The Whisky Shop Dufftown Challenge for Independent Bottlers: Speyside

The Whisky Shop Dufftown threw down the gauntlet and challenged the independent bottlers to find the best Speyside Single Malt.  Our guests at The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2016 voted for their favourite in blind tastings. The winner was Old Malt Cask Speyside 1993 21 Years Old from Hunter Laing.

First Place:

• Old Malt Cask Speyside 1993 21 Years Old (£86.95)

Second Place:

• Adelphi Glenrothes 1991 25 Years Old (£189.00)

The Whisky Shop Dufftown Challenge for Independent Bottlers:  Rest of Whisky

The Whisky Shop Dufftown threw down the gauntlet and challenged the independent bottlers to find the best whisk(e)y not from Speyside – it could be any whisk(e)y just not a single malt whisky from Speyside.  Our guests at The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2016 voted for their favourite in blind tastings. The winner was Adelphi Bunnahabhain 2005 11 Years Old.  We should also mention the Old Perth Sherry which coming in second place and at that price is amazing!

First Place:

• Adelphi Bunnahabhain 2005 11 Years Old (£75.95)

Second Place:

• Old Perth Sherry cask from Morrison & MacKay (£29.95)

Each year, Mike as Chairman of the awards, has a look at the whiskies that did not win to see if there is another one that did really well with the public but also shows value for money considering how highly it was placed.  If he sees one then he will award it The Chairman’s Award for a Cracking Dram.  This year he has decided there is a deserving dram and that is the Old Perth Sherry which to beat off competition from much older more expensive whisky to come second place in the Rest of Whisky category makes it worth £29.95 of any one’s money.

The Best Tasting Note

 As part of the Challenge for Independent Bottlers we ask our guests taking part in the judging to write tasting notes for the whiskies as well as picking their favourites.  At the end of the festival we pick the best tasting notes and the winner receives a bottle of their favourite whisky from the competition.

This year it was won by Ruth Ball and she wins a bottle of Old Malt Cask Speyside 21 Years Old.

Ends Sunday 17th July 20.00 GMT

July the month of summer & heat, although the recent weather here in Scotland would suggest it was the start of winter. So as we go live with our 32nd auction, we are sure there is plenty of amazing whiskies to heat things up! Our July auction brings us a huge array of Islay malts from Ardbeg, Bruichladdich & Kilchoman a perfect combination for the Islay fans!  Bidding starts an hour earlier than usual this month, so bidding will commence from 5PM today (UK Time) and comes to an end from 8PM on Sunday the 17th July.

Here are just a few handed picked from our Islay malts on offer this month.

VIEW AUCTION

Scotland

2004 Caol Ila Cask Strength Gordon & MacPhail Single Malt Whisky (750ml)  $99.99

Ireland

Redbreast 21 Year Old Pure Pot Still Irish Whiskey (750ml) (1 bottle limit)  $249.99 

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Bruichladdich 25 Year Old 1988 Old Malt Cask

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

 

Bruichladdich 25 Year Old 1988 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whiskey. Single cask refill hogshead #9810 bottled May 2013 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old Malt Cask series. 328 bottles. Bruichladdich Distillery was established in 1881 on the Rhinns peninsular on the island of Islay close by the sandy bays of Loch Indaal. Re-opened in 2001 with much of the original Victorian equipment restored to working order. The first release of Bruichladdich’s new whisky was the highly acclaimed PC5, the first release in the limited Port Charlotte range. Also producing very highly peated Octamore, Organic using Islay grown barley, and triple and quadruple distilled single malts. The Bruichladdich distillery visitor centre offers distillery tours including the bottling hall and the distillery participates in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Whisky Festival.

 

Angels’ Nectar toasts shortlist success again 1^st July 2016

The Rich Peat Edition of Angels’ Nectar Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, from Grantown-on-Spey based Highfern Ltd, has been shortlisted in the 2016 Highland and Islands Food and Drink Awards, for the Best Drink Award.

The Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards are now in their 12^th year and celebrate the best of food and drink from across the Highlands and Islands and the Cairngorms National Park.

Speaking as he received the good news about their shortlist success, Highfern founder Robert Ransom said:

“To be shortlisted for the second year running is a fantastic endorsement from the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards for our fledgling whisky business. Indicative of the interest in our new Rich Peat Edition of Angels’ Nectar, amongst others we have shipped export orders to the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea and Sweden.’ 

