Situated over 1,000 feet above sea level in southwestern Guatemala, the Ron Zacapa Plantation enjoys generous amount of sunlight and mineral-rich, volcanic soils, making it ideal for the cultivation of fresh, raw sugar cane. There, expert farmers many of whom have been tending to the land for decades carefully analyze the sugar cane as it matures on the estate, harvesting only the canes that are rich in sucrose and fiber and lacking in impurities. While most rums are made using molasses, which is a byproduct of refining sugar cane, Ron Zacapa Rum is made using virgin sugar cane honey. The virgin sugar cane honey is extracted from the first pressing of raw sugar cane harvested on the Zacapa Plantation, and lends a luxurious, smooth texture to the rum. Once the honey has been extracted, it is fermented with a unique strain of pineapple yeast before being distilled through a single column still lined with copper. Following distillation, Ron Zacapa Gran Reserva Sistema Solera 23 Rum is solera-aged through a series of casks that were previously used to mature bourbon, sherry and Pedro Ximnez wine. Solera aging is a process that has generally been reserved for aging cognacs, ports and sherries. It involves filling a series of casks at different intervals over a long period of time. As rum from the oldest cask is emptied and bottled, the cask is re-filled with an equivalent amount of rum from the second-oldest cask in the solera. This cascading effect continues until the youngest cask in the solera is filled with new rum. As a result, no cask in the solera is ever fully emptied. In addition, as the younger rum cascades through the solera, its average age and complexity gradually increases over time. As a result of this solera-aging process, Ron Zacapa Gran Reserva Rum has notes of dark figs, raisins, candied nuts and dried fruits. In addition, the solera used to age the rum is situated in the highlands of Quetzaltenango, 7500 feet above sea level. The thinner air and lower atmospheric pressure at "the solera above the clouds" intensifies the maturation process, and creates a more complex, layered rum. Once the rum has cascaded through the solera, Lorena Vazquez Ron Zacapa's master blender blends together rum that has matured for up to 23 years. "I like things to have a structure, to be complex," says Vazquez, "so when you sip a rum, you're going to discover it, and it should surprise you." Ron Zacapa Gran Reserva Sistema Solera 23 Rum has a light mahogany color, along with an aroma of sweet caramel, vanilla, cacao beans and butterscotch. The aroma opens up to notes of sweet honey, raisined fruit and apricots on the palate, which are well-complemented by notes of oak, coffee, leather and tobacco. The finish, which lingers just enough, ends with a touch caramel. The rum earned a score 97 points from the Beverage Tasting Institute, and won five consecutive Gold Medals at the International Rum Festival, where it was ultimately inducted into the Hall of Fame.

From The Brand

At Springbank we pride ourselves on producing a single malt that is made entirely in-house, employing traditional skills that have been passed down from one generation to the next. Produced since 1828, Springbank Single Malts are lightly peated in our kiln and distilled 2.5 times.

Our 18 year old is full of authority and is a classic, full-bodied dram. With a delicious nose, this whisky will tempt you in and hold your attention as you uncover its unique palate and finish.

65% Bourbon, 35% Sherry

Tasting Notes

Nose: The sherry influence is immediately apparent on the nose, with notes of raisins, prunes, mixed peel and fruit cake. There are notes of hard toffee and crème caramel, along with a spicy, wood element.

Palate: The palate introduces notes of madeira cake, marzipan and gingerbread. There is a sweetness in notes of honey and syrup and the creamy caramel note from the nose persists.

Finish: A woody finish with notes of allspice and aniseed.

