Awards: 94 Points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible for nine consecutive years

Since our inaugural 1978 vintage, we have been proud to craft a vineyard-designate Merlot from the legendary Three Palms Vineyard. Named for its three iconic palm trees, this warm, up-valley vineyard features lean soils that cause the vines to send their roots deep in search of nutrients, yielding a profoundly intense and age-worthy wine with complex fruit and mineral layers. As a testament to its status as the benchmark for New World Merlot, in 2017, Wine Spectator honored our 2014 Three Palms Vineyard Merlot as “Wine of the Year.”

WINE PROFILE

Production Notes

Varietal Composition: 100% estate fruit, 89% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Petit Verdot, 0.5% Malbec

Winemaker Notes

Once again, the famed Three Palms Vineyard has yielded a fascinating and luxuriously full-bodied Merlot. Aromas of huckleberry, black cherry, chocolate and fig rise from the glass, followed by hints of graphite, graham cracker, bay leaf and sage. On the mouth-watering palate the flavors are intense and complex, with velvety tannins and voluptuous fruit balanced by earthy undertones and Three Palms’ classic minerality, all of which carry the wine to a rich and remarkably long finish.

Production

For both red and white grapes, 2019 offered near picture-perfect growing conditions, with mild spring and summer weather, and no significant heat events. The conditions were ideal for both our Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, which show beautiful tropical notes and ripe flavors at low sugars. While our Chardonnay harvest began about three weeks later than normal, the fruit arrived at the winery in pristine condition, producing dynamic and complex wines. The excellent growing conditions naturally resulted in a slightly larger than average crop for our red Bordeaux varieties, with fully lignified seeds at low sugars levels. With temperate weather throughout fall, we were able to pick each block at optimal ripeness, yielding exceptionally juicy and polished red wines, with plush, well-rounded tannins, and lovely overall structure.

WINE SPECS

Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Merlot
Appellation: Napa Valley
Vineyard Designation: Three Palms Vineyard
Acid: 0.55 g/100 ml
pH: 3.73
Aging: 100% French Oak: 75% New, 25% Neutral, aged for 18 months
Alcohol: %14.5

MEILI IS MORE THAN VODKA

The essence of Meili emanates from fire, water, earth, and air.
‍Every element is purveyed with quality and character in mind.
‍The perfection within the process.

FIRE
The heart of our spirit, fire, not only powers our stills - but also refines our beautifully unique glass.
‍Our flame burns twice as bright - indefinitely, due to Meili's 100% post-consumer recycled bottle. Vast mountains of broken, discarded glass are heated to molten masses, reborn, and repurposed into something functional and exquisite.
‍This is why no two bottles are alike. The antique texture, full of organic imperfections, and the stunning Georgia green hue.
‍An appropriate vessel for our outstanding spirit.

WATER
The soul of our spirit, water, is the essence of our existence. Instinctively, we sought one of the purest water sources available.
‍An ancient aquifer formed over 300 million years ago ushers alpine snow and rainfall through miles of vast underground caverns - filtering and infusing itself through the veins of natural springs.
‍Meili takes pride in using this “living water” to distill and proof our spirits to bottle, resulting in an incredibly refreshing, unpolluted, and genuinely remarkable flavor.
‍Our regenerative water source is considered one of the purest on Earth by EPA standards.

EARTH
The body of our spirit is derived from the earth.
‍A harmonious marriage of native and seasonal grains brings a bright, smooth, and effortless flavor profile.
‍Our grains are sourced locally on our own farms, operated by the same family for generations. These farms are located centrally to our water source and distillery, resulting in the smallest carbon footprint possible. A factor that is very important to us.
‍To honor the Earth, we ensure that Meili is created, sourced, and produced as ethically, environmentally friendly, and humanely as possible.

AIR
The final "breath of life" into our spirit is air.
‍From beginning to end, Montana's crisp, cool mountain air influences our vodka and its ingredients in several unique ways.
‍The 11,000-foot elevation at our aquifer's peak allows alpine snow and rainfall to remain untainted before its subterranean journey to the collection source.
‍At the final distillation stage, our vodka is set to rest and breathe before bottling, resulting in a smoother flavor profile.

