Eve's Wine 101

Sidewalk Side Spirits Wants a Bite of the Flavored Whiskey Market

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NEW ORLEANS /PRNewswire/ — Spirits Brand Incubator company, Sidewalk Side Spirits, on the heels of their highly successful launch of their Gambino’s King Cake Rum Cream, announces the creation of Hardhide Ponchatoula Strawberry Whiskey.

Sidewalk Side Spirits to take a bite out of the flavored whiskey market with Hardhide Ponchatoula Strawberry Whiskey

Hardhide Ponchatoula Strawberry Whiskey is a blend of 3-year wheat bourbon, American light whiskey, Cocktail & Son’s Lemon Strawberry Syrup, and fresh Ponchatoula Strawberries. It’s blended at 86 Proof in New Orleans at the Porchjam Distillery. Not an underproof, sugar bomb of artificial flavors like so many others, Hardhide is a flavored whiskey for whiskey lovers. Delicious in Lemonade, on the rocks, or in a Strawberry Old Fashioned, Hardhide makes for a tasty, smooth cocktail. Perfect for home entertaining or any bartender’s tool kit.

“Ponchatoula is known as the Strawberry Capital of the World,” said John Eason, CEO of Sidewalk Side Spirits. “Through our whiskey, we hope to tell the story of this beautiful town known for strawberry farms, the World-Famous Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, and its beloved Alligator named Hardhide, who lives smack dab in the middle of downtown Ponchatoula”.

Hardhide’s beautiful packaging was inspired by a commissioned original painting by renowned New Orleans artist, Frenchy. Frenchy is a fixture in and around New Orleans and famous for his artwork and philanthropy.

Hardhide Ponchatoula Strawberry Whiskey will be distributed by RNDC in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Best Brands will distribute the brand in Tennessee. More states to come online after the next strawberry harvest in Q1 of 2023.

In the spirit of giving back, Sidewalk Side Spirits will form “Friends of Hardhide”, a charity that will donate 2% of the profits to the care and improvement of Hardhide’s quality of life. Artist Frenchy will be selling replicas of the original Hardhide art and be donating a portion of those proceeds to the “Friends of Hardhide” as well.

ABOUT SIDEWALK SIDE SPIRITS

Sidewalk Side Spirits is a spirit’s brand incubator company founded in 2020 by spirits industry veteran John Eason and the owners of Cocktail & Son’s, Lauren Myerscough, and Max Messier. It’s 1st brand was a collaboration with Gambino’s Bakery, the King of King Cakes to create award winning, Gambino’s King Cake Rum Cream. To know more go to www.sidewalksidespirits.com

Wine Paris and Vinexpo Paris 2023, turning the spotlight on Be Spirits

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The forthcoming Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris exhibition, due to take place from 13 to 15 February 2023 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, is dedicating a hall to the spirits and craft beverage arena with a programme that promises to be more vibrant than ever.

2023, A LANDMARK YEAR FOR BE SPIRITS 

  • In terms of new features, Be Spirits will boast its own hall to make room for spirits from all backgrounds, from the craft distilleries to the household brands, and shed light on industry trends for professionals.
  • The new format comes with a change in tempo stemming from a desire to meet the community’s needs through specific opening times, from 10 am to 8 pm.
  • A new area, dubbed the Craft Pavilion, will be reserved for the upcoming generation, with young producers of spirits, RTDs, alcohol-free drinks, ciders and beers, allowing them to promote their products in an outstanding international setting. Featured producers will include Gin and Pastis from the Distillerie de l’Ort, produced organically by a brother and sister duo in the Perigord region; rum infusions from K’ribean Cocktail-Taleya, born of a family venture in Guadeloupe; Gin with lavender accents by the Le Vadrouilleur-Maison LC 1901 distillery in Haute Provence; and the craft aperitif Vylmer Apéritifs, also produced in Provence and inspired by the 1950s.

BE SPIRITS, AN EVENT WITHIN THE EVENT 

In 2023, spirits, craft and alcohol-free beveragesare becoming even more significant with 20 % extra floor space compared with the 2022 event and 44 % new exhibitors. Alongside the many French exhibitors, international attendance will be very strong with the return of Belgium, Canada, the United States, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Romania, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Alongside them will be Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic and Vietnam as newcomers to the exhibition in 2023.

BE SPIRITS, AN EVENT FOCUSING ON DISCOVERY 

27 categories of spirits will be represented: Anise-based drinks, Armagnac, Cachaça, Calvados, Cognac, Cream Liqueurs, Brandies, Gin, Mezcal, RTDs, Rum, Rum infusions, Sake, Alcohol-free, Tequila, Tonic, Vermouth, Vodka and Whisky. New alcoholic drinks will enter the Be Spirits repertoire: Absinthe, liqueurs, bitter, Pisco (Peru’s national drink), Hard Tea and Shochu (the Japanese spirit), along with ciders and beers.