Inspired by the Angels’ share, the traditional name given to the whisky lost to evaporation during the maturation of Scotch Whisky, the Rich Peat Edition of Angels’ Nectar Blended Malt Scotch Whisky has been created from a selection of Highland malt whiskies, and oozes a welcoming peat smoke, with hints of toffee apple and dark chocolate. With its innovative ‘Angels within Angel’ graphic design (which won the 2015 Scottish Creative Award for Illustration), Angels’ Nectar presents a much-loved story from whisky folklore in a contemporary fashion.

Judging for the awards took place at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness with a panel of judges examining and tasting the entries. The judges included representatives from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scotland Food & Drink, and the current Ambassadors of the Year, Jill and Callum Clark of Connage Highland Dairy.

The winners will be announced on Friday 21st of October at a glittering awards ceremony at the Kingsmills Hotel, hosted by comedian and broadcaster, Fred MacAulay.

Notes:

1. In 2015 the First Edition of Angels’ Nectar was shortlisted for the Best New Product and Best Drink categories in the Highland and Islands Food and Drink Awards. For more please see http://www.hifoodanddrinkawards.com/ 2. For more on the Scottish Creative Awards, please see http://www.scottishcreativeawards.com/
2. Blended Malt – a category of whisky which is a blend of malt whiskies, with no grain whisky, previously known as Vatted Malt.
3. Amongst others the Rich Peat Edition is available from: Deli Mair, Elephants in the Pantry, Gordon & MacPhail, The Storehouse, shop4whisky, The Whisky Shop Dufftown and Whisky Castle. 5. Web: http://www.angelsnectar.co.uk/ Twitter: @angelsnectar     Facebook: angelsnectarwhisky 6. For more information please contact; Robert Ransom, Highfern Ltd, Robert@highfern.co.uk  Mobile: 07811 640778

For those looking for the elite of Japanese whiskey and finding only empty shelves, perhaps it is time to explore these remarkable selections from Kavalan. Taiwan’s Kavalan distillery once faced an uphill battle, selling the quality of their precocious, young single malt whisky to a world of skeptics. It didn’t take long, however, to sway the critics. Starting with their Ex-Bourbon offering winning “World Whisky of the Year” from Whisky Advocate and then their Vinho Barrique taking “World’s Best Single Malt Whisky” at the World Whisky Awards the entire planet took notice. It was clear to all that Kavalan’s Single Cask offerings were among the finest whiskies being produced anywhere in the world. For the past year the single cask line, referred to by the distillery as Solist casks, they’ve become nearly impossible to get.

Here at K&L we are lucky to have a close relationship to both the company and to the master distiller Ian Chang, who hosted our group in Taiwan back in 2014. Due to the close bond that was formed between K&L and Kavalan, we were allowed to select three single barrel casks to be bottled exclusively for our store; all three of which were ex-Bourbon barrels. Because of Taiwan’s subtropical climate and intense humidity, the whisky ages more rapidly and soaks up the flavor of each cask with intense concentration. In all three cases, the Bourbon flavor comes through on the whisky almost more than the single malt character.

Check out more On the Trail but don’t miss out on these incredibly exclusive selections while they’re available. Simply put, there’s nothing like them.

Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Cask #52″ K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($149.99)

Barrel #52 has classic American whiskey aromatics with intense oak and a high dose of vanilla with more toasted oak character coming through strong on the palate. At 58.6% ABV, the alcohol is potent and intense, so water is definitely recommended. With a few drops, the whisky unloosens itself and opens up more fruit and spice with additional layers of toasted oak and vanilla, but the structure never fades. The oak has penetrated deeply into this whisky. The finish is strong.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 30, 2016

Cask #52 has a massive nose of creamy rich coconut, powerful Tahitian vanilla, and sweet fresh spices. Expect deep toasty caramel on the palate, with piles of over ripe fruit and American oak spices taking over on the back palate. This may be too powerful for many single malt drinkers without water, but should satiate the most seasoned bourbon lover right out of the bottle.

