Distiller's Mother's Day Spirits Gift Guide 2023
This Mother's Day, select a spirited gift that displays both style and substance — just like Mom!
May 11, 2023
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10Compass Box Delos is the second limited edition release in the brand's Extinct Blends Quartet Series following Ultramarine which was released in fall 2022. The inspiration for Delos was the brand's former core whisky Asyla which was first released in 2001 and retired in 2018. However, for this blend older stocks of whisky were used. Additionally, the malt whiskies used include Glen Elgin, Imperial, and Miltonduff, all of which were aged in American oak. Delos is a Greek island and the mythical birthplace of the Greek god Apollo. While the Asyla label featured a female playing a lute, here she is playing a lyre which is the instrument typically associated with Apollo. There are 5,520 bottles of Delos available as of February 2023. (SRP $325)
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9The fourth volume in Heaven's Door The Bootleg Series, an annual collection of rare whiskeys and special blends, features an 11 year-old wheated bourbon. It is finished for almost a year in a cask seasoned with peated Scotch whisky. The bourbon is packaged in a handmade ceramic bottle featuring an oil painting by Bob Dylan titled "Lighthouse in Maine (2017), the second in his "The Beaten Path" art collection. Each bottle is individually numbered and encased in a bespoke leather journal. Available at select retailers nationwide beginning January 2023. (SRP $499.99)
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8Following an absence on the market since 2016, Benriach has returned a 16 year-old single malt to its portfolio in a new formulation. The Sixteen is a triple-cask matured whisky aging in ex-bourbon, sherry casks, and virgin oak. Bottled at 86 proof, it's available globally in select markets as of November 2022 with the US launch following in February 2023. (UK SRP £72/US SRP $115)
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7This limited edition release from Maker's Mark is the fifth and final release for its Wood Finishing Series which first began in 2019. BEP highlights the brand's Barrel Entry Proof, which at 110 proof is low for industry standards (the maximum is 125 proof). Here the finishing staves used are 10 virgin toasted American oak. This bourbon is released at cask strength which will range from 108-114 proof. Available nationwide starting April 2023. (SRP $69.99)
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6This bottling was created both as a celebration of the 2023 Chinese New Year and of the 10 generations of the Ferrand family that have passed down their knowledge of viticulture and distillation through the generations. The first main branch of Ferrands had the first name of Elie and the male descendants carried on the Elie name for 10 generations. It was Elie VIII who went to Porto in 1872 for the first (of many) times. He experimented with different cask finishes including port and this bottling is a nod to that. Beginning with 100% ugni blanc grapes, this cognac first matured in French oak casks before double maturing in port wine casks. It's bottled at 88 proof — 8 being a lucky number in China. Only 12,000 bottles of this cognac are available beginning December 2022. (SRP $64.99)
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5This limited edition bottling is a spin off of its Pineapple Stiggins’ Fancy Rum which is a pineapple-flavored dark rum. This expression gets its smoky profile from the finishing casks from Teeling Distillery. Specifically, they use Teeling Blackpitts whiskey casks — a peated Irish single malt — to finish aging the rum. While this had previously been available in other markets, it is launching in the US beginning March 2023 at select retailers. (SRP $34.99)
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4Don Julio Rosado is a reposado tequila which has been rested for 4 months in ruby port wine casks. Like the rest of the Don Julio portfolio, the ripe agaves were selected from the Los Altos region in Jalisco, Mexico. The tequila has an all-natural pink hue and is recommended to drink on the rocks or with a splash of seltzer and lemon wedge. Don Julio Rosado is a permanent addition to the brand's portfolio with availability beginning in February 2023. (SRP $125.99)
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3Cierto Tequila is a 100% additive-free tequila brand —"cierto" translates to "true" — featuring estate-grown agave from the Highlands of Jalisco. Master Distillers Enrique Fonseca and Sergio Mendoza, fourth and fifth-generation agave farmers, crafted the tequilas which were distilled at La Tequileña Distillery in the town of Tequila. Each bottling in the Private Collection portfolio is blended with aged tequilas sourced from the Fonseca private library. The Extra Añejo expression was aged primarily in French Limousin oak which formerly held wine & spirits including cognac and armagnac. Availability begins in select markets in the US in February 2023 with a wider national release throughout 2023. (SRP $279)
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2Hendrick's Flora Adora is a limited edition gin crafted by Master Distiller Lesley Gracie at the Hendrick's Gin Palace in southwest Scotland. She was inspired by garden flowers which are more enticing than others to pollinators like bees, birds, and butterflies. Availability begins March 2023. (SRP $39.99)
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1CÎROC Honey Melon is a limited edition flavored extension from the French vodka brand. Beginning with the brand's signature vodka which is made from French grapes, it is flavored with melon, honey, and other natural flavors. Available nationwide beginning April 2023. (SRP $29.99)