Armorik confirms its status as a pioneer by launching Armorik 15 years old – Breton Whisky News

Whisky Live Paris approaching, Armorik Breton Single Malt Whisky is unveiling two new bottlings. An Armorik 15 years old, which confirms its status as a pioneer and demonstrates the distillery’s know-how in maturing whisky. At the same time, the distillery launches a limited edition of its peated Breton Single Malt, Yeun Elez, bottled at cask strenght and matured in ex-Pineau des Charentes casks.

Armorik 15 years old – Single Malt Breton Whisky

 A few years after the launch of its Armorik 10 yo, the distillery reveals a little more of the numerous possibilities offered by the several thousand casks stored in Lannion, Bretagne.

Being the first permanent 15 years old French Whisky and offered in a limited edition of 1500 bottles every year, this Armorik 15 yo becomes the 2nd bottling of the range with an age statement. It attests to our expertise and knowhow about maturation, for over 20 years.

This Armorik 15 years old has been matured for 9 years in Bourbon casks and transferred to Sherry Oloroso casks for 6 more years. “Armorik 15 years old has acquired with age a sort of elegant, aromatic fullness, while retaining the fruity freshness characteristic of our distillate.”

Bottled at 46%, un-chillfiltered and natural color, it will be sold in France by La Maison du Whisky at around 95 EUR (all taxes included).

ABOUT ARMORIK WHISKY BRETON SINGLE MALT

Armorik was born in Brittany, at the Warenghem distillery. Founded in Lannion in the Côtes d’Armor, on the Pink Granite Coast, our distillery has been independent and family-owned for over 100 years.

We use French barley, water from our own source and a traditional know-how. Our stills are two traditional pot stills. We are committed to creating an exceptional single malt that reflects the Breton character.

Filmland Spirits Launches Its Initial Collection of Whiskey In The U.S.

The award-winning spirits brand uniquely blends the worlds of film and whiskey together

Los Angeles, CA (September 1, 2022) – Filmland Spirits announces its world premiere in the U.S. market unveiling three core whiskey expressions – “Moonlight Mayhem!” – Bourbon, “Moonlight Mayhem! Extended Cut” – Cask Strength Bourbon, and “Ryes of the Robots” – Rye Whiskey.

Filmland Spirits is disrupting the industry by creating A Blockbuster in Every Bottle®. Combining its enthusiasm for whiskey, passion for movies and dedication for storytelling, Filmland Spirits aims to bring people together through captivating tales and great tasting spirits. Crafted with a moviemaking mindset, Filmland approaches whiskey production much like the making of a feature film.  The creative team starts with their vision for an original retro B-Movie concept.  This evolves into a script with robots and monsters, heroes and villains and a plot that keeps your mouth watering.

From there, Filmland Spirits designs an original movie poster in pulp-style art consistent with the B-movie genre; this becomes the front label for each expression, a truly unique innovation in the world of spirits. The bottle itself is tall, heavy and distinct and inspired by the world of moviemaking.

Consumers will have the chance to preview each story on the back label which shows a synopsis of the B-movie and the key characters. Those itching to know more about each story can head to the Filmland website to read snippets of the script, view storyboards and even watch an animated trailer! Filmland’s award-winning spirits are sourced from the finest whiskey throughout the U.S. Once “on location” in Kentucky, they are blended to perfection then finished and bottled. Filmland Spirits CEO, Troy Bolotnick, explains more:

“After a lifetime of blending together passions for storytelling, movie-making and whiskey, we are thrilled to invite everyone to the premiere of Filmland Spirits!  I’m incredibly proud of the crew we’ve assembled and all the creativity and skill  that has resulted in our award winning bourbons and rye. They are delicious and fun, outrageous and unique and  I can’t wait for our audience of customers to dim the lights, grab a bottle and enjoy the show!”

Ahead of its launch, Filmland Spirits impressed tastemakers within the spirits industry by winning multiple awards at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Filmland took home two gold medals; one for its small batch cask strength straight bourbon – “Moonlight Mayhem! Extended Cut” – and one for its small batch straight rye whiskey – “Ryes of the Robots”. Its small batch straight bourbon expression – “Moonlight Mayhem!” – received a silver medal. Not only are these medals a testament to the quality of each whiskey, but also debut the team’s superior blending skills. We can expect to see this applied to future expressions as the collection expands.

Consumers who wish to purchase “Moonlight Mayhem!” – Bourbon (SRP: $54.99), “Moonlight Mayhem! Extended Cut” – Cask Strength Bourbon  (SRP: $79.99) and “Ryes of the Robots” – Rye Whiskey (SRP: $59.99) will be able to pick up a bottle at  select spirits stores in California and Kentucky. Filmland Spirits are also available for purchase via their website and select e-commerce retailers, and can be shipped to a large number of states in the U.S. For additional information about Filmland Spirits please visit www.filmlandspirits.com and be sure to follow Filmland Spirits on Instagram

(@FilmlandSpirits) and Facebook.

