The original Distiller’s Masterpiece was an extra aged (AKA no age statement) bourbon finished in PX sherry casks. Information about the second release is limited at this point but it appears the second release will be identical to the first at 100 proof. I’d also expect a price tag that’s north of $200.
Using his well-known moniker “The Duke”, Monument Valley Distillers of California has released DUKE Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Hand-crafted to match a bottle of Wayne’s favorite bourbon from the early 60’s in his private collection, various small batches were meticulously blended to create the flavors and aromas preferred by the Duke, then aged in heavily charred American oak barrels.
Recently, Non Distiller Producers (NDP’s) have received a lot of attention for their shady bottle labels and lack of transparency. Instead of focusing on which distilleries/brands are doing it wrong I thought it’d be great to highlight some of the distilleries that are doing things right. This will be the first in a series I’m titling “Whiskey the Right Way”
Heaven Hill announced that they will continue their release of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof in to 2015. No word from Heaven Hill on what the proof will be for the September or January release (release #6 & #7).
This is the fourth distillery breakdown by mash bill (see Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill and Jim Beam) I’ve done on the Bourbonr Blog. Initially, I thought Four Roses would be a simple breakdown. Four Roses has only 2 mash bills whereas, most distilleries have 2-5 bourbon mash bills plus a rye whiskey mash bill. The difficult (and interesting) part of Four Roses is while they only have 2 mash bills they incorporate 5 proprietary strands of yeast to create a total of 10 unique recipes.
Several weeks ago I wrote about What Will Kill the Bourbon Boom on the blog which sparked a lot of great bourbon discussion. In the article I mentioned how the increase in premium bourbons over the last 10 years has affected the bourbon industry. However, one unintended consequence of a growing premium market is the blatant disregard for great bourbon that is already on the shelf. Bourbonr’s (myself included) spend so much time hunting down the Four Roses Limited editions we stop buying the regular Four Roses Small batch or Single Barrel. We spend so much money on Pappy and Stagg there’s no more room in our bourbon budget for Evan Williams Single Barrel or Elijah Craig 12 year. The last 10 bottles I’ve purchased have either been limited edition, dusty or private barrel selections. Basically, the only time I reach for a “regular” bottle at the store is when I know I have friends coming over that I don’t want to share good bottles with.
Every fall some of the best best bourbons are released to Bourbonr’s across the country and globe. Problem is there’s never enough to go around. The past few falls have been welcomed with lots of phone calls and long lines at liquor stores but that’s what makes the bourbon hunt more exciting.
There’s no doubt bourbon is in the middle of a boom. Some may even call it a bubble. Demand is at an all-time high. Every major publication, including the cover of Fortune, has covered the bourbon industry and not just the Pappy Van Winkle craze. Distilleries are screaming shortage while the consumer still wants more. In the past five years whiskey sales have increased by 40% in the United States and exports have nearly tripled within the last 10 years. Growth numbers like the Bourbon industry has seen in recent years are usually reserved for the technology sector or other more agile sectors. Not an industry that has remained virtually unchanged since prohibition. Shoot, the whiskey industry had been in a steady decline for the last 30 years prior to 2002.
This is the third installment of grouping distilleries by mashbill (See Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill). You were probably first introduced to Jim Beam white or green label while taking shots from red solo cups in college however Jim Beam distillery is so much more than that. Jim Beam produces some great bourbons and a few on this list that you didn’t realize were made by Jim Beam.
Unlike other distilleries, Maker’s Mark has not strayed in to the world of special releases or experimentation. The majority of Maker’s Mark special releases are simply special edition bottles. In fact, they hadn’t released a new product in about 50 years prior to the “46” release which is why I was intrigued when Maker’s Mark released Maker’s Mark 46 a few years ago.
So, what makes “46” different. Maker’s Mark adds seared French oak staves into the traditional charred white oak barrel toward the end of its aging. The French oak and additional char add complexity and flavor to an already good bourbon.