Eve's Wine 101

The New Irish Whiskey Disruptor: Introducing The Busker

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) – The Busker Irish Whiskey is proud to announce the U.S. launch of their innovative line of Irish Whiskeys, an adventurous and modern take on the category. While The Busker honors its Irish heritage, it encourages consumers to go beyond the limitations and lines of history with its four new Irish Whiskeys, including a Single Grain, Single Pot Still, Single Malt and Triple Cask Triple Smooth Blend. The Busker is perfect for urban wanderers, for those who are flavor-curious, eager for inspiration and a quality Irish whiskey like no other. It sides with innovation way beyond its production process; it reimagines a new generation of American whiskey drinkers.

Carefully crafting an independent path to an authentic and high-quality Irish whiskey, The Busker balances tradition with innovative and modern techniques. The Busker uses different casks during the maturation process including bourbon casks, sherry casks, and marsala casks. A major point of differentiation for The Busker takes place during the aging process where the blend, Triple Cask Triple Smooth, and Single Grain expressions mature in rare hand selected Sicilian Marsala wine casks from Cantine Florio (1833), one of the oldest wineries of the south of Italy.

“We take the rich history and heritage of Irish distillation and combine it with innovation and creativity at our state-of-the-art Royal Oak Distillery,” says Woody Kane, Royal Oak Distillery Ambassador. “Not only is The Busker offering a beautiful range of whiskeys with fantastic quality that we stand behind, we are adding a product unlike anything else to the marketplace. The Busker is a great whiskey to drink with friends while we come together and share our stories.”

The Busker includes all four types of Irish whiskeys (Single Grain, Single Pot Still, Single Malt and Blend), all produced under one roof at the world-class Royal Oak Distillery. The Distillery is proudly located on an 18th century estate in the Ancient East region in County Carlow:

The Busker Blend – Triple Cask Triple Smooth combines the Single Grain with a high percentage of the Single Malt and Single Pot whiskeys. Matured and finished in three different casks (Bourbon, Sherry, Marsala), this whiskey brings a new meaning of smoothness to Irish Whiskey. The Busker Single Collection is represented by the three traditional Irish Whiskeys (Single Grain, Single Pot Still and Single Malt). Each whiskey boasts an unmistakable taste profile, with nuances ranging from vanilla and oak, to rich spicy notes.

Looking to challenge the historically traditional muted and dark tones of the Irish Whiskey category, The Busker leverages the power of its bright and bold packaging to inject modernity and disrupt old world expressions. User-friendly and easy to hold, the bottle’s packaging showcases a simple, sleek screen print design. With large fonts and pops of color, the aesthetically ripped label elicits a boldness and ruggedness intriguing to all whiskey drinkers.

To enjoy the full Irish Whiskey experience, The Busker Blend – Triple Cask Triple Smooth’s suggested retail price is $24.99 and the Single Grain, Single Malt and Single Pot Still suggested retail prices are $29.99. The Busker is available nationwide and online. Ask your closest retailer and visit our website http://www.TheBusker.com.

About The Busker

The Busker is a “new to world” Irish Whiskey that is born out of a modern Ireland, where the contemporary and bold meet at the crossroads of tradition. The Busker is produced at the Royal Oak Distillery, in County Carlow, Ireland, located on an 18th century estate in Ireland’s Ancient East region. It is the only distillery in Ireland which offers all three classic Irish styles of whiskey – Single Grain, Single Malt & Single Pot Still, which make The Busker Single Collection. The Busker portfolio also includes The Busker Blend which is a beautiful blend of The Single Collection. The Busker uses different casks during the maturation process of their whiskeys including Bourbon casks, Sherry casks and Marsala casks.

PURITY IS THE HIGHEST RATED ORGANIC DISTILLERY IN THE WORLD BASED ON TASTE

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Hundreds of judges and industry experts across the globe blind-tasted Purity Vodka, Purity Spritz, and Purity Gin. The results coming out of multiple prestigious competitions were remarkably consistent, GOLD.

