Brad Paisley to Launch ‘American Highway’ Bourbon

December 2, 2021 by evebushman

BARDSTOWN, Ky., /PRNewswire/ — Global country music superstar Brad Paisley will launch “American Highway” Bourbon this month, a whiskey aged in barrels stored in a 53-foot semi-trailer that followed his 2019 nation-wide tour for 7,314 miles across 25 states, from coast to coast.

Global country music superstar Brad Paisley launches “American Highway” Bourbon

“Bourbon is like songwriting, it’s a blend of things coming together to make something incredible,” said Paisley. “These are really special barrels that saw more of the United States than most people I know.”

The fluctuating climate of the barrels’ journey expanded and contracted their staves, imparting oak and char that cultivate the characteristics flavors of America’s native spirit. This well-traveled batch was then blended with three-year, 13-year and 15-year-old Kentucky bourbons to create the final product. The next batch, to be released in 2022, was aged on the Rolling Rickhouse during Paisley’s 2021 tour.

Paisley sums up the creative process that derived his bourbon: “It’s so similar to what goes into a great guitar. The right woods, the right craftsmanship, the right alchemy that makes this intangible, magical thing, and that’s what makes this so great to me.”

“American Highway’s” literal path-to-market wasn’t the only unique aspect of its creation: Rather than just sourcing whiskey and lending a celebrity name to it, Paisley worked closely with award-winning bourbon distiller Bardstown Bourbon Company to create the final blend. Located in Bardstown, Kentucky the “Bourbon Capitol of the World,” this modern bourbon distiller creates custom whiskey, bourbon and rye for more than 30 different brand-owners worldwide and has won critical acclaim for its releases.

Paisley collaborated with a team of experts at Bardstown, including VP of New Product Development Dan Callaway. “You don’t get to see many celebrities that have such a technical palate,” shared Callaway. “It was a super collaboration that resulted in a travelled bourbon in an exemplary expression.”

Callaway describes the bourbon as “A blend of four rye-forward bourbons ranging in age from 3 to 15 years. The flavor profile is incredibly unique. Subtle, complex, spicy, well-traveled. As we like to say, it was, ‘born in Kentucky, aged across America’.”

With just 30,000 bottles of the initial release produced, the 96-proof blend has a suggested retail price of $99.99. The bourbon will be available in AL, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MS, NC, NV, NY, OH, TN, TX, WI and WV, and exclusively online through www.seelbachs.com.

The stats:
Proof: 96 / ABV 48%
Mashbill: 28% 3YO 71/21/0/9; 25% 3YO 60/36/0/4; 24% 13YO 74/18/0/8; 23% 15YO 78.5/13/0/8.5
Suggested Retail Price: $99.99 per 750ml bottle

For more information on American Highway Reserve Bourbon, or to find out where you can purchase locally, visit: www.AmericanHighwayReserve.com.

About Brad Paisley:
Brad Paisley has earned his place in country music history as one of the genre’s most talented and decorated male solo artists. Over the past 21 years, his songwriting and unmatched showmanship have won him numerous awards, including three GRAMMYs, two American Music Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards and 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, among many others. A member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001, Paisley has written 21 of his 24 No. 1 hits, and in 2008 became the first artist to achieve 10 consecutive Billboard Country Airplay No. 1 singles. The 2010 CMA Entertainer of the Year’s past works have amassed over 4.6 billion worldwide career streams. Paisley continues to collaborate with Peyton Manning in a multi-year ad campaign with Nationwide insurance. In 2015, the global superstar partnered with Boot Barn® to develop Moonshine Spirit by Brad Paisley, an exclusive line of jeans, hats, T-shirts, jewelry, belts and woven shirts. A prolific entertainer, Paisley’s first prime-time special, Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special, aired on ABC in December 2019 and has garnered over 18.1 million viewers to date. Paisley and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, are co-founders of nonprofit organization The Store, a free-referral based grocery store, which aims to empower low-income individuals and families in the Nashville area. For more information, visit www.thestore.org.

