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. 

Tepeztate-Tobalá Ensamble (2018 Limited Edition)

A true blend of 50% Tepeztate and 50% Tobalá, two agaves that are dramatically different in personality.  This Tepeztate-Tobalá Ensamble is Tepeztate forward, meaning you will likely taste the green, vegetal, and pear notes of the Tepeztate first, before it expands into the Tobalá’s sweeter fruit notes and rounder body.  A verdant, precise and clean combination of grass and rainwashed limestone on the nose. Pear, green pepper, peppercorn, and minerals on the tongue. Tempered by the smooth caramel notes and hint of smoke from the Tobalá.

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 Tobala Mezcal

Tropical fruit notes, with a round mouthfeel.  Banana, cooked maguey, and adobo on the nose. Quince and vanilla on the tongue, with the lingering lovely round sweetness of caramel. The slightest hint of spiciness and hot smoke.  This mezcal always makes us think of dessert and would make a fabulous after-dinner digestif with dessert or on its own. Banana foster, creme brûlée, banana pudding … The possibilities are endless.

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 14 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey represents both the prestigious nature and hard-earned quality of a premium Kentucky straight bourbon. It is painstakingly crafted from extremely small batches of 19 barrels. All barrels used are aged in a single, center cut rack from the ideal maturation location and conditions inside the rick house.  This expression of the Calumet Farm Bourbon family is a true convergence of craftsmanship and flavor. It is Non-Chill Filtered for added depth of character and color.

Awards 

95 Point rating and Gold Medal from the prestigious Beverage Testing Institute.

Tasting Notes

Color: Deep amber throughout with shimmering highlights of copper and sun-yellow

Nose: Heavy notes of oak and molasses are rolled back as light scents of fresh corn, wood sugars and hay present

Taste: Smooth flavors of oak and char subside to reveal complex sensations of toasted grains, toffee and vanilla

Finish: The long finish leaves the palate with a subtle dryness followed by lasting flavors of rye and dark fruit

Jos. A. Magnus & Co. distillery revived Joseph Magnus Bourbon in 2015 after rediscovering a 122-year-old family heirloom. The bourbon combines 12-year-old MGP bourbon with triple-cask finishing, resulting in rich flavors like vanilla, citrus, dark chocolate, and dark stone fruits, with numerous awards to its name. The Cigar Blend Bourbon, a blend of 11 and 18-year-old whiskeys, is perfect for cigars, boasting tobacco, spice, and fruity notes from Armagnac brandy cask finishing, with Double Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2018 and 2019.

CaliFino Extra Añejo Tequila is crafted with 100% Ultra-Premium Blue Weber Agave, aged for a minimum of 7 years in an American Oak barrel with 1 additional year in a French Cognac barrel. Named the Gold winner of the 2020 New York International Spirits Competition, this Extra Añejo is perfect for sipping straight or on the rocks. 

Exposing the structural brilliance of our pure, unadulterated Octomore super heavily peated spirit, our 11.1 edition is powerful, understated and vibrant. Underpinned with a delicate balance of smoke and sweet vanilla from the ex-American oak casks, this single malt has spent just 5 years in contact with fresh first fill wood. The presence of peat on the palate is huge, and yet is incredibly balanced with clean fruit and floral notes. Distilled in 2014 from the 2013 harvest of 100% Scottish barley then filled into active ex-American oak, this high provenance, high peat single malt is a fitting embodiment of how quality ingredients demand less time to reach maturity.

TASTING NOTES

CHARACTER: Lithe, sleek with intense earthy peat notes, balanced by the presence malt sugar, vanilla and oak. The scents of Islay in a glass – the ozone fragrance of the sea, bog myrtle from the moss and peat smoke in the cold night air and at the heart of it all a warmth that brings harmony to the whole.

AROMA: Initial notes of Lemon, wet peat, pencil shavings, and a salty minerality. Peach yoghurt, cinder toffee, rubbery smokey almost antiseptic notes come from the peat smoke, well balanced with the green fruit and malty notes coming through the spirit. Honey, malt sugar, dried grass, come through with time with a little hint of ginger and wood spice.

