Luxco Announces Plans for Bardstown Distillery

Company to build distillery on Kentucky Bourbon Trail

(St. Louis) April 4, 2016 – Luxco announced today the company has finalized plans to build a distillery, located in Nelson County, Kentucky. Luxco has chosen to build the distillery on a 70-acre site off state highway KY-245 in the heart of Bardstown and Bourbon Capital of the World. The company announced preliminary plans for the distillery in late 2015, and the distillery is expected to be fully operational by late 2017.

Construction on the project will begin in the summer of 2016. Buzick Construction has been awarded the contract for the project. When finished, the distillery will be approximately 18,000 square feet, have six barrel warehouses and will employ an estimated 34 people. In addition, the distillery will feature a tasting room and event space and will offer visitors a new stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

“We are looking forward to building the distillery on this scenic property and in such a central location in Bardstown,” says David Bratcher, President and COO of Luxco. “We intend the distillery to be a welcoming stop for those visiting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and we are excited to bring our bourbon experience and brands to Nelson County.”

The distillery will be built alongside an existing house on the property, which is registered as a National Historic Place and will remain. Architect renderings of the new distillery, created by Joseph & Joseph Architects out of Louisville, are available upon request.

With the rapid growth of Luxco’s bourbon brands, such as Rebel Yell, Blood Oath and Ezra Brooks, the company decided to build this new distillery in order to meet its increasing whiskey demand.

“At Luxco, we are always looking to be innovative,” says Bratcher. “Building this distillery will allow us to control our own production as well as offer us the ability to experiment with new and innovative mash bills, barrel types and aging techniques.”

Luxco has received support for the distillery from various entities within Kentucky.

“We are pleased with the support we have received from the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet, the Nelson County Economic Development Agency and City and County government officials,” said Donn Lux, Chairman of Luxco.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved the company for $1.3 million in tax incentives for the project. The Joint City-County Planning Commission also approved rezoning of the land for this project. Luxco also owns 50 percent interest in the Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky – which produces Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

“We are excited to have Luxco become a part of our community,” says Dean Watts, Nelson County Judge Executive. “Their history and success in the liquor industry will greatly enhance our County.”

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/

The Whisky Exchange April offers of the month – Royal Brackla

It’s time for April’s drinks of the month!

The Malt of the Month is Royal Brackla 16 Year Old. Launched in 2015 as part of Bacardi’s Last Great Malts series, it’s finished in first-fill sherry casks, adding a richness to the sweet, spicy and slightly smoky whisky. It is nearly £7 off at £64.95 for the whole of the month.

Royal Brackla 16 Year Old, 40%

Tasting Notes by Stuart P

Nose: Clean, bright aromas of fresh fruit – green apple, melon and pear – followed by warming notes of honey- and toffee-covered sponge cake. A touch of light, fresh floral notes, too, with a hint of ginger and cinnamon.
Palate: Honeyed fruit at first, then warmer, spicy notes of cinnamon, ginger and clove. Very clean and bright – the fruit and spice leap from the glass. Nice toffee richness, too.
Finish: The warming spicy fruit lingers.

Macallan 12 Year Old Fine Oak

Only 5,000 bottles of this outstanding Speyside single malt are available in the UK.

The Macallan 12 Year Old Fine Oak is a legendary Speyside whisky for good reason; triple cask matured in a unique, complex combination of exceptional European oak casks seasoned with sherry, American oak casks seasoned with sherry, and American oak casks seasoned with bourbon, it delivers an extraordinarily smooth, delicate yet complex single malt, matured at The Macallan Distillery for a minimum of twelve years. Simply outstanding value for one of our favourite Macallan whiskies!

£53 Click to buy

Banff 37 Year Old 1971 Dead Whisky Society
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

$744.54

Banff 37 Year Old 1971 vinatge Highland single malt Scoth whisky. Single cask #633 bottled August 2008 by the Dead Whisky Society for the Rare Old series. 565 numbered bottles. The Mill of Banff malt whisky distillery was established by Major James McKilligan at Mains of Colleonard Farm just south of Banff in 1824 and acquired by James Simpson a local merchant and ship owner in 1852.  Mill of Banff Distillery closed in 1863 when Simpson’s son built a new distillery on a site to the west of Banff at Inverboyndie and named it Banff Distillery. Relocation enabled the opportunity to expand and take advantage of a plentiful supply of soft Speyside water and the new branch line connecting Banff to the main Inverness to Aberdeen railway. Despite surviving the ups and downs of the whisky industry Banff Distillery closed in 1983and partially demolished in 1985 but most of the rest of Banff Distillery came down during a fire in 1991 and although shells of a few warehouses are still standing Banff is a lost Highland malt whisky distillery.

Maker’s Mark Private Select TPS Private Barrel – We’ve been patiently waiting for 5-6 months for this bad barrel of bourbon to show up. With Maker’s DNA at the base, it’s a no-brainer for any Maker’s Mark lover; but with the additional 4 months of aging with our personally selected stave recipe, what’s in the bottle is Maker’s Mark on steroids. It’s bigger, bolder, richer, and more flavor packed than we could have imagined. This TPS selection is also on our Spirits Library. So stop by when it is open (typically 3pm-7pm, but call first) and ask J.O. for a taste.

www.thepartysource.com

95 Riviera Drive, Bellevue, KY 41073  

(859) 291-4007

GLASSWARE FIRM LAUNCHES WHISKY-FILLED CHANDELIER

An exclusive glass chandelier featuring whisky-filled drops has been launched by a Scottish giftware firm.

