Kickoff the holidays by experiencing 24 different Japanese whisky expressions from the industry’s top brands. Combine the festive tradition of an advent calendar with the beautiful taste of Japanese whisky and you’re in for quite a treat.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY ESTABLISHES A NEW ERA OF ULTRA-AGED AMERICAN WHISKEY WITH INTRODUCTION OF EAGLE RARE 25 BOURBON 

Eagle Rare 25 is the oldest expression released from the Eagle Rare portfolio and the first-ever innovation to come from the Distillery’s experimental Warehouse P

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (OCT. 26, 2023) – Buffalo Trace Distillery today announces the release of Eagle Rare 25, an ultra-aged bourbon that exemplifies the Distillery’s relentless commitment to innovation and honoring tradition but embracing change. At 25 years old, Eagle Rare 25 marks the oldest expression released from the Eagle Rare portfolio. Defying existing perception of ultra-aged bourbon with its smooth, complex flavor profile, Eagle Rare 25 is a remarkable result from the World’s Most Award-winning Distillery’s multi-decade and $20-million-dollar-plus experimental program.

Driven by a belief that the world’s best whiskey has yet to be created and the idea that the category is bound only by the ideas that have yet to be considered, Buffalo Trace Distillery has conducted thousands of experiments over the years to test a variety of factors impacting the aging and maturation of whiskey, including barrel char levels, temperature, airflow, light, barrel placement, and more. Eagle Rare 25 is the first release from Warehouse P, one of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s two experimental warehouses. A purpose-built, state-of-the-art warehouse, Warehouse P was constructed to test if it was possible to extend favorably both the aging and maturation processes typical for American whiskey and bourbon.

“Eagle Rare 25 defies the conventional limits of typical bourbon aging,” remarked Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “When crafting whiskey in conditions like those we experience in Kentucky, two reactions happen over time: more liquid is lost due to evaporation – also known as angel’s share – and extraction of flavors from the barrel becomes more intense, often leading older whiskeys to taste over-oaked, astringent, and dry. The unique set of aging conditions in Warehouse P has allowed us to create a 25-year-old bourbon that smooths out the extractions and highlights the desirable flavors found in ultra-aged American whiskey products.”

While time in the barrel contributes to creating an ultra-aged bourbon, it is the marriage of age and maturity, or how factors including oak type, barrel char, temperature, humidity, and barrel placement alter the whiskey over time, that creates a truly outstanding taste experience.

“We closely monitored Eagle Rare 25 throughout the aging process and discovered that the impact over time due to controlled, extended aging was optimally mature whiskey – by that, I mean whiskey that is uniquely smooth and complex with deep, mature flavors around every corner,” Wheatley added. “Eagle Rare 25 is unlike any other extra-aged bourbon on the market today. We are quite proud of this bourbon.”

Eagle Rare 25 boasts notes of intense cherry, oak, dark chocolate, and an icing drizzle beginning on the nose; the palate is a balance of vanilla, dark fruit, and butterscotch, followed by an extremely long finish with lingering notes of rickhouse floor, baking spice, and black pepper.

Eagle Rare 25 was bottled upon reaching its silver anniversary in the barrel, symbolized by the custom sterling silver wing hand-hammered to encase each hand-blown crystal decanter perfectly. Opening the custom display box reveals an eagle’s outstretched wings framing the 101-proof bourbon, which also contains an elegant glass eagle inside the bottle. This dramatic presentation is befitting the exceptional nature of this rare, first-of-its-kind bottling.

“Around the globe, an eagle’s wings symbolize freedom and the opportunity to reach higher. It’s also a reminder for us at Buffalo Trace Distillery to never settle in our pursuit of crafting the perfect bourbon,” noted Andrew Duncan, Global Brand Director at Buffalo Trace Distillery. “In service of that relentless pursuit, Eagle Rare 25 is the pinnacle of American whiskey to date from our Distillery, and our Eagle Rare brand is the perfect portfolio to showcase this barrier-breaking expression.”

Approximately 200 750ml bottles of Eagle Rare 25 will be released to select retailers, bars, and restaurants globally beginning November 2023 at a suggested retail price of $10,000 per bottle. The expression joins the Eagle Rare lineup of Eagle Rare, Double Eagle Very Rare, and Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old, released each fall as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.

For more information, please click HERE

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 40 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its George T. Stagg was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2022 and its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named 2nd Finest Whiskey in the World for 2022. Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. Buffalo Trace Distillery also has a deep commitment to supporting charitable initiatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the Distillery’s efforts are encouraged to register their charity here. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

Caol Ila 8 Years

£125 / $126* / c$175* / €119*

Oily nebular of solar barbeque chocolate and cosmic coffee. Twinkling liquorice leading to a gingerbread pulsar and a cinnamon spice meteor. Total eclipse of rich nougat in a smokey crater finish.

Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2012 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. On July 20th 1969 Apollo 11 lunar lander call sign ‘Eagle’ undocked from command module Columbia and went into lunar orbit. The World held its breath and watched. Landing on the lunar surface, commander Neil Armstrong proclaimed “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed”. ”To mark this occasion we have bottled a single sherry butt distilled in 2012 bottled October 2020. 699 numbered bottles exclusive to The Whisky Barrel..2012 vintage single cask sherry butt celebrating the Apollo 11 mission.

Caol Ila Distillery is famous for the stunning view from its still house windows looking out across the Sound of Islay and for the objects which have passed by including naval battleships, submarines and whales. Caol Ila was established in 1846 by Hector Henderson on a sheltered but rocky stretch of coast on north east Islay. Now the largest malt whisky distillery on Islay it produces peated and some un-peated malt whisky with the distillery range including Caol Ila 12 year old and the Distiller’s Edition. Caol Ila participates in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music.

New ‘Virgin Oak’ release unveils a new bold  side to

Wire Works Whisky

 -White Peak Distillery, Derbyshire-

White Peak, the award-winning Derbyshire distillery, is unveiling a bold dimension of its Wire Works Whisky this season with a rich Virgin Oak Cask whisky release.

Wire Works Virgin Oak is a progression towards a permanent addition to the Distillery’s portfolio – the first being Caduro that launched in March this year. This is the second whisky release from White Peak that has been matured in Virgin Oak – a development of a limited release in 2022.

Bottled at 50.5% ABV, Virgin Oak’s flavour profile is true to the Wire Works house style – made with lightly peated malted barley, live brewer’s yeast and a six day fermentation time to add deep fruit notes in the spirit. A vatting of lightly peated single malt whisky initially matured in premium, first fill ex-bourbon barrels and then finished for several months at a lower ABV in virgin American oak barrels (with a select range of toast and char levels). The bold oak-forward flavours of the casks contribute to the intensity and combination of sweet & spice, showcasing the rich fruit flavours and elegant smoke profile of the core house spirit.

Claire Vaughan, founder of White Peak Distillery said: “In our latest release, we’re giving whisky enthusiasts the opportunity to savour the unique flavours of our lightly-peated spirit and explore the journey our whisky has taken in new wood. Matured in Virgin Oak casks from the renowned Kelvin Cooperage, celebrated for exceptional quality, this is a development of the limited edition 2022 release. The selection of char levels in this vatting introduces a delightful range of flavours, from lighter toasted nuts, vanilla, and sweetness to the richer notes of caramel and toffee. This whisky is a perfect dram for the fireside.”

White Peak Distillery was founded seven years ago by husband-and-wife team Max & Claire Vaughan – both originally from Derbyshire – and continues to go from strength to strength. Last year saw the Distillery winning multiple awards, not only for its whisky, but also for its Distillery visitor experiences and the much-celebrated, sustainable Wire Works Whisky packaging.

Wire Works Virgin Oak will be available from 20th October onwards, via the Distillery shop and online, as well as from trade partners including Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange and select independents nationwide, RRP: £67 per 70cl.

The Distillery is open Monday – Saturday for shop visitors, with tours available every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For availability, timings and to book, please visit: www.whitepeakdistillery.co.uk

About Wire Works Virgin Oak:

50.5% ABV

2,769 individually numbered bottles

As with all Wire Works Whiskies, Virgin Oak is 100% natural colour and non-chill filtered.

 Virgin Oak Tasting Notes:

Nose: Banoffee pie, fruit salad sweets, pistachio and cranberries

Palate: Treacle tart, toasted nuts and sweet spice

Finish: Light lingering smoke

About Wire Works Whisky:

Wire Works Whisky from White Peak Distillery is Derbyshire’s very first single malt.

Provenance, heritage and flavour are at the heart of the Distillery ethos and whisky-making process, and its home at the dramatic former Johnson & Nephew Wire Works is celebrated within the whisky brand. The Distillery’s woodland home on the banks of the River Derwent has a long history of innovation and forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wire Works Whisky celebrates its rich homeland and the brewing heritage for which the region is so renowned. Every aspect of production and maturation is done onsite at the Distillery to ensure that the unique location and environment can play their part in the provenance of the final spirit.

The lightly-peated single malt whisky has been created using a combination of English un-peated and peated malted barley. A flavour-focused four-day fermentation uses a unique yeast Blend incorporating live yeast sourced from a local Peak District brewery.

The Distillery’s traditional, bespoke copper pot stills have been hand-built by McMillan and are run slowly to help produce the desired flavour profile. The final spirit is matured in a variety of carefully selected first fill oak casks, including ex-bourbon, virgin and STR (re-conditioned casks that have been shaved, toasted and re-charred), adding the final rich flavours to the whisky.

