The first release in the series combines whiskies with contrasting characteristics, but which come from the same distillery. Even single malts benefit from blending.

FLAVOUR PROFILE

A malty and creamy character develops into notes of ripe orchard fruits and delicate oak.

Bright, crisp, and fresh. Its artisanal elaboration results in smooth, irresistible notes with a touch of sweetness.

Clase Azul Tequila Plata is a sublime experience for the senses. Ideal to be enjoyed neat.

TASTING NOTES

COLOR: Clear, bright with silver highlights. 

BODY: Light to medium. 

AROMA: Fresh aromas of orange, lemongrass, and mint. Hints of vanilla, green apple, and green tea. 

FLAVOR: Vanilla, meyer lemon, fresh mint, and a hint of green guava. 

PAIRING

> Citrus-marinated white fish

> Fresh cheeses (panela, mozzarella) and some aged cheeses such as Grana Padano, with cherry tomatoes and chimichurri (cilantro, oregano, and basil)

> Ripe strawberries with white chocolate.

Clase Azul Tequila Reposado is a symbol of Mexican tradition and culture. Made with slow-cooked 100% Blue Weber Agave, our ultra-premium reposado tequila is unique and incomparable. This Reposado is masterfully aged for eight months in American whiskey casks creating its unique hazelnut and vanilla flavors as well as exceptionally smoothness. Its decanter is our most recognized icon with its distinctive "feathered" design, painted by hand in cobalt blue.

Tasting Notes

COLOR: Gold color with bright yellow highlights. 

BODY: Medium. 

AROMA: Agave syrup, vanilla, candied orange peel, and American oak. Light notes of cinnamon and banana. 

FLAVOR: Hazelnut, vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, and a subtle hint of agave syrup. 

Pairing

> A rich cut of pork such as pork shoulder or pork ribs accompanied with acidulated sauce.

> Aged cheese (sheep milk cheese and smoked provolone), with honey and old style mustard.

> Bittersweet chocolate mousse with hazelnuts and orange.

Alan Shayne founded Spirit Imports in 1993. An experienced veteran of the spirits industry, Shayne founded The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America. In the nearly three decades since his daughters Lauren and Gabrielle joined the family business they have built a portfolio of eight brands and dozens of releases. The Classic Cask is a label of distinctive single barrels and strictly limited releases of Single Malt from some of the best distilleries. Each bottle is numbered in series, once a release is gone it is gone forever. This Classic Cask 23 Year Old Original Cask is part of a series of four twenty-three year-old Spirits released in tandem. Each whisky is comprised of single-casks sourced from Speyside, Highland, and Island distilleries each hand selected by Master Blender David Hallgarten of the Glenaden Distilling Company. They were matured in their original casks for a full twenty-three years before being married and divided into quarters for finishing and bottling without chill-filtering. This bold whisky was aged in first fill Bourbon barrels for its entire 23 years of aging. The nose is honey and vanilla, with fruity, citrus and toffee notes on the palate and an unusually smooth finish. 

Alan Shayne founded Spirit Imports in 1993. An experienced veteran of the spirits industry, Shayne founded The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America. In the nearly three decades since his daughters Lauren and Gabrielle joined the family business they have built a portfolio of eight brands and dozens of releases. The Classic Cask is a label of distinctive single barrels and strictly limited releases of Single Malt from some of the best distilleries. Each bottle is numbered in series, once a release is gone it is gone forever. This Classic Cask 23 Year Old Caribbean Rum Finish is part of a series of four twenty-three year-old Spirits released in tandem. After 23 years of aging the whisky was placed into former Caribbean Rum casks that once held Solera aged rums, for 6 months. During that period, it picked up the distinctive rum features which added a new dimension to this thoroughly engaging whisky.

Alan Shayne founded Spirit Imports in 1993. An experienced veteran of the spirits industry, Shayne founded The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America. In the nearly three decades since his daughters Lauren and Gabrielle joined the family business they have built a portfolio of eight brands and dozens of releases. The Classic Cask is a label of distinctive single barrels and strictly limited releases of Single Malt from some of the best distilleries. Each bottle is numbered in series, once a release is gone it is gone forever. This Classic Cask 23 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Finish is part of a series of four twenty-three year-old Spirits released in tandem. After 23 years this whisky was finished for 6 months in first fill Oloroso Sherry butts. Antique mahogany in color the Oloroso finished bottlings have a fresh sweet bouquet, that exhibit pears and nutty aromas. Butterscotch and walnut are prominent on the palate followed by an extraordinarily smooth finish.

Alan Shayne founded Spirit Imports in 1993. An experienced veteran of the spirits industry, Shayne founded The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America. In the nearly three decades since his daughters Lauren and Gabrielle joined the family business they have built a portfolio of eight brands and dozens of releases. The Classic Cask is a label of distinctive single barrels and strictly limited releases of Single Malt from some of the best distilleries. Each bottle is numbered in series, once a release is gone it is gone forever. This Classic Cask 23 Year Old Port Finish is part of a series of four twenty-three year-old Spirits released in tandem. Each whisky is comprised of single-casks sourced from Speyside, Highland, and Island distilleries each hand selected by Master Blender David Hallgarten of the Glenaden Distilling Company. They were matured in their original casks for a full twenty-three years before being married and divided into quarters for finishing and bottling without chill-filtering. This Port finished release spent an additional six months in first-fill Port pipes.