TASTE: Brown sugar sweetness hits the palate initially. The chilli heat of high strength carries the Octomore DNA across the palate, it is clean, supple in texture and has a complex combination of flavours rushing for attention. Another taste and stone fruit, apricot, that peach yoghurt come to the fore and then the cask influence appears with sweet vanilla, toasted oak, brown sugar and soft toffee. The maritime notes, the minerality and citrus all weave the Bruichladdich DNA through the flavour profile bonding the sense of place and identity in this dram.

FINISH: Malt, huge Peat notes, earthy and oily, tar and bonfires. Vanilla honey, ginger spice and syrupy sweetness.

Nuda Tequila, a blend of Persian and Mexican influences, honors tequila's diverse history. From Aztec origins to refinement by Pedro Snchez de Tagle, Nuda embodies the "sensuality, sophistication, and elegance of the Queen of Tequila." The lineup includes Silver, Reposado, Aejo, Extra Aejo, and the premium 5 Years Extra Aejo. Harvesting 8-year-old blue Weber agaves in Jalisco, Mexico, the process involves cooking, crushing, and triple distillation for purity. Nuda Extra Aejo ages for 42 months, revealing intense chocolate, vanilla, oak, and a distinctive nuttiness. Bottled at 80 proof in elegant glass, it visually captures the Queen of Tequila's essence.

Vuelo del Aviador crafts artisanal tequila of the highest quality in Jalisco, Mexico. Their lineup of luxury spirits consists of the Plata, Reposado, Aejo, and Extra Aejo. The finest blue weber agaves used are fully-matured, meaning they have been growing on the estate for 7 to 9 years. They are then cooked slowly in clay ovens for 72 hours before the pulp is fermented and distilled using copper-pot stills. The different juices then get aged for varying amounts of time, from the Plata which takes 4 months, to the Extra Aejo which takes 5 to 7 years. Different casks are used for maturation. These include French and American oak, Napa Valley red wine barrels, as well as whiskey casks. The Plata has won a Double Gold Medal at the 2020 edition of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The Vuelo del Aviador Gran Reserva Reposado spends 9 months in Napa Valley red wine barrels. Employing a combination of American and French oak, it is blended and bottled at 80 proof. "Vuelo del Aviador" is Spanish for "flight of the pilot", hence the wings in the design of the bottle. The handcrafted tequila is rich and complex with notes of toasted agave, oak, fruit, and honey, as well as prominent brandy notes.

Vuelo del Aviador crafts artisanal tequila of the highest quality in Jalisco, Mexico. Their lineup of luxury spirits consists of the Plata, Reposado, Aejo, and Extra Aejo. The finest blue weber agaves used are fully-matured, meaning they have been growing on the estate for 7 to 9 years. They are then cooked slowly in clay ovens for 72 hours before the pulp is fermented and distilled using copper-pot stills. The different juices then get aged for varying amounts of time, from the Plata which takes 4 months, to the Extra Aejo which takes 5 to 7 years. Different casks are used for maturation. These include French and American oak, Napa Valley red wine barrels, as well as whiskey casks. The Plata has won a Double Gold Medal at the 2020 edition of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Based on the same liquid as the award-winning Plata expression, the Vuelo del Aviador Gran Reserva Aejo spends 2 years in Napa Valley red wine barrels before being bottled at 80 proof. "Vuelo del Aviador" is Spanish for "flight of the pilot", hence the wings in the design of the bottle. The exquisite handcrafted tequila has delicate notes and a rich finish with dried fruit and grape notes.