Making their debut in the Be Spirits hall are alcohol-free drinks which will come in a range of styles from semi-sparkling, spirits and beers to mixers and tonics, broadening the choice on offer in response to market demand.

EXHIBITORS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS

International participants include Whisky, Rum and Vodka from Canada with Notaboo and sake and shochu from Japan with the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association and American RTDs Slim Chillers. French exhibitors will also share the limelight with attendance by the National Armagnac Marketing Bureau, Cognac with Château Montifaud, craft cream liqueurs with La Mentheuse, and Whisky from La Distillerie Warenghem with its Whisky Armorik.

Loyal exhibitors include the Consorzio di Tutela della Doc Prosecco, Anivin de France, Armagnac Castarede, Armagnac Veuve Goudoulin, BBC Vins et Spiritueux, Calvados Christian Drouin, Château de Saint Aubin, Cognac Dobbe, Maison Dolin, Drouet et Fils, Cognac François Voyer, Cognac Prince Hubert de Polignac, Dartilongue et Fils Armagnac, Delors Frères, Distillerie des Moisans, Distillerie Merlet, Distillerie de la Seine, Distillerie Jean-Paul Mette, Distillerie Longueteau, Domaine familial Louis Dupont, Eyland Spirits, Fire&Ice Beverages AG, Hardy Cognac, Hawkins Distribution, Jacoulot, Kaskad Diffusion, Les Bienheureux, Le Club des Marques, Les Jardins de l’Orbrie / So Jennie, Maison de la Mirabelle – Distillerie de Rozelieures, Maison Ferroni , Maison Peyrat, Michel Couvreur Scotch Whiskies LTD, Plus Oultre Distillery, Tesseron Cognac, Terre de Légende – Bruant Distribution, Tennessee Distilling and Vinet Delpech.

Among new exhibitors will be Arspirits, Armagnacs from Château de Lacquy, Black Mountain, Cognac Paul Giraud et Fils, JNPR, Distillerie de l’Ort, Distillerie Castan, Distillerie Miclo, Distillerie des Menhirs, Domaine de Coquerel, Dunrobin Distilleries, Groupe Geloso/Broue Alliance, Kratochvilovci, K’Ribean Cocktail / Taleya, Gaec du Clos de la Pommeraye, Godet Frères Cognac, Vignobles du Hour, Notaboo Corp, Famille Laudet / Domaine de Laballe, Maison Gelas, Saka Spirits, Slim Chillers, Spirignac, Shogga, Spiritique, Spiribam, Square Box / L’arrange Français and Univers Drink.

AN ON! PROGRAMME FUELLED BY CREATIVITY 

As part of the ON! programme, the event will provide the stage for innovative events in a new area called Speakeasy, a nod to the illicit ‘speak softly’ bars of the Roaring Twenties.  The 2023 Speakeasy by Wine Paris & Vinexpo will take an enterprising approach to on-trend topics in the world of spirits and mixology, yet maintain a very convivial atmosphere.

The battle of the Mixologists, a new event, will bring together the industry’s most creative figures. Speakeasy will also be the venue for masterclasses, conferences and panel discussions devoted to new trends and challenges in the global spirits market. The line-up already includes:

  • a masterclass on Brandy curated by Lucien Bernard,
  • a ‘Spirits’ masterclass by the WSET,
  • a ‘Sowine’ conférence hosted by Marie Mascré, ‘Z (for zebra?): younger generations and their relationship with wines and spirits’,
  • and masterclasses by the Japan Sake and Shochu Association.

The FEVS (French Federation of Wine & Spirits Exporters) will also reveal figures for French wine and spirits exports at its annual press conference on Tuesday 14 February at 10 am in the LET’S SPEAK WINE! area.

  • THE INFINITE BAR

One of the go-to attractions at Be Spirits is the huge, 40-metre-long Infinite Bar which is a focal point in the Be Spirits hall and the point where business meets inspiration. In 2023, it will welcome European, Parisian and French bars to showcase the incredible creativity of the top mixologists or up-and-coming personalities on the bartender scene.

For more information, visit wineparis-vinexpo.com

About WINE PARIS & VINEXPO PARIS

Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris is the annual event for wine and spirits professionals from around the world. Hosted in February at a key time of the year, it aims to offer a cohesive focal point for industry players centring on a comprehensive, relevant and inclusive range of products that showcases vineyard sites across the globe alongside all the French wine regions.

