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March 17, 2024

I’ve Sipped Hundreds of Whiskies. This Rare Bottle Is One of the Best I’ve Tasted

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Even with the current state of inflation, there are plenty of rewarding things you could acquire with $145,000. A Porsche, perhaps. A well-appointed fishing boat. Maybe even a modest cabin. Alternatively, you could get your hands on a single bottle of whisky from The Balvenie. In 2022, the iconic Speyside Scotch maker unveiled The Balvenie Sixty, its 60-year-old single malt, and with only 71 bottles available globally, it’s both the distillery’s oldest and rarest release to date.

So, even as someone who writes about whisky for a living, it took me more than 18 months to secure a precious pour. But this was a dram that required 60 years worth of patient production. What’s another year-or-so added on top? Turns out, it was well worth the wait.

The liquid in question comes from a solitary cask of exceptional character, found deep in the recesses of a damp, dunnage warehouse. It was wrested from its slumber by Balvenie malt master Kelsey McKechnie, who was taken away by its “autumnal aromas.” It’s robust in body and polished copper in color. McKechnie brought it to bottle at a precise proof of 42.4 percent ABV, where assertive threads of nutmeg and dark roasted espresso could shine bright from first sip firmly through a prolonged finish.

Related: The 15 Best Scotch Whiskies of 2024

New York City-based Scotch enthusiasts like me can find the spirit for sale at Nubeluz, the stylish bar from chef José Andrés atop the Ritz-Carlton NoMad hotel. I was thankfully offered a taste, saving me the cost. After ordering, it arrived at my table with appropriate pageantry: An elegant glass pipette descended into the bottle to delicately relay the juice to my dram.

The whisky’s light hue belied its deep underlying flavors. After sitting in a snifter for a moment or two, a floral bouquet of honeysuckle and lilac lifted towards my nose. Then came a blast of butterscotch, which served as the perfect prelude to the aforementioned elements of espresso, anchoring each sip. Before it faded from the back of the palate, candied ginger and orange zest imprint a parting residue.

Beyond the fleeting beauty of the Scotch itself, the release is presented as a lasting ode to the work of McKechnie’s mentor, David C. Stewart, MBE. The industry icon is celebrating six decades in Scotch, making him Scotland’s longest-serving whisky maker. Whether or not you’re familiar with his work, you can’t be a Scotch drinker today without having sipped his legacy, as it was Stewart who helped pioneer the technique of cask finishing back in the early 1980s.

The Balvenie Sixty is the oldest and rarest expression that the Speyside Scotch producer has ever made.

Courtesy of The Balvenie

“I’ve learned so much from David at work,” says McKechnie. “His mentorship has made a profound impact on me and finding a cask to fit such an incredible character in the distillery’s history is a great honor.”

That honor is bestowed in a specially layered tube casing. It wraps around the hand-blown crystal decanter, etched with personal anecdotes from five decades worth of individuals who influenced Stewart’s unprecedented journey. The sixth decade is represented by the bottle itself, which contains a quote from McKechnie.

It’s unclear how many of those 71 initial bottles even washed up on American shores. I know of two places; there’s Nubeluz, where you’ll pay $6,000 per half ounce pour or $12,000 per one ounce pour, or you can ship up to the Boston Harbor Hotel in its namesake city, where The Balvenie Sixty costs $12,500 for an ounce and a half pour. 

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If you want a far more accessible sample that honors Stewart’s legacy, The Balvenie DoubleWood is always there for the plucking. The nutty, smooth-sipping 12-year-old single malt is primarily matured in ex-bourbon barrels before transferring to European oak sherry wood. Initially released in 1993, it remains one of the most beloved examples of a finished scotch on shelves today. And at its current suggested retail price, often under $30, you could amass thousands of bottles for less than the cost of a single bottle of The Balvenie 60. Hope you have a large backbar. 

A bottle of The Balvenie Sixty.

