Lovingly handcrafted and aged in Kentucky, Pinhook Bourbon was established in 2014 and has produced several small-batch bottlings in their newly restored Castle & Key distillery in Frankfort, KY, to much critical acclaim. What makes their line unique is the brand's three distinctive characteristics: its limited availability, mass appeal, and strong ties to Kentucky's legacy of horse racing. Each release of Pinhook Bourbon is named after a thoroughbred owned by Bourbon Lane Stable. The label also features the horses racing records on their brand's website. Every fall Pinhook features an annual vintage of Pinhook Bourbon and Pinhook Rye, each of which is inspired by a thoroughbred horse. Each blend is as unique as the horse on the label. "Pinhooking" refers to an old Kentucky term for purchasing young thoroughbreds, holding them until they mature, and selling them when they are ready to run. Successful pinhooks much like whiskey are made on instinct, experience, an appreciation of quality, and a little luck. Pinhook bourbons and ryes are handcrafted to reflect the richness of the Kentucky soil and the character of its beautiful horse country. The 2020 rye expression is Pinhook Tiz Rye Time 4YO Vertical Series, a straight rye whiskey that is crafted from a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. Bottled at 97 proof, it's the first of a new annual-release series. "It will be exciting to follow the maturation of both rye and bourbon over the course of 9 years and understand how each style of whiskey progresses individually as well as in comparison to the other," says Master Blender Sean Josephs. "The 4 Year old rye at 97 proof is already showing great complexity, depth and structure and I am fascinated to go on this whiskey journey which will culminate with a 12 year old rye in 2028."

100% malted grain from a single distillery, this whisky incorporates a European style grain bill with an R6 twist: peated malt, distiller’s malt, chocolate malt, and coffee malt.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Smoked Coffee and Chocolate
Palate: Smoky and Slightly Sweet with Subtle Undertones
Finish: Warm, Dark Coffee

The story of the R6 Distillery begins with one Rob Rubens becoming disillusioned after nearly a decade of working in corporate America. After taking a tour of the Old New Orleans Rum Distillery he was captivated by the idea of starting a small and family-owned distillery and bringing quality spirits to Los Angeles. This is how the R6 Distillery and Speakeasy, situated in LA's suburb of El Segundo, came to be. Rob turned to his family history for inspiration. The name "R6" comes from six Ruben brothers, Rob's ancestors, who opened the Rubens Rialto Theatre in Joliet, Illinois in 1926. This entrepreneurship that runs in the family, as well as the stories he heard of the theatre operating in the Roaring Twenties and during the days of The Prohibition, played a great part in his decision to start R6. Today they produce over a dozen craft spirits, continuing Rob's vision of striving for greatness. R6 Carmela is named for Carmel, California. Bottled at 66 proof, it features an intense and flavorful caramel-forward profile with corn and rye spice in the background. Adorned with an attractive graphic on the label, the flavored whiskey won a Bronze Medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Following the end of the American Civil War, the Ripy Brothers returned to their native state of Kentucky and together, opened a distillery on the slopes of a hill in Lawrenceburg. The distillery operated continuously for nearly fifty years until the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale of alcohol in the United States, was ratified. Following the end of Prohibition, the Ripy Brothers Distillery was reopened and a distillery executive named Thomas McCarthy took samples of maturing whiskey from the distillery on a turkey hunt with a group of friends. The next year, his friends asked him to bring "some of that wild turkey whiskey" on their next hunt, giving birth to the distillery's new name. Today, Wild Turkey Distillery is stewarded by Master Distiller Jimmy Russell and his son Eddie Russell (together, the pair have over 90 years of experience producing bourbon). "I was born and raised in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky," says Jimmy, "which was a small community when I was growing up, but there were four bourbon distilleries here, and you had families working all the distilleries. You wanted to get in the business. My grandfather and my father, me, and now my son, we've all been in the business." Wild Turkey Master's Keep series explores the premium end of American whiskey. Master's Keep 17 Year Old Bottled in Bond holds a special place in their lineup as the oldest whiskey they have on offer. Only the second expression with the bottled-in-bond designation from the producer, this 100-proof whiskey was hand-selected by Master Distiller Eddie Russell in order to create a truly big and bold expression. "We took the historic process and protocol of aging for four years to the next level and allowed the liquid to rest for 17 years. We aged and perfected this rare, 17-year-old bourbon in Wild Turkey's Camp Nelson rickhouses," says Russell. 