About Filmland Spirits: Founded in 2020, Filmland Spirits is a new, California based company founded by a crew of whiskey enthusiasts, movie buffs and storytellers.  Filmland Spirits produces whiskey and whiskey inspired spirits on location in Kentucky, USA. In the Fall of 2022, Filmland Spirits launched its initial three whiskey expressions consisting of two bourbons and a rye whiskey. Its ultra-premium and award-winning liquids are housed in custom bottles inspired by the world of moviemaking, then paired with a label that is a movie poster based on an original B-movie script written specifically for each expression. Filmland Spirits are truly Stories You Can Drink® and offer an original and unique concept to the liquor category that ensures there’s A Blockbuster in Every Bottle.®

The Filmland Spirits crew consists of serial entrepreneurs with proven track records, corporate execs from CPG, and entertainment as well as spirits industry veterans in sales/distribution and marketing.  The company is a unique combination of creatives, writers, whiskey nerds and business leaders with a passion for storytelling and great tasting, high quality spirits.

About Each Whiskey Expression

The first expression in Filmland Spirits core whiskey lineup, “Moonlight Mayhem!” –  Bourbon is a small batch straight bourbon whiskey aged in a white American Oak casks for 4+ years. This 94 proof whiskey is delicious and sweet, with notes of cherry and citrus on the nose, vanilla and caramel on the tongue and an intricate finish of toffee and toasted oak. Emphasizing versatility, this Bourbon can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail. Consumers will be delighted and terrified by the Moonlight Mayhem! story: the Romeo and Juliet inspired saga is set in a post-modern world where werewolves are the dominant species on planet earth. Consumers will wonder if hero Tommy Dawson and Slyvane Saxon, his shape-shifting carnivorous girlfriend, can protect their love from disapproving families and dangerous foes? Or if she will be unable to resist sinking her teeth into the delicious snack that is her sweetheart? Consumers curious to learn more about Moonlight Mayhem! can head to the brand website to read pages of the script, see storyboards and watch the movie trailer.

Like classic films that get the extended cut treatment, Filmland Spirits second core expression “Moonlight Mayhem! Extended Cut” – Cask Strength Bourbon is a small batch straight bourbon just like “Moonlight Mayhem!”. It is also aged in white American Oak casks for 4+ years, but comes in at a proof of 115. This cask-strength bourbon has special notes and flavors one wouldn’t experience with the regular strength: it keeps consumers on the edge of their seats with twists and turns of cherry and chocolate on the nose and tongue, a spectacularly creamy mouthfeel and an endless finish of cacao, leather and applewood. Enjoyed neat or with a drop of water, this expression will surely delight consumers. Just like the original story, Moonlight Mayhem! Extended Cut continues the saga between Tommy Dawson and Slyvane Saxon but with the inclusion of deleted scenes from the original script, making for an extra rich story. Consumers yearning to learn more about Moonlight Mayhem! Extended Cut can visit the brand website to read pages of the script, see storyboards and preview the movie trailer.

Filmland Spirits third expression – “Ryes of the Robots” – Rye Whiskey – is a small batch straight rye whiskey aged in white American Oak barrels for 4+ years. This complex 94 proof rye whiskey has spicy notes of cinnamon and clove on the nose, mint and pepper on the tongue and a long chocolatey finish with subtle hints of oak. Best served neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail, this rye is sure to please whiskey fans who prefer a bit of zest in their dram. Like the whiskey itself, the Ryes of the Robots story provides a spicy take on the world’s future. In the aftermath of the Automation Wars of 3050, the world rejects technology and embraces a simpler time where cocktail clubs are the new state houses and bartenders hold sway.

When a fallen technology titan builds an army of robotic bartenders to conquer the world, the only hope is Courtney Winters, the Cocktail Consortium’s number one bartender. Can she fend off this despotic army of mechanized mixologists or will this be the world’s unhappiest hour?!

Consumers curious to learn more about the Ryes of the Robots can head to the brand website to read pages of script, see storyboards and watch the movie trailer.

Discover Lost Lantern’s Fall 2022 Single Cask Collection

WEYBRIDGE, Vt., September 8, 2022—Lost Lantern, an independent bottler of American whiskey, is pleased to announce their Fall 2022 collection, featuring five limited edition single casks from Boulder Spirits in Colorado, Cedar Ridge Distillery in Iowa, Copperworks Distilling in Washington, and Breuckelen Distilling in New York.

Co-Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski chose to focus on a theme of “discovery” when they selected the whiskies to be released in the Fall 2022 Collection. “All the single casks in this collection come from distilleries that are locally or regionally beloved and very highly regarded, but not that widely available outside of their home markets. With this Collection, we want to help whiskey drinkers discover some really unique whiskies from distilleries they may have heard of, but not been able to actually get their hands on until now,” said Adam.

Beginning September 21st, Lost Lantern’s Fall 2022 single cask collection will be available for sale on LostLanternWhiskey.com, Seelbachs.com, and at select retailers in California and Alberta, Canada. As always, all offerings are released with full transparency, bottled at cask strength, are non-chill-filtered and have natural color.