Founded in 1982 by German-born Jrg Rupf, St. George Spirits is one of the oldest craft distilleries in the United States. The distillery, housed in an old World War II airplane hangar on a former naval base on the edge of San Francisco, is home to Lance Winters, mad scientist and St. George's master distiller. Winters, who is widely-known for experimenting with different types of spirits, has a laboratory dominated by a 10-liter test still in addition to the glass beakers and graduated cylinders that cover every inch of counterspace. Next to the dusty chalkboards caked with equations for the conversion of sugar to alcohol and intricate diagrams of molecular structures are bottles of experimental whiskies, vodkas and even an aging balsamic vinegar (it's 14 years old already). St. George Botanivore Gin a botanical eater of a gin is infused with 19 different herbs and botanicals, including angelica root, bay laurel, bergamot peel, black peppercorn, caraway, cardamom, cilantro, cinnamon, citra hops, coriander, dill seed, fennel seed, ginger, juniper berries, lemon peel, lime peel, orris root, Seville orange peel and star anise. While the juniper, bay laurel and fresh cilantro are added to the gin's botanical basket, the other 16 botanicals are steeped overnight in the copper-pot still. Then, gentle steam heat is added to the still, in order to coax out the flavors and aromas of the herbs and botanicals. Fresh and slightly herbaceous, St. George Botanivore Gin has bright notes of citrus, earth and spice that are complimented by subtle floral undertones. The gin earned a score of 93 points from Wine Enthusiast, which selected it as one of the Top 50 Spirits of 2012. In addition, Park and Bond wrote that it was "a sunshine-drenched greenhouse of a spirit"while Esquire called it "complex and bright." This gin represents a unique expression by one of America's most creative craft distilleries.

Founded in 1982 by German-born Jrg Rupf, St. George Spirits is one of the oldest craft distilleries in the United States. The distillery, housed in an old World War II airplane hangar on a former naval base on the edge of San Francisco, is home to Lance Winters, mad scientist and St. George's master distiller. Winters, who is widely-known for experimenting with different types of spirits, has a laboratory dominated by a 10-liter test still in addition to the glass beakers and graduated cylinders that cover every inch of counterspace. Next to the dusty chalkboards caked with equations for the conversion of sugar to alcohol and intricate diagrams of molecular structures are bottles of experimental whiskies, vodkas and even an aging balsamic vinegar (it's 14 years old already). Made using juniper, Douglas Fir, California bay laurel, coastal sage and coriander seeds, along with a number of other herbs and botanicals, St. George Terroir Gin is a true California Gin. The coriander seeds are roasted inside a well-seasoned wok, which contributes an earthy, aromatic bouquet to the gin. In addition, the Douglas Fir and coastal sage are distilled individually through Winters' 250-liter copper-pot still, which minimizes seasonal configurables in the botanicals. Finally, while the fresh bay laurel leaves and juniper berries are infused through the still's botanical basket, the remainder of the botanicals are placed directly in the pot, resulting in a cleaner and crisper flavor. St. George Terroir Gin has a stunning bouquet of fresh, forest aromas, including pine and oak. The woodsy notes are complemented by bursts of juniper and sage, and lead to a crisp finish. St. George Terroir is "spectacularly evocative"according to Food and Wine Magazine, and "one of the most distinctive gins made in America"according to GQ Magazine. This gin represents a unique expression by one of America's most creative craft distilleries.

Each winter, Marko Karakasevic, master distiller at Charbay Distillery, travels to Central California and selects organically grown, tree-ripened blood oranges at their peak maturity. The oranges are delivered to his distillery in St. Helena, California within three days and crushed skins and all by Marko (a 13th generation master distiller!) and his team. Blood oranges' distinctive crimson pigment is a result of high levels of anthocyanins, an antioxidant thought to protect against ailments such as cancer, inflammation and diabetes. Grown in cool climates, blood oranges are more intense than ordinary oranges and have unique, raspberry-like flavors in addition to typical citrus notes. Using a secret process that takes nearly six months, Marko and his team extract the flavor, color and antioxidants from the blood oranges. The fruit extract is then blended with Charbay's award-winning Clear Vodka. Charbay Clear Vodka, which has been rated the best vodka in the world twice by the Spirit Journal, is distilled from 100% American Midwest corn and rye. Distilled in a double copper alembic charentais pot to 192 proof, Clear Vodka is gently, gently filtered and bottled by hand. Charbay Blood Orange Vodka is free from essences, perfumes, dyes, fragrances and so-called "natural flavors"- it is made from 100% organically-grown, real fruit. When asked how he makes Charbay Blood Orange Vodka, Marko replied, "with the best fruit possible." Try some of the best vodka today!

