure limestone mineral water from the Widow Jane mine in Rosendale, NY” and included a whiskey distilled from rye mash aged in American oak, another whiskey aged in oak and apple wood, a 10-year-old straight bourbon; then I got a totally different nose and flavor in the sweet Brenne 10-year-old that had been finished in cognac barrels; Peerless Kentucky straight rye whiskey; Few Rye Whiskey and finally, Deanston 20-year-old single malt.

*The event actually also had several classes concurrent with the tasting. I was able to snag a seat in one, led by Monique Huston who I had met earlier this year at the Nth show. She had a line-up of whisky that were not only new for me that I had never seen or tasted before, they were also rare. Stop in on this site next week to see the story on “That Boutique-y Whisky Company” U.S. launch.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.