J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery Celebrates National Pet Day with 

Two Whiskey Releases and On-Site Festival on April 13

Event Includes Limited Edition Whiskeys Adoptable Animals, Food Truck and More

FRANKFORT, KY (April 4, 2024) – J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery, created by Jeff Mattingly, a descendant of distilling pioneer John Graves Mattingly, will celebrate National Pet Day on April 13^th with an on-site festival complete with animals available for adoption from the Anderson County Humane Society, Buddy Love’s Food Trailer, and two limited-edition whiskeys, RuhRoh Rye and CIB Bourbon.

Both whiskeys have a special tie to animals and are limited editions.  The RuhRoh Rye is a playful nod to the Scooby Doo cartoon and is a rye whiskey just under five years of age bottled at 113 proof.  RuhRoh Rye’s nose includes buttery caramel and orange peel with other candied fruit and baking spices.  It is very aromatic and expressive.  The palate provides a huge “jammy” orange and citrus entry with leathery oak and caramel.  The caramel continues to the finish and aromatic baking spices follow.  RuhRoh Rye retails for $120 for a 750 mL bottle.

The CIB Release is the latest bourbon release in J. Mattingly 1845’s CIB series, or Combat Infantry Badge.  Combat Infantry Badges are awarded to Army enlisted infantry or special forces officers in the grade of Colonel or below who were engaged in active ground combat.  Each year J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery donates a portion of the sales of the CIB bottles to a miliatry-related nonprofit.  This year’s recipient is Forgotten Coast K9, a nonprofit organization that helps provide service dogs to veterans and first responders with the mission to stop suicide in those communities by getting them the service dogs they need.

The 2024 CIB bourbon was aged for six and half years and bottled at 116 proof.  It has a smokey, brown sugar and banana nose with hints of sweet tobacco and baking spices.  On the palate, expect banana, oak and brown sugar forward, with leathery oak on the mid palate and a finish of sweet tobacco and baking spices.

J.Mattingly 1845 Distillery has not released a CIB bourbon since 2021, and historically the bottles have sold out fast.  The first initial 50 bottles of the 2024 release will be available when the doors open at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday the 13^th.  The remaining 450 bottles will be available for sale at a later date.  Suggested retail pricing for a 750 mL of CIB is $155, with $30 of each bottle sale going to Forgotten Coast K9.

Details for the National Pet Day Event are as follows:

Who: J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery

What: National Pet Day Festival

When: Saturday, April 13, 2024

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery, located at 20 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY

Why: To celebrate National Pet Day. Visit with animals for adoption from the Anderson County Humane Society, enjoy Buddy Love’s Food Trailer (Buddy is the name of the food truck owner’s dog, a brindle boxer), and two limited edition whiskeys from J. Mattingly, Ruh Roy Rey and CIB will be for sale.  Admission the festival is complimentary, and pets are allowed.

About J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery

The Mattingly family has been synonymous with distilling in Kentucky for more than two centuries, having a hand in the development of at least nine separate distilleries in the Commonwealth, and with connections to some of the most illustrious names in the distilling industry, including George Garvin Brown, the Willetts and the Samuels.

It all started in 1845, with John Graves Mattingly’s first distillery in Marion County, Kentucky, Registered Distillery #2.  Many historians today believe his distillery was the first registered distillery in Kentucky.

In 2010 Jeff Mattingly took up the family mantle and started his own craft bourbon business.  Today, Jeff’s son Cameron has joined the team as Vice President of Production, continuing the legacy into the latest generation for J. Mattingly Distillery 1845 in Frankfort, Kentucky. Together father and son offer their proprietary double staving process as well as a custom bourbon blending experience unparalleled in the spirits industry, available on-site in Frankfort or online at https://jmattingly1845.com/build-a-bottle/

For more information about J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery visit www.JMattingly1845.com.

Glen Garioch – Macbeth Act One – Thanes Series – Angus 31 year old Whisky

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces the Release of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25^th Anniversary Edition

This edition is just the third release in the VVS (Very Very Special) line of the Decanter Series

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (April 2, 2024) – Today Heaven Hill announced the release of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25^th Anniversary Edition commemorating the anniversary of Heaven Hill acquiring the historic Bernheim Distillery (DSP-KY-1) in Louisville, Ky and along with it the Old Fitzgerald brand. Comprised of 13-year-old barrels, this edition ushers in the latest release to the decanter series and adds to Heaven Hill Distillery’s bottled-in-bond legacy.

