The second release of the Booker’s Bourbon 2023 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2023-02 “Apprentice Batch.” This batch pays homage to the early days of my dad Booker Noe’s career – far before he was the Sixth Generation Master Distiller – when he first learned the art of making bourbon under the guidance of his cousin Carl Beam.

When Booker started working at the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont in 1952, Carl became like a mentor to him. Back then, they didn’t have official titles like Master Distiller, but everyone knew Carl was in charge. He didn't put up with any foolishness and made sure Booker was set straight. But even if Booker did mess around sometimes, he was a fast learner and was ready to be put to work, and that quickly got him Carl’s approval.

Two years after Booker started, we purchased a distillery in Boston, KY to increase our production capabilities. Carl and Booker worked closely together to get it up and running, and eventually, Carl handed the reins over to Booker. This is where he was able to experiment and master the bourbon- making process, and later on, the location was renamed the Booker Noe Distillery.

Carl showed Booker the ropes at the distillery, but from there, his approach was sink or swim and it was just the push Booker needed. His apprenticeship under Carl helped him become the Master Distiller and legendary innovator we all remember him as today.

The liquid is a medium amber color from the seven years spent aging in the white oak barrels. The oak-forward aroma is well-balanced with notes of vanilla and toasted nuts, and all together the result is really pleasant. After the first sip, you’ll find the long finish doesn’t overpower the warm taste.

In 1876, John D. Willett one of Kentucky's original bourbon aristocrats transferred his interest in the Willett & Frenke Distillery to his son-in-laws, Benjamin Mattingly and Thomas Moore. Mattingly and Moore continued to operate the Willett & Frenke Distillery together until 1881, when Mattingly finally sold his stake in the company to a group of investors. Within a few years, Thomas Moore acquired complete control over the distillery and eponymously renamed it. Moore would continue to operate the distillery for another five decades, until he was ultimately forced to close his doors at the onset of Prohibition. Today, the Barton 1792 Distillery operates on the same site as the historic Tom Moore Distillery, and continues to use the same methods that Moore used over a century ago when distilling his own bourbon. 1792 Port Finish Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made from a mash of corn, rye and malted barley. While the use of corn in the bourbon's recipe adds classic notes of buttered bread, biscuits and roasted nuts, the heavy use of rye in the bourbon's mashbill yields a more complex and full-bodied whiskey. After the grains are harvested, they are mashed and fermented before being distilled through a copper-pot still. After distillation, the bourbon is aged in new, American oak casks for six years in Warehouse Z on the distillery's estate in Bardstown, Kentucky. Warehouse Z is situated on the edge of a bluff and as a result, enjoys the intense heat and humidity that are ideal for maturing whiskey. When it comes to barrel aging, says Ken Pierce, Barton 1792's master distiller, it's just like real estate location, location, location. That's why 1792 ages in Warehouse Z up there on the bluff. In addition, during the maturation process, Pierce samples each cask of bourbon as it rests to determine when the bourbon has reached its peak of maturity. Quality in, quality out, says Pierce, who has over two decades of experience at the distillery. After its initial six-year aging, 1792 Port Finish Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged for an additional two years in casks previously used to mature port wine. The subtle, sweet characteristics of the port casks lend aromas of caramel apples, vanilla and intense chocolate to the bourbon, as well as notes of strawberry jam, raisins, gingerbread and cinnamon toast. The finish is long and complex, accented by hints of sweet licorice and cherry pie. Once the bourbon has matured for a total of eight years, it is brought to proof with water drawn from the Tom Moore spring. The iron-free, Kentucky limestone water the same water used by Moore over a century ago when crafting his own whiskey adds a subtle touch of complexity and depth to the bourbon. This fantastic bourbon is limited in supply, and wont be around long make sure you pick up a bottle (or two) today!