SUSTAINABILITY
We take the broken and make it whole. We transform the discarded into the desired.
‍This is recycling reimagined. Resurrected from the blaze, our handmade glass radiates new life from the ashes of the old. Designed through determination, true beauty contains imperfections. Look for them as a testament to our story. To not use the cheapest, most accessible glass available - but to create something better. Seek the unique, lead by example. Our message lies within every bottle.
Our vision lives through our glass. This is real sustainability.

MEILI
(MAY-lee)
"Meili represents the adventurer's heart, the purity of discovery, and the spirit of exploration. Every ingredient is purveyed with the utmost quality and character in mind. Handcrafted by friends, intent to be shared. Inspired by the journey - and those met along the way.

FOUNDERS

JASON MOMOA
Co-Founder

BLAINE HALVORSON
Co-Founder

FORGED THROUGH FRIENDSHIP
Jason Momoa and Blaine Halvorson

TWO BROTHERS CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH

We've always shared an obsession with the process, the craft - the ethos behind it all. How something is constructed and what makes it unique. A creation that possessed the best elements of each of us. Seven years ago, we embarked on the journey to create Meili together. To not only tell our story but to bring others along with us; to craft the best vodka on the planet - from spirit to bottle.

Meili gave us that opportunity, and we're thrilled to share that with you.

JM & BH

THIS IS VODKA

PURE, NATURAL INGREDIENTS - UNCOMPROMISED
Designed to be enjoyed neat, Meili exhibits a bright, smooth, and effortless flavor profile. The quality of our ingredients can be immediately noted and appreciated across all palettes, raising the bar for what's possible within a Vodka.

This is MEILI

IT ALL BEGAN WITH WATER
We believe the best water makes the best vodka. Meili uses one of the purest water sources on Earth.

It took over 70 years after the prohibition had ended for the distilling industry to return to New York City. New York had a flourishing distilling industry by the early 19th century, however things changed during the Civil War, when President Lincoln taxed spirits to fund the military. This resulted in many distilleries going underground before the end of the century. The fatal blow for the legal distilling industry in US came in 1920, when the Eighteenth Amendment came into effect making the production of alcohol illegal. It was only in the 21st century that small distilleries started resurging in New York. The New York Distilling Company, located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is one of the oldest distilleries in the city, and was founded in 2011 by Tom Potter, a co-founder of the Brooklyn Brewery, and Allen Katz, one of the nation's leading experts on distilled spirits and cocktails. The distillery specializes in gins and rye whiskeys and has been one of the pioneers of the city's distilling renaissance that builds upon the pre-prohibition heritage. Gin distilling in New York began in the 17th century, when Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam (as New York was then called) started making a version of the Dutch spirit genever. However, it wasn't until the early 19th century when the first commercial gin was produced in the US. Gin was a popular drink during the prohibition, as it was simple to make. American gin is a bit different from London and other European gins as a result of using other botanicals. Perry's Tot is a navy strength gin named after Matthew Calbraith Perry, who served as a Commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard in the 1840s. Navy strength means that if this 57% ABV American gin was accidentally spilled over some gunpowder, the gunpowder would still ignite. The first navy strength gin produced in the US in over a century is made using 10 botanicals juniper berries, lemon peel, orange peel, grapefruit peel, coriander, angelica root, cardamom pods, sweet cinnamon, star anise and wildflower honey, which are sourced locally and from across the globe.

The elegant and precise nature of the Rayador, also known as the Black Skimmer sea bird, served as the inspiration for our Cutwater Tequila. It begins with 100% blue agave harvested from Jalisco that’s slow cooked in traditional brick ovens, open fermented, and double distilled in traditional “alambique” copper stills in Tequila. The spirit is then aged in Cutwater whiskey barrels, allowing the rich cooked agave flavor to meld perfectly with hints of vanilla and oak to create this distinctly Cutwater Tequila Reposado.

Bottle Size: 750ml | 80 proof

Aviation is distilled using a proprietary maceration recipe that produces a pure medley of botanical flavor.

