Girolamo Luxardo moved to what is today known as Zadar, Croatia in 1817 as a consular representative of Sardinia. It was his wife that became enamored with the local Dalmatian liqueur, the Rosolio Maraschino. In 1821 Girolamo opened a distillery and soon after received a certificate from the emperor of Austria that acknowledged its exceptional quality. Their liqueurs became known far and wide along with their growing and impressive range which included the Original Maraschino Cherries, Limoncello, and a cherry liqueur. By 1913 the company had grown considerably, opening a new state-of-the-art distillery. The operation along with the Luxardo bloodline barely made it through the Second World War, but a new distillery with its very own cherry orchards thrives today in Torreglia, the Veneto region of Northeast Italy. It employs traditional copper-pot stills while constantly upgrading and investing to stay at the forefront of the industry. The company remains family-owned and is ran by the fifth, sixth, and seventh generations of the Luxardo family. Their flagship Maraschino liqueur and a range of award-winning products are a cocktail staple, along with cherries, syrups, wines, brandies, and many others. Amaretto is an incredibly popular Italian liqueur and a classic cocktail ingredient. Originating from Saronno, Italy, its first iterations were based on bitter almonds. Modern variants use many different stones from fruits including apricots, peaches, and almonds to achieve the liqueur's signature nuttiness. It's sweet with a mild bitterness its name translates to "a little bitter." Popular as a standalone drink, the liqueur has become an invaluable part of countless cocktails and has many culinary applications as well, as it goes well with ice cream, coffee, desserts, and savory dishes. Luxardo Amaretto Di Saschira, naturally, gets their typical cherry twist. It gets its almond flavor from the essential oils that are found in the pits of cherries, peaches, and apricots. The super-high-quality almonds come from southern Sicily and everything is natural, non-GMO, vegan, and kosher to boot.

The Merlet & Fils Distillery hails from Saint-Sauvant in the Cognac region. The family-owned brand has been making cognac since 1850, but were producing wine some 50 years before that. Firmin Merlet was the first to set up a still, but it wasn't until his successor Edouard got in the business that Merlet began selling their eaux-de-vie to large cognac houses such as Hennessy. It was in 1973 that Giles Merlet took over during a tough period for cognac. Planting vines was no longer an option, so Giles turned to blackcurrants. The fruit proved to be exceptional so in 1983 he ended up developing his very own Crme de Cassis de Saintonge, a blackcurrant liqueur. With it, the Merlet brand was born and a range of other acclaimed liqueurs followed. The brand grew exponentially, fueled by Giles' entrepreneurial spirit. After 2005, Giles' sons Pierre and Luc joined the operation. With them, the family business entered into its fifth generation. After distilling for large cognac houses for 160 years, Merlet finally ventured out to develop their own cognac in 2010, named the Merlet Brothers Blend. They have continued producing several award-winning spirits and liqueurs since. The Trois Citrus Triple Sec Liqueur is Merlet's take on the famous orange liqueur. The family teamed up with renowned bartender Tony Conigiaro to develop this exquisite cocktail ingredient. It is made with three citrus fruits: bitter orange, blood orange, and lemon. The peels are macerated in alcohol, before being distilled and blended with parts that didn't get distilled. A small amount of sugar is then added and the liqueur is bottled at a high 40% alcohol volume.

It was nearly 180 years ago that Jean-Baptiste Combier and his wife Josephine started experimenting in their kitchen in the village of Saumur in the Loire Valley of France. The confectioners wanted to create something new and different, an original flavor. In 1834 they finally perfected the recipe for the very first triple sec Combier Liqueur d'Orange which consisted of sun-dried West Indies orange peels, local spices, and some secret ingredients. The recipe and process remain the same to this day, from the bitter Haitian and sweet Valencia oranges, down to the century-old copper stills. Once the orange peels are rehydrated, the rind is separated from the pith by hand in order to tone down the bitterness during distillation. After the first distillation, a period of maceration follows, and the spirit is distilled two more times. Natural sugar crystals are added and the alcohol volume is brought down to 40% before bottling. The entire process takes place at the same location since the 19th century. The signature profile of the original triple sec has a pleasant sweetness that isn't overbearing, along with fruity and bitter citrusy notes. 

