Bourbon leads this week with a swarm of “B’s”, as Bernheim, Baker’s, and Bardstown all weigh in with new releases. Bernheim Barrel Proof, appropriately sufficient for this checklist, is providing Batch B, the second and remaining installment of 2024 for this expression. We’ve but to style Batch B, however Batch A has been certainly one of our favourite whiskeys thus far this yr. There’s additionally a welcome return for Baker’s, the one barrel gem whose appearances are all too rare. Based mostly on earlier tastings, we’d advocate that you simply snag a bottle. Elsewhere, Bardstown’s new super-wheater is severe enterprise—try that 39% wheat share within the mashbill. Compared to different wheaters, Larceny’s is a mere 20%, as is Previous Fitzgerald, whereas Maker’s hovers at round 15%.
Cask-finished whiskeys additionally characteristic prominently this week, as Previous Elk continues its ending work with a cognac barrel-finished wheater. Virginia Distillery Co. has a brand new trio of American single malts, two of them with uncommon beer cask finishes, whereas the World Whiskey Society has a 12 yr outdated that claims to be the primary of its sort—a rye completed in barrels beforehand used for awamori, a Japanese rice-based spirit. Our final awamori cask-finished sighting was Glenfiddich’s Grand Yozakura launch final yr, a $2,000 merchandise that scored 94 factors. Elsewhere this week, from Scotland comes one thing a bit extra typical—a 30 yr outdated Dalmore completed in colheita and tawny port casks.
Bernheim Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey (B924)
ABV: 61.3%
SRP: $67
Availability: Restricted; nationwide
Heaven Hill’s newest Bernheim Barrel Proof batch is scheduled to reach in September. Like earlier batches, it has a mashbill of 51% wheat, 37% corn, and 12% malted barley, and includes a mix of whiskeys aged 7–9 years. The distillery makes use of the identical mashbill for Bernheim 90 Proof, however that whiskey is 7 years outdated.
Bernheim Barrel Proof is considerably missed in comparison with different Heaven Hill heavy hitters, resembling Larceny Barrel Proof and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. That’s partly as a result of Bernheim Barrel Proof being a current addition to the lineup. The primary extensively out there batch hit cabinets in February 2023, although an earlier model was out there as a part of an unique tasting on the Heaven Hill Bourbon Expertise in Bardstown. Bernheim Barrel Proof is launched twice a yr, whereas Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and Larceny Barrel Proof come out thrice a yr.
This new batch of Bernheim Barrel Proof Wheat follows Batch A224, which touched down in February. That one scored a really spectacular 94 factors with our tasting panel—increased than its sibling batches from Larceny and Elijah Craig, which had been launched the month prior. Our panelists discovered that A224 had a remarkably comfortable and mild profile for its proof level, which is a top quality shared by many different cask power choices from Heaven Hill.
Baker’s 13 yr outdated Bourbon
ABV: 53.5%
SRP: $150
Availability: Restricted
Final yr, Beam ended a Baker’s 13 yr outdated drought, re-releasing the extra-aged single barrel bourbon to nice success (it scored a 93 with our tasting panel). Now, the whiskey is again as soon as extra, bottled on the identical proof because the 2023 model and $20 costlier. Baker’s was created by grasp distiller Booker Noe in 1962, in homage to his cousin, Baker Beam, who himself labored on the distillery for 38 years.
Baker’s initially was a batched whiskey, however Beam revamped the franchise in 2019 to make it a single barrel-exclusive model. The Baker’s lineup has since been comprised of two whiskeys: the extensively out there 7 yr outdated (which took the sixteenth spot on our Prime 20 Whiskies of 2019) and the extra restricted 13 yr outdated, which has solely appeared twice for the reason that re-launch.
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Excessive Wheat Bourbon
ABV: 53%
SRP: $50
Availability: Nationwide
Whereas Bardstown Bourbon Co. usually flexes its artistic muscle with one-off releases, its new Excessive Wheat Bourbon—a part of the distillery’s Origin Sequence—is a everlasting addition to the roster. The 6 yr outdated whiskey is comprised of a mashbill of 53% corn, 39% wheat, and eight% malted barley, and goes into the barrel at a decrease barrel entry proof (BEP) of 108. By legislation, the utmost BEP allowed is 125, and few distillers enter at 110 or beneath, Maker’s and Michter’s being notable exceptions; usually, placing whiskey into the barrel at a decrease barrel proof yields gentler, sweeter flavors.
That is solely the third whiskey in Bardstown’s Origin Sequence, which additionally features a high-rye Kentucky straight bourbon and a wheated bottled in bond bourbon. The distillery additionally presents its Discovery Sequence, which highlights the artwork of mixing; the Collaborative Sequence, which has featured many partnerships with varied spirits makers from across the globe; the Distillery Assortment; and quite a lot of single barrel whiskeys.
Redemption Sur Lee Rye (2024 Launch)
ABV: 47%
SRP: $60
Availability: Nationwide
Redemption has introduced again Sur Lee, a rye whiskey that originally launched as a part of the Specialty Sequence again in October 2022. This expression begins off with new make spirit from MGP, which has a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. The brand new make is aged for no less than 3 years in barrels that comprise backset—an acidic liquid containing yeast and different compounds left over after distillation, which is usually utilized in bitter mash fermentation. The maturation takes place at Fortress & Key, and the barrels are rolled each 6 months or so to encourage interplay between the backset and new make.
The manufacturing course of takes many cues from a French winemaking methodology referred to as sur lie maturation, which can also be the place the whiskey’s title comes from. Sur lie sees wine preserve contact with “lees,” or lifeless yeast cells left over from fermentation, whereas it ages. Over time, these lees break down and contribute bready or grainy notes to the wine. The inspiration for Sur Lee got here from Redemption’s mother or father firm Deutsch Household Wine & Spirits, which began as a French wine importer.