• Boulder Spirits Peated Colorado Single Malt Whiskey (164 btls): SRP, $130
• Cedar Ridge Iowa 5-Year-Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey (100 btls): SRP, $100
• Cedar Ridge Iowa 6-Year-Old Straight Malted Rye Whiskey (211 btls): SRP, $90
• Copperworks Distilling Washington Single Malt (Single Farm, Single Variety) (225 btls): SRP, $100
• Breuckelen Distilling 8-Year-Old New York Malted Wheat Whiskey (165 btls): SRP, $120

Single casks are an essential piece of the Lost Lantern model, inspired by the long tradition of independent bottlers in Scotland. Since its debut in October 2020, Lost Lantern has released 36 one-of-a-kind single casks from 18 of the finest distilleries in the United States: Santa Fe Spirits (NM), Cedar Ridge (IA), New York Distilling Company (NY), Ironroot Republic (TX), Whiskey Del Bac (AZ), Balcones (TX), Watershed (OH), Boulder Spirits (CO), Spirit Works (CA), St. George Spirits (CA), McCarthy’s (OR), Smooth Ambler (WV), Starlight (IN), Westward (OR), Frey Ranch Distillery (NV), Dad’s Hat (PA), Copperworks Distilling (WA), and Breuckelen Distilling (NY). 

ABOUT LOST LANTERN’S FALL 2022 SINGLE CASK COLLECTION

Lost Lantern’s single casks show that the best whiskey reflects where it’s made, how it’s made, and who made it, and demonstrate that compelling whiskey comes from across the United States.

2022 Single Cask #12: Boulder Spirits Peated Colorado Single Malt Whiskey

(164 btls | 148.94 Proof): SRP, $130

Boulder Spirits was founded by Scotsman Alastair Brogan, who has brought Scottish whisky making traditions to the Rockies. Made from 100% peated Scottish barley, this whiskey was aged for 5 years in new oak. It’s heavily peated and very smoky, with flavors of smoked figs, bacon-wrapped dates, bitter orange marmalade, and fresh-baked brownies. *Note: Boulder’s high altitude tends to result in high-proof spirits. Single Cask #12 was bottled at its natural cask strength of 148.94 proof.

2022 Single Cask #13: Cedar Ridge Iowa 5-Year-Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey

(100 btls | 123.08 Proof): SRP, $100

It’s no surprise that Cedar Ridge distillery, located in the heart of the corn belt in Iowa, makes great bourbon. The dramatic temperature swings of the Great Plains help create whiskies with a soft, clean, yet spicy character. This is Lost Lantern’s second bourbon from the family-owned distillery. Made from 74% corn, 14% rye, and 12% malted barley, this straight bourbon whiskey was aged for 5 years, giving it great depth and complexity. It has white flowers and vanilla on the nose, a complex palate with white chocolate and baking spice, and a very long finish.

2022 Single Cask #14: Cedar Ridge Iowa 6-Year-Old Straight Malted Rye Whiskey

(211 btls | 120.3 Proof): SRP, $90

Cedar Ridge is one of the few distilleries to regularly distill malted rye whiskey, which is made with germinated rye grain. This 6-year-old single cask, made with 51% malted rye, 34% rye, 12% corn, and 3% malted barley, shows why the style is worth your attention. It has a citrusy nose, with lemon, custard, and a rich depth on the palate. The malted rye grain adds a complex, biscuity and toasty flavor and a great mouthfeel.

2022 Single Cask #15: Copperworks Distilling Washington Single Malt (Single Farm, Single Variety)

(225 btls | 116.9 Proof): SRP, $100

Founded by brewers, Copperworks brings craft beer’s precision and commitment to local ingredients to distilling. The Seattle distillery works closely with local farms to source its grain, leading to whiskies that truly reflect the climate of the Pacific Northwest. This single malt was made from a single variety of barley called Baronesse, grown on a single farm, the family-owned Joseph’s Grainery in Colfax, WA. Aged for 3 years in a new oak cask, it has vanilla and white pepper on the nose and lavender, oak and saltwater taffy on the palate.

2022 Single Cask #16: Breuckelen Distilling 8-Year-Old New York Malted Wheat Whiskey

(165 btls | 138.9 Proof): SRP, $120

Founded in 2010 in Brooklyn, Breuckelen Distilling has been making unique and delicious whiskies that push the boundaries of traditional whiskey styles since its inception. Wheat whiskies are generally known for being gentle and light. Not this one. Made with 100% malted red wheat, this eight-year-old single cask has a deep, rich, and powerful flavor but a soft texture, with notes of rich oak, chocolate banana bread, cranberry teacake, and ginger spice. This is the oldest single cask Lost Lantern has released to date.

ABOUT LOST LANTERN

Founded by Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski, Lost Lantern is an independent bottler of American whiskey. The company seeks out the most unique and exciting whiskies being made across the country and releases them as single casks and blends, always with a deep commitment to transparency. Currently, the portfolio consists of American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1, an award-winning blend of American single malt whiskey made in collaboration with six U.S. distilleries, and thirty-six single casks (10 of which are available now). Lost Lantern debuts new hand-selected whiskies throughout the year and announces one-off limited releases from time-to-time. Subscribe to Lost Lantern’s newsletter to learn about new offerings as they become available. Lost Lantern Whiskey is available for purchase at LostLanternWhiskey.com, at Seelbachs.com, and at select retailers in California and Alberta, Canada.