The origins of the French company Giffard can be traced back to 1885, when mile Giffard started looking into the digestive and refreshing properties of mint. Giffard was a pharmacologist at the time, making and selling medicine in Angers, France. What he ended up creating was a mint liqueur, which he immediately put to the test, and offered to the guests at a hotel to provide relief from the scorching summer sun. The pure and refined drink proved a hit and prompted the Frenchman to transform his pharmacy into a distillery. The liqueur was named Menthe-Pastille after the mint sweets that were popular at the time. Today the family business continues the tradition and continues carrying the Giffard banner, five generations later. Giffard's liqueurs are crafted by macerating locally-sourced fruits and plants in alcohol for 48 hours up to 3 months. This infusion serves as the basis for their liqueurs. These are masterfully blended, filtered, and meticulously tested. Giffard is constantly innovating and working on recipes with the same passion that led to the brand's creation all those years ago. Today they have several liqueurs, syrups, and spirits on offer, even producing tequila, sake, and sauces. Giffard Wild Elderflower liqueur is crafted from an infusion of wild hand-picked elderflowers. The award-winning liqueur is bottled at 40 proof and is a premium offering that is deliciously refreshing on its own, on the rocks, and as a cocktail ingredient that pairs especially well with sparkling wine. The golden liqueur is floral and exotic with unique spicy notes.

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.

Tanduay has been crafting Asian rum since 1854, bringing a mysterious Eastern twist to the spirit. Headquartered in the Philippines, its origins go back to a distillery from Hagonoy, Bulacan, that was bought in 1856 by Ynchausti y Compaia, a multi-national company that was owned by the Ynchausti family, the seal of which still decorates their bottles today. By the 1900s the production had moved to the Manila distillery, and the brand Tanduay Rhum was formed, named after the area in which the distillery was located. The rum was produced in the significantly upgraded distillery in Manila until 2013, when it was decommissioned and the production moved to a much larger facility in the Philippines, capable of producing 100,000 cases each day. Since 1999 Tanduay Distillers, Inc. is owned by LT Group, Inc. In 2011, Tanduay was the 7th largest spirits brand in the world. Today their operation spans 4 plants that take care of aging, compounding, and bottling. At the heart of their lineup is an award-winning 5-year-old rum that matures in charred oak barrels. The brand has received over a hundred various awards over the years and sells over 20 million cases each year, making it one of the best-selling rum brands in the world. Tanduay Double Rum is a blend of rums that are aged between 5 and 16 years. After their initial period of aging, they are blended together and left to marry for an additional 2 years in ex-bourbon barrels, which gives the different juices time for the aromas and flavors to come together. This deluxe offering from Tanduay is bottled at 80 proof and has an exquisite balance of dried tropical fruits, nutty overtones, as well as vanilla and oak notes.

In 1838, a Creole immigrant named Antoine Peychaud opened the doors to a pharmacy on Royal Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans. While Peychaud was an apothecary by trade, he was also a natural mixologist. He would often invite friends over to his pharmacy after it had closed and mix drinks for them, including a drink he crafted from brandy, absinthe, and a proprietary blend of bitters. Peychaud's cocktail became wildly popular throughout New Orleans. In 1850, Sewell Taylor owner of the Sazerac Coffee House located on Exchange Alley institutionalized the cocktail by using only Sazerac de Forge et Fils Brandy, a brandy which Taylor imported and sold exclusively. In 1869, Thomas H. Handy had purchased the Sazerac Coffee House from Taylor and was starting to acquire several liquor brands. Today Sazerac Company, Inc is one of the largest US-based spirits companies and is owned by William Goldring. Their brands include all manners of whisk(e)y, liqueurs, vodka, gin, tequila, cognac, brandy, and everything in between. Among these is Peychaud's Bitters, a brand that dates back to 1830, when it was created by the Creole apothecary Antoine Amde Peychaud. Peychaud's Aperitivo is a versatile and refreshing spirit made in the vein of Italian herbal bitter-sweet amaro liqueurs, most commonly consumed as a digestif. It's bottled at 22 proof and has a delicate balance of sweetness and bitterness with orange and fruity notes in the foreground.

Situated in the Oita Prefecture on Japan's southernmost island of Kyushu, iichiko produces shochu, a traditional Japanese spirit. The operation employs cutting-edge technology in making its award-winning spirits. But it's also the environment that contributes to the quality of the product. The region is famous for its clean air, forests, and mountains, as well as spings. The water iichiko uses is naturally filtered through volcanic rock and is soft and iron-free. "Iichiko" means "it's great" in the local Oita dialect. The distillery was formed in 1958 and produced sake, wine, and shochu. The very first iichiko shochu to be made from barley was released in 1979. Since then the company has become one of the leading Japanese producers of barley shochu. While shochu is most commonly distilled from rice, iichiko Saiten is crafted from polished 100% two-row barley, making it a distant cousin of whisky. It's a Honkaku shochu, meaning it's the highest grade of the spirit and one that utilizes a single ingredient. No additives or sweeteners are added and the pristine water is filtered through 1,000 feet of volcanic rock. The barley is steeped in this water before being steamed and left to ferment using koji, a type of mold that kickstarts the process of converting starch to sugar. It is then distilled once using low pressure and atmospheric distillation before the two raw distillates are blended together. The iichiko Silhouette is a traditional shochu that is bottled at 50 proof. Lighter and super-versatile, it pairs great with food, as it is traditionally consumed. It is equally drinkable straight or on the rocks, as well as in cocktails, or even with tea.

