DOUGLAS LAING LAUNCHES LIMITED EDITION EPICUREAN LOWLAND MALT SCOTCH WHISKY FINISHED IN CALVADOS CASKS

Douglas Laing & Co. proudly announces the release of The Epicurean Calvados Limited Edition, a unique blend that marries the floral Lowland Malts of Scotland with the orchard notes of Calvados from the Normandy region, Northern France. This exclusive release, limited to just 1,800 bottles worldwide, is said to be a “celebration of tradition, innovation, and unparalleled craftsmanship.”

At 48% ABV, the Calvados influence is said to help “elevate The Epicurean’s already fresh, vibrant, and citrusy flavour profile to new heights”. Connoisseurs will delight in the rich nuances imparted by the wood, creating a symphony of crisp apple drops, sweet juicy pears, and warm toffee undertones.

KEY FEATURES:

• Finished in Calvados Casks
• Limited to 1,800 Bottles Globally
• No Colouring or Chill-Filtration
• Premium Foiled Carton packaging
• High Alcohol Strength of 48% ABV
• Gift Carton

TASTING NOTES:

The Epicurean Calvados Limited Edition greets the palate with fresh, vibrant, and citrusy notes, followed by the crispness of apple drops, the sweetness of juicy pears, and the comforting warmth of toffee undertones.

Scott Morrison, Brand Manager commented:

“Our belief is that flavour is created throughout the whisky-making process, but it’s during the interaction between spirit and wood in maturation where it truly flourishes. This special bottling is a testament to that belief, with the Calvados casks imparting rich, nuanced flavours that elevate our Lowland Malt to new heights”.

The Epicurean Calvados Limited Edition is available in select markets around the world, retailing for £65.00 / €77.00.

ABOUT THE EPICUREAN

Instagram: @theepicureanwhisky

Facebook: /dltheepicurean

Meet The Epicurean – our 1930s Glasgow man, a real cheeky character who was ever the life and soul of the party and a connoisseur of fine food and drink. A master of versatility, this fresh, zesty, grassy marriage of the finest Lowland malts is perfect for cocktail hour or simply for sipping.

BALLANTINE’S AND BOILER ROOM LINK WITH SARZ AND FRIENDS TO KICK OFF TRUE MUSIC 10 CELEBRATIONS

The Afrobeats DJ and producer, and special guests, join Ballantine’s and Boiler Room to celebrate ten years of True Music in the first of a series of music experiences for fans across the globe.

To celebrate a decade of its True Music platform, Ballantine’s, the world’s second biggest-selling Scotch whisky, announces True Music 10 – a year-long programme of 10 in-person and broadcast music events. In partnership with long-standing partner Boiler Room, the celebrations will give music fans around the world direct access to some of the most exciting artists across 10 diverse music communities who are shaping global music culture today.

Boiler Room and Ballantine’s will kick off True Music 10 with an intimate pop-up at a secret location in Soho, London on 4^th April for 100 lucky fans – with details announced via social just 30 hours in advance. Serving up a line-up of pioneering music, the opening event will be headlined by Afrobeats DJ and producer, Sarz, alongside his chosen special guests. With a gift for crafting chart-topping hits, Sarz has left an indelible mark on the new-wave Afrobeats music scene, producing revered records for powerhouse artists on tracks including ‘One Dance’, ‘Find Your Way Back’, and ‘Monalisa’.

Sarz comments:

“I’m excited to finally link up with Boiler Room and Ballantine’s to launch the True Music 10th anniversary celebrations in London, a city which has been such an important place for the afrobeats scene to connect worldwide. The True Music series has been a great platform to launch amazing new sounds into the world in recent years and we’re hoping to add to the legendary run with a crazy show, in an intimate space, surrounded by my friends and family. Plus, I’ll be playing some exclusives from my upcoming album!” 

Following its kick off in the UK – the home of Ballantine’s and Boiler Room – the series of True Music 10 pop-ups will continue to Colombia and South Africa, rolling out in select cities, and showcasing some of the most forward-facing True Music artists from each country. Music fans around the world will also be able to tune in and catch the South Africa pop-up shows, broadcast from Durban and Pretoria for free via https://truemusic.boilerroom.tv/.