A delicate fusion of flavors from seventh-generation distillers, this straight bourbon features a handpicked blend of 4- and 7-year-old bourbons, for an exclusive old-fashioned whiskey that honors its deep family origins.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Rye spice with soft, leathered cherries

Palate: Smoked caramel

Finish: Smoky oak and brown sugar

Awards

Gold Medal, SIP Awards 2018

Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2018

Gold Winner, Berlin International Spirits Competition 2016

Silver Medal, SIP Awards 2017

Gold Medal, L.A. Spirits Awards 2020

Situated in the Midlands region of Ireland, the city of Tullamore was ruled for centuries by Clan O'Molloy. On May 10, 1785, a hot air balloon crashed into the city and began a fire that destroyed over 100 homes, making Tullamore the site of the world's first known aviation disaster. Following the accident, the city adopted a phoenix (a phoenix is a mythological Greek bird that is reborn after it dies) rising from the ashes as its coat of arms, a symbol of its resilience and recovery. Tullamore DEW Distillery was founded within 50 years of the accident, and is situated at the very site where the hot air balloon struck a smoking chimney, which started the fire. Tullamore DEW Irish Whiskey is made from three different grains, including malted barley, unmalted barley and corn. Once the grains are harvested, they are milled and mashed with hot water before being fermented in wooden washbacks. During fermentation, the grains' sugars are converted into alcohol, creating a strong yet sour beer called wash. The wash is then triple distilled through three copper-pot stills: a wash still, a low wines still and a pot still. Through each distillation process, the alcohol content and flavors of the whiskey are intensified. Following distillation, Tullamore DEW Trilogy Irish Whiskey is aged for 15 years in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-Oloroso Sherry and special ex-rum casks, making this both the oldest whiskey ever released by Tullamore DEW and the first time the distillery has used rum casks in such a way. As a result, Tullamore DEW Trilogy has a rich aroma filled with tropical fruits, mixed nuts, tannins and oak. The palate transitions to flavors of chocolate fudge and whipped cream, and leads to an incredibly long and intense finish. Tullamore DEW Trilogy Irish Whiskey shows the power of three in many ways three generations of the Williams family, three types of Irish whiskey (malted barley, unmalted barley and grain), the distinctly Irish process of triple-distillation, the unique crafts of distillation, blending and maturation, and aging in three different types of casks.

In 1805, the Mitchell & Sons Wine Merchants Company was established in the heart of Dublin, Ireland. By the turn of the 19th century, the Mitchells sold a range of Irish whiskeys under the name "Spot." This name originated from the company's practice of marking casks of different ages with a spot of colored paint. As a result, Mitchell & Sons sold whiskies named Blue Spot, Yellow Spot and Red Spot, although Green Spot emerged as their most popular brand. Today, Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey continues to be crafted in the heart of Ireland. Green Spot Chteau Loville Barton Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is made from malted and unmalted barley, which are milled and mashed before being distilled through a traditional pot still. After an initial aging in ex-bourbon (75%) and ex- sherry (25%) casks for approximately eight to nine years, Green Spot Chteau Loville Barton Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is finished for 12 to 24 months in casks that previously contained Bordeaux wine from Chteau Loville Barton. In addition to being very highly-regarded, the Barton house is unique in that it's named after famous Irish winemaker Thomas Barton, whose descendants still run Chteau Loville Barton today. Green Spot Chteau Loville Barton Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey has an aroma of wild raspberries, French oak, gingerbread and banana that gives way to notes of vanilla, green apple, lemon peel, honey and marshmallow on the palate. The finish is smooth with a pleasant chewiness, with hints of cereal, wine and Christmas spice. Green Spot Chteau Loville Barton Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is a limited-time expression of the whisky Jim Murray author of the Whisky Bible called, "unquestionably one of the world's greatest whiskies."

In 1934, Ernest Hemingway purchased a boat named Pilar from the Wheeler Shipyard for $7,495. Although he ordered the boat from a catalog, extensive customization was requested (including a livewell and a cockpit enclosed with copper screens) in order to make it unique. The boat would eventually become inextricably linked to Hemingway he used it to catch one of the world's largest sharks in 1935, and, during World War II, the author went hunting for German U-boats in the Caribbean waters on board the ship (the boat was equipped with a sub-machine gun and hand grenades). As a result of his extensive travels, Hemingway was said to have lived a life of perpetual motion, always acting as a trailblazer and never as a spectator. Papa's Pilar Dark Rum is inspired by Hemingway and his thirst for adventure. Papa's Pilar Dark is an ultra-premium sipping rum, bold and complex much like the man who inspired it - Ernest Hemingway. Made of hand-selected rums solera blended in Bourbon barrels, Port Wine casks and Spanish Sherry casks, this 86 proof award-winning rum has a rich, caramelized orange, maple, vanilla, and toasted almond taste profile and a long velvety finish. 2019 Platinum SIP Award, Double Gold recipient: World Spirits Competition, San Francisco.