Courtesy of The Balvenie

Related: We’ve Tasted Hundreds of Whiskeys. These Are the Best in the World

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March 11, 2024

Elijah Craig’s New Bourbon Is Rare, Flavorful, and Strong

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Every year, Elijah Craig launches three unique barrel-proof whiskeys. All feature high ABVs and are packed with flavor, becoming huge draws for American whiskey lovers. Each batch of Barrel Proof is bottled with a unique age statement, including the month and year of the youngest barrel from the batch. The proof also varies with each release. 

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The latest addition to the triannual tradition is A124 (‘A’ signifying the first batch of the year, ‘1’ standing for its January release month, and ’24’ identifying the year of release). bourbon comes in at 119 proof, the second lowest proof in the now 12-year-old series, only behind B521. It also features an age statement of 10 years, 9 months (which represents the youngest barrel in the batch), which is lower than the last two releases in the collection. It’s the 34th release so far.

Despite less burn and age that some associate with the best whiskeys (there’s definitely still a kick here), A124 offers the quintessential elements that have made the Elijah Craig’s Barrel Proof offerings such a hit over the years. The flavor profile is straightforward and robust, offering aromas of caramel, baking spices, and toasted oak alongside hints of graham cracker and tobacco. The palate features vanilla, cinnamon, and black pepper, while the finish is long and layered, with notes of brown sugar, baking spices, and leather.

Like the traditional Elijah Craig release, the Barrel Proof bottlings all feature mash bills of 78 percent corn, 10 percent rye, and 12 percent malted barley. The next two bottlings in the collection are expected to roll out in May and September, each featuring its own blend, proof, and flavor profile.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A124

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A124

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Related: The Best Bourbons of 2024 to Drink Neat or as a Highball

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March 10, 2024

The Glenlivet Releases New, Rare Whiskies In a Completely Surprising Way

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Online whisky marketplace The Whiskey Exchange has unveiled its first exclusive offering, The Glenlivet: The Twelve Elements. The collection features 12 one-off bottles, each representing the 12 elements needed to craft Glenlivet single malt: air, barley, cooper, copper, distiller, earth, fire, heritage, time, water, wood, and angel’s share.

Unveiled late last year, The Whisky Exchange Cabinet—set up by UK-based retailer The Whisky Exchange—provides access to unique spirits sourced directly from some of the world’s most beloved distilleries. It’s a blockchain-based marketplace, so buyers of the rare spirits gain a digital record of ownership, providing traceability and security if someone ever wants to resell their rare whisky. 

Two years ago, NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and blockchain became a somewhat surprisingly relevant part of the high-end spirits market. Johnnie Walker, Buffalo Trace, Ardbeg, and a slew of other whisky brands released bottles exclusively available via blockchain. Since then, the popularity of NFTs has tumbled, while blockchain-enabled marketplaces like The Whisky Exchange Cabinet have continued to gain momentum.

Related: The 15 Best Scotch Whiskies of 2024

The Glenlivet: The Twelve Elements were crafted from two single malt whisky casks that have been maturing since 1974, each selected to balance out the other. One is a first-fill American oak barrel that gives richness and structure, while the other a refill American oak hogshead that tempers the power and intensity of the barrel. The combo allows The Glenlivet’s character to shine.

A closeup view of a bottle from The Twelve Elements collection.

Courtesy Image

“This whisky exemplifies the art of balance, where nature and human elements combine to create amazing whisky,” says Kevin Balmforth, cask master at Chivas Brothers, which owns The Glenlivet. “This truly exceptional liquid is a testament to the unique combination of the two hand-selected single malt casks. This required the patience and expertise of a long line of makers who presided over the casks for over half a century. This is one of our oldest official releases of The Glenlivet to date, a 50-year-old liquid that represents the continuous progression of our craftsmanship.”

