HARDIN’S CREEK™ STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY DEBUTS

HARDIN’S CREEK BOSTON, ITS THIRD AND LAST EXPRESSION

FROM ‘THE KENTUCKY SERIES’

Clermont, Kentucky (September 13, 2023) – Today, the James B. Beam Distilling Co. is launching the third expression within the Hardin’s Creek™ Kentucky Series (announced June 2023),  called Hardin’s Creek™ Boston. The Kentucky Series features three Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys and takes whiskey fans on a journey of ‘Kentucky Terroir’. All three expressions are aged for 17 years with the same mash bill — the only difference being the location of aging. This limited-edition collection of ultra-rare expressions includes Hardin’s Creek Clermont (released June 2023), Hardin’s Creek Frankfort (released August 2023), and Hardin’s Creek Boston (launching now).

Hardin’s Creek Boston is a 17-year-old Bourbon, aged at The James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s Boston campus in Kentucky, also known as The Booker Noe campus. This location is unlike any other – rack houses are spread out generously in the golden sunshine and clear air, ideal for maturation. These unique conditions mean fast, richer aging and result in a bold and characterful liquid, much like Booker Noe himself.

“The Boston campus creates a flavor profile my Granddaddy Booker Noe looked for and talked about. I think he would have loved this,” said Freddie Noe, Eighth Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery.

Launched in 2022, Hardin’s Creek is a series of ongoing releases featuring some of the James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s rarest and most unique whiskeys, grounded in rich distilling expertise. The releases showcase the breadth and depth of the James B. Beam Distilling Co’s whiskey-making credentials inclusive of age, blending, mash bill, distillation, barrels, rack house locations and more.   

For real-time information about Hardin’s Creek, we encourage whiskey fans to follow along on Instagram @HardinsCreek or visit www.hardinscreek.com.

HARDIN’S CREEK KENTUCKY SERIES, BOSTON – 55% ABV | Suggested Retail Price: $169.99

The third and last expression from the Kentucky Series is Hardin’s Creek Boston, aged on the Boston campus and bottled at 204 months.

COLOR       Rich amber with darker tones

NOSE          Toasted marshmallow, dark chocolate, and slight coconut

PALATE      Soft caramel and vanilla with oak tones, faded hazelnut

FINISH       Sweet baking spices

Hardin’s Creek Boston is best enjoyed neat or served over a large ice cube in a lowball glass where its complex flavors can be appreciated with each sip.

About Hardin’s Creek

Hardin’s Creek is a series of ongoing releases featuring some of the James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s rarest and most unique whiskeys, grounded in 227 years of rich experience and distilling expertise. The brand launched in 2022 with its inaugural expressions, Jacob’s Well and Colonel James B. Beam, and released The Kentucky Series in 2023. Each Hardin’s Creek release will showcase the breadth and depth of the James B. Beam Distilling Co’s whiskey-making credentials inclusive of age, blending, mash bill, distillation, barrels, rackhouse locations, and more. Hardin’s Creek celebrates whiskey’s past while charting its future.

About Beam Suntory

As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires the brilliance of life by delivering great consumer experiences through its world-class portfolio of brands.  Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam®, Maker’s Mark®, Basil Hayden® and Knob Creek® bourbons; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Teacher’s, Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Beam Suntory also produces leading brands such as Courvoisier® cognac, Tres Generaciones®, El Tesoro® and Hornitos® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, Canadian Club® whisky, and is a world leader in ready-to-drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.  

A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in more than 30 countries, one of Beam Suntory’s core values is Growing for Good and through its Proof Positive sustainability strategy, the company has committed to ambitious goals and investments to promote environmental sustainability in its operations, ensure the company has a positive impact on the communities where employees live and work, and programs to educate and inform consumers to make the right personal choices about drinking. Headquartered in New York City, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com 

Basil Hayden Explores The More Refined Side Of Rye With New Permanent Offering – Malted Rye

BERRY BROS. & RUDD CELEBRATE PIONEERS OF SUSTAINABILITY IN SPIRITS

Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd have announced the launch of The Collective, an annual release of spirits which brings together a group of like-minded distillers. These people share a common passion and Berry Bros. & Rudd celebrate their achievements by sharing their stories around the world.

The Collective #1: The Pioneers is centred around ‘Pioneers in Sustainability’ within the spirits industry and spotlights ten distillers who are dedicated to making exceptional spirits whilst caring for the future of the planet.

