Kentucky Distillers’ Association Welcomes Bargo 459 as Newest Craft Member

Knox County To Benefit From Hometown Family’s 

Pursuit of Bourbon Excellence 

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced Bargo 459 in Knox County is the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

Bargo 459 is led by Matthew Bargo II, his wife, Susie, and their son, Matthew Bargo III.

Perched on Kentucky Highway 3041 overlooking the new Cumberland Run harness racing track, Bargo 459 is a small craft distillery where only a limited number of barrels are finished at a time. Its address is 133 Wes David Road in Corbin, Ky.

Their whiskey is all pot-distilled straight Bourbon that has been proofed with spring water from the Cumberland Gap and finished in either sherry or port casks. “We are focused on quality, not quantity,” said founder Matthew Bargo II.

Before developing his distillery and his whiskey, the elder Bargo said he researched thousands of articles, visited numerous Kentucky distilleries and interviewed older individuals who had been involved in creating moonshine during Prohibition.

“Making Bourbon is hard work,” he said. “Making good Bourbon is really hard work. Our goal is to consistently produce exceptional Bourbon that is a symphony of aroma and color with a rich lingering taste.

“In that spirited journey, we stand honored to join this esteemed association and harness its wealth of knowledge while contributing our own innovative approach. Our alignment with the KDA signifies our commitment to upholding the highest standards in Bourbon production.”

The distillery plans to release speciality small batch and single barrel runs with a diversity of cask finishes and limited-edition releases. It also is preparing to open a tasting room to welcome visitors to experience the Bargo 459 portfolio.

Learn more at https://bargo459.com/.

“Making Bourbon is hard work. Making good Bourbon is really hard work.”

— Matthew Bargo II, Founder, Bargo459

KDA President Eric Gregory said, “Kentucky’s Bourbon legacy is full of storied history and rich traditions that have been passed down and shared across the industry, and we applaud Matt and his family for their passion and dedication to our timeless craft.

“The KDA and our 100 distillery members and partners are excited to welcome Bargo 459 to our growing family of the Commonwealth’s finest distillers and the entire Knox County community that will benefit from their investment, their great whiskey and their tourism experiences.”

Bargo 459 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. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®, KENTUCKY BOURBON AFFAIR™, KBT®, BOURBON TRAIL™ and KENTUCKY BOURBON HALL OF FAME® are trademarks/service marks owned by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association

NEW IN AT
THE WHISKY EXCHANGE

Kilchoman Batch Strength

£64.50

SHOP NOW

Just landed at The Whisky Exchange, Kilchoman Batch Strength, the Islay distillery’s latest core release which has been matured in a combination of re-charred red wine casks, oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels. Kilchoman Batch Strength was aged in a combination of re-charred red wine casks, oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels. The result is a heavy dram with notes of stewed plums, citrus oils, bonfire smoke and hints of salted caramel.

ralfy review 1024 – Port Charlotte 7yo Local Barley @50%vol:

After more than 20 years Japan’s most legendary whisky distillery is back.

The world-renowned Karuizawa distillery closed its doors in 2000 but thanks to a recent investment, and exclusive global partnership with dekantã, the legend lives on.

The Karuizawa distillery was established in 1955 at the foothills of an active volcano, Mount Asama. The location was notable for being the highest distillery in Japan at 850m above sea level. Despite being the country’s smallest whisky producer, Karuizawa had a global reputation for producing first-class malt whiskies.

Karuizawa stopped producing whisky in 2000 and has since been known as a ‘silent’ distillery. As global interest in Japanese whisky has grown in recent years, demand for stock from the closed Karuizawa distillery has increased dramatically, with bottles selling for record prices at auction houses around the world.

In 2020 a bottle of Karuizawa 52-year-old became the most valuable bottle of Japanese whisky ever sold, achieving £363,000 / $435,273 through Sotheby’s in London.

Now, some 24 years after the initial closure, Karuizawa Whisky is back, along with members of the original distilling team.

