TRIUMPH FOR OLDEST MACALLAN RED COLLECTION WHISKY AT BONHAMS WHISKY SALE

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The Macallan-78-year old. Estimate: £65,000-70,000 

Edinburgh – A bottle of one of the oldest known Macallan Scotch Whisky ever produced – The Macallan-78 year old – sold for £79,300 at Bonhams Whisky sale in Edinburgh on Thursday 10 March. The pinnacle of Macallan’s Red Collection, the bottle was numbered 133 out of a limited edition and came in its original oak and Bridge of Weir leather-lined presentation case. It had been estimated at £65,000-70,000. The sale made a total of £333,341 with 83% sold by lot and 89% sold by volume.

Martin Green, Bonhams Head of Whisky, said: “I am delighted by the great result achieved for this very special whisky. As expected, the bottle attracted intense bidding from collectors across the world and the excellence and rarity of the whisky are reflected in the very impressive price.”

Other highlights of the sale include:

• The Bowmore Trilogy consisting of a bottle each of Black Bowmore-42 year old -1964, bottled in 2007; White Bowmore -42 year old -1964 bottled in 2008 and Gold Bowmore-44 year old-1964 bottled in 2009. Sold for £54,900 (estimate: £45,000-55,000).

• The Macallan-40 year old. The Red Collection. Distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Ltd. Bottle No. 162. In original oak and Bridge Weir leather-lined presentation case. Sold for £19,520 (estimate: £15,000-18,000). 

• Dalmore-45 year old. Bottled in a Baccarat crystal decanter at Dalmore Distillery, Alness and released in 2018, the bottle retains its original presentation case and stopper and is accompanied by a booklet and outer leather carrying case. Sold for £9,760 (Estimate: £7,000-8,000).

Sale: Whisky sale Location: 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh Date: Thursday 10 March at 11 am

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and luxury. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Deadline for Nonprofits to Join in the Quest to Raise Money is End of March

As part of the Distillery’s Commitment to Donate 2,022 Bottles this Year, Nonprofits Need to Register by March 31^st 

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (March 24, 2022) Buffalo Trace Distillery announced in January it would be donating 2,022 bottles of its finest whiskies in 2022 in hopes of raising record-breaking donations for nonprofits around the world. The deadline for nonprofits to register is only one week away!

Who: 501(c) (3) organizations and registered charities located around the world.

When: All entries must be received by March 31, 2022 for consideration; winning charities will be notified of their status by April 29, 2022. Bottles to selected recipients will begin shipping in May 2022 and recipients need to hold their event and report back their monies raised by Nov 30, 2022.

Where:  Interested nonprofits can register their organization here. Buffalo Trace is looking for a diverse group of charities to donate to, comprised of various audiences, locations, and impact in the community.

Why: Buffalo Trace Distillery has a history of conducting similar fundraisers, but nothing of this magnitude.  In 2019 it gave away nearly 400 bottles from its 6 Millionth Barrel, a milestone barrel commemorating the 6 millionth barrel produced since Prohibition. Those bottles raised over one million dollars for various charitable organizations.    Similar offerings ran in 2016, with over a million dollars raised, and also in 2011.  Its hope is to raise more than $2 million dollars globally with this initiative.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2018 and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world for 2020.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

SCOTTISH OAK AMONGST NEW RELEASES

TO JOIN GLENALLACHIE VIRGIN OAK SERIES 

The Speyside distillery led by industry veteran Billy Walker expands its

 limited-edition range with three Single Malts finished in virgin oak casks

The GlenAllachie Distillery, winner of Icons of Whisky’s Visitor Attraction of the Year, today adds three new bottlings to their Virgin Oak Series; a limited-edition range which explores the influence of aging whisky in a variety of different oak species from around the world.

The new tranche of expressions consists of three Speyside Single Malts; the 15-year-old Scottish Virgin Oak Finish, the 10-year-old French Virgin Oak Finish, and the 10-year-old Chinquapin Virgin Oak Finish.

