Whisky Of The Year For 2024 (From The Bothy)

WYOMING WHISKEY DEBUTS “MADE OF WYOMING” CAMPAIGN

77 Ventures Creative develops the first brand campaign for Edrington’s Wyoming Whiskey

KIRBY, Wyo.  [December 4, 2023] – Wyoming Whiskey captures the soul-stirring vistas of Wyoming, the state at the heart of the whiskey brand, in their most extensive campaign to date, “Made of Wyoming.” Reinforcing Wyoming Whiskey’s position as America’s premium craft bourbon, the campaign showcases Wyoming’s vast landscapes and rugged beauty, from the Bighorn Basin to the Teton Range, and highlights craftsmanship, western tradition, and the sense of adventure intrinsic to the craft distiller and its home state. 

“Made of Wyoming” was developed by Wyoming Whiskey’s longtime agency partner, 77 Ventures Creative, who collaborated with production company Boomshot on an array of mixed-media assets. Footage and imagery for the campaign come from 7 years of shooting across the state — captured at the Mead Ranch in Jackson, Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Parks, and the Wyoming Whiskey Distillery in Kirby. 

Michael Haje, President and Creative Director of 77 Ventures Creative and Boomshot founder, says of the campaign, “It’s another great creative opportunity from Wyoming Whiskey. The chance to tell its authentic brand story, show the whiskey world where we’re from, and demonstrate the impact of our very different environment on our bourbon.”  

Jack Bauer, Senior Brand Manager for Wyoming Whiskey, says of the campaign, “It’s exciting to launch our first ever brand Campaign and communicate why Wyoming Whiskey stands alone. The whiskey is a reflection of the state. Its people, landscape, and weather create one of the most unique whiskeys in the world, and we are delighted to share its story through the “Made of Wyoming” campaign.”

About Wyoming Whiskey

Wyoming Whiskey is ‘Made of Wyoming’. At its distillery in Kirby, WY, we distill the finest corn, wheat, barley, rye, and water from the Big Horn Basin to craft a spirit that carries with it the character of the region, and of the Mead family, who first came to the state as ranchers in 1890. In the past decade, Wyoming Whiskey has earned recognition for its high-quality bourbon and rye whiskeys, including its Small Batch and Outryder expressions, as well as a range of sought-after limited editions, most notably The Grand and National Parks series. To learn more, visit http://www.wyomingwhiskey.com . 

About Edrington

Edrington’s vision is to give more by crafting exceptional ultra-premium spirit brands.

The Macallan is our central focus, supported by Highland Park and The Glenrothes in the fast-growing single malt category and Naked Malt in the blended malt category. Our portfolio is completed with Brugal premium rum from the Dominican Republic, The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky, and Wyoming Whiskey and Noble Oak in the American Whiskey category. Edrington also has a strategic partnership with No.3 London Dry Gin.

Edrington is headquartered in Scotland and employs over 3,000 people in its wholly owned and joint venture companies, with over half employed outside the UK. We own our route to market in 16 countries and distribute our brands to more than 100 countries around the world through joint ventures and third-party agreements. 

Edrington Americas is headquartered in New York, NY with regional offices in Mexico City, Miami and Orange County.

Edrington’s principal shareholder is The Robertson Trust, which has donated £343 million to charitable causes since 1961. Our business is underpinned by the Edrington values of giving, respect, integrity and excellence. 

About 77 Ventures

To venture is to dare. 

77 Ventures is an independent, full-service creative company based in New York and Nashville with a mission to create powerful brand stories for partners who inspire us. 

Our approach is fearless, strategic, and dynamic, honed by years of working with the most legendary names in sports, lifestyle, and beyond.

Find out more about 77 Ventures here:

Witness Me 

Jenny Hollowell

+1 917 733 5832

jenny@witnessme.com 

Agency and Production Credits

Agency: 77 Ventures Creative 

Production Co: Boomshot
President: Michael Haje 

Managing Director: Meredith Weiss 

CD/Writer: Michael Haje

CCO: Galen Bernard 

Head of Design: Alan Leusink 

CD/ Writer: Brendan Gillen

Executive Producer: Kim Daniels 

Head of Production: Krysia Johnstone 

Director of Photography: Will Atherton 

Editor/Photographer: Connor Cassidy 

Colorist: Rob Bessette / Color Refinery 

Sound/Mix:  Rick Van Benschoten 

VO: Will Brood 

Product Photographer: Mark Loader 

Print Producer: Josette Lata 

Group Account Director: Laura Ericksen 

Assistant Account Executive / Social Media Coordinator: Eva Speaker  

Wyoming Whiskey 10 Year Old Anniversary Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $189.99 View