Berry Bros. & Rudd will be releasing a series of ten bottlings to showcase the sustainable talents spirit producers from around the globe:

• Oskar Bruno – Agitator 2018 Single Malt Swedish Whisky
• John Stirling – Arbikie 2017 Single Grain Scotch Whisky
• Alex Bruce – Ardnamurchan 2017 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Peter Bignell – Belgrove 2016 Single Rye Tasmanian Whisky
• Matthew Farmer – Glen Wyvis 2018 Quarter Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• John Letts – Oxford Artisan 2019 Single Rye English Whisky
• Annabel Thomas – Nc’nean 2017 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• David & Fiona Boyd- Armstrong – Shortcross 2017 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
• Matt Hoffman – Westland 2014 Madeira Finish Single Malt American Whisky

Each has been meticulously selected by Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits Reserve Whisky Manager, Jonny McMillan, in collaboration with Mr Lyan, a proven pioneer in the drinks industry and the world’s most awarded bartender, who shared the same values as Berry Bros. & Rudd: passion and knowledge for both sustainability and exceptional spirits.

Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits Reserve Manager, Jonny McMillan, commented:

“There is no set path on the sustainability journey, nor one single solution. The beauty of Collective #1 : The Pioneers is that each distiller has taken a different approach to sustainability, with the strength being in the diversity and combination of practices, making a whole entity, with continuous learnings.’

‘We looked to find a broad spectrum of producers from various traditions of whisky and cognac making with each distiller taking a slightly different approach to sustainability, some focusing on soil health and regenerative farming, others on lowering energy use or green power.  For each distiller there is a different solution that fits the location and character of their distillery, together they form a great overview of what’s going on with environmentally pioneering producers.”

Lizzy Rudd, Berry Bros. & Rudd Chair, added:

“As a family business with a long history, the notion of sustainability is a natural part of our ethos and our long-term mindset, a key to our resilience and longevity. The purpose of business is fast becoming defined by its impact rather than the products or services it sells.

Today, the most important decisions we face are about how to reduce our impact on the planet now, and in the future. This is why our goal is to be net zero carbon and plastic free by 2030.

Our producers are the best in the world at what they do. Like us, they believe that protecting our planet is the only way to ensure the future of fine wine and spirits. We believe that, together with our producers, we can improve practices around the use of water, energy and plastic.

We are not just a business, we are family, a family who are the custodians of a legacy for future generations.”

The spirits featured in The Collective #1 : The Pioneers have been sourced from across the globe, from countries including America, England, Ireland, Sweden, Tasmania, and the undisputed homeland of whisky, Scotland.

Each whisk(e)y from The Collective #1 is priced at £125.00 and cognac at £75.00, available to purchase from 27th September 2023 from Berry Bros. & Rudd (bbr.com), Master of Malt (masterofmalt.com) and Royal Mile Whiskies (royalmilewhiskies.com).

TASTING NOTES

Agitator 2018 Cask #741 Single Malt Swedish Whisky

RRP £125.00

57.7% ABV

Few distilleries push production boundaries like Stockholm’s Agitator. Led by Oskar Bruno, the distillery offers vacuum distillation and endless experimentations with yeast, barley and wood. Energy efficiency is equal to quality in their mindset, making this one of Europe’s greenest distilleries.

Produced with 40ppm barley and fermented with a Saison yeast, buckle up! The nose is near overwhelmingly complex, dried mushrooms, forest floor, peat smoke, wonderfully umami. The palate is pleasantly dirty, bringing notes of new leather, pink wafer biscuits, garden bonfire with a pleasing coastal backbone. Smoke and dried fruit linger on a stunned palate. Idiosyncratic brilliance, distilled by either a madman or a genius.

Arbikie 2017 Cask #69 Single Grain Scotch Whisky

RRP £125.00

58.3% ABV

Founded by the three Stirling brothers on the family’s East Coast estate, sustainability has been at the heart of Arbikie’s production from day one. From the distillery’s ground-breaking use of hydrogen fuel to their carbon positive crops, Arbikie is truly a leader in green distilling.

Sweet aromas of Icelandic rye bread, honeyed sponge cake and cloves open the bouquet with some nutmeg emerging with time. The palate is lively and joyous, showing sweet rye spice, crème brûlée and dark chocolate cookies. It is immensely quaffable. Baking spice and dry rye come in waves over the finish. Scotland isn’t known for its rye whisky but if this dram is anything to go by, it soon will be.