The resulting whiskies offer aromas of soft red apple, maraschino cherries, pineapple, and apricot jam alongside notes of marzipan, cinnamon, milk chocolate, and honeycomb. The palate delivers more apricot and pineapple along with waves of carmel, dark chocolate, nutmeg, and toasted oak. The finish is long, elegant, and filled with warming spices.

Each of The Glenlivet: The Twelve Elements bottles is available for around $43,000 via The Whisky Exchange Cabinet.

Related: We’ve Tasted Hundreds of Whiskeys. These Are the Best in the World

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March 4, 2024

Dewar’s Rare New Scotch Takes Inspiration From Our Favorite Japanese Whiskies

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Dewer’s focuses on innovation with the release of Double Double 21 Year Old Mizunara Oak Cask Finish. As ultra-premium blended whisky and Japanese whisky continue to grow in popularity, the new bottle brings together the distilling traditions of Japan and Scotland. The International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR) predicts that luxury blends will continue to grow at double-digit rates over the next year, outperforming other price tiers. Meanwhile, the Japanese whisky market is expected to grow by over nine percent by 2032. The whisky world is taking notice.

Dewar’s—the second most popular blended Scotch whisky maker in the U.S. behind longtime leader Johnnie Walker—continues to grow its share of the blended Scotch market by releasing unique expressions. Last year, the Bacardi-owned distillery debuted multiple high-end releases, including Double Double 37 and Double Double 21

“We’ve built a steady pipeline of premium innovations [AGAIN] over the past few years that has helped grow the brand,” vice president of Dewar’s for North America Brian Cox told Shanken News Daily last year.

Related: 15 Best Japanese Whiskies of 2024 for Cocktails or Sipping

Whisky lovers have become so fascinated with Japanese brown liquor partly due to Mizunara oak casks. Produced from Mizunara oak trees only grown in Japan, such wood barrels have complex notes of sandalwood, coconut, spice, and Japanese incense, imparting those unique characteristics on the liquid inside. However, making Mizunara oak casks remains a challenge.

Mizunara needs to be about 200 years old before it can be cut and used for casks. Additionally, the oak grows at odd angles with twisted branches, making it difficult to harvest, and is much more porous than American or European oak, making it prone to leakage. Cask makers have to be extra careful not to waste a harvest, as another tree won’t be ready for centuries.

In the case of Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old Mizunara Oak Cask Finish, which is bottled at 46 percent ABV, the extra effort is well worth it. The whisky is sweet and clean with subtle notes of coconut, creamy vanilla, and sandalwood. According to Stephanie Macleod, Dewar’s master blender, there’s an “additional nuanced floral freshness that the Mizunara imbues on the silken complexity of this 21 year old.”

The whisky goes through a four-stage aging process. “In the case of the Double Double Mizunara Oak Cask Finish, the process starts with the conventional aging of malt and grain whiskies separately in oak casks,” says Macleod. “The grain and malt whiskies are blended and aged in neutral oak casks a second time. In the third stage, the grain and malt whiskies are combined into a final blend and aged once more in neutral oak casks, usually for around six months, with regular checks to ensure it is progressing as it should. Finally, the blended whisky undergoes a fourth stage of finishing in Mizunara oak casks for up to a year.”

Bottled at 46 percent ABV, Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old Mizunara Oak Cask Finish is priced at $150.

Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old Mizunara Oak Cask Finish

Courtesy of Dewar's

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Related: The 15 Best Scotch Whiskies of 2024

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March 3, 2024

The Macallan’s New, Limited-Edition Scotch Is Surprisingly Affordable

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The Macallan announces the newest addition to The Macallan Home Collection, The River Spey. Launched back in June 2022, the collection celebrates the natural beauty of The Macallan Estate.

On a recent trip to Athens, I found myself sipping cocktails at Alexander’s Bar inside Hotel Grande Bretagne—one of the Greek capital’s more expensive bars—while gazing at three bottles of The Macallan Fine & Rare. Each bottle cost north of $50,000. Such an exorbitant display of luxury spirits is something rarely accomplished by any whisky maker except The Macallan (though The Dalmore has done so a few times).

