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Buffalo Trace 2015 Antique Collection

Buffalo Trace Distillery will release its 2015 Antique Collection in late September or early October.

The collection will once again feature five limited-release whiskeys of various ages, recipes and proofs:

George T. Stagg

The 2015 George T. Stagg weighs in at 138.2 proof this year. Past releases of this uncut and unfiltered bourbon won top awards, including twice named the number one spirit in the world by F. Paul Pacult’s The Spirit Journal. This year’s release contains bourbon from barrels filled in the spring of 2000. This batch contained 128 barrels, a similar size batch as in previous years. Unfortunately these barrels yielded very little whiskey. Some of the barrels were nearly empty, containing only 1 or 2 gallons. Storage location of these barrels varied across a number of warehouses and several floors, but 84% of the original whiskey was lost to evaporation. Finding a bottle this fall will be harder than ever. This whiskey tastes of expresso, molasses, chocolate, vanilla, and dates, the company says.

William Larue Weller

The Antique Collection’s uncut, unfiltered, wheated recipe bourbon is William Larue Weller. Previous editions of this wheater won accolades, including the Second Finest Whiskey in the World by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible2015 edition. The 2015 offering was distilled in the spring of 2003 and aged on the second and sixth floors of Warehouses I, K, and L.  This bourbon registers in at 134.6 proof – one of the stronger Weller releases. The flavors include toffee, nougat, and figs, the company says.

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye

Thomas H. Handy is the uncut and unfiltered straight rye whiskey. The 2014 edition was named “World’s Best American Whiskey” at the 2015 World Whiskies Awards. This year’s Handy was distilled in the spring of 2009; aged on the fourth and seventh floors of Warehouses I, K, and M, and weighs in at 126.9 proof.  The flavor has been described as fig, clove, and allspice.

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old

The previous edition of this bourbon was honored with a Gold Medal at the 2014 International Wine and Spirits Competition. The 2015 edition has been aging on the first, second and third floors of Warehouses Q and I. This bourbon was aged for seventeen years and tastes of oak, tobacco, and dates, according to the company.

Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old

Last year, Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old was named the third finest whiskey in the world by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2015 edition, and American Whiskey of the Year by Whisky Advocate Magazine. This 2015 straight rye whiskey release has notable flavors of molasses and allspice, with a long, dry finish, the company says. Several years ago, barrels of fully matured Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old were put into a stainless steel tank at Buffalo Trace Distillery to prevent further aging. Since then, whiskey has been drawn each year for bottling. This is the last edition of Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old from that tank. Next year’s batch will be comprised of whiskey that is currently aging in barrels filled in April 1998 and subsequent releases will contain barrels filled in 1999 and so on.

The Antique Collection was introduced more than a decade ago and has become a cult favorite among whiskey connoisseurs.

The 2015 Antique Collection whiskeys will be available in limited quantities starting in late September or early October. Suggested retail price is $80 each. For more information, visit here.

 

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Wyoming Whiskey to Appear in Season 4 of “Longmire”

Wyoming Whiskey, maker of small batch bourbon out of Kirby, Wyo. has landed a cameo role in the Netflix series “Longmire,” Season 4, which airs today, Sept. 10.

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Robert Taylor as Walt Longmire.

Based on the Walt Longmire mystery novels by best-selling author Craig Johnson, “Longmire” is a contemporary crime drama starring Australian actor Robert Taylor. Taylor plays the role of Walt Longmire, sheriff of the fictitious Absaroka County, Wyo.

After a long day protecting Absaroka, Longmire likes to sip on Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon.

A company founded and operated by 4th generation Wyoming cattle ranchers, Wyoming Whiskey uses classic bourbon distilling methods with ingredients sourced exclusively from the Big Horn Basin in central Wyoming.

postWyoming Whiskey Bottle Hi-res copyHand-selected non-GMO corn, wheat and barley are all grown locally in Kirby, Byron, Thermopolis and Riverton.  Water for the recipe is sourced from a mile-deep, limestone aquifer that has not seen the light of day in over 6,000 years.

The bourbon itself is distilled on a working cattle ranch in Kirby, Wyoming (population: 92).

In appreciation of our TV debut, Wyoming Whiskey created a limited Longmire Edition label for Longmire Days this summer. Thirty six cases were donated to Johnson, who then auctioned them off.

Johnson realized over $8,000 in proceeds which will go to a charity of his choice. Every bottle of Longmire Edition Whiskey was personally signed by each cast member during Longmire Days.  In the auction, bottle No. 1 went for $3500 with a promise of the buyer’s character being written into Johnson’s next book.

Wyoming Whiskey is now distributed in 26 states. Stay up to date on Wyoming Whiskey on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

Featured image: The Wyoming Whiskey crew at Longmire Days, including company co-founder David DeFazio (fourth in from the right in the white blazer) next to actor Robert Taylor and author Craig Johnson.

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Russell’s Reserve Whiskey Packaging Update

Russell’s Reserve has unveiled new packaging for its line of small batch bourbons and ryes.

