Welcome to WhiskyIntelligence.com where we'll be gathering information on the whisky industry and scotch whisky news in the form of press releases, newsletters, events, tasting notes and comments.
Please submit your press releases, newsletters, events, tasting notes or comments.
BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES
1994 VINTAGE O.F.C. BOURBON WHISKEY
FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Oct. 31, 2019) – Buffalo Trace is unveiling a new O.F.C. Vintage bourbon this fall. The bourbon whiskey in this release was distilled and rolled into the warehouse to rest in 1994, a year which saw box office hits like “Forrest Gump,” “The Lion King” and “Pulp Fiction,” and headlines documented Nelson Mandela’s inauguration as South African president and OJ Simpson’s infamous white Ford Bronco chase.
Now, 25 years later, this vintage collectable bourbon has been bottled and will begin reaching stores in late November, but will be very limited and extremely rare.
This is the fourth O.F.C. Vintage release, and like the previous releases, the 1994 Vintage will arrive in a wooden display box containing a provenance card. Inside the wooden box lies a crystal bottle with real copper lettering in-laid in the bottle with a hand applied paper label. The label on the back of the bottle notes the milestones for the year 1994. The provenance card contains the same information found on the back label.
The O. F. C. vintage-dated bourbons have a name derived from this National Historic Landmark’s original moniker – the O.F.C. Distillery – renowned for producing top class whiskey during its tenure.
Tasting notes for this bourbon describe lots of cherry on the nose followed by butterscotch with hints of brown sugar and oak. Toasted caramel, cinnamon and oak greet the palate, followed by a long finish of coffee, herbs and oak.
Of the four O.F.C. Vintage releases this is the third offered for sale. In the fall of 2016 Buffalo Trace Distillery released three vintage-dated bourbons, exclusively to non-profit organizations at no charge to raise money for their causes. Those bottles, from 1980, 1982, and 1983 were auctioned at charity and raised nearly $1.2 million for a variety of causes such as cancer services, cystic fibrosis, leukemia and lymphoma, children’s rights, autism, military veterans, animal protection, arts foundations, and many more.
Last year Buffalo Trace released four O.F.C. bourbons to the public, including vintages from 1985, 1989 and 1990 in the spring, and a 1993 vintage in the fall.
Suggested retail pricing for this collectable and very limited 1994 O.F.C. Vintage Bourbon is $2,500. More information about the O.F.C. line can be found at https://ofcvintages.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 21 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 2nd and 3rd finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, in the “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 2020.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 500 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com
Heaven Hill Brands Closes Black Velvet Acquisition
Black Velvet, named for its velvety smooth taste, fills an important gap in Heaven Hill’s broad distilled spirits portfolio by substantially expanding sales activities in the Imported Whisky category and fits perfectly with its portfolio of high volume, quality brands like Evan Williams Bourbon, Burnett’s Vodka, Deep Eddy Vodka, Admiral Nelson’s Rums, and Christian Brothers Brandies.BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Today, Heaven Hill Brands, the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated distilled spirits supplier completed the acquisition of Black Velvet Canadian Whisky, the second-largest selling Canadian whisky in the world, and the historic Black Velvet Distilling facility in Lethbridge, Canada, from Constellation Brands Inc.
“Today we are proud to officially welcome this iconic brand and others into Heaven Hill’s historic portfolio,” said Max L. Shapira, President of Heaven Hill Brands. “The Heaven Hill family is proud to continue the culture of Black Velvet and nurture the unique heritage of this great Canadian Whisky that has built a solid foundation for growth.
Perella Weinberg Partners LP acted as exclusive financial advisor to Heaven Hill Brands with respect to the transaction. The historic Black Velvet Distilling facility is one of the eight traditional Canadian distilleries in operation. The acquisition includes all the distilling operations, aging and bottling facilities and the remaining portfolio of Canadian Whisky brands owned by Constellation, which includes Black Velvet, MacNaughton, McMasters, and the international business of the Schenley brands – Golden Wedding and OFC. Canadian Whisky made up 7.3% of total distilled spirits volume in 2018 according to Beverage Information Group, the largest segment of all total Imported Whiskey. The Canadian Whisky category is approximately 16.8 million cases, with Black Velvet volume representing almost two million cases in the U.S. in 2018.
ABOUT HEAVEN HILL BRANDS: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY -based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Deep Eddy and Burnett’s Vodkas; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul Tequila; The Christian Brothers Brandies; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur.
Explore a brand new and exclusive single cask, plus get a free Highland Park Maglite© torch emblazoned with the Highland Park logo with qualifying purchases.
Highland Park Esquire
The Whisky Shop Exclusive
To celebrate the annual Esquire Townhouse with Breitling event, Highland Park and UK media house Esquire have collaborated to create the Highland Park Esquire Single Cask. Distilled in 2003 and matured in a single first fill American oak butt for 15 years, this limited edition expression has been bottled at a natural cask strength of 60.3% abv. This unique expression, which has notes of heather honey and aromatic smoky peat, is an exclusive to The Whisky Shop, allowing those unable to attend the annual event – as well as those who loved it so much they want more – the opportunity to purchase it to enjoy at home. The release is limited to just 585 bottles.