Born in December 1839, William Grant became a cattle herder at the age of 7 to supplement his family's income. As a teenager, Grant apprenticed as a cobbler and a clerk, and in 1866, he joined Mortlach Distillery as a bookkeeper. For the next two decades, Grant managed the affairs at the distillery, while secretly learning the art of distillation. In 1886, he resigned from his position as distillery manager and, together with his seven sons, two daughters, and one sporadically working stonemason, built his family distillery in Scotland. William Grant & Sons is now a behemoth that is among the largest producers of Scotch in the world and is home to several massively successful labels. Yet it is still family-owned, run by Grant's descendants, and independent. Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Girvan Grain, Tullamore, and several other distilleries operate under them. With the release of Fistful of Bourbon in 2018, William Grant & Sons entered into the world of bourbon whiskey. It's a blend of 5 straight bourbons, aged 2 years and up in new charred oak barrels, before being bottled at 90 proof. The blend was crafted by Master Blender Brian Kinsman and Kelsey McKechnie to balance sweetness and spice, and have 5 distinct flavors: A balanced sweetness, green and floral notes, spice and nutmeg, buttery toffee, and a touch of cinnamon and licorice.

John Emerald Distilling Company is a family-run small-batch craft distillery from Opelika, Alabama that has been operational since 2014. It is the first legal distillery that opened in the state since the end of the Prohibition era, a year short of a hundred years later. It all started when John and his son Jimmy Sharp, both homebrewers, started looking into opening a brewery. Finding the market to be oversaturated, they turned to craft distilling instead and started rigorous training and education. They came upon an old cotton warehouse in Opelika, a small and business-friendly town where the mayor welcomed them with open arms. The distillery now operates on 8 thousand square feet and has a tasting room that is open for visitors. They produce several spirits using their 350-gallon hybrid pot, each product named after one of John's and Jimmy's ancestors their (grand) father John Emerald Sharp, a successful businessman, being the distillery's namesake. The spirits include award-winning gin, vodka, rum, and a single malt. The latter John Emerald Alabama Single Malt Whiskey is at the very core of their lineup and is the only one to share the name with the distillery itself. Then there's Hugh Wesley's Gin, Elizabeth Vodka, Spurgeon's Barrel Aged Rum, and Gene's Spiced Rum. This expression in John Emerald's Purveyor's Series Double Wood is a bourbon whiskey that is aged in new American oak barrels. But there's a twist, the barrels are filled with wood chips. In this case, toasted American white oak chips are used. The unique way of finishing the whiskey ensures that an extraordinary amount of liquid comes into contact with the wood, imparting the nicely-balanced sweet bourbon with an extra layer of oakiness.

John Emerald Distilling Company is a family-run small-batch craft distillery from Opelika, Alabama that has been operational since 2014. It is the first legal distillery that opened in the state since the end of the Prohibition era, a year short of a hundred years later. It all started when John and his son Jimmy Sharp, both homebrewers, started looking into opening a brewery. Finding the market to be oversaturated, they turned to craft distilling instead and started rigorous training and education. They came upon an old cotton warehouse in Opelika, a small and business-friendly town where the mayor welcomed them with open arms. The distillery now operates on 8 thousand square feet and has a tasting room that is open for visitors. They produce several spirits using their 350-gallon hybrid pot, each product named after one of John's and Jimmy's ancestors their (grand) father John Emerald Sharp, a successful businessman, being the distillery's namesake. The spirits include award-winning gin, vodka, rum, and a single malt. The latter John Emerald Alabama Single Malt Whiskey is at the very core of their lineup and is the only one to share the name with the distillery itself. Then there's Hugh Wesley's Gin, Elizabeth Vodka, Spurgeon's Barrel Aged Rum, and Gene's Spiced Rum. The John Emerald Purveyor's Series Double Wood is a rye whiskey that is aged in new American oak barrels. But there's a twist, the barrels are filled with pecan wood chips. This unique method of finishing the whiskey ensures that an extraordinary amount of liquid comes into contact with the wood, imparting the sweet and spicy rye with additional nutty pecan notes. The unique rye whiskey is bottled at 86 proof. 