Boiler Room and Ballantine’s will also be returning to Johannesburg, South Africa, home to one of the partnership’s first ever shows, where they will be throwing their biggest party to date. Taking place on 11^th May, the multi-stage, multi-genre event will showcase some of the world’s most innovative artists including Louie Vega and Kenny Dope’s iconic garage duo; Masters At Work, DBN Gogo, and Toccororo as well as a number of True Music alumni including Coco Em and Scorpion Kings. Guests can sign up for the True Music 10 Johannesburg show now via https://truemusic.boilerroom.tv/, with further shows across the globe to be revealed throughout 2024.

Tom Elton, Head of Culture and Partnerships at Ballantine’s commented:

“The evolution of True Music over the past decade has been remarkable. For 10 strong years, the platform has been committed to representing, supporting, and promoting inclusive music culture by celebrating pioneering local artists and communities from around the world on a global stage. We believe in the power of staying true to yourself and doing things your own way, and over the years we are proud to have worked with some of the most exciting ‘Stay True’ artists, who are propelling music culture forward and making music for passion. Here’s to the next ten. “

Since 2014, Ballantine’s and Boiler Room, have brought together artists and communities from around the world, representing local music culture on a global stage and turning passions into professions. Over the past decade, the duo has hosted inclusive in-person and live-streamed music events from some of the world’s most vibrant music scenes championing, supporting, and representing over 800 pioneering headliners and emerging artists, from over 30 countries across six continents. As part of the celebrations, Ballantine’s will invite fans from around the world the opportunity to browse the True Music archive, where users will be able to stream previous True Music Studios and win tickets to events, exclusive merchandise and redeem Ballantine’s cocktails with partner venues. Access to the digital experience will be via QR codes found in stores, venues and across posters.

Ballantine’s will also continue its ongoing True Music Fund, contributing a further 10 grants over the next year, to support emerging local music-focused organisations and collectives who are driving modern music culture, with further details to be announced in late 2024.

Invites to the True Music 10 London pop-up event are extremely limited and will be available for only 30 hours ahead of the show. To be the first to hear when invites are available for any True Music 10 events, follow @boilerroomTV and @ballantines on socials and sign up HERE.

This article appears here well after the original publication date and as a matter of interest.

Moët Hennessy and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter Launch Groundbreaking New Whisky – SirDavis

 The award-winning spirit offers a new, unexpected take on American whisky

AUGUST 20, 2024 – Moët Hennessy, a subsidiary of LVMH, has joined forces with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter to create SirDavis, a groundbreaking new whisky. The first-of-its-kind joint venture reflects a shared vision between Knowles-Carter and Moët Hennessy, two vanguards of culture and craft, around the future of American whisky.

This unique product was years in the making after Knowles-Carter, a Japanese whisky enthusiast, sought out Moët Hennessy to help craft a one-of-a-kind flavor profile that reflected her whisky ideal. Meanwhile, Moët Hennessy had been exploring ways to deepen its presence in the American whisky market, making the timing kismet for a partnership between the world-leading luxury group and Knowles-Carter.

“I’ve always been drawn to the power and confidence I feel when drinking quality whisky and wanted to invite more people to experience that feeling,” says SirDavis Founder Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. “When I discovered that my great-grandfather had been a moonshine man, it felt like my love for whisky was fated. SirDavis is a way for me to pay homage to him, uniting us through a new shared legacy. In partnering with Moët Hennessy, we have crafted a delicious American whisky that respects tradition but also empowers people to experience something new and unique in the category. You can taste it better than I could ever tell you — welcome, SirDavis.”

SirDavis is named in honor of Davis Hogue, Knowles-Carter’s paternal great-grandfather, who was a farmer and a moonshiner in the American South during Prohibition. He stashed whisky bottles in the empty knots of cedar trees for friends and kin to find and enjoy. For Knowles-Carter, it was this discovery that made the idea of creating a whisky brand feel predestined. Four generations later, the legacy comes to life – rather than hidden in the trees, bottles of SirDavis proudly grace the top shelves of fine purveyors of spirits around the world.

“SirDavis is not only a revelatory and exceptional American Whisky, which we are very proud of. It is also a testament of the unwavering dedication to craftsmanship, heritage and innovation shared by LVMH and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter,” said Bernard Arnault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LVMH.