About VINEXPOSIUM

Vinexposium is the world’s leading organizer of wine and spirits trade events. The group boasts an extensive portfolio of iconic, high-performance events tailored to different market segments: Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris; Vinexpo America, Drinks America; Vinexpo Asia; Symposium; Vinexpo China; WBWE Amsterdam; and Vinexpo India, along with Vinexpo Explorer and Vinexpo Meetings. Vinexposium also continues to enhance its digital portal, Vinexposium Connect, the high-performance business enabler where industry members can connect 365 days a year around the world and enjoy online networking and exclusive content.

Visiting Chateauneuf du Pape Part Two: Domaine Roger Sabon and Domaine de la Mordoree

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Next up in our wine tour we visited Chateauneuf du Pape’s (CDP’s) Domaine Roger Sabon for a tasting. Our host explained that this past summer they experienced drier weather producing smaller berries over 18 hectares. Sabon, like Pegau, has both a Domaine for the CDP wine area and a Cotes du Rhone label. Five percent of their appellations are producing white wines. They blend before aging, have four different soil types and also have a distillery. All of their wines are at least 70% Grenache and are aged in large barrels.

For the tasting they offered us new and older wines, including wines from the Lirac appellation – not in Chateauneuf du Pape – with amazing aromatics and flavors.

My favorites were a 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve that had just been bottled in March and contained 80% Grenache and the remaining 20% was made of Syrah and Mourvedre – the classic GSM blend. I noted delicate fruit aromas and subtle fruit flavors – red to blue fruits – as well as a pepperiness.

My second favorite was the Prestige label, a 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape that was all black fruit, cracked pepper and earth that had a nice sweet spot. That blend was also a GSM.

My ultimate favorite of the day was the final wine we tasted: the 2012 Prestige that had huge aromatics with earth, mint, dark fruit and an extra long finish. It was a real treat to be treated to an older vintage as it showed how well these wines did after a decade of aging.

Domaine de la Mordoree

The next day we went to Domaine de la Mordoree for an extensive vineyard tour – with the most amazing rocky and sandy soil that walking on it was difficult. The idea of the roots below, struggling for water that made them strong, left a huge impression on me. I had never seen this kind of large rocky terrain in a vineyard before. And the sandy sections were so pure and soft, it was quite a difference. The vines are between 40 and 60 years old.

Farming in the Domaine was certified organic in 2013 and is now also biodynamic. There are 30 workers brought in for nighttime harvests every year. The father and head of the household had died, and the mother and daughter “continue in a masculine world” according to our guide.

After the tour we had a tasting of their new white, rose and red wines. My first favorite was the 2019 La Dame Rousse – Lirac, also known as “The Red Lady” on their website, which was 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. Very dark berries, forest floor, tannin, dry and spicy, and with a price tag of only 14.50 Euros. My second favorite was their 2020 La Reine de bois Chateauneuf du Pape that was rich, velvety, smooth and balanced. Top notch indeed and 56 Euros.

Instagram: @Domaine_Mordoree

Website: https://www.domaine-mordoree.com/?lang=enEve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the 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

Renegade Rum Launches New Terroir-Driven Pre-Cask Collection

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Renegade Rum Distillery, the game-changing terroir-driven rum project based in Grenada, announces the August launch of a diverse new selection of four flavorsome Pre-Cask white rums in the United States. An industry-challenging enterprise from Mark Reynier, the man behind the renaissance of Islay’s Bruichladdich single malt whisky and multi-award winning Waterford Whisky, Renegade Rum seeks to explore the effect terroir, cane variety and distillation style has on the flavor of rum.

The cane plant, rum’s primary raw ingredient, is the natural source of its flavor. Thus the land on which it grows and its microclimate determines its character. With these details in mind, Renegade Rum chose to explore the terroirs of Grenada one place, one farm, at a time – to be shared initially as these fresh, vibrant spirits before cask ageing.

Pure and intense building blocks of flavor, the Renegade Rum Pre-Cask Collection of rums are for spirits connoisseurs to compare and contrast original nuances, but they will also have appeal to those searching for inherently and authentically flavorsome white spirits to create cocktails rooted in real provenance. So distinct are these cane-derived spirits that the first Pre-Cask Collection of white rums that were available in late 2021 in Europe, have already sold out with the trade and won notable awards, including Best New Rum at Vinexpo, Paris.

Renegade Rum CEO Mark Reynier says, “We are delighted to share more Pre-Cask bottlings for the curious, to explore with us these new realms of natural flavor derived from sugar cane. They are for spirits connoisseurs searching for authenticity and transparency. And as the building blocks of our Renegade Rum, we have discovered they also make for intensely flavored, ultra high-provenance ingredients for the most discerning cocktail enthusiasts.”

“Even though these are among our first distillates, we have been delighted with their award-winning reception and the fact that we have commenced serious discussions around terroir, traceability and transparency in rum, adds Mark. This is a prelude, of course, to our aged rum – and we look forward to sharing our first serious studies with the world this autumn.”