Gary Norton | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 24, 2016

I often find that the spirit itself plays second fiddle to the finishing median (…my fancy term for barrel) when it comes to whiskies. This offering, however, shows a tremendous interplay between the single malt character and the ex-bourbon casks it was aged in. Vanilla, salted caramel, dried fruit, layers of complexity. This is one for the ages–grab a bottle while it’s still here.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 24, 2016

This is one of three (and my personal favorite) new exclusive single barrel whiskeys from Kavalan. A sweet butterscotch nose with light hints of warm stone fruit lead in to a very pleasant whiskey. There is a nice full texture with notes of stone fruit, vanilla, and butterscotch culminating into a baking spice finish with some lingering heat. This is a great bottle to give as a gift to someone or to yourself.

Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Cask #75 K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($149.99)

Barrel #75A is another beast of a whisky at 58.6% ABV, but it’s the richest of the three by a hair with subtle floral elements that dance atop the intense oak flavor. There’s more maltiness apparent on the palate than the others and there’s a tropical coconut note on the finish that comes from the sweetness of the oak. It still needs water, however, as the high proof masks much of the complexity when taken neat. It’s a whisky to unlock slowly and methodically.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 30, 2016
Cask #75 is easily the most closed of the three casks right out of the bottle. It shows dark flavors, more exotic wood and deeper spice notes, still exhibiting incredible complexity, but without the intense sweet notes of the other two casks. With water however, this baby really opens up and starts to bring in complexities not available in its sisters. First, the mahogany notes begin to move more toward sandalwood and around the omnipresent vanilla, you’ll see fresh mint and echoes of malted grain. This whisky begs you to take your time an watch it’s layers unfold.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 24, 2016
Another excellent exclusive for us here at K&L, this single barrel Taiwanese whisky opens with a rich nose resplendent with some dense fruit notes and plenty of caramel. The body is creamy with fruit and lots of baking spice. The finish is somewhat woody and coats the mouth, leading to a super long finish with some heat. This is a long, rich whisky that has plenty of complexity.

Sal Rodriguez | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 22, 2016
This baby is intense, and delicious! The sweetness (think brown sugar and maple syrup) is quite evident from the nose, and continues on throughout the palate. A good deal of vanilla extract and a touch of anise is waiting for you as you continue to drink. If you just add a little water to this, it is going to sing! Just incredible!

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 22, 2016
With water this baby really opens up and lets loose a wave of sweet vanilla, crème brulee, soft fruit, and even a hint of tropical fruit on the finish. Kavalan’s Solist series has always been popular, and now we’ve got our own limited edition batches here at K&L!

Joe Manekin | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 22, 2016
This is a delicious cask of whiskey! It’s got incredible richness and sweetness: think vanilla cream frosting and cake batter. Adding a bit of water helps to bring out more layered aromas and balance this intense whiskey. This has my highest recommendation for anyone who loves full flavored Scotch not that is not lacking in decadent richness or sweetness.

Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Cask #76 K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel Taiwanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($149.99)
Barrel #76A is the softest of the three at a mere 57.8%, and with water showcases a creamier and more nuanced palate of vanilla, fruit, and burnt sugar. This is the prettiest of the bunch with pronounced maltiness on the finish and plenty of spice. It’s classic Bourbon barrel-aged single malt, but with more oak concentration from the warm maturation environment.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 30, 2016
The gorgeous cask #76 is perhaps the most balanced of the three. Like getting that perfect dessert from a world class chef, it shows incredible richness and complexity but never feels out of balance. Big bold sweet notes, but moving away from the frosting and caramel of cask #52 toward a more seamless spiced honey tone. Slightly lower proof than her sisters, this whisky drinks right of the bottle like a dream, although a touch of water does highlight some of the wild honey that I love. Either way, this whisky seems to have no edge and while bold, it’s never sharp or aggressive. A truly special cask and a pleasure to have on the bar for however long it can possibly last.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 27, 2016
Cask 76 has aromas that are honey and floral-like. In the mouth it is round and pretty, with honey flavors and a touch of floral notes. It is full-bodied and will open and soften up with a splash of water.