Situated in the Orkney archipelago in Northern Scotland, Highland Park Distillery was founded in 1798 by Magnus Eunson. The name of the distillery is derived not from the region of Scotland known as The Highlands the Orkney islands are not a part of the Highlands but rather from the region known as High Park, where the distillery was founded. Highland Park is an incredible longstanding whisky house, and they pride themselves on their rich Norse heritage, an essence which is reflected in their craft. Today, over two centuries after its founding, Highland Park Distillery remains one of the few Scottish distilleries that continues to hand-turn, malt, and peat its own barley, using locally cut peat from the nearby Hobbister Moor. The malt is peated to 20 parts per million phenols, and then mixed with unpeated malt produced on the Scottish mainland. "You have to be careful here on the malting floor," says Eric Tait, Highland Park's Maltman. "You find it can get a wee bit slippery underneath. I have to turn the malt every eight hours to prevent the roots getting tangled and to get it all aerated properly. The airing also helps it to grow. The malt will be on the floor for seven days, and I'm running five floors at the moment." After malting the barley, Highland Park Distillery smokes it using peat sourced from Hobbister Moor, a peat bog located approximately seven miles from the distillery. Hobbister Moor peat is sourced from floral heather bushes, which burn hotter and cleaner than the grassy peats of Islay. Also, the peat sourced from Hobbister Moor has greater derivatives of carbohydrates and a lower concentration of lignin than peat from Islay, giving Highland Park's peat a unique chemical fingerprint. The peat is "absolutely fundamental in understanding the flavor of Highland Park Whisky," says Russell Anderson, the distillery manager. Together with Orkney's unique environment (the temperate, moist climate of the archipelago results in an even maturation process), the peat gives Highland Park Whisky its traditional malty flavors that are tempered by an ever-so-subtle touch of smoke. Fans of Highland Park and cask-strength whisky will be glad to know that the distillery is adding annual cask-strength releases to their permanent lineup. Highland Park Cask Strength No.1 is the first in the series that is meant to showcase the casks' influence in its pure, unadulterated form. "I want to give everyone who loves Highland Park the chance to experience our single malt whisky in its purest form by bottling 'straight from the cask but allowing you to choose the strength you want to drink this special single malt," says Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion. The different-aged sherry-seasoned American oak casks are hand-selected by him and the spirit is bottled without chill-filtration at 126.6 proof.

Born from a marriage of traditional tequila making and modern technology, Partida Familia Tequila is made from blue agave nectar sourced near El Cerro, a dormant volcano, in Santiago de Tequila, Mexico. From afar, the rolling hills of agave fields could be mistaken for vineyards in the south of France or Sonoma Valley. Up close, however, you can see the rich red soil, which creates the perfect terrain for maturing the agave plant. With years of experience, jimadors determine exactly when each agave is ready for harvest. Jose Valdez, Tequila Partida's master distiller, holds a Tequila Expert degree from Cultura y Capacitacin del Tequila A.C. (Tequila Culture and Training Association), and is also a certified Tequila Technician from the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (Tequila Regulatory Council). He carefully monitors the entire production process, including the quality of the blue agave. The pias are perfectly ripened with mature, robust sugars, the blue agave is harvested by hand and slowly baked in state-of-the-art autoclaves to preserve freshness and flavor. After the agave has been baked and shredded, Valdez lets the agave juices ferment for nearly two days before twice distilling the tequila. The Roble Fino ("fine oak") series was conceived upon Valdez's visit to Scotland, where he envisioned a partnership between tequila and Scotch single malts. He crafted 3 unique expressions: the Reposado, Reposado Cristalino, and Aejo, which build on the super-solid foundation of their award-winning regular Reposado and Aejo tequilas. These are then finished in Edrington's sherry-seasoned single malt oak casks. The Roble Fino Reposado Cristalino takes the 6-month-old liquid that is aged in ex-bourbon barrels, then adds another two months of finishing in sherry-seasoned single malt oak casks on top of that. It is then filtered naturally to remove the color, preserving the complexity of the double-aged spirit.

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. 

In today's rum market, a considerable amount of products suffer from deceptive marketing, ambiguous age statements, and the inclusion of additives, largely due to the lenient regulations governing the spirit. Myrtle Bank, an independent bottling company, is on a mission to introduce top-notch rum to consumers while prioritizing transparency. The name pays homage to the Jamaican Myrtle Bank Hotel, a majestic historic structure constructed in the 1800s. Once the focal point of Kingston's social life in the 1920s and '30s, this hotel inspires the creation of Myrtle Bank rum.

