Whiskey What’s New?

New whiskey expressions, extensions and innovations keep coming about as fast as you can roll a barrel down a hill. Fortunately, many of the new products have distinctive backgrounds and/or composition, which in turn provide short and sweet selling points.

Woodford Reserve: Return of The Malt

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt, a grain-whiskey based on historical recipes, sold out within two months after originally hitting test market shelves in June 2018. The Malt is now becoming a permanent extension to the Woodford Reserve portfolio, smack on the heels of another new permanent addition, Woodford Reserve Wheat, released earlier this year. Created by Master Distiller Chris Morris, the Malt’s grain bill is 51% malt, resulting in a whiskey that complements the nutty characteristics found in the original Woodford Reserve. 90.4 proof; SRP $34.99.

Who Needs Pumpkin Spice? Not JACK DANIEL’S…

Apple, the “OG” fall fruit, gets a fresh spirited take via Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple. The new release blends Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and apple liqueur to deliver a new “Jack Apple” experience. Master Distiller Jeff Arnett says, “It’s like a freshly picked apple in a glass of Jack.” 70 proof; $26.99. Also available in 50 ml, 375 ml, 750 ml and 1L.

FUTURISTS, TAKE NOTE: Glyph Has Landed

Futurists, take note: Glyph is a reverse-engineered whiskey, based on the idea that flavor begins at a molecular level and can be replicated scientifically. Conventional distillation puts grains through a series of chemical and physical changes; Glyph’s building blocks are grains, plant-based extracts and yeast (all natural), added to a neutral base alcohol. From a molecular point of view, Glyph and whiskey are biochemically equivalent; the process that creates them is different. Endless West, makers of Glyph, draw an analogy to ice from a frozen pond compared to ice cubes from an ice maker in a freezer. Note: a small amount of whiskey is added so that Glyph can be called “spirit whiskey with natural flavors.” 86 proof; $39.99.

HATOZAKI BLENDS THE BLEND

Hatozaki whiskies are the result of a two-fold blending process. First, the Master Blender selects the spirits to make up two foundation blends. Then, he takes a portion of each of these whiskies (a different portion each time) and re-casks them together with other individual whiskies that provide additional florality, depth and finesse to the final blend. After this final marrying period, the whisky is bottled. Hatozaki Finest Japanese Whisky is 80 proof, $39. Hatozaki Small Batch Japanese Whisky is 92 proof, $59.

Laphroaig ‘Cairdeas’ Brings Triple Wood + Cask Strength

The annual Cairdeas release from Laphroaig is always greatly anticipated. This year’s limited release, Triple Wood Cask Strength, was first matured in ex-bourbon barrels, then saturated with flavor in smaller quarter casks, and finally finished in European oak casks that previously housed Olososo Sherry, giving the expression a sweet and smooth finish. Bottled at cask strength to create a punchy dram with Laphroaig’s signature richness of flavor and smoky taste. 119 proof; $79.99.

Make Room on Top Shelf for ‘Exceptional Cask’

Bacardi Limited is bringing its Exceptional Cask Series stateside. The exceedingly rare releases include some of the finest aged single malts from Aberfeldy and Craigellachie distilleries, each hand-selected by Malt Master Stephanie Mcleod for its remarkable qualities (and every bottle bears her signature). The Exceptional Cask Series consists of single cask and double cask bottlings; the provenance of each liquid is detailed on the labels of the numbered bottles. Extremely limited; proofs and prices vary. Aberfeldy 18YO & 19YO: $199.99; 24YO: $299.99.

Highland Park Tattoos Their Latest Collectible    

Highland Park is launching a new 16-year-old, limited edition. Rich and full-bodied, Twisted Tattoo was made with a combination of Spanish Rioja-seasoned casks and first-fill bourbon casks—a first for the distillery. The packaging reasserts the brand’s “Viking soul.” Danish tattoo artist Colin Dale’s design is inspired by the Nordic knotwork found on Viking wood carvings and reflects the legend of the Midgard serpent, which grew so large it twisted round the Earth to grasp its tail in its mouth. 93.4 proof; $100.

Syndicate 58/6 gets the Solera Treatment

In 1958 a very rare blend of Scotch malt and grain whiskies was discovered in 10 oak casks in Edinburgh in a warehouse owned by bottler William Muir Bond 9 Ltd. Originally distilled and blended in 1954, its recipe dates to the 1800s. In 1966 a small quantity of the blend, which was then 12 years old, was bottled for the Directors of William Muir Bond 9 and friends. Those six individuals were instrumental in perpetuating the blend, which came to be called Syndicate 58/6. Based on 18 single malts and four single grain whiskies, the blend has been replenished over the years via a solera system, thus the current bottlings still contain small quantities of the original 1958 liquid. 86 proof; $64.99.

Kentucky Peerless Bourbon is Back…after a century

After two sold-out releases at the Louisville distillery over the summer, Kentucky Peerless has begun the national launch of their first bourbon in 102 years. The distiller uses a sweet mash instead of sour and non-chilled filtration; then they barrel at 107 proof and bottle it at barrel strength. The final character is rooted in fruits, florals and oaks. Starting in NY, FL, TX, CA, IL, GA, KY; 45 states by 2020. 108.9 proof; $69.99.

Knob Creek Rolls out the ‘Quarter Oak’

A leader in small batch bourbon for more than 25 years, Knob Creek is releasing “Quarter Oak,” exploring the influence of oak on its flagship. Knob Creek Quarter Oak takes the brand’s Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, crafted in the pre-Prohibition style first embraced by founding distiller Booker Noe, and finishes it for a minimum of four years in quarter-cask, American oak barrels to amplify the of contact between the whiskey and wood. A small amount of this unique, secondarily finished whiskey—which delivers richer notes of oak—is then mingled with more straight bourbon to create the final product that boasts a balance of oak influence and traditional, sweeter notes. 100 proof; $49.99.

Booker’s Serves Up ‘Country Ham’ Bourbon

The third Booker’s Batch of the year offers a fanciful twist. Booker’s Bourbon 2019-03 “Country Ham” honors Booker’s love for the art of curing and tasting country hams, a family tradition that nearly rivaled his love of bourbon and one that was past down from his grandfather, Jim Beam. Like all of Booker’s Batches, Country Ham is bottled at its natural proof; best enjoyed neat, over ice or with a few drops of water. 124.7 proof; $79.99.

Maker’s Mark ‘RC6’ Goes NationWide  

While extremely limited, Maker’s Mark is making Stave Profile RC6, the 2019 edition of their Wood Finishing Series, available nationally. The goal was to create a version that amplified the ripe fruit notes already found in the distillery’s proprietary yeast, balancing sweetness and spice. Fully matured, cask strength Maker’s Mark was finished in a second barrel with 10 proprietary “RC6” wood staves. The staves are made from American Oak that has first been “seasoned” outdoors for 18 months before being toasted in a convection oven. 108.2 proof, $59.99.

Four Bourbons Make One in latest Little Book

Freddie Noe, eighth generation Beam distiller, is releasing “The Road Home,” the third chapter in his acclaimed Little Book Whiskey series. It is a one-of-a-kind blend of four different uncut and unfiltered aged bourbon liquid streams, representing each of the original Small Batch Bourbon Collection brands in honor of Freddie’s granddad, Booker Noe. The blend comprises: 9YO Knob Creek, 9YO Basil Hayden’s, 11YO Booker’s and 12YO Baker’s. Vanilla, wood and caramel notes contributed by the Knob Creek and Booker’s bourbons are balanced out by the spiciness known to the Basil Hayden’s and the Baker’s lingering, warm, sweet finish. 122.6 proof; $124.99.

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