The marked flavour differences between the three bottlings are led by a variety of factors: the oak species, the local terroir and the period of natural air drying, along with the toasting, charring and coopering of the casks.

The Virgin Oak Series showcases the expert cask sourcing and wood management skills of Master Distiller Billy Walker, who this year reaches a staggering half-century as a blender and distiller in the Scotch Whisky industry.

Each expression was first matured in American Oak (Quercus Alba) ex-Bourbon Barrels. To add a distinctive layer of flavour characteristics, the whisky then underwent a secondary maturation period of approximately 18 months in virgin oak casks, all carefully selected by Walker.

The 15-year-old Scottish Virgin Oak (UK RRSP £175) – one of the few whiskies to ever be matured in Scottish oak – was finished in casks made of Sessile Oak (Quercus Petrae) sourced from the Atlantic coast of Scotland. Scottish oak is incredibly challenging to work with at all stages of production: growing, milling, and coopering. Its rarity, costliness and tendency to knot mean it is scarcely used for whisky maturation.

Before hosting the GlenAllachie spirit, the wood was air dried for 36 months, opening up the oak for maximum flavour extraction. After toasting and charring to a medium level, the small quantity of casks used have delivered just 2,250 bottles of truly exceptional liquid abundant in vanilla pods, ginger and cloves.

For the 10-year-old French Virgin Oak Finish (UK RRSP £61.99), Walker sourced casks made of French Oak (Quercus Robur) from the Haute-Garonne region, close to the Pyrenees. The fine-grained, consistent wood was air dried for 15 months before being filled with the whisky. The result is a subtly sweet yet earthy malt.

The 10-year-old Chinquapin Virgin Oak Finish (UK RRSP £61.99) used wood from the Northern Ozark region of Missouri in the United States. Once air dried for nearly four years and toasted to a medium level, the casks made of Chinquapin – a sub species of Quercus Alba – have bestowed distinctive spicy, biscuity notes upon The GlenAllachie.

The three whiskies are proudly presented at their natural colour, non chill filtered and at a high strength of 48% ABV.

Commenting on the new trio, Walker said:

“Exploring the interaction of virgin oak with our whisky has become a real passion of mine over the last few years, and I feel it’s something that we are really specialising in. I don’t think it’s a secret that I am devoted to wood management and sourcing unusual casks, but I believe virgin oak is underexposed in the Scotch whisky industry; something we are eager to change.

“This expansion of our Virgin Oak Series showcases three superb Single Malts, each with incredibly unique attributes. I’m particularly proud to release a very rare Scottish Virgin Oak bottling; a long-held ambition of mine, with full appreciation of how challenging and expensive it is to work with. The result, in my humble opinion, is genuinely outstanding.”

The new GlenAllachie Virgin Oak Series bottlings are available via specialist retailers globally, with UK RRSPs starting at £61.99.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts an almost 50-year tenure in whisky. With an emphasis on wood policy, The GlenAllachie’s cask budget for 2022 stands at an eye-watering £2m/$2.6m. With 16 on-site warehouses holding over 50,000 casks, we have complete control of the end-to-end maturation process.

The GlenAllachie focusses on quality over quantity, which is why we chose to reduce our production capacity from 4m to 500,000 Litres of Alcohol and increase our fermentation period to 160 hours for an ester rich, fruity spirit.

We believe age and integrity matter, which is why all our whiskies carry an age statement, and are bottled at a minimum of 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered for maximum flavour experience.

Our other brands are MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits, encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Exploration Rum, and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Instagram – @theglenallachie_

TASTING NOTES

The GlenAllachie 15-year-old Scottish Virgin Oak Finish – 48% ABV

• Colour: Golden Sunset.
• Nose: Bursting with honeycomb, vanilla pods and citrus fruits, with butterscotch, orange zest and white chocolate.
• Taste: Lashings of heather honey, caramelised pine nuts, cinnamon and toffee, followed by orange peel, lemon zest, banana and ginger.