Moët Hennessy tapped Dr. Bill Lumsden, one of the world’s most awarded and highly regarded Master Distillers for his work on Scotch whisky brands Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, to lead on whisky creation.

Lumsden selected the brand’s bespoke mash bill — one of the rarest new offerings in the world of American whisky composed of 51% rye and 49% malted barley — to serve as the backbone of the liquid. Lumsden then combined traditional whisky-making techniques to impart an elegant mouthfeel and texture reminiscent of Japanese and Scotch whiskies, while retaining the robust and deep flavors typical of classic American rye.

“With SirDavis, we looked to challenge the category norms and offer something new in the space,” said Lumsden. “The distinctive grain selection and unusual secondary maturation in sherry casks helped us achieve a signature profile completely unique to SirDavis, one of bold sophistication.”

Moët Hennessy and Knowles-Carter’s shared commitment to excellence was key to the partnership and the product. To validate SirDavis’s quality, the liquid was anonymously submitted to numerous prestigious spirits competitions prior to launch. SirDavis won Best In Class for American Whiskey from the 2023 SIP

Awards, outperforming over 100 other entries in the category. Awarded to only one brand per category, this award is reserved for premium spirits receiving scores in the pinnacle of their respective categories and is SIP’s highest acclaim from consumer judges. Other notable scores include a Gold Medal (95 points) from the 2023 New York International Spirits Competition and a 93-point rating from the 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

Knowles-Carter also lent her visionary artistic direction to the brand’s bottle design – a tall, eye-catching bottle with intentional design elements that make the vessel an unmistakable beacon of luxury.

The SirDavis bottle is striking and clean, with ribbed glass that beautifully catches light and highlights the liquid. It also features a black medallion with a regal bronzed horse, emblematic of strength and respect and symbolizing Knowles-Carter’s Texas roots.

In another nod to Knowles-Carter’s Southern heritage, the whisky is finished, blended and bottled in her home state of Texas. Unlike other acquired brands, SirDavis also makes history as Moët Hennessy’s first spirits brand developed entirely internally by Moët Hennessy in the United States. SirDavis is headquartered out of Houston, Texas.

SirDavis retails for £79 and is available for pre-order via SirDavis.com. Product will be available at retail across the U.K as well as in select airports (LAX/JFK/SFO) and stores across the U.S, Paris, and Tokyo in September 2024.

ABOUT SIRDAVIS AMERICAN WHISKY

A first-of-its-kind joint venture, SirDavis reflects a shared vision between Moët Hennessy and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter around the future of American whisky. With a distinctive taste profile that delights both seasoned whisky connoisseurs and new enthusiasts, SirDavis is on a mission to redefine the category and invite new consumers to feel welcome to participate in the world of luxury whisky.

Crafted with Moet Hennessy’s own five-time International Whisky Competition Master Distiller of the Year Dr. Bill Lumsden, SirDavis offers a one-of-a-kind taste profile that redefines the taste of American whisky with inspiration from Japanese and Scottish styles. In an evolution from category norms, the SirDavis mash bill includes 51% rye and a noteworthy 49% barley. The spirit’s secondary maturation in sherry casks resulted in its silky, sophisticated profile with layers of dark red fruits and spices like clove and cinnamon. This duality of rounding out rye’s characteristically spicy notes with structured flavors of juicy red fruit offers an entirely new interpretation of this spirit, suitable for connoisseurs and newcomers alike. The award-winning liquid received Platinum and was named Best In Class by the 2023 SIP Awards, 95 points and Gold from the 2023 New York International Spirits Competition, and 93 points from the 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. SirDavis is finished, blended and bottled in Knowles-Carter’s home state of Texas.

Follow SirDavis on:

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

ABOUT MOËT HENNESSY

Moët Hennessy is the wine and spirits division of LVMH, which also owns renowned wine estates through “LVMH Vins d’Exceptions.” Moët Hennessy is a group of twenty-seven Maisons, internationally recognized for the richness of their terroirs, the quality of their products and the craftsmanship with which they are created. For many years, Moët Hennessy has been committed to its environmental and social program, Living Soils Living Together.

