Sipping Success: Talnua Distillery Celebrates 5 Years of Crafting Unforgettable Whiskey

– And 2024 Olde Saint’s Keep Bottle Release Information –

Talnua Distillery, winner of best American Pot Still Whiskey at the World Whiskies Awards for the third year in a row, will celebrate its 5th anniversary this St. Patrick’s Day. Over the last half decade Talnua has experienced significant growth and is garnering attention both nationally and abroad.

Growing from just two gins and two core whiskeys at launch, the distillery now offers four core whiskeys, rotating special release whiskeys, and the popular distillery-only products Coffee Liqueur and Eggnog. The true stars of the show, Talnua’s Pot Still style whiskeys, have earned gold medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the International Wine and Spirits Competition, the American Distilling Institute, and the World Whiskies Awards.

Currently, these offerings are only available regionally in Colorado, where the distillery is based. After hiring a Sales Director in 2022, the amount of on and off premise accounts has doubled in the state, making the spirits more available to Colorado whiskey enthusiasts. Lucky for whiskey drinkers outside of Colorado, Talnua is hoping to partner with a distributor to expand to other states late this summer.

This distribution expansion is possible due to the production space growth that has occurred over the past 5 years. The most visible example of the distillery’s growth can be spotted outside the facility in the two 60,000 lb grain silos storing the barley that is the heart of the Talnua mashbill. Production over time has grown by 8x. Talnua has traded in the humble beginnings of a single hand-made pot still making two barrels per week, for three custom designed copper pot stills with a production capacity of 17 barrels per week. This upgrade has increased production from 100 barrels per year to nearly 900 barrels per year, with a 2025 expansion plan for over 2500 barrels per year. All of this growth has also enabled the distillery to start doing contract distillation while maintaining a steady amount of Talnua spirits production.

The growth occurring at the distillery is not limited to its production capacity. Talnua’s footprint has tripled from 5,000 to 15,000 sq ft with a new tasting room and patio in the plans for later this year. To support the production and hospitality needs of the distillery, the Talnua team members have doubled as well. The tasting room proudly boasts awards for Best of Denver’s “Best Distillery Taproom”, Top of the Town’s “Best Cocktail Menu”, and Best of the Best Arvada’s “Best Distillery” as well as a 4.9 star review on Google Reviews and 5 stars on Yelp and Trip Advisor.

Talnua’s events programming continues to evolve with a rise in philanthropic events featuring special releases that benefit local organizations dear to its team members. Recent beneficiaries include Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital.

The future looks bright for Talnua as they continue to build out both their production space and a new Tasting Room to expand private event space and visitor capacity.

Whiskey lovers should not miss this year’s Olde Saint’s Keep special release whiskey unveiling at Talnua’s annual St. Patrick’s Day event. This year’s celebration will be held March 15th and 16th and marks the distillery’s 5 year anniversary. The 2023 expression of Olde Saint’s Keep Whiskey won Talnua “Best American Pot Still Whiskey” at this year’s World Whiskies Awards and this year’s expression featuring sherry, port, amburana, and virgin American white oak promises not to disappoint! At the event visitors can acquire their bottle of Olde Saint’s Keep whiskey while enjoying live music, food truck fare, pipe and drum bands, and specialty cocktails. Visit talnua.com for more information.

2024 Olde Saint’s Keep Special Release Whiskey

Talnua Distillery’s 2024 Olde Saint’s Keep Special Release Whiskey is American Single Pot Still whiskey featuring sherry, port, amburana, and virgin American white oak.

100 Proof / 50% Alc/Vol

Fewer than 1000 bottles available

After last September’s historic launch of our first island dram, we’re pleased and proud to announce the date of our next release of The Hearach single malt whisky.

Batch No.s 09 / 10 / 11 / 12
TUESDAY 26TH OF MARCH 2024
10.00 GMT

All batches will be on sale through our online store and at the distillery shop here in Tarbert that morning while stocks last.

You can also buy bottles from our network of specialist retailers and independent stores across the UK from that date as well. Our global friends will be also be able find the new release of batches appearing in their countries soon after.

Lots more information to come soon, meantime here are some wonderful words from whisky writer, expert, and friend Charles Maclean MBE about The Hearach…

“I can’t tell you how impressed I am…the flavour profile is truly unique. I have never tasted a whisky like it, and have rarely been so impressed by a first release.

What’s more, it really does seem to embody the island of its birth – sea-spray, kelp and smouldering peat smoke; elemental, but also gentle, faintly floral and with a texture as soft as a Gaelic song – very more-ish!

Layers of complexity, a fine balance of flavours, and distinctive character. I raise what little remains in my glass to The Hearach’s success.”

– Charlie MacLean

We’ll drink to that…

Le gach deagh dhùrachd,

Mike Donald, Chief Storyteller

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HEARACH

SECOND-FILL WHISKY

Recently recognised at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards, Second-Fill casks showcase our unique spirit in its purest form. Carefully matured in barrels previously used for an earlier batch of Sullivans Cove single malt, Second-Fill casks allow our spirit to shine.

