New Spirit Releases - May 12, 2023

This is the second cask strength release of Redwood Empire's Pipe Dream, one of three whiskeys of the brand's core portfolio. Pipe Dream is its blended bourbon offering and here four different grains make up its recipe — 74% corn, 20% raw rye, 4.5% malt barley and 1.5% wheat. The bourbons featured here were aged in 53-gallon, char #3 barrels for a minimum of four years and up to 14 years. Since they were aged in the California fog belt, the cask strength proof of 116.8 is lower than many other such offerings of similar makeup. Cask Strength Pipe Dream is available at select retailers nationwide as of May 2023. (SRP $70)

This is the second cask strength release of Redwood Empire's Emerald Giant, one of three core whiskeys in the brand's portfolio. Emerald Giant is a blended straight rye offering and here three different grains make up its recipe — 94% rye, 5% malted barley and 1% wheat. The ryes featured here were aged in 53-gallon, char #3 barrels for a minimum of four years and up to 7 years. Since they were aged in the California fog belt, the cask strength proof of 116.4 is lower than many other such offerings of similar makeup. Cask Strength Emerald Giant is available at select retailers nationwide as of May 2023. (SRP $70)

This is the second cask strength release for Redwood Empire's Lost Monarch whiskey. Lost Monarch is the brand's "ryebon" offering — a blend of straight rye and straight bourbon whiskeys. The rye whiskeys have a recipe of 94% rye, 5% malted barley, 1% wheat and the bourbon is 74% corn, 20% rye, 4.5% malted barley, 1.5% wheat. The whiskeys featured here were aged in 53-gallon, char #3 barrels for a minimum of three years and up to 14 years. Since they were aged in the California fog belt, the cask strength proof of 117.2 is lower than many other such offerings of similar makeup. Cask Strength Lost Monarch is available at select retailers nationwide beginning May 2023. (SRP $70)

This is the fourth release in Highland Park's Cask Strength range which was first launched in 2020 and is a permanent part of the distillery's core range. Crafted by Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion, this fourth batch was matured predominantly in first-fill sherry seasoned European oak casks, along with first-fill ex-bourbon casks, first-fill sherry seasoned American oak casks, first-fill ex-port hogsheads and a small quantity of refill casks. Notably, this is the first time that port casks have been used in the cask strength line-up. This fourth batch launched globally in May 2023. Bottled at 64.3% ABV without chill-filtration. (SRP $100)

Released just in time for the 2023 Fèis Ìle (Islay Fest), Douglas Laing has released this limited edition bottling they've called The Smokehouse Edition. The bottling is made from a blend of single malts sourced from distilleries located on the Isle of Islay and it was finished predominantly in red wine casks. this is the first ever time Big Peat has been finished in wine casks. It will be available in May 2023 at select whisky specialists in the UK, Europe, and Asia as well as online retailers. (£65.00/€74.00)

HIRSCH The Single Barrel Double Oak is a limited edition Kentucky straight bourbon which has been finished in used American oak after an initial maturation in new American oak. Only 30 barrels will be released for this bottling. Importantly, there are three styles of single barrels, each with two different mash bill recipes blended at different ratios. Those two mash bills are: 72% corn, 13% rye, 15% malted barley which was aged for 8 years and 7 months and 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley aged for 3 years and 7 months. As is the nature of such releases, expect the flavor profile and ABV to vary by barrel. Available nationwide at select retailers beginning May 2023. (SRP $99)

This is the second batch released in 2023 for Elijah Craig's Barrel Proof Bourbon series which features its flagship bourbon recipe uncut and unfiltered. Importantly, this release departs from a consistent 12 Year age statement. Going forward in an effort to maintain the quality of the product, the age will vary for each batch. Furthermore, the age statement will feature on the front label rather than the side label like previous editions. Each batch will be selected by the master tasting team which includes Master Distiller Conor O'Driscoll. B523 is aged for 11 years and 5 months and is bottled at 124.2 proof (62.1% ABV). Available beginning May 2023. (SRP $69.99)