Ao Yun, Ardbeg, Armand de Brignac, Belvedere, Bodega Numanthia, Chandon, Château d’Esclans, Château Galoupet, Cheval des Andes, Clos19, Cloudy Bay, Cravan, Dom Pérignon, Eminente, Glenmorangie, Hennessy, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Krug, Mercier, Minuty, Moët & Chandon, Newton, Ruinart, Terrazas de los Andes, Veuve Clicquot, Volcán de mi Tierra, Woodinville.

LITTLE BOOK® ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL SERIES, ‘THE INFINITE’, A PERPETUAL TRIBUTE TO THREE GENERATIONS OF JAMES B. BEAM DISTILLING CO.
MASTER DISTILLERS

Little Book’s ’The Infinite: Edition 1’ is the First-Ever Brand Extension Featuring Whiskey Laid Down by Three Generations of Noe Family Master Distillers

Clermont, Kentucky (August 27, 2024) – Today, The James B. Beam Distilling Co. and Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller, are proud to announce the first line extension and inaugural Little Book series, Little Book ‘The Infinite: Edition 1’ Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The newest release honors more than two hundred years of rich Beam and Noe family history through a blend of whiskeys laid down by three trailblazing American Whiskey distillers: 6th Generation Master Distiller, Booker Noe, 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe, and 8th Generation Master Distiller, Freddie Noe. Little Book ‘The Infinite: Edition 1’ will serve as the foundation of the line extension utilizing liquid from generations of the Noe Family through every future release.

In the Fred B. Noe distillery at the James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s Clermont campus, Freddie Noe was experimenting with blending varying aged whiskeys, when he sought to blend barrels his father, Fred Noe, and grandfather, Booker Noe, laid down, resulting in a perfectly balanced profile forming ‘The Infinite’. Each year, new whiskey will be added to the blend, delivering an ever-evolving confluence of artistry for a unique experience while pushing the boundaries of flavor and tradition. It’s this initial, proprietary blend that sets the series apart from other Little Book chapters.

“My father and I are lucky enough to work together, side by side as Master Distillers, and I know he always dreamed of that with his own father, my Grandaddy Booker,” shared Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller. “This new series pays tribute to that dream and inspired the first Edition of Little Book ‘The Infinite’, a multigenerational liquid that will form the foundation of all future releases. Once a year, I’ll bottle some up for the world to try. So, savor this whiskey today, and come back in a year for its next evolution.”

Little Book ‘The Infinite: Edition 1’ includes the following liquids:
• Booker Noe’s Component: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Aged 20 years
• Fred Noe’s Component: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Aged 14 years
• Freddie Noe’s Component: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Aged 7 years
• Shared Family Component: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Aged 8 Years

Little Book started in 2012 when Fred asked Freddie if he wanted to join the family business. Without hesitation, Freddie said yes, embarking on a journey through distillery operations and discovering a fascination with blending different aged spirits. This passion for tinkering and innovation led to the creation of Little Book®, a nickname given to Freddie growing up by Booker.

Little Book ‘The Infinite: Edition 1’ will be available in limited quantities nationwide across the U.S., in-store and consumers can go tolittlebookwhiskey.com for more retail locations. For real-time information about Little Book follow on Instagram @BeamDistilling and www.beamdistilling.com.

LITTLE BOOK THE INFINITE, EDITION I | 59.65% ABV | SRP: $199.99

Edition I: The bourbon distilled by Booker Noe lays the groundwork with notes of oak, char, and smoke. Fred Noe’s bourbon brings in rich flavors of dark fruit, cherry, and brown sweets. And it’s all rounded out with bourbon Freddie Noe made where caramel, vanilla, and spice notes really shine through. Perfectly balanced yet unlike anything made before.

Color: Burnt umber with auburn hues
Aroma: Dark stone fruit, charred oak
Taste: Deep brown sweets with notes of caramel & vanilla, hint of smoke
Finish: Full-bodied with lingering notes of smoke & baking spice

About Little Book®
Little Book is the first product released by Freddie Noe, Eighth Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery. An annual, limited-release series, Little Book features new and unique high-quality blends each year that bring to life Freddie’s passion for blending and his curiosity for the limitless taste profiles that can be achieved through the process. Little Book is named as a nod to Freddie’s childhood nickname, given to him for the many qualities he shared with his granddad, Booker Noe.