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old French Virgin Oak Finish – 48% ABV

• Colour: Golden Bronze.
• Nose: Waves of orange peel, heather honey and soft spice, followed by caramel, orchard fruits and mocha.
• Taste: Layers of heather honey, mocha and brittle toffee, with grapefruit, cinnamon, earthy tannins and notes of ginger on the finish.

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Chinquapin Virgin Oak Finish – 48% ABV

• Colour: Rich Bronze.
• Nose: Bursting with orange zest, heather honey and pecan, with notes of butterscotch, nutmeg and liquorice.
• Taste: Lashings of cinnamon, barley sugar and toasted biscuits, followed by rose hips, orange peel and heather honey.

BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY RELEASES FOUR NEW THOMAS S. MOORE EXTENDED CASK FINISHED BOURBONS

Second Release Includes Cognac, Madeira, Sherry and Merlot Finishes

            BARDSTOWN, Kentucky (March 17, 2022) – At the end of 2020, Barton 1792 Distillery defined a new category of “extended cask finished” bourbon whiskey, through the introduction of the Distillery’s first ultra-premium brand, named Thomas S. Moore. The collection provided new insight into the significance additional finishing imparts on whiskey, elevating flavors and aromas. Now Barton 1792 Distillery is releasing its second collection of extended cask-finished bourbon whiskeys in the Thomas S. Moore line. This release is made up of four different expressions, including a Cognac, Madeira, Sherry and Merlot finished bourbon whiskeys. These expressions will begin arriving in stores in March 2022.

To create these whiskeys, Barton 1792’s signature high rye recipe bourbon was aged for five to six years in new charred oak barrels before filling other casks that previously matured various wines or spirits from around the world. These whiskeys are then left to age an additional one to four years. This extended cask-finishing method results in elegant whiskeys, each displaying a distinct flavor profile, reflecting nuances of both the bourbon and the finishing cask.

“This second Thomas S. Moore release really reinforces that the extended aging is quite significant,” Master Distiller Danny Kahn said. “What we are seeing are complex, fuller textures being developed. Savory flavors and aromas are unquestionably enhanced and continue to develop in the secondary cask in ways that are very different from the primary barrel aging. The result is an elevated, premium collection unlike any other.”

The cognac barrels Kahn used generally held cognac for six or more years previously. The merlot barrels came from premium wineries from the Napa and Sanoma areas. The sherry barrels were all oloroso sherry. A variety of different types of madeira barrels were used.

Kahn, who personally tasted every single barrel that went into this release at least once, created a few sub-blends for each expression. From there, the sub-blends were sorted based on categories of flavors from which the final blends were chosen. The four resulting expressions are a beautiful demonstration of the art of blending.

Details for each of the whiskeys in this release are as follows:

            Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Madeira Casks is described as having scents of complex oak and madeira wine, with hints of tobacco, citrus and dried fruits interacting in a fascinating way. The aroma follows through on the palate, adding sweetness and subtle acidity to the mild, slightly soft, yet well-rounded whiskey. The finish is bright, complex, and pleasing. This whiskey was finished in madeira casks for approximately two to four years and is 96.5 proof.

            Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Merlot Casks carries an aroma of rich fresh fruit, including plums, raspberries, and dark cherries, followed by floral notes. It has a full and slightly soft taste, with long and lasting notes of fruit. The finish is long and savory with subtle tannins and toasted oak. This whiskey was finished in merlot casks for approximately two to four years and is 93.3 proof.

            Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Sherry Casks greets you with an aroma explosion of sweet, rich fruit and toasted nuts, followed by figs, hints of spicy tobacco and subtle cedar. The palate is sweet with a soft, round initial impression followed by a myriad of aged fruits and nuts. The finish is balanced and sweet with notes of spicy oak. This whiskey was finished in sherry casks for approximately one to four years and is 98.7 proof.

Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cognac Casks has an aroma of complex fruit and bright citrus that mingle with slightly herbal notes and traces of jasmine and lavender. On the palate, notes of orange, apricot and vanilla are followed by complex earthy undertones, with a subtle toasted oak and cedar finish. This whiskey was finished in cognac casks for approximately two to four years and is 93.4 proof.

This line of bourbons intends to honor Thomas S. Moore, an innovative bourbon pioneer who built the Distillery known today as Barton 1792 Distillery. The tall, sophisticated bottles feature imagery that pays homage to the legacy of Thomas S. Moore. Each label displays the image of a racehorse standing tall, honoring one of Moore’s earliest whiskey brands, Belle of Nelson, named for the thoroughbred who won the Kentucky Oaks in 1878.

Suggested retail pricing for each Thomas S. Moore expression is $69.99; state taxes will vary per market. Additional cask-finished releases will be unveiled every year in the fall. For more information about Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, visit the brand at https://www.facebook.com/thomassmoorebourbon/ on Facebook and @thomassmoorebourbon on Instagram.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery, and is named for the year Kentucky became a state. The Distillery has garnered a number of prestigious awards for its whiskies, including its 1792 Full Proof, which was named the World Whiskey of the Year for 2020.

KINGSBARNS ANNOUNCE LAST-REMAINING BOTTLES OF LIMITED-EDITION RELEASE: DISTILLERY RESERVE 2021 

EXCLUSIVE TO KINGSBARNS DISTILLERY & THE DISTILLERY’S ONLINE SHOP, THE FINAL BOTTLES ARE AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS NOW

Due to popular demand and a surge in sales Kingsbarns Distillery have announced the last remaining bottles of their latest annual release Distillery Reserve 2021.

Priced at £65 and bottled at a cask strength of 61.8% ABV, the limited-edition bottles are available directly from Kingsbarns Distillery and the distillery’s online shop: https://www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com/

Isabella Wemyss, Kingsbarns Distillery Production Director, hand-selected the 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrels and 1st fill STR (shaved, toasted and recharred) red wine barriques to age this limited-edition light, fruity Kingsbarns spirit in.

Bottled at cask strength, the nose is said to have “Baking spices to the fore”, on the palate “sticky stem ginger pudding” with a finish of “wood spice, clove and rhubarb & ginger jam”. The result is a light and fruity whisky imbued with sweet spice and orange flavours.

Commenting on the Distillery Reserve 2021, Isabella Wemyss, Production Director, said: “Our annual Distillery Reserve limited-release has been incredibly popular with our loyal Kingsbarns fans, showing the evolution of our spirit. We’re constantly experimenting and discovering the impact of our signature cask maturations on our delicate, light spirit. It’s exciting to see each release on our distillery birthday.

“For this year’s release, we’ve increased the ratio of STR casks in our signature makeup to give an indication of the ongoing maturation of our spirit. We’ve retained our light and elegant distillery character, with more spice and sticky fruit notes. There’s a real balance to it, especially at such high strength.

“With only a few bottles remaining we’re encouraging our fans to head to the distillery webpage or, even better, take a visit to our distillery.”

FULL INFO & TASTING NOTES
60% Ex-Bourbon & 40% STR | Cask Strength 61.8% ABV

NOSE
Baking spices immediately to the fore, with orange oil, vanilla pods, cherry tobacco and a touch of apricot.

PALATE
Sticky stem ginger pudding alongside freshly grated orange zest.

FINISH
Good length with wood spice, clove and rhubarb and ginger jam.