In celebration of their 10-year anniversary, original Master Distiller, Steve Nally, and Master Blender, Nancy Fraley, have barrel selected and batched a rich and balanced 10-year-old bourbon worthy of the milestone. 68% Corn, 20% Rye, 12% Malted Barley. Tasting notes from WW: COLOR: Deep copper to mahogany NOSE: Heady notes of Rye Manhattan cocktails with brandied cherries, mincemeat pie, Medjool dates in thick syrup, cayenne pepper-candied pecans, and baklava drizzled with orange blossom honey. PALATE: Candied yams with pecans and toasted marshmallows, black currant liqueur, sweet cornbread muffins with honey butter, and cinnamon toast with blackberry-maple syrup. MOUTHFEEL: Soft, warming alcohol, with caramelized wood sugars and a tingle of rye spice enveloping the mouth cavity. FINISH: Lingering notes of dark dried fruit mingled with warming brown baking spices.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Learn how to pair whiskey and cigars like a PRO

Our regular contributor Maggie Kimberl explains her tried-and-tested method

With so many options to choose from, picking a whiskey to drink and a cigar to smoke can be tough decisions — especially if your budget is limited. Thankfully, Whisky Magazine regular contributor and American Whiskey Magazine content editor Maggie Kimberl has a tried and tested methodology she’s been teaching for over a decade that will help you learn how to pair cigars and whiskey like a PRO!

Whether you prefer cigars from Cuba, Nicaragua or the Dominican Republic, and Scotch, Japanese, or American whiskey, this guide to pairing whiskey and cigars is for you. Instead of telling you which whiskies she thinks will work well with particular cigars, Maggie’s approach will teach you the skills you need to make the decision for yourself, to suit your taste and budget. The great thing about this methodology for pairing cigars and whiskey is that it works for Scotch, bourbon, and, well, any style of whisky you like!

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OUR FAVOURITE
SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALTS

Rich, bold and often with distinctive notes of dried fruit and spice, single malts from Speyside continue to be loved by drinkers and connoisseurs the world over. If you’re looking to expand your Speyside collection, here are our pick of some whiskies we think encapsulate this style, from a cask-strength favourite from Glenfarclas to a heavily sherried 15-year-old from Tamdhu.

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As we say goodbye to the past year and welcome a fresh start, there’s no better way to celebrate than with a glass of the finest whisky. New Year’s Eve is a time for revelry, glitter, good company and a great dram.

Whether hosting a grand soiree, spending time with friends or enjoying a quiet night in, these whiskies are the perfect companion. Our Party Collection offers a diverse range of whiskies to add extra spark to any celebration.

Click below to explore our selection and start toasting to a sparkling new year.

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The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

ralfy review 1008 Extras – Celebrating 1000 reviews with 5 bottlings.

Sotheby’s Whisky & Whiskey | Festive Spirits

and American Classics Achieves $2.3 Million
With 99% of Lots Sold

Historic and Rare Whiskey Captivates Buyers,
Representing Three Record-Breaking Lots in the Sale, Including:

A $200,000 The Glenturret Eight Decades by James Turrell 41.5 ABV

Never Before Seen at Auction

&

A $56,250 LeNell’s Red Hook Rye 23 Year Old Barrel #1 67.6 ABV

&

A $37,500 Rathskeller Rye 136 Proof 1983

Auction Marks the Highest Number of Bids Ever Placed in a Sotheby’s Spirits Sale

NEW YORK, DECEMBER 2023 – Sotheby’s auction of Whisky & Whiskey | Festive Spirits and American Classics concluded on Saturday, realizing a total of $2.3 million, with an impressive 99% of lots sold, and nearly half above their pre-sale high estimates. The sale attracted interest from bidders across 21 countries, with more than 91% of buyers choosing to purchase online.