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

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

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces 2024 Parker’s Heritage Collection® Limited Edition Bottling  

18^th Edition of the annual ultra-premium release is a 14-year-old Malt Whiskey Finished in Reconstructed Heavy Toast Cognac Barrels

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (August 27, 2024) – Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the release of the 18^th edition of the Parker’s Heritage Collection® featuring a 14-year-old Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey Finished in Reconstructed Heavy Toast Cognac Barrels. The 18^th Edition is an allocated product and will be available nationally and internationally in limited quantities at the suggested retail price of $169.99. Like previous editions, a portion of the proceeds will continue to support ALS research and patient care in honor of Parker Beam, late Master Distiller Emeritus.

This edition is made possible due to the continued partnership with Master Blender Alain Royer, who Heaven Hill has partnered with on two previous Parker’s Heritage Collection releases. It is comprised of 14-year-old Malt Whiskey that was barreled in March 2009. The 128 Malt Whiskey barrels were dumped and then finished in 56 larger, reconstructed heavy toast Cognac barrels for almost four months. The original Malt Whiskey barrels are from the fourth floor of Rickhouse O and the sixth floor of Rickhouse Q. Once re-barreled, the Cognac barrels aged in Rickhouse H1 on the fifth floor. The mashbill for this edition is comprised of 65% malted barley and 35% corn and bottled at 107 proof.  The Whiskey is described as rich and velvety with flavors of molasses and bittersweet chocolate followed by cloves and nutmeg. At bottling, the liquid was non-chill filtered to preserve the natural flavors of the aging process.

“We are excited to continue to work with Alain Royer as we look for more ways to innovate with barrel finished products,” said Susan Wahl, Vice President of American Whiskey at Heaven Hill. “In honoring Parker’s enduring legacy, Heaven Hill Distillery remains steadfast in our commitment to uphold the high standards he set. With this latest expression, we celebrate Parker’s influence on and dedication to innovating outside of Heaven Hill’s traditional Bourbon mashbills by crafting a Whiskey that embodies his spirit as we continue to support ALS research and patient care.”

The late Heaven Hill Master Distiller Parker Beam, for whom the acclaimed series is named, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2010. Since 2013, proceeds from sales of the Parker’s Heritage Collection have raised more than $1.3 million dollars toward ALS research and patient care through contributions made by Heaven Hill for each bottle purchased. With this edition, Heaven Hill will again contribute a portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold to the ALS Association. To learn more about The Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund, please visit als.org/parker-beam-promise-hope-fund.

Packaged in the same upscale 750ml bottle as the previous seventeen editions, but with a garnet-colored label, the newest Parker’s Heritage Collection is available in a three-bottle case and will arrive at retail locations starting in September. With previous releases having won multiple awards from Whisky Advocate, Whisky Magazine, the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the series stands as some of the most critically lauded American Whiskeys in recent memory. Past bottlings have won awards ranging from “Best Special Barrel Finished Bourbon” and “Best North American Whiskey” to “American Whiskey of the Year” and “Best of Show, Brown Spirits.”

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 2 million barrels aging in more than 70 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, Parker’s Heritage Collection, and Old Fitzgerald along with its extensive Bottled-in-Bond label collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2024 and 2023 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year and 2023 World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon from the Icons of Whisky, as well as the 2022 Large Spirits Producer of the Year from the Ascot Awards. Heaven Hill Distillery held the title of 2020 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, the second Whisky of the Year for Heaven Hill Distillery in the past four years. In 2019 Heaven Hill Distillery was named 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, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

THE SINGLE CASK ANNOUNCE CHARITY BOTTLING IN SUPPORT OF THE DRINKS TRUST

Award-winning independent bottler The Single Cask is donating an ‘Ultra Rare’ single malt scotch whisky from their Glenrothes-based warehouse in a special first-time collaboration with The Drinks Trust.  

The Single Cask – home to a warehouse in Glenrothes of over 3000 casks – has collaborated with drinks and hospitality charity The Drinks Trust to release an ‘Ultra Rare’ single cask whisky from Teaninich Distillery. Priced at £79.00, the charity bottling will be released via The Single Cask website on Monday 26th August with all proceeds to support The Drinks Trust.

Born from The Single Cask’s Family Series, the 10-year-old bottling from Teaninich Distillery is 1 of only 54 bottles, finished in a Madeira wine barrel and falls under The Single Cask’s ‘Playful’ mood category. The striking label design merges casks with pineapples to highlight the fruity notes in the whisky, while using bright colours to bring a sense of happiness, inclusiveness and a warmth.