BradPaisley.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

About Bardstown Bourbon Company:

Founded in 2014 by Peter Loftin in the heart of Bourbon Country on 100 acres of active farmland, Bardstown Bourbon Company, 1500 Parkway Drive, Bardstown, Ky., is one of the country’s most modern and technically advanced whiskey distilleries. Celebrating the art of making high-quality, authentic bourbons, the innovative distillery produces custom rye, whiskey and bourbon for prominent brands including High West, Belle Meade, Hirsch and many others through its one-of-a-kind collaborative distilling program. Bardstown Bourbon Company honors tradition and drives innovation with their exceptional destination experience for visitors, offering the only full-service restaurant located within a distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, The Kitchen and Bar at Bardstown Bourbon Company.

Blue Run Spirits Unveils Its First Distillation From Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge – Blue Run Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon Whiskey

November 24, 2021 by evebushman

GEORGETOWN, KY. (PRWEB) – The first Blue Run Spirits whiskey with Bourbon legend Jim Rutledge serving as the contracted master distiller is now available. Blue Run Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon Whiskey can be found in select retailers in the U.S. and Canada, as well as online at BlueRunSpirits.com. This is the company’s second fall release, following closely on the heels of the instantly sold-out, gold medal-winning Blue Run Kentucky Straight Golden Rye Whiskey.

Blue Run Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon is a small-batch whiskey and is the first Blue Run product with Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge overseeing the production (on all previous Blue Run products, except Golden Rye, Jim served as the Liquid Advisor). Rutledge distilled this batch at Castle & Key Distillery.

“For a four-year-old Bourbon, I’m impressed with the quality of this release, and I look forward to evaluating the subsequent releases of these barrels – after additional maturation,” said Jim Rutledge.

Blue Run Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon is distilled from a 65% Yellow Corn, 30% Rye, 5% Malted Barley mash bill. Just 100 carefully selected barrels were chosen for this bottling, each toasted to a #4 alligator char and aged in Frankfort and Bardstown, KY. Blue Run High Rye Bourbon clocks in at 111 proof.

“As we celebrate our one-year anniversary as a company, we wanted to release something that really made a statement and honored the deep traditions of whiskey making,” said Mike Montgomery, CEO and cofounder of Blue Run Spirits. “The legendary Jim Rutledge helped us craft a bold, spicy Bourbon that even at 111 proof is incredibly sippable, with a pronounced, memorable finish. We are very excited to see how these barrels evolve over time for subsequent bottlings.”

On the tongue, Blue Run High Rye Bourbon is a caramel beauty full of baking spices and a toasted oak frame that crescendos with a stone fruit and black pepper finish. Each bottle features an iridescent coating on the brand’s signature gold butterfly to create a prismatic, rainbow-hued medallion, making it easily identifiable on any back bar.

Since Blue Run Spirits launched in October 2020, the company has released five whiskies: the inaugural 13-Year-Old Bourbon; 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon, which was awarded top category honors at the prestigious 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition winning Best Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 Years & Older, as well as a Double Gold Medal; 14-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon, which won Best Small Batch Bourbon – 11 Years & Older, along with a Double Gold Medal; and the most recent release – Golden Rye Whiskey – which received a Gold Medal in San Francisco.

Blue Run Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon Whiskey is available for $89.99 SRP and can be found wherever high-end luxury Bourbons are sold. It will be followed by several holiday releases.

Blue Run Spirits can be purchased in Kentucky, Louisiana (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); New Jersey (Fedway Associates); Canada (Evergreen); and online through Seelbach’s at 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 Wild Turkey 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.

APCOR Partners with San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival® to Promote Environmental Benefits of Cork

November 3, 2021 by evebushman

SAN DIEGO (PRWEB) – The Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR) and the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival, one of California’s largest wine and food events, are proud to announce an environmentally-focused partnership to promote the sustainability of cork closures at the 17th annual festival and culinary celebration on November 11-14.

Born out of the shared goal of raising awareness of the biggest ecological issues facing the U.S. wine industry, APCOR and the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival will be implementing a groundbreaking cork recycling initiative throughout the event, a first for the festival. Utilizing the services of ReCork, North America’s largest recycler of corks, the festival will provide festival-wide recycling bins to consumers, and participating wineries across all events. Following the completion of the festival, ReCork will grind down all of the corks collected and provide the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival with a carbon sequestration total to showcase the positive impact that cork recycling had on the environment.