After the catastrophic fire at the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in November 1996, Heaven Hill acquired the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville in April 1999. The barrels used for this release were produced in September 1999, emptied in March 2013 and bottled in February 2024.  When these barrels were tested in 2013, it was decided that the taste profile at 13 years old was exceptional and the profile would be reserved for a special occasion, such as this 25^th Anniversary Edition. Thirteen is also a lucky number for Heaven Hill, as the company filled its first barrel ever on December 13, 1935.

 “The Bernheim Distillery became the lifeblood of Heaven Hill after the setback from the fire and has been ever since,” said Executive Chairman Max Shapira. “We are honored to have been able to continue the Old Fitzgerald legacy since that time and look forward to many more years of exceptional releases from Bernheim Distillery and from the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery set to open early next year.”

The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series is comprised of three types of releases: Spring, Fall and VVS. This special edition is denoted by a maroon label. Since 2018, there have only ever been two other VVS releases, including VVS 2018 14-year-old and VVS 2020 16-year-old. The 2024 edition will be available in the 750ml size on an allocated basis as an exclusive Kentucky release to select retailers and the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown, Ky. It meets the strict requirements of a bottled-in-bond: the product of a single distillery from a single distilling season, aged a minimum of four years, and bottled at 100 proof or 50% alcohol by volume. This edition is available at the suggested retail price of $229.99.

The liquid within this release of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series bares a bright burnished copper color, with a rich and warm nose of cinnamon toast followed by nutmeg and allspice with sweet oak notes. On the palate rich honey and vanilla sweetness are balanced by notes of baking spices. The finish is soft and warm with hints of oak and a gentle peppery finale.

The legendary Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree and intriguing story behind its namesake, John E. Fitzgerald, whose legacy is also heralded by the Larceny Bourbon brand. Both brands use Heaven Hill’s wheated bourbon mashbill of 68% corn, 20% wheat and 12% malted barley.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over two million barrels aging in more than 70 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky, Parker’s Heritage Collection, and Old Fitzgerald along with its extensive Bottled-in-Bond label collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2024 and 2023 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year and 2023 World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon from the Icons of Whisky, as well as the 2022 Large Spirits Producer of the Year from the Ascot Awards. Heaven Hill Distillery held the title of 2020 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, the second Whisky of the Year for Heaven Hill Distillery in the past four years. In 2019 Heaven Hill Distillery was named San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, and previously held the titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely.  Drink Wisely.”

The batch is made up of 5 production dates stored in 4 different aging warehouses. The age is 7 years, 7 Months, 8 days, and is 124.5 proof. The breakdown of barrel storage for Booker’s “Springfield Batch” is as follows:

• 17% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse G
• 7% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse H
• 31% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
• 45% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse 3

The color of this Booker’s batch is a rich golden amber from over 7 years of aging in the new white oak barrels. The nose has a nice, pleasant aroma of sweet brown sugars and vanilla. The taste is balanced with a pleasant heat.

Booker’s “Springfield Batch” is now available nationwide in limited quantities with a suggested retail price of $89.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Booker’s

GLENALLACHIE

THE WOOD COLLECTION

Just in from Billy Walker and his team at GlenAllachie Distillery is this fine new trio of bottlings. Dubbed the ‘Sherry Series’, each expression has spent an initial period in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels before being transferred to the expertly selected Sherry casks. Six single malts will be released over two instalments this year, showcasing the unique contributions of each style.

The first three drams have been finished in, Fino, Amontillado and Oloroso sherry casks and have all been bottled at a generous 48% vol, without any additional colouring or chill-filtration.

Available now for immediate dispatch in limited numbers.

As ever, if you have any questions or queries, please just get in touch.

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GORDON & MACPHAIL REVEALS FOURTH EDITION IN ‘MR GEORGE LEGACY’ SERIES

Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled the fourth edition in its annual series celebrating the legacy of George Urquhart – the man described by whisky writer Charlie MacLean as ‘the father of single malt whisky’.

The Mr George Legacy 1958 from Glen Grant Distillery was laid down by ‘Mr George’, as he was known to those who knew him best and has been left to mature for 65 years in cask no.3818, a first-fill Sherry butt made to his exact specifications. Bottled in November 2023 at a cask strength of 56.5% – remarkable considering its age – the release is priced at £7,000. Just 376 bottles are available for sale worldwide.

This edition’s packaging and support campaign is themed around having the courage of one’s convictions, symbolised by ‘The Lone Oak’. Mr George’s approach – to age whisky for as long as it needed – was seen by some as eccentric during his lifetime. The theme celebrates this philosophy of occasionally going against the grain but always standing firm to one’s principles in pursuit of perfection.

More than six decades of maturation has delivered a smooth, full-bodied whisky with sweet and warm spices on the nose. Packed with Seville orange peel, dark morello cherry and coffee bean flavours, the long and balanced finish fades with a hint of smoke.

