Mutineer Magazine is pleased to announce that we are once again sponsoring Firestone Walker’s From The Barrel event held at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch in Santa Margarita, CA. The March 30th event, now in its second year, will feature the finest ports, bourbons and barrel aged beers beers in a celebration of all things barrel aged.

Bourbons scheduled to pour include Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey, Jim Beam Black, Angel’s Envy, Woodford Reserve, Eagle Rare 10 year and several others including small production California spirit makers.

Ports and Porto wines from some of the Central Coast’s premiere wineries will also be featured. Wineries scheduled to pour are Cass, Roxo Cellars and Le Vigne with several more to come.

Rare barrel aged beers from California breweries Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Lost Abbey, Ballast Point, Anchor Brewing and Russian River. New this year will be two out of state breweries, Jolly Pumpkin from Michigan and Crooked Stave from Colorado. Stay tuned for announcements of other breweries.

Guests will also have the chance to snack on tapas from local restaurants and dance to stirring sounds of the Tipsy Gypsies, all making for a perfect evening.

When: Friday, March 30 from 7pm-10pm

Where: Historic Santa Margarita Ranch
9000 Yuerba Buena Rd.
Santa Margarita, CA 93453

Price: Tickets are very limited and are $60 a person.

Visit FromTheBarel.net for more information and to buy tickets.

Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the country’s largest independent family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer, announces the release of Evan Williams Cinnamon Reserve Kentucky Liqueur, a new product that marries extra-aged Evan Williams Bourbon with natural hot cinnamon flavor. Bottled at 70 proof and available in both a 750ml and 50ml size, Evan Williams Cinnamon Reserve will be shipping nationally in February at a suggested retail price of $14.99 for the 750ml bottle.

“The launch of Evan Williams Honey and Cherry Reserve has exceeded our expectations,” stated Assistant Brand Manager Hannah Venhoff. “Given the strength of the Evan Williams brand franchise and the proven success of the flavored Bourbon sub-category, we believe it is the perfect time in which to launch Evan Williams Cinnamon Reserve. And with a very approachable price point and a full range of retail and on-premise marketing materials available, we are expecting this brand launch to be red-hot!”

Infographic by gustavkatz.com

We found this infographic over on tastingtable.com and it was too cool not to share. It shows the lifespan of many bourbon barrels, starting with being filled with bourbon and wherever they may head to next. By law, bourbon barrels can only be used once, which creates an incredible supply of them. A lot of them head to Mexico for tequila to age in, as well as Scotland for scotch to be aged in. Until recently, there wasn’t a huge demand for them, and then they started being sent to breweries for beer to be aged in, imparting the delicious flavors of the former tenant to the new beer. From there, everything from bitters to coffee beans to tobacco have been stored in used barrels, even maple syrup and sherry vinegar. The maple syrup, might I add, is incredible.

One addition, that I’m surprised to not see on the infographic, is Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS), a massive imperial stout brewed with chocolate and coffee beans that is aged in a barrel that originally held bourbon and then held maple syrup. This beer was released earlier this month and 12,000 bottles didn’t leave much to go around.

Click on the image to see a bigger version of the infographic.

The highly anticipated release of Dry Fly Distilling Bourbon Whiskey has come and gone but for about 2 and a half more hours, you have the opportunity to purchase batch 1, barrel 1, bottle one of the 101 proof Washington bourbon. The bottle, which is being sold to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities Spokane and Casting 4 A Cure is currently at $2,225.

From the auction:

BATCH ONE, BARREL ONE, BOTTLE ONE … benefits Ronald McDonald House Charites Spokane

Dry Fly Bourbon Whiskey Master Distillers decided to do it at 101 proof. Typical bourbons are 80 proof. At 101 proof there’s 20 percent more alcohol and you get less out of a barrel and Dry Fly is very selective about what goes in those barrels.

For more information on this auction or to bid, click here. Time is running out!

Once upon a time, in a land known as Paso Robles, there was a little craft brewery called Firestone Walker. They made beer. And by making beer, they made people happy.