“We are excited to be partnering with APCOR for this groundbreaking cork recycling initiative,” said Michelle Metter, Producer of the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival. “We think it is important to do our part in raising awareness of the environmental impact of corks. By focusing on the education of cork recycling, the festival’s attendees will leave with insight they can pass on to others about cork recycling and sustainability.”

The San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival is an international showcase of the world’s premier wine and spirits producers, San Diego and Baja’s celebrated chefs and culinary personalities, brand experiences and live entertainment. The festival is a 4-day celebration of citywide events, including the Grand Tasting on Saturday, November 13.

APCOR will support the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival’s sustainability efforts with on-site education to help wine lovers learn about the incredible carbon sequestration properties of cork forests, cork closures, and cork as a material in general. Cork is a perfect balance between environmental preservation and sustainable development. It’s harvested without damaging or cutting down cork oak trees, which live for over 200 years. The cork oak forest is one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots, and can retain 14,000,000 tons of CO2 per year. It is estimated that for every ton of cork produced, cork oak forests capture up to 73 tons of CO2. As a renewable and natural product, cork can be recycled to produce a variety of everyday products, and is integral to the continued retention of CO2.

“We are delighted to be working with the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival to launch this first of its kind cork recycling initiative across the culinary celebration, and to support the festival’s goal of raising environmental awareness in its community,” said Joao Rui Ferreira, President of APCOR. “By partnering with one of the country’s premier wine and food festivals, we can educate food and wine lovers about natural cork’s positive environmental impacts, showcasing the intrinsic value of cork as a sustainable and renewable product.”

For nearly two decades, APCOR has been at the forefront of promotional efforts advocating on behalf of natural cork. In 2021, APCOR launched a new integrated communications campaign to promote the environmental benefits of cork, which continues to be the market leader for the premium wine market in the U.S. Natural cork closures have a negative carbon footprint when used to seal wines bottled in glass containers according to recent studies conducted by three of the world’s largest auditing companies. A single stopper has a balance of up to – 309 grams of CO2; numbers for sparkling wine stoppers go even higher at up to – 589 grams.

Working with ReCork, APCOR will be able to help wine lovers around the country learn about the full life cycle of cork closures once they are pulled from a bottle, and highlight the small, but highly impactful ways that wine drinkers can become climate activists through the simple act of recycling cork, starting with this recycling initiative at the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival in November.

About APCOR
Associação Portuguesa da Cortiça (APCOR) exists to represent and promote the Portuguese cork industry and its products. APCOR is the employers’ association of national scope, created in 1956 and is based in Santa Maria de Lamas, at the heart of the cork industry around 30 kilometers from Porto, Portugal’s second largest city. Membership of the association is open to all companies operating in the fields of production, marketing or export of cork products. The organization advocates on behalf of the Portuguese cork industry worldwide and is the driving force of an industry based on tradition, innovation and sustainability.

SAN DIEGO BAY WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL®
Travel to San Diego and Arrive at Awesome. The 17th Annual San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival is an international showcase of the world’s premier wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities, and gourmet foods. Held November 11-14, 2021 the festival raises funds for culinary, oenology or hospitality scholarships or grants and has awarded over $450,000 to individuals or nonprofits through previous events. Hundreds of wineries, breweries, and spirit companies and San Diego’s top restaurants participated in the 2019 Festival and the SDBWFF is looking forward to showcasing even more talent in 2021. For more information visit http://www.sandiegowineclassic.com. Produced by World of Wine Events and Fast Forward.

About ReCORK
ReCORK™ creates high-performance, carbon-negative composite materials and components using natural recycled cork. ReCORK™ was launched as a natural wine cork recycling program in 2008 by Canadian footwear company SOLE™. It has since become the largest program of its kind in North America, with an R&D team dedicated to innovation around the cork recycling process. ReCORK’s proprietary material, ReCORK™ Recycled Cork, redefines what’s possible using cork, offering a natural, sustainable, versatile alternative to foams and plastics derived from fossil fuels. ReCORK’s mission is to make petroleum-based foams and plastics obsolete. Learn more at recork.com.