WHISKEY TYPE

WHEATED BOURBON

ABV

46% 92 PROOF

750ml

MASH BILL

70% CORN
ORIGIN: CALIFORNIA

25% WHEAT
ORIGIN: CALIFORNIA

5% MALTED BARLEY
ORIGIN: WYOMING

FLAVOR PROFILE

TOASTED VANILLA, ALMOND,
TOFFEE BRITTLE, AND COFFEE

FOOD PAIRING

ROASTED CHICKEN, DUCK FAT POTATOES
FENNEL & GREEN APPLE SALAD

Balblair 15 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a revered expression from the esteemed Balblair distillery in the Scottish Highlands. Aged for 15 years, this whisky embodies the essence of tradition and craftsmanship. With a meticulous production process that starts with the finest malted barley and pure Highland water, it undergoes fermentation and distillation in copper pot stills. The result is a whisky with a rich depth of flavor, characterized by notes of honey, vanilla, citrus, and oak. The Royal Batch designation honors the distillery's royal heritage, making it a true connoisseur's choice for those seeking a refined and elegant dram.

From the Brand

At Springbank we pride ourselves on producing a single malt that is made entirely in-house, employing traditional skills that have been passed down from one generation to the next. Produced since 1828, Springbank Single Malts are lightly peated in our kiln and distilled 2.5 times.

Always bottled at cask strength, this is a wonderfully balanced dram that boasts a smooth, buttery body and rich, fruity palate. Add a drop of water to release milk chocolate and vanilla notes.

100% Bourbon 

Tasting Notes

Nose: The peat influence is immediately apparent on the nose, along with initial medicinal and aniseed notes from the Bourbon maturation. Butterscotch and toffee notes add a sweet element, followed by a creamy, nutty aroma.

Palate: Creamy confectionery and smooth toffee follow through from the nose. Sweet lemon sponge cake, cream soda and turkish delight accompany the delicate peat influence.

Finish: A smooth finish with hints of ginger and lemon zest. The gentle peat smoke endures to round off this cask strength whisky.

When Prohibition outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in 1920, a few enterprising residents of Iowa chose to become outlaws rather than teetotalers. Alphonse Kerkhoff, a farmer by trade, began cooking batches of rye whiskey near his home in Templeton to supplement his income. "The Good Stuff," as Kerkhoff's rye was known, was so popular that he began tying a white horse named Babe to a polein his front yard as a signal to residents that another batch of Templeton Rye was ready. Shortly thereafter, Kerkhoff partnered with notorious bootlegger Al Capone to distribute his rye across the country. Capone bootlegged hundreds of barrels of Templeton Rye to speakeasies in New York, Chicago and as far west as San Francisco legend has it that he even had a case smuggled into his jail cell at Alcatraz. Following Prohibition, Kerkhoff continued to cook Templeton Rye for his friends and family, before eventually passing the recipe on to his son, Meryl. Today, nearly a century after it was first distilled, Templeton Rye pays homage to that recipe by Keith Kerkhoff, Alfonse's grandson. Templeton Rye is made in Indiana from a variety of winter and spring rye grains that possess specific organoleptic qualities. The rye (which comprises over 90% of the mashbill, with the remainder being malted barley) is fermented for 72-84 hours using a yeast culture that was developed specifically for whiskey production. After fermentation, the mash is double-distilled and then aged in charred, American white oak casks (sourced from a Missouri cooperage) for a minimum of four years. The whiskey is bottled in Templeton, Iowa, where Iowa's hot summers, cold winters and wet springs (monthly average temperatures range from a high of 86.2 F to a low of 6.3 F) result in more contact between the whiskey and the oak prior to bottling, helping the whiskey mature faster and giving it more complexity and flavor. Templeton Rye earned the Gold Medal at the 2009 and 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was named "Rye Whiskey of the Year"in the 2009 Whisky Bible. It also earned the title "Best of Whiskey"at the 2008 Los Angeles Wine and Spirits Competition, beating out more than 4,000 other entrants in the competition. Now that Prohibition is over, you can enjoy Templeton Rye conspicuously.