The principal author of the Declaration of Independence and one of the greatest Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson was elected the third President of the United States in 1800. During his tenure, Jefferson authorized the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, dispatched Lewis and Clark westward in order to explore the remainder of the continent and repealed the Whisky Excise Tax. After Jefferson retired from public office in 1815, he often tended to the garden that he had cultivated on his Monticello estate. At the time, it was customary for wealthy farmers, including Jefferson, to distill the excess grains they harvested from their farms into spirits (George Washington was one of the country's largest distillers of rye whiskey). As a result, each farmer's spirits were unique and reflected the local terroir of their farm. Jefferson's Ocean Aged At Sea Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey pays homage to Jefferson and the exquisite whiskey he distilled. Jefferson's Ocean Aged At Sea Cask Strength Bourbon is first matured in older bourbon casks for approximately six to eight years on land, before the casks are placed on a ship and allowed to rest for another several months at sea. At sea, the bourbon and oak casks are forced to mingle with each other as the ship which stops in five different continents and crosses the equator four times during the journey rolls back and forth over the water. In addition, the temperature and barometric pressure fluctuations during the sea voyage cause the oak staves to expand and contract, and allow the bourbon to extract more of the tannins and flavor from the oak during its maturation. Bottled at cask strength for the first time, Jefferson's Ocean Aged At Sea Cask Strength Bourbon has an aroma of cinnamon buns, orange zest, burnt sugar and marshmallow. Thick notes of salted caramel, figs and chocolate fudge dominate the palate, and lead to a playful finish accented by sweet mint, lemon cake and nutmeg. We have only a handful of bottles available.

The Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve has been matured entirely in first-fill Sherry seasoned oak casks. With a delicious creamy texture that explodes on the palate, this burnished gold single malt delivers soft, spicy and fruity flavors - ginger, orange peel and sherry oak in perfect harmony. Sheer indulgence. Situated adjacent to the Burn of Rothes in the Speyside region of Scotland, The Glenrothes Distillery was founded by in 1879 by James Stuart, who had previously been employed at The Macallan Distillery. The distillery's history is marred by tragedy in 1897, construction workers who were attempting to expand its capacity started a fire that consumed much of the distillery's equipment and infrastructure. Twenty-five years later, a fire in the distillery's original warehouse caused the loss of 200,000 gallons of maturing whisky. Despite having lost ten copper-pot stills in various accidents since its founding, the Glenrothes Distillery is now a picture of tranquility. The Glenrothes Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made from plump, ripe Scottish barley, which is malted and fermented using water sourced from the Ardcanny and Brauchhill springs (the springs are situated adjacent to the distillery). Following fermentation, the grains are twice distilled through the Glenrothes' copper-pot stills. The stills, which were designed and fashioned to be exact replicas of the original stills installed in 1879, are incredibly tall and uniquely shaped, which contributes to the overall light and sweet flavor of the whisky. After distillation, The Glenrothes' stillmen remove the heads and tails of the distillate and preserve only the "hearts" for maturation (the hearts comprise less than 20% of the entire distillate). The Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a blend of rare and limited vintages produced at The Glenrothes Distillery, each aged exclusively in first-fill ex-Oloroso Sherry casks custom-made in Jerez, Spain. These casks cost as much as five times their American ex-bourbon equivalents The Glenrothes Distillery's Malt Master, Gordon Motion, who hand-selects the casks for the Sherry Cask Reserve, believes they are worth it. The whisky has a complex aroma of lemon cake, Christmas cookies, fresh pear and vanilla, which leads to an equally bold palate filled with notes of gingerbread, oak, flan and baking spices. The finish, which is bitter and nutty, is complete with memorable notes of orange zest. The Glenrothes is an award-winning Speyside single malt of exceptional quality and a pioneer in the Scotch whisky industry. All our Single Malt is Vintage Whisky. And when we say Vintage, we don't just mean aged; we mean whisky distilled in a particular year that has reached its peak of maturity, character and flavor. At which point, we have a choice to make: to either bottle these rare and finite expressions as Single Vintages, or marry them together in perfect harmony to create one of our exquisite Reserves. The Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve was awarded "Five Stars" and Highest Recommendation from D. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal in 2015.