The ‘Ultra Rare’ whisky has been taste-tested by The Single Cask’s expert team of Taste Masters; bright copper in colour with a fresh, fruity nose of passion fruit, drizzled in honey syrup. In taste it’s sweet blossom honey, with a citrus tang of blood orange, delicate spice, orange zest, and crème brûlée. Full tasting notes can be found on The Single Cask’s website: https://www.thesinglecask.co.uk/

The whisky bottler recently took on the challenge of demystifying whisky flavour as they relaunched their brand. By using five mood categories, whisky fans can quickly navigate to whichever whiskies they are in the mood for. Every one of the 3000 casks in The Single Cask’s Glenrothes warehouse fits within one of their five mood categories: Cheerful, Playful, Bold, Curious and Easy-going.

The Drinks Trust is a charity dedicated to the drinks and hospitality workforce. It strives to empower the drinks industry and offers services including financial assistance, wellbeing support and industry training. In 2023,  The Drinks Trust supported over 5,400 beneficiary acts and spent nearly £720,000 on support services.

Jan Damen, General Manager at The Single Cask, said: “Charities like The Drinks Trust offer outstanding support to our industry. We are very proud of our collaboration and delighted to help wherever we can. We love working with inspiring people doing good for the drinks industry and that’s exactly what The Drinks Trust does. The Single Cask only bottles exciting and entertaining whiskies worth talking about, and this ‘Ultra Rare’ release is definitely worth talking about!”

Ross Carter, CEO of The Drinks Trust added: “Our collaborations with donors, including The Single Cask, are rapidly evolving and enabling the delivery of crucial funds and services to our beneficiaries facing hardship. These partnerships also assist businesses in achieving their CSR goals, benefiting the entire industry and raising the charity’s profile, allowing us to extend our reach and impact even further. We couldn’t be more grateful to The Single Cask team for their generous support.” 

The Single Cask pride themselves on bottling only the most outstanding, characterful, and distinctive single casks of whisky. The company values the distinct personality and cherishes the individuality of every

The Single Cask
The Single Cask was founded in 2010 by Ben Curtis, built on the belief that the search for the ultimate dram never ends. Bottling unique spirits, hand-picked one cask at a time – The Single Cask bottles award-winning whiskies at natural cask strength, without any intervention such as chill filtration or artificial colours.

Powered by the incredible sense of togetherness whisky creates and a growing fascination with the one-of-a-kind personality of single cask bottlings, the passion soon led to the launch of their first bar in Singapore.

Now with a Glenrothes-based warehouse home to over 3000 casks, new retailers, on-trade partners and importers (such as the newly appointed High Spirits in the Netherlands) they are creating an ever-growing fan club family.

The Single Cask’s expertise is in the sourcing of casks and in the maturation – a bold pursuit to uncover whiskies that are both of exceptional quality and character. All their bottlings are tasting panel approved by The Single Cask Taste Masters – an exclusive panel of experts who seek out the thrill of the taste, helping it to become the best experience possible.

The Drinks Trust
The Drinks Trust is the charity dedicated to the drinks and hospitality workforce. It strives to empower our industry people through services designed to assist financially, restore well-being and develop skills, and to do so with compassion and respect. In doing so, The Drinks Trust seeks to create an equitable industry where opportunities to thrive are open to all. To find out more, please visit www.drinkstrust.org.uk For media enquiries, please email Alessandra Brugola, Marketing Manager, at alessandra@drinkstrust.org.uk

Website – https://www.thesinglecask.co.uk/

Social media:

Facebook – @thesinglecaskuk

Twitter – @thesinglecask

Instagram – @thesinglecask_official

Sláinte To Six! Stephanie Macleod Wins ‘Master Blender of the Year’ For Record-Breaking Sixth Time

Kentucky Distillers’ Association Welcomes 

Extended Stave as Newest Member

FRANKFORT, Ky.– The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced Extended Stave Warehousing in Lawrenceburg is the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

Located at 2160 Harrodsburg Road in Anderson County, Extended Stave features a 50-gallon copper pot still, 15 palletized warehouses with capacity to store up to 16,400 barrels each, once fully constructed, and an event space for clients and brands.