W: www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com

T: @KingsbarnsDist

I: @kingsbarnsdistillery

Kingsbarns Distillery

Kingsbarns Distillery began life as a semi-derelict farm steading – built around 1800 by Thomas Erskine, the ninth Earl of Kellie, as part of East Newhall Farm to service the adjoining Cambo Estate. Its centrepiece is a doocot, made with over 600 neatly formed terracotta nesting boxes which, at the time, would have housed pigeons to supply the laird’s kitchen with meat and eggs.

A three-year restoration project involving specialist architects, engineers, designers and whisky specialists restored this historic building into the beautiful distillery and visitor centre that is now in place today – including the immaculately restored doocot in pride of place.

The distillery has 4 washbacks and 2 stills (wash still 7.5k litres, spirit still 4.5k litres) which have been designed to fit snugly into the low distillery space, using long lyne arms for maximum copper contact. The distillery has a capacity of 34 barrels per week and can produce 200k litres of alcohol per year. 

The Kingsbarns team is aiming to make the distillery as green as possible and sustainability is at the heart of production. Waste water goes through reed beds and is returned clean into the local burn; local farmers use waste as fertilizer, and spent grain is used as cattle feed on neighbouring farms. Nothing is wasted and everything goes back into the local environment to the benefit of local businesses.

BONHAMS STRENGTHENS ASIA MANAGEMENT TEAM WITH JULIA HU AS MANAGING DIRECTOR, ASIA

Julia Hu appointed as Bonhams’ Managing Director, Asia 

Hong Kong – The international auction house Bonhams has appointed Julia Hu as Managing Director, Asia, effective Monday 14 March 2022. Based in Hong Kong, she will join a leadership team in Asia made up of Malcolm Barber, Co-Chairman and CEO Asia and Bobbie Hu, Chairman Greater China, to drive Bonhams’ business expansion and presence in Asia as part of the company’s global vision.

Julia joins Bonhams after 9 years working experience with Christie’s, where she has been General Manager China since 2019, overseeing business development across the country and achieving dramatic year-on-year annual sales growth from both auctions and private sales. As Christie’s ambassador in China, she has also been responsible for managing the company’s relationship with both the government and top collectors. Earlier in her career at Christie’s, Julia held the senior roles of Strategy Director Asia and Head of Asia Regional Offices, in which she built extensive client connections thorough her knowledge of the key markets.

Prior to joining the auction industry, Julia worked in management consulting at McKinsey, guiding multi-national companies and Chinese state-owned companies on their organisational restructuring, sales and marketing strategies in Asia. Julia holds an MBA degree from INSEAD.

Julia Hu said: “Bonhams has an enviable reputation, and I am thrilled to be joining the company at such an exciting time in its history. I am relishing the opportunity to use my knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to drive even greater business development in Asia in the future.”

Bruno Vinciguerra, Bonhams Global Chief Executive Officer, said: “Julia is a great talent with a proven track record of commercial success, not only in China but across Asia. Her many achievements speak for themselves and I am very pleased to welcome her on board to further expand our business in Asia – now our fastest growing market and strategic priority.”

Malcolm Barber, Bonhams Chief Executive Officer, Asia, added: “I am delighted that Julia is joining the Bonhams team in Asia and I am much looking forward to working with her in the years ahead.”

Bonhams’ Asia operation includes salerooms located in Hong Kong and Sydney, as well as representatives in such key areas as Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Singapore, Melbourne and Tokyo.

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and luxury. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY UNVEILS LARGEST EVER BOTTLES OF O.F.C. VINTAGE 1982 BOURBON WHISKEY WITH PROCEEDS DONATED TO CHARITY 

THE DISTILLERY WILL BE AUCTIONING OFF FIVE, SIX-LITER BOTTLES OF THE RARE BOURBON WHISKEY VIA BLOCKBAR AS NFTs WITH PROCEEDS BENEFITING FIVE GLOBAL CHARITIES 

