Southwind corn whiskey moonshine began when two artists, Maxime Berthou and Mark Polep, took an old paddle steamer down the Mississippi River exactly 1712 miles of it. After two years of preparation the month-and-a-half journey took the pair through 10 states during the record-breaking 2019 floods. The 21-foot steamboat mostly putted along happily at up to 4 miles per hour (3.5 knots), though not without incident while the flooding provided a lot of driftwood for fuel, it also caused the rudder to break 3 times. The wood-fired engine took lots of hard work, with the pair working in 2-hour shifts. The duo had set out with several goals in mind: The adventure would serve as a basis for a book and film, but more importantly for us they would gather several samples of corn along the way from at least 10 different producers and create a moonshine once the journey was completed. But they couldn't just go about creating the moonshine the ordinary way. Once they moored in New Orleans, the boat was transformed into a floating distillery, producing moonshine from the 42 corn varieties they gathered from 10 different states. With the help of Big Easy's own Seven Three Distilling the pair created Southwind a moonshine that tells the story of the Mississippi River and their epic undertaking. 

Diplomtico is an independent and family-owned brand that is focused on producing rum of the finest quality. Founded in 1959, their distillery is situated by the Andes Mountains in Venezuela with access to pure water and close to sugar processing plants. Their line features a range of award-winning and highly-regarded column, batch kettle, and pot still rums. They are involved with the community and employ sustainable production practices. Named Diplomtico in honor of the statesman who brought order and balance to a restless era in Venezuela during the 19th century, the 18th-century distiller Don Juancho Nieto Melndez also known as El Ambassador these rums are the exquisite product of Venezuela's warm, tropical climate. The sunny days, cool nights, constant breeze, and abundant rainfall create an idyllic environment for growing and cultivating juicy, fresh sugarcane. The sugarcane is harvested, fermented, and distilled into rum, before being aged in a range of bourbon, port, and sherry casks. They are then masterfully blending by the hands of Tito Cordero, Diplomtico's maestro ronero. N1 Batch Kettle Rum is a part of The Distillery Collection, a threesome of special edition rums, each distilled a different way. This one employs the semi-continuous batch kettle still from 1959, a system that originates from Canada. It's crafted from sugar cane honeys and matured for 6 years in ex-bourbon American white oak barrels for a rich, sweet, fruity, and floral profile.

Diplomtico is an independent and family-owned brand that is focused on producing rum of the finest quality. Founded in 1959, their distillery is situated by the Andes Mountains in Venezuela with access to pure water and close to sugar processing plants. Their line features a range of award-winning and highly-regarded column, batch kettle, and pot still rums. They are involved with the community and employ sustainable production practices. Named Diplomtico in honor of the statesman who brought order and balance to a restless era in Venezuela during the 19th century, the 18th-century distiller Don Juancho Nieto Melndez also known as El Ambassador these rums are the exquisite product of Venezuela's warm, tropical climate. The sunny days, cool nights, constant breeze, and abundant rainfall create an idyllic environment for growing and cultivating juicy, fresh sugarcane. The sugarcane is harvested, fermented, and distilled into rum, before being aged in a range of bourbon, port, and sherry casks. They are then masterfully blending by the hands of Tito Cordero, Diplomtico's maestro ronero. The N2 Barbet Rum expression is a part of The Distillery Collection, a threesome of special edition rums, each distilled a different way. This one was distilled using a French continuous Barbet column still the La Miel distillery got in 1959. Made from sugar cane molasses and matured for 4 years in ex-bourbon and whisky American white oak barrels, it's a well-balanced, tropical, fruity, and oaky spirit.