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 24, 2016

We’re all in agreement here at K&L, the Kavalan whiskies are straight up delicious. Whether one puts that down to the skill of the distiller, the shape of their still, the heat and humidity in which the barrels are matured or another multitude of variables that affect whisky is anyone’s guess…but one thing’s for sure…there is something magic here. The whiskies have texture and richness more akin to spirits at least twice their age. The integration of the barrel spice and the seamless feel they have on the palate is just awesome. If really pressed to declare a favorite of the three current casks I would pick this #76. However, to be honest, if I tasted them a third time I might have another favorite again. Each cask has something to offer, with just subtle nuances defining them. It’s so awesome that we have access to doing single barrel cask strength bottlings with these guys…they’re the real deal.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 24, 2016
In my opinion this was the richest of the exclusive single barrel whiskies from Kavalan. Right off the bat, the nose hold lots of caramel and dense fruit with hints of butterscotch. This holds true on the palate where layers of butterscotch coat the fruit, while vanilla and hints of spice season it. A rather spicy finish with some heat leaves the tongue tingling and ready for another sip.

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

MEET THE MAKER EVENT

We have a special meet the maker event in London on July 6th 3-6PM when you lucky people can come in and try a dram or two of Paul John. It’s an open house event in the main area of the store so come along anytime between 3PM & 6PM. I can tell you this is a real eyeopener of a tasting that will open minds and hearts to some amazing drams and even better you get to meet the man behind the dram.

HAPPY DAYS – AFTER THE MADNESS

Is it all over? Have they stopped all the talking shouting and spin over the referendum?! If the answer is yes then I think we all need a dram to take the edge off the most damaging period in our history for some decades now!

This is the start of a big summer with new single malts and single grains coming from Cadenhead’s Small Batch range.

Our main focus for this season’s first major release is all about smooth rich single malts with some truly amazing single grains that will blow you away for the smoothness and complexity they deliver across the palate.

So with-out further delay lets get to the big news and a bit of a distillery focus for a few of the new range. I think I am tempted to start off with a rather impressive 11 year old.

Dailuaine 11 year old 46% Vol Sherry Cask June 2016.

Dailuaine 11 year old 46% Vol Sherry Cask June 2016. This distillery has been a firm favourite with our London Store, This great value dram will prove why it’s one of our top malts.

Dailuaine distillery established in 1852 by William Mackenzie after William passed 1865 his widow leased the distillery to a banker from Aberlour Mr James Fleming. In 1879 Williams son joins forces with Mr Fleming to form Mackenzie & Company with Mr Fleming. After a huge rebuilding of the distillery takes place in 1884 Dailuaine became one of the largest and highly productive distilleries in the Highland’s (Speyside) region. This distillery was also the first to install the now famous Pagoda roof shape in 1889.

The distillery has operated constantly since it was established apart from a fire in 1917, damage was extensive leading to a 3 year closure until it reopened in 1920. Its capacity is over 3.3 million litres. This 11 year old sherry cask is a stunning dram so full of rich flavours it’s going to be hard to put it down. I would caution self restraint as this is an incredibly limited vintage small batch release.

Now lets look at Glendullan (Speyside)

I am a huge fan of this distillery, our new 19 year old is going to be a fast mover so sit back and enjoy if you manage to grab a bottle.

The distillery established in 1897 had the honour of being the favourite dram of Edward VII. Normally when this 24 June 2016 happens distilleries would normally add the word ROYAL to the brand name Glendullan obviously avoided this path of rebranding.

If you come across the distillery while in the Dufftown area you might be forgiven for thinking it’s a more recent distillery with it’s 1960s look after it was rebuilt back then it seems the idea of keeping its original look was not an option! While the distillery looks somewhat blockish and some say austere the malt it produces is outstanding.

This new 19 year old small batch is delivering across the palate, rich rounded and in my book anyway superb. For more detail notes we have made in London see the web shop.

ABERLOUR 25 1990 This is a rich dram that’s going to be a huge hit in London for sure.

AUCHENTOSHAN 17 1999 A delightful smooth dram with the most elegant taste profile you would ever want from a lowland dram.

BLAIR ATHOL 23 1997 Step back in time to better days with this dram that’s delivering across the palate, another top malt in London no doubt about it.

CREATIONS 23 1992 BATCH 2 Summer in a bottle that goes on and on with rich smooth complexity.

CALEDONIAN 28 1987 RARE SINGLE CASK GRAIN If you like the rare and unusual then this is for you. Its a summer time dream with popcorn and vanilla, creamy chocolate notes, all the aromas of a school tuck shop full of sweets. AMAZING dram that i am more than happy to recommend.

DAILUAINE 11 2004 46% Sherry bomb that explodes with richness from the nose to the finish very limited availability

GLENDULLAN 19 1996 A sit back and relax dram thats rich and mouth coating. Some drams just have to be in a collection.