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (March 9th, 2022) – Today the 234-year-old Buffalo Trace Distillery is announcing a major milestone with the release of O.F.C. Bourbon Whiskey, distilled in 1982. The ultra-rare whiskey is the Distillery’s only vintage-dated bourbon and will be the first bourbon released in a colossal six-liter sized bottle and sold as a non-fungible token (NFT) on BlockBar.com – the world’s first DTC NFT marketplace for luxury wines and spirits. The five bottles of this highly limited release are part of the 2,022 bottles that Buffalo Trace Distillery has pledged to give away in the year 2022 and will be auctioned off during a five-day event starting Monday, March 14th in collaboration with NFT platform BlockBar. It marks BlockBar’s first-ever auction and the first bourbon sold on its platform.

The five bottles of O.F.C. Vintage 1982 will each be auctioned off with a starting bid of approximately $25,000 USD (8.83 ETH). Bids can be placed via BlockBar.com HERE and can be made via Ethereum or Fiat starting at 10 a.m. EST on Monday, March 14th through 10 a.m. EST on Friday, March 18th. Proceeds from each of the winning, final bids will benefit the following charities:

• World Central Kitchen – a non-profit organization that is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises, currently supporting thousands of refugees in and around Ukraine
• The James Beard Foundation – through their Open for Good campaign, the Foundation is committed to helping independent restaurants survive this crisis, rebuild better, and thrive for the long term
• Elton John Aids Foundation – a global HIV charity that funds frontline partners to prevent new cases of HIV, fight stigma and provide care for those affected
• The Art of Elysium – an artist organization built on the idea that through service, art becomes a catalyst for social change
• 261 Fearless – a global, non-profit women’s running organization dedicated to encouraging and uniting women through running

“We have been inspired by what our charity partners have done to help communities worldwide and are proud to help further their missions through the release of our exclusive O.F.C Vintage 1982 NFTs,” said Vice President of Marketing for Buffalo Trace Distillery, Sara Saunders. “We are thrilled to bring our rich history and philanthropic efforts to the forefront of today’s technology and we couldn’t ask for a better ally than BlockBar to help us achieve that,” she continued.

Each of the five NFTs will represent an authentic six-liter sized bottle of O.F.C Vintage 1982, available to be redeemed by December 31st, 2022. When redeemed, the NFT holder will also unlock a personal invitation to Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY for a private VIP tour experience that includes exclusive tastings of whiskeys from its rarest and most sought-after private collection, including some previous vintages from the O.F.C. collection.

“Buffalo Trace Distillery is world renowned and we’re honored to launch our first bourbon on Blockbar.com with five of their most coveted bottles,” comments Dov Falic, co-founder and CEO of BlockBar. “The partnership marks our first live auction and to mark this milestone we are delighted to donate the proceeds of this drop to support the chosen non-profits of Buffalo Trace.”

All of the O.F.C. vintages are named after Buffalo Trace Distillery’s original moniker, the Old Fashioned Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery. The bourbon in the O.F.C. six-liter release was distilled in 1982, at what was then the George T. Stagg Distillery, now known as Buffalo Trace Distillery.

When an inventory of all barrels was taken in 1998, these barrels were noted and left to age until 2001, when at that time the 19-year-old bourbon was vatted into stainless steel tanks, which is a very common process distillers use to halt the aging effects of the barrel on the whiskey.

As the spirit has been quietly maturing for over a quarter of a century, gaining greater complexity, the Buffalo Trace tasting panel is excited by how the whiskey developed. Harlen Wheatley, master distiller at Buffalo Trace Distillery, details the taste as sophisticated, with an extraordinary richness and butteriness with layers of apple, pecans, ripened pear, dark Belgian chocolate, caramel and a kiss of black cherries.

“This remarkable whiskey transitions to a memorable finish of dried dark fruit with delightful lingering oak. All the time knowing that you’re tasting history as you taste the last drops,” said Wheatley. “This truly is a once in a lifetime taste experience.”