Diplomtico is an independent and family-owned brand that is focused on producing rum of the finest quality. Founded in 1959, their distillery is situated by the Andes Mountains in Venezuela with access to pure water and close to sugar processing plants. Their line features a range of award-winning and highly-regarded column, batch kettle, and pot still rums. They are involved with the community and employ sustainable production practices. Named Diplomtico in honor of the statesman who brought order and balance to a restless era in Venezuela during the 19th century, the 18th-century distiller Don Juancho Nieto Melndez also known as El Ambassador these rums are the exquisite product of Venezuela's warm, tropical climate. The sunny days, cool nights, constant breeze, and abundant rainfall create an idyllic environment for growing and cultivating juicy, fresh sugarcane. The sugarcane is harvested, fermented, and distilled into rum, before being aged in a range of bourbon, port, and sherry casks. They are then masterfully blending by the hands of Tito Cordero, Diplomtico's maestro ronero. The N3 Pot Still Rum expression is the third and final entry in The Distillery Collection which contains three special edition rums, each distilled a different way. This one was distilled using discontinuous copper-pot stills that came to the La Miel distillery in 1959. It was crafted using the finest sugar cane honeys and aged in small American white oak barrels. It's the most complex and heavy of the three expressions.

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. Pinhook Bohemian Bourbon was distilled, aged, and bottled at the historic Old Taylor Distillery (now known as Castle & Key), the first bourbon in 50 years to do so. Crafted from a mash bill of 75% corn, 15% rye, and 10% malted barley, it's a high-proof expression that has been aged for a minimum of 34 months. This expression is limited to 100 barrels and was proofed and blended by Pinhook co-founder Sean Josephs.

Each year, Pinhook releases a new vintage of bourbons and ryes. Every expression is the best representation of our barrels at that moment in time, and dedicated to a promising young thoroughbred. Through a combination of careful barrel selection, blending in small batches, and meticulous proofing, each Pinhook vintage has a personality as unique as the horse on the label.

Our founder, born and raised in California, is both wildly passionate about both wine and whiskey. His love for excellent bourbon coupled with his access to fresh Central Coast cabernet sauvignon casks combined for a truly exceptional whiskey. We are proud to present our California Oak Straight Kentucky Bourbon, which earned a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition right out of the gate in 2020. This bourbon beautifully represents its dual citizenship by showcasing the superiority of Kentucky distilled and aged bourbon, as well as the rich nuanced complexities of California's Central Coast cabernet. 

​TASTING NOTES

COLOR: Red-Amber

AROMA: Mild oak/woody aroma, subtle fruit layered over a deeper dark cherry note and hints of baking spices.

TASTE: Caramel body and balanced sugars, dates, persimmons and cranberry essence.

FINISH:Peppery with cabernet tannins, fruity body and sweetened honeycomb-like finish.

Ron Colón Salvadoreño High Proof Rum is made from a special blend, creating a complex flavor palate. The blend includes a Salvadoran column distilled rum and aged and unaged pot-distilled rums from Jamaica. By combining column-distilled and pot-distilled rums, the overall flavor offers contrasting characteristics that interact to create something quite unique.

RECIPE

• 6-year-old column stilled Salvadoran rum produced by Licorera Cihuatán, a part of Ingenio La Cabaña of El Salvador, one of the largest and oldest sugar producers in the country established in 1920.

•Unaged pot stilled Jamaican rum produced by Worthy Park, Hampden and Monymusk distilleries. • 3-year-old Jamaican pot stilled rum produced by Worthy Park estate.

PROCESS

The rum begins its life from local sugar cane that is gathered and then run through a 100-year-old sugar cane mill to be turned into molasses. From molasses it undergoes fermentation with proprietary yeasts for 36 hours before being distilled by a modern multi-column still. After distillation the rum is aged in white oak ex-bourbon barrels sitting alongside rums that The Licorera Cihuatán distillery has been producing since 2004.

TASTING NOTES

The palate brings notes of tropical fruit notes, but with a developing toasted warm spicy caramel flavor. Balanced with creamy milk chocolate, roasted almond and dried chewy apricot notes.

