New Booze News: Wild Turkey Longbranch, Prometheus 28, Smokehead and More!

This week was chock-full of releases from almost every category of distilled spirits. First, Matthew McConaughey made a big announcement for Wild Turkey. Prometheus continued to keep us guessing with its third installment of whisky from an undisclosed distillery. Plus, Ian Macleod added an even peatier selection to its Smokehead line.

Beyond whiskey, Sullivans Cove announced its first brandy launch (and it’s a two-fer). Bacardí announced its plans to make the premium rum market more accessible, and Tanqueray looked to the past with a recipe from the 1800s. Find the details to these bottles and more in the booze news for the week of April 9, 2018!

Wild Turkey Longbranch

Announced in a livestream by Wild Turkey creative director Matthew McConaughey, Longbranch was made in collaboration with master distiller Eddie Russell.

“I found a story in [the Russell’s] story and in their legacy. An iconic family who’s mastered an iconic American invention we call bourbon,” says McConaughey. During the creating process, he tried over 40 whiskey samples, with a variety of flavor profiles and ages. He knew he had found “the one” after sipping it and not wanting to add ice or water. Aged for 8 years, Longbranch is refined with Texas mesquite and oak charcoals.

“We all have a family tree and the longest branches of our trees sometimes reach across to those friends in our lives and bring them in and make them family,” says McConaughey on why he chose to name his, “new favorite whiskey,” Longbranch.

Available in the US starting May 2018. Suggested retail price $39.99 USD.

Wild Turkey Longbranch / Photo Credit: Wild Turkey

Prometheus 28 Year

Prometheus was named after the rebel of ancient Greek mythology who captured a flame from the hearth of Mount Olympus and carried it back to man. This single malt was created to marry the rich complexity of the Highlands with the intensity of peat smoke from the Islands.

The third release from Glasgow Distillery Company’s range of single malts, Prometheus 28 Year is from an undisclosed Speyside distillery. What has been disclosed is that the whisky is peated and aged in Sherry casks. Just 888 bottles have been released.  “Only a limited number of barrels are available of this very special spirit, and once it’s gone, it’s gone,” says Glasgow Distillery’s CEO and co-founder Liam Hughes.

Available to purchase now from Glasgow Distillery. Suggested retail price $990 USD.

Prometheus 28 Year / Photo Credit: Glasgow Distillery Company

Smokehead High Voltage

Smokehead, known for its original peat-forward offering, has upped the ante with Smokehead High Voltage.

“If Smokehead is an assault on your senses, then High Voltage is an all-out attack,” says Smokehead brand director Ian Weir. “Louder, bolder and more intense than getting put in a headlock from an angry roadie.”

This peated single malt from Ian Macleod Distillers is sourced from an unnamed distillery on Islay. A no-age-statement release, it is bottled at 58.0% ABV.

Available in specialist shops worldwide starting spring 2018. Suggested retail price £54.99 ($78 USD).

Smokehead High Voltage / Photo Credit: Ian Macleod

Sullivans Cove XO Single Cask

Until now, Sullivans Cove Distillery has released whisky, vodka and gin, but never a brandy. Sullivans Cove XO Single Cask is the first of two brandies which were made in collaboration with the Tasmanian wine industry in Australia. Made with wines from the Huon Valley region, it is a blend of Tasmanian Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay.

“After years of distilling whisky, the opportunity to work with quality Tasmanian wine was really exciting for us,” says head distiller Patrick Maguire. “We’ve waited a long time to see the results, and we couldn’t be happier with the quality and complexity of these brandies.”

This release was matured in 300L American oak ex-tawny barrel for nine years and is non-chill filtered.

Release TBA. Suggested retail price A$280.00 ($214.50 USD).

Sullivans Cove XO Single Cask / Photo Credit: Sullivans Cove

Bacardí Añejo Cuatro

With Añejo Cuatro, Bacardí aims to provide consumers with an accessible entry point into premium rum. This release will be joined by a 10-year-old expression later this year.

This gold rum was barrel-aged for a minimum of four years under the Caribbean sun, which allows for a faster maturation. It is bottled at 40% ABV.

Launching soon at Asda stores in Europe, with worldwide release expected at a later date. Suggested retail price £25 ($35 USD).

Bacardí Añejo Cuatro / Photo Credit: Bacardí

Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla

Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla was inspired by an original recipe from Charles Tanqueray. In the 1860s, Charles traveled to the groves of southern Spain, where Seville oranges are grown. Following his travels, he was inspired to craft this gin recipe, which has been re-imagined in the modern day.

Made with bittersweet Seville oranges and orange blossom, it is bottled at 41.3% ABV. It comes in the Tanqueray bottle, which was inspired by a three-part cocktail shaker.

First launching in the UK and Spain in April 2018, availability will be expanded to Canada and global travel retail channels in May. Suggested retail price £25 ($35 USD).

Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla / Photo Credit: Tanqueray

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