SUPPORT U.S. BARTENDERS BY BLENDING YOUR OWN WHISTLEPIG WHISKEY AT HOME

Flaviar crowdsources new WhistlePig HomeStock Whiskey from armchair blenders

Flaviar, the world’s largest spirits community, has teamed up with WhistlePig Whiskey, the leading  distiller in the fast growing, ultra-premium and luxury rye whiskey category, to deliver scores of ‘Blend your own whiskey kits’ direct to its members’ doors this month ahead of a virtual blending event intended to lift spirits in this difficult time of social distancing.

Flaviar will provide a rare opportunity for spirits lovers to come together and participate in an innovative blending experience. Following on the heels of the award-winning Farmstock Series, which WhistlePig previously used as their innovative blending platform, the crowd creation of WhistlePig HomeStock Whiskey will harness the creativity of whiskey lovers from across the U.S., calling on them to select their perfect combination of Rye, Wheat, and Barley Whiskey.

The result will be a unique, limited whiskey release, WhistlePig HomeStock Whiskey. Available this Spring, WhistlePig will donate 20% of online bottle sales via Flaviar and Caskers to the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) Foundation’s Bartender Emergency Assistance Program providing funds for its COVID-19 Relief Grants that will assist those currently out of work or in financial distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flaviar members can apply online to receive their blending kit, complete with blending tools, component base whiskeys and instructions from WhistlePig’s Master Blender, Pete Lynch. They can then put their exacting taste buds to the test and see if they have what it takes to create a winning blend. Flaviar members will be encouraged to donate at various touch points in the campaign including during the live blending session and when purchasing a bottle of WhistlePig HomeStock.

Flaviar’s community of whiskey enthusiasts will submit their preferred blend to an expert panel for consideration and tune in for a live-streamed tasting at the end of April. The top three blends crowd-sourced from members will be recreated live on air by WhistlePig’s Pete Lynch, with members able to blend and taste alongside them, then vote for their favorite in a live poll. The winning recipe from this virtual crowd-blending experiment, will then be bottled and released as WhistlePig HomeStock Whiskey, Blended Together, While Apart.

Pete Lynch, Master Blender at WhistlePig Rye Whiskey: “The most important thing we can do right now is stay home. By inviting people to blend whiskey at home, we hope to create a sense of community among fans, while raising some valuable funds for our friends in the bar industry. FarmStock has been one of our most exciting whiskey journeys, and we’re thrilled to partner with Flaviar to continue that story with HomeStock.”

Grisa Soba, co-founder of Flaviar adds: “If someone asks ten year’s from now, ‘what did you do during the lockdown? I bet they won’t expect you to say ‘I learned how to blend a whiskey’. Our members have pretty refined palates and so we’re confident with a little guidance from Pete, the concoctions they craft at home will ensure WhistlePig HomeStock will be a dram to savor.”

The WhistlePig HomeStock Blending Kits are available exclusively to Flaviar members to claim until April 17, 2020. To join Flaviar and experience great events like ‘HomeStock’ live blending, plus a quarterly spirits delivery shipped direct to your door, monthly shipping credits and access to a curated range of craft spirits, hidden gems and classic favorites and more, visit Flaviar.com.

https://flaviar.com/whistlepig-crowdblending

ABOUT FLAVIAR 

Founded in 2012, Flaviar is the world’s largest premium spirits club, with operations in the US and Europe. Flaviar offers a better way to experience fine spirits.

Flaviar members enjoy a full suite of benefits including quarterly tasting boxes and full-size bottles sent directly to their home, invitations to exclusive virtual spirits events, access to rare and original spirits available only to members, free shipping, over 200K member reviews and more.

Flaviar is here to help more people try more new things more often. Flaviar membership is $300 per year, or $95 a quarter.

For more information visit www.flaviar.com You’ve got to try this!