GLEN GRANT 23 1992 Old style Glen Grant that’s going into my top malts of the month. You guys don’t have to buy this because I will given the chance! It’s delivering old style richness and fruit notes with hints of spice and apple.

GLEN SPEY 14 2001 46% A vanilla and cream dram that will be perfect for those who want a rare dram at a good price for a more thoughtful gift idea. The palate is rich smooth and long well worth having on a warm summer Sunday after dinner.

NORTH BRITISH 31 1985 A single grain that seems to think its a malt! Delicious rich and elegant with creamy marshmallows to tropical fruits across the whole palate. This dram proves age does matter when we seek a more elegant dram.

SPEYSIDE 24 1991 Another great dram from one of my personal favourite distilleries thats constantly delivering on taste and quality. This dram is a bigger one than the last Authentic collection with fruity notes on the nose along with salted butter, the palate has apples and caramel liquor notes with the finish toffee and cherry.

So that’s it for this week as we settle down with this collection expect news of more vintages to arrive soon. If you are use to the web shop check the news section over the next few weeks as we release some truly limited editions onto the site, I could send endless newsletters to clog up in-boxes but that will bore you all as much as an MP prattling on about what they have not planned following the referendum!

Some of the lines will be as few as 6 bottles so be quick if you see it arrive on the web shop they are all one time only drams.

I will send a new newsletter for the new ranges from Springbank and the new Authentic collection due out soon and of course the big one of the season Kilkerran 12 year old with a special event planned across the company.

So finally what has changed since June 23rd? At the moment very little apart from the arrangements we had set in place to ship internationally sadly we will now have to start all over again as i am sure you will understand any contracts set in place and prices need to enable us to continue beyond the removal of the UK from the E.U

For our E.U customers and friends you can still buy more than 1 bottle per order no limits are in place if this changes in the future we will let you know.

All bottles purchased and on hold in our holding room are not effected and we have no intention of removing those now rare bottles from your collections we will honour all our customers purchases.

It’s been a very difficult time since the shock result last week, we understand concerns from our customers who have contacted us over the last few days but please be assured we have planned as far ahead as we possibly can and as of now NOTHING has changed in anyway.

So until the next newsletter Keep your head high and carry on!

Stephen W

New TWE Exclusive Signatory Bottlings!

We like the folks at Signatory. Andrew and his team know good whisky and we’re very pleased they sometimes let us into their warehouses to choose some casks. Our latest four TWE-exclusive drams have just landed – here’s what I thought:

BLAIR ATHOL 1988 27YO CASK #6545

Nose: Sharp aromatics leap out of the glass immediately after pouring – green leaves, freshly cut grass, and sweet and sappy oak – but they quickly burn off to reveal more sweetness underneath. Toffee and butter shortbread are joined by lemon drizzle cake, mixed fruit jam, apple sauce and thickly buttered fruit loaf slathered with lemon curd.

Palate: Intense sweetness fades to reveal savoury notes – oatcakes and dry toast. Sweetness builds again, with toffee and spiced apple purée becoming almost overpowering, before revealing a core of sweet green leaves, caramel and citrus peel. The intensity softens, leaving floral and soft leafy notes.

Finish: Sharp spice fades to honey and green leafiness.

Comment: Intense but worth the ride – layers of sweet and savoury, focusing on the cask character.

CAOL ILA 2007 8YO #315325

Nose: Soft, sweet and earthy peat, with a flash of sea-spray sharpness. Rich sweetness emerges from behind the smoke – malt loaf, sultanas, salted caramel and hints of fruity dark chocolate. Time in the glass reveals lighter flavours of lemon, lime and sweet Muscat grapes.

Palate: Sweet and savoury up front, with salted nuts meeting barley sugar and hints of Parma violets. Rich and earthy peat smoke sits at the core, with a surround of citrus and clove.

Finish: Sharp lime and apple, gravelly smoke and rye crispbread fade to dark chocolate and cinnamon spice.

Comment: Much darker in character than the light colour suggests, with a weighty backbone complemented by zesty and spicy flavours.

IMPERIAL 1995 20YO #50252

Nose: Honeysuckle, candy necklaces, Victoria sponge, rose water, Battenberg cake and hints of freshly cut grass. Biscuity notes build – Nice and custard creams vie for attention – along with resinous and sappy touches. Spicy candied ginger sits at the back.