Master Blender Mathias Tonnesson and Master Distiller Stefan Magnusson

ULTIMATE SPIRIT CHALLENGE RESULTS

INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE RESULTS

INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRITS CHALLENGE

“It is humbling and gratifying to watch so many experts choose Purity completely based on taste,” said Master Blender Mathias Tönnesson. “It takes extra time, care, and attention to source superior ingredients then carefully distill them, it’s reassuring when others recognize the Purity taste shining through.” 

Mathias continues,” We distill our spirit very, very slowly, many times, in a specially designed copper still. It can be compared to when you slowly cook your food at a low temperature. It brings the most taste, character, and depth to the spirit and it’s a process that other brands don’t bother with. For Purity, every step matter because the taste matters. Our goal is to make the best tasting spirit in the world and make products we are proud to sell and to serve to our family and friends.

Our main ingredients, Swedish wheat, and malted barley are carefully selected without any chemical cultivation or processing. We believe that by using organic ingredients it creates a much better-tasting spirit, and of course, is better for mother nature. We also value the quality of the water that we use and believe it’s crucial to the taste. Most brands use only distilled water, which removes any of the natural nuances, sediments, and flavors that help bring out the complexity of the vodka. At Purity, we use naturally soft Swedish water, and as a result, it blends with the other ingredients creating a complex, characterful, and truly unique spirit.”

PURITY CONNOISSEUR 51 RESERVE ORGANIC VODKA

For more information please visit www.PurityDistillery.com

Vintage Eve Circa May 2018: Virtual Visit to Hennessy Cognac Via Universal Whisky Experience

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This is my last article on the recent Universal Whisky Experience that I attended this past April in Las Vegas. Night one was the grand tasting and day two was the master classes. Last week I shared what I learned about the Oban Distillery. Today we depart whisky and enter the world of Cognac, with none other than a distillery that has been around longer than the U.S.: Hennessy.

We would get a lesson, a tasting, and in a shift to the unexpected: craft a couple of cocktails ourselves. Cocktails that proved to have been around longer than most.

The Lesson

Cognac began on a ship, according to my classmate and LA Scotch Club member Marshall Naiman, who, when asked shared a little story about how some wine had been damaged by heat but in the end became the start of Cognac.

Hennessy began before the U.S. was a nation, back in Napoleon’s time, founded by Richard Hennessy and master blender John Fillioux. Two families that to this day still work together at Hennessy. More tidbits of info:

  • Cognac can only be made in the cognac region of France.
  • Uni Blanc, a not-so-great table wine, is the perfect grape to make Cognac from, and comprises 95-98% of Cognac’s vineyards.
  • Hennessy makes about 50% of all of Cognac’s distribution.
  • When a master blender begins work at Hennessy, he is not allowed to speak for ten years during his training.
  • Cognac is aged 40 to 60 years – then comes blending.
  • They have 350 thousand casks.
  • The tasting committee meets every day at 11am.

The Tasting

We had both the X.O. and the VSOP, alone and in cocktails. Tasting alone on the VSOP I got notes of caramel, cream and toasted marshmallow while others in the class also noted apricot, spicy dried fruit, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and honey.

For the X.O we noted a “dark mahogany color due to more oak time that also rounded out the flavor.” The class consensus on the tasting included notes of candied oranges and molasses” while I got dark and dusty flavors and a mouth coating viscosity. An extremely long finish gave off flavors of “dried prunes, plums, chocolate and spice.” We tried the X.O on ice as well, ice that had been flown in from Miami and had zero minerals or chemicals. The ice “softens the flavor, aromas and alcohol” making the Cognac easily approachable to all.

The Cocktails

The first cocktail book published included a recipe from 1850 for the “Hennessy Brandy Cocktail.” We got to make both the French 75 Champagne Cocktail and a Sazerac. While we juggled bar spoons, jiggers, mixing glasses, lemons, bitters, simple syrup, and were given glasses freshly rinsed with Absinthe I thought, heck, I could get used to this. Hennessy is definitely going to be a spirit to explore more of.