Previous Elk Cognac Cask End Straight Wheat Whiskey
ABV: 47.5%
SRP: $90
Availability: Restricted
Previous Elk’s new cask completed expression is a wheat whiskey that was initially aged for six years earlier than being transferred into cognac casks comprised of French Limousin oak. The end lasts from 6 months to a yr.
This launch is the fourth entry in Previous Elk’s Cask End Sequence, which showcases the distillery’s forays into the world of ending. Thus far, the sequence has been a hit for the Colorado whiskey maker, with every of the bottlings scoring 90 factors or increased. Final yr’s Port Cask Bourbon acquired a 94-point ranking from our tasting panel and was featured on our Prime 20 Whiskies of 2023 checklist.
Olk Elk lately teased that the following Cask End Sequence member can even be completed in port casks. That whiskey, Tawny Port Rye, is because of arrive earlier than year-end.
VDC Blue Ridge Toasted Oak American Single Malt
ABV: 46.2%
SRP: $45
Availability: Restricted; September
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VDC Brewer’s Coalition Goose Island Bourbon Stout Cask American Single Malt
ABV: 50%
SRP: $50
Availability: Restricted; September
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VDC Brewer’s Coalition Hardywood Gingerbread Stout Cask American Single Malt
ABV: 50%
SRP: $50
Availability: Restricted; September
Subsequent month, Virginia Distillery Co. will launch three single malts that every one make use of bizarre casks. Blue Ridge is matured in first-fill bourbon barrels from undisclosed Kentucky distilleries. After 4 years, the one malt is moved into toasted virgin oak barrels from the Blue Ridge Mountains for an undisclosed time frame.
The opposite two whiskeys type the primary entries in a brand new sequence referred to as The Brewer’s Coalition, which can highlight beer barrels from fashionable breweries. The primary expression is a bottled in bond single malt which undergoes a end in Bourbon County Stout casks from Chicago-based Goose Island Brewery. It’s launching alongside one other single malt aged in gingerbread stout casks from Hardywood Brewing, primarily based in Richmond, Virginia, about an hour and a half away from VDC’s Lovingston distillery.
J. Mattingly 1845 Traditional Bourbon
ABV: 59.5%
SRP: $110
Availability: Nationwide
For J. Mattingly’s flagship bourbon launch, grasp distiller Jeff Mattingly—a descendant of John Graves Mattingly, who owned the primary distillery in Marion County, Kentucky, and the second registered distillery within the state total—created a “home model” that may function a leaping off level for all future blends. The bourbon is 6 years outdated and, like all J. Mattingly 1845 whiskeys, it undergoes a signature double-staving course of, through which it’s uncovered to charred barrel staves whereas ageing; in response to Mattingly, this imbues the whiskey with heightened honey and toast notes.
Along with its branded releases, the distillery presents on-line prospects the chance to create their very own bourbons, selecting from three mashbills, three bottle types, quite a lot of wax seal colours, and customized messages when shopping for a bottle. On the distillery itself, J. Mattingly presents a bourbon mixing expertise ($175 for an hour) that lets visitors pull from barrels and make their very own mix to take residence.
World Whiskey Society Reserve Assortment 12 yr outdated Awamori Cask Completed Rye
ABV: 48%
SRP: $169
Availability: Restricted; worldwhiskey.com and at choose retailers nationwide
The World Whiskey Society (WWS) offers solely in rarefied releases, and its newest Reserve Assortment dram faucets into a very distinctive cask end. A 12 yr outdated Indiana rye, the whiskey could possibly be compelling on age alone—there’s not a ton of rye that makes it to the double-digits—however WWS ups the ante by ending it in Japanese awamori casks.
Awamori is a distilled spirit indigenous to Okinawa, Japan that’s comprised of long-grain indica rice and black koji, a mould that kickstarts fermentation; not like fellow fermented rice beverage sake, awamori is then distilled, not brewed. The awamori casks used for this whiskey are uncommon on precept, as awamori is historically saved in clay pots, with solely a small proportion matured in Japanese oak. Within the rye, WWS notes that the awamori casks pull out umami and briny flavors, in addition to a success of tropical tang.
In line with WWS, that is the primary time a rye whiskey has been completed in awamori casks, however it’s practically peerless, as the one different launch we’ve coated previously that’s seen such casks was Glenfiddich 29 yr outdated Grand Yozakura single malt, launched final yr. As with most WWS releases, this one is proscribed, with 356 bottles out there. WWS has been on a launch streak recently, debuting the fruits of a Chip Tate partnership and two American single malts final month alone.
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Dalmore 30 yr outdated Single Malt Scotch
ABV: 43.8%
SRP: $6,000
Availability: Restricted
Dalmore is out with one other ultra-aged and super-limited bottling. This one is aged for 30 years, representing an preliminary maturation in bourbon barrels and a ending interval in a mixture of colheita and tawny port casks sourced from W & J Graham’s. Solely 936 bottles had been launched globally.
Whereas Dalmore is maybe higher identified for its integration of various sherry casks, it has additionally excelled utilizing port casks. Throughout the core vary, port pipes had been used to complete Port Wooden Reserve, and as a part of the first maturation processes for each Dalmore 25 yr outdated and King Alexander III.
Lately, Dalmore has reached for port casks for extra unique releases. Examples embody this yr’s Luminary No.2 releases (The 16 yr outdated used Graham’s tawny port whereas The Uncommon tapped Port Colheita 1963 casks) and Dalmore 2009 15 yr outdated, which used casks that held Graham’s 10 yr outdated tawny port.