The new Karuizawa Whisky was built by Shigeru Totsuka, who hired the former Karuizawa Master Distiller, Osami Uchibori, as an advisor, who has sadly since passed away, and his apprentice, distiller Yoshiyuki Nakazato, as Master Distiller.

Unlike the old Karuizawa distillery, which was situated in the neighbouring town of Miyota, the new distillery is situated in the town of Karuizawa itself, known for its stunning year-round vistas that range from vibrant green and yellow forests in the summer months to gleaming snow covered peaks that attract skiers from around the globe in the winter.

“I strive to produce a liquid that both respects and surpasses the old Karuizawa whisky” Yoshiyuki Nakazato, Master Distiller, Karuizawa Whisky

The new distillery, built in 2022, located at the base of Mount Asama, sees water flow through volcanic lava rock that surrounds the distillery giving it a unique quality.

Totsuka and his team are more than aware of the rich legacy that comes with the distillery’s name, and they are keen to protect this with everything they have. It is for this reason that they have chosen to use only top-quality sherry casks and each of these has a minimum ageing requirement of 10 years, ensuring that when bottles of Karuizawa single malt finally hit the market, they will be of the highest standard. In keeping with the tradition of the old distillery, the smallest in Japan, Karuizawa Whisky are only filling a very limited number of casks, with a clear emphasis on quality over quantity.

dekantã, the world’s leading online retailer of fine and rare Japanese whisky, has fostered a close working relationship with the new Karuizawa Whisky to bring both the joys of their liquid and their epic story to Japanese whisky lovers across the world.

Through a global partnership dekantã have the exclusive rights to sell a limited number of single malt sherry casks from Karuizawa Whisky which are available for their loyal customers to buy, allowing them to live the dream of owning a full cask of whisky from a legendary Japanese distillery. Cask purchases come with opportunities to sample the liquid, visit the distillery, and create one’s very own independent bottling of Karuizawa single malt whisky, once the 10-year minimum ageing requirement has been met.

“It is nothing short of an honour to be entrusted with Karuizawa’s legacy and liquid.” Makiyo Masa, Founder, dekantã

What’s more, when the time finally comes, limited edition official bottle releases will be available via dekantã, while working on their very own independent bottlings of this exceptional whisky. Until then, dekantã will be keeping their customers and cask owners up to date with regular news, content, offers and updates from Karuizawa Whisky.

“Nakazato is the fundamental route for a successful Karuizawa whisky style. When I look at what they are doing here, I think they will make some very very good liquid for the new, reborn, Karuizawa.” Daniel Lam, Global Head of Wine & Whisky, Spink & Son

Karuizawa Whisky casks are available exclusively through www.dekanta.com

About dekantã

dekantã is a specialist retailer of fine and rare Japanese whisky, proud to have the world’s largest such online inventory.

dekantā’s range covers premium, rare bottles for collectors, small batch and local whiskies from Japan’s young distilleries, and entry-level releases from the most popular Japanese whisky brands.

In 2022 dekantã was named ‘Japanese Independent Bottler of the Year’ thanks to their creative and impressive whisky bottlings that showcase top quality whisky, alongside intriguing aspects of Japanese culture, allowing customers to experience the upper echelon of Japanese whisky while gaining a better understanding of the centuries of hard work that made it possible.

In recent times, dekantā has been at the forefront of the birth of the Japanese whisky cask market and has made strong relationships with several distilleries, allowing them to become leading players in the market. Japanese whisky casks were previously hard to come by, but through tireless work, dekantā is now the leading online retailer of Japanese whisky casks.

Content

Images courtesy of acclaimed Scotch whisky photographer Konrad Borkowski, his first assignment to Japan. 3-minute hero film telling the story of Karuizawa’s re-birth available to view and download here

Keeneland and Maker’s Mark® Announce New Series: “Greats of the Gate” Bottle Series Will Honor the Greatest Thoroughbreds of All Time Beginning with Man o’ War

Whiskystats Reveals Significant Price Gap Between Retail and Auction Markets

Whiskystats, a leading authority in whisky data analysis, released today a comprehensive report documenting a growing disparity between retail and auction market prices for whisky.