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

Purity Connoisseur 51 Reserve Wins Title “Best Tasting Organic Spirit In The World”

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ELLINGE CASTLE, Sweden, PRNewswire — On behalf of the Purity family we are honored to be awarded a score of 96 out of 100 and the Extraordinary Ultimate Recommendation from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC). Purity was also named a Top 100 Spirit in the world, the only organic spirit to receive such honor.

Purity Connoisseur 51 Reserve is made from natural ingredients, its prize-winning flavors come from the combination of organic barley and wheat, distilled slowly with low heat multiple times. The heart of Purity Connoisseur 51 Reserve is distilled 51 times to maximize flavor as well as smoothness. As a family owned, craft, organic distillery we are so pleased when consumers and critics alike praise Purity for its quality versus more industrial producers.

Over the years, Purity Vodka has dominated the worlds blind tasting competitions, taking home a record number of highly sought-after awards, including being named as “Best Organic Vodka in the World 2019” by The International Spirit Challenge, and “World´s best Vodka” by the international Wine and Spirit competition 2017, and now the “Best Tasting Organic vodka” by USC simply because of its incomparable taste.

Mathias Tönnesson, Master Blender at Purity Distillery says: “Our main ingredients, Swedish wheat and malted barley, are carefully selected without any chemical cultivation or processing. We believe that by using organic ingredients it creates a much better tasting vodka, and of course, is better for the environment. We also value the quality of the water that we use and believe it’s crucial to the taste. Most brands use only distilled water, which removes any of the natural nuances, sediments and flavors that help bring out the complexity of the vodka. At Purity, we use naturally soft Swedish water, and as a result, it blends with the other ingredients creating a complex, characterful and truly unique spirit.”

The results are instantly apparent – compared to the giant industrial processes of competitors, Purity Connoisseur 51 Reserve Organic Vodka is unique in flavor and smoothness. The flavor is clean and crisp with a slight peppery note; and the finish comes with zero burns.

Purity Connoisseur 51 Reserve Organic Vodka is certified organic, kosher, and crafted free from gluten and is available for a suggested retail price of $27.99 per 750ml bottle.

For more information, please visit www.puritydistillery.com

ABOUT PURITY DISTILLERY
At the Swedish family-owned Purity Distillery we only have one motivation – to produce the best tasting spirits imaginable. It’s a simple statement that is very difficult to achieve. For the last decade every decision is based on that one criteria. From choosing the best organic ingredients and mineral-rich soft natural water, to spending years refining our unique distillation process. Every step matter, because the taste matters. That’s all that counts.

Grace O’Malley Premium Blended Irish Whiskey Launches In U.S. Market

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Grace O’Malley, Ireland’s premium whiskey and spirits brand is proud to announce the launch of their flagship whiskey, Grace O’Malley Blended Irish Whiskey into the U.S. market. Honored to be the first Irish whiskey named after a woman, Grace O’Malley Blended Irish Whiskey is dedicated to the legendary 16th Century Irish Pirate Queen. In addition to whiskey, consumers can also experience a taste of Ireland with Grace O’Malley’s handcrafted Heather Infused Irish Gin.

“We are very excited to share the story of Grace O’Malley with the U.S. market through our premium whiskeys. Far from ordinary like the whiskey itself, Grace O’Malley was a fearless seafarer who broke with the conventions of her time,” said Stephen Cope, Founder and Managing Director of Grace O’Malley Spirits.

Boasting one of the highest malt contents in the blended whiskey category at 46%, Grace O’Malley’s premium whiskey excites the senses and provides a smooth complexity never before tasted. Each of Grace O’Malley’s fine spirits are distilled at The Great Northern Distillery. It is in this center of whiskey excellence that Grace O’Malley’s Master Blender, Paul Caris, together with Master Distillers of The Great Northern Distillery bring the magic to Grace O’Malley Whiskey from distilling to blending and cask management. Paul Caris, former winemaker and Bordeaux-Native, brings an impeccable palate and years of experience to Grace O’Malley as Master Blender.