Eastside Distilling Launches Burnside Black

November 2, 2021 by evebushman

Portland, Ore. — Portland craft distillery, Eastside Distilling, announces the national release of the Burnside Black Barrel Strength Rye Whiskey, a Bourbon Casked Double Barrel Rye. It is the newest, premium product in the Burnside Whiskeys® lineup, and recently won gold at the New York International Spirits Competition.

As with the other expressions in the Burnside portfolio, Burnside Black was rested in select Oregon white oak (Quercus Garryana) barrels, but it is special because it was also Bourbon Cask-Matured, resulting in a very distinctive flavor profile. Notes of green grass, wildflower honey, toasted hazelnut, leather, and honey caramel with a mellow tannic finish makes the release a stunning representation of Burnside’s meticulously blended whiskeys. As with all the releases, the Burnside Black uses pure Mt. Hood, Oregon water for superior taste and quality.

According to Jason Ericson, Eastside’s Head Distiller, “Oregon oak imparts a deep vanilla and clove flavor that American white oak cannot match. Quercus Garryana has high tannin levels requiring a minimum three-year seasoning period to ensure the bitter and astringent qualities of tannins do not over-influence our whiskey. The longer the staves are seasoned, the more the tannins break down, creating a darker, sweeter, and fruitier flavor than whiskey aged in American oak barrels.”

Eastside has the largest collection of Oregon white oak barrels dedicated to whiskey in the world. Since Oregon oak is a species of conservation concern, Eastside only uses responsibly harvested oak trees to age its Burnside Whiskeys®, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainability. They have recently partnered with American Forests, the nation’s oldest conservation organization, to help protect and restore the Oregon white oak habitat in the Willamette Valley. They will plant 5,000 oak trees as part of the restoration of the Oak Savannah in the Pacific Northwest. Furthermore, Eastside has joined the One Trillion Trees Initiative with the global goal of one trillion trees conserved, restored or grown by 2030.

“Oregon white oak trees have been an important part of the sustainability, values, and aesthetics of the state for hundreds of years and we are committed to helping Oregonians protect existing trees while growing the next generation of oaks,” says Janet Oak, Chief Brand Officer.

In addition to planting 5,000 Oregon white oak trees in the Willamette Valley, Eastside Distilling is also running an in-store promotion: for every bottle of Burnside Whiskey purchased, they will plant an Oregon white oak tree. Burnside Black Barrel Strength Rye Whiskey ($69) can be found in OR, WA, CA, ID, MT, WY, CO, AZ, and TX. The link to purchase here: https://shop.eastsidedistilling.com/ with nationwide shipping.

About Eastside Distilling
Eastside Distilling, Inc. (NASDAQ: EAST) has been producing high-quality, award-winning craft spirits in Portland, Oregon since 2008. The company’s distinguished product lineup includes its newly released Eastside limited-edition spirits portfolio, Azuñia Tequilas®, Burnside Whiskeys®, Hue-Hue Coffee Rum®, and Portland Potato Vodkas®. Eastside is widely recognized for its expertise in blending, aging, and finishing distillates hand-selected from the finest spirit producers worldwide and using locally grown ingredients and pure Oregon water for superior taste and quality. For more information, please visit www.eastsidedistilling.com, or follow Eastside Distilling on Instagram and Facebook.

About American Forests
American Forests is the oldest national conservation organization in the country. The organization has more than 1,000 forest restoration projects in every state in the nation, planted nearly 65 million trees, and helped expand tree canopy in dozens of major cities and urban areas. Today, American Forests continues to be a leading advocate for forest conservation in the United States, and believes trees are a solution to two major current crises: climate change and social inequity.

About 1t.org
The US Chapter of 1t.org is co-led by the World Economic Forum and American Forests, the United States’ oldest conservation organization. Launched in August 2020, the chapter is supported by the US Stakeholder Council: a multi-stakeholder, bipartisan group of senior representatives from across the public and private sector. The US Chapter facilitates the leadership of US-based companies, non-profits, governments and individuals to help 1t.org reach its goals with unprecedented scale and speed. Since launching, the US Chapter has mobilized pledges to conserve, restore and grow more than 955 million trees to cover 2.8 million acres by 2030 — including billions of dollars pledged towards supporting activities such as workforce development, nursery capacity, technological tools and financing mechanisms. Pledges are accepted on an ongoing basis. To submit a pledge, please visit US.1t.org.