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 Coffee Infused Rum 111 Proof is cold macerated with whole coffee beans for 48 hours. This allows enough time for the coffee beans to release their rich cherry, chocolate, and honey flavors before the bitter notes begin to impart on the liquid.

TASTING NOTES

The coffee infusion brings notes of dark chocolate and dried sticky plums. A medium to dark roast gives the rum a rich, warming, nutty flavor with a tiny hint of bitterness. This is balanced from the notes of the aged rum of fresh banana and juicy pineapple.

TYKU is a premium sake brand and one of the fastest-growing in the US. It is handcrafted in Umenoyado Brewery in "The Birthplace of Sake", Nara, Japan. The brewery has won the prestigious Japanese sake competition Zenkoku Shinshi Kanpyo Kai 10 times. The Umenoyado Brewery has been overseen by the Yoshida Family for 5 generations and is currently ran by Kayo Yoshida, the first female brewery owner in Nara. The iron-free and soft pure water is sourced from the underground springs and the production of sake is natural, using only 4 simple ingredients: non-GMO rice, water, yeast, and koji, a mold that is used for breaking down starches into sugars. Sake is mainly produced using traditional methods and TYKU is no different. First, the residual powder, left over from polishing the rice, is washed off. The rice is then steamed, before being sprinkled with koji mold and yeast and left to ferment. The liquid then gets pressed from the mixture and gets filtered. After pasteurization, the sake is matured in barrels for around 3 weeks before finally being bottled. The special edition Tokubetsu Benihana Sake was created in partnership with the American Benihana restaurant company and is a Tokubetsu Junmai. Junmai is a premium sake where 30% or more of the rice is polished off. A special blend of sake rice is used along with ultra-purified water, making for an exceptionally smooth and subtle sake that is meant to be enjoyed chilled and with a wide variety of cuisines. 

Coconut Cartel Special is a premium tropical sipping rum. It starts off with reserve selection of the finest single-origin Guatemalan Añejo rum. 

The magic happens when we use freshly harvested coconut water to down-proof our añejo blend from cask to bottle strength (80 proof).

At our 100% vertically integrated distillery in Guatemala we grow and press our own sugarcane, ferment, distill and barrel rest our rums in American White Oak for up to 12 years. 

Our regionally grown coconuts are of the Maypan and Panama Tall Varietal. This special breed of coconut is jam packed with electrolytes and minerals, with a nutty flavor and just a tad of sweet and saltiness. By combining these two naturally synergistic ingredients together we created the smoothest tropical sipping experience, in the world! 

SIP CARTEL NEAT OR POUR OVER ICE.

Taste oak, vanilla, coconut and salt with a medium-long finish and sweet and oaky tang.

Ancient buffalo carved paths through the wilderness that led American pioneers and explorers to new frontiers. One such trail led to the banks of the Kentucky River where Buffalo Trace Distillery has been making bourbon whiskey the same way for more than 200 years. In tribute to the mighty buffalo and the rugged, independent spirit of the pioneers who followed them, we created our signature Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

TASTING NOTES

This deep amber whiskey has a complex aroma of vanilla, mint and molasses. Pleasantly sweet to the taste with notes of brown sugar and spice that give way to oak, toffee, dark fruit and anise. This whiskey finishes long and smooth with serious depth.

Most Recent Awards

2020 Gold Medal - World Whiskies Awards

2020 Silver Medal - San Francisco World Spirits Competition

2019 Gold Medal; 91 points - Beverage Testing Institute

2019 Silver Medal - New York World Spirits Competition

2019 Silver Outstanding - Whiskies of the World

2019 Double Gold Medal - North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition

2019 Gold Medal - Los Angeles International Spirits Competition

2019 Gold Medal - American Whiskey Masters

2019 Silver Medal - San Francisco World Spirits Competition

2019 Silver Medal - Denver International Spirits Competition

The Prisoner Red Blend was inspired by the wines first made by the Italian immigrants who originally settled in Napa Valley. The Prisoner is now the most recognized red blend, leading the resurgence of interesting blends by incorporating Zinfandel with the unlikely mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Charbono. Bright aromas of ripe raspberry, vanilla, and coconut give way to flavors of fresh and dried blackberry, pomegranate, and vanilla, which linger harmoniously for a smooth and luscious finish.