The Macallan’s Scotch whiskies auction for millions of dollars. Some hit shelves with price tags close to $100,000 or at least over $10,000. But often overshadowed by news of staggering sticker prices is the Speyside distillery’s contribution to the arts and celebration of nature’s beauty. The Home Collection does just that, as its first expression, The Distillery from 2022, featured packaging created by watercolor painter Colin Rizza. 

The new River Spey edition follows that lead with beautiful results. Inspired by the 1.5-mile stretch of waterway that winds through the Estate [LOWER CASE?], the distillery collaborated with artist Michelle Lucking to produce awe-inspiring packaging that rivals the whisky. Lucking used naturally pigmented pastels to create six paintings of the River Spey, capturing the movement of the river and how light reflects off its surface.

Lucking painting on the The Macallan Estate.

Courtesy of The Macallan

“Water for me is a constant source of inspiration,” said Lucking. “I love exploring it, painting it. When The Macallan asked me to capture the majestic River Spey—and its importance to them, their whisky and The Estate—as part of The Home Collection, it just felt to me like a really brilliant fit.”

Matured in a combination of sherry seasoned European oak casks, sherry seasoned American oak casks, and refill casks, The Macallan Home Collection River Spey offers rich raisin, cinnamon, and pear aromas, alongside notes of apple, oak, and vanilla. The palate delivers velvety butterscotch, toasted oak, chocolate and nutmeg with a hint of anise. The medium finish is filled with toasted oak and spice.

Bottled at 44.8 percent, The Macallan Home Collection, River Spey is exclusively available on The Macallan e-Boutique for pre-sale in the U.S. at $487.

Related: The 15 Best Scotch Whiskies of 2024

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February 25, 2024

Bruichladdich’s New 30-Year-Old Scotch Is Made From Victorian Casks Almost Lost to History

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Bruichladdich’s history is volatile. Since its founding in 1881, it’s been mothballed on four separate occasions, most recently from 1994 to 2000. The last 24 years, however, has seen the Islay whisky maker flourish with its heavily peated Scotch whiskies—especially the Octomore collection—grabbing headlines and awards across the globe. 

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Often lost in that discussion is , the brand’s unpeated house style, which is the whisky at the heart of the newly unveiled Luxury Redefined range.

Luxury Redefined arrives with two whiskies, and , the brand’s first permanent, high-age statement whiskies. Each release celebrates important moments in the distillery’s history. The Eighteen honors the first single malts created after the distillery’s reopening in 2001, while the Thirty celebrates the whiskies made before its 1994 shuttering.

Each bottle’s packaging is made from fully recyclable paper pulp, completely plastic-free, and produced using 100 percent green energy. The brand takes its commitment to sustainability even further as each release in Luxury Redefined series is housed in the brand’s proprietary, lightweight glass bottle, which contains an average of 60 percent recycled glass.

Related: We’ve Tasted Hundreds of Whiskeys. These Are the Best in the World

The Bruichladdich Eighteen

champions what’s made the distillery unique over the last quarter century—namely, its focus on terroir through the use of local ingredients and support of the surrounding community. In 2004, the distillery began working with one farmer to grow a crop of local barley. That project has since expanded to 20 farming partners, who are responsible for over 50 percent of the barley used for production today.

“Eighteen years ago, we distilled spirit from locally grown barley and our passion to diversify and champion our growing program has never wavered,” says Adam Hannett, Bruichladdich’s head distiller. “Every element of The Bruichladdich Eighteen—from the specific harvest and barley varietals used, to the exact casks it has matured in—is fully traceable. At Bruichladdich Distillery, we’re committed to making delicious whisky with real provenance that benefits the community—and The Bruichladdich Eighteen is the embodiment of this ethos.”

