BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY ANNOUNCES THE PROHIBITION COLLECTION

One of the only distilleries to remain open during Prohibition has recreated five historic whiskeys that existed during one of America’s most unique time periods

FRANKFORT, KY (September 26, 2023) – Buffalo Trace Distillery is thrilled to announce The Prohibition Collection: an annual limited-edition, multi-bottle collection honoring the whiskeys that were legally produced and sold at the distillery during arguably the most contentious time period in alcohol history. Known then as the George T. Stagg Distillery, the debut release tributes five Prohibition Era-brands that have, until now, disappeared: Old Stagg, Golden Wedding, Three Feathers, Walnut Hill and George T. Stagg Spiritus Frumenti.

From 1920 to 1933, the production, sale and transportation of alcohol was banned in the United States due to the ratification of the 18th amendment to the United States Constitution, an era known as Prohibition. Purchasing alcohol was only legal with a medical prescription. At the time, many doctors believed spirits to be a cure for a wide variety of ailments. As such, the U.S. Government granted licenses to six distilleries to bottle medicinal whiskey: one of those distilleries was the George T. Stagg Distillery in Frankfort, KY. Known today as Buffalo Trace Distillery, it is the longest continually-operating distillery in America.

The inaugural Prohibition Collection features five whiskeys, each created in tribute to a historic brand that was housed at the Buffalo Trace Distillery site during Prohibition:

• Old Stagg, a barrel-proof (132.4 proof), uncut and unfiltered whiskey featuring an oaky, vanilla aroma; sweet and mellow taste with notes of leather and dark cherries and a smooth vanilla finish. Old Stagg was originally created in honor of former owner George T. Stagg and replaced O.F.C. Bourbon as the Distillery’s flagship brand. Today, the brand lives on as Stagg and George T. Stagg, both barrel proof whiskeys that have their roots in this Prohibition era brand.
• Golden Wedding, a 107-proof rye whiskey that has heavy rye on the nose; a grainy, herbal taste with notes of dill pickle and rye; and a spicy, smokey finish with a hint of banana. The brand, which dates back to 1869, was originally produced by Schenley Distilling at the Joseph S. Finch Distillery in Pennsylvania. During Prohibition, its bottling was split between Schenley’s Pennsylvania distillery and the George T. Stagg Distillery. In the late 1940’s, the brand was moved to Schenley’s distillery in Canada and would become a Canadian whiskey before ceasing to exist in the late 20th century.
• Three Feathers, a 100-proof, bottled-in-bond whiskey created by Buffalo Trace Master Blender Drew Mayville. Dating back to at least 1812, Three Feathers was first advertised as a luxurious rye before becoming a bonded and then a blended whiskey. Today’s recreation presents a vanilla, charred oak aroma with stone and light tropical fruit taste, and smokey, caramel and a slight cocoa finish.
• Walnut Hill, a 90-proof high-rye bourbon featuring a slightly citrus aroma with light corn and oak notes; sweet molasses, stone fruit and vanilla taste; and a smokey, woodsy finish. This historic spirit was bottled by the George T. Stagg Distillery during Prohibition with production overseen by President Albert Blanton.
• George T. Stagg Distillery Spiritus Frumenti, a 110-proof wheated bourbon honoring the medicinal whiskey produced at the George T. Stagg Distillery. “Spiritus Frumenti,” which translates as “Spirit of the Grain” in Latin, existed as a generic name for medicinal whiskey during Prohibition. Tasting notes include an aroma of caramelized brown sugar; fruity yet floral taste with notes of cherry and oak; and finishes with vanilla, wheat and citrus.

“We stand behind our motto, ‘Honor Tradition, Embrace Change’,” says Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace Master Distiller. “Each of these brands disappeared slowly in the years after Prohibition, but they were integral to our survival. Without them, today there would be no Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare or Weller bourbons. The Prohibition Collection is a tribute to these great whiskeys from our past.”

