New Spirits Releases - January 13, 2023

Founded in 2017 by Matt Johns, Pōkeno Whisky Co. is located just over 50km southeast of Auckland on the North Island of New Zealand. The subtropical climate here means the angel's share is around 8% per year. The single malt whisky is made with family-farmed barley from the South Island along with volcanic spring water from the North Island. Discovery is fully matured in first-fill bourbon, oloroso sherry or PX sherry casks. Then the three parcels are married and bottled at 43% ABV. The brand launched in the US in January 2023. (SRP $75)

This US exclusive single cask from Pōkeno is fully matured in first-fill bourbon cask like their Origin bottling. However, the single malt whisky is then re-racked into another fresh first-fill bourbon cask for an additional 6 months. Available as of January 2023. (SRP $125)

Founded in 2017 by Matt Johns, Pōkeno Whisky Co. is located just over 50km southeast of Auckland on the North Island of New Zealand. The subtropical climate here means the angel's share is around 8% per year. The single malt whisky is made with family-farmed barley from the South Island along with volcanic spring water from the North Island. Origin is fully matured in first-fill bourbon casks. The brand launched in the US in January 2023. (SRP $70)

GlenDronach based in the Scottish Highlands is known for their sherried single malts, so it's no surprise that a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks were used for the maturation of this cask strength expression. The barrels were selected by GlenDronach Master Blender Rachel Barrie. This single malt carries no age statement and is bottled without chill filtration or added coloring. The 11th batch was released at 59.8% ABV. Available in the US beginning January 2023. (SRP $100)

Writers' Tears is a label from Walsh Whiskey Distillery which opened in 2016 in County Carlow. This bottling is a no-age statement Irish single malt aged in ex-oloroso sherry barrels (hence the name, Red Head). Bottled at 46% ABV, this single malt is non-chill filtered. Note: In December 2022, Red Head launched in the US in 22 markets. (SRP $69.99)

This bourbon from Heaven Hill's Larceny Bourbon brand consists of bourbon made from a wheated mash bill (68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley). The barrels used in the batch were aged from 6 to 8 years. But as the name suggests, the bourbon is bottled straight from the barrel at Barrel Proof. Heaven Hill releases three batches each year so be on the look out for the batch number and proof on the label. Batch A123 is bottled at 125.8 proof. Available in limited quantities as of January 2023. (SRP $59.99)

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A123 is the first of batch for 2023. Using a mash bill recipe of 78% corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye, this bourbon is aged for 12 years and is bottled without chill-filtration at full barrel strength of 125.6 proof (62.8% ABV). Released nationwide as of January 2023. (SRP $69.99)

This bourbon from Birmingham, Alabama-based Dread River Distilling Co. was blended by Eboni Major, formerly with Diageo's Bulleit Distilling Co. It is the first release in the brand's Master Series and was made by blending two Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys, one from October 2017 and another from January 2019. It's bottled at 100 proof. Available for pre-sale at Dread River's website beginning January 2023. (SRP $114.99)