The four Single Farm Origin white rums to be released in the United States within the Pre-Cask Collection are as follows:

Single Farm Origin: Nursery – The genesis of our pioneering project to propagate entirely clean & healthy heritage cane varieties began at our nursery farm. Nestled in La Calome Valley, with its almost terraced valley floor, it is made up of Hartman & Woburn clay loam soils & a profusion of volcanic boulders. For this rum we harvested the sucrose-rich variety we call Yellow Lady from “big pumps” field, which stands on the terroir known as Upper La Calome.

  • Terroir: Upper La Calome
  • Cane Variety: Yellow Lady
  • Pot Still

Single Farm Origin: Hope – On the island’s south-eastern flank, sheltered from the Atlantic Trade Winds by a narrow mangrove belt, stands this distinctive terroir. Bright, iron-red clay & pyroclastic boulders & rich, alluvial soil & its cool, high water table ensures a humid microclimate with lush cane in the driest season. For this rum we harvested the oldest of our varieties, Cain, from Mamo Field, which stands on the terroir known as Boulders.

  • Terroir: Boulders
  • Variety: Cain
  • Pot Still

Single Farm Origin: Lake Antoine – Lower Crater Lake South and Upper Crater Lake South – At Lake Antoine, intriguing terroirs wrap around the steep, seaward-facing slopes of a volcanic crater lake, where cane grows on granular Woburn clay loam – sparse & dry at the summit, deep & rich at the foot – fully exposed to the desiccating salt-laden Atlantic trade Winds. For these two rums we harvested the sucrose-rich variety we call Purple Tallboy from two fields, one from Ball Pasture Field, which stands on the terroir known as Lower Crater Lake South and the second from More Field, which stands on the terroir known as Upper Crater Lake South.

  • Terroirs: Lower Crater and Upper Crater Lake South
  • Variety: Purple Tallboy
  • Pot Still

The Renegade Rum Pre-Cask Collection of Single Farm Origin: Nursery, Hope and Lake Antoine Lower Crater & Upper Crater Lake South are each 50% ABV and are available in 700ml bottles for $65 in fine retail stores. Renegade Rum is imported by Glass Revolution Imports.

Situated on the mountainous, volcanic, Caribbean island of Grenada, the modern marvel that is the Renegade Rum Distillery was designed precisely to extol individuality, with extended temperature-controlled fermentation for purity, and considered distillation for gravitas. The purpose-built, state-of-the-art distillery is the first of its scale to have been designed from the ground up for terroir-bred sugarcane. As well as cutting-edge still design and digital logistics, the Renegade Rum Distillery uses sophisticated technology for air filtration and water purification of waste streams, thus ensuring distilling systems run in rhythm with natural systems.

Each bottle of Renegade Rum will feature an innovative CaneCode which includes all the information about the farm, cane variety and terroir showcasing total transparency for spirits enthusiasts. More information can be found at: https://renegaderum.com/canecode/

In addition, Renegade Rum has also recently launched its cask offering. This is a unique opportunity for anyone to acquire a cask of their own super-premium quality rum – distilled from pure cane juice derived from an individual Single Farm Origin – to be bottled with a personalized label. There are options for French Oak hogsheads matured in the Caribbean, and “Early Landed” American oak barrels, which will be aged in Europe. More information can be found at: https://renegaderum.com/renegade-cask-offer/

About Renegade Rum: Renegade Rum is a game-changing rum distillery located in Grenada, using fresh sugar cane juice rather than generic molasses (a by-product of sugar production), grown on the diverse terroirs of Grenada in the Caribbean. We began producing our first spirit in the autumn of 2020. The cane plant, rum’s primary raw ingredient, is the natural source of its flavor. Thus, the land on which it grows & its microclimate determines its character. Therefore, we choose to explore the terroirs of Grenada – one place, one farm, at a time. For more information, please visit https://renegaderum.com/

U.S. Distilleries Applaud Federal Ruling to Designate American Single Malt Category

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LOVINGSTON, Va./PRNewswire/ — Virginia Distillery Company and members of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC), an organization designed to define, establish, promote and protect the category of American Single Malts, are celebrating a new ruling based on the notice of rulemaking process by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) that will formally define American Single Malt whisky.

The rule ensures that any spirit labeled American Single Malt must be made from 100% malted barley, mashed, distilled and matured in one distillery, produced entirely in the U.S., distilled to a proof not exceeding 160, matured in oak casks not exceeding 700 liters and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV.

On July 29, the TTB issued the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register and will enter a 60-day comment period for the public and industry to suggest changes to the proposed rules.