“At Buffalo Trace Distillery, we build brands based on real, authentic stories firmly rooted in the rich history of excellent whiskey making in America,” says Andrew Duncan, Global Brand Director for Buffalo Trace Distillery. “When we discovered these brands – and others – in our distillery’s history, we could not wait to bring them back to life and tell their stories again. By aging and selling barrels from numerous distilleries all over the country, the Buffalo Trace Distillery site played a key role in keeping American Whiskey alive during one of the most unique periods in the history of the spirits industry.”

The entire collection is housed in a custom wooden display case, with each of the five 375ml bottles heavily-inspired by their Prohibition Era packaging and original bottle size: even the back cartons feature the cut-out for doctors to apply the prescription for medicinal whiskey, without which one could not legally purchase alcohol.

The Prohibition Collection will be rolling out in limited quantities to its distributor network, which will ship to select retailers, bars and restaurants across the United States as of October 2023 at a suggested retail price of $999.99 (five 375ml bottles); state taxes will vary per market.

For more information, please visit BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY 

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 is 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 2^nd 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. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

Introducing The Wall Collection.

The first release in our new and exciting Wall Collection is Peat Edition, a 36-year-old single malt that embodies its namesake both in bottle and taste.

Laura Carlin is an award-winning illustrator and ceramicist from London, and it’s thanks to her that each of the 200 bottles of The Wall Collection: Peat Edition have such beautiful artwork. She journeyed to Islay to get to know us a little better and to fully immerse herself in the history of our island and our distillery. Time spent learning about how integral peat is to our process and how long our iconic Warehouse No.1 has been standing led to the beautiful design you can see on these bespoke bottles.

Both this whisky and Islay have a story to tell and it’s too good to keep to ourselves – so we captured it on film for you.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Unmistakably Laphroaig – a special dram for a special bottle.

One of the oldest releases yet, The Wall Collection: Peat Edition differs from the classic 10 Year Old not only from its extra time maturing, but the use of a cask that previously held younger, heavily-peated Laphroaig . At first nose, there’s lovely and soft vanilla custard with the distinct and classic flavour from ex-Laphroaig casks.

Explore the story behind what makes this edition so special, and see Barry and Laura enjoy a dram of it together, in the full video on Laphroaig.com

“PEAT” BY LAURA CARLIN. “This is a whisky with layers and layers of story to tell… just a sip of it takes you somewhere else.” – Laura Carlin

In Laura’s own words, she loves to create stories around physical objects, as well as explore themes of history, people and iconography. We think you’ll agree that she has done an extraordinary job of capturing the rich history of both our peat and our wall.

The paint used to decorate these unique bottles is the very same as that which adorns the wall of our iconic Warehouse No.1. Sitting right on the shoreline of the bay, the wall that boasts the iconic black LAPHROAIG lettering weathers sea spray and wind and rain, day after day, and sits on foundations that date back to the 1800s. The wall of Warehouse No.1 is strong, enduring, and full of character. Just like our whisky.

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TOMATIN 36yo Batch #11

£1,200 / $1,241* / c$2,012* / €1,399

Rare cask matured in Oloroso sherry butts and traditional oak casks for 2023. Tomatin 36 Year Old Rare Casks batch #11 Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Matured in a first fill Oloroso Sherry Butts and traditional oak casks. Limited release of 1,200 numbered bottles.

Nose: Tropical fruits and winter spices from the Oloroso Sherry butts.

Palate: Rich yet sweet on the palate, the fruity tones develop into oaky flavours of raw heather honey and roasted chestnuts.

Finish: Very long finish with lashings of fruit and winter spice.

Tomatin Distillery was established in 1897 and operated with two stills until 1956 after which there were frequent and numerous additions culminating in 23 stills in 1986 making Tomatin the largest distillery in Scotland at that time. However, eleven were subsequently closed and it is currently equipped with twelve but operating with eight. Tomatin Distillery is a Highland distillery situated close to the Cairngorms National Park and, sitting at an altitude of 315m, it is the third highest distillery in Scotland. The official range includes Tomatin 12 Year Old, 18 Year Old and the peated Cu Bocan range.