The company focuses on third party client barrel storage along with brokerage and sourcing of barrels for investors, brands, and specialty end users. It was founded in 2022 by Lev Orlov, Jason Taylor, Carrie Trapp and Raj Patel.

KDA President Eric Gregory said, “With storage and procurement services continuing to rise in demand, we are honored to welcome Extended Stave to our Bourbon community. Extended Stave will grow to be a great resource for brands of all sizes.”

Taylor said, “Extended Stave has taken a new approach to Bourbon warehousing and brokerage services. Our services are unique in that we offer top tier client services with modern systems and the ability to service clients of all sizes from one-barrel investors up to full warehouse users.

“We have flexibility to serve the needs of all users within the industry and offer a personalized approach to each transaction as no client is the same. We are excited to build out our campus and grow with Kentucky’s booming Bourbon industry.”

Learn more at extendedstave.com and extendedstaveevents.com.

The KDA now has four Anderson County distilleries creating more than 700 Bourbon careers with $50 million in payroll for the county. The others are Four Roses, Wild Turkey and the Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company.

From a regional standpoint, Anderson and its surrounding counties have more than 25 distilleries responsible for over 5,000 jobs and a $404 million payroll. Annual regional 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.

KDA President Gregory said, “On behalf of the KDA and our members, we are pleased to welcome the team at Extended Stave to our growing family of Kentucky’s finest distillers and adding more jobs and investment to Anderson County.

“We look forward to working with Extended Stave as the industry creates innovative distilling processes, bringing new flavors to Bourbon enthusiasts and building Kentucky communities across the state.”

As a Class B licensee, Extended Stave 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.

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) is the worldwide voice of Bourbon.

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. 

J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery Celebrates Its Heritage with Launch of Classic Bourbon

Small Batch Bourbon Available Nationwide Starting Aug. 21st

FRANKFORT, KY (Aug. 20, 2024) – J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery, created by Jeff Mattingly, a descendant of distilling pioneer John Graves Mattingly, is honoring its family legacy with the release of its Small Batch Classic Bourbon on August 21st, on what would have been John Graves Mattingly’s 201st birthday.

The Classic Bourbon is the first flagship bourbon released under the J. Mattingly 1845 line of whiskies, and will offer fans a consistent taste profile they will be able to find year-round at retailers and online. “Previously, all of the J. Mattingly 1845 double-staved whiskey releases have been custom blends, created for specific retailers, our guests at the distillery, or by our blending team to honor a specific cause or event,” said Harry Richart, president of J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery.  “This classic double-staved release is now our anchor “house style” from which all of our custom blends, including your own, emanate.”

If early reviews are any indication, J. Mattingly 1845 is right on track – famed Whiskey Bible author Jim Murray scored the Classic Bourbon a 96, saying, “This is extraordinary bourbon for a 6-year-old, having been taken as far as it can go – a bit like an apple plucked from the tree when at its most carmine but juiciest… Every year you will find a very small handful of bottlings which is a real bourbon-lovers’ bourbon. Well, this is one of them.”

The J. Mattingly 1845 Classic Bourbon is a six-and-a-half-year blend bottled at 119 proof.  Like all J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery releases, this bourbon has undergone the Distillery’s signature double- staving™ process, allowing the whiskey inside the barrels additional surface exposure to charred barrel staves to impart more flavor and color.

“This bourbon is the very definition of complex, as well as one which appears to like to stretch a point as far as it can without being guilty of over-indulgence. Unquestionably this is due to the Double-Staving™ method deployed which, with its extra charring, has turned a 6-year-old into something showing the honeyed and toasted intensity of a bourbon a little over three times that age: remarkable. More remarkable is the feeling that just another summer month of maturation and this would have clicked from brilliance to failure: such is the fine line of success in the rarefied atmosphere of whiskeys at this stellar level,” continued Murray.

The Classic Bourbon is available at the Distillery in Frankfort, in select retailers, and online, with shipping to 46 U.S. states.  Suggested retail pricing is $110 for 750 mL.

About J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery 

The Mattingly family has been synonymous with distilling in Kentucky for more than two centuries, having a hand in the development of at least nine separate distilleries in the Commonwealth, and with connections to some of the most illustrious names in the distilling industry, including George Garvin Brown, the Willetts and the Samuels.