“Announcing American Single Malts as a formal category by the TTB is a historic moment for the industry, as it has been decades since a new whisky category of this magnitude has been added to the Beverage Alcohol Manual,” said Virginia Distillery Company CEO and ASMWC Treasurer Gareth H. Moore. “The American whisky category was synonymous with bourbon just 15 years ago, but the resurgence of rye diversified that view. The American Single Malt category will further broaden the view of the American whisky consumer and fuel innovation and premiumization across domestic products.”

Virginia Distillery Company, the largest independently owned American Single Malt distillery in the U.S. and one of the co-founding members of the ASMWC has been highly active in advocacy efforts leading up to the recent announcement. The distillery has worked in close alignment for several years with advocates at Westland, Balcones and Copperworks distilleries to push for the designation.

Moore added: “Formally defining American Single Malt will enable retailers and ultimately consumers to recognize the growing category that might otherwise be lost in the broad array of spirits on the market.”

Producers anticipate that the designation will accelerate U.S. Trade association efforts for American Single Malts to be recognized as a category by other countries and expect growth in both export as well as competitors small and large.

In 2020, Virginia Distillery Company launched Courage & Conviction, its signature American Single Malt whisky, and in 2021 added three new whiskies to the Courage & Conviction lineup featuring individual bottlings of the core trio of casks – bourbon, sherry and cuvée – that make up Courage & Conviction. Last fall, the distillery released its inaugural cask strength whisky, Courage & Conviction Cuvée Single Cask and in 2022 began rolling out Courage & Conviction PX Sherry Single Cask and Courage & Conviction Bourbon Single Cask.

The Courage & Conviction line is the most awarded American Single Malt with more than 100 accolades earned over the last five years, including a 98-point rating – the highest awarded in 2022 – and #12 in the Top 100 in the 2022 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Best American Single Malt in the 2022 International Whisky Competition, and a best of class gold medal at the 2022 LA International Spirits Competition. The line was produced to meet the standards that the ASMWC proposed in anticipation for the category designation. Coinciding with the rollout of Courage & Conviction, the distillery launched a complete guide to American Single Malt whisky.

For more information about the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, visit https://www.americansinglemaltwhiskey.org/.

For more information about Virginia Distillery Company, visit https://vadistillery.com.About Virginia Distillery Company 

Staffed by a local Virginia team mentored by Scottish consultants with decades of experience, Virginia Distillery Company is the largest dedicated American Single Malt whisky distillery in the U.S. The distillery has a current annual production volume of 80,000 4.5L cases and growing. At full capacity, the distillery can produce over 8,000 casks yielding 350,000 4.5L cases annually. The distillery produces award-winning Courage & Conviction American Single Malt on-site using malted barley from North America and water from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition, the distillery offers the award-winning VHW series, made with 100% malted barley. Showcasing both Old and New World whisky-making, the line marries whisky made on-site in Virginia with whisky from Scotland. 

Middle West’s Pumpernickel Rye + Upcoming Drammers Event with Brand Ambassadors for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg

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Earlier this year, at the Restaurant and Bar Show, I was given a bottle of Middle West Pumpernickel Rye for review as I liked it so much and I wanted to share at an upcoming Drammers Las Vegas meeting. Fast-forward past my trip to Italy and that meeting just took place this past August. Below are my notes on the whiskey and tasting notes from my friends in Drammers.

About Dark Pumpernickel Straight Rye Whiskey From Ohio’s Middle West Spirits, this is some of what appears of the front label of this unique whiskey, “Handcrafted in the heart of the Ohio River Valley…Aged over three years, small batch craft…smooth…soft spice…”

Drammers Las Vegas Tasting Notes

We have a great group, usually less than a dozen of us, and we meet in a suite in one of the many hotels Vegas is known for. This particular night we probably had at least a dozen rare and unique bottles to taste through, and mine was selected pretty early on, before any palate fatigue set in. These were our collective thoughts:

Lots of citrus notes, especially orange right up front, followed by vanilla bean, toffee, molasses, seeded rye bread with butter. Ashley Norris, of @SipWithMe_LV on Instagram said it made her “nostalgic for (her) grandma”; Bob Brown, the organizer for our Las Vegas chapter of Drammers and @VegasDrams on Instagram, said that it had a “chewy body”; Shannon Lee, aka @LasVegasWhiskyEy said in her social media “if you see it buy it”; while Charlie Prince, the president of @DrammersClub simply stated, “I like this.”

There was about two-thirds of the bottle left so I offered it to Charlie to keep, and he said he would like to share it at his next meeting, which would be Drammers Austin, Texas. (I checked in with Charlie after his Austin meeting and he said the whiskey was “a big hit” there.)