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Charbono

Aroma: Black Cherry, Vanilla, Ripe Plum

Tasting Notes: Blackberry, Cocoa, Baking Spice

The Frank Family Vineyards first opened their doors in 1993, when former Disney Studios president Rich Frank bought the Larkmead Winery. The historic winery was constructed in 1884 and is the 3rd oldest winery in Napa Valley. Larkmead was famous for sparkling wines and it's said that Marilyn Monroe was a regular visitor. While they continue the tradition of producing sparkling wine using the French champenoise method, they are more focused on superb still wines today, employing the four estate vineyards in Rutherford, Napa-Carneros, and Napa's Capell Valley. Their Napa Valley wines are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel, but they also have plenty of Reserve wines. They use 100% French oak barrels and everything is done on-site. They are also committed to sustainability and the winery is Napa Green certified since 2015. The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon vintage from their Napa Valley lineup is crafted from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc varietals. These were harvested between September 20 and October 22, 2016. It's a rich and complex Cabernet Sauvignon with stunning structure.

Grander Panama Rum is an independent bottler founded by Dan DeHart. DeHart is from Kentucky, meaning he was raised in the way of the bourbon. Once he discovered the wonderful world of great-quality rum that could be drunk neat, everything changed. After he met the people at Las Cabras Distillery in Panama, the groundwork was set for the launch of Grander Panama Rum in 2015. The bottler now deals in bringing authentic Panama rum to the discerning drinker without the limitations and restrictions that come from larger rum producers and suppliers. The Las Cabras Distillery is located in Herrera, Panama, and led by Jose Fernandez Perez, who oversees the blending and barrel aging. The distillery grows their own sugar cane. A proprietary yeast strain and local water are used in production, along with ex-bourbon and some ex-sherry barrels are used for maturing, with others (ex-rye, ex-scotch) are used for finishing the rum. The distilling takes place in four independent columns of varying sizes. The rum is bottled without chill filtering and additional colors. The Trophy Release Grander Panama Rum expression was distilled, aged, and bottled in Panama and is a blend of 8 to 15-year-old rums. Aged in ex-bourbon American white oak (some used to hold sherry), it's a non-chill filtered rum without additives or colorings that is bottled at 110.4 proof.

Grander Panama Rum is an independent bottler founded by Dan DeHart. DeHart is from Kentucky, meaning he was raised in the way of the bourbon. Once he discovered the wonderful world of great-quality rum that could be drunk neat, everything changed. After he met the people at Las Cabras Distillery in Panama, the groundwork was set for the launch of Grander Panama Rum in 2015. The bottler now deals in bringing authentic Panama rum to the discerning drinker without the limitations and restrictions that come from larger rum producers and suppliers. The Las Cabras Distillery is located in Herrera, Panama, and led by Jose Fernandez Perez, who oversees the blending and barrel aging. The distillery grows their own sugar cane. A proprietary yeast strain and local water are used in production, along with ex-bourbon and some ex-sherry barrels are used for maturing, with others (ex-rye, ex-scotch) are used for finishing the rum. The distilling takes place in four independent columns of varying sizes. The rum is bottled without chill filtering and additional colors. The Barrel Series features limited-release rums that are finished in different casks. This expression has spent 8 months in American white oak barrels that used to hold Kentucky rye whiskey, an uncommon pairing. It's a blend of 65% 12-year-old- and 35% 15-year-old rum that is bottled at 100 proof sans chill-filtering, coloring, or sugar added. 

Our newest addition to the family is making a name for itself by becoming our first rye whiskey with this distinguished of an age statement.