Stirling-based Angels’ Share Glass has created the unique Whisky Drops Chandelier as part of their ambitious £25K Crowdfunding campaign for a new glassmaking studio.

Anyone who contributes £500 to the family firm’s appeal will receive one of the stunning chandeliers in return.

The Chandelier was designed by the firm’s talented glassmaker Bee Hardy, who has a background in creating lighting, and handmade by Bee and the firm’s co-director Karen Somerville.

Karen says: “We’ve always had great feedback about our signature product – glass angels filled with whisky – and we thought wouldn’t it be amazing to have a chandelier featuring whisky in the same way.

“Bee and I chatted through some ideas before she came up with her fantastic design featuring a copper fixture with long glass drops coming down which are either coloured or filled with whisky.

“We’ve only created four and they are all handmade and hand-blown so no two are exactly the same.

“If they prove popular we could look into designing more.”

The Whisky Drops Chandelier is the latest perk released by Angels’ Share Glass as part of the Crowdfunding bid to create a state-of-the-art glassblowing studio.

The family firm, which specialises in gifts for whisky lovers, wants to increase production and train up a new generation of glassmakers to continue its legacy.

Co-founder Tom Young has been making glass by hand using traditional methods for nearly 60 years and currently works out of a home workshop where he trains an apprentice.

But the firm’s success means that unit is now too small to keep up with demand and plans have been drawn up for a fully-equipped studio at the company’s premises.

The New Studio campaign is being run through crowdfunding platform Indiegogo and can be found at http://igg.me/at/angelsstudio

The Chandelier can be reserved in return for a contribution of £500 plus shipping.

Karen says: “I think our chandeliers would look fantastic anywhere – whether that’s in a home, a whisky bar or perhaps the entrance to a distillery – and they would certainly make a great talking point.

“We’re hoping they’ll provide a huge boost to our Crowdfunding campaign and our plans to create the new studio later this year.

“So far people have been incredibly generous with their donations and we’re genuinely touched with the amount of support we’ve received from customers, friends and business colleagues in our local community and from much further afield.”

Angels’ Share Glass has already raised £8,000 – just over 30% of the funds needed – towards the studio via the campaign which runs until the end of April.

More information about the bid plus a video showing Tom and Bee at work in their current studio can be found on the firm’s website – www.angelsshareglass.com

Notes: Angels’ Share Glass is a family-run business based in Bridge of Allan, near Stirling. The firm is co-directed by Karen Somerville and her father Tom Young – a world-renowned Master Craftsman who has been glassblowing and making lamp-work glassware for 60 years.

Kilchoman Sanaig to launch on US soil

We’re only a few weeks away from the arrival of Kilchoman’s second continuous release, Kilchoman Sanaig. Established in 2005, Kilchoman, Islay’s Farm Distillery, is best known for Machir Bay, up until now the only continuously available release from the independent, family run distillery.

Kilchoman Sanaig 46% abv

Named after an inlet North West of the distillery, Sanaig has a predominantly sherry cask influence owing to the significant time spent in Oloroso sherry Hogsheads. These aged Oloroso casks contribute a drastically transformed depth of colour and character compared to the mostly Bourbon cask matured Machir Bay. ‘Cask Influence’ bars now feature on the packaging of both Sanaig and Machir Bay to illustrate the differing flavour profiles of the distillery’s two core expressions. Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder and Managing Director says, “Sanaig represents another significant step forward for Kilchoman, it is important to be able to offer customers consistently available releases, until now Machir Bay has been performing that leading role, Sanaig will now share the spotlight.” Tasting Notes: Kilchoman Sanaig Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky  Colour: Beech wood Nose:  Soft cooked fruits with caramel and vanilla. Palate:  Toffee, peat smoke and citrus with lingering sweetness. Finish:  A lovely balance of peat smoke, fruit and sweetness. RRP – $74.99

Caledonian 34 Year Old 1976 Dead Whisky Society
Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky

$436.21

Caledonian 34 Year Old 1976 vintage Lowland single grain Scotch whisky. Single cask #900015 bottled March 2011 by the Dead Whisky Society. Caledonian is a lost Edinburgh grain distillery. 295 numbered bottles. Caledonian Distillery opened at near Haymarket Rail Station in Edinburgh circa 1885. It was one of the biggest distilleries in the world until it closed in 1988, today the site is a mixture of apartments and hotels.

APRIL TASTINGS 

Auction Live Now!

Just Whisky got in touch to say their latest auction is now Live. Some of the bottles on offer this month is simply incredible, including the World’s Oldest Whisky – a spectacular 75 Year Old Mortlach by Gordon & MacPhail.

Other highlights include one of the strongest selection of old Macallan bottlings we’ve seen at auction, with many vintages from the 60’s. Islay is well represented with the Legendary Black Bowmore bottling, and there are some crackers from Japan too.

Bidding Ends Sunday 17^th from 8PM (UK Time)

www.just-whisky.co.uk