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!”

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!

I love it when mainstream magazines publish fine beverage features. Esquire, GQ, and this case, WIRED, put together some of the best fine beverage content on the planet.

“The Mystery of the Canadian Whiskey Fungus” by Adam Rogers appears in the current issue of Wired and can be read in its entirety online. The piece explores a mysterious black fungus connected to Canadian Club whiskey’s barrel aging warehouses and it’s impact on local residents.

From the article:
Standing at a black-stained fence, Doyle explained that the distillery had been trying to solve the mystery for more than a decade. Mycologists at the University of Windsor were stumped. A team from the Scotch Whisky Association’s Research Institute had taken samples and concluded it was just a thick layer of normal environmental fungi: Aspergillus, Exophiala, stuff like that. Ubiquitous and—maybe most important—in no way the distillery’s fault.

Scott shook his head. “David,” he said, “that’s not what it is. It’s something completely different.”

Click here to continue reading this article.

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…).

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.”

A Japanese coffee-esque beverage with whiskey? Didn’t Mutineer Jeff invent that years ago? I guess it’s finally ready for the mainstream in Japan. Details are sketchy at best, most coming from a blog with a serious Japan fetish, which claims:

Kirin has launched a new limited edition drink that has the look of a canned coffee drink but the kick of good ol’ alcohol. On sale only at Tokyo area convenience stores from Wednesday January 19th, the “Yoru Cafe” (Night Café) comes in two flavors: “caffe latte liquor” and “tea liquor”. Kirin is likely trying to imitate the success Suntory has had with their Horoyoi brand, a series of chuhai beverages aimed at younger drinkers who shy away from the typical salaryman activity of gulping beer at home. Since younger consumers prefer to hang out in a coffee shop or café as much as a traditional izakaya, Kirin will hope to capture some of that atmosphere through this new concept. Continue Reading »

Each day, social media finds a new way to be a part of our everyday lives. Not limited to just consumers, it has worked itself into the realm of fine beverage culture and even to companies dating back nearly 150 years. That company is Glenfiddich. Each year, Glenfiddich releases their Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve which is an extremely limited edition single malt Scotch whisky. In years past, the Glenfiddich Malt Master would invite a panel of whisky experts and enthusiasts to join him in tasting and eventually choosing their favorite whisky from a group of pre-selected casks. Their choice would become that year’s Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve.
Continue Reading »

Professor Martin Tangney, Director of the Biofuel Research Centre — Photo: REUTERS

Captain Whiskey, he’s our hero… gonna take pollution down to zero…

As if whiskey wasn’t already awesome enough, scientists at Edinburgh Napier University have discovered a way to turn by-products of whiskey production into butanol biofuel. Like ethanol, butonal can be used as an alternative automobile fuel source. The scientists claim that butanol is superior to ethanol, with a 30 percent greater efficiency and power output. It can also be introduced to unmodified engines, unlike ethanol which requires engine modification. Continue Reading »