Ardnamurchan 2017 Cask #374 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

RRP £125.00

59.7% ABV

The prestigious independent bottler, Adelphi, prioritised sustainability when building their distillery in the wilderness of Ardnamurchan. The distillery runs on hydroelectric, solar and biomass power managed from its own forestry. The result is a heavily textured, peated style whisky tipped to become a West Coast classic.

The nose opens with vibrant aromas of bacon fat and cocoa powder lunging from the glass. The palate follows suit with flavours of smokey bacon, farmyard, tea leaves and warm blackcurrants. It is a masterclass in peaty complexity. More dark cocoa shows on the finish with lingering smoke. This is a powerful statement from the young distillery, perhaps Brora’s baby brother.

Belgrove 2016 Cask #170216 Single Rye Tasmanian Whisky

RRP £125.00

61.1% ABV

Pete Bignell not only grows his own rye on the farm but even built his own stills which are direct fired from used chip fryer oil. This farm distillery is an almost entirely closed loop with bio-oil being the only input and whisky the only output.

The nose immediately makes clear that this glass contains a huge, characterful dram. Farmyard aromas introduce rye dough, spiced vanilla, popcorn and warm gingerbread. These flavours are only magnified on the palate with burnt sugar and salted caramel cascading into rye beer, shortbread and clove. Spice lingers on the finish. This is an immense, intense and unique offering from the distilling folk hero of Tasmania.

Glen Wyvis 2018 Cask #1501/1502 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

RRP £125.00

53.9% ABV

In 2015, GlenWyvis became the first Scots distillery to be founded as a Social Enterprise, running for the good of the community. Set on a picturesque ridge at the foot of Ben Wyvis, the distillery utilises hydro, solar and biomass energy in its production.

Vibrant aromas of fresh fruit sing from the glass with honeyed cantaloupe melon, warm gorse and zesty green apples. A zap of citrus opens the palate, bringing spiced pears, soft vanilla and more crisp apple. Pine wood and cinnamon dance together across the finish. This is a wonderfully invigorating Highland malt and would be perfect to enjoy in a crisp breeze on the summit of Ben Wyvis.

The Oxford Artisan 2019 Cask #21 Single Rye English Whisky

RRP £125.00

 54.5% ABV

The Oxford Artisan Distillery uses regenerative agriculture to create a whisky with terroir like no other. Their Head of Farming, John Letts’ continuous grain cropping technique ensures each field’s revived heritage grain population is unique and able to adapt to any climate and flourish.

This refill cask allows the rye distillate to sing with enticing savoury aromas of white chocolate, Danish rye bread and dark chocolate on the nose. The palate brings out more full-bodied rye notes, alongside citrusy Japanese Miyagawa, poppy seeds and spice. Few producers put as much thought into their grain and this dram serves as testament to that wisdom.

Nc’nean 2017 Cask #198 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

RRP £125.00

57.3% ABV

Founded by Annabel Thomas and opened in 2017, Nc’nean has become Scotland’s first carbon neutral distillery. The distillery uses 100% organic barley and utilises its own forestry to fuel a biomass boiler. Few other distilleries can be said to be leading environmental ethics in distilling with the same passion as Nc’nean.

Luscious green fruit aromas rise from the glass with animated notes of pear drop, wine gums and tinned pineapple emerging with time. The palate shows more weight with excellent balance of fresh orchard fruits and some fermentation driven tropicality. A wave of marzipan and coconut follow with the addition of water. This is a wonderfully characterful Highland dram with plenty to say both inside and outside of the glass.

Shortcross 2017 Cask #48 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

RRP £125.00

55.1% ABV

Built within the beautiful Rademon Estate by David and Fiona Boyd-Armstrong, Shortcross is a true labour of love. Their passion for quality spirit, Irish tradition and of course the estate itself shows in all they do. All the energy for the distillery comes from the estate’s own solar and hydro.

This Irish Pot Still explodes out of the glass with an incredible array of fruits. Notes of dried pineapple and mango, grapefruit fizz and lemon oil all astound the senses. The palate shows a masterful balance of wood and fruity distillate. The powerful, oak-driven vanilla flavour integrates perfectly with honeyed tropicality from the spirit. Clove rock and cinnamon rolls over the finish. The term ‘fruit bomb’ barely does justice to describing this magical pot still whiskey.

 Westland 2014 Cask #6235 Single Malt American Whiskey

RRP £125.00

53.0% ABV

Since its inception in 2010, Westland has deservedly become the biggest name in American single malt and is always pushing the boundaries in pursuit of quality. Global acclaim not quite being enough, Westland are now pioneering research in barley sustainability.