This distinct rum offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity, combining carefully selected ingredients and expert distillation techniques.

Amrut Old Port Deluxe Rum is made from the finest sugarcane molasses, sourced from the tropical regions of India. The molasses undergo a meticulous fermentation process, allowing the flavors to develop and mature. The distillation takes place in copper pot stills, a traditional method that imparts character and depth to the spirit.

This rum is characterized by its rich and complex flavor profile. It exhibits notes of caramel, toffee, and tropical fruits, accompanied by a subtle spiciness that adds depth and intrigue. The aging process in oak barrels further enhances the flavors, imparting hints of vanilla and oak.

Amrut Old Port Deluxe Rum is known for its smoothness and balance. It has a velvety texture and a lingering finish that showcases the craftsmanship and attention to detail put into its production. Whether sipped neat, on the rocks, or as the foundation for a classic cocktail, this rum offers a delightful and satisfying experience.

Amrut Distilleries takes pride in its commitment to quality and innovation. The brand has gained international acclaim for its premium spirits, and Amrut Old Port Deluxe Rum is no exception. It embodies the spirit of Indian craftsmanship and showcases the country's ability to produce world-class rums.

For nearly 220 years, the Tuthilltown Gristmill located off Albany Post Road in Gardiner, New York used waterpower to mill local grains into flour. In 2001. Ralph Erenzo acquired the property and together with a partner, converted one of the mill's granaries into a distillery. At the time, Erenzo had little experience distilling spirits. After purchasing a furnace from eBay and a German copper-pot still that arrived without instructions, Erenzo attempted to distill a batch of vodka using apple scraps from a nearby apple-slicing plant in the Hudson Valley. Soon thereafter, Tuthilltown Spirits began experimenting with whiskey. "Our first aged spirit was an experiment that turned out quite well indeed," says Erenzo. "And since we are a small batch shop, we can change direction overnight. We also realized early that whiskey was coming back, in particular the interest in straightforward aged spirits; people are just tired of the same old thing. And we copied no one." Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey is the first rye whiskey to be distilled in New York since Prohibition. It is made exclusively from rye grains that are harvested by farmers situated less than ten miles from the distillery. After the grains arrive, they are milled and mashed at the distillery before being fermented for nearly a week. Following fermentation, the rye is distilled twice through Tuthilltown Spirits' 800-liter, hand-assembled German copper-pot still. After distillation, the whiskey is poured into 3-gallon and 14-gallon charred American oak casks. The casks are then laid to rest within a warehouse that is lined with heaters that power the distillery's stills. As a result, when the stills are running during the day, the warehouse becomes incredibly hot, causing the oak casks to expand and interact with the whiskey. In addition, each night, when the stills are dormant and the temperature cooler, speakers, which have been placed throughout the warehouse, play loud rap music with deep bass. The deep bass agitates the whiskies, and causes the barrels themselves to experience micro-expansions and contractions. This sonic aging process unique in the industry adds to the interaction between the oak and the whiskey. After a slumber of up to two years, each batch of Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey is brought to proof, before each bottle is filled, sealed and numbered by hand. Hudson Manhattan Rye earned the Silver Medal at the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and earned a score of 90-95 points from Wine Enthusiast. "We're not making whiskey the 'traditional' way, as defined for 80 years by the big whiskey producers," says Erenzo. "We are making it the way their grandfathers made it. We do all the work, hands-on, from scratch. All of our product are handmade." 