“We are honored to be working with Paul Caris and the passion, curiosity, and knowledge he brings to the Grace O’Malley premium spirits portfolio as our Master Blender,” added Cope.

This special blend combines whiskies with age statements that range from three to ten years old. Each batch of whiskey is then matured in a range of barrels, including French Oak, ex-Bourbon, and ex-Rum casks, hand-selected by Master Blender, Paul Caris. The resulting blend delivers a whiskey perfectly balanced between flavor, age character, complexity, and smoothness.

The suggested retail price (SRP) for Grace O’Malley Blended Irish Whiskey is $36.99 and $36.99 for the Heather Infused Irish Gin. Grace O’Malley Spirits are widely distributed in Europe and currently imported in the U.S. by MHW. Grace O’Malley Whiskey is now available at leading off-premise accounts in the U.S. including Simply Wine in New York City with information available on SevenFifty. From the west coast of Ireland to rebel hearts around the world: visit http://graceomalleywhiskey.com for more information and join the conversation at @graceomalleyspirits.

About Grace O’Malley Spirits
As a fast-growing Irish spirits company, Grace O’Malley excites the senses with their premium blended whiskey, boasting one of the highest malt contents in the blended whiskey category at 46% and providing for a smooth complexity never before tasted. Each of Grace O’Malley’s fine spirits are distilled at The Great Northern Distillery. It is in this center of whiskey excellence that Grace O’Malley’s Master Blender, Paul Caris, together with Master Distillers of The Great Northern Distillery bring the magic to Grace O’Malley Whiskey from distilling to blending and cask management. In addition to whiskey, experience the taste of Ireland with Grace O’Malley’s crafted Heather Infused Irish Gin: a traditional-style gin made with modern distilling techniques to capture the native flavors of Ireland. Grace O’Malley Spirits is a collaborative venture between Co. Mayo businessman Stephen Cope, Irish marketing expert Jeff Burns, and brand building entrepreneurs, Stefan Hansen and Hendrick Melle, based in Berlin.

Milam and Greene Whiskey Wins Double Gold

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BLANCO, TEXAS (PRWEB) – Milam & Greene Whiskey was recognized as a producer of the finest whiskies in the world with two Double Gold medals bestowed by the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Milam & Greene Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Casks won a Double Gold in its first year on the market, and Ben Milam Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon has been recognized with a Gold or Double Gold medal for three years in a row.

e 20th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the world’s largest competition of its kind, with almost 3,000 entries and judges from all over the world. The 51 judges of the 2020 Competition are well known spirits-industry experts who evaluate entries in blind tasting formats. The Double Gold designation is awarded when every judge on the panel declares the entry as a Gold Medal winner. Only a very select few of the finest products in the world ever earn this recognition.

“The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is considered to be the most influential spirits competition in the world and is a clear endorsement for whiskey drinkers to know that our bourbon and rye are among the best on the shelves today,” says Heather Greene, CEO and master blender of Provision Spirits, makers of Milam & Greene Whiskey and Ben Milam Whiskey. “We believe that our combined 58-years of whiskey-making among us and innovative approach in the independent whiskey space creates some of the finest American Whiskeys available.”

The Milam & Greene Whiskey team distills both in their hometown of Blanco, Texas and in master distiller Marlene Holmes’s home state of Kentucky. Milam & Greene Whiskey casks, grains and people come from all over America. In addition to distilling on-site and off site, the team blends, batches, sources, finishes, and hand-bottles. In 2020, the team will be sending casks to various parts of the US to study the effects of U.S. geography on whiskey. The team plans to sell its award-winning bottles across the nation in the coming months.

“We think of Milam and Greene as a truly American Whiskey experience strengthened by our renegade Texas heart,” says master distiller, Marlene Holmes.

The Blanco, Texas based Milam & Greene Whiskey distillery has currently turned its attention to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic by producing hand sanitizer for the healthcare community and first responders. In addition, it is supporting local charities and providing assistance to service industry employees directly impacted by the closure of bars and restaurants.