Engage with Lost Lantern Whiskey on the following channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostlanternwhiskey

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lostlanternwhiskey

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LostLanternDram

DANCING GOAT DISTILLERY COMPLETES EXPANSION

Award-Winning Distillery Begins New Tours and Experiences

Sept. 8, 2022 – Cambridge, Wis.  Dancing Goat Distillery is proud to announce that the long-awaited expansion is complete and the grounds are now ready for eager guests to visit. The project included the construction of its first open-air rickhouse in 2021 — which currently houses more than 6,000 barrels.  The expansion concluded in July of this year, doubling the distillery footprint from 17,000 square feet to a remarkable 34,000 square feet.

Thanks to the new square footage, new Vendome 18” continuous column, and three 6,000 gallon open top fermenters feeding the still, whiskey production capacity has quadrupled, all the while maintaining the award-winning quality that Dancing Goat Distillery is known for.

Dancing Goat Distillery’s new space has contributed immensely to product release, as well. The additional 17,000 square feet allows for on-site bottling for the popular Limousin Rye retailer single barrel program. The program enables retailers to sample whisky with a range of profiles and hand-select spirits based on their store’s needs, catering to both their new and seasoned whiskey customers.

Dancing Goat Distillery is excited to welcome guests to explore the new grounds. From spirit production to hands-on distilling, Dancing Goat offers a range of tour options for every kind of spirit enthusiast. For more information, read below.

• Public Tour

Come out and step into our production facility for a one-hour tour. Guests will be walked throughout the production floor learning how the Dancing Goat turns grain into one of our signature spirits. $10 per person. Must be 21 years of age and provide a valid ID.

• Public Tour + Guided Sampling

During this ninety-minute experience, guests will be walked throughout the production floor learning how the Dancing Goat turns grain into one of our signature spirits. After an in-depth discussion of how spirits and produced and aged, you’ll step into our spirits vault for a guided sampling. Come on in and taste a little, learn a lot, and share stories that have been crafted for decades. $20 per person. Price includes a special Dancing Goat Glencairn glass. Must be 21 years of age or older and provide a valid ID.

WHERE

Dancing Goat Distillery

909 Vineyard Drive

Cambridge, WI 53523

608-400-5289

WHEN

Reservations encouraged. For walk-ins to be accepted, guests must be on time and the experience must have space available.

To make a reservation, go to www.dancinggoat.com or visit our Tock page online at www.exploretock.com

Follow @DancingGoatDistillery on Facebook and Instagram for updates and new experiences.

Derbyshire’s White Peak Distillery breaks record with inaugural whisky at auction for local charities

Derbyshire’s first ever whisky Distillery, White Peak, has sold its first 12 bottles of its inaugural Wire Works Whisky release for over £15,000 at auction for charity.

The individually-numbered bottles of Wire Works Whisky – Derbyshire’s first ever single malt whisky – have been auctioned via Whisky Auctioneer, with all of the proceeds going to local Derbyshire charities. Wire Works Whisky bottle no. 1 individually sold for an incredible hammer price of £9,900 – the highest price paid at public auction for a single bottle of English whisky*.

The auction ran from 26^th August – 5^th September and invited whisky lovers from the UK and beyond to place their bids individually for each of the 12 bottles of Wire Works Whisky. During the 10-day period, over 370 bids were received from bidders across the UK, as well as from Denmark, Singapore, China and Andorra.

White Peak released just over 5,000 numbered bottles of its long-awaited first release Wire Works Whisky single malt in February this year and the whisky received an extraordinary response from the Distillery’s loyal followers and supporters, selling out both in stores and online in just a few hours. Since then, the Distillery has released four more whiskies under the Wire Works label with each one receiving significant acclaim within the whisky community.

Since being founded in 2016 by husband-and-wife team Max & Claire Vaughan – both originally from Derbyshire – the Distillery continues to go from strength to strength, having won awards for its Distillery visitor experiences, white spirits and – of course its well-known and much sought after single malt whisky.

Claire Vaughan from White Peak said: “We are absolutely delighted and humbled by the response to this charity auction. To have raised over £15,000 for our charity partners alongside Whisky Auctioneer is very special…. not to mention a special moment for English whisky! We hope that the proceeds can help to support our local community and some fantastic environmental projects for both Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and The Peak District National Park Foundation.”

The charities will receive 100% of the auction proceeds, as well as the auctioneers fees waived by Whisky Auctioneer. The Distillery has previously worked with both charities on numerous fundraising bottlings and activities, including limited-edition spirit releases and local environmental initiatives.

Joe Wilson, Head Curator and Spirits Specialist at Whisky Auctioneer, said: “This is an exciting result for both Whisky Auctioneer and White Peak Distillery. To break the world record in such a fast-growing category with a distillery’s first release is momentous and we congratulate Max, Claire and their colleagues. This historic moment challenges the traditional dominance of established regions such as Scotland and Ireland in the single malt category, and we look forward to the future development of England’s vibrant whisky industry. We are proud to have supported the White Peak team in raising over £15,000 for charity with the inclusion of Whisky Auctioneer’s donation of £1,394.30.”

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

*according to research from publicly available data.

About White Peak Distillery:

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

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

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

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

About Whisky Auctioneer:

Whisky Auctioneer is the global market leader and trusted authority on the buying and selling of whisky and spirits at auction. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Perth, Whisky Auctioneer utilises its expertise and knowledge combined with its auction platform to increase interest and passion in the whisky and spirits community.