Like its predecessors in the O.F.C. line, the 1982 Vintage will be in an elegant, hand-cut crystal bottle with inlaid copper lettering custom created for the brand, but “supersized” in a six-liter bottle. A bottle of this magnitude has rarely been seen on the whiskey market. At six-liters, this bottle is nine times the size of a usual whiskey bottle and holds over a gallon of whiskey, standing at 2 feet tall and weighing 22.5 pounds with liquid inside. The cap itself weighs in at a hefty six pounds. Glass artisans cut the shoulder facets of the bottle using equipment created exclusively for Buffalo Trace Distillery. Each bottle was manually polished to achieve maximum glass brilliance before in-laying cut copper lettering to spell out “O.F.C.” on the front. The bottle is housed inside a wooden display case, along with a provenance card that notes the milestones of the year 1982, including iconic moments like the launch of the first CD player and Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ being named the #1 album seller of all time.

To make a bid using ETH you must have the funds in your wallet and connected to BlockBar. At 10:00 AM EST, all winning bidders have two hours to submit the full balance; payment will be accepted through Eth or fiat. Full Terms & Conditions may be found on BlockBar.com. Bids planning on using Wire Transfer must pre-approve the funds by going to BlockBar.com, selecting your payment method under the profile icon on the top right of the screen and clicking payment methods, and select “verify funds” for pre-approval.

Upon purchase of the NFT, the cryptographic version will be held securely by BlockBar.com, with a record of authenticity held on the blockchain as a digital certificate of ownership. The buyer may choose to redeem the physical product, and have it delivered from BlockBar’s secure storage facility, safely trade its NFT version within the BlockBar.com marketplace, keep in their virtual bar or gift the NFT through BlockBar’s new gifting platform.

For more information on O.F.C. Vintage 1982 and a guide to placing bids on BlockBar, please visit https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/o-f-c-vintages.html and www.blockbar.com

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as

E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its George T. Stagg was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2022 and its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named 2^nd Finest Whiskey in the World for 2022. Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com. To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/media

About BlockBar

BlockBar is a platform that offers NFTs (digital assets) directly from luxury liquor brands. Each NFT corresponds to a physical bottle. Consumers have the ability to exchange the digital version for the physical version. In simple terms, consumers own the physical bottle, BlockBar stores it for them, and the digital version serves as proof of authenticity, verification of ownership, and the right to have the physical bottle delivered. BlockBar proves authenticity via Ethereum’s blockchain. By buying the NFT directly from the brand, we not only make the process easier, but we ensure that your asset has proven authenticity. Whether you grow your collection, send it as a gift, or resell it, authenticity will never be an issue. Bloc Bar ensures 100% instant authenticity to all collectors up until the moment they redeem the bottle. More so, we offer this service with no commitment. Our platform will still be selling exclusive bottles

directly from the brands at MSRP and consumers have the ability to pay by credit card and can redeem the bottle immediately.

Circumstance Distillery Announces Carbon Neutral Certification

Bristol’s Circumstance Distillery is proud to announce that the business has achieved Carbon Neutral  status.

Looking to do their part to actively work towards stopping climate change, Circumstance Distillery engaged with Carbon Neutral Britain in 2021, with the ambition of measuring and reducing  the total emissions of their business . They then offset the unavoidable emissions to become one of the few Carbon Neutral distillery in the UK.

Circumstance Distillery co-owner Liam Hirt commented, “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved Carbon Neutral status. In the UK, businesses account for over 85% of total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions – making corporate action the number one priority in helping stop climate change. We have always had a clear sustainability strategy  and we have been working towards carbon neutrality from the outset . This certification is a huge achievement for us and a major step towards our sustainable business goals.”

James Poynter, Director of Carbon Neutral Britain commented “We are delighted to partner with Psychopomp Micro distillery and Circumstance Distillery to help identify and offset their environmental impact for 2021 and beyond.”