From Middle West

We were founded in 2008, and opened our distillery for commercial production in 2010. Building on four generations of distilling traditions, we added our own deep experience in marketing and manufacturing, and focused on elevating the distinctive flavors of the Ohio River Valley. Our artisan spirits honor our roots; and reflect our originality as makers, our integrity as producers, and our passion for the craft of producing spirits from grain to glass. 

Middle West Straight Dark Pumpernickel Rye Whiskey celebrates significant firsts. Handcrafted from scratch, this signature spirit is made in small batches and barrel aged for over three years in new white American oak casks. It’s America’s first Dark Rye Pumpernickel Whiskey. When you raise a glass with friends, let them know it’s proudly from the Middle West.

Check out their full line-up of spirits here:

https://middlewestspirits.com/spirits/

https://middlewestspirits.com/

Charlie Prince Teaser for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Event

Fellow Drammers!

…We have got a BIG event coming up on Wednesday October 26th, where we’ll welcome as our guest speakers the National Brand Ambassador for Ardbeg, Cameron George AND the National Brand Ambassador for Glenmorangie Dan Crowell at the same time, whoa!  This is going to be our biggest event yet!

REGISTER HERE.

https://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.

Milam And Greene Whiskey Releases Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon Whiskey

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BLANCO, TEXAS (PRWEB) – Milam & Greene Whiskey is releasing its third annual grain-to-glass bourbon, Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a Certified Texas Whiskey produced in Blanco, Texas. Like previous batches, it is pot-distilled by master distiller, Marlene Holmes, in a 300-gallon copper still, is non-chill filtered, and bottled at barrel proof. This extremely limited-edition bourbon is a batch of only four barrels. The Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon Whiskey is now available exclusively at the Milam & Greene Whiskey distillery and select retailers in Texas while supplies last.

“Our Distillery Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made with Texas-grown corn, and the entire process from mashing, fermenting, distilling, to aging is done on-site to create a Certified Texas Whiskey,” says Marlene Holmes, master distiller, Milam & Greene Whiskey. “We want to create a whiskey with an exuberant character that appeals to adventurous whiskey drinkers while retaining the classic bourbon personality of sweetness and spice. We are meticulous with our distilling techniques to achieve that balance.”

The mash bill for Milam & Greene Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon Whiskey of 70 percent corn, 22 percent malted rye, and eight percent malted barley and proprietary yeast recipe has remained consistent for each of the three batches. What sets Batch Three apart is the impact of the Texan terroir on the barrels as they age for three years with the final months of aging in 2022 punctuated by exceptional heat. The resulting whiskey is the most vigorous, spicy, and lively spirit of the Milam & Greene portfolio. It is hand-bottled at barrel proof (56.94% ABV / 113.88 Proof) to show off the intricacies that the distilling team painstakingly nurtured along the whiskey-making process.

“While we age and batch whiskies from various states together with our own Texas whiskey to make our Triple Cask Bourbon, we create our Distillery Edition Straight Bourbon to be an expression of Texas,” says Milam & Greene Whiskey CEO and blender Heather Greene. “Our Batch Three is certainly a reflection of the unique environment in Texas. Milam & Greene Distillery Edition Batch Three conveys the qualities that the hot and dry Texas Hill Country climate drives into the spirit under the care of skilled whiskey makers. The past hot two months of extreme heat really added something unusual to it. It’s a “Texas heat finished” whiskey and this is our most robust and feisty Distillery Edition yet.”

Milam & Greene Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Glowing deep amber in the glass, Distillery Edition Batch Three is non-chill filtered for weight and viscosity. It has rich aromas of honey-baked grain, vanilla, fresh tobacco, and black tea with a hint of citrus that is brought out even more when served with ice. The palate is robust and piquant, with peppers and spice layered with cinnamon, caramel, and clove. The finish is cozy warm and lingers like a Hill Country sunset. It is a complex, high-proof banger of a whiskey. Enjoy Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon sipped over ice in the shade protected from the hot Texas sun.

Pricing and Availability
Milam & Greene Distillery Edition Batch Three Straight Bourbon Whiskey is available at the distillery in Blanco, Texas, and at select retailers in Texas for $119.99. This whiskey is extremely limited. Please call your local retailer to determine availability.

About Milam & Greene
Milam & Greene Whiskey is made by some of the world’s most experienced whiskey professionals, including CEO, master blender, and author, Heather Greene and 30-year veteran and master distiller, Marlene Holmes. The Milam & Greene team distills in Blanco, Texas on small 300- and 1,000-gallon pot stills as well as in Kentucky on classic column stills, using its proprietary yeast and grain recipes. Aging takes place in rickhouses located in four states in different casks for a variety of flavors resulting in the most thorough array of casks made and collected by any craft distiller. These casks become the ingredients from which its award-winning American whiskey range is batched to create perfection. Milam & Greene Whiskey believes in using the best people and ingredients to create delicious, award-winning whiskey for whiskey lovers. For more information visit: milamandgreenewhiskey.com. Connect with Milam & Greene Whiskey on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

What is Amaro, And Why You Should Try It

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Amaro is traditionally made by infusing grape brandy with a (usually secret) mix of herbs, flowers, aromatic bark, citrus peel and spices—a blend that can include anything from cardamom to elderberry flowers. Then it’s sweetened with sugar syrup and aged, sometimes for years. – Wikipedia.