About the Whiskies

  • Milam & Greene Port Finished Straight Rye Whiskey is a gorgeous ruby colored whiskey with luscious aromas of cinnamon, chocolate, and dark fruits such as black currants and blackberries. Robust flavors are carried in a rich, velvety whiskey with a long warm finish. Casks are brought from Indiana to Texas where they are first batched in the Blanco rickhouse and then finished in old Port wine casks from Portugal. The casks are meticulously curated, vatted for consistency, and monitored for flavor. The Texan sun and varied humidity levels influence the rate and strength of flavor imparted into the 94-proof whiskey, making this a tricky whiskey to produce.
  • The Ben Milam Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon is an expertly batched combination of aged Tennessee whiskeys that sparkle with notes of toffee, candied nuts, oak, and baking spices. It is a rich and complex Bourbon bottled at cask strength, 114.6 proof, allowing whiskey fans an opportunity to play with water and ice to find the perfect balance for their palates.

Pricing and Availability
Milam & Greene Whiskey is soon to be distributed nationally and is currently distributed statewide in Texas at the finest liquor stores and at the distillery itself. Milam & Greene Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Casks retails for a suggested retail price of $47.99, while the Ben Milam Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon is available for a suggested retail price of $79.99. Find the nearest retailer with https://milamandgreenewhiskey.com/find-our-whiskies/.

About Provision Spirits
Provisions Spirits was founded in 2017 and produces both the flagship brand of Milam & Greene Whiskey and Ben Milam Whiskey. The distillery is led by an all-star team of whiskey experts with more than 58 years of American whiskey making experience including CEO, partner and master blender, Heather Greene, veteran Kentucky master distiller Marlene Holmes and chief brewer Jordan Osborne. Provision Spirits Milam & Greene is named for the partnership formed between Texas entrepreneur Marsha Milam and whiskey expert Heather Greene. Provision Spirits believes brilliance in independent whiskey making requires the integration of the highest quality distilling, aging, blending, batching, proofing, sourcing, finishing and bottling practices to achieve complexity and balance to please the most demanding palate. For more information visit: http://www.milamandgreenewhiskey.com.

CELEBRATING THE 10th ANNUAL ULTIMATE WHISKY AND SPIRITS EXPERIENCE -NTH 2020 APRIL 24 – 25, AT WYNN LAS VEGAS

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The Universal Whisky Experience presents to you the Nth 2020, the World’s Premier Luxury Whisky and Spirits Experience. Hosted at The Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, this master event showcases the best brands of both whiskies and spirits from all over the world. We are the only event in the world where you get to sample the most premium, rare, unique and expensive whiskies and spirits from all the major houses worldwide.

Celebrating a milestone year with its 10th Anniversary celebrations at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, you will find an experience to deliciously overwhelm your tasting senses. Indulge in exceptional whisky tasting opportunities, mingle with master distillers, blenders and mixologists and learn more about the whisky and spirits world in the most unique event of its kind.

Universal Whisky Experience and the Nth –founded By Mahesh Patel back in 2011 is excited to bring this event to Wynn Las Vegas as a reflection of the past 10 years and the amazing journey it has been for us all. Showcasing some of the world’s Most Expensive Bottles, Unique Master Classes, Luxurious settings and meeting new great friends. The Nth 2020 Experience will be the start to a new revolution in Whisky and Spirits Tasting around the globe.

Come celebrate with us and walk down memory lane enjoying our Amazing Journey since 2011 –https://universalwhiskyexperience.com/amazing-journey/

The Nth has a reputation for curating unforgettable experiences for whiskey aficionados. “This year we have raised the bar. We have sourced a selection of the world’s most expensive and rare whiskies for tasting. We are also introducing new events, dinners and sessions to the schedule that will truly wow our guests” says Patel.