It all started in 1845, with John Graves Mattingly’s first distillery in Marion County, Kentucky, Registered Distillery #2.  Many historians today believe his distillery was the first registered distillery in Kentucky.

            In 2010 Jeff Mattingly took up the family mantle and started his own craft bourbon business.  Today, Jeff’s son Cameron has joined the team as Vice President of Production, continuing the legacy into the latest generation for J. Mattingly Distillery 1845 in Frankfort, Kentucky. Together father and son offer their proprietary double staving process as well as a custom bourbon blending experience unparalleled in the spirits industry, available on-site in Frankfort or online at https://jmattingly1845.com/build-a-bottle/

For more information about J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery visit www.JMattingly1845.com.

Lux Row Distillers releases the third edition of its Blood Oath Trilogy featuring

Pacts 7, 8 and 9

Highly collectible bourbons will be available in September

ST. LOUIS (Aug. 15, 2024) — Three is a magic number – especially when it involves a trilogy of sought-after bourbons. Lux Row Distillers announced the release of Blood Oath Trilogy – Third Edition, the latest collection of limited-release bourbons, or “Pacts,” created by Lux Row Master Distiller John Rempe. Featuring 750mL bottles of Pacts 7, 8 and 9, this latest Trilogy has a limited supply of 1,400 sets and is available at a minimum suggested retail price $799.99, which reflects the quality and scarcity of these bourbons. Shipments of the latest Blood Oath Trilogy will begin in September.

For a decade Rempe has sought out famous and forgotten rare bourbons and bottled them in combinations for his limited-release Blood Oath Pacts. Not to cater to anyone’s loyalties, he promises to choose and make the best he knows, but never to reveal where he finds his bourbon. With each Pact, he sets aside a limited number of bottles for his Trilogy editions, which are released every three years.

The third edition of the Blood Oath Trilogy contains Pacts 7, 8 and 9 – reserved since 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively – and is packaged in a custom black wooden display box designed to highlight each Pact’s distinctive label. Each of the three carefully crafted Pacts is bottled at 98.6 proof (49.3% ABV) and will never be repeated.

• Blood Oath Pact 7 is a blend of a 14-year ryed bourbon and two 8-year ryed bourbons, one of which was finished in casks that held Sauternes, a sweet white wine from the Bordeaux region of France. The casks impart a nose of caramel, oak and honey with flavor notes of apricots, honey and peaches.
• Blood Oath Pact 8 features a 14-year ryed bourbon, an 11-year ryed bourbon and an 8-year ryed bourbon finished in Calvados casks, which held apple or pear brandy from the Normandy region in France. The casks lend tasting notes of apple on the nose, with hints of vanilla and cinnamon, as well as flavor notes of ripe apples, juicy pears, butterscotch and subtle hints of chocolate.
• Pact 9 rounds out the Trilogy with a blend of a 16-year ryed bourbon, a 12-year ryed bourbon and a 7-year ryed bourbon finished in Oloroso Sherry casks from the Sherry Triangle region in southwest Spain. These casks bring out tasting notes of sweet sherry with hints of ripe fruit and spicy oak on the nose.

“Blood Oath is a passion project for me,” said Rempe. “Each new Pact brings together everything that I love about creating memorable bourbons – from the unique blends to the cask-aging. This third Trilogy edition is something truly special and I’m looking forward to sharing this unique collection of bourbon history with our fans.”    

About Luxco

Founded in St. Louis in 1958 by the Lux Family, Luxco is a leading producer, supplier, importer and bottler of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Merged with MGP Ingredients, Inc. in 2021 (Nasdaq: MGPI), Luxco operates as MGP’s Brands Division and manages all MGP/Luxco brands. This extensive and award-winning spirits portfolio includes well-known brands from four distilleries: Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers, home of Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson and Daviess County; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery, maker of Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey and Bowling & Burch Gin; Jalisco, Mexico-based Destiladora Gonzalez Lux, producer of 100% agave tequilas, El Mayor, Exotico and Dos Primos; and Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey are produced. The innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Penelope Bourbon, Everclear Grain Alcohol, Pearl Vodka, Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream, The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey, Green Hat Gin and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company and its brands, visit luxco.com.