New Expert Spirit Reviews - March 13, 2024 - Heaven's Door Exploration Series #1, The Glenlivet Rum & Bourbon Fusion Cask, Papa's Pilar Legacy Edition 2023, and More!
Check out the latest spirits reviewed by our Tasting Table experts! Photo Credit: Papa's Pilar Rum
Mar 13, 2024
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12This is the first release in the Exploration Series, an expected bi-annual limited edition release from Heaven's Door. Here, a blend of Tennessee straight bourbons aged at least 5 years receive a finishing in freshly-dumped Calvados casks and new, medium-heavy French oak toasted oak staves. Bottled at 108 proof, it's available nationwide beginning February 2024. (SRP $79.99)
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11This is the first release for The Glenlivet's Fusion Cask Selection series. Beginning with single malt which had been aged in American and European oak casks, the whisky was "selectively finished" in bespoke casks crafted from dismantled rum & bourbon barrels. It launches in the US in February 2024 as the brand begins its bicentennial celebrations. (SRP $99.99)
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10Introduced to the US to coincide with the 130th anniversary of the Speyside whisky brand, Longmorn has released two new single malt whiskies to its portfolio — this 22 year-old and an 18 year-old. Both were aged primarily in American oak and both were bottled at cask strength without chill-filtration. With the introduction of these two whiskies, Longmorn has committed to release single malt whiskies aged at least 18 years. Available beginning February 2024. (SRP $439.99)
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9Introduced to the US to coincide with the 130th anniversary of the Speyside whisky brand, Longmorn has released two new single malt whiskies to its portfolio — this 18 year-old and a 22 year-old. Both were aged primarily in American oak and both were bottled at cask strength without chill-filtration. With the introduction of these two whiskies, Longmorn has committed to release single malt whiskies aged at least 18 years. Available beginning February 2024. (SRP $279.99)
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8The second edition of Solum was made much like the 1st edition, but this American single malt whiskey was matured for a year longer. The peat used here was harvested approx. 2 hours south of Seattle and was harvested in a sustainable manner to ensure the health of the bog for future harvests. Using 100% Skagit Valley Malting peated malted barley (8-12 ppm) in the distillation process, it was then aged in the following cask types: Cooper's Reserve new American oak, Cooper's Select new American oak, and first-fill bourbon barrels. Just 5,212 bottles are available globally with a launch in February 2023. (SRP $149.99/700ml)
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7Colorado's Laws Whiskey House highlights its unique locale in every aspect of its production, from high-altitude maturation, to the use of mountain spring water, and an emphasis on Colorado grain and heirloom varietals. The Bottled in Bond San Luis Valley Rye is distilled with grain grown by the Cody family of Colorado Malting Company at an elevation of 7,500 feet. It's a marriage of 95% heirloom San Luis Valley Rye / 5% heirloom barley barrels and 100% San Luis Valley Rye barrels that's aged for a minimum of seven years in full-size, new charred oak casks.
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6This añejo tequila is the second Barrel Select release made in collaboration with Widow Jane Distillery. Its creation begins with single estate agave harvested from Rancho El Nacimiento, one of many fields owned and operated by the family of Tequila Ocho co-founder Carlos Camarena in Jalisco. The additive-free tequila is made with traditional production processes including brick ovens and wooden fermenters. Then recently dumped Widow Jane Bourbon barrels were used for its maturation. The tequila was aged for 12 months and then bottled at 96 proof. Only 1,300 cases were produced. Available in select US markets beginning February 2024. (SRP $90)
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5ENTREMANOS is an additive-free tequila made with 100% blue Weber agave aged between 5-7 years before harvest. The bottle, cork, and twine were all made from recycled materials. This blanco tequila was bottled without aging. ENTREMANOS was announced in December 2023 with an expected availability in the US in early 2024. (SRP $69.99 online and $59.99 via retailers)
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4Fumée Volcanique (volcanic smoke) is one of three expressions for the brand's Atelier Range, each one highlighting the terroir of Rhum J.M through cask manipulation utilizing their on-site cooperage. Crafted by Master Blender Karine Lassalle, Fumée Volcanique is a rhum agricole which was aged for 12-14 months in bourbon barrels with extreme char treatment. Available in select markets and nationwide via the brand's website beginning February 2024. (SRP $39.99)
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3Épices Créoles (creole spice) is one of three expressions for the brand's Atelier Range, each one highlighting the terroir of Rhum J.M through cask manipulation utilizing their on-site cooperage. Crafted by Master Blender Karine Lassalle, Épices Créoles is a rhum agricole which was aged for a minimum of 3 years in French and American oak barrels with varying sizes and char levels. Available in select markets and nationwide via the brand's website beginning February 2024. (SRP $39.99)
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2Jardin Fruité (fruit garden) is one of three expressions for the brand's Atelier Range, each one highlighting the terroir of Rhum J.M through cask manipulation utilizing their on-site cooperage. Crafted by Master Blender Karine Lassalle, Jardin Fruité is a rhum agricole which was aged for 24 months in French and American oak barrels with various char types. Available in select markets and nationwide via the brand's website beginning February 2024. (SRP $39.99)
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1This is the 2023 edition of the brand's Legacy Series, and this one honors famed surfer Greg Noll. It is composed of rums from the Caribbean and South America that were blended in a combination of ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks. Then the rum had an additional finish in once-used French Limousin oak apple brandy casks. Additionally, a small amount of the rum was finished in apricot and orange bitters casks. Just 3,000 bottles are available beginning February 28, 2024 online and in-store in California, Hawaii, Florida, New Jersey, South Carolina and Texas. (SRP $109.99)