RR 6YO RyeWhile the liquid remains the same, the new packaging embodies the family heritage and craftsmanship behind the Russell’s Reserve brand, the company says. This whiskey was conceived by father and son distilling duo Jimmy and Eddie Russell.

In order to visually convey the attributes of the liquid, Jimmy and Eddie’s story is brought front and center, branded with signatures of approval from both Master Distillers. The Russell’s name is also brought forth with a more pronounced presence, honoring a family legacy that will exist for generations to come, the company said.

Under the Russell’s Reserve brand, Jimmy and Eddie Russell have released Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon, Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Rye, and debuting later this month, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye.

Each of these expressions has new packaging that reflects the following changes:

  • Logo: The new American White Oak tree emblem with the brand name “Russell’s Reserve” through the middle is shown on the neck label of each bottle. The new logo is meant to bond the strong Russell family foundation into each bottle of whiskey.
  • Cartouche: Has been changed from “Jimmy Russell” to “Russell’s Family Reserve” to represent the Russell family tradition.
  • Label: The new label features a rustic aesthetic that’s synonymous with Russell’s Reserve craftsmanship, the company said, and is purposely made to look more prominent on the bottle to accentuate the combined years of experience that go into the brand and spirit inside the bottle.
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An Evening With Djokovic (and Jacob’s Creek)

I went to a Jacob’s Creek wine tasting and cooking demonstration at which Novak Djokovic made a special appearance. What was the tennis star doing there?

The Australian wine brand is the official wine partner of the U.S. Open Tournament and Djokovic—a three-time consecutive Australian Open winner—is the star of Jacob’s Creek’s “Made By” film series.

JCwineglassesHeld at the Astor Center in New York, the Aug. 27 event was to introduce Jacob’s Creek’s Two Lands, a recent collaboration between the Australian wine brand and noted Napa winemaker Ehren Jordan. We started off with the wine tasting portion and sampled the Two Lands pinot grigio, chardonnay, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon.

The wines, described by the brand folks as “California craft meets Australian character,” were all pretty good, but the whites really stood out—especially the pinot grigio. One of the comments pointed out that the pinot had the viscosity and “slately” feel that you can get with a riesling. The grapes were harvested a little later, due to conditions in the vineyard, which gave the wine higher acidity.

DJ lookingWe then moved on to the cooking portion, where celebrity chef Casey Thompson brought in Djokovic to assist her and share some healthy eating tips in preparation for the U.S. Open. Djokovic said that he grew up working in his family’s restaurant business.

“We are famous in Serbia for pancakes,” he said, adding that grilled meats are another specialty of the Balkan country.

Djokovic, who stopped eating wheat five years ago, said he typically eats lighter proteins, such as chicken, fish and turkey. He and Thompson whipped up some gluten-free pasta with shrimp and kale.

The #1 ranked men’s tennis player showed his softer side when putting the shrimp into the hot pan. “Poor shrimp, I don’t like seeing the eyes, honestly,” he said.

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Chivas Regal Whisky Bottle Redesign

Chivas Regal has unveiled a new design for its 12 Year Old whisky expression.

The company said that the “contemporary” design reinforces the “craftsmanship, luxury and heritage of this iconic Scotch whisky.”

The new Chivas Regal 12 Year Old bottle retains its round generous shape for which it is renowned, the company said, while its shoulders have been raised higher to “reflect the brand’s pride as one of the world’s leading Scotch whiskies.”

The brand signifier is now included as a more prominent, organic feature of the bottle, while the signatures of founders James and John Chivas have been added to the glass to “display the value of brotherhood at the heart of the brand.”

The label has evolved to present a simplified and more vibrant look, the company said.

The outer carton has been re-designed retaining the icons, and select areas have been embossed and debossed to add a texturalised element to the packaging.

The new bottle and outer pack will start appearing on shelves beginning this September.

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Jameson Collaborates with Craft Brewery on Caskmates

After Jameson lent out whiskey barrels for craft-beer aging via its Drinking Buddies program, the company is now making use of these barrels the other way.

Jameson has announced Caskmates: whiskey aged in stout beer barrels.

Irish microbrewery Franciscan Well and Jameson shared casks to create a whiskey combining the smoothness of Jameson Original with the richness of stout, the company said.

Caskmates was created by two friends: Dave Quinn, Master of Whiskey Science at Jameson Distillery, and Shane Long, Head Brewer at local Irish micro-brewery Franciscan Well.

Following the initial idea, Jameson shared its proprietary oak whiskey barrels from the Midleton Distillery with Franciscan Well, who created a “unique” Irish stout aged in Jameson barrels, the company said. Returning the gesture, the now stout-seasoned barrels were sent back to the distillery to be refilled with Jameson Original.

As a result of its time spent in the stout-seasoned barrels, Jameson Caskmates has the triple-distilled smoothness of Jameson, but now with new added notes of coffee, cocoa, and hops, the company said.

 

Jameson Caskmates, suggested retail price $29.99, is now available in select retailers and neighborhood bars nationwide.

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Heineken Buys 50% Stake in Lagunitas

Another big brewer is buying a craft beer brand.

Heineken announced Sept. 8 that it is acquiring a 50% stake in California brewery Lagunitas Brewing Co.