I have a fondness for bitters, all things Italian, dark flavors and aromas – so it’s no surprise that I have a fondness for Amaro. Over the years I’ve had it on the rocks after dinner – called a digestif – as well as alone to sample during classes and in icy cocktails. Let me share some of my favorites with you – not my absolute favorite brand of Amaro – I’m still exploring the differences, but what I’ve learned about Amaro that I hope will make you want to learn about it and try it as well.

The first that I mentioned was having Amaro as a digestif. I’ve been told that drinking bitters messages your stomach to fight whatever may be disturbing your stomach, so having bitters after a meal settles the stomach. I’ve often added bitters to a cocktail or had an Amaro after a large meal and did have positive results. Doesn’t hurt that I also love the flavor. My favorite is simply on the rocks with a lemon peel.

In a class organized by Fernet-Branca a few years back we examined seven different expressions from the Fratelli-Branca portfolio. (I have seven photos of our day here.) I learned a few things you may find interesting:

  • The herbs and roots, 27 of them, used in the liqueurs come from four continents. So whatever they add, it’s been done in-house and from scratch.
  • The recipe for each liqueur is a secret, even the order of when each ingredient is added matters and is also a secret.
  • The flavors come from the ingredients: Monday the distillery smells of chamomile, Tuesday it’s espresso beans, and so on.
  • Just some of the roots, spices and herbs include saffron, ginger, bitter orange, sweet orange, aloe, chamomile, Chinese rhubarb, peppermint, Myrrh…
  • When we were told that Fernet-Branca cured cholera I had to Google that. “Bernardino Branca dreamed up (Fernet-Branca) in 1845 as a cure-all to treat cholera and spleen pain, among other conditions. For decades, it was even sold in American pharmacies…” (Read more here.)

I’ve had three of reputedly the most popular: Montengro, Averna and Fernet-Branca. This article on Liquor.com shares a few of the brands, and the differences: https://www.liquor.com/italian-amari-5079342

There are dedicated Amaro bars in Italy, and there is one Italian restaurant in Las Vegas that I’ve discovered so far, Monzu Italian Oven and Bar, that has a huge selection that I’m dying to explore. I want to sample them on their own, and in whatever cocktails the Amaro lends itself well to. So far at home I enjoy Amaro on the rocks, or replacing sweet Vermouth in a Manhattan.

Home

https://www.fernetbranca.com/en

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.

Best High-Altitude Fall/Late Summer Festivals

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For those looking to elevate their summer/fall festival adventures – go up. High-altitude mountain festivals means iconic views, cooler temperatures and oftentimes less crowds (though you have to watch your alcohol consumption at high elevations!).

We put together a list of our favorite late summer/fall food/beverage and movie festivals that are over 8,000 feet of elevation –

Vail Wine Classic (8,150’, August 11-13): The Vail Wine Classic includes “Vail Uncorked Dinner Series” featuring five-course dinners at Vail’s top restaurants, a Somm-led “Argentine Experiences Hike” that culminates with a three-course paired lunch, a seminar about RIEDEL’s’s varietal-specific glassware, and much more. Vail Wine Classic brings master winemakers and wine enthusiasts together for an immersive three-day tasting event that includes all-inclusive tastings of diverse and distinctive wines from around the world and a-la-carte events.

Breckenridge Wine Classic (9,600’, Sept. 15-17): In addition to the iconic Grand Tasting sessions that feature hundreds of wineries, breweries, distilleries, and epicurean purveyors, the Breckenridge Wine Classic’s innovative lineup includes a “Winemaker for a Day” experience, “Wine & Wildflower Hike,” and exquisite paired dinners with some of the country’s best vintners at five standout Breckenridge restaurants, including one at the ski resort.

Vail Oktoberfest (8,150’, Sept 9-11 + Sept. 16-18): The beloved Vail Oktoberfest is a Bavarian extravaganza of competitions, costume contests, German delicacies, flowing German beer, traditional music and dance, children’s entertainment and more. This free, family-friendly event was named among the 10 greatest Oktoberfest celebrations in the U.S. by USA Today.

Telluride Film Festiva l (8,750’, Sept. 2-5) – Each Labor Day weekend, the tiny mountain village of Telluride, Colorado triples in size. Swells of passionate film enthusiasts flood the town for four days of total cinematic immersion, embarking on a viewing odyssey, blissfully spending entire days in flickering dark rooms.