Palate: The floral notes from the nose burst on to the palate, with a side order of toasted raisin bagels and creamy butter. Sharper and sweeter flavours develop, with autumn leaves, grass and bark balanced by golden syrup and lemon sherbert.

Finish: Woody spices fade to green leaves and sweet earthy notes.

Comment: Light, delicate and floral on the nose, with a kick of complexity on the palate.

MORTLACH 1998 18YO OLOROSO FINISH #5

Nose: Concentrated raisins with fragrant brown sugar – touches of Eccles and lardy cakes – with cherry jam. Sharper notes of varnished and polished oak tables provide contrast, but are balanced by barley sugar, sweet-shop notes of melting Wham bars and Refreshers chews, and sweet spice – cinnamon sugar and clove pastilles.

Palate: Thick sweetness on the front of the tongue, fading to spicy bitterness at the back. Lashings of sweet and bitter orange sit in the middle, with mouth-puckering citrus oil and creamy orange-fondant touches. Underneath the citrus is a darker layer, with sappy driftwood, rich riverbank earth and crackling autumn leaves providing foundation.

Finish: Brown sugar fades to spicy fruit cake.

Comment: The four-and-a-half years of maturation in a sherry cask has given this layers of dark fruit, but Mortlach’s weighty spirit character still pokes out from behind.

These, as well as the last few remaining bottles of our previous exclusives, are available from The Whisky Exchange website.

Mark Dermul, Belgian Whisky blogger, tastes a bourbon for a change. Elijah Craig is one of the few brands produced by the family owned Heaven Hill Distillery in the States. Bottled at 94 proof, which translates into 47% ABV, the 12 Year Old is one of the bestselling bourbons they put out. Those 12 years on casks have turned this entry level bourbon into a round and rich drink. This is value for money. 

https://youtu.be/jkWQ_IyVX04

David Nicholson 1843® Launches New Variant and Updates Packaging

Brand Releases David Nicholson Reserve® 

(St. Louis) June 27, 2016 – Luxco announced the brand refresh of David Nicholson 1843® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and the launch of David Nicholson Reserve® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The brand, dating back to 1843 and part of Luxco’s portfolio of whiskeys since 2000, will continue to provide 100 proof ultra-premium bourbon, in an updated sleek, upscale package for both of the variants.

“The 100-proof bourbon category continues to explode with an impressive 24 percent growth rate*,” says Fletcher Buchman, brand manager at Luxco. “We continue to add products to our portfolio that fulfill the demand for craft bourbons with fuller flavor and connect current and future consumers that celebrate authentic bourbons.”

David Nicholson Reserve is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that offers a rye mash bill for a spicy, warm finish and will be available in 750ml in July. This bourbon, bottled at 100 proof, is extra aged for a more robust flavor and a full-bodied long finish. Suggested retail price per bottle is $34.99-$39.99. The suggested retail price per bottle for the David Nicholson 1843 is $29.99-$34.99.

“David Nicholson 1843 is still made according to the original recipe and offers a smooth, wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey with hints of vanilla and oak. For David Nicholson Reserve, with the rye mash bill, we achieved a more complex, toasted rich flavor and a spicier bourbon,” says Buchman.

The brand’s packaging refresh includes a sleeker, contemporary bottle and a cleaner label design. With the addition of a natural cork and embossing on the shoulder of the bottle, the packaging now reflects the award-winning bourbon inside. David Nicholson 1843 recently earned a double gold award in 2015 and a gold award in 2016 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

For more information about David Nicholson 1843 and David Nicholson Reserve, please visit www.davidnicholsonwhiskey.com/

*Source: NABCA 9L R12 through March, 2016

About Luxco

Luxco, Inc. is a leading producer, importer and marketer of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of our consumers, associates and business partners. Founded in St. Louis in 1958, where it is headquartered, it is owned and operated by the Lux family. Its portfolio of brands include: Juarez Tequila & Triple Sec, Pearl Vodka, Everclear Grain Alcohol, Arrow Cordials, El Mayor Tequila, Ezra Brooks & Rebel Yell Bourbons, Lord Calvert Canadian Whisky, St. Brendan’s Irish Cream, Salvador’s Cocktails, Yago Sant’ gria and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company, visit http://www.luxco.com/.