Bottled at 80 proof, the mashbill features a slightly spicy, yet approachable, rye resulting in an elegantly complex taste profile and a golden honey hue. This light, yet full-flavored, rye is sure to please any palate. Serving neat, with a drop of water, or on the rocks opens up all of the flavors that were developed from ten years of aging, such as spice, oak, caramel, and tobacco. This rye can be easily enjoyed without the burn associated with higher-proof whiskeys.

Tasting Notes

AROMA: Sweet vanilla and oak with a touch of light fruit

TASTE: Approachable spice and oak notes with hints of caramel

FINISH: Faint tobacco and warm cinnamon heat

COLOR: Golden honey

Hirsch Whiskey is named after Adolf Hirsch, a former executive of the Schenley Co. who bought some aging barrels of bourbon from the famed Michter's Distillery before it closed in 1988. It was in 1974 that Hirsch first imagined the spirit that would become legendary over the years. Its unique and turbulent history would prompt Charles K. Cowdery to write the book The Best Bourbon You'll Never Taste, centered around this mythical bourbon. Today the brand is owned by the San Francisco-based distiller & importer Hotaling & Co. They aim to bring back the famous name with premium expressions. "With this reintroduction, we invite people to take a journey into the world of bourbon and discover what makes HIRSCH legendary. THE HORIZON takes the first step into the future of HIRSCH, with additional expressions planned to round out the collection," says Hotaling & Co. President and CEO Dan Leese. Hirsch The Horizon expression is made to embody the spirit of adventure, the lifelong search for new experience chasing the horizon. It's a blend of 2 straight bourbons. Distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, 94% of the blend is a 4-year-old juice with a traditional (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt) mash bill, while the remaining 6% is a 6-year-old rye-heavy whiskey. Bottled at 92 proof, it's a traditional, complex, and incredibly well-balanced offering that is equally stunning neat or on the rocks.

Lucky Seven Spirits was founded by best friends Michael Lahalin and John Pals. Both bourbon fans and cinema aficionados, the pair settled on the moniker Lucky 7, named after the legendary Stage 7 of the Warner Brothers lot, where countless classics such as Casablanca were filmed. Since the giant stage got a reputation for producing so many hits, it got the nickname "Lucky Stage 7." The pair sources and blends rare bourbons, only using the finest juice they can find and releasing them as limited editions: 12 YO "The Hold Up," 6 YO "The Jokester," and 12 YO Single Barrel "The Proprietor." They have won several medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, among others. As befits the Hollywood and movie history that permeates Lucky Seven, they have also created a series of short films that accompany each expression. The luxurious decanter bottles include several nods to Old Hollywood, as well as real 22-karat gold. Lucky Seven "The Jokester" 6YO is a 6-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey with a rich and deep profile that has notes of dried fruit, nuts, vanilla, and spice. It's all beautifully balanced and complex. The bourbon is bottled at 95 proof and has won a Double Gold Medal at the 2020 edition of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

THE UNKNOWN IS BECOMING TOO FAMILIAR

If you’re reading this, it’s time to escape the mundane and do what’s never been done. It’s time to step into the dark. How can you get there? With a rum as dark as the abyss and a Beast feared throughout the world.

LEGEND HAS IT

A ship carrying spiced rum from the Caribbean was attacked by a monstrous Kraken. The Beast thrust upon the ship its massive limbs, plunging the vessel and the men on board into impenetrable darkness.

THE LONE SURVIVOR

All of the barrels of rum were destroyed except one, which was badly stained by the squid’s black ink. It was dubbed “The Kraken Rum.” It is now known as a liquid of unparalleled darkness.

KRAKEN® BLACK ROAST: DARK & BOLD FLAVORS ARE HERE TO STAY

DARK COMPLEXITY: UNEXPECTEDLY RICH, DARK AND SMOOTH.

Tasting Notes

AROMA: Dark and bold

FLAVOR: Coffee and spice

FINISH: Rich and smooth