For this first full week of October we’ve got whiskey, whiskey, and more whiskey news for you. To begin, Teeling Blackpitts is a peated Irish single malt that’s sure to raise some interest. Sadly, we in the US will have to wait until January 2021 to get our hands on a bottle. In the meantime, we do have some US exclusives to tide us over until then including a new line of whiskies from Cascade Hollow. The Tennessee whisky distillery is launching Cascade Moon Edition No. 1 this month.
And speaking of American whiskey, there is a new independent bottler debuting its first release this month as well. Lost Lantern American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1 features single malt whiskeys from six American distilleries—the name of each is prominently displayed on the label.
And finally, for the whiskey collectors out there, the 2020 Van Winkle whiskey collection is due to arrive at retailers, bars and restaurants in November. As per usual, the supply is extremely limited. We’ve got all the details on these bottles along with more new whiskey releases in Distiller’s Friday Roundup for October 9, 2020!
Teeling Blackpitts Announced This Week
Teeling Blackpitts is the first Dublin-distilled peated single malt and just the second release for Teeling distilled at the brand’s new distillery. The name refers to the Blackpitts area just behind the distillery which was once used for malting, among other industries. The single malt is triple distilled and matured in ex-bourbon and ex-Sauternes white wine barrels. It is bottled without chill-filtration at 46% ABV.
Availability for Teeling Blackpitts Peated Single Malt begins in Ireland and at the distillery as of October 2020 and the US in January 2021. It has an SRP of $$74.99.
Teeling Blackpitts /Photo Credit: Teeling
Van Winkle Annual Release Arriving Soon
The annual Van Winkle line of bourbon and rye whiskeys is arriving in November. And although the amount of the 10, 12 and 15-year-old bourbons will be the same as previous years, there will be fewer 20 and 23-year-old bottles available. Conversely, there will be more 13-year-old rye than in years past, so there’s at least some good news to share on that front. Of course, few bottles make it overseas, so you’ll have to be in the US to have the best shot of acquiring a bottle or a pour.
These are the suggested retail prices for each whiskey.
$69.99 – Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 Year
$79.99 – Old Rip Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12 Year
$119.99 – Old Rip Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year
$119.99 – Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15 Year
$199.99 – Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20 Year
$299.99 – Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23 Year
Of course, your chances of finding any of these bottles at the suggested retail price are nil. This message from Kris Comstock, senior marketing director at Buffalo Trace Distillery is for both the buyers and sellers of Van Winkle whiskeys:
“Trading and selling bourbon online is an unlicensed and illegal sale. If you are not a licensed retailer selling Van Winkle products, we are prepared to take action to curtail the activity. Additionally, if you are a customer trying to buy a bottle at a licensed retailer who has marked it up above MSRP, we encourage you to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or contact your state Attorneys General office.”
Consider yourselves informed. Happy hunting!
Van Winkle Whiskeys /Photo Credit: Van Winkle
Cascade Hollow Launches New Whisky Series
This week Cascade Hollow Distilling Co, makers of George Dickel Tennessee Whisky, announced a new line of limited edition whiskies. Named Cascade Moon, the series aims to pay homage to the distillery’s history. General Manager and Distiller Nicole Austin crafted this first edition which was inspired by the taste and aroma of a gose-style beer. Expect future whiskies in this series to have varied flavor profiles. Edition No. 1 is aged for 11 years and bottled at 42 proof.
“Over the past few years, I’ve loved blending for George Dickel Tennessee Whisky, creating innovations that respect the heritage and history of Tennessee Whisky,” said Austin. “In that process, I’ve found some incredible whiskies we’ve produced at Cascade Hollow that wouldn’t necessarily fit within the George Dickel portfolio. With the release of Cascade Moon, I’m excited to have found a way to showcase these amazing whiskies and be able to showcase our depth as a distillery, outside of George Dickel and the traditional Tennessee Whisky category.”
The SRP for Cascade Moon Edition No. 1 is $89.99. Its availability is limited to Tennessee, California and Texas with an October 2020 release date. We can expect a second release from the series coming later this fall.
Cascade Moon Edition No. 1 /Photo Credit: Cascade Hollow Distilling
American Independent Bottler Lost Lantern Debuts Its First Release
Lost Lantern is an independent bottler of American whiskeys founded in 2018. The bottler’s first release is a blend of single malts from six American distilleries—Balcones (Texas), Copperworks (Washington), Santa Fe Spirits (New Mexico), Triple Eight (Massachusetts), Westward (Oregon) and Virginia Distillery Co. (Virginia)—where the whiskey was blended, proofed and bottled. The age of the single malts ranges from 2-7 years and all were aged in various barrels including new and used American oak, re-toasted wine casks and oloroso sherry casks, among others.