This years’ experience will include a few surprises:

  • Start of the Tenth Anniversary Celebration Special Master Classes
  • High Roller Lounge Featuring the most exclusive super pours for tasting
  • Showcasing world’s most expensive bottlings from all over the WORLD
  • Grand Finale with over 200 whiskies and spirits under 1 roof at the Nth Main tasting event

Guests can enjoy a menu of exclusive experiences, including:

  • The rare “Super Pours” representing whiskies and spirits valued at more than$300 a dram
  • A stroll-around tasting featuring the world’s most distinguished and coveted whiskies and spirits
  • Direct access to meet the makers of the best whiskies and spirits in the world with Exclusive New Launches
  • Wines, Champagne and delicious hors d’oeuvres

Two experience levels are available to purchase:

  • High Roller Experience –Friday, April 24 – Saturday April 25, 2020

The premium package includes exclusive access to all show events and tastings including: High Roller Lounge featuring exclusive High Roller Super Pours, Private Events with other High Rollers, One-on-one meetings with brand ambassadors, The Nth main tasting event, Master Classes, Dinner Reception, High Roller Gift bag, cigars and more…

Purchase Tickets here:

https://universalwhiskyexperience.com/high-roller-ticket-2020/

  • Connoisseur Experience – Saturday April 25, 2020

Guests seeking a high-touch experience with a few extra indulgences without going over the top will enjoy the Nth main tasting event, tasting all Whiskies and other Fine spirits, Super pours, hors d’oeuvres, and receive a cut crystal Glencairn tasting glass.

Purchase Tickets here:

https://universalwhiskyexperience.com/connoisseur-experience-ticket-2020/

2019 Texas Whiskey Festival Set For April 19

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AUSTIN, Texas (PRWEB) – The Texas Whiskey Festival has announced the date and venue for its second annual event: April 19th at the Star Hill Ranch near Bee Cave Texas. The event provides a casual and informative opportunity for whiskey enthusiasts to meet Texas’ master blenders and distillers, while enjoying an evening of food, entertainment and cigar pairings designed to complement the craft whiskey brands showcased at the event.

“Last year’s inaugural event was such a success that we outgrew our venue – so we’re hosting this year’s Festival at the much larger Star Hill Ranch outside of Bee Cave, Texas,” said event co-founder Jake Clements. “This amazing venue is a classic old west town that’s served as a set for Hollywood films, and its main street and many air-conditioned buildings provide the perfect setting for the food, music, and of course the whiskey that we’ll present and share with all in attendance.”

The Texas Whiskey Festival is a fun and entertaining event that lets whiskey enthusiasts meet the distillers and master blenders who are making Texas’ best spirits. The evening provides a perfect setting for educating whiskey lovers and introducing them to not only top-shelf whiskeys produced throughout the State, but also to a handful of participating wineries. Extensive food selections, cigar pairings and live entertainment are sure to make the 2019 event memorable for whiskey enthusiasts and also for the state’s most innovative distillers.

Click here for Ticket information.

Event founders are pleased to announce that a number of favorite distilleries are participating, including: Still Austin Whiskey Co; Andalusia Whiskey Co; Balcones Distilling; Treaty Oak Distilling; 1876 Bourbon; Yellow Rose Distilling; and Garrison Brothers. Details on new and additional distilleries will be made available in the weeks ahead, and distilleries interested in participating are invited to contact: distilleries@txwhiskeyfest.com.

  •     Sponsors interested in interacting with more than 500 attending whiskey enthusiasts can contact: sponsor@txwhiskeyfest.com.
  •     Accommodations are available at the Sonesta Bee Cave, which is partnering with the Festival to offer discounts and group packages for attendees.
  •     Members of the media interested in attending, or being a media partner are encouraged to contact media@txwhiskeyfest.com.

Additional details on sponsors, awards programs, and participating distilleries will be made available via the event’s Facebook page, at facebook.com/TXWhiskeyFest.

About the Texas Whiskey Festival
The mission of the festival is simple: To help promote and enhance the brands of the many great distilleries throughout Texas. Along with promotion, we want to educate whiskey lovers about the many top-of-the-line whiskeys being produced in our great state – and we’re doing it all while having fun, drinking great whiskey, and building memorable experiences. As an organization, we know that Texas has some of the best distilleries and whiskeys in the world. The Texas Whiskey Festival is an opportunity to showcase that. For more information, please visit: https://txwhiskeyfest.com.