Tanduay has been crafting Asian rum since 1854, bringing a mysterious Eastern twist to the spirit. Headquartered in the Philippines, its origins go back to a distillery from Hagonoy, Bulacan, that was bought in 1856 by Ynchausti y Compaia, a multi-national company that was owned by the Ynchausti family, the seal of which still decorates their bottles today. By the 1900s the production had moved to the Manila distillery, and the brand Tanduay Rhum was formed, named after the area in which the distillery was located. The rum was produced in the significantly upgraded distillery in Manila until 2013, when it was decommissioned and the production moved to a much larger facility in the Philippines, capable of producing 100,000 cases each day. Since 1999 Tanduay Distillers, Inc. is owned by LT Group, Inc. In 2011, Tanduay was the 7th largest spirits brand in the world. Today their operation spans 4 plants that take care of aging, compounding, and bottling. At the heart of their lineup is an award-winning 5-year-old rum that matures in charred oak barrels. The brand has received over a hundred various awards over the years and sells over 20 million cases each year, making it one of the best-selling rum brands in the world. Tanduay Asian Rum Gold was aged for 7 years in barrels that used to hold bourbon. It has a smooth and complex profile with a distinct nuttiness, dried fruit, spices, and oak. The award-winning expression is bottled at 80 proof and is great for sipping, but works just as well in cocktails. It has garnered numerous awards in recent years, including a Gold Medal at the International Review of Spirits and a Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition both in 2018. 

Tanduay has been crafting Asian rum since 1854, bringing a mysterious Eastern twist to the spirit. Headquartered in the Philippines, its origins go back to a distillery from Hagonoy, Bulacan, that was bought in 1856 by Ynchausti y Compaia, a multi-national company that was owned by the Ynchausti family, the seal of which still decorates their bottles today. By the 1900s the production had moved to the Manila distillery, and the brand Tanduay Rhum was formed, named after the area in which the distillery was located. The rum was produced in the significantly upgraded distillery in Manila until 2013, when it was decommissioned and the production moved to a much larger facility in the Philippines, capable of producing 100,000 cases each day. Since 1999 Tanduay Distillers, Inc. is owned by LT Group, Inc. In 2011, Tanduay was the 7th largest spirits brand in the world. Today their operation spans 4 plants that take care of aging, compounding, and bottling. At the heart of their lineup is an award-winning 5-year-old rum that matures in charred oak barrels. The brand has received over a hundred various awards over the years and sells over 20 million cases each year, making it one of the best-selling rum brands in the world. Tanduay Asian Rum Silver has spent 5 years in ex-bourbon barrels before being bottled at 80 proof. It has a captivating profile with a balance of tropical fruit, vanilla, and coconut that is tailor-made for cocktails and mixed drinks. This expression was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, among several other accolades. Grab your bottle today!

Tanduay has been crafting Asian rum since 1854, bringing a mysterious Eastern twist to the spirit. Headquartered in the Philippines, its origins go back to a distillery from Hagonoy, Bulacan, that was bought in 1856 by Ynchausti y Compaia, a multi-national company that was owned by the Ynchausti family, the seal of which still decorates their bottles today. By the 1900s the production had moved to the Manila distillery, and the brand Tanduay Rhum was formed, named after the area in which the distillery was located. The rum was produced in the significantly upgraded distillery in Manila until 2013, when it was decommissioned and the production moved to a much larger facility in the Philippines, capable of producing 100,000 cases each day. Since 1999 Tanduay Distillers, Inc. is owned by LT Group, Inc. In 2011, Tanduay was the 7th largest spirits brand in the world. Today their operation spans 4 plants that take care of aging, compounding, and bottling. At the heart of their lineup is an award-winning 5-year-old rum that matures in charred oak barrels. The brand has received over a hundred various awards over the years and sells over 20 million cases each year, making it one of the best-selling rum brands in the world. Named after the Filipino island that is famous for its picturesque white beaches, Boracay is a twosome of flavored rum that is crafted with Tanduay's White Rum and different flavorings. Boracay Cappuccino is bottled at 50 proof and has a deliciously sweet profile with creamy coffee and chocolate notes. Grab a bottle today!

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