Stuart Urquhart, Operations Director at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “My grandfather had a particular affinity with Glen Grant Distillery. Local to our home in Elgin, Mr George had a strong relationship with the owners and distillers through the decades and he enjoyed experimenting with different casks to complement the distillery’s lighter spirit style.

“Back in the 1950s, the spirit would have been slightly smoky due to floor maltings and a small level of peat being used, which is a style rarely seen in today’s modern Speyside whiskies, giving this whisky a charred oakiness, balanced by long-term maturation in a Sherry cask made of European oak.”

Charlie MacLean, whisky writer and expert, added: “This is an exceptionally fine old whisky, hugely complex, but still remarkably vivacious. Another worthy tribute to Mr George Urquhart, the man who put malt whisky on the map.”

‘Mr George’ Urquhart, second generation of the family that owns Gordon & MacPhail, was a true pioneer of whisky. In 1968 he created the iconic Connoisseurs Choice range featuring single malts at a time when most were used for blending, with his inquisitive nature and patience providing time for each whisky to mature to its full potential. His spirit lives on in this release and his legacy has provided knowledge that continues to provide a guiding light for future generations.

Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has bottled spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries, developing unique experience of how to mature single malts for many decades in their own casks.

For more information, visit www.gordonandmacphail.com

#GordonandMacPhail

RSP: £7,000 ABV: 56.5%

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Rich beeswax aromas lead to underlying molasses, stewed prunes and warm spices. Subtle aged leather develops alongside mature oak and hint of cocoa powder.

Palate: Smooth and full bodied, Seville orange peel and dark morello cherry flavours give way to dried tobacco and roasted coffee bean. Toasted oak and a touch of liquorice is present.

Finish: Long and balanced with a faint hint of smoke.

About Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

For over 125 years, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: to create single malt Scotch whisky of exceptional quality. Through four generations of family ownership, the company has matched spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries to its casks.  It is this unique depth and breadth of experience that enables Gordon & MacPhail to combine oak, spirit and time to create a portfolio of iconic whiskies found nowhere else in the world.

GlenDronach – Single Cask #6753 (UK Exclusive) 1993 30 year old Whisky

£998.95

An exceptional single cask whisky from Glendronach’s Cask Bottling series. Cask #6753 is the final release to feature the distinctive Cask Bottling packaging design.

Cask Bottling expressions are bottled from a single cask, drawn from the rich collection of barrels, butts and hogsheads quietly maturing in the warehouses at Glendronach Distillery. These carefully selected whiskies are highly sought after by whisky drinkers, enthusiasts and collectors.

This rare limited edition single malt was drawn from a PX sherry butt that yielded just 595 bottles. Bottled at 30 years of age, at natural cask strength, without chill-filtration.

A richly sherried single malt, packed with sweet raisin, fig and plum fruit flavours, complemented by crushed nuts, dark chocolate, and bold oak spice.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Sherry soaked bramble, orange and sultana with chocolate praline, Demerara sugar and Morello cherry fruitcake.

Palate: Rich and luxurious with masses of dark stewed fruit, and chocolate gateaux with savoury notes of leather, tobacco and oak.

Finish: Long and satisfying with lingering fruit and molasses giving way to complex wood spice and fine tannins.

“India’s young affluent consumers have a new-found pride in their Indian provenance alongside contributing towards a better, sustainable world. I could not be prouder of Godawan.”

Hina Nagarajan Managing Director and CEO, Diageo India

When you think of an artisan luxury Single Malt, Rajasthan might not be the first place that springs to mind.

And yet the hottest state in India has produced Godawan, a true gem in the Diageo Single Malt portfolio and a flag bearer for Betterment Brands. Consumers are thirsty for products that drive positive change for the environment, society and local communities. And in India, this is especially true for whisky.

India is the largest whisky market by volume in the world. It is a country that has a deep-rooted whisky culture with a long and rich history of appreciation for whisky, that embraces both domestically produced and imported whiskies. In fact, India is one of the few countries in the world where whisky is nearly twice the size of beer.

When Diageo India expressed a desire several years ago to launch a new luxury product in India – one that appealed to the growing number of younger, affluent consumers in India; consumers who possessed what Vikram Damodaran, Chief Innovation Officer, Diageo India, calls “Indian Pride”, it was no surprise that the preference was for a locally produced whisky brand.

“It needed to showcase the very best of what Diageo brings to the table and the very best of what India brings to the table. So it was decided that we would produce a luxury Indian Single Malt,” says Vikram.