LEARN MORE

 ‘The benefit [to refill casks] is really showcasing and highlighting the spirit character… It’s almost a sense of pride around the quality of their spirit that they are producing.’

LACHLAN WATT | BAR MANAGER
WHISKY & ALEMENT

Glenallachie 13 Years Old Madeira Hogshead

This opulent Scotch whisky was patiently perfected in a specially selected Madeira Hogshead for 13 long years. Silently slumbering in the on-site warehouses, the spirit underwent continual monitoring until Billy deemed it had reached its pinnacle. With enticing aromas of honey and orchard fruits, followed by caramel and butterscotch tones on the palate, it’s a single malt oozing elegant refinement.

NOSE Brandy butter, honeycomb, orchard fruits and butterscotch, with hints of orange blossom, hazelnut, and caramelised brown sugar.

PALATE Heather honey, orange peel and burnt caramel, followed by waves of cinnamon, butterscotch and stewed orchard fruits with a nutty bouquet on the finish.

Only 311 bottles were produced.

£140.00

CLICK HERE FOR ALL GLENALLACHIE

THE GLENLIVET: THE TWELVE ELEMENTS

The Glenlivet: The Twelve Elements, an extraordinary 50-year-old single malt whisky limited to just twelve bottles, is now available to buy on The Whisky Exchange Cabinet. One of the smallest and oldest releases from this iconic Speyside distillery, the collection has been crafted from a harmonious marriage of two exquisite casks meticulously selected from The Glenlivet’s finest ageing spirit by cask master Kevin Balmforth.

The collection pays homage to the twelve elements that come together to create The Glenlivet single malt, from Air and Barley to Fire and Wood. Each bottle features its own unique label artwork, and is accompanied by three 5cl samples at 48, 49 and 50 years old, giving owners a rare insight into the journey of a truly extraordinary whisky.

The collection is available to view and buy now. For any help with creating your account or purchasing on The Whisky Exchange Cabinet, please contact us at cabinet@thewhiskyexchange.com.

  SHOP THE TWELVE ELEMENTS 

Bulleit Frontier Whiskey unveils Bulleit American Single Malt

With a recycled glass bottle, Bulleit American Single Malt pays homage to the brand’s commitment to innovation and sustainability

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 2024 – Bulleit Frontier Whiskey is announcing its entry into the rapidly growing American Single Malt category with the launch of Bulleit American Single Malt; a new and permanent addition to its family of whiskeys.

Distilled with a mash bill of 100% malted barley and aged in charred new American white oak barrels, Bulleit American Single Malt is the latest demonstration of the brand’s commitment to pushing the frontier of whiskey by experimenting with aging, finishing, and flavor nuances.

Bulleit American Single Malt delivers notes of sweet vanilla and toasted oak on the nose. On the palate, it is light and fruity with hints of red fruit and pear. At 90 proof (45% ABV) the whiskey follows into a smooth finish of oaky caramel and subtle cocoa notes.

A passion for sustainability, innovation, and design

As a brand that relies on natural resources to produce quality whiskeys, Bulleit has a long-standing history of pioneering sustainability and creativity within its portfolio, reducing its carbon footprint, and investing in restoring the natural resources that go into its production and packaging. This ongoing commitment is brought to life through the design of its Bulleit American Single Malt bottle. Staying true to its iconic, award winning style, Bulleit American Single Malt showcases a sustainably minded evolution of Bulleit’s trademark bottle with a striking and unique green hue, crafted with post-consumer recycled glass.

Bulleit’s dedication to sustainability began In 2017 when it opened a state-of-the-art distillery in Shelbyville, KY. It was designed with a focus on sustainable practices, including natural habitat protection, water conservation, and local ingredient sourcing. The bar at the distillery’s visitor experience is free from single-use plastics, and sources cocktail garnishes grown in the on-site garden.

After forging a partnership in 2020 with the nonprofit American Forests, Bulleit has committed to planting and restoring 2.5 million white oak trees by 2026. These trees will help replenish the natural white oak resource that is necessary for the creation of whiskey barrels, and will also help combat the effects of climate change by sequestering carbon, purifying air, and conserving water.

Later, in 2021, Bulleit began production at Diageo’s first carbon-neutral distillery, located in Lebanon, KY. Designed with sustainability at its core, the distillery operates using 100% renewable energy, and is built to ensure that fossil fuels are not used during production.

Jesse Damashek, Senior Vice President of Whiskies & Liqueurs at Diageo commented:

“Bulleit American Single Malt brings Bulleit’s restless innovation and passion for sustainability into this exciting new category that is set to make waves in the whiskey industry for years to come. With a 100% malted barley mash bill, and a striking green bottle created from post consumer recycled glass, this exceptional whiskey covers a lot of new ground for the brand. I believe we’ve succeeded in crafting a distinctive American Single Malt that whiskey lovers across the country will savor and enjoy.”