The quintessence of the Black Bull range. The 12 Year Old weighs in at a punchy 50% abv – a real contender for the prize list. This blend is a marriage of Malt and Grain that have undergone a 12-year maturation in refill ex-bourbon American oak hogsheads and finished in ex-Oloroso European butts. This nurtured and cultivated Highlander demonstrates a nutty sherry influence with the prototypical Black Bull chocolate so brace yourself for a full-on flavour experience that will rampage all over your senses.

Tasting Notes

Color: Old Amber

Nose: Robust, chunky aromas of sherry, red fruits, cherries and toffee with a suggestion of vanilla and lemon sherbet.

Palate: Creamy chocolate, fruit and honey with apply and an expressiive nuttiness,

Finish: Buttery toffeem long lastingm cooerdinated, silky. 

Maker Notes

In 1815, the Johnston brothers leased 1,000 acres on Islay to raise cattle. They grew barley for feed but ended up distilling surplus grains into whisky. Laphroaig was born. For over a century, the distillery remained family-owned. In 1954, Ian Hunter bequeathed it to Bessie Williamson, who guarded its secrets. Laphroaig Single Malt is a robust, intensely flavored whisky made from Islay peat. Malted and smoked on the island, it's fermented and twice-distilled in unique copper-pot stills. Laphroaig Lore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, an homage to past distillery managers, is aged in a variety of casks. This crafting process results in a smoky, oceanic aroma with a palate rich in bitter chocolate, vanilla, salted caramel, and roasted chestnuts, all culminating in a finish graced with malt grain, chocolate chip cookies, tropical fruit, and the unmistakable presence of peat. It's our story, bottled.

Just steps from where Albany's first distillery an 18th-century rum distillery was once located, John Curtin and Rich Sicari, owners and distillers of Albany Distilling Co., are making the region's first local spirits since Prohibition, and are recapturing New York State's rich distilling heritage in the process. A self-described modest operation, Curtin and Sicari proudly craft their spirits one small batch at a time. Their emphasis on local sourcing and production is evident in their collaboration with Death Wish Coffee Co., another Albany-based business which purportedly brews the world's strongest coffee. Curtin and Sicari have been lending their expertise to Death Wish's Barrel Brand, which uses coffee beans aged in freshly-poured oak barrels from Albany Distilling Co., drawing out much of the spirit's flavor. Building off the success of this revolutionary idea, Albany Distilling Co. and Death Wish Coffee Co. have teamed up once again to create Death Wish Coffee Vodka. It seemed like a natural progression, says Curtin. Death Wish Coffee Vodka is made by marrying Albany Distilling Co.'s ALB Vodka, which is made from American corn and distilled six times, with Death Wish Coffee Co.'s cold-brew coffee. The result is a soft, bittersweet vodka with notes of chocolate, honey and coffee beans persisting from the nose all the way through the finish.

In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth made history when they became the first reigning monarchs to journey across North America, traveling from Quebec City to Vancouver by train. Prior to their arrival, a local entrepreneur set out to craft a whisky that the King and Queen could enjoy in the privacy of their rail car. After sampling over 600 different blends of whisky, and scouring through hundreds of different types of glass, labels and bottles, the entrepreneur created what he believed to be the perfect whisky and called it Crown Royal. At the beginning of their journey, the King and Queen were gifted ten cases of the whisky from Canada to enjoy on their journey. The first release in Crown Royal's new Noble Collection, which honors the brand's regal roots, Crown Royal Cornerstone Blend Canadian Whiskey is crafted from three of Crown Royal's essential whiskies a spicy Canadian rye, a creamy coffey still whisky and a bourbon-style whisky matured in charred American white oak. Just as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth journeyed across Canada via railroad, Crown Royal Cornerstone Blend was transported to and from Crown Royal's storage facilities by train in D barrels (these barrels have already been used for several maturation cycles, rendering them essentially inactive), allowing the pure and exceptional flavor of the blend to shine through. As a result, Crown Royal Cornerstone Blend has a deep sunburst color, and an aroma of candied apples, malt grains and vanilla extract. The palate is filled with robust flavors of shaved nuts, oak, and orchard and tropical fruits, and leads to a memorably soft finish with hints of lemon tart, figs, honey and a woody spice.