STEP 1: INFUSION
It all starts with our precise blend of botanicals – cardamom, coriander, French lavender, anise seed, sarsaparilla, juniper, and two kinds of orange peel. The botanicals are suspended in a neutral grain spirit for 18 hours in macerating tanks.

STEP 2: DISTILLATION
The macerate is then pumped into a still along with pure water. Steam jackets heat the macerate, the vapors go into the condenser, which cools the vapors to form the gin distillate.

STEP 3: THE CUT
In a meticulously monitored process, the first fluid leaving the still, the "heads," is removed. Collecting the "heart of the spirit" throughout the run, the distillers then determine the end of the cycle and make the final cut, "the tails." This process takes approximately 7 hours and at this point, the "heart cut" is 142 proof.

STEP 4: BLENDING & BOTTLING
The "heart cut" is transferred to a blending tank where pure water is added, bringing the gin to the desired 84 proof. It is then sent to the bottling line for filling, capping, and labeling. Aviation is then packed into boxes and ready to ship.

"I've tried every gin on the planet and Aviation is, hands down, the best. Also, I don't recommend trying every gin on the planet. Stick with this one."

Ryan Reynolds

Co-Owner, Aviation American Gin

Maker Notes

While Medoyeff (meh-Doy-eff) Vodka can be challenging for some to pronounce, it’s always easy to drink. Our Head Distiller Lee Medoff, a 3rd generation Oregonian, is the grandson of Alexander Medoyeff who eventually settled in Oregon after the Russian Revolution. As a salute to his family heritage the first spirit he made was naturally vodka. Medoyeff Vodka is a naturally flavorful vodka with distinctive mouth-feel and a clean sharp finish.

The Taste

Subtle sweetness opens to a spicy mid-palate with a long, clean finish and a mineral-rich mouth-feel.

Noble Oak makes unique and award-winning whiskey with a worthy purpose. The folks at Noble Oak are wood fanatics and rightly so. That's because 70% of a whiskey's flavor comes from the wood in which it is matured. They mention: "Our commitment to oak transcends our whiskey, because every bottle plants a tree in partnership with One Tree Planted in an effort to preserve the world's most majestic forests." Trinity Reserve is a straight bourbon that brings together 3 continents via oak from Japan, Europe, and America. The whiskey is first aged for at least 4 years in new charred American oak, before being finished with meticulously hand-picked oak staves. Ex-bourbon staves bring vanilla and citrus notes, ex-sherry Scotch staves bring dried fruit and spice notes, while new Japanese oak staves bring the profile together, balancing the complexity and adding depth. Released exclusively online, and Flaviar members have a chance to grab this expression first. Fewer than 2,800 bottles were produced. Paul Pacult of The Spirit Journal has awarded this beautiful expression with 5 stars, noting its "top to bottom, consistent brilliance and on-message character from first whiff through to the finish. No surprises, no changes in direction, just solid, high quality excellence."

The coffee infused Ron Colón Salvadoreño is made with single estate beans grown on the side El Salvador’s famous Santa Ana volcano. Each step from growing, processing and roasting is done by Tomas and Andres Trigueros of Jags Head Coffee. The beans are dried using the natural process; consistently turned by hand to ensure they dry equally over a period of four weeks. This slow process allows for the bean to interact with the natural sugars from the cherry (the fruit around the bean) over a long period of time, giving the final bean a more fruit-forward flavor. Our goal was to bring together the best Salvadoran Coffee and Rum.

PROCESS

Ron Colón Salvadoreño Dark Aged Rum is cold macerated with whole coffee beans for 48 hours. To make the 81 proof we work with more coffee beans in our recipe to create a richer flavor.

TASTING NOTES

The coffee infusion brings notes of delicate toasted coffee beans and milk chocolate. The natural process of the beans showcases the fruit forward flavors in the beans and balances with the sticky pineapple and fresh banana notes.

Aged for 2 years, this premium adult beverage was introduced, distilled in Iowa in a small batch and housed in Nashville, TN. As an American whiskey Guidance is a careful blend of corn and rye with a touch of malted barley which accomplishes a smooth intense finish.