KILKERRAN HEAVILY PEATED
BATCH 2
70cl | 60.9%
Aged in ex-bourbon and sherry
casks, Kilkerran’s second batch of
Heavily Peated single malt is here.
THE MACALLAN EDITION NO.5
70cl | 48.5%
Marked with a unique shade of
purple, this release celebrates the
natural colour of the whisky.
Photo Credit John Need
SMOKEHEAD MOTORCYCLE READY TO BE UNLEASHED
The Smoker will launch at The Bike Shed, Shoreditch on 12th November with craftsman Tyler Lunceford in attendance
Smokehead Islay Single Malt Whisky has teamed up with Tyler Lunceford over the past nine months to build a one-of-a-kind, customised Ducati, inspired by vintage motorcycles. The time has come to reveal ‘The Smoker’.
The expertly crafted motorcycle will be unveiled to media, trade and bike fanatics on 12th November in London at The Bike Shed, Shoreditch.
Hosting the evening will be bike blogger Motobob who will run a Q&A with Tyler, while custom motorcycle helmet designer Piers Dowell paints two Smokehead helmets live on the night. Bike fans will enjoy video footage of the creation of The Smoker, including the final video of the bike on the open road.
Mind-blowing cocktails made with Smokehead, Smokehead High Voltage and Smokehead Sherry Bomb will be served throughout the night, including The Smoker serve, created exclusively for the project – a robust mix of Smokehead, lemon juice, honey syrup, ginger liqueur, a pinch of activated charcoal, shaken over ice and strained into a rocks glass, garnished with crystallised ginger.
The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club is a collective who celebrate bike builders, riders and fans, and is one of the UK’s best-known venues for customised motorcycles.
US born Lunceford of North Motorcycles is a renowned global biking sensation (known as the Ducati Whisperer of the New York tri-state) with over 20 years experience customising bikes for obsessive bikers and rock stars. He owned a workshop in Brooklyn but recently relocated to Edinburgh, Scotland to raise a family, and this is where he crafted The Smoker.
Commenting on the partnership with Smokehead and the finished bike: “Smokehead’s support of unique craftsmen and women resonated with me immediately. Building a customised bike is an incredible process. And it’s a slow process. Notching, welding, grinding, every single detail needs to be accounted for. I wanted to make sure this bike was phenomenal before unleashing it.
“I wanted to make a bike for the street, something that’s comfortable, with a really vintage appeal. This isn’t a bike that’s going to be polished and put in a museum.
“Smokehead whisky is not for everyone and neither is The Smoker – it’s bold, it’s intimidating and it’s loud. It’s really loud. It attracts a certain crowd. It’s certainly not for everyone. I can’t wait for the unveiling at The Bike Shed.”
Adding his thoughts, Iain Weir, Smokehead Brand Director, said: “We’re overwhelmed with how The Smoker has turned out. Tyler has exceeded expectations and created something incredible for Smokehead. Just like our whisky, The Smoker is bold, daring, independent and most importantly, not for everyone.”
The Smokehead Refinery
The campaign shares stories of partnerships with the boldest of craftsmen and women that Smokehead is proud to rub shoulders with. Chapter 1 of the project was unleashed in 2018, a successful partnership with Dram & Smoke creating a series of ‘Smokehead Feasts’ for media and trade across the UK. Chapter 2 celebrates the collaboration with Tyler.
In late 2018, Smokehead released Sherry Bomb, a heavily peated Islay single malt that has been boldly blasted by sherry casks; following hot on the heels of Smokehead High Voltage, along with their louder and bolder look, which was unveiled in April.
*Smokehead encourages everyone to drink responsibly. Do not drink and ride, obviously*
f: www.facebook.com/smokeheadwhisky
i: www.instagram.com/smokeheadwhisky
#smokehead
NOTES:
About Smokehead:
About Ian Macleod Distillers:
Introducing Bessie Williamson
An exquisite 25 year old whisky exclusive to the global traveller
From our peat cutters, to our malt men, to our distillery team and beyond, our whisky has always been a product of the many people past and present who have worked with us to make Laphroaig as unique as it is today. Which is why we’re so proud to be able to honour one of our most memorable spirits: Bessie Williamson.
For those of you who have never heard of Bessie, she arrived on Islay in the summer of 1934 to take up a secretarial position and ended up staying for over 40 years during which time she became the first female manager of a Scotch distillery and a global ambassador for Scotch whisky. Bessie had a character as rich as our whisky and we’re delighted to have created a whisky to honour her that is every bit as delightful as she was!
Bessie Williamson is a limited edition 25YO available exclusively in global travel retail (airports around the world). It is non chill filtered with coastal notes of peat sweetness, herbs and spices, acacia honey and black pepper.
Slàinte,
John and the Laphroaig Distillery Team
GLEN GRANT 62 YEAR OLD 1956
MR GEORGE CENTENARY EDITION
70cl | 51.7%
With just 235 bottles produced,
this whisky marks the legacy
which George Urquhart left behind.