White Peak Distillery Awards:

2022 and 2023 has seen White Peak also win numerous awards for their whiskies and packaging, as below:

UK Packaging Awards 2022:

• Corrugated Pack of the Year
• Best Packaging of a New Product
• Glass Pack of the Year, Spirits, Perfumes and Cosmetics

The Global World Whisky Masters 2022:

• Necessary Evil: Gold
• Small Batch: Gold

International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2022:

• Best Contemporary Design: Wire Works Whisky

International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2023:

• Caduro: Gold

People’s Choice Awards 2023:

• Best Whisky: Wire Works Whisky Small Batch – World Whisky Category

2023 World Whisky Masters Wire Works Caduro Gold

2023 World Whisky Masters Wire Works Alter Ego Masters

English Whisky Guild:

White Peak Distillery is one of the 15 members of the English Whisky Guild, that was founded in 2022 by the English whisky industry to represent the interests of the increasing number of English whisky distilleries (currently there are 40) on the world stage of whisky.

For further information visit:  English Whisky Guild

Rum Cask Release

This Rum cask release from Ardnamurchan Distillery brings together 28 reracked Jamaican Rum barrels and three bourbon barrels. It uses a unique blend of 58% unpeated and 42% peated spirit to create the perfect balance of flavours.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE Lemon Italian ice, overripe apricot, dusty hay, heavily salted cashew, vanilla extract, dried banana – fruit forward but still earthy and rich.

PALATE Candied grapefruit, stracciatella ice cream, red cedar, Kaiserchmarn, Nerds candy, guava, buttercream icing.

FINISH Medium-long finish

£70.00

Shop now

 Cask Strength 2023 Release

This limited edition single malt is crafted by Ardnamurchan Distillery. It’s a harmonious combination of 90% Bourbon and 10% Sherry casks, using mostly peated spirit.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE Coastal peat smoke, vanilla and tangy and bright citrus zest.

PALATE Maritime peat, ripe orchard fruit, warm oak and a gentle, warm black pepper spice.

FINISH Lingering peat with a subtle seaweed salinity.

£65.00

Shop now

An American Oak Old & Rare and a French Oak Second-Fill

Spring is an exceptional time for single cask whisky. As flavour and aroma compounds come out of their cold-weather funk, our bond-store comes alive. We have found two exceptional single casks, in full bloom, and ready for their new homes. One 16 year old American oak ex-Bourbon, and one second-fill French oak ex-Tawny. While these two casks are inherently unique, both are linked by our spirit, and our approach to maturation; patient, careful, and always nurturing each cask to its full potential.

French Oak Second-Fill TD0383

Incredible presence all the way through. Syrupy, sweet and could very well replace the sauce on your sticky date pudding. “Amazing. Have you ever wanted a brandy that had the body of a whisky?” Sullivans Cove Sensory Panel. Matured for 10 years in a second-fill 300L French oak ex-Tawny cask, yielding just 364 bottles of Sullivans Cove single cask whisky.

Read the full tasting notes here

16 Year Old American Oak ex-Bourbon TD0171

Textural and alluring. Juicy citrus, confection-driven fruit, bright pops and firm oak. It took 16 years for this exceptional whisky to find its flow, but that moment has arrived. With remarkable precision and care, all elements have come together in perfect harmony. Matured for 16 years in a first-fill 200L American oak ex-Bourbon cask, yielding just 208 bottles of Sullivans Cove single cask whisky.

Read the full tasting notes here

A note on our ballot system. 

These whiskies will be released via ballot. The ballots will open for 24 hours from 10am Hobart time on Wednesday 8th of November. Further details will be sent via email prior to the ballots opening. Our policy is one entry per person, per household, per ballot. Our fraud detection algorithm detects multiple entries and removes them to ensure our whisky lands in the hands of our genuine supporters, so to ensure your entry counts, please enter each ballot once only. If you have any questions around our ballot process, you can email us at info@sullivanscove.com Successful entries will be notified shortly after the ballots close.

MIDLETON
Forêt de Tronçais
70cl | 48% ABV

Midleton Very Rare Forêt de Tronçais is a harmonious fusion of Irish and French luxury and craftsmanship. This exceptionally small batch release showcases Ireland’s most renowned Whiskey, matured in the finest French oak casks sourced from the Tronçais Forest in France.

This release features Midleton single grain and pot still Whiskeys matured from the 1980s to 2000s in American oak casks. The Whiskey was finished for three years in bespoke French Oak to create the most elegant Midleton expression ever released.

£4,298.95

Pre-Order

NOSE: Woodland spices are brought to the fore by the elegant and measured influence of the fine-grained French oak, adding nuanced characteristics that enhance the pot still spices and floral grain Whiskeys in this complex and aged blend.

TASTE: Herbal at first, with notes of fresh peppermint and sage, weaving amongst the succulent orchard fruits and zesty orange. Elevated wood spices continue to evolve adding further complexity to this intricate Whiskey.

FINISH: Exquisitely long finish where the fruits and spices are enveloped by the enchanting nature of the toasted wood, showcasing a harmonious balance between Irish Whiskey and French oak.

The Summer release from Gleann Mor’s A Rare Find is here, and it is full of wonderful Single Casks selected by Greg Urquhart. GlenAllachie, Glenlossie (a whopping 30 year old!) and Dailuaine contribute to a Speyside heavy release, with Caol Ila adding in a cracking selection for the peated whisky fans. Exceptional whiskies and A Rare Find Spirits go hand in hand but don’t take our word for it!

Full Range