Diplomático Rum Named Wine Enthusiast’s “Spirit Brand of the Year”

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Diplomático – a super-premium rum brand renowned for its superior taste, quality and mixability – is honored to announce its win as the Wine Star’s “Spirit Brand of the Year.” Each year, Wine Enthusiast’s distinguished Wine Star Awards recognizes companies and individuals whose vision has impacted the wine and spirits industry. Diplomático is thrilled to be a part of such an esteemed group as the first-ever rum to win this category. Produced by Destilerías Unidas S.A. (DUSA) in Venezuela, Diplomático is an independent, family-owned brand recognized as one of the finest rums in the world.

Jose Rafael Ballesteros, Diplomático’s CEO says, “We are truly humbled by this award as it recognizes our contribution to elevate the rum category and make consumers re-evaluate their perception of rum. This is an ongoing goal as we work toward being not just the best premium rum globally, but also one of the greatest spirits in the world.”

Diplomático’s delicious and distinctive taste profile is the result of a unique rum-making process. The rums are distilled using a rich variety of methods, which allows its award-winning Master Blenders to create exquisite blends, including Reserva Exclusiva, the brand’s flagship sipping rum.

The high quality of Diplomático is upheld by its most valuable resource, its people. The company’s growth has always been alongside its employees and their families, supported by a long-standing commitment to protect the community and ecosystem surrounding the distillery. The company provides sustainable jobs for over 700 workers in Venezuela and has developed strong social programs to improve the quality of life and growth of its human talents while minimizing environmental impact.

“We’re in the midst of a rum revolution,” says Adam Strum, Editor and Publisher, Wine Enthusiast Magazine. “We chose Diplomático Rum for the Wine Star award, not only for its supreme quality but also because we admire their leadership in educating spirits lovers about the ways in which we can mix premium rum, and sip it too. Being a family-owned business ourselves, Diplomático’s commitment to family and work mirrors our philosophy, and we’re excited to welcome Diplomático to the Wine Star Awards family as the first-ever rum to win this award.”

Earlier this year, Diplomático announced E. & J. Gallo Winery as its exclusive U.S. distributor. As both companies embrace the same family and community values, they are excited to continue to grow and leverage each other’s expertise to expand Diplomático’s presence in the U.S. market.

“As their U.S. import partner, we congratulate Diplomático on this well-deserved recognition,” says Ernest Gallo, COO of E. & J. Gallo Winery. “Diplomático represents an important part of our growing luxury spirits portfolio as it transcends the rum category and introduces more premium spirits consumers to all that rum has to offer.”

Wine Enthusiast will officially award Diplomático Rum at the Wine Star Awards Gala on January 29th, 2019 in Miami at the Nobu Eden Roc Hotel.

About Rum Diplomático (http://www.ronDiplomático.com)

Diplomático, a family-owned brand inspired by the character of Don Juan Nieto Melendez, whose portrait is illustrated on its labels, is a premium-and-above rum from Venezuela. Located at the foot of the Andes Mountains, the Diplomático Distillery (producing top-quality spirits since 1959) combines traditional methods with modern technology to produce the finest of rums. The production area boasts great conditions for sugar cane and rum production including fertile lands, abundant water and a tropical weather. The team of award-winning Master Blenders works diligently to create unique and complex rums. The product range consists of the Tradition Range: Planas (aged up to 6 years), Mantuano (aged up to 8 years) and Reserva Exclusiva (aged up to 12 years), and the Prestige Line: Single Vintage and Ambassador, both aged 12 years and finished in Spanish sherry casks for one and two years respectively, and a Special Edition: The Distillery Collection featuring a Single Batch Kettle rum and a Single Barbet column rum.