Just Around the Corner From Barcelona, Welcome to Penedès Wine Region

October 27, 2021 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – An hour drive west of kaleidoscopic Barcelona, the Penedès region has recently come under the radar of wine lovers looking for a quiet off-the-beaten-path place where to taste some graceful wine while still benefiting from Barcelona’s flight and train connections.

Located halfway between Barcelona and Tarragona, Pedenès Protected Denomination of Origin extends over 6178 acres, with vines covering ten different micro-regions scattered all the way from the sea up to steep hills of about 800 metres. Xarello, the flagship variety of Penedès, gives life to refreshing and vibrant whites, which gain in complexity and texture when aged in oak. Reds, which make up for 35% of the local production, represent the undiscovered jewel of the region, a repertoire ranging from native Samsò rich in anthocyanins to fruity Ull de Llebre, from juicy Garnatxa to Monastrell suitable for ageing and international varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Intense rosé wines are also produced in the region, mainly from Garnatxa.

The region, whose wine production dates back to the Phoenicians as witnessed by archaeological sites such as Font de la Canya in Avinyonet del Penedès, has been able to preserve its traditions while keeping up with technical innovation and featuring a fresh and attractive quality wine offering which resonates with the nearby city of Barcelona and its vibrant cultural life. Daily wine tours to Penedès country as well as weekend retreats among the vineyards are easy to arrange, allowing those that want to escape the city to explore a rich vinous inheritance, a tasty cuisine and historical attractions.

Penedès is one of the many PDOs featured in Taste The Difference campaign which focuses on promoting quality wines made in Spain and Italy with activities running from October to December 2021 all over the US.

About TASTE THE DIFFERENCE PROGRAM
The program: European quality wines: taste the difference is a project financed by the European Union and managed by Unione Italiana Vini and PRODECA for the promotion of PDO and PGI European wines abroad in China and US. In order to achieve this objective, the TTD.EU program will organize wine seminars, workshops and b2b meetings both in these countries and in Spain and Italy, inviting wine professionals to join study trips to Europe. The program, realized in the span of three years (2021-2023) aims at creating awareness about European quality wines, in particular Italian and Spanish, which share a long tradition and a high standard of quality.

The beneficiaries: Unione Italiana Vini is the oldest and most commissioned Association of the Italian wine market. It represents cooperative, private and agricultural wine-companies, bottlers, consortia, associations and wine-making machines or wine cellars / laboratory manufacturers, located throughout the Italian territory. Promotora de Exportaciones Catalanas (PRODECA) is a public company established in 1986 and added to the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Government of the “Generalitat de Catalunya.

New From Smith-Madrone

October 22, 2021 by evebushman

Earlier this year I reviewed the 2017 Chardonnay and Riesling from Smith-Madrone. Eddie and I really liked the wines and my two-bottle review is here if you would like to read it. To give you an idea of how much we appreciated these wines, here was my opening:

When was the last time you tried a new wine from Napa…but wait…let me re-phrase that: When was the last time you had a wine from Napa that you never had before, that has been around since the 1970s, and that you found to be damn good? Well I was what they say “today years old” when I had chance to review three new-to-me wines from Smith-Madrone…

Now it’s time to try the just-released 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. I was really looking forward to sampling this new vintage, based on what I thought of the two I had already reviewed I hoped it would be just as great. I will share my tasting notes and then the notes from Smith-Madrone:

Eve’s Notes

Lovely bottle with a deep punt, the front label showing Estate Bottled, and the date they were established: 1971. Also made note of the 14.3% alcohol. Then I anxiously got down to the tasting. Noting the color first, it was opaque and reminded me of lush blackberries. After a few swirls I noted layers of blue and black fruit, dried cherries, forest floor, milk chocolate, toasted oak, spice tingling my nose and a very slight menthol/mint. Tasting the wine proved to be exactly what I was looking for: those same layers of both fresh and dried dark fruit, green peppercorns, followed by some spice – this time tingling my tongue – and a very long finish due to the drying tannins. Tried the wine again an hour later with food and it only improved. 94 Eve points indeed.