Bottled primarily in ex-bourbon casks, as well as a few sauternes wine and port casks, The Bruichladdich Eighteen is matured exclusively on Islay. On the nose, it delivers aromas of honey, butterscotch, and citrus orange. The palate features a medley of tropical fruits and toasted mellow oak, leading to a finish filled with stone fruits, a delicate floral bouquet, and more oak.

The Bruichladdich Thirty

, meanwhile, is a story of resurrection. When the distillery shuttered in 1994, just two staff members remained to safeguard the remaining casks of whisky. Luckily, the Scotch survived and the distillery was reopened just seven years later.

“The Bruichladdich Thirty has been distilled using these legacy—almost lost—casks, capturing a pivotal moment in time for the distillery,” says Hannett. “This 30-year-old single malt not only celebrates the resurrection of our Victorian distillery but pays homage to the men who laid down this spirit three decades ago.”

Matured exclusively in ex-bourbon casks, The Bruichladdich Thirty offers aromas of toasted oak, honey, and soft vanilla. The palate delivers delicate flavors of dark chocolate and fresh sea air, followed by light fruits, honey, and a hint of leather. The finish features vibrant sea salt balanced with warm oak, soft vanilla, and coconut.

Related: The 15 Best Scotch Whiskies of 2024

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February 19, 2024

One of Scotland’s Most Sought After Distilleries Releases First New Bottles in More Than 40 Years

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Port Ellen is synonymous with superior single malt Scotch. The legendary distillery off the southeastern shores of Scotland is responsible for some of the most sought after whiskies of the 21st century. What makes the liquid so special? Beyond the exceptionality of its maritime-forward house style, people tend to pine for what they can’t have. And this facility hasn’t actually produced something new in over 40 years. Any releases during in the interim have come from a dwindling cache of patiently-aged reserve stock.

That’s all changes this March when Port Ellen is reborn along the coast of Islay, atop the same plot of land it’s called home since 1825. To commemorate the historic occasion, the distillery is readying a pair of peated malts older than anything its ever released before. The 44-year-old siblings, aptly titled Gemini, are packaged together and heading to the tippy-top shelf of a select liquor store (hopefully somewhat) near you.

Port Ellen Distillery sits atop the coast of Islay, where it’s called home since 1825.

Courtesy of Port Ellen

The tandem single malts rely entirely on whisky drawn from just three European oak casks, vessels that were originally filled at the distillery back in 1978. Port Ellen Gemini Original is an otherwise untouched representation of those commingled casks—crafted at a time when disco was still taken very seriously. It paints a poignant picture of the house style, a robust blend of brown sugar, bonfire, and salted seaweed, tempered only by the slow, steady hand of time.

Port Ellen Gemini Remnant is a richer riff on the original, thanks to a secondary maturation in a unique sherry-seasoned “remnant cask.” That’s an industry term for a makeshift holding tank, of sorts. It’s typically filled with the ends of assorted distillation runs in need of a temporary home before they head off to a more permanent destination. When the distillery shuttered in 1983, a band of local whisky makers salvaged the vessel and kept it safe for more than four decades—an important reminder that not all heroes wear capes.

After recovering the remnant cask, the folks at Port Ellen reinvigorated the oak with fortified wine before using it to finish the 44-year-old Gemini variant. What emerged after multiple months was a mahogany-hued spirit, sporting fudge and treacle in the nose. It’s creamier in mouthfeel than its twin sibling, and adds to its maritime base a lingering layer of cigar box and sandalwood spice. It’s a touch lighter in alcohol, too: 53.6 percent ABV compared to 54.9 percent ABV for the Original.

Port Ellen Gemeni come in luxury packaging to celebrate the distillery’s return.

Courtesy of Port Ellen

The dual crystal decanters sit side-by-side in an alabaster box with a beveled facade. Original wears the phrase, ‘A Giant Awakens,’ emblazoned below its white label. The black-labeled Remnant Cask carries the words, ‘A New Day Dawns.’ 