The Agency Standards measured and calculated the total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions produced directly and indirectly from Circumstance’s activities. As a whisky producer specialising in organic grains and long fermentations,  water usage from the distillation process was identified as the main source of emissions. Total carbon footprint measured in  tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) was also calculated,  and the report is available on their websites.

In addition to achieving Carbon Neutral status, Hirt and the distillery team, are on a sustainability mission and have already implemented a number of environmentally friendly changes across both their distilleries, including using recycled glass bottles, creating a Woden gin refill station at Pyschopomp micro distillery, and Woden refill cans for nationwide delivery. They have also committed to recycling all organic waste through GENco to create biofuel.

Circumstance Distillery was established in 2018

For further information visit circumstancedistillery.com

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces Spring 2022 Edition of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Series

Bottled in an ornate decanter, the spring edition denotes a green label, consistent across all spring releases. As was the case for the past editions, this edition’s tax strip, which has always been a signature of transparency on bottled-in-bond products, will disclose when the liquid was produced and bottled. The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond spring edition will be available in the 750ml size on an allocated basis. It meets the strict requirements of a bottled-in-bond: the product of a single distillery from a single distilling season, aged a minimum of four years, and bottled at 100 proof or 50% alcohol by volume. The edition is available at a suggested retail price of $185.BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the release of the spring 2022 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at 17 years old. Comprised of barrels produced in fall of 2004, and bottled in spring of 2022, the ninth national release ushers in the latest hallmark series to the bottled-in-bond legacy.

The spring 2022 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the first 17-year-old of the nationally released series and features Bourbon pulled from across three floors of rickhouse V at Heaven Hill Distillery’s main campus. As a leader of the Bottled-in-Bond category, Heaven Hill is proud to offer a premium, allocated product within this special class that showcases the authenticity and quality of the American Whiskey portfolio. Acquired in 1999 by Heaven Hill, the legendary Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree and intriguing story behind its namesake, John E. Fitzgerald.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.9 million barrels aging in 63 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, and previously held the titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

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

Sheep Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey Aims to Raise Lifesaving Funds for Animals in Need as Part of New ASPCA® Partnership

For Every Bottle Sold, $1 will go to the ASPCA to support its work caring for, rescuing, and finding homes for animals in the U.S.           

LOUISVILLE, KY (March 10, 2022) – Sheep Dog Whiskey is lending a helping paw to animals in need. The playful peanut butter whiskey that’s tagline is “Come. Stay. Drink. Play.” has a new command, and that’s for pet and whiskey lovers to fetch a bottle of Sheep Dog to support a great cause!

For every bottle sold from now through September 2022, Sheep Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey will donate $1 to the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the longest-standing animal welfare organization in the United States. The proceeds, up to a maximum of $25,000, will go toward supporting the ASPCA’s lifesaving work to help animals nationwide.

The ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

Sheep Dog, which shares a long-term commitment to helping feed and care for homeless pets, is also launching a new dog treat jar filled with 50ml bottles of Sheep Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey. All purchases of the reusable treat jar, which will begin arriving in liquor stores in April, will go toward Sheep Dog’s donation to the ASPCA.

This 70-proof flavored whiskey is made with natural peanut butter flavors and carries notes of vanilla and caramel popcorn with warm whiskey undertones. Sheep Dog can be found in liquor stores across the United States.

“We are grateful for Sheep Dog’s support of our lifesaving work to protect and care for animals across the country,” said Rebecca Frommer, Director, Cause Partnerships & Events, ASPCA. “For every bottle purchased, the ASPCA will receive a vital donation to support our commitment to helping vulnerable animals in need.”

For more information about Sheep Dog Whiskey visit https://sheepdogwhiskey.com/, or check out Sheep Dog on social media on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sheepdogwhiskey/, and Instagram @sheepdogpbwhiskey. More information about the ASPCA can be found at https://www.aspca.org/.

About Sazerac

Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac visit https://www.sazerac.com/.