In 1895, Masataka Taketsuru the father of Japanese Whisky was born in the small town of Takehara, Japan. At the time, Masataka's family owned a sake brewery, and in preparing to carry on the family trade, Masataka studied chemistry and biology at Osaka Technical High School. After graduating high school, Masataka showed more interest in whisky than in sake and in 1918, he enrolled at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, becoming the first Japanese ever to study the art of whisky-making. While in Scotland, Masataka took chemistry courses during the day while apprenticing at distilleries at night, learning to distill and blend whisky first-hand at some of Scotland's most prestigious distilleries. In 1920, Masataka returned to Japan, and within the decade, had produced the country's first single malt whisky. In 1934, Masataka moved to the town of Yoichi and opened the doors to Nikka Whisky Co. In 1960, as the Yoichi Distillery was reaching capacity, Masataka began searching for another suitable location in Japan to open a second distillery. Following a three-year search, Masataka found a wide forest valley at the junction of the Hirosegawa and Nikkawagawa rivers. The localized humidity from the rivers and surrounding hills, together with the quality of water from Nikkawagawa River, created the perfect location for a second distillery, which he named Miyagikyo. Meticulously crafted at the Miyagikyo Distillery, Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky is a single malt made with 100% malted barley. Once the grains arrive at the distillery, they are milled and mashed before being distilled through copper-pot stills (sometimes called Coffey stills) that were imported from Scotland in 1963. As a result of their age and shape, the stills produce a whisky that is more flavorful and complex than modern column stills. Following distillation, the whisky is matured in traditional oak casks. Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky has an aroma of cinnamon, lemon and butterscotch, which gives way to an intoxicating palate filled with clove, coconut, orange marmalade and oak. The finish is soft, with hints of mint, grapefruit zest and potpourri.

The term "splinter group" means a subset of people who have broken off from the rest to pursue their own agenda. The Splinter Group as a company is a group of Napa Valley winemakers who have teamed up to finish classic American Whiskeys in ex-Wine casks. The Sinter Group was founded in 2013 by John Wilkinson of winemaker Bin to Bottle and Dave Phinney of Orin Swift Wines. They have since been joined by other experienced oenophiles (wine lovers) in the area, representing decades of experience. As non-distilling producers, they source their aged Whiskeys from established producers across the midwest and southeastern United States and then blend them on site in northern California. The married spirits are finally finished in first-fill Wine casks. They have completed four products to date, including an American Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye, and a Sweet Vermouth. Straight Edge Bourbon is a blend of Tennessee and Kentucky Bourbons aged five, seven, and eight years old. The net mash bill is approximately 70% corn with the balance 17% rye and 13% malted barley. The blend is then finished in local Napa Cabernet Wine casks brining a lush, ripe plum aroma and taste to the traditional Bourbon flavor profile. It has a nice balance and solid mouthfeel and is bottled at 42% ABV. The Wine cask finishing also deepens the color to an antique mahogany hue with hints of red. This Bourbon stands tall on its own as a flavorful sipping Whiskey taken neat or with a few rocks. 

Situated adjacent to the Burn of Rothes in the Speyside region of Scotland, The Glenrothes Distillery was founded by in 1879 by James Stuart, who had previously been employed at The Macallan Distillery. The distillery's history is marred by tragedy in 1897, construction workers who were attempting to expand its capacity started a fire that consumed much of the distillery's equipment and infrastructure. Twenty-five years later, a fire in the distillery's original warehouse caused the loss of 200,000 gallons of maturing whisky. Despite having lost ten copper-pot stills in various accidents since its founding, the Glenrothes Distillery is now a picture of tranquility. The Glenrothes Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made from plump, ripe Scottish barley, which is malted and fermented using water sourced from the Ardcanny and Brauchhill springs (the springs are situated adjacent to the distillery). Following fermentation, the grains are twice distilled through the Glenrothes' copper-pot stills. The stills, which were designed and fashioned to be exact replicas of the original stills installed in 1879, are incredibly tall and uniquely shaped, which contributes to the overall light and sweet flavor of the whisky. After distillation, The Glenrothes' stillmen remove the heads and tails of the distillate and preserve only the "hearts" for maturation (the hearts comprise less than 20% of the entire distillate). The Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a blend of rare and limited vintages produced at The Glenrothes Distillery, each aged exclusively in first-fill ex-Oloroso Sherry casks custom-made in Jerez, Spain. These casks cost as much as five times their American ex-bourbon equivalents The Glenrothes Distillery's Malt Master, Gordon Motion, who hand-selects the casks for the Sherry Cask Reserve, believes they are worth it. The whisky has a complex aroma of lemon cake, Christmas cookies, fresh pear and vanilla, which leads to an equally bold palate filled with notes of gingerbread, oak, flan and baking spices. The finish, which is bitter and nutty, is complete with memorable notes of orange zest.