Guidance is a young whiskey that is rare and perfect for the novice & the aficionados. You can’t miss the hint of burnt caramel from smoked barrels that lead to the Maraschino cherry and vanilla essence base on your palette.

MORE THAN WHISKEY

Inspired by whiskey Culture and motivated by a deep concept of family and friendship, Jason Ridgel founded Guidance Whiskey in October of 2018. For Ridgel and his team, the word ‘Guidance’ just made sense. It represents all those that came before and those that helped along the way. Guidance can also represent a journey or direction.

Flavor Profile

The bold scents of burnt caramel, marschino cherry and vanilla greet the nose on this coveted American Whiskey. The palate dominated by the front-end vanilla with a light and smooth experience in the middle. A long smokey finish tops off the finale.

The Featherbone Factory built by E.K. Warren in the 19th century to manufacture women's corsets sits on the banks of Lake Michigan just across the Indiana border in Three Oaks, Michigan. As the factory changed hands in the twentieth century, it became a production site for everything from buggy whips to pickles. Today, it's home to Journeyman Distillery and Bill Welter, Journeyman's master distiller. Welter, who was formerly a banker in Indiana, began his journey when his family business was sold in 2006. He moved to Scotland, where he began to learn the art of craft distillation from Greg Ramsay (master distiller at Nant Distillery) and Bill Lark (master distiller at Lark Distillery). After returning to the United States, Welter spent time producing and resting whiskey using a prominent organic & kosher distiller's facility in Chicago before opening the doors of his own distillery in Three Oaks with the intention to offer grain-to-glass spirits from day one/drop one. Journeyman Distillery is located in an 1800's corset and buggy whip factory in Three Oaks, Michigan, once a dry town. Corsets, Whips & Whiskey is a single-grain, cask strength barrel-to-glass limited release whiskey, showcasing the high quality and terroir of the organic Michigan wheat used to produce it. The 100% wheat provides a soft sweetness and smoothness to this whiskey unlike any other and reminiscent of an Irish whiskey on the palate.

Premium 100% agave tequila rested for six months in white oak bourbon barrels for an enhanced, yet mellow flavor. Crafted in Jalisco to raise your expectations as well as your standards.

TASTING NOTES: The taste is a blend of vanilla, dry fruit and spices, with a finish of oak and vanilla as well as hints of caramel and cinnamon.

NOSE: The aroma is a blend of vanilla, dry fruit and spices, with a finish of oak and wood.

HIBIKI "BLOSSOM HARMONY" 2022 LIMITED EDITION

Hibiki means “Resonance” in Japanese. From its launch in 1989 to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Suntory, Hibiki embodies the Suntory philosophy to live in harmony with nature and people. As the Founding House of Japanese Whisky and A House of Master Blenders, the House of Suntory has gone to great lengths to explore the breadth and depth of what Harmony can mean for a blend. Every Hibiki expression is one of the most sought after blends in the world where every Hibiki expression is meticulously crafted for us to discover a different kind of Harmony. Achieving the right balance and orchestration proved to be a great challenge from the start since the Sakura cask is one with strong character that can easily become overbearing.

After much trial and error, we found that the grain whiskies finished in the Sakura cask best elevated the overall balance as a Blossoming Harmony slowly unfolding. The end result is a particularly unique expression of Hibiki. The invitation of an enticing floral bouquet, followed by the signature Hibiki depth and complexity of honey, candied orange peel, jasmine and chocolatey decadence, all climaxing to a surprising finish of bitter sweet spicy notes.