A truly original bourbon, complements of a truly original bootlegger.

GEORGE REMUS® Bourbon captures the rebellious spirit of the Prohibition era with a hint of vanilla, a maple aroma and a sweet-yet-characteristic rye flavor.

Tasting Notes

AROMA: Sweet with notes of maple and vanilla

TASTE: Hint of vanilla and a sweet - yet - characteristic rye flavor

FINISH: Smooth, long finish, giving way to the subtle vanilla sweetness

The Rossville Distillery opened its doors in 1847 in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, the then-upcoming rye whiskey capital of the world. Located near the Ohio River, the distillery had a beneficial position for trade, as well as an aquifer directly beneath it that provided limestone-filtered water. During their humble beginnings, a single blind horse was pulling the grist mill, capping the production at 2 barrels per week. But by the 20th century, the company had come a long way, capable of storing 60 thousand barrels at once. Rye whiskey was on the rise and the distillery was up to the challenge. The spirit was immensely popular before Prohibition and the old fashioned was created among other rye cocktails. Rossville Union was resurrected by MGP and continues the tradition at the historic 1847 distillery, focusing on masterfully-crafted rye whiskey. Their Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey expression is a testament to that. The smooth and slightly smoky spirit is aged at least 5 years new charred American oak barrels and bottled at 94 proof.

In Kentucky, buffalo carved a pathway followed by America’s first explorers. Those brave pioneers distilled whiskey using traditional methods and drank it right off the still. They called it White Dog. This raw distillate was clear, un-aged and had a hint of sweet corn. Later distillers discovered this spirit was perfect for aging - creating what we know today as fine Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. We’re still making whiskey on the spot where ancient buffalo once crossed the Kentucky River and following centuries of time-honored distilling tradition. Enjoy this White Dog the way Americans did more than 200 years ago.

TASTING NOTES

Sweet aroma, with a slight burn. The corn coats the tongue with oil and vanilla.

Situated along the banks of the River Derwent on the island of Tasmania, Sullivans Cove was the site of one of Britain's first penal colonies in Australia. In 1804, at the order of the Governor King of the British settlement of New South Wales, Lt. John Bowen transported some of the most heinous British criminals to Sullivans Cove, which eventually developed into the city of Hobart. Hobart was the perfect penal colony the area's dense forests required a huge labor force in order to establish a settlement, and its isolation and inaccessibility ensured there was no escape. Today, the island of Tasmania remains one of the most isolated and natural places on earth approximately 37% of the island is protected as natural reserves. Sullivans Cove Single Malt Tasmanian Whisky is made from barley grown exclusively on the island of Tasmania. "The island's deep red basalt soil, pure water and mild temperatures result in a barley that is perfect for distillation," says Patrick Maguire, the distillery's founder and master distiller (his ancestors were convicts that were imprisoned on the island). In addition, the island has one of the oldest and strictest quarantine programs in the world, ensuring that the barley remains untainted. Once the barley has been harvested, it is malted at the Cascade Brewery by Roger Ibbott, who has over four decades of experience malting barley. The malted barley is then mashed and fermented at Sullivans Cove Distillery using a unique strain of yeast developed specifically for the production of Sullivans Cove Whisky. Then, the wash is distilled twice through a handmade copper-pot still. "The real trick is to cut the run short, so that only the sweetest, best flavors and purest alcohol from the heart of the run is captured", says Macguire. "It's not the most sensible approach by an accountant's standards, but then it's a good thing that we are not accountants!" Their American Oak Single Cask is master distiller Patrick Maguire's favorite expression and the one in their lineup to have garnered the most accolades over the years. The first Australian whisky to achieve a Liquid Gold Award in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, this spirit spends around 13 years in ex-bourbon casks (it's done when it's done!), before being bottled at 95 proof. It's a great showcase of the style of the distillery with its rich and creamy profile that has plenty of vanilla, caramel, and fruit notes.