From Smith Madrone

Aromatically, the 2018 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon fills your glass with a magic conjunction of red and black fruit, cedar, graphite and perhaps a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg.

The superb nose is followed by a palate sensation of impressive size, shape and amplitude. The wine is big and beautifully textured, but with such impeccable balance. The structure becomes a dimension in and of itself. The piercing, focused aroma leads to a solid core of dark Cabernet fruit. The wine is a veritable treasure trove of aroma and flavor; it finishes long and strong with moderate fine grain tannins that suggests a long and happy future.

It is often the case that the best older wines were once the best younger wines and we are betting our fifty years of experience that the 2018 Cabernet is further proof of the truth of this wise old adage.

WINE SPECS:

Vintage – 2018

Varietal – Cabernet Sauvignon

Appellation – Spring Mountain District

https://www.smithmadrone.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.

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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Global Spirits Company Donates $500,000 to Support America’s White Oak Forests

October 6, 2021 by evebushman

WASHINGTON (PRWEB) – The White Oak Initiative, a diverse coalition of partners committed to the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak forests, today announced that it will receive a $500,000 donation from Beam Suntory’s Yamazaki brand as the company celebrates the limited release of Yamazaki 55, its 55-year-old Japanese single malt whisky.

The donation, which supports Beam Suntory’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy, represents $5,000 for every bottle of Yamazaki 55 sold this year and is meant to honor the forests that produced the casks in which components of this whisky were aged.

“Beam Suntory’s generous donation and partnership is a great example of the collaboration we are seeing in the spirits industry and across the board between end users of wood products and those that cultivate our forests,” said Melissa Moeller, director of the White Oak Initiative at the American Forest Foundation.

Founded by the University of Kentucky, the DendriFund and the American Forest Foundation, the White Oak Initiative has grown to a broad coalition between the spirits industry, conservation organizations, universities and forest products companies to ensure the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak forests. American white oak is a cornerstone tree species of the eastern United States, occupying more than 100 million acres of land. Not only vital for wildlife, white oak is the most commercially important timber oak, necessary for industries such as furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and wine and spirits. Without collective action now, the many benefits of these iconic trees could be lost to inadequate management, insects, disease and changing climate conditions.

“We support the White Oak Initiative because we are passionate about healthy forests and are committed to helping preserve the many benefits that American white oak forests provide,” Beam Suntory President & CEO Albert Baladi said. “Yamazaki 55 is an exceptional and unprecedented whisky that is carefully crafted at the Yamazaki Distillery, which is surrounded by nature and aged partially in American oak casks. We are proud to honor Suntory’s legacy, both as the pioneer of Japanese whisky and with our longstanding commitment of giving back to society.”

The $500,000 donation will support the White Oak Initiative’s work related to public education, technical assistance for foresters and loggers, testing and reporting, and on-the-ground activities such as improving forest management, site preparation work, and other important actions around white oak regeneration and sustainability.

About the White Oak Initiative
Founded in 2017 by the University of Kentucky, the DendriFund and the American Forest Foundation, the White Oak Initiative brings together industries, universities, state and federal agencies, private landowners, conservation organizations and trade associations that are committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak forests as well as the economic, social and environmental benefits they provide.

About the American Forest Foundation
The American Forest Foundation is a national conservation organization that works with a broad coalition of partners to empower family forest owners to make a meaningful conservation impact around carbon sequestration, clean water, wildlife protection, wildfire reduction, sustainable wood supplies and support for rural economies. Because a large portion of America’s white oak is located on family-owned forestland, the American Forest Foundation has taken on a leadership role in the management and activities of the White Oak Initiative.

South Coast Winery Garners Awards at Wine Competition

September 19, 2021 by evebushman

TEMECULA, Calif. – South Coast Winery, owned by the Carter family, received three prestigious awards at the 2021 Toast of the Coast Wine Competition produced by the San Diego County Fair. Eighteen wine industry experts – sommeliers, wine journalists, consultants and wine business managers – participated in the judging, which took place late May at the festival held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, Calif. The competition celebrates wineries from around the world producing the finest quality wines.