Bulleit American Single Malt is offered in a 750ml bottle for a suggested retail price of $59.99. It is available nationwide and at the Bulleit visitor experience in Shelbyville, KY. You can also check out the ‘where to buy‘ page

No matter where or how you decide to enjoy Bulleit American Single Malt, Bulleit reminds consumers 21+ to please remember to taste and serve responsibly.

About Bulleit Frontier Whiskey

Bulleit, founded in 1987, is one of the fastest-growing whiskeys in America. The brand attributes that growth to bartenders and cultural partners who have adopted it as their own. The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey portfolio is distilled and aged in the Bulleit family tradition, using a distinctive high rye recipe, which gives them a bold, spicy, yet distinctively smooth taste. The award-winning Kentucky whiskey most recently won a Double Gold medal for Bulleit 10-Year Old and Gold Medals for Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit Rye at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2017, Bulleit celebrated its 30th anniversary with the opening of a new, state-of-the-art distillery located in Shelbyville, KY. Constructed with a focus on sustainable practices including natural habitat protection, water conservation and local ingredient sourcing. In 2019, a Visitor’s Centre at the Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville opened to share our modern, technological, and sustainable approach to making great whiskey. In 2021, Diageo opened its first carbon-neutral whiskey distillery in Lebanon, KY with Bulleit being the first and leading brand being produced at the site. supplementing existing production at the Bulleit Distilling Co. For more information, visit www.bulleit.com or follow @Bulleit on Instagram.

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Follow on Twitter and Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.

New American whiskey

WESTLAND 2014 MARSALA FINISH

Westland 20147 Year Old Marsala Finish Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

£94.95

Bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange, this Seattle single malt was made at the innovative Westland distillery. Showcasing its signature five-malt mashbill, it was finished in an ex-Marsala cask for almost three years, resulting in layers of sweet dried fruit, toasted nuts and citrus oil on the palate. It showcases Westland distillery’s signature five malt mashbill aged for five years in new American oak and finished for just shy of three years in a fresh Marsala cask. The influence of this sweet Sicilian wine shows itself with notes of sticky dried fruit and toasted nuts, Italian pastries and citrus oils. Since its founding in 2010, Westland has become a champion of provenance in grain and oak and a leader in the emerging American single malt movement.

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The Scotch whisky’s 21 Year Old Signature Blend gets a brightly illustrated new look to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

Royal Salute, the master of exceptionally aged Scotch whisky, celebrates Lunar New Year with a spark of enchantment and wonder through a special edition gift pack, designed by Chinese-born artist, Yunshu Li, who beautifully fuses colour and modernity to match the vibrancy of the festivities. The bespoke illustration captures the global cultural significance of Lunar New Year, by bringing to life a sense of hope and happiness through the exquisite new design, and houses a flagon of the Royal Salute 21 Year Old Signature Blend.

The design, which uses a striking, bright and colourful style through a vibrant swirl of discoverable details which harmoniously combine figurative cues of Lunar New Year, depicts the renowned “gun salute” being fired from Royal Salute’s symbolic home, the Tower of London. In the playful artwork created by Yunshu Li, floral bouquets representing wishes of happiness, growth, prosperity, and love are intertwined with icons from across the globe, to capture Royal Salute’s authentic heritage in moments of celebration.

Rooted in the tradition of gift giving, first created as a gift for the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, Royal Salute continues to be a fitting choice to delight loved ones and mark festive celebrations with an added spark of magic Its flagship expression, the 21 Year Old Signature Blend, remains the same blend crafted 70 years ago, with a sophisticated and opulent character, and a majestic composition of ripened fruits and hints of spice notes, making it a timeless choice for elevating celebratory moments.

Yunshu Li commented:

“As flowers blossom, lanterns are lit and fireworks burst in the sky, we begin the global celebration of the new year. With this special edition of Royal Salute, dispersing gifts and joy, travel with me to lands full of wonder, finding joy and happiness along the way.”

The Royal Salute 21 Year Old Signature Blend Lunar New Year gift pack will be available in limited quantities at selected luxury retailers, for RRP $200 USD. For more information, follow @RoyalSalute or visit royalsalute.com.

PROPER NO. TWELVE
CONOR MCGREGOR IRISH APPLE
70cl | 35% ABV

Introducing crisp and fresh Proper No. Twelve Irish Apple. A blend of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey with a sweet, tart Irish apple punch. It isn’t just smooth. It’s smooth to the core with notes of cooked apple and honey balancing the oak from bourbon barrels.

A collaboration between Irish MMA star and founder Conor “The Notorious” McGregor and former Bushmills distillery manager David Elder, Proper No. Twelve pays homage to Conor McGregor’s home neighbourhood of Crumlin, Dublin 12. It embodies their shared spirit of brotherhood, loyalty, and hard work. As Conor says, “it is a proper Irish Whiskey and 12 is my hometown”.

70cl | 35% ABV

£29.95

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