The Macallan Classic Cut is an annual limited release, never to be repeated. This year's release has an ABV of 52.9% chosen by our whisky maker as the optimum strength to reveal a dominant sweetness and the well balanced flavors of the whisky. To intensify the flavor experience, pour and allow it to breath for 10-15 minutes. After this time, heightened flavors of orange, sweet ginger and vanilla come to the forefront, combined with a satisfyingly long finish. Matured exclusively in handpicked Sherry-seasoned casks, bottled to perfectly unlock its unique flavor profile.

(Latest Vintage Year available will be sent)

Ocho Tequila, dating back to 1937, is a collaboration between Carlos Camarena and Tomas Estes. It's made traditionally from 100% agaves, with each bottle marked with the production year and specific agave field. The number "8" is significant, representing the years of agave maturation, the amount of agave per liter, and the family's eight decades in distillation. Ocho Extra Aejo, aged three years in ex-American Whiskey barrels, is bottled at 80 proof and presented in a wooden box.

TASTING NOTES

AROMA: NOTES OF SWEET COOKED AGAVE, TOFFEE AND BLACK PEPPER THAT ARE BALANCED WITH VANILLA.

TASTE: COMPLEX COOKED AGAVE NOTES WITH OAK, ANISE AND DRIED FRUITS.

BODY & COLOR: GENTLY AGED FOR 3 YEARS IN EX-AMERICAN OAK WHISKEY BARRELS, CREATING A SLIGHTLY DARKER AMBER COLOR.

FINISH: DEEP AND LONG-LASTING PEPPERY AND ANISE SEED FINISH.

The story of G4 Tequila started in 1937 when the Camarena family first started making tequila. The Jalisco Highlands in Mexico are the tequila capital of the world and the name Camarena counts among the most illustrious in the spirit's rich history. After working with his brother Carlos for years, the fourth-generation tequilero (G4) Felipe Camarena decided to open his own distillery in 2011 and the Destilera El Pandillo was born. Named after his grandfather's favorite bull, the distillery proudly displays the old tahona stone from the family distillery that burnt down during the Mexican Revolution before it even became operational. G4 takes pride in taking things slow and respecting the land and tradition. They grow their own agaves without using any chemicals, and they are never harvested before fully ripening. They are cooked in traditional stone ovens for 22 hours, after which the remains are converted into fertilizer. Copper-pot stills are used for the first and second fermentation and many details in the production process ensure power efficiency. They have also strived to use solar and wind power, as well as harvesting rainwater. While the Extra Aejo might look comparatively light, it is due to a complete lack of any coloring additives it has spent a minimum of 3 years in ex-bourbon American oak barrels. All the maturation takes place in-house, often giving the spirits twice the amount of aging necessary for a particular category. This gives the end product an exceptional smoothness and complexity. It's extra-smooth, agave-forward, with a pleasantly soft oakiness and vanilla note. As all their tequila, the Extra Aejo is made from 50% spring water and 50% harvested rainwater and bottled at 80 proof.

The non-governmental organization Mezonte is focused on promoting, supporting, and preserving the tradition and heritage of Mexican agave spirits. Led my mastermind, curator, and expert of everything agave Pedro Jimenez, they collaborate with various producers, featuring spirits from all over Mexico, especially Jalisco and Michoacn. These producers provide mezcal, raicilla, barranca, tuxca, sikua, and any other agave-based distillates. Whenever they purchase a batch from a local producer, it never exceeds 60% of the batch, as they strive to keep the spirits thriving in the community as well. Mezonte Raicilla Japo is made by Hildegardo "Japo" Joya in Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco. The Maestro Mezcalero has been producing the spirit for his whole life, meaning he has decades of experience under his belt. Everything is done the traditional way: The 12- to 25-year-old Amarillo agaves are harvested under the light of the full moon, they are cooked underground, hand-crushed with wooden mallets, and left to ferment in volcanic rock containers, before being distilled using a direct-fired copper still. Bottled at 94 proof, it's a beautiful Mexican spirit and a celebration of a rich distilling tradition.

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 Fiji Single Cask Rum was distilled in 2004 at the South Pacific Distilleries of Fiji. The 16-year-old pot-still rum was matured tropically in an ex-bourbon barrel for 12 years, then 4 years in the UK in an American oak cask, then bottled in 2020 at 116 proof without chill filtering. The cask yielded 240 bottles of this premium unadulterated rum.

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 Guyana Single Cask expression is a premium Caribbean rum that was distilled in 2005 in Guyana at Demerara Distillers. This 15-year-old pot-still rum was matured in the UK in an American oak recycled rum cask.