The nose offers juicy notes of ripe pawpaw, apricot and luscious oak as an inviting glimpse of what’s to come. The palate is notably thick, showing phenomenally firm structure with apricot jam, mango, brioche and fudge coating the mouth. Fruit and nut chocolate flavours linger on the finish with a moreish sensation. This is a masterful pairing of supreme spirit and oak from one of the USA’s finest distilleries. 

Berry Bros. & Rudd
Tracing its history back to 1698, when an enterprising woman called the Widow Bourne started an “Italian grocers” at No. 3 St James’s Street in London, selling tea, snuff, spices and the most fashionable drink of the day, coffee. In due course, the focus shifted to something a little bit stronger. As wine became important to the business, so too did spirits, and Berry Bros. & Rudd started bottling casks under its label in the early 19th century, making it Britain’s oldest independent spirits bottler.

NEW LOST LANTERN FALL SINGLE CASK COLLECTION FEATURES

TOP-REQUESTED DISTILLERY PARTNERS

WEYBRIDGE, VT (September 13, 2023)— Independent bottler Lost Lantern is ushering in autumn with the release of its Fall 2023 Single Cask Collection, showcasing five new single casks from some of America’s most sought-after distilleries. This seasonal release spotlights whiskies from four returning Lost Lantern partners, all fan favorites: Balcones Distilling (TX), Smooth Ambler (WV), New Riff (KY), and Corbin Cash (CA). It also includes Lost Lantern’s first release from its most-requested new partner, Andalusia Whiskey Co. (TX).

Beginning September 27th, the Fall 2023 Single Cask Collection will be available for sale online at LostLanternWhiskey.com and Seelbachs.com. Select releases will also be available in California in limited quantities. All offerings are non-chill-filtered, bottled at natural cask strength, and feature transparent labeling highlighting the source distillery.

• Lost Lantern Balcones Distilling Texas Single Malt Finished in a Peated Whiskey Cask (241 Btls | 120.4 Proof) SRP: $100
• Lost Lantern Smooth Ambler West Virginia Straight Bourbon (87 Btls | 121.4 Proof) SRP: $100
• Lost Lantern New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon (196 Btls | 116.2 Proof) SRP: $90
• Lost Lantern Corbin Cash California Straight Rye Whiskey 7 Years Old (146 Btls | 129.8 Proof) SRP: $120
• Lost Lantern Andalusia Whiskey Co. Triple Distilled Texas Single Malt (177 Btls | 105.2 Proof) SRP: $100

“The Fall 2023 collection is actually one that is deeply rooted in our customer’s desires,” explains cofounder Nora Ganley-Roper. “Our mission of shining a light on distilleries from across the country doesn’t end the first time we’ve released a whiskey from a distillery. Inspired by direct feedback, this collection revisits four of our most sought-after previous distillery partners—Balcones, Smooth Ambler, New Riff, and Corbin Cash—and introduces a much-requested newcomer: Andalusia Whiskey Co.”

Single casks are an essential piece of the Lost Lantern model, inspired by the long tradition of independent bottlers in Scotland. With the introduction of the 2023 Fall Collection, Lost Lantern has released 49 one-of-a-kind single casks from 24 of the most exciting distilleries in the United States since their debut in October 2020.

LOST LANTERN FALL 2023 SINGLE CASK COLLECTION

Lost Lantern Balcones Distilling Texas Single Malt Finished in a Peated Whiskey Cask

(241 Btls | 120.4 Proof) SRP: $100

Made from 100% Golden Promise malted barley, this whiskey was aged for 3 years in new oak and then finished for an additional 20 months in a cask that previously held peated single malt, imparting a distinct smoky flavor     . A follow-up to the April 2023 release of Lost Lantern Gentle Giant Balcones Distilling Texas Single Malt, named “Best American Single Malt” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Lost Lantern Smooth Ambler West Virginia Straight Bourbon

(87 Btls | 121.4 Proof) SRP: $100

Distilled and aged in the West Virginia hills, this straight bourbon whiskey was made from Smooth Ambler’s high-rye bourbon mashbill. Aged in a 53-gallon char 4 cask for 6 years, it is rich and spicy, with hints of orange, dark chocolate, and butterscotch. A follow-up to two 2022 Lost Lantern releases of Smooth Ambler’s wheated bourbon, both long sold out.