Don Felipe Camarena's family has been distilling tequila in Jalisco since the early 19th century. After his ancestor's original distillery was destroyed and abandoned during the Mexican Revolution, Don Felipe switched gears, selling his prized blue agave to other distilleries. In 1937, he was finally able to open his own distillery, La Altea, which he passed down to his grandson, Felipe J. Camarena. The younger Felilpe was trained as a civil engineer, and many years later in 2007, Felipe followed in his father's footsteps by opening a distillery of his own: El Pandillo. At El Pandillo, Felipe has constructed a series of original machines to optimize energy use and perfect the art of tequila-making. After harvest, Felipe roasts his agaves in a stone oven equipped with steam jets the jets ensure that the agaves are cooked as evenly as possible, cutting down on cooking time and increasing yields. Next, the roasted agaves are ground and pressed in two different machines (once again of Felipe's design) which extract sugars from the plants fibers, making everything more easily fermented into alcohol. Once distilled, the tequila is proofed with rainwater that is collected using a rooftop funnel which Felipe (unsurprisingly) installed himself. Handcrafted by Felip J. Camarena at El Pandillo, Pasote Tequilas pay tribute to the first agave distillers: the Aztecs. The Aztecs were some of the most ferocious fighters in history, and they often celebrated their victories by drinking the sacred agave plant. Pasote Blanco Tequila is bottled immediately after distillation. The tequila is marked by an herbaceous aroma of perfectly roasted agave, similar to celery root and lime. With an exquisitely soft mouthfeel, the palate opens with zesty citrus leading to a combination of salt, jicama, and taro root. The finish is long, clean, and ever so slightly prickly with white pepper. A minerality derived from the rainwater used during distillation anchors the overall taste of this tequila.

Don Felipe Camarena's family has been distilling tequila in Jalisco since the early 19th century. After his ancestor's original distillery was destroyed and abandoned during the Mexican Revolution, Don Felipe switched gears, selling his prized blue agave to other distilleries. In 1937, he was finally able to open his own distillery, La Altea, which he passed down to his grandson, Felipe J. Camarena. The younger Felilpe was trained as a civil engineer, and many years later in 2007, Felipe followed in his father's footsteps by opening a distillery of his own: El Pandillo. At El Pandillo, Felipe has constructed a series of original machines to optimize energy use and perfect the art of tequila-making. After harvest, Felipe roasts his agaves in a stone oven equipped with steam jets the jets ensure that the agaves are cooked as evenly as possible, cutting down on cooking time and increasing yields. Next, the roasted agaves are ground and pressed in two different machines (once again ofFelipe's design) which extract sugars from the plants fibers, making everything more easily fermented into alcohol. Once distilled, the tequila is proofed with rainwater that is collected using a rooftop funnel which Felipe (unsurprisingly) installed himself. Handcrafted by Felip J. Camarena at El Pandillo, Pasote Tequilas pay tribute to the first agave distillers: the Aztecs. The Aztecs were some of the most ferocious fighters in history, and they often celebrated their victories by drinking the sacred agave plant. Pasote Reposado Tequila is aged for six months in American ex-bourbon barrels. It has a delicate, fruit-forward fragrance of peach and licorice, leading to a warming palate of peppered pineapple and vanilla. The finish is sweet, clean, and spritzed with a hint of pink grapefruit.