Only 3,000 bottles of Lost Lantern American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1 were produced. It is available online through the Lost Lantern website as well as Seelbach’s beginning October 15, 2020. Its SRP is $120.
Lost Lantern American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1 /Photo Credit: Lost Lantern
Stranahan’s Adds New Addition to Portfolio
Stranahan’s Blue Peak is named after a 13,000 foot peak in Aspen, Colorado. The Colorado single malt is first aged for 4 years in 53-gallon new, charred American oak (char #3) in the high altitude of the brand’s Denver warehouses. Then the whiskey is further aged in foeders (large oak barrels) which are made from new American oak. Here the whiskey mingles with other single malt whiskey for several months before a portion is removed. The foeders are never emptied, creating a solera system.
This is a permanent addition to the portfolio and is available as of October 2020 for $42.99.
Stranahan’s Blue Peak /Photo Credit: Stranahan’s
The Balvenie Releases Batch 7 in the Tun 1509 Series
The Balvenie Tun 1509 is a limited edition series which features single malts selected and blended by Malt Master David Stewart. These whiskies are then allowed to mature further in the distillery’s Warehouse 24 in a large vat dubbed Tun 1509. For Batch 7, Steward married 21 “rare and precious casks” for 3 months in the Tun. These casks held single malt which matured in three different barrel types: refill sherry hogsheads, ex-bourbon American oak and Doublewood refill sherry butts (used to finish Doublewood and then refilled with new make and aged).
This is bottled at 52.4% ABV without chill filtration. It is available in the US as of October 2020 with a SRP of $409.99.
The Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 7 /Photo Credit: The Balvenie
TIDBITS FROM AROUND THE SPIRITS WORLD
Time to take a quick look at what else is going on around the world this week…
Bowmore 30 Year (2020 Release)
Announced in October 2020, Bowmore 30 Year is expected to be an annual release from the Islay-based distillery. For the 2020 release, the single malt was distilled in 1989. It matured for 30 years in sherry hogsheads and bourbon barrels. It is bottled at a cask strength of 45.3% ABV and available in the US, UK, Europe and a variety of other markets for $2,500.
Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition
Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition begins with standard Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon as its base. Master Distiller Chris Morris sourced French oak ex-cognac XO barrels to finish the maturation process. The spirit spent 3 years in these cognac barrels before bottling at 90.4 proof. The crystal decanter the bourbon is housed in was crafted by luxury French crystal company Baccarat which was founded in 1764.
Limited availability begins in October 2020. It has an SRP of $2000.
Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition /Photo Credit: Woodford Reserve
Russell’s Reserve 2003
Russell’s Reserve 2003 is the third vintage release for this series which represents single barrels selected by Master Distiller Eddie Russell. The bourbon barrels were aged a minimum of 16 years inside the distillery’s Tyrone warehouses. Notably, this release marks the last of the Russell’s Reserve 107 barrel entry proof whiskey. Approximately 3,600 bottles were created for the 2003 edition which is bottled at a barrel strength of 89.5 proof. It is available in the US as of October 2020 with an SRP of $250.
Angel’s Envy Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels (2020 Edition)
This Cask Strength release from Angel’s Envy is part of a limited edition series which first began back in 2012. The barrels are hand-selected and blended, then the spirit finishes its maturation in port wine casks. The 2020 release is bottled at 60.2% ABV and just 17,400 bottles were produced. The 2020 Edition marks the ninth edition of the cask strength bourbon and the first time it’s available in all 50 states. Released November 2020, it has an SRP of $199.99.
Barrell Armida
Barrell Armida is a whiskey release from Louisville-based blender and bottler Barrell Craft Spirits. It’s a blend of three straight bourbons distilled in Tennessee which were finished separately in former pear brandy, Jamaican rum and Sicilian amaro casks. Armida is bottled at a cask strength of 112.10 proof and just 3,700 bottles were produced. It is available as of October 2020 at select retailers in the US with an SRP of $89.99.
Barrell Armida /Photo Credit: Barrell Craft Spirits
Penelope Four Grain Bourbon Rosé Cask Finish
This limited edition release from the bourbon brand begins as a straight four-grain bourbon like its other standard releases. The bourbon then finishes maturation in French rosé wine barrels before bottling at 94 proof. This is available as of October 2020 for $65.
Looking forward to Teeling Blackpitts?
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