Distilled at Jamaica's Worthy Park Estate, this rum is crafted using local molasses, cane juice, and crushed cane stalks from the Jamaican highlands. The high-ester mash undergoes natural fermentation over two to three weeks, utilizing natural yeast from the cane stalks in two fermenters. The distillation process takes place in a traditional Scottish Forsyths copper-pot still. The rum is then aged for a full decade in the United Kingdom, benefiting from a climate conducive to extended maturation, which minimizes tannin extraction from the wood and reduces evaporation.

Throughout its aging process, the barrels impart tropical fruit, banana, oak, vanilla, and cocoa notes to the rum. In line with their commitment to transparency, Myrtle Bank refrains from adding coloring or sugar, and the spirit is bottled at cask strength (120 proof) to preserve its full flavor. Distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2020, this single-estate, single-cask rum is a distinctive and intricate choice, certain to satisfy aficionados of Jamaican rum.

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."

John Walker & Sons XR 21 Year Old Scotch Whisky is a luxurious blend that pays tribute to the rich heritage of Johnnie Walker. Aged for a minimum of 21 years, this exquisite whisky features a harmonious blend of rare single malt and grain whiskies, meticulously selected for their depth of flavor and character.

On the nose, it presents enticing aromas of dried fruits, honey, and spices, with hints of oak and vanilla. The palate is rich and complex, showcasing flavors of dark chocolate, caramel, and warm spices, complemented by a smooth, velvety texture. The finish is long and satisfying, leaving a lingering warmth that invites you back for another sip.

Packaged in an elegantly designed bottle, XR 21 is perfect for special occasions or as a refined gift for whisky enthusiasts. Whether enjoyed neat or with a splash of water, this exceptional Scotch whisky embodies sophistication and craftsmanship, making it a standout choice in the world of premium spirits.

Maker Notes

A celebration of tequila innovation, born from 11 generations of mastery.

Maestro Dobel 50 Cristalino is handcrafted in the lowlands of Jalisco, Mexico, using 100% Blue Weber Agaves expertly grown and sourced from a single family-owned estate. It is aged in American and Eastern European oak barrels for a minimum of three years.

Color: To the eye, this perfectly clear cristalino extra-añejo sparkles with steel and platinum reflections. This is the result of the final filtration process that removes the color. The quality of the liquid is evident from the long drops that collect to form pronounced legs on the sides of the glass.

Taste: Discover a creamy and full flavor, with notes of fig, quince, date, pineapple and pumpkin with the pleasing aftertaste of cinnamon, vanilla and cloves left on the tongue.

Aroma: On the nose, a compelling marriage of caramel, honey, cooked agave and dried fruit, such as fig and quince, emerge, with hints of chocolate, tobacco and sweets that make for an enticing, aromatic scent. Some herbal notes add a touch of freshness and lightness with a hint of lingering vanilla and nutmeg on the finish.

Sip: The voluminous, rich taste fills the palette with a smooth, silky sensation which is the result of an innovative, proprietary refinement process that prevents the bitter notes of the barrel from impeding on the elegance of the aromas.

Discover the Exquisite Maestro Dobel 50 Extra Anejo Cristalino Tequila - Indulge in Luxury and Refinement. Limited Edition Release. Shop Now at Royal Batch.com

In 1810, Madame Clicquot invented the first Vintage Champagne, in 2012 Veuve Clicquot declared the 66th vintage of the Maison. With grapes exclusively from Grands and Premiers Crus, Pinot Noir dominates the blend (51%) and provides the structure that is so typically Clicquot, followed by Chardonnay (34%) that adds finesse and elegance essential in a perfectly balanced wine, and then Meunier (15%) that rounds out the blend. The Vintage Rosé 2012 blend is elaborated with 13% red still wine, exclusively from the Pinot Noir of Bouzy. The uniqueness of the Vintage Rosé 2012 lies in the addition of 11% of wines aged in large wooden casks (foudres), bringing strength and aromatic intensity. The cask-aged wines act as spices to the blend, bringing very lightly

TASTING NOTES

The palate is powerful and voluminous, with an attack that is distinct and clear. It unfolds with initial aromas of luscious red fruit, strawberry and Morello cherry. Next to arrive are dense notes of noble tannins; their velvety, silky caress is the perfect counterpoint to Vintage Rosé 2012’s spicy saffron and peppery notes.