Milam And Greene Releases The Castle Hill Series Batch Two, a Limited-Edition Batch of 13-Year-Old Casks

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BLANCO, TEXAS (PRWEB) – Milam & Greene Whiskey is introducing The Castle Hill Series Batch Two, the second release of its limited-edition batch of 13-year-old hand-selected straight bourbon whiskies bottled at barrel proof. The Castle Hill Series celebrates the art of batching well-aged casks, one of the many methods Milam & Greene enlists to create its award-winning range of whiskies. Just 26 vintage barrels were married to create this superb whiskey, making it the most limited release from the acclaimed distillery that was recently lauded for its “Best in Show” whiskey at The American Craft Spirits Association competition.

The Castle Hill Series carries the oldest age statement in the Milam & Greene family of whiskies, and each batch includes the distillery’s most exclusive casks. The series is named for the historic Texas Military Institute, also known as “The Castle,” in Austin, Texas. While the Milam & Greene distillery operations and warehousing are in Blanco, Texas, The Castle is home to Heather Greene’s blending lab, and its old-world elegance serves as an inspiration for the Milam & Greene CEO and master blender.

Greene is renowned for her exceptional whiskey blending skills, and The Castle Hill Series showcases her ability to select the right casks to blend to develop complex flavors. Greene honed her tremendous whiskey blending skills while evaluating Scotch whisky for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Scotland, as well as while working with numerous distilleries around the globe before bringing her talent to Milam & Greene in 2018. Under Greene’s direction, whiskey blending is essential to creating core Milam & Greene whiskies including the Triple Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Port Finished Straight Rye Whiskey.

“The guiding principle in blending The Castle Hill Series is to create a traditional bourbon that whiskey drinkers will love,” says Heather Greene, Milam & Greene CEO and master blender. “Each cask used to create The Castle Hill Series has a different personality. Those personality traits are developed through aging over a long period of time with influences from the environment. We hand-selected each barrel aged between 13 years, 10 months, and 17 days at the youngest, and 14 years, two months, and 13 days at the oldest, to identify specific characteristics that we want in the finished product. The result is a multifaceted bourbon with layers of nutty, spicy, fruity, and oak flavors.”

Milam & Greene The Castle Hill Series, Batch Two Tasting Notes
Milam & Greene The Castle Hill Series Batch Two shines in the glass with a deep burnt amber color. On the nose it is a dichotomy of youthful vigor and aged splendor with scents of warm peach cobbler, brown sugar, and vanillas with hints of almond and milk chocolate. Bottled at cask strength of 111 proof (55.5 % ABV), this potent straight bourbon whiskey features velvety, opulent flavors of caramel, cinnamon, cherry, vanilla, and tobacco with a warming and long finish.

The Castle Hill Series Batch Two Barrel Information
Twenty-six barrels were used to create The Castle Hill Series Batch Two. The ages of each barrel are detailed below:
4 barrels aged 13 years, 10 months, 17 days
8 barrels aged 13 years, 10 months, 18 days
4 barrels aged 13 years, 10 months, 19 days
4 barrels aged 13 years, 11 months, 6 days
2 barrels aged 14 years, 1 month, 20 days
2 barrels aged 14 years, 2 months, 13 days
1 barrel aged 14 years, 2 months, 16 days
1 barrel aged 14 years, 3 months, 6 days

Pricing and Availability
The Castle Hill Series Batch Two is available for a suggested retail price of $149.99 at select retailers that can be found on Milamandgreenewhiskey.com. This whiskey is extremely limited with only 3,000 bottles released around the country. Please call your local retailer to determine local availability. Milam & Greene whiskey is distributed by Southern Wine and Spirits, Empire Merchants, Heidelberg Distributing, Brescome Barton, and Winebow Fine Wine and Spirits.

About Milam & Greene
Milam & Greene Whiskey is made by some of the world’s most experienced whiskey professionals, including CEO, master blender, and author, Heather Greene and 30-year veteran and master distiller, Marlene Holmes. The Milam & Greene team distills in Blanco, Texas on small 300- and 1,000-gallon pot stills as well as in Kentucky on classic column stills, using its proprietary yeast and grain recipes. Aging takes place in rickhouses located in four states in different casks for a variety of flavors resulting in the most thorough array of casks made and collected by any craft distiller. These casks become the ingredients from which its award-winning American whiskey range is batched to create perfection. Milam & Greene Whiskey believes in using the best people and ingredients to create delicious, award-winning whiskey for whiskey lovers. For more information visit: http://www.milamandgreenewhiskey.com. Connect with Milam & Greene Whiskey on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.