The report reveals that in 2023 prices at retail were 50-75% higher than at auction, making it far more economical to purchase whisky at auction than at a whisky shop.

The report, ‘Has Whisky Become a Buyer’s Market?’, provides an in-depth analysis of whisky brand performances and trends. Notable takeaways:

• The number of whisky bottles traded at auction houses (-5%) and their cumulative hammer prices (-19%) decreased in 2023.
• More than 10,000 bottles failed to meet reserve prices—36% more than in 2022.
• The auction market’s three most value-losing brands were all Japanese: Chichibu (-43%), Karuizawa (-36%), and Yamazaki (-33%).
• Ratings winners for 2023 were Glendronach and Port Charlotte. The 2023 releases for the two Scotch brands scored highest in Whiskybase data analysed by Whiskystats.
• In contrast, Ardmore and Jura saw the biggest decline in quality perception, based on public ratings.
• Craigellachie was 2023’s most-improved brand, according to change in public perception.

Whiskystats also launched a first-of-its-kind ‘collector-drinker gauge’ to compare secondary market turnover to public ratings and reviews. The gauge reveals that Macallan, Hibiki, and Yamazaki are the most collector-oriented brands, while Ledaig, Kavalan, and Glen Scotia are the most drinker-focused. 

Johannes Moosbrugger, Founder and Head of Data at Whiskystats said:

‘Data shows that the whisky market is shifting. Buyers’ willingness to purchase whisky at listed retail prices has dropped significantly. And even for whiskies that eventually sell, bottles tend to remain on shelves far longer than in the recent past.

‘What we’re seeing in the auction market data is clear: prices are no longer reaching the peak prices of the COVID era, and there are some great bottles for sale at the lowest prices in years.’

A full copy of the report is available for free download at: whiskystats.com/reports.

Note:

Whiskystats is a Whiskybase company. Whiskystats and Whiskybase are independent: the report was not funded by any distillery group, bottler, whisky-adjacent agency, or related concern.

Each month, Whiskystats collects tens of thousands of auction price observations and tracks over 1.6 million whisky retail prices. Whiskystats incorporates ratings from Whiskybase, the world’s largest whisky database of more than 239,000 unique whiskies. Thanks to this unsurpassed dataset, Whiskystats is the standard bearer for whisky market analysis for collectors, producers, and investors.

On Whiskystats, users have access to reliable bottle-level details that allow them to accurately track auction lots, view historical and current auction prices, create and track the current market value of their whisky collection(s), set whisky watchlists, schedule notifications, and view millions of whisky ratings.

Longmorn 196644 Year Old Van Wees Sherry Cask G&M

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Gordon & MacPhail

70cl / 44.3%

£3,000

The Good Dram Show – Episode 551 ‘Brave New Spirits’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at a the new whisky range from Independent bottler Brave New Spirits called Whisky Heroes. And even thought Agent Ivy does her best to knobble me I still manage to finish the show!

The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum

Episode 551 – We Could Be Heroes Just For One Day..!

Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Featuring

Brave New Spirits ‘Whisky Heroes – Adventures in the Meadow’ Secret Speyside 2007 (16 year old) 54.7%
Brave New Spirits ‘Whisky Heroes – The Awakening’ Linkwood 2010 (13 year old) 53.3%
Brave New Spirits ‘Whisky Heroes – Agent Ivy Trapped’ Blair Athol 2011 (12 year old) 55.1%
Brave New Spirits ‘Whisky Heroes – An Eerie Silence’ Miltonduff 2010 (13 year old) 53%
Brave New Spirits ‘Whisky Heroes – A Call to Submission’ Cameronbridge 2010 (14 year old) 53.3%
Brave New Spirits ‘Whisky Heroes – The Haunting Songs’ Caol Ila 2012 (12 year old) 51.6%

www.bravenewspirits.com