Lost Lantern New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon    

(196 Btls | 116.2 Proof) SRP: $90

New Riff brings a new lens to centuries of Kentucky bourbon tradition. Made from 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley, this was aged for 4 years in a 53-gallon Char 4 ISC Cooper’s Select barrel. Rich baking spice on the nose and a full and rounded palate with hints of black cherry, dried ginger, and dark chocolate. A follow-up and fascinating comparison point to Lost Lantern’s recent release of a New Riff bourbon aged in a Char 1 barrel.

Lost Lantern Corbin Cash California Straight Rye Whiskey 7 Years Old

(146 Btls | 129.8 Proof) SRP: $120

Corbin Cash’s grain-to-glass whiskies, made by the Souza family, reflect the bounty and warmth of California’s Central Valley, one of the world’s great agricultural regions. Distilled from 100% estate-grown Merced rye and aged for 7 years in a 53-gallon barrel with an unusual level 5 char, this has rich, sweet, bold spice notes, like a carrot cake with walnuts and almond cream. A follow-up to Lost Lantern’s March 2023 release of another 7-year-old Corbin Cash rye, which won a Double Gold and was a finalist for Best Rye at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Lost Lantern Andalusia Whiskey Co. Triple Distilled Texas Single Malt

(177 Btls | 105.2 Proof) SRP: $100

This is Lost Lantern’s first release from Andalusia, a rising star in American single malt and their most requested partner. It is also one of the only ways to get Andalusia’s whiskey outside of Texas. This whiskey was made from 100% malted barley and distilled three times on a handmade copper pot still. Aged in new oak for 3 years, it is Lost Lantern’s first triple-distilled release. Warm and refreshing, like eating ice cream in a waffle cone on a hot day.

A MILESTONE YEAR FOR LOST LANTERN

2023 has been a landmark year for Lost Lantern. The brand introduced a fresh design aesthetic when they debuted their new Single Distillery Series this past spring. This new range, which launched with three releases, included “Gentle Giant,” a bottling that ultimately clinched the Best American Single Malt title at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Lost Lantern was honored as the global Independent Bottler of the Year at the prestigious Icons of Whisky Awards and founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski were recently recognized as one of SevenFifty Daily’s 2023 Drinks Innovators. Their ‘Summer of Bourbon’ release, the most extensive in their history, showcased six single casks, a bourbon under the new Single Distillery Series, and marked the debut of Lost Lantern’s first multi-distillery, multi-state bourbon blend. With the introduction of the upcoming Fall 2023 Single Cask Collection (comprising two single malts, two bourbons, and a rye), the company now also celebrates the full unveiling of its revamped product design across all their offerings.

ABOUT LOST LANTERN

Founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, Lost Lantern is an award-winning independent bottler of American whiskey. In 2023, they were named Independent Bottler of the Year at the global Icons of Whisky Awards in London and named one of SevenFifty Daily’s 2023 Drinks Innovators. The company seeks out the most unique and exciting whiskies being made across the U.S. and releases them as single casks and blends, always with a deep commitment to transparency. For more information about Lost Lantern, to learn about upcoming, available, and retired whiskies, or to subscribe to Lost Lantern’s newsletter, please visit LostLanternWhiskey.com.

Kentucky Distillers’ Association Welcomes 

B.H. James Distillers as Newest Member

Bourbon’s Growth Across Commonwealth Continues to Impact New Regions & Communities

FRANKFORT, KY.— The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced B.H. James Distillers in Logan County as the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.  

Founded in 2022, B.H. James Distillers team includes founder and owner Shawn McCormick, Distiller JR Hunter, Assistant Distiller Tim McKinney and Bottling Assistant Felicia Hampton. The facilities include a small pot still operation with blending and bottling capabilities. A small tasting room and gift shop are open Wednesday through Saturday. 

“KDA is a tremendous resource for distilleries of every size. But for new craft distilleries like ours, the KDA advocacy work and connections to the industry are invaluable,” said McCormick. “Our burgeoning distillery has a bright future and I’m excited to share our story, product and small town with new audiences.” 

The distillery has a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and support from the local Adairville community, McCormick said. All corn, rye and malted barley are sourced locally to produce their line of Kentucky Grit® whiskeys. 

Their portfolio includes Burton James® Uniquely American® Whiskey, and Kentucky Grit® Whiskey.

Wanting to share their product further and bring new visitors to the community, the company will soon install an 800-gallon pot still distillation operation and open a new larger 25-seat tasting room with bar and gift shop.  

Learn more at www.burtonjameswhiskey.com. 