Whisky Auctioneer endeavours to make the secondary market more accessible for buyers and sellers of any background and demographic, wherever in the world they are based. Its monthly global auctions feature the most comprehensive selection of old, rare and collectible whiskies and spirits online, and are unmatched in volume, variety of bottles offered and prices achieved. Whisky Auctioneer is passionate about connecting these bottles with those who share their passion and actively support their customers in their aims, whether consuming, collecting or investing.

In February 2021, the online auction house made history during the iconic sale of The Perfect Collection, when a bottle of The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare 60 Year Old sold for a hammer price of £1 million. This was the first time a single bottle of whisky has sold at an online-only auction for one million pounds.

Whisky Auctioneer became the first online auction house to sell a million-pound bottle and outperformed the nearest traditional auction house by 200% in value from spirits sales in 2020, showcasing the move that whisky collectors, investors and drinkers have already made online and firmly establishing their leading position within the modern secondary whisky market.

The business currently sees over 100,000 bids per month and has conducted deliveries to 74 countries across the globe. It also opened its first European base in Germany in 2020.

The business’ Founder, Iain McClune, was listed as ‘One to Watch’ in The Telegraph’s Most Ambitious Business Leaders 2020 programme.

About Derbyshire Wildlife Trust:

They are a small charity with big ideas, uniquely positioned to lead change in Derbyshire. They are bold, grassroots-oriented and local whilst also being part of a strong, cohesive movement, the Wildlife Trusts.

Their goals by 2030 are as follows:

• 33% of Derbyshire will be managed for wildlife
• They will have at least 1 million wild connections each year
• 1 in 4 people will act for wildlife
• We will be carbon positive

For more information and to support The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust visit: www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/support

About The Peak District National Park Foundation:

An independent charity that helps to care for the Peak District National Park and to make it accessible for all.

Their vision is a National Park enjoyed and conserved by everyone, forever. It should be a vibrant, colourful, and safe home for the wildlife we all love. Their right to enjoy the National Park was hard won by ordinary folk. In that spirit, let’s fight to make it ever more accessible, for everyone to enjoy. But it is also unique and very fragile; we must always strive to keep it special. This is what they believe – and why they exist. With your support, they can start to make good things happen.

Bourbon Women, Kentucky Distillers’ Association Honor Beloved

Industry Author & Champion

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Award-winning author and Bourbon columnist Susan Reigler received the ninth annual “Lois Mateus Networking Award” Friday night honoring her distinguished contributions to the legacy of Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and spirits industry.

A former restaurant critic and beverage columnist for the Louisville Courier-Journal, Reigler is Bourbon columnist for Food & Dining and Covey Rise magazines and also writes for Bourbon+, LEO Weekly, and American Whiskey Magazine.

Reigler accepted the award recently at the Bourbon Women SIPosium Welcome Dinner at the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

Bourbon Women Founder Peggy Noe Stevens and KDA Director of Industry Responsibility and Sustainability Sara Barnes presented Reigler with crystal decanter to commemorate her notable work preserving and elevating the legacy of Kentucky’s Bourbon heritage.

“Susan Reigler is a true Bourbon authority,” Stevens said. “Not only has she authored countless  books and is a well-respected whiskey writer, but she is graciously generous with her time and talent.  She has volunteered and networked with people all across the country to help build our Bourbon Women message.

“She is a true symbol of our mission in the industry, and we are elated that she has received this prestigious award from the KDA.”

Reigler has authored or co-authored six books including Kentucky Bourbon Country: The Essential Travel Guide, The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book, The Bourbon Tasting Notebook, and The American Whiskey Tasting Notebook, and Which Fork Do I Use with My Bourbon? – Setting the Table for Tastings, Food Pairings, Dinner, and Cocktail Parties.

A graduate of Indiana and Oxford Universities, Reigler has served as president of both the Bourbon Women Association and the Kentucky chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, an organization of women culinary professionals.

In 2019, she was recognized by industry leaders with an induction into the prestigious Order of the Writ, a fraternal and charitable organization that embraces the spirit of Kentucky Bourbon education, responsibility, environmental stewardship, history, scholarship and an unwavering commitment to the furtherance of America’s spirit.

KDA President Eric Gregory said Reigler’s generous knowledge, wit and dry humor make her a favorite educator and consultant among Bourbon fans and Bourbon makers alike.

“Susan has spent her decades-long career elevating the integrity of Kentucky’s Bourbon heritage through scholarship and literary enterprise.” Gregory said. “It is our distinct honor to present her with this year’s Lois Mateus award.”

The award is named for Lois Mateus, retired Senior Vice President of Brown-Forman, Inc., and the first woman ever to serve on the KDA Board. Her two-year term in 1992 paved the way for other women in high-ranking roles throughout Kentucky’s signature Bourbon industry.

“To be given this award, named in honor of one of the true pioneers and mentors of women in the Bourbon industry, is truly an honor,” Reigler said. “It’s also a reminder of the responsibility those of us in a position to do so have to continue nurturing talented women who can contribute so much to Kentucky’s and America’s native spirit.”

