In 1815, Donald and Alexander Johnston began leasing nearly 1,000 acres of land on the island of Islay. Their intent was to raise and sell cattle on the land and as a result, they began growing barley to be used as feed for their livestock. Following a particularly bountiful harvest, the brothers distilled the excess grains they had grown into whisky, and sold it to the inhabitants of the island. Soon thereafter, the brothers found it more profitable to distill whisky than to raise cattle, and Laphroaig (pronounced La-froyg) Distillery was born. For over a century, the distillery would remain in the hands of one of Johnston's descendants. In 1954, however, Ian Hunter passed away childless and bequeathed the distillery to Bessie Williamson, a secretary that had been working at the distillery for two decades. Hunter was incredibly protective of the distillery while he slowly revealed its secrets to Williamson after she had earned his trust, Hunter prevented a cooper who was employed at the distillery from publishing his memoirs because they described the workings of the distillery in too great a detail. Laphroaig Single Malt Whisky is one of the most flavorful and intense whiskies made anywhere in the world. During Prohibition, it was one of the few whiskies still legally imported into the United States, as it was considered a medicinal spirit. Laphroaig Single Malt is made from the finest Scottish barley, which is then malted at the distillery and smoked over a peat flame. Unlike other distilleries which source peat from the Scottish mainland, the peat used to smoke Laphroaig barley is made from the heather, mosses and lichens of Islay and adds a distinct iodine-like flavor to the whisky. After the barley has been malted and peated, it is fermented before being twice-distilled through Laphroaig's copper-pot stills. The unique stills have an usually flat base and flat surfaces, which contributes to the overall intensity of the whisky. Laphroaig 25 Year Old Single Malt Whisky is aged for a minimum of 25 years in a combination of European oak casks that were previously used to mature Oloroso sherry and American oak casks that were previously used to mature bourbon. In addition, the maturing casks of whisky are laid to rest in the distillery's warehouses, which are situated along the shores of Loch Laphroaig. As a result, the whisky is imbued with a slightly salty tang that compliments the whisky's notes of dried fruits, cinnamon, and smoky peat. Once the whisky has matured for a minimum of 25 years, it is bottled at cask strength. Laphroaig 25 Year Old Single Malt Whisky was awarded the Gold Medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition, where it was named "Best in Class." In addition, it earned a score of 95 points from Whisky Advocate, which said that the whisky "brilliantly fuses two different styles of whisky into a single, remarkable experience." 

In keeping with the history of the brand and to assure that only the finest quality Bourbon is labeled Belle Meade Bourbon, we painstakingly select barrels sourced from the nation’s finest distillers. To ensure that no other Bourbon in the world tastes like Belle Meade Bourbon, we created a proprietary blend using different high-rye content mash bills and complementary yeast strains. Each batch of our well-aged proprietary blend creates the signature flavor profile that makes Belle Meade Bourbon the award-winning Bourbon of choice for the discerning whiskey drinker.

The high-rye blend of Belle Meade was designed to make it a versatile Bourbon.  It shines whether served neat, with a splash, or on the rocks but it’s also outstanding in a well-made cocktail. The high rye content and 90.4 bottling proof helps Belle Meade Bourbon to stand up to mixers that often mask other Bourbons, thus making it the perfect Bourbon for your favorite classic or craft cocktail creation.

Whoever said everything old is new again was dead on. So don’t drink like your Dad. Drink like your Great Great GREAT Granddad. Drink Belle Meade Bourbon. 

AWARDS

Winner: Double Gold Medal at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 

Winner: - Outstanding Gold, 2015 Spirits of the Americas Competition

Winner: - Made In The South Awards 2013, Garden & Gun Magazine

Winner: - Top 3, Best Bourbons In America, Maxim Magazine

93 Points - Tasting Panel Magazine

91 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Maple syrup and caramel with floral fragrances and a citrus zest.

Palate: Caramel and vanilla with bold rye spice and hints of apricot.

Finish: Long, smooth finish with mellow cherry and plum notes accented by cinnamon, all without the burn found in other 90 proof bourbons.

Colorado Gold Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made using a mash of four locally-sourced grains: corn, rye, wheat and malted barley. 

AWARDS

Earned the title "Best in Class"at the American Distilling Institute Competition in 2012,

Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013.