Speaking after the sale, Jonny Fowle, Global Head of Spirits, said: “This weekend represented a great success for the market, with Sotheby’s final whiskey auction for the year in New York setting a number of new records, not least for Red Hook Rye. This sale garnered the highest number of bids ever placed on a Sotheby’s spirits auction, and contributed to a total of $9M in sales globally over the last 4 weeks alone. We look forward to building upon this result for our first ever Sotheby’s Whiskey Evening Sale on 20 January 2024.”

Saturday’s sale saw exceptional achievements from Bourbon and Rye as well as from prominent collectors in the Spirits industry. Read below for a breakdown of the record-breaking highlights…

The Glenturret Eight Decades by James Turrell 41.5 abv NV (1 BT 70cl), sold for $200,000 (est. $60,000 – $100,000)

The Glenturret, Scotland’s Oldest Working Distillery, presents Eight Decades, a collaboration with Lalique and renowned American artist James Turrell, who is famed worldwide for working with light and space to create artworks that engage viewers with the limits and wonder of human perception.

The Eight Decades decanter was created as a celebration of the artist’s 80th year and a poetic tribute to generations of craftsmanship – both The Glenturret distillery (since 1763), and Lalique’s master glassmakers (since 1888). The shape and colour of the bottle, which has a neck injected with violet crystal, created a technical difficulty for the Lalique artisans in Alsace, ensuring that the crystal be evenly distributed to offer a transparency that would magnify the amber-coloured whisky inside.

The whisky was selected by The Glenturret’s Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno using insight from his conversations with James. Drawn from eight casks, ranging from 1987 through to 1998, each represents a different facet of the eight decades of James Turrell’s life, his character and vocation.

Proceeds raised from the sale will be donated to the Roden Crater foundation.

LeNell’s Red Hook Rye 23 Year Old Barrel #1 67.6 ABV, sold for $56,250 (est. $20,000 – $30,000)

In the 2000s, LeNell Santa Ana Camacho owned a specialty liquor store in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. Ahead of her time, she reveled in American whiskey: She not only carried brands like Pappy Van Winkle in her shop, but she traveled to Kentucky to see how she could source more. On one of those trips, she met Drew Kulsveen of the Willett distillery; they got to talking, and soon the two were selecting four barrels of rye whiskey, aged between 23 and 24 years and bottled at cask strength. It was a great choice: the barrels came from a legendary run of whiskey distilled at the Bernheim Distillery, in Louisville, in the early 1980s. Other legendary whiskeys came from the same batch, like Rathskeller Rye and the Bitter Truth, but LeNell’s Red Hook Rye has emerged as the most distinctive and sought after American whiskey, perhaps of all time. To top it all off, this bottle is signed by LeNell herself.

Rathskeller Rye 136 Proof 1983 (1 BT 75cl), sold for $37,500 (est. $18,000 – $24,000)

Built by two German immigrants in an opulent European style, the Seelbach is Louisville’s grandest hotel. In its basement sits the Rathskeller, a ceramic-encrusted pub that today is used as a ballroom. In 2007 the hotel’s owners commissioned the Willett Distillery to bottle two whiskeys, a bourbon and a rye, to commemorate its rich history. The 24-year-old rye, known as Rathskeller, came from the same run of whiskey that went into bottles like Doug’s Green Ink and LeNell’s Red Hook Rye – legendary company befitting one of the country’s most desired whiskeys.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium or overhead premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and overhead premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.

About Sotheby’s

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

Join us for Jarrolds Burns Night Celebration Dinner, an evening steeped in Scottish tradition and fine dining. Our five-course menu, a symphony of traditional classics pays homage to the finest in Scottish cuisine.

As you savour each course, immerse yourself in the rich notes of whisky from local distillers, the English Distillery, as they offer a flight of whisky and guide you with their expertise through the whisky tasting. A skilled bagpiper will weave through the evening, echoing the spirit of the Scottish Highlands and delighting our guests.

A truly unforgettable evening of gastronomic delights and a wee dram discovery; all to commemorate the Scottish bard.

Tickets: £100 includes whiskey tasting and five-course menu, accompanied by Scottish entertainment.

BOOK TICKETS

About the English Distillery:

Started as a retirement project for distillery owner Andrew Nelstrop’s father, the family quickly realised that whisky making was what they wanted to do. They now produce a range of award-winning peated and unpeated whiskies at St George’s Distillery in Norfolk, leading an increasingly revitalised movement of English whisky distillers.