Distiller Pro Previews - July 2023

This upcoming limited edition release from The Balvenie falls under the brand's Stories series. A Revelation of Cask and Character puts a spotlight on The Balvenie coopers who craft the casks used to age the whisky. This bottling follows the story of a whisky's 19 year journey in European sherry oak casks. Note: Further details including price, ABV, and launch date still to come on this pending release.

The fifth release in the vintage bottled in bond Tennessee whisky series from George Dickel was once again overseen by Nicole Austin, director of George Dickel & luxury whisky. Made using a mash bill recipe of 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley, this whisky was distilled in spring 2011. After distillation it was chill charcoal-filtered and placed into new, charred American oak barrels for 12 years. Available nationwide beginning May 2024. (SRP $44.99)

Nikka's limited edition Discovery Series explores various whisky-making production techniques the brand has practiced over the years. This 2023 release, the third and final in the series, takes an inside look into Nikka's grain whiskies made at four of their distilleries: Miyagikyo, Nishinomiya (now closed), Moji, and Satsumatsukasa. Coffey grain from Miyagikyo is the heart of the blend with experimental new grain whisky made from corn and rye also included. Available October 2023 with the US getting an allotment of 2,600 bottles. (SRP $174.99)

This release is the 17th edition of the Parker's Heritage Collection. It's a Kentucky straight rye whiskey that was aged for 10 years in five different rickhouses and floors. The mash bill is comprised of Heaven Hill’s traditional rye mash: 51% rye, 35% corn and 14% malted barley, and is bottled at cask strength. Available mid to late September 2023. (SRP $185)

This extra-aged cask strength rye from Old Overholt was aged for 10 years in a single escalator-style warehouse. It was barreled in the winter and autumn seasons of 2012 in Clermont, Kentucky. Bottled without filtration at 121 proof, it's available nationwide in limited quantities beginning fall 2023. (SRP $99)

This upcoming release from The Irishman features a single malt which is finished in Chateauneuf du Pape wine casks. This is an exclusive collaboration with the Kilkenny Whiskey Guild. Note: Further details including price, ABV, and launch date still to come on this pending release.

Dair Ghaelach is Midleton's Virgin Irish Oak Collection. The whiskey used for this bottling was a blend of different styles of pot still whiskey: light, medium, and heavy. Initially aged in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, the whiskey was finished in virgin Irish oak hogsheads sourced from Kilranelagh Wood in Co. Wicklow. There were six oak trees selected with the whiskeys bottled by tree number. Each tree's whiskey is bottled at its cask strength, ranging from 56.8% to 57.5% ABV. Available November 2023. (SRP $490)

This release from Diageo's Orphan Barrel Whiskey Co. portfolio features a straight bourbon which was distilled in Indiana, aged in Kentucky, and bottled at Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. in Tullahoma, Tennessee. It was made using a high-rye bourbon mash bill of 68% corn, 28% rye, and 4% malted barley and was aged a minimum of 18 years in new, charred white oak barrels. This limited edition release is a one-time only batch with availability beginning April 1, 2024 at select retailers nationwide. (SRP $225)

The Master's Keep limited edition series first started in 2015 and it allows Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell to showcase his approach to whiskey making. Named Triumph, this bottling is the oldest age-stated rye whiskey ever released by Wild Turkey and just the second rye whiskey in the series. Aged for 10 years in char #4 new American oak barrels, this is bottled without chill-filtration at 104 proof. Available in limited quantities for on-line pre-sale purchases in early June 2024 and in-store at select retailers ahead of Father's Day 2024. (SRP $275)

Homesick Blues is a limited edition release from Heaven's Door Spirits founded by musician Bob Dylan. It's a wheated bourbon which was cultivated, distilled, and aged in Dylan's home state of Minnesota. Made from a mash bill of 70% corn and 30% wheat, it was aged for 7 years. Bottled at cask strength, it's available for pre-order via the brand's website as of October 2023 with deliveries to coincide with the release of the biography Bob Dylan: Mixing Up The Medicine on October 24, 2023. This coincides with a nationwide release. (SRP $79.99)

Art & Decadence is a limited edition blended whisky from Compass Box made with unpeated malt whiskies and grain whiskies aged in a variety of casks. The bulk of the blend (42%) was malt whisky from Balmenach which was finished separately in three types of dessert wine casks — Marsala, Sauternes, and Madeira. Malt whiskies from Linkwood (aged in Palo Cortado sherry casks) and Glen Moray (finished in oloroso sherry casks) as well as grain whisky from Port Dundas were also used in its creation. There are 9,496 bottles available worldwide. Availability in the US begins November 1, 2023. (SRP $180)

The Nectar is an upcoming single malt release from Glenmorangie. It was aged a minimum of 16 years in bourbon and sweet white wine casks. Glenmorangie fans may find the name ringing a bell as the brand's Nectar d'Or is also aged in these two barrels types. This upcoming bottling is 4 years older. Note: Further details including price, ABV, and launch date still to come on this pending release.

For Discovery Series #11, Bardstown Bourbon Co. blended three different Kentucky straight bourbon whiskies together, each with a different mash bill. The bulk (73%) of the blend was aged 13 years followed by a 10 year (21%) and a 6 year bourbon (6%) which was distilled at BBCo. Unconventionally, that 6 year bourbon was matured exclusively in French oak barrels. This release marks the first Discovery Series bottling to include a bourbon that was estate-distilled at BBCo. Around 3,000 9L cases will be available through the Bardstown Bourbon Co. gift shop, at retailers in 24 states and online beginning October 6, 2023. (SRP $139.99)

This upcoming limited edition release from The Macallan's Harmony Collection, a series which explores the brand's future packaging journey. For this release, the brand has collaborated with Stella & Mary McCarthy. Discarded meadow cuttings have been used in the presentation box and the label of the whisky. Note: Further details including price, ABV, and launch date still to come on this pending release.