Tasting Notes

Nose : Gristy smoked barley, kippers with a salted butter, peppered bite;

Taste : The delivery is youthful and barely reaching puberty then suddenly an intensely malty ascendancy followed by a healthy dose of drier oaks;

Finish : A sublime finale for its sheer delicacy and elegance; the peat no more than oozes, there are cups galaore of sugarless medium roast Mysore and finally, as a bourbony trail is discovered, soft liquorice and molassed sugar - easily the highlight of the experience: one of the best finishes of the year;

In the 18th century, a Swiss Mennonite farmer named John Shenk established his family near Pennsylvania's Blue Mountain Valley. Over the years, Shenk found himself with a surplus of grains and began distilling the excess into whiskey. This distillery, eventually named Michter's Distillery, went on to become the United States' inaugural distilling company. Just two decades after its inception, General George Washington turned to Michter's Distillery Whiskey to fortify his troops during a challenging winter at Valley Forge, earning the distillery the moniker of the whiskey that warmed the American Revolution.

The advent of Prohibition in 1919 led to the closure of Michter's Distillery, along with numerous others across the United States. However, in the early 1990s, Joseph J. Magliocco and Richard Newman collaborated to resurrect the brand. Magliocco shared, "When we established our whiskey program for Michter's Distillery, Dick and I aimed to return to the 'cost be damned' origins and produce the finest whiskey possible. Our objective was to demonstrate that American whiskey could rival the best from anywhere in the world."

Michter's Distillery 20 Year Old Bourbon, masterfully crafted by distiller Willie Pratt, reflects Pratt's meticulous approach to maturation developed over his forty-year distilling career, earning him the nickname "Dr. No" for his tendency to reject aging barrels that don't meet his standards. Pratt explains that whiskey aged for over a decade faces a critical juncture, where it can either become extraordinary or unsuitable. Magliocco adds, "We reject barrels that are excessively woody or lack consistency. Willie identified a barrel that tasted delightful but had the consistency of molasses, which we obviously couldn't sell."

Michter's Distillery 20 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon, sourced and curated by Pratt, displays a rich amber hue and releases a bouquet of coffee, vanilla beans, and smoked chips. The palate is dominated by spicy notes, complemented by hints of milk chocolate, citrus, molasses, and caramel. The medium-long finish features touches of chewy leather, smoked dates, and oak, culminating in a remarkable expression of aged bourbon craftsmanship.

Hidden down a dark alley in a former chop shop, skilled men are quietly violating one of Evanston's founding principles: Prohibition. In the 19th century, Frances Elizabeth Willard was elected President of the Chicago Woman's Christian Temperance Union and embarked on a decade-long crusade to prohibit alcohol in the United States. Willard worked tirelessly; as President of the WCTU, she traveled roughly 30,000 miles per year and gave an average of 400 lectures each year for an entire decade As a result, Evanston remained a dry town for over 100 years. It wasn't until Paul Hletko, owner and master distiller at Few Spirits, began lobbying the town that the antiquated laws were lifted. "I'm the vice president of the PTA at my kids' school and I coach their soccer and T-ball teams," Hletko says. "People around town know me and what I'm about, which is handy when you're looking to change 100 years of laws." Today, Hletko and his team of master distillers distill Few Single Malt Whisky in the heart of Evanston, Illinois. Few Single Malt Whisky is crafted exclusively from malted barley. Unlike traditional single malts, however, the whisky is crafted using both cherry wood smoked barley (this imparts a sweet, slightly smoky flavor) and unsmoked two-row barley. After distillation, the single malt is matured in custom-made oak barrels from Minnesota. "The cooper I eventually chose to make our barrels won 24 out of 25 categories at a spirits competition I visited," Hletko says. "I'm no math major, but that's the cooper I want to make our barrels." As a result, the single malt has an aroma of fudge, vanilla and salted caramel. Notes of turmeric, cherry, espresso beans, honey and graham crackers dominate the palate, and lead to a finish with hints of apples, oak, smoke, cinnamon and caramel.

The Irishman. Premium Irish Whiskey. Exceptional character. Championing Irish Single Malt. The recreation of age-old recipes to create unrivalled expressions. For a new generation of whiskey enthusiasts.

Always Single Malt focused – whether championed in blends or pure Single Malt expressions. Always enriching the flavour, lengthening the depth, refining the smoothness. After all, everything comes back to the whiskey. It’s our pride and our focus. Every one a true original, triple distilled to leave a lasting impression.

A tip of the hat to Ireland’s Golden Era of Irish Whiskey. Learning from the past to create the future. Redefining Irish Single Malts. Single Malt – that’s our heart.