B.H. James Distillers joins the KDA as a “Craft” level member, aging between 0 and 10,000 barrels per year.  

“The team at B.H. James Distillers is working to create a positive and lasting impact on their local community and we are excited to help them grow and share their story,” said KDA President Eric Gregory. 

“Bourbon’s recent growth in South Central Kentucky has expanded the industry’s reach, bringing good jobs and exciting Bourbon tourism potential to new parts of the state. We proudly welcome B.H. James to our growing family of Kentucky’s finest distillers.” 

Visit www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com to learn more.

UK Minister declares Titanic Distillers officially open for business

UK MINISTER FOR EXPORTS Lord Offord visited Titanic Distillers at Thompson Dock this week to officially open Belfast’s first working whiskey distillery in almost 90 years.

The Minister, who took up his position at the Department of Business and Trade in April this year, performed the opening ceremony at the new distillery, where whiskey production is now under way for the first time in Belfast since the days of prohibition in the 1930s.

Lord Offord unveiled a commemorative plaque at the distillery which is based on the site of the historic Thompson Dock and Pumphouse, the birthplace of the Titanic.

As well as meeting with Titanic Distillers directors, the Lord enjoyed a brief tour of the £8M distillery and visitor centre, including a whiskey tasting with Head Distiller Damien Rafferty.

He also took time to chat with attending members of the Dockers Club in Pilot Street and Welders Club in Dee Street, in keeping with the company’s ‘Blood, Sweat And Years’ theme which celebrates Belfast’s industrial and maritime past, and is inspired by the people who worked in the city’s shipyard more than a century ago.

The retired workers, from both sides of the community, shared their stories with the Minister, who said he was honoured to be invited to perform the official opening.

“It is an honour to officially open Titanic Distillers at the iconic Thompson Dock today in Belfast,” said Minister for Exports Lord Offord.

“The distilling industry has been part of Northern Ireland’s fabric for generations, and it’s been a pleasure to meet with the team and members of the community to see their skills first-hand.”

The visitor centre at Titanic Distillers opened its doors to tourists in April this year.  Last month (August), the company received its Distillers License to start producing spirits and the stills have been fired up and pouring ever since.

Titanic Distillers director Peter Lavery reflected on the company’s journey to date.

“We are delighted to welcome Lord Offord here today to perform the Official Opening of Titanic Distillers at Thompson Dock,” said Peter.

“Today is the culmination of many years’ hard graft to bring this amazing project to life – and while it marks the end of the first ‘construction’ phase, it also signals the start of another phase as we start producing a whiskey and a brand that the people of Belfast and Northern Ireland can be proud of, and that will represent us well all over the world.”

Fellow director Stephen Symington added: “We believe the famous Titanic name resonates around the world and we have very ambitious plans to take the product to a global audience – with coast to coast distribution in the US identified as a major commercial objective for the brand.

“With this in mind, it is very fitting that Lord Offord, in his role as UK Minister for Export, be here today to officially open our new distillery. Outside of our location’s massive tourism appeal and historic significance, we’re very aware that we are now a working distillery and we are all focussed on producing our own products to build on our success to date and make the most of the growing global demand for Irish Whiskey.”

The new distillery will produce single malt premium whiskey made from ingredients that have been carefully selected to produce the best possible flavour.

A unique house blend of malted barley and yeast is used to produce the ‘wash’ which is then distilled in the three Forsyth’s stills, situated on a mezzanine floor overlooking the Pumphouse’s original Gwynne pumping engines which are deep in the building’s pump-well.

The Thompson Dry Dock first opened in 1911 to service and accommodate the massive White Star transatlantic liners Olympic and Titanic.

All of the original pump equipment and associated internal historic features in the adjacent Pumphouse have been retained and are available to view as part of the associated visitor tours, while the exterior includes a new food and beverage area.

Titanic Distillers at Thompson Dock is within walking distance of Titanic Belfast, the world’s biggest Titanic exhibition centre and Northern Ireland’s number one tourist attraction, having welcomed more than 7.5 million visitors since opening its doors in 2012.

Also resident in the Titanic Quarter is the SS Nomadic tender ship which ferried passengers to the great liner, and HMS Caroline, a decommissioned C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy that saw combat service in the First World War and served as an administrative centre in the Second World War.

For more information, visit www.titanicdistillers.com.