About E. & J. Gallo Winery

Founded by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo in 1933 in Modesto, California, E. & J. Gallo Winery is the world’s largest family-owned winery and the acclaimed producer of award-winning wines and spirits featured in more than 110 countries around the globe. A pioneer in the art of grape growing, winemaking, sustainable practices, marketing and worldwide distribution, Gallo crafts and imports wines and spirits to suit a diverse range of tastes and occasions, from everyday offerings to boutique, luxury bottlings.

The Gallo portfolio is comprised of more than 100 unique brands, including New Amsterdam Vodka and Gin, Familia Camarena Tequila, RumHaven, Lo-Fi Aperitifs and E&J Brandy and luxury spirits offerings which include California Premium Brandies Argonaut and Germain-Robin, imported Scotch whiskies from Whyte & Mackay, including The Dalmore and Jura Single Malts, Shackleton Blended Malt and John Barr Reserve Blended Scotch and Diplomático Rum. Premium wine offerings include Apothic, Carnivor, Columbia Winery, Ecco Domani, Edna Valley Vineyard, J Vineyards & Winery, Louis M. Martini, MacMurray Estate Vineyards, Orin Swift, Chateau Souverain, Talbott Vineyards, and William Hill Estate, along with highly acclaimed imports, such as Alamos, Brancaia, La Marca, Las Rocas, Martín Códax, Whitehaven, and LUX Wines, importers of Allegrini, Argiano, Jermann, Pieropan and Renato Ratti.

About Wine Enthusiast Magazine

Wine Enthusiast’s approach to wine and spirits is accessible and unpretentious, and enjoyed by novices and experts alike. Published 13 times per year, the magazine’s audience is at nearly one million strong. The magazine and its Buying Guide with more than 200,000 ratings and reviews make up the most comprehensive database in the industry available for free online at http://www.WineMag.com.

The Famous Grouse Launches Bourbon and Ruby Cask

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) – The Famous Grouse is pleased to announce the launch of their Cask Series, a new range of blended whiskies inspired by the impact that oak casks have on the flavor and development of whisky. The Cask Series is designed to showcase a variety of flavors and appeal to a wide range of consumers.

The Famous Grouse Bourbon Cask and Ruby Cask are the first two expressions available in the United States. The blends are the creation of their Master Blender, Kirsteen Campbell, with help from their Master of Wood, Stuart MacPherson. Campbell, who is the Famous Grouse’s first and only female Master Blender, explains, “This is a very exciting moment for The Famous Grouse team as we showcase the impact of wood on the flavor of Scotland’s most loved whisky. The quality of our wood plays an integral part in bringing our products to life. Each cask is unique, bringing something new and different to the spirit.”

The predominance of American oak, including first fill bourbon casks, lends delicious caramel and vanilla notes to the Bourbon Cask blend. For the Ruby Cask, the Famous Grouse blend has been rested in specially selected casks seasoned with Port to add a layer of rich fruitcake sweetness. Master of Wood, Stuart MacPherson, said, “When you compromise on the wood, you compromise on the whisky, so we control the process from the planting of the wood, to the construction of the casks, and finally the seasoning. It’s wonderful to be able to highlight how much casks contribute to the finished character of the whisky through this new range.”

Like its parent blend, the whiskies within The Famous Grouse Cask Series can be enjoyed neat, with a dash of water or in classic cocktails to bring the flavors to life. The Famous Grouse Bourbon Cask and Ruby Cask are now available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $34.99.

About The Famous Grouse
The Famous Grouse is the number one whisky in the UK and number five standard blended whisky worldwide according to the IWSR, 2017. Founded by Matthew Gloag in 1897, The Famous Grouse is the best-selling whisky in Scotland, and exported to over 100 countries.

The Famous Grouse is imported by Edrington, who owns some of the leading Scotch whisky and rum brands in the world, including The Macallan, The Famous Grouse, Highland Park, Cutty Sark, The Glenrothes, Brugal and Snow Leopard Vodka. Edrington Americas added Tequila Partida to its portfolio in 2016. Edrington Americas is headquartered in New York, NY with regional offices in Chicago, Miami and Orange County.

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