Mature in age and truly exceptional in quality, Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon has earned its place as an enduring favorite of the most discerning whiskey connoisseurs. The “Best American Whiskey” according to Food & Wine magazine, our 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon represents the culmination of over a decade of patient aging in specially chosen, new charred American white oak barrels. 

COOPERAGE: Fire-charred, new American white oak barrels

TASTING NOTES: Big and bold dark toffee and caramel, charred oak, maple syrup, vanilla.

Distilled in a 450-liter Christian Carl pot still manufactured in Goppingen, Germany, Dry Fly Gin is handcrafted by Don Poffenroth and Kent Fleischmann, the master distillers at Dry Fly Distilling. After training in distillery operation withAlexander Plank and Nick Haasein Germany, Don and Kent opened the doors of Dry Fly Distillery in 2007, making it the first legal distillery in Washington state since Prohibition. Don and Kent have embraced a grains-to-glass approach to craft distilling they use only locally-sourced grains and botanicals grown at sustainable farms. Their commitment to sustainable farming is reflected in the gin's recipe which calls for juniper, coriander, lavender, Eastern Washington soft winter wheat, mint, dried Fuji apples and hops. This unique recipe gives the gin an apple and honeysuckle nose and a sweet, well-balanced flavor. This balance means that the gin makes for an unusually sublime martini garnished with either lemon peels or olives. The recipe also earned Dry Fly Gin the Silver Medal at the Micro Liquor Spirits Awards in 2011 and the Gold Medal at the New York World Wine & Spirit Competition the same year.

Situated along the northern coast of South America, Guyana was colonized by the Netherlands in the early 17th century. Much like other European countries at the time, the Dutch used their settlement's tropical climate Guyana enjoys an average temperature of up to 89.6 F and up to 137.8 inches of rain annually as a source of raw, fresh ingredients that were unable to be harvested on the European continent. In 1658, Guyana began exporting sugar back to the Netherlands and within a decade, farmer's along the Demerara River began distilling their excess cane sugar into rum. By the turn of the century, the tiny Caribbean country had over 300 unique distilleries. Today, Demerara Distillers Co. the last remaining rum distillery in the country pays homage to Guyana's rich tradition of distilling fine rum with El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum. El Dorado Rum is made from fresh, raw sugar cane cultivated in Guyana's rich, alluvial soil. After the sugar cane has been harvested by hand, it is transported back to Demerara Distillery by barge. There, the molasses is fermented with a proprietary strain of yeast specifically designed to control the Brix of the wash (Brix is the measure of dissolved solids in a solution). Following fermentation, the rum is distilled through Demerara Distillers' antique wooden and copper stills (the stills, which are up two centuries old, were used when the country was still a settlement). El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum is matured in bespoke, 45-gallon American oak casks for a minimum of twelve years. The hand-coopered barrels are allowed to mature in a custom-built warehouse, where Guyana's intense heat and tropical climate forces the rum and wood to mingle. Th rum has a smoky, savory aroma, with hints of oak, cinnamon and caramelized oranges. Notes of tropical fruits, banana bread and coconuts dominate the palate, and are complemented by touches of tobacco, cedar and woody spice, and lead to a long, caramel finish. El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum earned the Gold Medal and the title "Best in Class" at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2011. In addition, it was named on the "Top 10 List" by the The New York Times. 