Given Diageo owned seven distilleries across India, there was a big decision to make: where to produce this Single Malt? And in making this decision the Diageo saw an opportunity to deliver something entirely new and desirable for local and international markets: to create Godawan, a Single Malt not just about Indian Pride but also about sustainability, local community and ingenuity.

“Choosing the Alwar distillery in Rajasthan might have surprised some. When you think of a traditional distillery you think of Scotland, beautiful lakes and countryside,” says Vikram. “But in drinks production terms Rajasthan is an anomaly. It is extremely hot, dry with no obvious water sources. But when we decided upon producing it at Alwar it made us ask a question of ourselves – how do we create beauty and rarity from this environment?”

And the answer was to focus entirely on creating a whisky with sustainability in mind – to answer every challenge by pushing the dial and ensuring the process was as sustainable as possible.

And in doing so the Godawan team focused on four main areas: Sourcing and Ingredients; Water Usage; Low Carbon Footprint and Local Conservation.

Sourcing and ingredients

Godawan is made using specific barley that needs less water to thrive. The barley used is grown and sourced in six farms local to the distillery – and this in turn allows the barley (and the whisky) to be completely traceable.

Water usage

Godawan uses an efficient slow trickle distillation process. While this increases the distillation time, it decreases the water usage. Since the team started production of Godawan they have made improvements to reduce water usage. As a result, in March 2023, Alwar was awarded the Alliance for Water Stewardship Certification (the first distillery in Asia to attain this standard).

Acceleration to Low Carbon footprint

Alwar has transitioned from coal to biofuel use for the thermal energy requirement in the distillation process. As part of Diageo’s Spirit of Progress 2030, the distillery has committed to moving to 60% renewable electricity by 2026 and 100% by 2030.

Nature Conservation

Godawan has made a long-term commitment to the conservation of The Great Indian Bustard bird, which appears on the front label of every bottle.

The Great Indian Bustard is on the UN Red List of Endangered species, and with less than 150 birds left in the extreme terrain of Rajasthan. Diageo in partnership with local NGO community groups have worked on various conservation measures. These include safe habitat development through grassland, provision of water, protection from predators and poachers.

Importantly Diageo is committed to this project long-term, with donations from each sale as well as proceeds from auctions of the Godawan 100 Limited Edition series going towards conservation efforts.

www.godawansinglemalt.com

As we approach the release of our fourth and final blend from The Extinct Blends Quartet, join us as we cast our minds back and reflect on the journey so far.

The Extinct Blends Quartet has taken us on a voyage of flavours across the tides of time. At Compass Box, we see blends as the creative union of ideas, questions, and relationships – of stories, old and new.

And it’s exactly these stories of old and new that we’ve brought together in The Extinct Blends Quartet, re-visiting the vanished characters and flavours from four of our Whiskymakers’ favourite blended Scotches of yesteryear. Each reimagined using some of our rarest whisky stocks.

ULTRAMARINE

We journeyed beyond choppy tides and crashing waves to taste the enchanting and ethereal flavours of Ultramarine. With this oaky, smoky whisky we navigate back to a deluxe blended Scotch of the late 80s. This peaty whisky with its palate of raisins and roasted pecans conjures images of bracing walks along a rugged coastline.

DELOS

From there, we found retreat in our reimagined island sanctuary of Delos. A study of one of our very own lost whiskies, Delos is the richer and rounder reimagining of Asyla – an extinct blend of grain and malt. Delight in the comfort of the sweet succulence that first greets you followed by soft waves of citrus, pineapple and orange notes combined with decadent vanilla cream.

METROPOLIS

With feet on dry land, we found ourselves bolstered by the hustle and the bustle of the city, the industrious throng represented by Metropolis. Here to remind us that the soul and history of blended whisky can be found in the city, Metropolis tells a tales of old and new. With a truly unique depth and richness, expect nutty, spicy and caramel notes from this blend.

Stay tuned for the full story behind the final release in our intrepid Quartet coming next week. Through thunderous clouds, prepare to embark to the final destination on this flavour odyssey. Shop The Extinct Blends Quartet below.

Macbeth Series – Limited Edition Scotch Whisky – Illustrated by Sir Quentin Blake

A collection of forty-two different whiskies from the length and breadth of Scotland, selected and bottled by Livingstone in partnership with Elixir Distillers. Each whisky represents a character from the Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, with illustrations by Sir Quentin Blake and character notes by Dave Broom.

Lady Macduff is one of twelve noble malts in The Thanes series.

Linkwood is an all-time favourite distillery and it was a thrill to find a 31 year old expression of this Speyside Single Malt Scotch whisky, distilled in 1991, that worked so perfectly for Lady Macduff – although I would probably have had to rewrite Macbeth if there wasn’t a place for this amazing whisky.