Vera Wang x Chopin Vodka is the culmination of my long love affair with vodka in the most personal way.

The partnership between Chopin Vodka and legendary fashion designer Vera Wang is a true collaboration, born from a mutual passion for the best tasting vodka.

Chopin has long been Vera’s vodka of choice for her evening cocktail, so when she approached us with the idea of working together a natural partnership was born.

The Liquid
Vera Wang x Chopin Vodka is a vodka made from the rare Augusta potato, personally selected by Vera Wang herself. The Augusta is distinguished by the single red dot on its skin. The vodka it produces has a full floral bouquet with a hint of cucumber, a medium body and a warm, slightly piquant finish with notes of vanilla and almond.

The Bottle
The striking matte bottle in the designer’s signature black and white color palette was designed by Vera Wang. Timeless, sophisticated, unforgettable.

Three Chord states that they are first and foremost blenders. However, they recently came across a small lot of barrels and felt they should enter the bourbon community in their original form. Their Whiskey Drummer 15 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey is non-chill filtered and bottled at barrel proof (117.9 Proof). A total of 2,500 bottles were produced from the small lot of barrels. These bottles will be released in two small batches consisting of 10 barrels each.

MASH BILL: 78.5 Corn, 12.5 Rye, 9 barley

APPEARANCE: DARK COPPER

AROMA: The nose jumps out of the glass with campfire, baking spice, and dark chocolate.

TASTE: This bourbon is heavy on the pallet but surprisingly well balanced, considering its age. There is oak, but it’s not overpowering at all. Instead, notes of walnut, leather, smoke, vanilla, and allspice linger for an exceptionally long finish.

FINISH: LONG LASTING NOTES OF BROWN SUGAR, CINNAMON AND BLACK CHERRY

The Smoky Twelve is the perfect marriage of fruit,malt, oak and rich layers of smoke. Crafted from a combination of unpeated and peated spirit and three cask matured for at least twelve years in bourbon barrels, sherry casks, and Marsala wine casks. The whisky from each cask is then expertly married together to create a smooth, creamy single malt, multilayered with flavours of ripened fruit, aromatic smoky sweetness and warming oak spice.

TASTING NOTES

COLOUR: Burnished gold

NOSE: Smoked vanilla, charred orange and toasted almond

TASTE: Dark chocolate, fruit peel, brown sugar and smoked oak, lingering into a cocoa and orange smoked finish

SMOKE LEVEL: Rich

RACHEL BARRIE MASTER BLENDER

"Longer maturation brings more aromatic layers to our distinctive smoky style. For me it's baked orange in a wonderful cake, fired over an open fire, with dark chocolate flavour."

Like Lillet Blanc, the main grape variety in Lillet Ros is Smillon. These wines are combined with natural liqueurs, handcrafted in Podensac from sweet and bitter oranges and berries. It is this meticulously balanced blend that gives Lillet Ros its delicate aromas. Lillet is a range of refreshing aperitifs with a smooth fruity taste.

Bottle Size: 750ml

Espadín Capón 2014 | Cándido García Cruz | Summer 2020 Release | CANESP001 | 506 Bottles

In March of 2014, Cándido and his family harvested over 100 of the largest and ripest capón Espadín magueys from their red-earthen, tierra colorada parcel known as “El Llano,” where different species of agave grow within the milpa system, side by side with food crops.  Carefully selected, these massive piñas were rested for eight days before being pit-roasted with mesquite wood for another eight days. Cándido rested the unearthed agave for eight more days, aiding the cellulose to breakdown into fermentable sugars before chopping up large cooked chunks with a machete and passing the material through a shredder. The dry fibers sat for 24 hours before the maestro deemed appropriate the addition of well water in a 50/50 agave to water ratio. Wet fermentation ran for 10 days before the fibers and guarape were ready for distillation. To adjust the final level of alcohol, Cándido composed the batch using the low percentage común from the second round of distillation, known in the region as the resaque. Cándido’s daughter Florencia helped throughout the process of composition, leaving her own particular mark on this production. The flavors and aromas are spot-on reflective of its makers, the palenque, and the land from which the maguey was grown. If you’re not yet acquainted with the expertly crafted Espadín of Miahuatlán or are already a devotee, this batch will surprise even the most jaded of palates.

For years, this special Espadín has been a favorite of ours, so it brings us great joy to be able to share the last few hundred liters with friends and agave fans in California!