The award is given annually by Bourbon Women in conjunction with the KDA based on the following criteria for a woman who has:

·     Excelled in her profession by continuously building key relationships to contribute to the growth in her respective industry

·     Broken through barriers to grow her career

·     Contributed to the community through service and philanthropy

·     Increased exposure for other women to grow their networking and career opportunities

·     Developed creative partnerships and strategic alliances to further the growth of her respective industry

·     Become a role model for female professionalism

Bourbon Women is the premier organization for women who are passionate about exploring Bourbon and the culture that surrounds it.

Designed exclusively for educational, networking and charitable purposes, Bourbon Women’s fast-growing membership is made up of women from over 39 states and continues to grow beyond their 16 branches across the country.

Since its inception, the Bourbon Women Association has inspired books on women in the industry, nurtures partnerships with key industry associations, created the only women-focused Bourbon conference – now in its 8th year –  and continues to raise money for philanthropies through their curated, unique, high-quality events.

Bourbon Women from around the country come together once a year for their annual Bourbon Women SIPosium. This year’s event was held in Louisville and featured 13 distillery excursions, 17 seminars by industry leaders in the Bourbon industry, keynotes, and networking receptions featuring Kentucky Bourbon, hand-crafted cocktails and delicious local fare.

Learn more at www.bourbonwomen.org.

Founded in 1880, the KDA represents 80 members, including 50 distilling companies operating 73 locations in 40 counties across the Commonwealth – the most since the repeal of Prohibition. Kentucky distillers produce 95 percent of the global supply of Bourbon.

Bourbon is one of Kentucky’s most treasured industries, a booming $9 billion economic and tourism engine sustaining more than 22,500 jobs with an annual payroll topping $1.23 billion each year, over $285 million in local and state taxes and $1.8 billion in federal alcohol taxes.

A key export, the iconic industry is currently in the middle of a $5.2 billion building boom, from innovative new tourism experiences to expanded production facilities, bottling centers and aging warehouses, all to meet the growing global thirst for Kentucky Bourbon.

Bourbon production has skyrocketed more than 435% since the turn of the century.

Kentucky now boasts more than 10.3 million barrels of Bourbon aging in warehouses across the Bluegrass, the most in its revered distilling history. Distillers filled more than 2.4 million barrels in 2020 alone, the third year in a row that production topped the two million mark.

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

Gregory said Reigler’s dedication to bringing Kentucky Bourbon culture to the world through her endeavors is the true spirit of the industry. “The impressive breadth of Susan’s work is essential to promoting and protecting Kentucky’s rightful place as the one, true, authentic home for Bourbon.”

“On behalf of KDA and our 80 members, we congratulate Susan and thank her for her leadership, support and essential contributions to Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry”

For more information, contact Heather Wibbels with Bourbon Women at (615) 294-6672; Peggy Noe Stevens at (502) 338-6564; or Eric Gregory with Kentucky Distillers’ Association at (502) 875-9351.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®, KENTUCKY

BOURBON AFFAIR™ and BOURBON TRAIL™ are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. Please drink responsibly.

Benromach partners with MasterChef star to create exclusive menu

Sarah Rankin, a MasterChef 2022 finalist hailing from Kinross, has partnered with Benromach Distillery to create a unique collection of recipes celebrating the art of cooking using locally-sourced, high-quality ingredients.

As well as giving viewers a firsthand insight into how she handcrafts her recipes, foodies can now access and recreate Sarah’s Benromach menu, which features several easy-to-replicate dishes featuring two of the distillery’s most popular expressions: Benromach 15 Year Old and Benromach Peat Smoke.

Benromach Distillery is one of few in Scotland to have retained a traditional handmade approach to whisky making and its partnership with Sarah celebrates how personal care and attention can deliver mouth-watering results of the highest quality.

Using the best of Scotland’s natural larder, those with a savoury palate will love her take on trout cured with Benromach Peat Smoke and her Arbroath Smokie croquettes. Meanwhile, those with a sweet tooth can indulge in a lemon posset with white chocolate crumb or a classic chocolate cherry pot with a splash of award-winning Benromach 15 Year OId.

Sarah Rankin said: “I am so thrilled to be working with Benromach. The Peat Smoke and 15 Year Old expressions inspired me to create a range of dishes that celebrate not just the flavours, but also everything they do. We both have an ethos centred firmly around people and place, and for me food is about creating something delicious from quality, raw ingredients and to bring joy to others. I think Benromach do the same and it was wonderful to have an opportunity to work together.”

The collaboration between Sarah and Benromach is a natural pairing, with the MasterChef alumni previously working as a demonstrator at the distillery when it was reopened by Gordon & MacPhail in 1998. Today, Sarah celebrates Scotland’s artisan producers in her food writing, chef demonstrations, private dining and food festival appearances.

Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach Distillery, said: “Sarah shares our passion for her craft and truly makes the most of the high-quality ingredients available on her doorstep.  The recipes are fantastic and it will be interesting to discover how others use our whisky to complement and enhance their own menus.”

Watch Sarah discuss the inspiration for her recipes at www.benromach.com/sarah-rankin. For more information and all of Sarah’s six recipes, please visit: www.benromach.com   continue reading »

Axe Man Whiskey: Latest Collaboration By Foundry Distilling Co. and Surly Brewing Co.