Created in 1840, this yellow liqueur is inspired by the Elixir Végétal recipe. It was so popular that Father Garnier, attorney and responsible for liqueurs at the time, subsequently decided to officially name it Chartreuse Jaune and registered the “Chartreuse” mark in 1852. It was a liqueur with a 43 ° content, produced and still made today by the Chartreux Fathers.

TASTING NOTES

An intense yellow color, a fresh and spicy nose.

A soft structure.

Scents of turmeric, citrus and anise.

Floral notes extend the tasting.

In 1837, Henry McKenna emigrated from Ireland to the United States. After spending nearly two decades as a farmer in Kentucky, McKenna founded an eponymous distillery in 1855. At the time, McKenna focused on the production of wheat whiskey (the only crop he was harvesting at the time) and was able to distill enough whiskey to fill one barrel each day. As word of McKenna's high-quality whiskey spread, McKenna was able to triple his distillation capacity, and began experimenting with the production of bourbon. Following his death in 1893, McKenna's three sons Daniel, Stafford and James began operating the business. Today, Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey honors the rich family tradition and pioneering spirit of the McKenna family. The bourbon, which is made from a mash of primarily corn, is the only extra-aged bottled-in-bond single barrel bourbon available today. Pursuant to the Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897 (27 C.F.R. 5.21), any spirit labeled as "Bonded" or "Bottled-in-Bond" must be the product of one distiller at one distillery during one distillation season. In addition, the Act requires that bonded spirits be aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof. Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey is matured for a minimum of forty Kentucky seasons (ten years) before each bottle is filled and labeled with its batch and bottle number. As a result of its extra-long maturation period, the bourbon has an aroma of warm spices, smoke and burnt caramel. The aroma gives way to notes of chewy leather, chilli peppers and habanero, which are complemented by subtle touches of dried fruits, vanilla and cinnamon. The finish is warm and lush, with bold notes of roasted corn, cloves and woody spices. Since each bottle of McKenna's Single Barrel Bourbon is bottled from a single cask rather than being crafted from a batch of casks, however, each bottle is slightly different and entirely interesting. Henry McKenna 10 Year Old Bourbon was named one of the top 12 spirits ever tasted by Proof66 and was called "magnificent" by Jim Murray, author of the Whisky Bible. In addition, the bourbon earned a score of 90-95 points from Wine Enthusiast. 

"Kirk and Sweeney was the name of a wooden schooner that was best known for smuggling rum from the Caribbean to the United States during Prohibition," says August Sebastiani, President of 35 Maple Street Distillery. Just before it entered the territorial waters of the United States, the schooner would drop anchor and sell the rum to smaller boats which would come up alongside the Kirk and Sweeney. The smaller boats, which were faster and more maneuverable than the boats in the Coast Guard's fleet, would smuggle the rum ashore. As other boats followed suit, the edge of U.S. jurisdiction the line where boats like the Kirk and Sweeney dropped anchor became known as the "Rum Line" and the row of ships waiting to sell rum on the Rum Line were said to be anchored on "Rum Row." Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Old Rum is a rum crafted in the Dominican Republic from raw sugarcane. After being distilled, the rum is aged for twelve years in American oak casks. As a result, it has deep mahogany color along with an aroma of earthy sugar cane and vanilla. The initial flavors of sweet nectar and honey give way to notes of oak and toffee. The finish, which is bold and ripe, ends with a smooth vanilla kick. "Playing off the concept of global navigation," says Sebastiani, "we silkscreened an antique nautical map of the main rum smuggling route around the circumference of the bottle"of Kirk and Sweeney Rum. In addition, the neck of the bottle is hand-numbered with the rum's batch and bottle number, while a photo of the Kirk and Sweeney and the bottle's safety seal are printed to look like authentic nautical brass. "The overall design serves as a reminder of the risk so many were willing to take for a good taste of rum during the 1920s," says Sebastiani. Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Old Rum earned a score of 95 points from Wine Enthusiast, which named it one of the Top 50 Spirits of 2013, and was called one of the Best New Rums of 2013 by Liquor.com.