Situated along the banks of the River Derwent on the island of Tasmania, Sullivans Cove was the site of one of Britain's first penal colonies in Australia. In 1804, at the order of the Governor King of the British settlement of New South Wales, Lt. John Bowen transported some of the most heinous British criminals to Sullivans Cove, which eventually developed into the city of Hobart. Hobart was the perfect penal colony the area's dense forests required a huge labor force in order to establish a settlement, and its isolation and inaccessibility ensured there was no escape. Today, the island of Tasmania remains one of the most isolated and natural places on earth approximately 37% of the island is protected as natural reserves. Sullivans Cove Single Malt Tasmanian Whisky is made from barley grown exclusively on the island of Tasmania. "The island's deep red basalt soil, pure water and mild temperatures result in a barley that is perfect for distillation," says Patrick Maguire, the distillery's founder and master distiller (his ancestors were convicts that were imprisoned on the island). In addition, the island has one of the oldest and strictest quarantine programs in the world, ensuring that the barley remains untainted. Once the barley has been harvested, it is malted at the Cascade Brewery by Roger Ibbott, who has over four decades of experience malting barley. The malted barley is then mashed and fermented at Sullivans Cove Distillery using a unique strain of yeast developed specifically for the production of Sullivans Cove Whisky. Then, the wash is distilled twice through a handmade copper-pot still. "The real trick is to cut the run short, so that only the sweetest, best flavors and purest alcohol from the heart of the run is captured", says Macguire. "It's not the most sensible approach by an accountant's standards, but then it's a good thing that we are not accountants!" The Old & Rare series holds their most precious whiskies. While they normally age their spirits between 10 and 12 years, some casks with exceptional qualities are singled out during maturation. These qualities make them suitable for longer aging periods, benefiting from the extended process. These Single Cask bottlings contain the oldest and rarest Australian whiskies. This particular expression has spent 17 years in its ex-bourbon American oak cask, before being bottled at 95 proof and labeled by hand. The bottle is presented in a unique wood box with a letter of authenticity that's signed by head distiller Patrick Maguire and production manager Heather Tillott.

For over 200 years, our Distillery has been defined by a dedication to one craft: making fine bourbon whiskey. By honoring tradition and embracing change, Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned its place of leadership among the legendary spirits makers of the world. Take a look at this time honored craft from start to finish.

In partnership with the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc), Buffalo Trace Distillery produced this Rye Recipe Bourbon Whiskey. Made with the same high quality grains as Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey, this Kosher spirit was aged in specifically designated Kosher barrels. In order to satisfy Passover requirements, these barrels were sold to a non-Jewish executive in a ceremony witness by a representative from the cRc. After aging for seven years, this Rye Recipe Bourbon was bottled at 94 proof after ensuring the bottling lines were cleaned beforehand and that no contact was made by non-Kosher spirits. Released after Passover each year, this Rye Recipe Bourbon is bold and independent, celebrating its heritage from America’s oldest continually-operating distillery.

TASTING NOTES

For over 200 years, our Distillery has been defined by a dedication to one craft: making fine bourbon whiskey. By honoring tradition and embracing change, Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned its place of leadership among the legendary spirits makers of the world. Take a look at this time honored craft from start to finish.

Buffalo Trace Distillery produced this Wheat Recipe Bourbon in a partnership with the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc). Made with the same high quality grains as W.L. Weller Bourbon Whiskey, this Kosher spirit was aged in specifically designated Kosher barrels. In order to satisfy Passover requirements, these barrels were sold to a non-Jewish executive in a ceremony witnessed by a representative from the cRc. After aging for seven years, this Wheat Recipe Bourbon was bottled at 94 proof after ensuring the bottling lines were cleaned beforehand and that no contact was made with non-Kosher spirits. Released after Passover each year, this Wheat Recipe Bourbon stands alone, a tribute to the legacy of America’s oldest continually-operating distillery.

TASTING NOTES

2009 was the year the State of Tennessee decided to change its laws, allowing the making of moonshine for the very first time in over a century. Ole Smoky was co-founded by Joe Baker in Tennessee, and the brand has created a broad range of flavored Moonshine and more than a dozen Whiskeys, as well as canned ready-to-drink cocktails. Touting themselves as Appalachian born and bred, the Ole Smoky family was among the first to step foot in the Smoky Mountains. They craft their whiskeys using time-honored traditions of whiskey making. Quickly following Tennessee's change in state law which permitted the distillation of spirits, Baker got to work crafting one of a kind, mountain-made moonshine, making Ole Smoky the first federally-licensed distillery in the history of East Tennessee. Their whiskey lineup includes Mango Habanero, Cinnamon, Root Beer, Peach, Peanut Butter, Vanilla Bean, Cookies & Cream, and several other expressions. Ole Smoky Butter Pecan Moonshine is among their lower-proof flavored offerings, clocking in at 35 proof. Flavored with butter, cream, toasted pecans, and caramel, with their own moonshine serving as the backbone, it's a super-creamy twist on the classic flavor combination.