J.W. Rutledge Distillery was founded by former Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge. As the construction of their new sustainable distillery is underway (a facility that utilizes clean technologies like geothermal heating and cooling, solar energy, and biomass energy), Jim Rutledge sources and blends whiskey from other distilleries to put out new releases under the J.W. Rutledge brands, beginning with Cream of Kentucky. Their aim is to produce Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey and straight rye whiskey the "old-fashioned way" relative to the requisites, guidelines, and standards for straight whiskey production that have been in place for close to two centuries. The Cream of Kentucky label was first introduced in 1888 by I. Trager & Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio. Before Prohibition ended, the brand was picked up by the renowned Schenley Company and re-introduced to the industry in 1934. Cream of Kentucky reached great success in the 30s and 40s, using the work of famed artist Norman Rockwell. Cream of Kentucky is now owned by J.W. Rutledge, who has recently secured a limited supply of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey he feels is worthy of the rebirth of Cream of Kentucky Bourbon as a premium whiskey. Cream of Kentucky 13 is a 13-year-old straight bourbon that was sourced by the discerning eye of Jim Rutledge and is an exquisitely well-balanced and rich straight bourbon.

A MASTERFUL COMBINATION

Cosseted away in the finest, hand-selected oak casks and allowed to mature at its own sedate pace, this is one of the most remarkable, perfectly balanced single malt scotch whiskies of its kind. One of our rarest whiskies, bottles of Bowmore 18 Year Old may be limited, but there's no end to its enjoyment.

TASTING NOTES

On The Eye: Mellow mahogany

Breathe In: Creamy caramel toffee, with ripe fruit and smoke aromas

Sip: Incredibly complex, with beautiful soft fruit and chocolate balanced with a light smokiness

Savour: The long and wonderfully balanced finish

Awards

International Wine & Spirit Competition - Gold award 2018

San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold award 2018

International Spirits Challenge - Gold award 2018

During the early 19th century, illegal distilleries were commonplace throughout the Speyside region of Scotland. In 1823, however, Alexander Gordon pushed the Excise Act of 1823 through Parliament. The Excise Act allowed illegal distillers throughout Scotland to apply for and obtain licenses to legally distill spirits. In 1824, a businessman named George Smith applied for one of the first licenses in the Speyside region of Scotland and opened the doors to The Glenlivet Distillery. For nearly two centuries, The Glenlivet Distillery has been producing the "single malt whisky that started it all." The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made using barley sourced from Crisp Maltings, Portgordon (Portgordon is a village in Moray, Scotland). After the barley has been malted and mashed, it is fermented in wooden washbacks for approximately two days. The wooden washbacks used by The Glenlivet are more difficult and expensive to maintain as compared to the stainless steel washbacks used by most Scottish distilleries, but impart a distinctive, floral quality to the whisky. After the barley has been fermented, it is distilled twice first through Glenlivet's wash still, and then again through Glenlivet's spirits still. Originally designed by George Smith, the copper-pot stills have a unique, lantern-like shape, which encourages contact between the whisky and the copper (the copper strips the whisky of any impurities it may have, and provides for a lighter and more pure flavor profile). In addition, the height of the stills ensures only the lightest vapors are condensed, and makes for a more delicate and elegant whisky. Recently, folks at The Glenlivet have been experimenting with mysterious releases without tasting notes and cask information. Spectra is one such limited-edition box set that contains a selection of 3 distinct 200ml single malt bottles. The first hints at a fruity expression, the second promises a smoky and briny experience, and the last holds a creamy sweetness. Each expression showcases The Glenlivet's signature style and presents a tasting challenge in the form of a digital experience a journey that starts by scanning the provided QR code. After completing the guided digital tour and receiving a grade based on your performance, you get to compare your findings with the thoughts of Master Blender and Distiller Alan Winchester.

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 with 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. 

Erstwhile Henequen Mezcal

Must-have for any serious mezcal collector.  This is the first mezcal made from the Henequén agave that is available in the US market. This distillation, made from cultivated Henequén agave, is a small-batch limited edition of 397 liters (roughly 500 bottles) from the personal collection of the late master distiller Juan Hernández Méndez in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca.  Henequén, an agave plant native to the Yucatán Peninsula and valued for its fiber since pre-Hispanic times, once ruled and transformed the region’s economy to such an extent that it came to be known as “green gold”. It is not native to, and thus rarely seen in, Oaxaca and other mezcal-producing regions of Mexico.

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 with 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. 

Erstwhile Cuishe Mezcal

A herbal, easy drinking mezcal from the Agave karwinskii family.  Lovely nutty, earthy nose.  On the palate, this mezcal has a bit of kick to it with notes of jalapeño pepper and spices.  Banana and chipotle follow through with a hint of cinnamon sticks, clove, and bitter melon.

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. Holmes Cay Belize 2005 follows in the footsteps of their recent releases of Barbados, Fiji, and Guyana rum. Crafted in collaboration with Travellers Liquors Distillery of Belize it's a 100% tropically-aged column-still rum that has spent 15 years in ex-bourbon barrels. Distilled in 2005 and bottled in 2020 at cask strength, this 122-proof rum has no sugar, color, or flavoring added. 4 casks of this rum were produced in total.