West Des Moines, Iowa (September 8, 2022) – Foundry Distilling Co. and Surly Brewing Co. have done it again–collaborating to create a truly unique spirit. Their latest concoction is called the Axe Man American Malt Whiskey, distilled from the wort of Axe Man IPA beer. Foundry Distilling will release this whiskey on September 17th, 2022.

“We are very proud of this whiskey release in partnership with Surly Brewing Company,” said Scott Bush, owner of Foundry Distilling Company. “Axe Man Whiskey, at 96 proof, is an incredibly unique and wonderful whiskey. It is a one-time release that you won’t want to miss.”

The essence of Surly’s Axe Man IPA has been distilled into an American single malt whiskey with every ounce of the aromatic nature as its beer counterpart. Surly brought the beer’s wort to Foundry Distilling, where it was fermented, distilled, and aged for 28 months in new 30-gallon American Oak barrels to produce the malt whiskey. In total, the distillery will make 1,000 cases in a limited run.

Axe Man American Malt Whiskey Tasting Notes:

Aroma: Vanilla, Straw, Banana

Tasting: Clove, Pear, Peppercorn

Finish: Warm cinnamon, Pie crust

Foundry Distilling is hosting an Axe Man American Malt Whiskey release party at their distillery in Historic Valley Junction, Iowa, on Saturday, September 17th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event is open to the public, and the first 100 attendees will get a complimentary branded rocks glass. People can sample Axe Man Whiskey and Axe Man IPA at the event while meeting with Foundry Distilling’s owner and production team. Attendees can even participate in axe throwing at the event.

Those looking to secure a bottle of this one-of-a-kind whiskey before the launch date can do so by pre-ordering online at BrewerDistillerAlliance.com. People who pre-ordered this whiskey will have to claim their bottle at the Foundry Distilling location within two weeks from the release date.

This collaboration with Surly Brewing was made possible through Foundry Distilling’s Brewer-Distiller Alliance initiative, which aims to work with notable breweries across the nation to produce remarkable, distinctive whiskeys from their beer recipes. Foundry Distilling and its partners have generated a diverse collection of exclusive limited-edition whiskeys.

This release represents the second collaboration between Foundry Distilling and Surly Brewing. In July 2021, the Brewer Distiller Alliance launched Furious American Malt Whiskey. The whiskey was based on the brewery’s immensely popular Furious IPA beer.

For more information about the Axe Man American Malt Whiskey or the Brewer-Distiller Alliance, visit FoundryDistillingCompany.com/Axe-Man-IPA.

About Surly Brewing Co

It’s Surly’s mission to deliver true flavor, an irreverent attitude, must-have beers, and world-class experiences to its fans. From their 2004 start in a converted abrasives factory in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, Surly has grown into one of the premiere destination breweries in the country. Along the way, they earned countless medals from the Great American Beer Festival and the honor of being awarded the Best Brewery in America. Surly is known for bold and uncompromising beers that don’t adhere to strict style guidelines, such as Furious IPA, Grapefruit Supreme, Axe Man IPA, and Abrasive Double IPA. Often polarizing but never compromising, Surly knows their beers aren’t for everyone. They’re for you. You do enough settling in life. Don’t settle. Get Surly. To learn more, click here.

About Foundry Distilling Co.

Foundry Distilling Co. strives to be one of the most innovative distilleries in the world by providing unique products, offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences, like our Private Barrel Club, and collaborating with an alliance of nationally recognized breweries known as the BrewerDistiller Alliance. Their flagship product, The Real Stuff, is made from a mash of grain and cane and aged in charred oak kegs and is an attempt to recreate the actual process used to make the legendary “off-the-farm” spirit of rural Iowa farmers. To learn more, please visit FoundryDistillingCompany.com.

Introducing The Art of the Blend – first release by Max McFarlane.

Not just another whisky brand. 

The Art of the Blend, according to founder Todd Lawrence, is a platform for whisky makers to showcase their own unique expressions, one blend at a time.  There is a true art to whisky making seldom observed by the consumer.  The Art of the Blend brings these creative skills to the forefront by offering whisky makers a blank canvas to develop their most alluring blends.

The focus of The Art of the Blend is on premium blended malt.  Each release will be created by a different whisky maker without restrictions, skillfully selected and artistically blended to perfection.

Todd has aligned himself with some of the best in the industry, mostly through friendships and whisky consultants who have offered their expertise and guidance.  Overall he has seemed to accomplish the nearly impossible.  The first release will shoot for the moon with the collaboration of legendary whisky maker Max McFarlane. 

Max McFarlane has been in the whisky industry for over 46 years and is rightly so a Keeper of the Quaich.  He has put together by nose many single malts including Glengoyne, Tamdhu, Glenrothes, Bunnahabhain and Highland Park.  During his tenure at Edrington, the Highland Park 18 years old was awarded the best spirit in the world on two occasions.  An award winning career to say the least.  Max is a firm believer in natural coloring and non-chill filtering as well as cask selection being equally critical in the process of making quality whisky.   With absolute freedom he has carefully selected three first fill Sherry casks for The Art of the Blend’s first release.  The result of marrying these three spectacular single malts exudes exceptional depth and complexity. Brown sugar, dark chocolate, stone fruit compote and cinnamon spice will envelope the nose.  The palate is beautifully balanced with dry spicy notes, sherry trifle and chocolate brownies.  According to Max, “The finish will want to holiday on your palate”.  A finish that caresses lovely with raisiny sherry.