In the early 1800’s, New York produced more than half the young nation’s Barley and Rye and the Hudson Valley was the country’s breadbasket. With abundant high quality grain, local craft spirits flourished and over 1000 farm distilleries produced Whiskey and Gin reflecting the unique terroir of the region. In the 1930’s, Prohibition forced these distilleries to shut their doors and this wellspring of American spirits was left dry.

Hillrock Estate Distillery is changing this. Our mission is to produce the finest hand-crafted spirits made with our own grain, floor malted, craft distilled in our copper pot still, aged in fine oak and hand bottled at our estate in the Hudson Valley Highlands. Crowned by a fine 1806 Georgian house built by a successful grain merchant and Revolutionary War Captain and meticulously restored to its original beauty, Hillrock Distillery overlooks our rolling barley fields and the distant Berkshire Mountains. Like our premier spirits, every detail refined, no expense spared, quality steeped in the tradition of 200 years of rich history.

Hillrock is proud to be one of the few “field-to-glass” whiskey producers in the world and the first USA distillery since before Prohibition to floor malt and hand craft whiskey on site from estate grown grain. Hillrock’s commitment to quality embodies the rich history of artisanal distilling in the Hudson Valley. By controlling every aspect of production from planting & harvesting heirloom grains, to smoking our malt, to crafting whiskies in our copper pot still, to aging in small oak barrels and hand bottling, we are able to create the highest quality whiskies reflecting the unique local terroir.

THE ART OF FINE CRAFT DISTILLING HAS MADE THE JOURNEY HOME…

High West Distillery was founded in 2006 by David Perkins and his wife, Jane. David, a former biochemist, was inspired to open his own distillery after seeing the parallels between the fermentation and distilling process and his own work in biochemistry during a trip to a whiskey distillery in Kentucky. In 2004, David and his family relocated to Park City, Utah to begin their new venture, where they began distilling in 2007. They chose Park City because of David’s love of the Old West and Utah’s little-known whiskey history.

High West began with humble roots, opening a small, 250-gallon still and Saloon in an historic livery stable and garage. What was once a small operation in downtown Park City has grown to be an internationally-recognized, award winning brand.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Brandied cherries, fig jam, sun-dried raisins, dried orange peel, baking spice, French oak toast.

Taste: Quince paste, strawberry rhubarb crumble, vanilla caramel, molasses, toffee, leather.

How to Enjoy
We recommend that you enjoy this special spirit neat, due to its many layers of complexity, next to a warm fire as the snow piles up on the window sill. It also pairs beautifully with fig cookies!

Situated along the banks of the East River, Kings County Distillery is New York City's oldest operating whiskey distillery and the first distillery in New York City since Prohibition. Wedged between Williamsburg and Vinegar Hill, Colin Spoelman and David Haskell, the master distillers at Kings County, make hand-crafted bourbon and moonshine out of the 113-year old Paymaster Building at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. A typewriter the two distillers found on the sidewalk in Williamsburg is used to make the labels that adorn their clear, flask-like bottles, while a hairdryer (made by Revlon) is used to afix each bottle seal. Handwritten scrawls on a chalkboard keep track of different batches, and mesh laundry bags are used as strainers. Before white whiskey, there was moonshine, otherwise known as whiskey before it is aged in a barrelthough the word can also mean any illegally-made spirit. Kings County Distillery's Moonshine is a corn whiskey made from 80% New York State organic corn and 20% malted barley. It is double distilled and reduced to a smooth, drinkable 80 proof. Bright with a sweet slap of corn, this is a very respectable take on a classic American whiskey.

Colonel Charles Goodnight was a force to be reckoned with when the west was still being won. As an iconic cowboy, he blazed the historic Goodnight-Loving Trail from Texas to Colorado, driving scores of cattle thousands of miles over dusty plains and snow-packed passes. As a Texas Ranger lawman, he doled out vigilante justice to protect ranchers from rustlers and outlaws. But Goodnight had a head for commerce too, building towns as well as businesses. This premium Small Batch Bourbon harnesses the unique character of this legendary man. Unflappable, unforgettable and one of a kind.