CÙ BÒCAN

15 YEAR OLD – 2023 EDITION

OLOROSO SHERRY CASKS

15 Year Old | 70cl | 50% ABV

Cù Bòcan takes its name from the mythical hound that has haunted the village of Tomatin for centuries. This experimental, lightly peated Single Malt is produced every winter at the Tomatin Distillery.This Limited Edition release has been fully matured in Oloroso Sherry casks for at least 15 years. A decadent Single Malt with rich flavours and aroma sun dried fruits and smoky exotic spices.

TASTING NOTES:

Dried fruits, flamed orange peel, cinder toffee, black cherry and cardamom

£94.95

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BATCH 13 FROM ALISTAIR WALKER

Linkwood 30 Years Old 1992 

This 30-year-old single malt from Linkwood Distillery in Speyside, Scotland, was artfully aged in a Chinquapin oak barrel. Bottled at its natural cask strength, with no chill-filtration or artificial colouring, this impressive whiskey is part of Alistair Walker’s Infrequent Flyers collection.

NOSE: Almonds, toasted oak and vanilla cheesecake. Danish pastries and tree sap.

PALATE: Lots going on here. Aniseed balls, Braeburn apples and crushed digestive biscuits. Tropical notes – vanilla, coconut and Demerara syrup. A hint of rum and raisin fudge. Woody, with well-defined sweet spicy notes.

£349.99

HEAVILY PEATED

OCTOMORE 14 EDITIONS

Love peaty whisky? Bruichladdich distillery has unveiled the 14th installment of its annual Octomore series. Octomore Islay single malts are widely regarded as the world’s peatiest Scotch whisky and explore the influence of different barley types, cask types and peat levels to create peated whiskies with a distinct character. This limited edition trio has been made with 100% Scottish barley, aged for 5 years and bottled close to cask strength (ranging from 57.7% to 61.4% abv).

Described as the backbone of the series, Octomore 14.1 has been matured in bourbon casks, whilst Octomore 14.2 explores the influence of European wine casks and Octomore 14.3 uses locally grown Islay barley to produce the most heavily peated whisky in the series.

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ELEMENTS OF ISLAY LAUNCHES NEW LIMITED EDITION

 BEACH BONFIRE GLOBALLY

Elements of Islay, the award-winning independent whisky brand, is releasing its limited-edition whisky Beach Bonfire to global markets following an initial launch at Islay’s iconic whisky festival Fèis Ìle earlier this year.

The team wanted to create a whisky that captured the essence of the island’s rugged wilderness and transport the drinker to the heart of this untamed land with each sip. Head Blender Oliver Chilton took inspiration from a bonfire night where colours, smoke, flames, and sand all collided on a beach – truly representing the unique spirit and terroir of Islay.

The new release, bottled at 54.5% to be consistent with Elements of Islay’s core range, is matured in new oak, bourbon refill and sherry casks. The result is a powerful, herbaceous Islay malt with a rich, complex profile, laden with bonfire ember smoke and a sweet spice finish. Similarly to the rest of the range, Beach Bonfire is non-chill filtered and retains its natural colour.

“We’re thrilled to be releasing Beach Bonfire to markets across the world following its limited release at Fèis Ìle 2023,” said Elixir Distillers Head Blender, Oliver Chilton. “Beach Bonfire takes three distinct Islay spirits matured in a variety of different cask styles to bring a singular location and experience to life through flavour. The chance to condense and reimagine the incredible atmosphere of Islay’s coast by bonfire light into a glass of whisky is another step on our journey as blenders.”

The whisky is the first limited edition release from Elements of Islay since the re-launch of its core range in 2022.

 Elements of Islay, Beach Bonfire, 70cl, 54.5% ABV, RRP £79.95, $115.00, €85.00 will be available in key markets across Europe in October 2023. It will be rolled out to Asia and the US from 2024. 

Tasting Notes by Oliver Chilton, Head Blender

Nose: Oyster shells and bonfire smoke blend with rich baking spices and subtle notes of cherry and tarragon. Hints of mint and black pepper temper lemon oil and caramel cooking on a wood burning stove.

Palate: Bourbon-soaked Amarena Cherries, with baked vanilla pods, cinnamon and light ginger are surrounded by rich wood smoke. Touches of traditional, medicinal Islay peat play against a wonderful herbaceous character.

Finish: Warm and long, with more wood fire and soft brown sugar. A gingerbread spice starts to develop long after the last sip.