ABOUT WHISTLEPIG RYE WHISKEY

Founded in 2008, WhistlePig Rye Whiskey is the premier aged rye whiskey, featuring the bold and often untapped flavor of rye. WhistlePig Whiskey is leading a surge of innovation in the emerging field of North American whiskey. As the most decorated rye whiskey – having received the coveted ‘Best in Show Whiskey’ title from the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, WhistlePig is widely viewed as the world’s finest Rye. With the opening of its distillery on its 500-acre Vermont farm in the fall of 2015, WhistlePig has also become one of the leading farm-to-bottle rye whiskeys in the world. For additional information please visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. Please enjoy WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Responsibly.

ABOUT THE UNITED STATES BARTENDERS’ GUILD

Founded in 1948, the United States Bartenders’ Guild®️ is a non-profit professional society of bartenders and other hospitality professionals uniting the hospitality community to advance professional bartending. The USBG believes that every US bartender achieves greater personal and professional success by connecting to diverse local and national hospitality communities. Through our network of over 40 communities nationwide, the USBG connects members with peer-to-peer learning, expert instruction, community service projects, and skills-based competition. Learn more at www.usbg.org.

ABOUT THE USBG NATIONAL CHARITY FOUNDATION:

The USBG National Charity Foundation’s mission is to advance the lifelong stability and well-being of service industry professionals through education and charitable activities. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programming that focuses on social responsibility, community service, and philanthropy. You can learn more about the NCF at www.usbgfoundation.org.

ABOUT THE BARTENDER EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM:

The purpose of the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program is to assist those in the bar industry who are in need of assistance as a result of a catastrophic event or an emergency hardship. Fire, weather, medical, national crisis, or a family emergency, the BEAP is here to assist bartenders in their time of need.  Our goal is to assist as many qualified industry members as possible each and every year. We are striving to ensure that the BEAP is sustained as a safety net for those in the industry who need it most. Our hope is that you will support us to “help us serve those who serve us.” www.usbgfoundation.org/beap

RAASAY RISING CASK PROGRAMME – LAUNCH

JOIN THE ‘45 AND RESERVE YOUR PIECE OF SCOTCH WHISKY HISTORY 

The Isle of Raasay Distillery has today (Thursday 9^th April) launched an exclusive cask membership programme: the Raasay Rising.

The first 45 casks ever filled at the distillery have been made available as part of the ’45 cask offering, in a nod to Bonnie Prince Charlie’s time hiding out on Raasay following the 1745 Jacobite rising.

These historic 45 American oak bourbon barrels (190 litre) were used to mature the island’s lightly peated inaugural spirit that is now finishing maturation in Bordeaux red wine casks.

Whisky lovers and collectors alike can become part of the ’45 and personally fill their own cask on Raasay with their choice of peated or unpeated Raasay spirit, while ’hiding out’ for a night at the distillery’s whisky hotel. If they can’t make it to Raasay to fill their cask, they can visit their sleeping single malt at a later date. They will also receive a bottle of the distillery’s inaugural Isle of Raasay Single Malt later this year.

Isle of Raasay Distillery Co-founder Alasdair Day said:

“The first ’45 casks ever filled on Raasay, an island rooted in centuries of illicit distilling, hold a very special place in our distillery’s history.

“Rich in sweet vanilla and butterscotch flavours, with hints of smokiness from our lightly peated inaugural spirit, these bourbon casks are available with your choice of heavily peated or unpeated Raasay spirit.

“The Raasay Rising experience includes a night in our whisky hotel and one of the first bottles of our inaugural Isle of Raasay Single Malt later this year, before enjoying the contents of your single cask single malt after 10 years’ maturation, or even longer if you’d prefer.”

Each cask will yield hundreds of 70cl or 75cl bottles, lovingly packaged on the Isle of Raasay in our bespoke Scotch whisky bottle.

For further information, please email sales@raasaydistillery.com.

NOTES 

Raasay Rising Cask Brochure

Raasay Rising offer:

• Cask price: £4,000. Payment plans available, please email sales@raasaydistillery.com.
• Spend a night ‘hiding out’ on Raasay at the Isle of Raasay Distillery’s whisky hotel.
• An Isle of Raasay Distillery tour for two at our five-star Visitor Centre plus the chance to fill your own cask and sample the new-make spirit.
• A complimentary bottle of our Inaugural Isle of Raasay Single Malt release, the same spirit matured in the ‘45 casks.
• Isle of Raasay Distillery Cask Owner Certificate including our new single malt branding and cask owner’s keyring.
• Exclusive invitations to immersive Cask Owner Experiences at the Isle of Raasay Distillery and Manor Place tasting room in Edinburgh.

The Isle of Raasay Distillery facts:

• Capacity: 188,000 LPA
• Mash Tun: 1 Tonne
• Washback Size: 6 x 5,000 L
• Fermentation Time: up to 118 hours

• Wash Still: 5,000 L
• Spirit Still: 3,600 L
• Maturation: All maturation takes place on the Isle of Raasay.

For further information, please contact: pr@raasaydistillery.com. Please note, the distillery is currently taking a hiatus from distillation due to COVID-19.

Raasay Distillery, Borodale House, Isle of Raasay, Kyle IV40 8PB raasaydistillery.com
Instagram/ Facebook: @raasaydistillery, Twitter: @RaasayWhisky

SMOKESTACK BLENDED MALT SCOTCH WHISKY 

DOUBLE GOLD AND BRONZE WINNER

AT BARTENDERS’ BRAND AWARDS 2020 

The Vintage Malt Whisky are delighted to announce SmokeStack Blended Malt Scotch Whisky has been awarded a Gold Medal for Taste, a Gold Medal for Value and a Bronze medal for Design in the 2020 Bartenders’ Brand Awards.

Gold for Taste – SmokeStack passed scrupulous blind tasting in a highly controlled process and was assessed by 50 of the UK’s leading bar professionals.  Judged on style and origin SmokeStack was scored on its aroma, complexity, taste and versatility in cocktails.

Gold for Value – After the tasting SmokeStack was then judged by the expert panel on its value for money, using recommended retail price and alcoholic strength

Bronze for Design – Finally SmokeStack was evaluated on its creative design, back-bar appeal and functionality regarding shape, weight and ease of pouring.

SmokeStack is a peaty blend from quality Islay and Highland casks.  A peat lover’s dream with vanilla and ginger on the nose, lemon and honey palate and long smoky finish.  SmokeStack has now won several awards which is testament to the quality and consistency of the liquid and the skill of our Blender.

VMW Managing Director, Andrew Crook said “I am immensely proud that SmokeStack has now been rewarded for its outstanding quality and value by bartenders across the UK.  SmokeStack has won many awards since we launched it 3 years ago, however being recognised by the Bartenders’ Brand Awards is a great achievement for our relatively new brand.  Here at VMW we strive to create high quality drams at accessible prices and our brands continue to grow in popularity with whisky lovers around the world.  We are absolutely thrilled to have won Gold for both Taste and Value and Bronze for our Design’.

If you would like to taste SmokeStack sign up to The Whisky Wire SmokeStack Tweet Tasting – 6 May 2020.

Click on the link below to hear Blair Bowman’s 60 second review of SmokeStack & at Scottish Field Magazine

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The Bartenders’ Brand Awards is in its third year and the panel is home to some of the finest bartenders in the world.  Each of the judges has been carefully selected based on their personal achievements, tasting skills and experience in the UK bar industry.  Judging sessions take place in London and Manchester, drawing the best talent from the south and north of the UK including 50 bartenders representing the best bars in the UK today.

https://bartendersbrandawards.co.uk/

ABOUT THE VINTAGE MALT WHISKY COMPANY

Founded 27 years ago by Brian Crook with a vision to make iconic Islay Single Malts available and accessible to smaller independent retailers throughout the world, The Vintage Malt Company has done all this and more.  Now, under the leadership of Brian’s son, Andrew Crook, this family company has gone from strength to strength supplying malts and building brands globally in over 35 countries.

For more information on all our products visit www.vintagemaltwhisky.com or contact andrew@vintagemaltwhisky.com

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Named Best Small Batch Bourbon 11 Years and Older at 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Five Buffalo Trace Distillery Whiskies Win Double Gold 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (April 8, 2020) Buffalo Trace Distillery defended its title of World’s Most Award Winning Distillery at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The Distillery’s spirits took home 18 medals, and its Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon was named Best Small Batch Bourbon 11 Years and Older. Five whiskies received the prestigious Double Gold medal, four received Gold medals, six received Silver medals and three spirits received Bronze medals.

Double Gold medals went to

• Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight American Rye Whiskey
• Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Gold medals were awarded to

• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Weller Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Weller Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Silver medal recipients were

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Bottled-in-Bond Straight American Rye Whiskey
• Weller CYPB (Craft Your Perfect Bourbon) Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Weller 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Bronze medals went to

• Weller Antique 107 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Buffalo Trace Distillery Bourbon Cream Liqueur

Spirits entered into the San Francisco World Spirits Competition are judged over four days of highly controlled blind tastings by a panel of more than 40 judges made up of respected, experienced industry experts. Complete results for the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found at http://www.sfspiritscomp.com/results/.

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 1773 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 by “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018” and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, in the “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 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.

#StayHome

Old Pulteney, The Maritime Malt, offer a novel way to relieve cabin fever while social distancing, bringing the outdoors inside with a 15-minute video soundtrack to transport listeners to the coast. 

With the UK asked to stay at home, Old Pulteney, The Maritime Malt have launched From Couch to Coast – a bespoke video soundscape which will virtually transport listeners from the confines of their home to the whisky’s quiet coastal hometown of Wick, located on Scotland’s most northerly shores.

The simple pleasure of experiencing the sea breeze on your face, rolling waves and sand crunching beneath the feet is off the cards while the UK adjusts to the important job of social distancing and staying home to protect one another.

But while most can’t use their daily walk to visit the sea, From Couch to Coast is designed to help people embrace the benefits of ‘blue space’ – the popular theory that being near bodies of water can improve overall wellbeing – from the comfort of their own home.

The resulting video soundscape is just over 15 minutes long and captures an assembly of natural sounds from Old Pulteney’s hometown. The sounds of tranquil lapping sea waves and the chirping of local wildlife are combined with the rhythmic tempo of the team crafting Old Pulteney’s fine single malt, making for the perfect easy listening alongside a dram.

Available on YouTube and the Old Pulteney website, the soundtrack is set against stunning footage capturing the natural beauty of Wick. With sweeping golden beaches and towering cliffs, the harbour town is a key destination on the popular NC500 – a scenic 500-mile road trip route – and has been the home of Old Pulteney since it rolled its very first barrels there in 1826.

Malcolm Waring, Manager at Pulteney Distillery, said:

“Our distillery team are fortunate to be able to enjoy the sea breeze while still adhering to the important job of social distancing at home in Wick.  It’s just the ticket for cabin fever, but we know lots of people just can’t get to the coast right now. That’s why we wanted to bring a taste of the sea to all, transporting people to the tranquil sights and sounds of the home of The Maritime Malt.  It’s especially useful for those who are adjusting to working from home. It’s hard to switch off from a long day at the office when the office is your house but our Couch to Coast soundtrack is the perfect anecdote.”

From Couch to Coast is ideal to enjoy alongside a dram of Old Pulteney 12 Years Old, which is available to buy at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and all other major retailers.  RRP £35.

Listen to the Couch to Coast soundtrack in full at the Old Pulteney YouTube channel by clicking here.

BUFFALO TRACE NAMED GLOBAL ICONS OF WHISKY VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR 2020 BY WHISKY MAGAZINE 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (April 7, 2020) – Whisky Magazine has named Buffalo Trace Distillery the global Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year 2020. This designation follows the Icons of Whisky America awards presented in February in which Buffalo Trace was named the American Visitor Attraction of the Year and American Distiller of the Year. Buffalo Trace competed against counterparts from all over the world to receive the global title, which was announced via Facebook on March 26.

In January, Buffalo Trace announced that it welcomed nearly 300,000 visitors over the course of 2019; a record-breaking 35 percent increase over the previous year. The Distillery is now currently working on an expansion of its Visitor Center, which will ultimately triple the size of the current space. This renovation comes just five years after its last Visitor Center expansion, and is anticipated to be complete later this year.

“We are so thankful to be recognized as the best visitor attraction on a global level,” Meredith Moody, homeplace development director said. “This is a huge honor for us as we are continually striving to enhance our visitor experience, from the content of our tours and gift shop selection to the appearance of our grounds, and even to our virtual visitor endeavors such as our downloadable virtual tour led by fan favorite Freddie Johnson. Our team works hard to offer an exceptional visitor experience, even when guests are not able to physically come to the Distillery.”

In the wake of COVID-19, Buffalo Trace is focusing on remaining in contact with fans through curated social media posts that enable fans to enjoy the Distillery from the safety and comfort of home. On its Facebook and Instagram pages, the Distillery is giving virtual tours of different parts of the Distillery, posting cocktail recipes that can be made at home, and sharing plenty of video clips to binge watch during quarantine.

While tours and visits have been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19, work on the visitor center expansion is continuing. Once complete, the expanded Visitor Center will allow Buffalo Trace to further develop its visitor experience with new tour routes, tasting and events spaces and archive exhibits. More information about Buffalo Trace’s Visitor Center expansion can be found here.

For more information about the Icons of Whisky visit www.iconsofwhisky.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 1773 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 by “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018” and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, in the “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 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.

Virginia Distillery Company Releases First American Single Malt in its ‘Courage & Conviction’ Series

LOVINGSTON, Va. (April 2, 2020) – “Always have the courage of your convictions,” was a phrase often repeated by Virginia Distillery Company’s late founder Dr. George G. Moore to reinforce the importance of believing in yourself and your ideas.

Dr. Moore’s vision and credo becomes a reality with the launch of the distillery’s first American Single Malt in the “Courage & Conviction” product line this month. As an ode to the company’s founder, the first batch of the flagship offering of Courage & Conviction is dedicated to Dr. George G. Moore.

Courage & Conviction whiskies are distilled on-site using 100% North American malted barley and mountain spring-fed water. The just-released flagship whisky is matured in old world sherry casks, traditional bourbon barrels and re-coopered cuvée wine casks which adds intensity and complexity to the spirit. Additional releases will feature individual bottles of each casks, slated for later this year.

Aged a minimum of three years, the American Single Malt line is produced at the distillery’s 100-acre property in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Nelson County, Virginia. The state’s pronounced temperature swings between winter and summer accelerate the maturation of the Courage & Conviction series.

Coinciding with the rollout of the Dr. George G. Moore batch of Courage & Conviction, Virginia Distillery Company is premiering batch.info, a website hub that includes distillate and cask data, as well as bottling and process information for consumers.

Consumers who want to learn more about Courage & Conviction are invited to join Virginia Distillery Company on Wednesday, April 15 from 5:30-6 p.m. EST for a virtual tasting with Virginia Distillery Company CEO Gareth Moore. The tasting, which will be held on Facebook Live, is a part of a Whisky Wednesday series the distillery is conducting every Wednesday throughout the month of April. The distillery will be sharing more information about the tastings on its social media channels.

“The launch of the Courage & Conviction product line is a culmination of years of hard work and dedication from our staff,” said Virginia Distillery Company’s CEO Gareth H. Moore. “I am proud to work alongside my mother Angela, my wife Maggie and the Virginia Distillery Company team to make my father’s dream a reality. Our new line sets a new standard for American whisky and we believe it rivals the finest whiskies in the world. But most importantly, I know it’s a whisky my dad would be proud of.”

The first batch of Courage & Conviction features notes of caramel and butterscotch and evolves on the palate with hints of raspberry, cocoa, barrel spice and vanilla. Additional nuances of the Dr. George G. Moore batch include aromas of salted caramel and milk chocolate, with orange zest and notes of toffee and cinnamon. The finish is creamy and exceptionally smooth. Bottling for the inaugural batch took place between February and March of this year. A total of 9,600 bottles were produced.

Each bottle in the Courage & Conviction line features a removable magnetic medallion keepsake representing the distillery’s seal of approval.

Virginia Distillery Company’s Courage & Conviction flagship batch retails for $74.99. The American Single Malt, along with the distillery’s other products, are available in a number of states throughout the U.S. and can be ordered online at www.vadistillery.com.

About Virginia Distillery Company

Staffed by a local Virginia team mentored by Scottish consultants with decades of experience, Virginia Distillery Company is the largest dedicated American Single Malt whisky distillery in the U.S. The distillery has a current annual production volume of 80,000 4.5L cases and growing. At full capacity, the distillery can produce over 8,000 casks yielding 350,000 4.5L cases annually. The distillery produces Courage & Conviction American Single Malt on-site using malted barley from North America and water from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition, the distillery offers the award-winning Virginia-Highland Whisky series, made with 100% malted barley. Showcasing both Old and New World whisky-making, the award-winning line marries whisky made on-site in Virginia with whisky from Scotland.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES FOURTH INSTALLMENT IN OLD CHARTER OAK SERIES, CHINKAPIN OAK 

New Addition will Continue the Exploration of the Role Oak Plays

in Making Great Whiskey

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (April 2, 2020) – Buffalo Trace Distillery continues its exploration into oak tree varietals with the release of its Old Charter Oak Chinkapin Oak.  This species of oak is native to the Midwest United States. These large Chinkapin Oak trees are often found in parks and on large estates.

The Chinkapin Oak joins the three previous releases in the Old Charter Oak series, a collection exploring the different taste profiles of barrels obtained from trees grown in different countries, climates and soil.  The Old Charter Oak collection explores, honors, and celebrates the role of oak in making great whiskey. The oak trees used for this brand vary by country of origin, or species, or U.S. state. Some barrels are even made from century old trees that grew for 100, 200 and 300 years.

For the newest release, Buffalo Trace obtained a small number of barrels with staves air dried for 24 months before assembling into barrels.  Most barrel staves air dry for three to six months, but the additional time spent air drying eventually allows the whiskey to extract more rich and complex flavors deep within the oak. “The extra seasoning of the wood allows it to break down and we then capture the flavors when the barrel is charred.  The extra time caramelizes wood sugar and reduces some of the tannic flavor,” said Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. Buffalo Trace traditionally burns the inside of their barrels for 55 seconds, known as a number four char. For an additional twist, these Chinkapin Oak barrels were charred slightly less. A number three char was used, charring just enough at 35 seconds to caramelize the wood sugars and unlock the flavor in the oak.

After the Chinkapin barrels were filled with Buffalo Trace Mash #1, they were then aged for nine years before being bottled at 93 proof.

  Tasting notes describe this bourbon as having a nose of cherries and spearmint with hints of floral.  On the palate, fresh herbs and honey abound, before a finish of warm baking spices, followed by dark chocolate.

This is the fourth release in the Old Charter Oak Collection and the first in the species series.  The other releases were Mongolian Oak, French Oak, and Canadian Oak.  Subsequent releases are planned a few times each year, indefinitely.

By federal standards, bourbon is required to be aged in a new, charred oak container. While there is no specification these containers must be American white oak barrels, nearly all bourbons made today are aged in white oak barrels.

The Old Charter brand dates back to 1874 and it has changed owners a few times, until it was purchased by Buffalo Trace Distillery in 1999.  The existing Old Charter Bourbon is still produced by parent company Sazerac and there are no plans to discontinue it. The Old Charter Oak series is an upscale brand extension, much like Buffalo Trace has done with its E. H. Taylor, Jr, line.

The suggested retail pricing for the Chinkapin Oak is $69.99. Like the other releases in this series, supplies will be limited. Packaging for the Chinkapin Oak will remain consistent with the other releases, with an upscale look consisting of a glass bottle with a cork finish. Each bottle has an oak medallion on the front depicting the Charter Oak tree.  This Chinkapin Oak bourbon will be available in limited quantities starting in April.

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 1773 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 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 by Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018.  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.

‘Wild Water’ for Whisky Larkfire Launches Multi-Pack Due to Demand

‘Wild water’ for whisky Larkfire has launched a new multi-pack to give consumers a taste of the Outer Hebrides at home as demand for the product rises.

Larkfire has developed a 4-pack which is now available to order online, priced at £4, via www.larkfire.com/buy.

Larkfire – a natural ‘wild water’ that brings out the full flavour of whisky – is stocked by prestigious venues including Boisdale Group venues in Mayfair, Belgravia, Canary Wharf and Bishopsgate. Soho Whisky Club also uses Larkfire for its tasting events, and Islington restaurant Frederick’s offers Larkfire alongside its range of world whiskies.

James McIntosh, co-founder of Larkfire, said: “Anyone wanting to enjoy a drink at home shouldn’t have to compromise on quality. We’ve recently seen a surge in demand and want to make sure we’re catering for our loyal customers as well as those new to Larkfire, or those buying it as a gift.

“Die-hard whisky fans know that tap water and bottled water interfere with the delicate flavours of whisky, due to the mineral content and added chlorine or fluoride. But Larkfire is a pure, naturally soft ‘wild’ water from Scotland that creates a natural chemistry, offering the very best for those enjoying a dram at home.”

James and his team travelled the length and breadth of Scotland to create award-winning Larkfire, which was named Best Premium Drink at the World Beverage Innovation Awards.

Larkfire was launched after a study by Swedish chemists Björn Karlsson and Ran Friedman in the Scientific Reports journal helped prove that water boosts the concentration of flavour compounds at the surface of whisky, enhancing the flavour.

A percentage of Larkfire sales flow back into the Outer Hebrides via a partnership with The Stornoway Trust – a community landlord that looks after 69,000 acres of land on the Isle of Lewis, where the water is sourced.

To find out more or to buy Larkfire online, visit www.larkfire.co.uk.

Global Spirits Competition – San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi 8 Years won a Double Gold Prize!

Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi 8 Years won the Double Gold Award at San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 (SWSC), held in San Francisco this year.

At the first stage of judgement, all entries were judged if one is medal worthy. After passing the first round, the entry will be tasted and judged further at the second round. On top of that, an entry that receive a gold medal from all judges on a panel through blind tasting earns a “Double-gold” medal. It is also a proof that this item has been certified as an excellent product.

The award winning The Kurayoshi 8 Years is pure malt(blended malt) whisky, produced at the Kurayoshi Distillery. This gem is vatted with carefully selected malt whiskies, then finished with spring water obtained from Daizen Mountain. It is here, performing a malt with a dry orange-like aroma with a sweet fruity flavor. The taste of vanilla and nuts is highlighted by a savory sweet aroma running through the nose.

In this competition, many other Matsui Shuzo’s products are awarded, too. We are pleased and honored to receive these awards. They have inspired us to continue working hard to be known and seen by the world. Our motto: to bring happiness to everyone through alcohol manufacturing.

◆Double Gold Award

Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi 8 Years

◆Gold Award

Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi 12 Years

Blended Whisky The San-in

Single Malt Whisky The Matsui The Peated

◆Silver Award

Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi

Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi Sherry Cask

Matsui Pure Malt Whisky The Kurayoshi 18 Years

Blended Whisky The Matsui Tottori

Single Malt Whisky The Matsui Mizunara Cask

Matsui Whisky Umeshu

◆Bronze Award

Blended Whisky The Matsui Tottori Bourbon Barrel

Single Malt Whisky The Matsui Sakura cask