“The Art of the Blend is built on trusting the artistic skills of the whisky maker and giving them free rein to develop each release.”  – Todd

If you haven’t already heard of The Art of the Blend, you will soon hear their amazing story from all corners of the globe.  According to Todd, every whisky has a story and simply put, his story begins at the heart of whisky making.

Todd is new to the whisky industry and does not claim to be a whisky expert, instead he describes himself as a collector and  whisky enthusiast.  He has set the bar extremely high and has basically orchestrated a platform to produce a line of blended malts he himself would want to collect and enjoy.  In addition to his passion for whisky, Todd is also the designer and patent holder of the Whisky Vault, a handcrafted bulletproof whisky display he sells to collectors around the world.

“Always keep in mind what you are trying to communicate to the consumer.  People will question your path, your worth, your entire ideology.  Stay focused and trust your gut.”  – Todd

Not only has he built a very curious and eager following who have waited patiently for the first release, he has aligned himself with iconic whisky makers, many of whom are lining up voluntarily  to collaborate on future releases.

The second release in the series will be in collaboration with another whisky superstar.  Finance professional turned Whiskymaker, Dhavall Gandhi has over ten years of experience in the alcoholic beverage industry.  Gandhi was the whiskymaker for the luxury single malt The Macallan before joining The Lakes Distillery as Whisky Director.  Considered by many as a polymath whiskymaker and “Game Changer” in the whisky domain.  He is one of the thought leaders and experts in Sherry Cask maturation.  Gandhi judges at various prestigious whisky competitions, including the international Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) and World Whisky Awards.  Dhavall was also named as Master Distiller / Master Blender of the Year 2021 by Whisky Magazine.  In March 2022, his creation, The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Reserve No 4, was awarded as World’s Best Single Malt at World Whiskies Award in London.

And let’s not forget about the spectacular label and packaging design by none other than Stranger & Stranger.  An award winning design house taking label design to a whole new level and beyond with their creative artistry.   In their latest project with The Art of the Blend, they have effortlessly brought together the art of whisky making with brilliant visionary style that will undoubtedly help catapult this blended malt into the spotlight.

The Art of the Blend will launch in October 2022 at Whisky Live Taipei, Taiwan.  Why did the founder choose Taiwan?  Well, he has lived there for the past 27 years and knows the market well.  It’s possible to inquire through their website for sales outside of Taiwan.  Their concept is fully scalable and the potential for global expansion is possible with future releases, but they will do this organically.  The founder is a firm believer that perfection cannot be rushed, artistic creation takes time. 

“I’ve created The Art of the Blend for whisky makers and for whisky lovers.  Let’s let the liquid tell the story, one blend at a time.”  – Todd

And his thoughts on the many celebrity endorsed brands being launched over the past few years?

“There’s room for everyone, and of course celebrities are great for marketing.  The difference will be in the liquid.  The Art of the Blend is for those who want more from their whisky, an artistic approach.  Intrigue.  Excitement.  Each blended masterpiece unveiling a new story, creating history.  The whisky maker “is” our celebrity.”   – Todd

“To all the whisky makers around the world, imagine the freedom to create a masterpiece without restrictions.  The blending combinations are endless.” – Todd

Three carefully selected first fill sherry casks from three different Speyside distilleries under the artistic creation of Max McFarlane, married at 58.8% abv, non-chill filtered.  A finish so spectacular it will want to holiday on your palate.  US$350 / 700 ml.  Limited to one release of 1968 bottles. 

Every year – the most updated whisky book on the market!
Malt Whisky Yearbook 2023 will be published 1st October

This is the 18th edition of a book that whisky enthusiasts look forward to every autumn.

The main part of the book (200 pages) covers no less than 774 malt whisky distilleries around the world with all the facts updated New exciting articles by distinguished writers such as Gavin D Smith, Ian Wisniewski, Johanne McInnis, Kristiane Sherry and Neil Ridley.

More than 200 tasting notes, including independent bottlings
New feature! Discover the Ghost Distilleries – gone but not forgotten
A listing of more than 150 of the world´s greatest whisky shops
The Whisky Year That Was – the most comprehensive summary you´ll find of the news and trends in the industry
An entire chapter about the world´s leading independent bottlers
All the latest info on bottlings and web sites as well as the latest statistics and figures
More than 500 colour photos

The Malt Whisky Yearbook is the brainchild of editor Ingvar Ronde and was first published in autumn 2005. Since then a new and completely revised edition has been published yearly. What started out as a go-to book for whisky enthusiasts wanting to keep abreast of the ever-changing malt whisky world, soon became a tool also for the whisky industry. Many producers now buy it for their staff (brand ambassadors, tour guides, sales people etc.) to keep them informed about the latest developments.

The Malt Whisky Yearbook 2023 is sold through www.maltwhiskyyearbook.com for £15.95 plus shipping. Available for preorder now with shipping starting 1st October. Ingvar Ronde – Editor Malt Whisky Yearbook and Keeper of the Quaich. ingvar.ronde@magdig.com

View The Malt Whisky Yearbook 2023 preview video HERE