BATCH 13 FROM ALISTAIR WALKER

North British 30 Years Old 1992

This special single-grain whisky was distilled in 1992 at the North British Distillery, a Lowland staple. After maturing for an impressive 30 years in a Refill barrel, it was bottled with no chill-filtration or artificial colouring at natural cask strength by Alistair Walker’s Infrequent Flyers collection.

NOSE: The classic combination of sweet and almost industrial notes that we come to expect from a well-aged single grain, superbly aldehydic – coconut macaroons and marzipan.

PALATE: Sweet and nutty (predominantly almonds). Coconut toasties, butterscotch and vanilla shortbread.

£122.99

TOMATIN 20yo UK Exclusive

£399.95/ $414 / c$671 / €466*

United Kingdom single cask exclusive. 2001 vintage PX sherry cask #24872 bottled at 57.4%. Only 658 numbered bottles. Tomatin 20 Year Old 2001 vintage Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Single Pedro Ximenez Sherry butt #34872 bottled August 2022 for the United Kingdom market.

Nose – Rich with an intensely sweet opening bringing notes of maple syrup, candied walnuts, prunes and rum soaked sultanas. PX, despite being the sweetest wine in the world, has a way of presenting intriguing bitter aromas like dark chocolate, treacle, espresso and leather. With time, more dried fruit emerges with hints of dried apricot and raisins along with a touch of cinnamon.

Taste – An incredible mouthfeel, almost chewy, the sweetness spreads with notes of cherry and plum liqueurs followed by golden syrup and Jamaican ginger cake. All of the bitter aromas from the nose make an appearance but always under a sweet guise.

Finish – This is a bold whisky throughout and the mix of dark sweetness, bitter notes and spice lingers for quite some time.

Tomatin Distillery was established in 1897 and operated with two stills until 1956 after which there were frequent and numerous additions culminating in 23 stills in 1986 making Tomatin the largest distillery in Scotland at that time. However, eleven were subsequently closed and it is currently equipped with twelve but operating with eight. Tomatin Distillery is a Highland distillery situated close to the Cairngorms National Park and, sitting at an altitude of 315m, it is the third highest distillery in Scotland. The official range includes Tomatin 12 Year Old, 18 Year Old and the peated Cu Bocan range.

Tamdhu Cigar Malt, Release No. 3

The latest edition in the renowned Cigar Malt Collection. The Tamdhu Cigar Malt III is a 53.8% non-chill filtered single malt with an unmistakably rich flavour, meticulously matured to pair perfectly with a hand-rolled cigar.

Tamdhu Cigar Malt III undergoes a unique maturation journey, developing its complex natural colour and flavour exclusively within the finest first fill European oak Oloroso sherry casks. Each cask has been carefully curated, ensuring the wood has a strikingly robust character, capable of matching the opulence of a premium cigar. This commitment to quality and craftsmanship ensures an unforgettable experience, perfect for whisky aficionados seeking a companion to their most cherished cigars or for non-cigar smokers, an exceptional dram on its own.

The boldness of first fill European sherry oak casks provides Cigar Malt III with a wonderful scent and a warm, rich colour while reflecting Tamdhu’s fabulous Speyside character . The whisky’s toasted gingerbread and honey aroma swirls into indulgent notes of creamy panna cotta and dried fruits. Mirroring the slow and deliberate puff of a cigar, this single malt gradually envelops the palate with its full-bodied layers, culminating in a satisfying finish that lingers with a jammy haze of apricots and rich praline. Each element artfully combines to deliver a captivating and unforgettable sensation.

Sandy McIntyre, Tamdhu Distillery Manager, said: “Following the resounding success of Cigar Malt II, we take immense pleasure in introducing the latest expression in this distinguished series: Cigar Malt III.

“Reflecting the timeless pairing of cigars and single malts, this exceptional release showcases an especially bold flavour profile that harmonises beautifully with the finest of cigars. Cigar Malt III is testament to Tamdhu’s unwavering commitment to full-term sherry cask maturation, boasting an unparalleled depth and character.”

From Tamdhu Whisky Distillery, Speyside.

£224.90

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom