Kentucky Distillers’ Association Joins Prestigious World Spirits Alliance

The Worldwide Voice of Bourbon Celebrates New Era of Growth on Global Stage

FRANKFORT, Ky.– As the industry voice of Bourbon, America’s only native spirit, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) has been inducted into the prestigious World Spirits Alliance (WSA) based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Since 1880, the KDA has represented the heart of the Kentucky Bourbon industry and its now 100+ members. As a WSA member, the KDA is proud to enter a new era recognized as the worldwide voice of Bourbon amongst global spirits leaders and benefit from increased industry collaboration.

The WSA is the international trade association for the industry and acts as a representative partner and interlocutor before international organizations like the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations (UN).

The WSA offers member producers and leading trade groups a platform to exchange best practices and collectively comment on issues of global relevance, particularly in the areas of free and fair trade and regulatory policy.

Helen Medina, CEO of the WSA, said, “We are delighted to welcome the Kentucky Distillers’ Association to the World Spirits Alliance. The spirits industry is a global powerhouse, contributing an impressive US$730 billion to the world’s GDP in 2022 and supporting 36 million jobs worldwide.

“Cooperation across the industry is imperative and the KDA is such an important voice, offering historic achievements and sustainable success. Together, we can achieve remarkable progress in promoting sustainable growth, responsible practices, and a unified vision for the future of the spirits industry.”

The KDA is proud to offer its resources to the prestigious membership rolls as well, KDA President Eric Gregory said. From record-breaking economic growth to tourism programming to member collaboration and connectivity, Kentucky Bourbon has elevated its presence and is helping spirits industry leaders from across the globe learn from its success.

“With a Bourbon economy that is stronger than ever, Kentucky Bourbon is a leading force respected across the globe,” Gregory said. “As Bourbon continues to gain more momentum each day, a seat at the world table allows our industry the opportunity to maximize our impact, tenfold.

“As the worldwide voice of Bourbon, we regularly consult with other industry leaders who look to our tourism, innovation and economic growth as benchmarks for success. We’re excited to continue to do that while also learning from others who are champions in their industry.

“The WSA is a powerful network and we are honored to be part of it.”

Learn more about the WSA at worldspiritsalliance.com.

Jessica Pendergrass, Chair of the KDA Board of Directors and General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer at Heaven Hill, said she is proud to see Kentucky Bourbon cementing its place in the global spirits industry.

“As the global leader representing Kentucky Bourbon, the KDA is thrilled to sit at the table with our peers in the spirits industry as a member of the World Sprits Alliance. Through collaboration and partnership with other associations, the KDA is proud to share the history and heritage of Kentucky Bourbon and build on our collective success as we work together to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the worldwide voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

About the Kentucky Distillers’ Association:

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the worldwide voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s timeless craft. Kentucky Bourbon is a $9 billion economic engine generating more than 23,500 jobs and attracting over 2 million visits annually through the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experience. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

It’s Vapour, not paper: The Scottish tech start-up transforming spirit production and maturation around the world

– Vapour, founded in the northeast of Scotland, provides contemporary solutions for comprehensive tracking of a product journey from crop to cask, offering distilleries and cask managers valuable insights into spirit production and maturation

– Gaining attention from a growing customer base across Europe and Australia, Vapour is revolutionising the drinks industry with a digital-first solution

Vapour, a pioneering cloud-based spirit management system, is transforming the way distilleries and cask management companies around the world manage their production and maturation processes. 

Co-founded in Speyside, Scotland by digital expert – and Elgin native – Stephen Hamilton, Vapour is a cutting-edge digital platform that provides an innovative digital-first solution to augment traditional methods used in spirit production and maturation, offering unparalleled traceability and transparency from crop to cask.

The innovative platform, developed alongside industry experts, is enabling brands like Brewdog Distilling and Lochlea Distillery to track their products’ entire lifecycle with a mobile device, from raw material intake to cask maturation and beyond.

By capturing data at every stage of the production and maturation processes, Vapour creates a comprehensive record of provenance, allowing distilleries to monitor quality, track changes, and gain valuable insights into their spirits’ unique journey. This traceability is built into the platform from the moment it is used.

Vapour offers a flexible pricing model tailored to the needs of all sizes of business, making it an accessible and cost-effective solution at a time where value is of utmost importance.

Co-founder and CTO at Vapour, Stephen Hamilton, said: “We have developed Vapour in collaboration with leading industry experts, ensuring that the platform addresses the specific operational challenges of running a distillery or maturing and bottling spirit. A key aspect of our philosophy is that we don’t ask you to do anything different than you do today – it’s as simple as recording your existing activities in Vapour.”

“We’re proud to say that in just a few short years since launching, we now have customers as far afield as Australia using Vapour, and our customer base across Europe has expanded significantly too. The nature of the product means it’s extremely quick to set up for customers anywhere in the world and can be done remotely from our base in Scotland.”

“It is not just a digital record, we are digitising operations within distilleries and in turn giving them scalable, efficient and detailed support at every stage of production. It is fantastic to have clients like Brewdog Distilling, Lochlea Distillery and Scotch Whisky Investments on board who we’ve worked with to enhance and craft the platform to meet the needs of our clients. We have also developed important industry partnerships such as Clyde Associated Engineers, a major supplier for fluid handling businesses like our distillery and maturation customers, to automate and digitise data capture on the distillery or warehouse floor.”

“As is the nature of the product, we can easily adapt and add new functionality to Vapour based on feedback from our customers. We are in the relatively early stages of bringing Vapour to the world, but we feel hugely optimistic about the future.”

John Campbell, Production Director at Lochlea Distillery, and legendary former distillery manager at Laphroaig stated: “Having previous experience of the traditional technology used in large volume spirit producers, I was immediately impressed with the Vapour platform from day one with how easy it has been to use and embed into our processes in the distillery. The fact that Vapour is a digital platform means that wherever I am in the world, I can have an instant overview of what’s happening at the distillery across Production, Maturation, and soon our Bottling processes. Our inventory management and traceability have never been as good as they are now. The depth of utility and flexibility offered by Vapour is ideal for us and I’m sure many other spirits businesses.”

For more information, please visit: https://vapour.scot

THE GLENDRONACH LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE WHISKY LOUNGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TOP ST ANDREWS HOTEL 

The Glendronach has partnered with Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts flagship property, Rusacks St Andrews, to launch a whisky lounge offering exclusive experiences. Opening its doors last month, it will provide domestic and international visitors with the opportunity to taste premium whisky from the company’s vast archive, including rare casks from Brown-Forman’s single malts portfolio no longer available for purchase.

The members’ club-inspired space, named ‘Room 116’, boasts a bespoke bar showcasing a unique whisky collection which will offer all three of Brown-Forman’s single malts which include Benriach and Glenglassaugh. The Glendronach; one of Scotland’s oldest licensed distilleries, will be the highlight offering as part of the new experience.

Since it was founded almost 200 years ago, The Glendronach has been crafting sherried single malt whisky. The Highland spirit is slowly matured in the finest Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks sourced from Andalucia, Spain. The result is an exquisite and expressive duality of flavours, of light and dark, where robust, rich Highland spirit meets opulent Spanish flair. A true revelation in flavour.

Emily Richardson, Brown-Forman UK Marketing Director, said: 

“The Glendronach is one of Scotland’s oldest licenced distilleries and one of the world’s most exceptional, richly-sherried Single Malts, so this is a hugely fitting collaboration, combining our legacy with Rusacks St Andrews which is steeped in golfing history and prominence. The new offering will provide an opportunity for guests to discover The Glendronach in an outstanding setting, combining celebrated whisky, a world renowned golf course and the best of Scotland’s hospitality.” 

With bespoke packages and personalised tastings, Room 116 provides a highly curated experience for all the senses. The lounge will be available to private parties with an array of experiences on offer including whisky tastings paired with mezze boards.Officially trademarked ‘The Best View in Golf’, Room 116 overlooks the 18th green of the legendary Old Course and the Fife Coast, offering a stunning backdrop for whisky enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.

Phillip Allen, President of Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts:

“Rusacks St Andrews is delighted to be the UK flagship for The Glendronach, a partnership which celebrates the best of two of Scotland’s finest institutions – whisky and golf. At Marine & Lawn we bring old-world luxury and refined Scottish heritage into a new era, so The Glendronach was a natural partnership. We’re excited to showcase the distillery’s innovative craftsmanship to our valuable guests, both in Room 116 and across the wider Marine & Lawn portfolio.”

The Glendronach recently marked a significant transformation with a visual relaunch – the final brand refresh of the three single malts since being acquired by Brown-Forman in 2016. Later this year the portfolio will welcome a number of releases including the Master’s Anthology comprising three expressions and additions to the ultra-premium core range with a 21, 30 and 40-Year-Old release.

Twitter 

Facebook

Instagram 

Website

About Brown-Forman:

For more than 150 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Ready-to-Drinks, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Coopers’ Craft, The Glendronach, Benriach, Glenglassaugh, Slane, Herradura, el Jimador, New Mix, Korbel, Chambord, Fords Gin, Gin Mare, and Diplomático Rum. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by approximately 5,700 employees globally and sold in more than 170 countries worldwide.

For more information about the company, please visit brown-forman.com.

About The Glendronach Distillery:

Welcome to The Glendronach, one of the world’s most exceptional, richly-sherried Single Malts.

For almost 200 years, The Glendronach distillery has stood proudly in the Scottish Highlands, nestled and protected by its namesake – the ‘Valley of Brambles’. James Allardice, our founder introduced this whisky to the world in 1826, and since then generations of artisans have remained dedicated to time-honoured methods, relying on intuition and their senses to raise expectations of what’s possible in whisky.

Our robust Highland spirit is slowly matured in the finest Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks sourced from Andalucia, Spain. This brings together a unique duality of robust Highland spirit and Spanish flair which rewards the palate with richness, flamboyance and flair – a true revelation in flavour.

MACALLAN MIZUNARA 33-YEAR-OLD 1990 KOMOREBI EDITION LEADS BONHAMS FINEST WHISKY  SALE 

World’s rarest Japanese whisky also offered

Macallan Mizunara 33-Year-Old 1990 Komorebi Edition, East Asia Whisky Company. Estimate: £6,000-9,000.

Edinburgh – A rare and highly sought after Macallan Mizunara 33-Year-Old 1990 Komorebi Edition whisky leads Bonhams Finest Whisky & Spirits online sale from 23 September-3 October. The third in the final instalment in the Macallan Mizunara project by the East Asia Whisky Company, this edition, named ‘Komorebi’ meaning ‘golden beams of light filtering through tree leaves’, was matured for 33 years (two of which were in Mizunara) and is offered with an estimate of £6,000-9,000.

Also offered in the sale is an exceptionally rare Shirakawa 1958 whisky – the earliest known single vintage Japanese whisky ever bottled. The Shirakawa Distillery operated for nearly six and half decades before being demolished in 2003. Distilled and bottled in Japan by Takara Shuzo Co Ltd, bottle 242 of 1500, and in its original presentation case, the Japanese Single Malt is offered with an estimate of £6,000-8,000.

Shirakawa 1958 whisky. Estimate: £6,000 – 8,000.

Other Japanese whiskies of note offered in the sale include:

• Karuizawa 1999 #671, bottled 1999 and distilled by Karuizawa Distillery. One of 394 bottles and in original presentation case. 1 bottle. Estimate: £1,600-2,200.

• Hanyu 2000 #63 La Maison du Whisky. Bottled in 2015. Distilled, matured and bottled by Hanyu Distillery. Specially selected and imported by La Maison du Whisky. In original carton. 1 bottle. Estimate £1,200-1,600. 

Georgia Porteous, Bonhams Whisky Specialist in Edinburgh comments, “The sale features highly sought after rare Japanese whiskies alongside stand-out lots including a bottle of Aberfeldy 30-Year-Old 1991. A bottle of Highland Park Rebus 30-Year-Old is also offered, celebrating 30 years of the whisky-loving Inspector John Rebus, immortalised in Sir Ian Rankin’s series of detective novels set in Edinburgh. There are some exceptional whiskies here.”

Left: Highland Park Rebus 30 Year. Estimate: £3,000-4,000. Right: Macallan Private Eye. Estimate: £2,250-3,000.

The 78-lot sale features some beautifully well-balanced whiskies as well as commemorative editions including:

• Aberfeldy 30-Year-Old 1991, distilled 1991, hand bottled 2021 by Burn O’ Bennie Distillery. 2^nd Fill Bourbon Cask. Bottle One of One and in hand crafted Walnut presentation case by Stevie Stuart, cabinet maker.  Label illustration is Peter Howson x Burn O’Bennnie. Included in this lot is the original artwork that was used for the label design. Estimate: £6,000 – 8,000. 

• Highland Park Rebus 30-Year-Old, distilled and bottled by Highland Park Distillery and in the original wooden presentation case. 1 bottle. Estimate: £3,000-4,000. 
• Macallan Private Eye, selected by Whisky Maker F. A. Newlands at The Macallan Distillery, bottled to commemorate the 35^th Anniversary of Private Eye. Includes cask number 1580, bonded 1961. Estimate £2,250-3,000.

Sale: Finest Whisky & Spirits Sale

Location: www.bonhams.com

Date: 23 September – 3 October 2024

About The Bonhams Network

Bonhams is a global network of auction houses, with the largest number of international salerooms, offering the widest range of collecting categories and selling at all price points. Bonhams is recognised for its bespoke service, and a dedication to local market relationships, enhanced by a global platform. With 14 salerooms, Bonhams presents over 1,000 sales annually, across more than 60 specialist categories, including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine & spirits, and collector cars.

Founded in 1793, Bonhams has representatives in more than 30 countries and operates flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. In 2022, Bonhams added four international auction houses to its network: Bukowskis, Stockholm; Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen; Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris and Brussels; and Skinner, Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy is a result of recognising the shift in growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement.

In 2023, Bonhams achieved 14% growth with $1.14 billion in turnover. Recent important auctions and landmark single-owner collections, include the white glove sales of Sir Michael Caine: The Personal Collection, Alain Delon: Sixty Years of Passion; Sir Roger Moore: The Personal Collection; Personal Property of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and The Robert & Jean-Pierre Rousset Collection of Asian Art: A Century of Collecting. Other notable single-owner sales included The Estate of Barbara Walters: American Icon; The Alan and Simone Hartman Collection; The Crown Auction: Props and Costumes and The Claude de Marteau Collection.

Top lots for 2023 include 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta, Sold at Quail Lodge, US for US$30,255,000. Tipu Sultan’s Bedchamber Sword (sold in London for £14m – a world record for both an Islamic and an Indian object); Paul Signac (1863-1935), Sisteron, 1902. Sold for US$8,580,000 (estimate US$4-6 million), and Claude Monet (1840-1926), La Seine près de Giverny, 1888. Sold for US$6,352,500 (estimate US$4-6m), both from the Alan and Simone Hartman Collection; A Gilt Copper Alloy figure of Virupaksha, Central Tibet, Densatil Monastery, Early 15th century. Sold for HK$37.9m (£4,060,326) in Hong Kong. Yoshitomo Nara (born 1959) Three Stars. Sold for HK$36,754,000 (£3,930,914), also in Hong Kong.

More information and highlights can be found HERE

For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

2024 Scottish Distillers Conference

Wednesday 30th October

The Scottish Distillers Conference brings together distilling professionals from across Scotland.

Our 2nd annual conference brings together an inspiring line-up of speakers in a one day event of learning and networking when we will tackle the most pressing issues in the sector. To ensure the most relevant delegates are present, a short ticket application is required.  Tickets are £50 +VAT per person and include welcome coffee and lunch.

BOOK TICKETS HERE

BENROMACH DISTILLERY LAUNCHES LIMITED-EDITION 50 YEARS OLD SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Benromach Distillery in Forres, Scotland, has launched a rare 50 Years Old single malt nurtured by master craftsmen over the past five decades.

With an ABV of 54.6%, the whisky presents notes of lemon and subtle smoke on the nose. Stewed fruit aromas are complemented by orange zest and a hint of aged leather on the palate, before the liquid’s long, full finish ends with cracked pepper and that wisp of smoke.

The whisky is presented in unique handcrafted glass decanters created by Ross-shire-based Glasstorm, one of the UK’s most established hot glass studios.

Benromach’s handmade ethos and dedication to traditional methods has been echoed by Glasstorm who used a highly skilled ‘battuto’ technique to finish the decanters. This technique is only practiced by master glassmakers and sees the glass sculpted by hand, making each bottle a unique work of art.

Only 248 decanters of this single cask release are available worldwide, retailing at £20,000.

Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach, said: “I’m proud to be distillery manager at a time when we release this exquisite single malt, the epitome of our dedication to create exceptional whiskies by hand.

“Each element of Benromach 50 Years Old has been crafted by hand using traditional techniques. This includes the decanter, which not only mirrors the spirit in terms of quality but also embodies the passion and meticulous attention to detail that has gone into crafting it.

 “It is truly a memorable experience for the team to be able to release this very special whisky; a single malt that has been made by hand and shaped by time.”

Brodie Nairn, Glasstorm owner, comments: “There is great synergy between the craftsmanship of glass blowing and whisky making.  It takes years to harness the skills, passing down from master to apprentice.   I first learned the battuto technique from a master glassblower over in Italy 25 years ago and in turn I’ve trained my team.  It has taken me a long time to find a project special enough to use it on but, at last, I found the perfect one.”

For more information on Benromach Distillery or Benromach 50 Years Old, please visit: www.benromach.com

Tasting Notes: 

Benromach 50 Years Old

• RRP: £20,000

• ABV: 54.6%

• Nose: Smooth citrus peel with hints of strawberry and a touch of smoke. Pineapple notes come to the fore, alongside fruitcake and a dash of lemon sherbet.

• Taste: Stewed fruit aromas are complemented by orange zest and a hint of aged leather. Medjool dates and flambeed banana give way to toasted almonds.

• Finish: Full and long finish with cracked black pepper and a wisp of smoke.

About Benromach Distillery

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life by owners Gordon & MacPhail in 1993.

At Benromach, the team keep things simple: a handful of distillers relying entirely on their expertise and senses to make the finest handmade whisky.

Their processes honour the knowledge and experience used to make Speyside whiskies decades ago, because at Benromach they believe making whisky by hand delivers genuine character.

For more information, visit: www.benromach.com

About Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail is a family-owned premium spirits company based in Elgin, Scotland. Owner of Scotch whisky distilleries, Benromach and The Cairn, Gordon & MacPhail is also a Scotch whisky maturation expert, and the owner of Scottish Gin brand, Red Door.

Douglas Laing introduces Second Bottling within its Exclusive Old Particular Red Wine Cask Collection

Douglas Laing & Co. today announces the release of a Blair Athol 13-Year-Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This special edition, finished in a single Sangiovese Red Wine cask, is the second bottling in their exclusive Old Particular Red Wine Cask collection.

Each pairing in this collection is said to have been “meticulously selected to enhance the inherent qualities of the chosen Malt Scotch Whisky, elevating the complexity and depth to introduce new and exciting taste experiences.”

The journey continues into Italy with this second release, using a Sangiovese Red Wine Cask sourced from sunnier climates. The well-rounded and intricate characteristics of Sangiovese seamlessly intertwine with the rich depth of Blair Athol, bringing tasting notes of “dark cherries, dried fruits, spiced oak and sweet vanilla”.

Bottled at 48.4% alcohol strength and proudly without artificial colouring or chill filtration, this limited edition is expected to retail at £96.00 / €111.00.

Key Bottle Details:

• Finished in a Sangiovese Red Wine Cask.
• Premium red wax dip finish.
• Bespoke design and showcased in a black bottle.
• Neck tag included with QR code to bottle tasting.
• 48.4% ABV.

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING & CO.

www.douglaslaing.com

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky distillery, blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards are a testament to this ethos.

Douglas Laing’s Exceptional Single Casks are an award-winning family of four distinct brands that carry Single Cask Single Malt and Single Grain Scotch Whiskies from a vast range of Scotland’s Distilleries. Each offered proudly without colouring or chill-filtration and at high alcohol strength, for ultimate and natural liquid quality.

Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Expands with Exciting New Dining Option

Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen to Begin Serving Lunch and Dinner Celebrating Heritage and Local Flavors  

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (September 5, 2024) — Heaven Hill is excited to announce the grand opening of the Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen, adding a new dining option at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown, Kentucky. Starting today, the new restaurant located upstairs in the Five Brothers Bar will begin serving lunch and dinner to visitors from near and far. The bar and kitchen are named in honor of the five Shapira brothers who founded Heaven Hill in 1935.  The new menu offers unique and delicious offerings that reflect the Southern heritage and charm of the Bluegrass.

The Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen is more than just a place to dine: it’s a tribute to the legacy of the Shapira brothers’ bold entrepreneurial spirit. Starting Heaven Hill at the height of the Great Depression and without any bourbon stock available to them, the five brothers took a calculated gamble that paid off in ways they could never have imagined. Today, Heaven Hill Brands stands as one of the largest family-owned and led spirits producer and marketer in the United States.

The new dining experience has been curated by Jeff Crowe, the Director of Kentucky Visitor Experiences at Heaven Hill and General Manager Josh Holifield, along with Restaurant Manager Veronica Burger and Kitchen Manager Jeremy Brown. The team is bringing a new and unique dining tribute to the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience that appeals to visitors of all ages.

The Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen features dishes that reflect Southern tradition and local flavors. Menu highlights include the savory Fried Chicken Sandwich, the comforting Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup, and the playful and decadent Fluffernutter – a banana, peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich.  The menu also pays homage to Heaven Hill’s rich heritage like Max’s Garden Sandwich, a nod to Max Shapira, the longstanding leader and current Executive Chairman of the company.  Additional Southern staples, such as delicious fried Pimento Cheese balls and other traditional offerings like burgers, salads and sides round out a menu that has something for everyone.

“We wanted to create a place where our guests can experience the warmth and hospitality that Kentucky is known for,” said Josh Holifield, General Manager of the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience. “Every dish tells a story, and our menu exudes Southern charm, crafted to bring people together through great food.”

Following a successful soft opening during which the restaurant fine-tuned its service and menu, Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen is now open for everyone on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and those living nearby to visit.  It will be open from 11:00AM – 5:00PM Monday through Saturday and 1:00PM – 5:00PM on Sunday. The team is eager to welcome visitors from near and far to enjoy this new dining experience.

Adding to the excitement, the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience was recently named 2024 “Best Road Trip” Destination by the Kentucky Living, Best in Kentucky Awards.  This accolade, along with the exciting opening of Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen, offers even more reasons to visit and discover their craveable menu options.

ABOUT THE HEAVEN HILL BOURBON EXPERIENCE:  The Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience™ (heavenhillbourbonexperience.com) celebrates the heritage and traditions of the fine art of American Whiskey in the heart of historic Bardstown, Kentucky. The state-of-the-art facility allows guests to experience a tasting in one of our three iconic tasting rooms, walk through the interactive exhibit gallery, have a drink at the Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen and take a piece of Bourbon country home from the gift shop. Participate in “You Do Bourbon,” an interactive elevated tasting experience, where visitors can taste, bottle and personalize their very own bottle of America’s Native Spirit. Named Whisky Magazine’s 2022 Global Visitor Attraction of the Year and winning Double Gold at the 2022 International Spirits Challenge Tourism Awards, guests will be immersed in the story behind Heaven Hill Distillery, the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and led spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon.

Ferg & Harris launches five new luxury single cask bottlings

Special Craigellachie ‘sister’ drams are part of collection

Luxury single cask, single malt whisky brand Ferg & Harris has released a collection of five exceptional new whiskies, each featuring an inspired cask wood finish for a truly distinctive dram.

The Ferg and Harris team is skilled at sourcing some of Scotch whisky’s rarest, most desirable single casks from distilleries across the country. They then use their expertise to taste and pair each whisky with an ingenious choice of finishing cask, taking the spirit to new and greater heights of flavour and complexity.

The result is a series of unique, limited-edition whiskies that are coveted for their exquisite taste and quality around the world. And this latest batch – the first Ferg & Harris releases of 2024 – is no different.

Featuring one Islay and four Speyside-sourced whiskies, these are drams to discover and savour, selected from Bunnahabhain, Craigellachie, Tormore and Longmorn Distilleries.

The collection also includes a Ferg & Harris ‘first’: a 15-Year-Old Craigellachie matured in an Amontillado Sherry butt which has been divided and used to fill two different finishing casks – one Virgin Oak, one White Port. These ‘sister’ whiskies share the same fruity warmth of their sherry maturation but have developed deliciously different characteristics thanks to the cask expertise of the Ferg & Harris team.

The Ferg & Harris brand was founded in 2021 by Edinburgh-based spirits and bottling business, Young Spirits. Owners and whisky enthusiasts John Ferguson and Alex Harrison – whom the brand is named after – only put their names to the most exquisite liquids, sourced from distilleries all around Scotland, then finished in their unique and one-of-a-kind style.

The brand has a growing following of whisky fans and aficionados around the world, garnering international acclaim with a gold and double gold medal at this year’s prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In addition, two of the five new releases have already made their mark amongst the international whisky community, having scooped accolades at this year’s IWSC awards.

Co-founder Alex Harrison commented: ‘When aged whisky meets exotic wood, there’s an element of alchemy that produces a sometimes unexpected but always incredible dram. The latest five whiskies to join our collection are very special. Each cask was already a first-rate single malt whisky, but we have added that little bit of extra time in a richly flavoured finishing wood, and that’s when we see the magic happen. That quality, character and the extra finish is what distinguishes every Ferg & Harris bottling and we hope whisky fans will enjoy exploring and tasting our latest collection.’ 

The Ferg & Harris range features a core 12-year-old Speyside single malt whisky finished in a first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead, along with their numerous previously released single cask bottlings.

The new Ferg & Harris whiskies will be unveiled at The Whisky Show between 6 – 8 September at Old Billingsgate London, stand no.304. They are available to buy from www.fergandharris.co.uk and independent spirits retailers.

Kentucky Distillers’ Association Welcomes 

Bespoken Sprits as Newest Member

Lexington Distillery Backed By Derek Jeter

FRANKFORT, KY.— The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced Bespoken Spirits in Lexington is the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

Founded by Stuart Aaron and Martin Janousek, Bespoken began production at its California headquarters in 2019. They relocated their headquarters and production facility to Kentucky – the birthplace of Bourbon and epicenter of American whiskey – earlier this year.

Derek Jeter, the Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop from the New York Yankees, and T.J. Rodgers, renowned Silicon Valley scientist and entrepreneur, joined early efforts as investors, supporting the distillery’s passion for innovation with a strong focus on sustainability.

The facility at 101 W Louden Ave. in Lexington’s Greyline Station features an 8-gallon pot still, a tasting room, gift shop, and a custom blending experience. With capacity for 85,000 proof gallons a year, the distillery will begin welcoming guests for tours this summer.

Scott Savage, Chief Operating Officer shared, “Joining the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is an honor for our burgeoning business. We look forward to learning from the best and joining their research and efforts around the future of sustainable distilling.”

Bespoken Spirits’ brands include a high-rye barrel-aged Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, and a twice-toasted American Whiskey. Learn more about Bespoken, its history, mission and its brands at https://www.bespokenspirits.com.

KDA President Eric Gregory welcomed Bespoken to Kentucky and the KDA and applauded the company for its focus on sustainability. “In Kentucky, the only thing we take more seriously than our whiskey is our commitment to responsibility and sustainability.

“Kentucky remains the undisputed home for Bourbon and American whiskey because of our pure limestone water, fertile soil for growing corn and four distinct climates that help age our mellow amber nectar to perfection.”

“As we are dependent on our natural resources, we must continue to be good stewards of the environment and continue to explore and innovate for a sustainable future,” Gregory said. “Cheers to Bespoken, and welcome to our growing family of Kentucky’s finest distilleries.”

Gregory also thanked the City of Lexington for welcoming Bespoken into the Bluegrass State and celebrating their recent grand opening, which created an initial 16 new jobs for the company with more on the way.

With the addition of Bespoken, Fayette County now boasts eight distilleries that have created more than 1,600 Bourbon careers with $108 million in payroll. Each year, distilling in Lexington generates about $325 million in economic impact and more than $12 million in local and state taxes.

From a regional standpoint, Fayette and its surrounding counties have 25 distilleries responsible for more than 5,000 jobs and a $404 million payroll. Annual economic impact is $2.3 billion and over $50 million in local and state tax revenue.

The Bluegrass region also welcomes more than 600,000 visitors to the KDA’s famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour each year, pouring even more money into local hotels, restaurants, shops and government coffers.

“Bourbon Builds Kentucky, and it’s great to see Lexington’s distillery base continue to expand.,” Gregory said. “With another opportunity for tourism, the heart of Bourbonland is creating more reasons for visitors to spend more time and money in our state.”

Bespoken Spirits joins the KDA as a “Craft” level member, aging between 1 and 10,000 barrels per year. Visit the KDA and its Kentucky Bourbon Trail® adventure at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

About the Kentucky Distillers’ Association:

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the legendary voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s landmark economic engine and its thriving, timeless craft. Member benefits include media relations, international trade development, private sampling events, technical assistance, economic development support, networking, legal defense, marketing strategies, governmental and regulatory advocacy and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® adventures. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.