“This year as we celebrate our 20^th anniversary, we are once again proud to have winning wines designated by The Toast of the Coast Competition adding to our impressive collection of over 3,000 wine accolades garnered throughout the years,” said Jeff Carter, president of Carter Hospitality, which owns South Coast Winery. “Our mission has always been to use expert knowledge and craft to produce the very best wines, retaining a sense of each varietal’s personality and terroir of origin.”

The 2017 South Coast Winery Meritage won the highest-level Double Gold reserved for the finest wines as agreed on unanimously by an assigned three judge panel and scoring 94 points or higher on a 100-point scale. Dark purple red in color, the aromas of blackberry and currants are the first thing noticed, while subtle herbal notes and warm, toasty oak aromas bring depth and structure to this complex wine. It is a classic quintet of Bordeaux varietals – cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot, malbec and carménère – blended to create a wine that is finely textured and nuanced from start to finish.

Silver award winner, South Coast Winery Grenache Noir Rosé, is light in body, crisp in acidity and very dry, delivering an elegant rosé and the perfect wine for any cuisine and festivity. It is nuanced with a hint of rosy color carrying delicate strawberry, raspberry and cotton candy aromas, married with refined citrus and floral notes. The winery’s NV South Coast Winery Sparkling Pinot Grigio also won a Silver award. Light and refreshing, this sparkler has notes of fresh Meyer lemon and key lime, crisp green apple and white nectarines. It is slightly effervescent and great for everyday celebrations.

A list of all winners and additional information is available at thetoastofthecoast.com.

About South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

The only winery among the state’s top wineries to claim the title of California Winery of the Year four times at the California State Fair Wine Competition, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa sets the gold standard for excellence amongst California wineries, earning more than 3,000 awards since its inception in 2003. Situated on 63 lush acres, the resort offers a breathtaking retreat for wine tours, romantic getaways and group events with 132 rooms and villas, a working winery and tasting room, gift shop, full-service spa and restaurant.

South Coast Winery offers a broad portfolio of 45 wine labels, the majority of which are available for sampling in its main tasting room – from robust reds such as Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Petit Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir to whites including Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Riesling. Also available are sparkling wines, dessert wines and other specialty offerings. The winery employs a staff of skilled winemakers, including master winemaker Jon McPherson and winemaker Javier Flores, both with decades of experience in the wine industry.

For more information, visit www.southcoastwinery.com.

About Carter Hospitality Group

Established in 2011, Carter Hospitality Group, LLC. is a family-owned hospitality company with four hotels and resorts as well as three wineries across the United States. Based in Orange County, California, the company manages and owns a portfolio of luxury properties including South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Temecula, California; Carter Estate Winery and Resort, Temecula California; and Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa, Texas Hill Country. Carter Hospitality Group additionally serves as the owner-franchisee for Red Lion Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista South, Orlando Florida. For more information, visit www.carterhospitality.com.

A Chard and a Brut Cuvee Met…In My Kitchen

August 13, 2021 by evebushman

It’s summertime and the living is easy, that’s how the saying goes and it’s a good time to discover some white wines I haven’t had before. The two we are looking at today come from different California AVAs and are also different varieties. We have a Chard from Santa Barbara County and a sparkling from the Arroyo Grande Valley.

2019 Qupe Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, “Y” Block

Aromas: Freshly sliced lemons, pineapple, mown grass, cheddar cheese, milk, wet concrete. Flavors: Lively fresh citrus and stone fruits, lemon zest, limeade, toasted oak, mild acidity, long finish. Classic chardonnay in style, structure and flavor. Paired with Shrimp Scampi and it served well as a palate cleanser between bites indeed.

An excerpt from the website:

HONORING THE CHUMASH

The name “qupé” was chosen to honor the Chumash, the indigenous people of the Golden State’s Central Coast and Channel Islands.

In Chumash, “qupé” refers to the poppy, a flowering plant traditionally used for food and medicine. In 1903 the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) was officially designated the state flower, and every spring masses of the bright orange blossoms still blanket local hills and back country.