2009 was the year the State of Tennessee decided to change its laws, allowing the making of moonshine for the very first time in over a century. Ole Smoky was co-founded by Joe Baker in Tennessee, and the brand has created a broad range of flavored Moonshine and more than a dozen Whiskeys, as well as canned ready-to-drink cocktails. Touting themselves as Appalachian born and bred, the Ole Smoky family was among the first to step foot in the Smoky Mountains. They craft their whiskeys using time-honored traditions of whiskey making. Quickly following Tennessee's change in state law which permitted the distillation of spirits, Baker got to work crafting one of a kind, mountain-made moonshine, making Ole Smoky the first federally-licensed distillery in the history of East Tennessee. Their whiskey lineup includes Mango Habanero, Cinnamon, Root Beer, Peach, Peanut Butter, Vanilla Bean, Cookies & Cream, and several other expressions. At 35 proof the Ole Smoky Moonshine Mountain Java is among their lower-alcohol-content offerings. It has a creamy profile with coffee notes throughout and a dash of vanilla that is great for perking up a cup of coffee or as a cocktail ingredient think White Russian.

Tequila Finish: We finished our straight rye whiskey in Extra Añejo Tequila barrels. The result is remarkably unique tequila finished whiskey with notes of agave and vanilla on the nose and honey, peppercorn and orange citrus to taste. Pairing tequila and whiskey is always a risky move, but this was a risk worth the reward.

Tasting Notes

PALATE: Rich agave and sweet notes of honey paired with bitter orange, dried fig with floral notes. Spicy peppercorn creates a lasting finish.

PROOF: 98 (49% ABV)

AGE: 4 – 5 Years

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 from high school, Masataka showed more interest in whisky than 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. Nikka Days is a celebration of the distillery's unique position somewhere between the east and west cultures, nature and humanity, tradition and innovation, where each day represents a learning opportunity. The smooth and gentle blended whisky is lightly peated and comes from Nikka's both main distilleries. It's a combination of grain and malt spirits: Coffey Grain, Miyagikyo Malt, as well as some Coffey Malt and Yoichi Malt. 

Drogheda is one of the oldest Irish towns where the first written records of whiskey production date back to 1556. The town has a rich history of whiskey distilling and had 18 operating distilleries in 1774. As we know, Irish whiskey was in decline in the 20th century, due to the civil war, trade dispute with the UK, and Prohibition in the US with only a handful distilleries remaining operational, none of those in Drogheda. Boann Distillery joined the resurgence of Irish whiskey in 2019, producing the first spirit in the town in more than 160 years. The company was launched by Patrick "The Whistler" Cooney and his wife Marie with several other family members. Backed by 40 years of experience in the industry, the family has the know-how, skill, and passion to create premium Irish whiskey. On one hand, they honor the rich tradition of Irish whiskey, on the other they take innovative approaches using cutting-edge technology which includes their state-of-the-art brewhouse and unique 3 copper-pot stills that use nanotechnology all with the goal of creating some of the finest whiskey and craft gin. All the ingredients are 100% natural, including locally-grown barley from native farmers and water from the Boyne Valley well. The operation is overseen by Michael Walsh. Ireland's youngest head distiller has accumulated a vast amount of knowledge during his Chemical Engineering studies and when getting his Certificate in Distilling in 2012, quickly rising through the ranks. They recycle their water and harness the heat that is generated during distillation, which then helps run their packaging lines and heat their restaurant, visitor center, and offices. Distillation byproducts are used as animal feed. Walsh is more than just a head distiller, though. He is also the family beekeeper, which naturally led to The Whistler Beekeepers Select Irish Honey expression. Based on a blended Irish whiskey that is aged in ex-Bourbon barrels, the spirit gets infused with honey from their family orchards, resulting in a creamy, sweet, and decadent drink that has won several awards.