May 9, 2024 3:47 pm

The Barrel Report – July 2023 – Vol 41.1

Ross & Squibb Teams with Chris Long for Clean Water in Kenya

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Here’s this week’s update on the bourbon industry doing good things in the world, this time with water. Two bourbon brands from Ross & Squibb Distillery are teaming up with an NFL pro to bring clean, safe water to a small community in Kenya.

Remus Bourbon and Rossville Union Rye Whiskey have teamed up with Chris Long’s Foundation and its Waterboys Initiative. The project: “a deep borehole well, elevated water storage and a distribution system to serve the 1600 residents of Oloile in Kenya.” The well will be functional by August.

Shanae Randolph, Marketing Director-Brands for MGP’s Luxco Branded Spirits said, “We’ve always been grateful for the clean water we have in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and this partnership helps us share that necessity for a far more important cause.”

Bourbon With Heart Prepping for New Charity Art Exhibit

Bourbon with Heart, which bills itself as Kentucky’s first and only arts-focused bourbon charity, is gearing up for a new art show opening on September 1. The event will feature “50 bourbon barrel heads hand-painted by local artists over age 50.”

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The Cambria Hotel on Whiskey Row in Downtown Louisville will host the event for six weeks. Proceeds will go to the National Parkinson’s Institute. Sponsorship information is available here. 

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Finished in Rum Barrels

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If you didn’t get all your July 4th bourbon shopping done, you might look for a new one on the shelves this month from Wild Turkey. It’s called Master’s Keep Voyage and is 106-proof, 10-year-old bourbon finished in Jamaican rum barrels.

Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell teamed up with Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum Master Blender Dr. Joy Spence.

“With Voyage, we set out to develop a spirit that allows the notes of the rum and bourbon to work in harmony,” Spence said. “By aging Eddie’s hand-selected batch of 10-year-old bourbon in the finest casks we have at Appleton Estate, we were able to achieve a new level of flavor that gives whiskey and bourbon lovers a new way to enjoy their favorite drinks.” 

 SRP for a 750ml bottle is $275.

Bourbon Country Calendar of Events

May to October 2023

Concerts at The Amp

Dant Crossing
Gethsemene, Kentucky

August 19, 2023

Bourbon Mixer

Louisville, Kentucky

September 1, 2023 

Bourbon with Heart

Seasoned Spirits Charity Art Exhibit

September 14-17, 2023

Bourbon and Beyond

Louisville, Kentucky

September 15-17, 2023

Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Bardstown, Kentucky 

October 6, 2023

Bourbon Street on Broadway

Frankfort, Kentucky

October 7, 2023

Bourbon on the Banks

Frankfort, Kentucky

Tasting Notes From the Team

BENRIACH THE FORTY

43.5% ABV – 87 Proof
40-Year-Old Peated Malt

By: Bill Varnell
Co-Founder and Publisher

”Matured for 40 years in fine bourbon casks and aged in a combination of bourbon and port casks selected by legendary Master Blender Rachel Barrie”

Price: $4,500.00
Rating:   5 out of 5 stars ( Highly Recommended)

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Nose: Sweet hint of smoke, rich fruit forward with chocolate covered cherries and honey

Palate: Ripe orchard fruits, highlighted with dark cherries and a touch of citrus

 Finish: Long and nutty with a hint of lingering campfire smoke

BENRIACH INTRODUCES THE FORTY TO THE U.S.

(From a news release) – Speyside distillery Benriach has announced the expansion of its luxury portfolio with the stateside arrival of Benriach The Forty, exemplifying an exquisite example of Benriach’s historically diverse methods of distillation and cask curation. 

 In the 1970s, when the Speyside region was known for crafting unpeated whiskies, Benriach made the unconventional choice to distill small batches of highly peated spirit, which continues to this day. Drawing upon decades of experience, Master Blender Rachel Barrie skillfully combined some of these rare peated casks to create The Forty, one of the oldest peated malts ever to be released from a Speyside Distillery. 

 The Forty was previously only available as early as October 2022 as part of a luxury bespoke non-fungible token (NFT) on Blockbar.com, the world’s first direct-to-consumer NFT marketplace for luxury wines and spirits. This is the first time consumers will be able to purchase physical bottles in stores.”

Whiskey Network Magazine:

Nine Thirsty Men Face Tough Decisions at Maker’s Mark Private Selection Barrel Pick

By Col. Brian G. Miller
Whiskey Network Staff Writer

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TTB Label Approval

by Michael Toron
TTB Research & Contributor

 

ORPHAN-BARREL-INDIGOS-HOUR

iWhiskey Trivia

True or False?

The primary purpose of the hygrometer in the initial distillate collection vessel is to identify the cutover points between byproducts and palatable spirits?

True!

 Distillate is analyzed to identify the production of heads, hearts, and tails. Only the hearts are barreled to produce bourbon.

 (Source: Bourbon Trek, An Intriguing Bourbon Trivia Game)

"Whisky is liquid sunshine."

George Bernard Shaw

“The light music of whiskey falling into a glass – an agreeable interlude.”

James Joyce

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