Terms were not disclosed, but the deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. Tony Magee, who founded Lagunitas in 1993, will continue to lead the craft beer company.

The acquisition follows Anheuser-Busch InBev recent craft beer buying spree. The Budweiser parent has snapped up Goose Island Brewing in Chicago; Blue Point Brewing in Patchogue, NY; 10 Barrel Brewing in Bend, OR; and Seattle-based Elysian Brewing in the past four years.

Lagunitas is best known for its fast-growing flagship IPA. One of the Beverage Information Group’s 2015 Fast Track Growth Brands, sales of Lagunitas IPA increased up 51.3%, reaching 4.4 million 2.25-gallon cases in 2014.

The company, which also produces A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale American Pale wheat ale style beer, is building a third brewery to keep up with demand.

“This venture will create a way for Lagunitas to let Heinelen participate in the growing craft beer category across its global distribution network in places from Tierra Del Fuego and Mongolia to the far-flung Isle of Langerhans,” said Magee in a press release. “Lagunitas will share in the best quality processes in the world and enjoy access to opportunities that took lifetimes to build.”

“This alliance with the world’s most international brewer represents a profound victory for U.S. craft,” Magee added. “It will open doors that had previously been shut and bring the U.S. craft beer vibe to communities all over the world.”

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Goose Island Acquires Virtue Cider

A major brewery has bought a successful cidery.

The Goose Island Beer Company of Chicago and Virtue Cider Company of Fennville, Michigan, announced a partnership last week in which Goose Island will become the majority shareholder in the cider company.

Virtue founders Gregory Hall and Stephen Schmakel will hold on to their creative and operational leadership roles. The cider business will utilize facilities at Goose Island’s Fulton Street brewery for production needs – including bottling and packaging.

“With the support of Goose Island, we will expand production capabilities and distribution opportunities to enable further sharing of our award winning craft ciders,” said Hall, a former Goose Island brewmaster, in a press release.

Since its inception in 2011, Virtue Cider has created a portfolio of European-style craft ciders. This includes their flagship brand Red Streak and The Mitten, one of six traditional farmhouse blends that Virtue ages in one of the largest barrel programs in North American cider, the company says.

Virtue Cider sold approximately 15,500 cases of cider in 2014, according to the company, with Red Streak accounting for 34% of total production.

“We’re excited to welcome Greg Hall back into the Goose Island family,” said Ken Stout, General Manager, Goose Island. “With our combined resources, we look forward to innovating and growing the business together.”

Goose Island was bought by Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2011.

For more information on Virtue Cider, follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

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The Beverage Information Group Redesigns its Logo, Website

We’re happy to announce the redesign of the logo and website for our magazine group, The Beverage Information Group, along with its research division, The Beverage Information & Insights Group.

The new logo, pictured above, was the result of an internal design contest held in our creative department. The website was the work of Jeremy Nedelka, Editor for both Beverage Dynamics and StateWays.

Tell us what you think — leave a comment below!

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Martell House Celebrates 300 Years of Cognac

To mark its 300th anniversary, Martell House celebrated its origins in Cognac, and in particular in the Château de Chanteloup, which was refurbished for the event.

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French singer-songwriter Louis Bertignac played at the event.

Over 2,500 winegrowers, distillers and other partners from the Cognac region in France received personal invitations to the event. Martell employees criss-crossed the Charente countryside in branded trucks to hand-deliver the invitations.

“This is a very special year for Martell, which is celebrating three centuries of cognac-making and close bonds with the people of Cognac,” said César Giron, Chairman and CEO of Martell House, in a press release. “We wanted to invite all the local partners with whom we have nurtured a truly remarkable partnership for nearly ten generations.”

Guests were treated to a surprise at the start of the evening when two fighter jets roared across the Cognac sky, followed by three planes from the “Cartouche Doré,” a squadron of seasoned flight instructors from the French air force flight academy in Cognac.

The squadron is considered the “little brother” of the Patrouille de France aerobatics team, which put on a demonstration for guests during the May 20 event in Versailles. Two Cap Ten aerobatic planes then wrote out the number “300” in white smoke before dropping three parachutists – carrying flags marked with Martell colours – who joined the guests and presented César Giron and Alexandre Ricard with bottles of the limited edition cognac given to guests as a gift.

This 40-minute airshow was crowned by a fireworks display.

In an decor reminding of Versailles, the company said, guests had the chance to enjoy cocktails created especially for Martell’s 300th anniversary by Thierry Hernandez (head barman at the famous Plaza Athenée).

The 3,200 guests shared a custom-crafted culinary experience developed in collaboration with the Château de Chanteloup’s chefs Eric Danger and Pascal Nebout. The menu featured specialties from the region, with emphasis on local seasonal products, as well as contemporary takes on recipes dating from 1715.

The night’s concert was punctuated, the company said, by the arrival of French singer-songwriter Louis Bertignac (a founding member of the group Telephone), a friend of the House.

Each guest received an exclusive limited edition cognac, a blend of fifteen eaux-de-vie from the five main crus, spanning the last three centuries.

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