This award-winning spirit is smooth, malty and slightly sweet to start, with a tingle of honey and citrus. A blended Irish whiskey, distilled twice and aged four years in the mild climate, the woody essence suggests caramel and vanilla to the finish.

This traditional Korean spirit provides a whole new experience of rice soju. It’s made from organic wheat with a careful and slow process. Its unique floral aroma requires two years of preparation before it can be bottled and drank. If you’re looking to have a unique experience when drinking, this soju was made for you.

Tasting notes: Medium-high nutty floral with a slightly spicy taste.

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…

Savor each moment under the sun and stars with an Astral Margarita. Made with their twice-distilled tequila blanco and premium triple sec liqueur, this perfectly pre-mixed cocktail bursts with delicious citrus and agave flavors that are balanced by a smooth hint of vanilla.

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. Limited to a blend of only 65 barrels, this Rye Humor Cask Strength release is the first edition of barrel proof straight rye whiskey from Pinhook. Blended by Sean Josephs at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, KY the average age of the barrels is around 4 years old. You can expect deep and dense aromas of dark chocolate, candied black licorice, and vanilla extract, followed by robust flavors of raisins, tobacco, cinnamon stick, and sarsaparilla.

The 19 Year Old is the first PX Sherry expression that Bladnoch has released.The flavourful casks have imparted delectable notes of dark liquorice sticks, dried apricots and warming nutmeg into the golden-hued whisky.

TASTING NOTES: Liquorice, dried apricots, aged oak

COLOUR: Dark sunset.

NOSE: Dark liquorice sticks and aged oak with a floral background.

PALATE: Liquorice sticks with dried apricots, almonds and nutmeg.

FINISH: Long with a dry sweetness.

AWARDS: World Whisky Award 2022 - Category Winner Single Malt 13 to 20yo

Brand Introduction

A mission-driven, social impact-driven company, Erstwhile is a boutique agave spirits importer based in Brooklyn, New York.  Our mission: advocate for small, independent, family-owned producers who lack representation outside their local communities in Mexico; and bring their craft to mezcal lovers in international markets for the first time.

We work closely with our partner producers and set them up for success.  No haggling.  No exclusivity contracts.  We guide producers through the complicated steps to export in their own names for the first time, and cover necessary expenses including local attorneys, accountants, license fees, and more.  We absorb our producers’ marketing and supply chain costs as our own. 

We believe in autonomy for producers, be it hiring their own workers or using their own bottling facility. We only step in if they want our help. We connect our partner producers to share knowledge and help each other in production. 

Revenue from every Erstwhile bottle sold creates jobs in our partner producers’ and vendors’ local communities in Mexico.  Our producers hire their own team of local men and women, on their own terms. 

Erstwhile is a woman-owned, women-led business.  Our team is multicultural and multilingual.  We are outspoken about elevating underrepresented voices in Mezcal and our industry.

Elephant Gin produces award-winning handcrafted premium gin, made with rare African botanicals. Their story began in South Africa, but Elephant Gin is handmade in Germany. Every ingredient is hand-selected, each bottle custom-made, with hand-written labels. Production is limited to small batches. This custom made artisan gem is in collaboration with Africa for Africa, a charitable organization from the hearts and minds of a handful of German enthusiasts who donate 15% of all their profits to help save the endangered African elephants. This Elephant Strength gin is a take on the "navy strength" the Royal English Navy used. They would put their Navy Strength gin to the test by lighting it with gunpowder. If the gin had at least 114 proof, it survived the test and was deemed "navy strength." Elephant Strength is stronger and richer than the original award-winning Elephant London Dry Gin. Its high strength comes with twice the amount of botanicals featuring the extraordinary African buchu, sweet citrus peel and herbaceous mountain pine. The design of the bottle takes inspiration from naval origins featuring navy blue accents, an inviting map of the ocean, and a rope-like string with a charming miniature anchor. The Elephant Strength labels carry the names of the Magnificent Seven: the strongest and most impressive elephants known to Kruger National Park, South Africa, these precious bull elephants all bore tusks weighing more than 50kg each. Intense and full-bodied with fresh aromas, this gin is superb in cocktails.

Made in Mexico and owned by Mexicans, we use a time-honored process that celebrates our agave. This is the same tequila blanco we shared with our friends and family in Mexico, born in the heart of Jalisco.

FLAVOR PROFILE
A crystal clear liquid envelopes the flavors inside: top notes of sweet potato and cinnamon with hints of dulce de leche that finishes with gentle citrus and tropical fruit notes.