Tasting Notes

Rich aromas of vanilla and caramel and flavors of honey, spice, and smoky tobacco

Situated in Seattle's Capitol Hill Neighborhood, Oola Distillery was founded by Kirby Kallas-Lewis as "a labor of love, intellectual curiosity and commitment to the neighborhood." Oola Waitsburg Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon is crafted from a mash of approximately 65% corn and 20%-28% rye, with the remaining balance split evenly between malted barley and white winter wheat "All our grains are sourced from two organic farms in Eastern Washington," says Kirby. In addition, the use of wheat in the bourbon's mashbill "allows me to hold back on the corn and add more rye. This results in a more complex, balanced and less overly sweet bourbon." Once the ingredients arrive at the distillery, they are milled and mashed before being distilled through Kirby's copper-pot still. Following distillation, the bourbon is matured in small, American white oak casks that are subjected to large temperature swings of up to 50-70 each day. "The idea is to extract a lot of the influence from the barrel early on in the aging process." After this initial beautyrest, the bourbon is transferred to 53-gallon, American white oak casks that boast an alligator char. The alligator char allows the whiskey to penetrate the wood, which hails from the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, up to a inch. There, the bourbon rests for an additional three to four years. Whereas at that point, multiple casks are typically married together to create a blended bourbon whiskey, Oola Waitsburg Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon represents a single barrel bottling from Oola's finest stock of maturing whiskey. This particular batch no. 6, bottled at cask strength exclusively for members, produced only 216 bottles at a robust 114 proof. Doing so allows "the full richness of the nose and flavor profile to stay as intact as possible," says Kirby. Oola Waitsburg Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon has a spicy aroma, with touches of cinnamon, ginger and black peppercorn that give way to notes of caramel, vanilla, cherry and oak on the palate. The finish is warm and balanced, with hints of brown sugar, toffee and maple syrup complementing each other. The bourbon was "highly recommended" by the Beverage Testing Institute, and has a "pleasingly long and mellow finish," according to the Capitol Hill Times. In addition, it earned the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013 and the Silver Medal at the Beverage Testing Institute Competition in 2012. Pick up a bottle today!

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels Bot 2022

Our 11th Cask Strength release has arrived. Made from some of the most distinctive barrels in our rickhouse and aged for up to 14 additional months in port wine casks, it’s one of our most popular and critically acclaimed whiskey collections. 

TASTING NOTES

A dark amber red 119.8 proof bourbon with a creamy, indulgent flavor. Notes of caramel, brown sugar, and fruit.

NOSE: Begins with hints of leather, brown sugar and caramel, followed by crème brûlée, marshmallow, green apple and citrus orange.

PALATE: Apples, caramel, and brown sugar. The creaminess pairs with orange from the nose, creating a dessert-like richness. Vanilla, toasted oak and black pepper spice round it out.

FINISH: Slight fruitiness and grape tannic notes with a lingering spice.

After two Colorado family farms grow our heirloom varietals of wheat, barley and rye, our labor-intensive cooking technique brings each grain’s individual character to life, while open-air sour mash adds soulful complexity. After three years in 53-gallon charred oak barrels, influenced by our high-altitude climate, an entirely novel bourbon unfolds.

AROMAS: Orange blossoms compliment notes of black tea, honey and dusty pepper

FLAVORS:  Pekoe tea, orange peel, cinnamon and vanilla custard. Hints of sweet tobacco and spice lead to a rich, dry finish.

MASH BILL: 60% corn, 20% heirloom wheat, 10% heirloom rye, 10% heirloom malted barley

AGED: 3+ years in new 53 gallon charred oak barrels

OBAN Little Bay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a bold and complex expression that showcases the finest qualities of the Oban distillery. This whisky is a harmonious blend that delights with its rich character and distinctive flavors.

Tasting Notes:

• Scent: The nose is rich with a balanced nuttiness, complemented by the ripe, inviting aromas of orchard fruits. The richness of the scent is deepened by a hint of dried fruit and light spiciness, setting the stage for a flavorful experience.

• Palate: On the palate, the whisky offers a chewy fruit bread flavor, accompanied by warm orange spice and a touch of crisp green apple. These vibrant flavors weave together, providing a mouthfeel that is both smooth and satisfying.

• Finish: The finish is long and elegant, with lingering dark chocolate tannins that enhance the complexity of the whisky. This dark chocolate note ties the experience together, leaving a memorable impression.

• Body: The body is medium to rich with excellent viscosity, creating a luxurious mouthfeel that highlights the depth of the whisky’s flavors.

OBAN Little Bay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a standout choice for those who appreciate a whisky with character and a complexity that evolves from the first sip to the long-lasting finish. Whether enjoyed neat or with a touch of water, this whisky offers an indulgent experience. Perfect for those seeking something bold with a bit of warmth and elegance, it’s also available through exclusive collections like the Royal Batch, which highlights only the finest expressions of whisky.