One day, in addition to making beer, Firestone Walker also made a decision. They decided to throw a party -  a party celebrating some of the best barrel-aged brews coming out of California. This made people really happy.

So on Friday, April 8, Ballast Point, Russian River, The Bruery, New Belgium, Stone and Lost Abbey all converged on Historic Santa Margarita Ranch, and poured their finest for the people. Rich and malty, frothy cups of barrel-aged bliss.

No one expected the 32 degree nighttime lows, so there was rejoicing throughout the land at the abundance of bourbon. Oh, the bourbon. Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Makers Mark, Jim Beam, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek, Blanton’s. A delicious spread of barrel-aged, 51% corn goodness.

Party-goers were also treated to Paso port wines from Roxo Cellars, Cass Winery, Paso Port, EOS, Eberle and Le Vigne. A selection of cigars was available for purchase, to really help revelers feel like royalty.

And then there was food. Artisan, Mee Heng Low Noodle House, The Grill at Avila Beach Resort, Novo, Buona Tavola.

It was like a dream come true.

And we lived happily ever after (at least ’til the morning hangovers kicked in…).

The Kentucky Derby is just a day away and that means it’s time to bust out some Mint Juleps. The Mint Julep has been associated with the Kentucky Derby since 1938 and now nearly 120,000 of the tasty cocktails are served over the two day race. Watch as Robert Hess, cocktail cocktail extraordinaire from Small Screen Network’s The Cocktail Spirit schools you on the drink and teaches you how to make it.

Be sure to visit The Cocktail Spirit to learn how to properly make every classic cocktail under the sun.

Louisville, KY – Woodford Reserve, the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby is honoring the country’s favorite horse race with the release of the 2011 Kentucky Derby commemorative bottle. The limited-edition bottle features the artwork of award-winning artist and Virginia native Brett Amory.

“The horses–what the Derby is all about–grab you on the bottle,” says Laura Petry, Woodford Reserve brand manager. “So it is very fitting as a proud supporter of horseracing and the ‘official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby’ for the past 13 years, that Woodford Reserve is honored to be a part of the greatest two minutes in sports that takes our breath away every year.”

Mutineer Magazine is proud to be a sponsor of Firestone Walker’s From The Barrel event to be held at the Historic Santa Margarita Ranch in Santa Margarita, California on April 8.

In celebration of the 78 years since the end of prohibition The Historic Santa Margarita Ranch, Firestone Walker Brewing Co. and Mutineer Magazine are gathering the very best booze to come from wooden barrels. The finest ports, bourbons and beers will be gathered and presented to a privileged congregation of barrel enthusiasts at this special event on Friday, April 8. This event is a celebration of the barrel and the wonderful libations that come from barrels.

This inimitable event will take place at the picturesque and historic Santa Margarita Ranch, the perfect backdrop for this intimate event. Tickets are $50 person and the tasting will take place from 7pm-10pm.

Bourbons scheduled to pour: Blanton’s, Bulleit, Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select, Buffalo Trace and more soon to be announced.

Ports from some of the Central Coast’s premiere wineries to include: Cass, EOS, Paso Port, Eberle, Le Vigne and Roxo Cellars with more to be added.

Breweries/Rare barrel-aged beers scheduled to pour:
Firestone Walker
-Sticky Monkey
-Abacus
-Sour
Lost Abbey – TBA
Russian River – Supplication
Stone – TBA
Ballast Point – TBA
New Belgium – Le Terroir (Dry Hopped Sour Ale)
The Bruery – Melange #1

The rich and complex libations presented will be accompanied by tapas offerings from some of the Central Coast’s finest. Guests will enjoy tapas from Chef Chris Kobayashi (Artisan), Chef Mark Sahaydek (The Grill at Avila Beach Golf Resort), Chef Justin Gabbert (Novo), Chef Paul Kwong (Mee Heng Low Noodle House), Chef Antonio Varia (Buona Tavola) and one more yet to be named.

Please don your glad rags and join us for a tremendous celebration of the end of temperance and the amazing flavors that only come from the barrel. Tickets are very limited and the event is expected to sell out fast. For tickets and more info visit the event website or call 805-544-3508.