WATERFORD DISTILLERY BOTTLES IRELAND’S MOST HEAVILY-PEATED WHISKIES OF ALL TIME

Waterford Distillery has bottled Ireland’s most heavily-peated whiskies of all time: Peated: Lacken and Peated: Woodbrook

The bottlings form the latest additions to the distillery’s Arcadian Farm Origins, which revel in the old ways of whisky production, and follow the first Irish-peated whiskies experienced for generations

By combining 100% Irish barley with purely Irish peat, both whiskies display unique flavour profiles

13th September 2023: Waterford Distillery, producer of naturally flavoursome single malts, has today announced the launch of Peated: Lacken and Peated: Woodbrook, the most heavily-peated Irish whiskies of all time.

Made from barley grown on two distinct Single Farm Origins, Lacken in Co. Wexford and Woodbrook in Co. Dublin, the new single malt whiskies use the old ways of whisky production of Irish peat to impart more unique flavours, at a phenol parts per million (PPM) rate of 57ppm and 74ppm respectively. This makes them the most heavily-peated Irish whiskies ever produced.

The two new bottlings are the latest additions to Waterford Distillery’s Arcadian Farm Origins series, joining Peated: Fenniscourt and Peated: Ballybannon, which were released in August last year, and were the first in generations to use real Irish peat in whisky production. The series also includes the world’s first Biodynamic whisky, and Ireland’s only Organic whisky.

By harvesting barley from Lacken and Woodbrook farms, and combining it with Irish peat from the ultra-deep inland of Ballyteige Co. in Kildare, Waterford Distillery has produced whiskies with rich, distinct, and complex flavours, each displaying the nuances of their respective terroir-derived flavours.

As with other Waterford Distillery releases, a unique TÉIREOIR CODE on each bottle provides unprecedented validation and verification of its individual journey from barley to bottle – harvested, stored, malted, distilled and matured. Every meaningful detail of the whisky is offered openly.

Mark Reynier, Waterford Distillery Founder and CEO, says:

“Our ongoing exploration into the old ways of whisky-making have taken us, once again, to forgotten flavours: Irish peat, the original taste of Irish whisky. Having demonstrated the unique flavours from our first peated Single Farm Origins, and that terroir trumps peat, we decided to dial up the smoke.

“This new brace of Single Farm Origins – using Irish peat and Irish barley – have been peated to levels higher than most of the famous Islay whiskies, and certainly the most for an Irish whisky. And guess what? Those terroir flavours are still distinct and still apparent.”

Tasting Notes by Ned Gahan, Head Distiller at Waterford Distillery

Peated: Lacken

Appearance: Virgin olive oil with tears to match.

Nose: High-toned, vibrant, fresh smoke-on-the-breeze-on-a-spring-morning style of peat.

A coastal walk; brine, oyster shells, barley sugar and orchard fruits: soft apples and pear skins. A little warm hay too as it opens in the glass.

Taste: Full-bodied, oily, unctuous. Grist, driftwood, campfire and creosote. Sheepswool and Lapsang Souchong tea. Juiciness comes in the form of white peach and apple sauce.

Finish: Complex cigar tobaccos, green tea and tar.

Peated: Woodbrook

Appearance: Pale straw with oils that are in no hurry.

Nose:  Lemon skins, beeswax and recently-extinguished candles. Freshly-torched crème brûlée. Very fresh, with meadow flowers and hemp alongside a light, complex touch of medicine cupboard.

Taste: Dry spices, dry rub and shortbread biscuit. The ashes of a beach campfire. Preserved lemons and Lapsang Souchong tea. Very citrusy – lemon oils and thick-cut lime marmalade.

Finish: Long with more of the spices and comforting bonfire tones emerging.

The new Peated: Lacken and Peated: Woodbrook will be available to purchase at waterfordwhisky.com, with a RSP of approximately €95/£90 (varying by location).

About Waterford Distillery 

Waterford Whisky produces the most naturally flavoursome single malts.

It is the world’s largest producer of organic and biodynamic whiskies.

It is agricultural produce, not a manufactured product.

Unashamedly influenced by the world’s greatest winemakers, Waterford Whisky obsessively brings the same intellectual drive, methodology and rigour to barley – the very source of malt whisky’s complex flavour.

Extolling a hundred exclusive farms of Irish-grown barley, the distillery searches for natural flavours via three paths: its Single Farm Origins pursue the individualism of terroir-derived flavour; its Arcadian Farm Origins express the intensity of flavour from alternative philosophies and long-forgotten varieties; whilst its Cuvée Concepts revel in the ultimate complexity, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

For more information, visit www.waterfordwhisky.com

GORDON & MACPHAIL UNVEILS ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ 74-YEAR-OLD WHISKY FROM GLENLIVET DISTILLERY

Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled the latest addition to its prestigious Private Collection range – a single malt described by acclaimed whisky writer, Dave Broom, as ‘extraordinary’. 

