New Spirits Releases - March 31, 2023

This Kentucky whiskey from Chicken Cock was aged in two different barrels, used barrels for 7 years followed by a finishing in new, charred American oak for 18 months. Despite the fact that this whiskey was made in Kentucky with a bourbon recipe, it cannot be classified as a bourbon since the initial maturation was in used barrels. Available nationally beginning March 2023. (SRP $99.99)

This 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)

The Innkeeper's Blend is the second small batch bourbon release in the brand's Icon Series and pays homage to the family of Master Blender Dixon Dedman and their 100 years in the hospitality industry. 2XO stands for Two Times Oak and refers to Dixon's blending process which involves secondary aging in char #3 and #4 barrels. The whiskey is a blend of Kentucky straight bourbons with two different mash bills, one a low rye (16-18%) and the other a high rye (36%)(SRP $100)

Glenfiddich Grand Yozakura 29 Year is a limited release from The Glenfiddich and is part of the brand's Grand Series, a collection of single malt whiskies which feature experimental cask finishing. The whisky was matured for 29 years followed by a finishing for six months in Awamori rice spirit casks from Okinawa, Japan — this is the first-ever single malt Scotch whisky to be finished in these rare Japanese oak casks. This release is meant to coincide with Hanami, the cherry blossom festival which begins in late March and continues through early May. Yozakura translates to 'cherry blossoms at night.' Available in limited quantities at select retailers and on-premise accounts in the US beginning March 28, 2023. (SRP $1,999)

Oak & Eden is a whiskey brand based in Texas which specializes in "in-bottle finishing" — a method of finishing a whiskey by inserting a spire, a 5-inch spiral-cut piece of wood, into a fully-matured bottle of whiskey. 4 Grain & Maple features a four-grain bourbon (55% corn, 18% rye, 22% wheat, and 5% malted barley). Then a maple syrup soaked American oak spire is inserted into the bottle. Available for a limited time beginning March 2023. (SRP $59.99)

This whiskey is one of three releases in Traverse City Whiskey Co.'s "Finishing Series." Each of the three feature a TCWC different whiskey with a unique barrel finish up to 12 months. This Cab Franc Finish begins with a five year-old 100% straight rye whiskey followed by a finishing of nearly 12 months in former cabernet franc wine from a Michigan winery. The other two bottlings are a Port Barrel Finish Bourbon and a Sherry Barrel Finish High-Rye Bourbon. These three whiskeys are available at TCWC's tasting rooms and online as of March 2023. (SRP $59.99)