TASTING NOTES

COLOR:  Amber

NOSE: Rose, lychee, hint of rosemary, mature woodiness, sandalwood

PALATE: Honey like sweetness, candied orange peel, white chocolate

FINISH: Subtle, tender long finish, with hint of Mizunara (Japanese oak)

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

Situated in an industrial complex on the outskirts of Denver, Leopold Bros. Distillery is the brainchild of Todd Leopold. After receiving his diploma in Malting and Brewing from the Siebel Institute in Chicago, Todd moved to Germany and began working at the Doemens Academy of Brewers and Maltsters in Munich. Then, he apprenticed at four different breweries and distilleries in Germany, before moving to Kentucky to study distilling. In 2008, Todd, along with his brother Scott, moved back to his parents' home in Littleton, Colorado and opened the doors to Leopold Bros. Distillery. Together, the Leopold Brothers attempt to marry chemistry with poetry and it's working. Leopold Bros. American Small Batch Whiskey is made using a traditional sour mash, which is distilled for an entire day in order to extract the full, round flavors of the locally-sourced corn and rye. After distilling the whiskey twice, Todd brings it to 86 proof before barreling it in charred, American oak barrels. By proofing the whiskey prior to barreling it, Leopold is able to ensure that more of the whiskey comes into contact with the barrel, giving it smoother and more robust notes of brown sugar and molasses. The finest blackberries from the Rocky Mountain region are harvested over the summer, juiced, and blended with their small batch whiskey. The result is a rich spirit with notes of vanilla, raisin, and oak imparted by the charred American barrels. This whiskey is naturally colored by the barrel and blackberry juice, and bottled by hand to maintain the integrity of the sweet blackberries and soft finish. This Leopold Bros. whiskey is proudly made with real fruit, and no artificial preservatives. As such, the fruit will naturally oxidize over time. Enjoy within 60 days of opening if left open at room temperature. To preserve your whiskey longer, place it in a refrigerator for up to 120 days. 

Born in southern Burgundy, Alexandre Gabriel spent his youth working on his family's farm in central France. His grandfather, a strict disciplinarian, taught Alexandre how to graft a tree, milk a cow and harvest grapes. "For my grandfather, the only wealth is the one from the land," says Alexandre, fondly. After studying at the Macalester College in Minnesota and earning a degree in Lyon, Gabriel began working at Maison Ferrand, one of the oldest cognac houses in France. During his tenure at Maison Ferrand, Gabriel would dispose of used cognac casks by selling them to distilleries in Scotland and the Caribbean. "Our love affair with rum began when we sold the prized casks that once held our Cognac to rum producers, and we fell in love with their product," says Alexandre. Centuries ago, Caribbean rum producers would send casks of rum to Europe and the United States, where the rum would mature before it was bottled and sold to the public. "This is a practice that was done more commonly in the past but has almost disappeared now. We thought who better than Ferrand, with our know-how and exceptional casks, to resurrect this ancient technique." This single cask XO Rum from the West Indies Rum Distillery is matured for one year in Ferrand Cognac casks before being finished in Amburana Casks a unique type of wood found in the forests of Latin America.

Mount Gay Distillery is located in Barbados. The brand dates all the way back to 1703 and is said to be one of the oldest rum houses in the world. The distillery, initially named Mount Gilboa, was renamed at the turn of the 19th century, adopting distillery manager Sir John Gay Alleyne's namesake. Today the distillery produces high-quality rum using the best ingredients, which includes coral-filtered water, a combination of naturally-occurring yeast and their proprietary strain. They employ a combination of pot and column stills, blending together the intense aromas and flavors of the first with the smoothness of the second. Over the past 4 decades, they have had 4 Master Blenders, the current one being Trudiann Branker. The spirit matures in American Whiskey, Bourbon, and Cognac oak casks, with others being brought in for various special editions. Mount Gay is home to the largest stock of aged rum in Barbados. Mount Gay Port Cask Expression Master Blender Collection #3 is a small-batch blend of traditional column-still rums that have spent 5 years in tawny port casks and double-distilled copper pot-still rums aged 14 years in American whiskey casks, then finished in tawny port casks for another year. Rich, deep, and complex, it showcases Master Blender Branker's skill and is bottled at cask strength without chill filtration.