Gordon & MacPhail 1949 from Glenlivet Distillery was laid down in a refill Sherry butt selected by Gordon & MacPhail on New Year’s Day 1949 and bottled on 6^th March 2023. Priced at £35,000 RSP and retaining a cask strength of 49.3%, only 192 bottles of the ultra-rare whisky are available for sale.

Its remarkable age means the whisky is among one of the oldest Glenlivet released by Gordon & MacPhail, having been aged in its warehouse for over seven decades. Adding an extra layer of rarity, the single malt is the company’s last ever 1949 cask from Glenlivet Distillery.

Layered with complex notes and full of vibrancy and character, the whisky displays sweet, stewed fruit aromas that combine with fragrant cinnamon, aged leather, clementine, and beeswax polish. On the palate, autumnal spices and fruitcake are balanced by cracked pepper, with undertones of garden mint, dark treacle, and charred oak.

Dave Broom, whisky writer, said: “To find a whisky of this age is absolutely extraordinary. What comes across immediately is the fruit – there’s richness and there’s depth. You have this wonderful interplay of distillery character, of oak and oxygen. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.

“When you taste it, you taste time. You can taste all the vintages and everything that’s happened. The concentration of fruits, the layers and the complexity are off the scale. You’d think it’s an old whisky but it’s not just an old whisky. It’s an extraordinary whisky.”

Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “Patience, knowledge, skill, and a commitment to quality are all principles exemplified in this greatly aged single malt. Gordon & MacPhail 1949 from Glenlivet Distillery is extremely scarce – our very last cask of Glenlivet from 1949, making it a must for whisky enthusiasts looking to savour a remarkable greatly aged single malt exuding layers of character and decades of maturation expertise.”

Those looking to be among the first to taste this latest Private Collection release can purchase the whisky at Dubai International Airport. Launching in partnership with Le Clos on Friday 1^st September, the Dubai airport store will have an exclusivity period, before the whisky becomes available worldwide on the 19^th of September.

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: £35,000 ABV: 49.3% 

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Sweet stewed fruit aromas combine with a fragrant cinnamon spice and aged leather. A hint of aniseed gives way to clementine and beeswax polish.

Palate: Autumnal spice and fruitcake flavours are balanced by cracked black pepper. Undertones of garden mint come to the fore alongside dark treacle and charred oak.

Finish: A spicy finish with lasting citrus fruit and mixed nuts.

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.

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.

Jack Daniel’s Introduces New Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whiskey as Permanent Extension of its Bonded Series

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye Whiskey is the first rye whiskey from the Jack Daniel Distillery with the Bottled-In-Bond designation

Lynchburg, Tennessee (September 6, 2023) – The Jack Daniel Distillery introduces Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye Whiskey as the newest member of its Bonded Series, a line of innovative expressions that honors the distillery’s heritage of whiskey-making excellence. Available now across the U.S., Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye is a Tennessee Rye Whiskey bottled at 100 proof (50% alc. by vol.), and is the first rye whiskey from the Jack Daniel Distillery with the Bottled-in-Bond designation.

As stipulated by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, a bonded whiskey must be distilled by a single distiller during a single season, matured in a government bonded warehouse for at least four years, and bottled at 100 proof.

“The Bottled-in-Bond designation on Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye is another stamp of quality, assuring consumers that every drop of our whiskey is made right here in Lynchburg at the Jack Daniel Distillery with the highest standards possible,” said Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “Bonded Rye features our uniquely crafted rye grain bill at 100 proof, delivering a unique and balanced profile that drinkers have come to expect and seek out from our rye releases.”

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye has a grain bill of 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley and is charcoal mellowed before aging in new, handmade American white oak barrels. It opens with notes of dried fruit followed by lingering hints of toffee, imparting a bold, complex, and balanced taste with a rye spice finish.

With packaging inspired by the original design of the 1895 Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey bottle, Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye will be available in 700mL bottles across the U.S. for a suggested retail price of $31.99. It will be available for pre-sale through ReserveBar starting September 6 including a limited edition Jack Daniel’s gift item while supplies last.

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Series includes Jack Daniel’s Bonded, Triple Mash and now Bonded Rye. For more information, visit www.jackdaniels.com.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.