Holmes Cay is an independent bottling company from New York City. Founded by New Yorker rum aficionado Eric Kaye in 2019, they focus on finding the very best rums and bottling them at cask strength. Kaye used to work as a producer and music composer for film, TV, and commercials, but has also been an avid diver for decades. His favorite pastime brought him into contact with fantastic rare Caribbean rums. He felt he needed to share these with his fellow Americans, which is how Holmes Cay came to be. Passionately standing behind the tradition and honor that is an integral part of rum, Kaye hopes to bring incredible as-of-yet-unknown unadulterated cask-strength rums to the US, introducing spirit-lovers to the best-kept secrets of the rum world. Their very first release Holmes Cay Barbados 2005 fittingly came from the legendary Foursquare Distillery in Barbados. The Holmes Cay Barbados 2009 Port Cask Rum is another one from their fruitful collaboration with Foursquare. "The Barbados 2009 Port Cask is our first edition with secondary maturation. The secondary aging complements and highlights the existing character of the spirit," says Kaye. Distilled in 2009, it's a blend of column and pot-still rum that was aged 8 years in Barbados, then 2 years in the UK in ex-bourbon barrels, before being finished in port casks for another year in New York State. Bottled at 112 proof, only 2 casks of this 11-year-old cask-strength rum were produced. 

Situated on a ridge above the banks of the River Spey, the Easter Elchies House has been the spiritual home of The Macallan for over three centuries. In 1820, Alexander Reid sowed the fields surrounding the rented home with barley and established the first licensed distillery on the estate, which he named Macallan after an ancient church that had been destroyed by fire during the 15th century. In the slow winter days, Reid would ferment and distill his excess grains into whisky, which was often drunk straight from the still or sold to travelers passing through the town. Today, the Macallan Estate encompasses 370 acres, 95 of which are devoted to the production of the Macallan Estate's Minstrel barley (a single acre produces about 2.5 tons of barley each year, enough to yield 1,800 bottles of The Macallan). In addition, the distillery contracts with farmers to purchase barley that is low in nitrogen and high in starch, resulting in a rich and oily whisky. After the harvest, the barley is malted and mashed in one of The Macallan's two mash tuns, a process that takes between four and eight hours. Then, the barley is fermented with a specially cultured yeast before being distilled twice through The Macallan's copper-pot stills. The copper comprising the stills acts as a catalyst and enhances the formation of sweet esters while minimizing impurities such as sulfur. In addition, the curiously small stills — some of "the smallest stills within the Scotch whisky industry," according to production manager Alexander Tweedie — produce a whisky with a heavy, oily flavor. Following distillation, The Macallan distillers remove the heads and tails of the whisky and collect approximately 16% of the spirit to fill into casks for maturation. This "cut," which is among the highest of any Scottish distillery, results in a more full-bodied and richer whisky. Now in its fourth incarnation, The Macallan Classic Cut 2020 Edition is bottled at a higher 110 proof in order to let the full flavor to shine. This time their Whisky Mastery Team, headed by Polly Logan, explores different cask types for the first time in the series. A combination of sherry-seasoned European oak casks and ex-bourbon American oak casks was used to craft its unique profile that has "a sweet lightness brought by the ex-bourbon oak casks, intertwined with the depth and complexity created by The Macallan’s signature sherry-seasoned oak casks."

Del Maguey (pronounced ma–gay), Single Village Mezcal was founded in 1995 by internationally renowned artist and Mezcal visionary, Ron Cooper. Ron introduced the world to previously unavailable 100% certified organic, artisanal Mezcal produced the original handcrafted way. Through deep cultural relationships with Zapotec Mexican Indian producers in the remote villages of Oaxaca, Mexico, Del Maguey harnesses ancient, original organic processes. Combining these methods with varying micro-climates and terroir gives each creation its own unique, rich, sweet and smoky character. Every product in their collection is made by individual family palenqueros (producers) in old-style villages. They are the first producer to credit each product after the village where our liquid is made. When you see their beautiful green bottles you know it’s Del Maguey. Most of Del Maguey's mezcals are distilled to proof, so the ABV will vary slightly between batches.

In June of 2017, international spirits company, Pernod Ricard, purchased majority stake in the company. Del Maguey is now part of their portfolio that includes Jameson Whiskey, Absolute Vodka, and Havana Club Rum.