They also ought to come equipped with a warning label: ‘A Bank Account Is Emptied.’ Only 274 sets of Port Ellen Gemini will ship to market, each one arriving with a recommended price tag of $57,000.

So, chances are scant you’ll ever even get to see a set in person. But take comfort in the fact that you can see a working Port Ellen distillery as soon as next month. And a luxe vacation to Scotland, including roundtrip airfare, won’t cost you nearly as much as the oldest bottle you might encounter while there. 

Related: The 15 Best Scotch Whiskies of 2024

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Be Warned: Woodford Reserve’s New Bourbon Is Really, Really Strong

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Fans of Woodford Reserve, rejoice. Just weeks after launching the latest edition of its beloved Double Double Oaked Bourbon, the Kentucky-based whiskey maker has unveiled its latest limited-edition bottle, the annual Woodford Reserve Batch Proof.

Coming in at an un-sobering 121.2 proof (the usual whiskey comes in at 90.4 proof), the celebrates Woodford Reserve’s proprietary distillation process. As a “barrel-proof” expression, the whiskey is created from 100-plus barrels blended into a batch and bottled at its actual proof. The barrels hail from many different dates of production and mature on different floors in a variety of warehouses.

“Barrels drawn from the upper floors of our heat-cycled warehouses tend to possess higher proof presentations, including this limited-edition batch,” says Woodford Reserve master distiller Elizabeth McCall said. “Batch Proof allows consumers to taste Woodford Reserve exactly as it comes out of the barrels.”

Burnt umber in color, the nose offers aromas of vanilla bean, brown sugar pecans, and citrus fruits, with a dusting of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. The palate features toasted oak, cocoa, pineapple, strawberry, and spiced berries. The finish finds more strawberry and toasted oak, alongside notes of raw honey.

The 2024 limited-edition Woodford Reserve Batch Proof is available in select U.S. and global markets, as well as at the distillery.

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Woodford Reserve 121.2 Batch Proof

Courtesy of Woodford Reserve

Related: The Best Bourbons of 2024 to Drink Neat or as a Highball

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February 5, 2024

Woodford Reserve’s Limited-Edition Whiskey Bundle Is the Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift

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Woodford Reserve has partnered with Los Angeles-based chocolatier Compartés to make a limited-edition chocolate and whiskey collection. The new release calls back to whiskey’s origins as a digestif, meant to be sipped after a meal and paired with something sweet—in this case, combining them. The collection arrives just in time for everyone’s favorite chocolate-indulgent holiday, Valentine’s Day.

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Woodford Reserve master distiller Elizabeth McCall teamed up with Compartés chocolatier Jonathan Grahm to create the collection, which pairs with the whiskey maker’s Double Oaked Bourbon. This whiskey goes through a second maturation in heavily toasted, lightly charred barrels to lend additional soft, sweet oaky characteristics.

Related: 50 Best Whiskeys in the World 2024

McCall calls Grahm “a true genius and artist,” celebrating his ability to bring together flavors that work perfectly with one another. “The tasting notes of wood, spice, and florals found in the chocolates align perfectly with the flavors found in Woodford Reserve Double Oaked,” she says.

Compartés x Woodford Reserve Double Oaked bundle

Courtesy Image

The four truffles found in the collection accentuate specific characteristics of Woodford Reserve’s Double Oaked whiskey. 

The butterscotch chocolate complements the whiskey’s sweet aromatic notes, accentuating flavors of butterscotch and roasted coffee, making the chocolate taste like chocolate-covered espresso beans. 

The pear nutmeg piece highlights the bourbon’s fruit, floral, and spice flavors, bringing out sharp cedar, pepper spice, and dark raisin characteristics. 

The smoked salt found in the oak-smoked salt caramel square combines with the wood, spice, and sweet aromatic flavors of Double Oaked to make the mouth water and deliver notes of herbal tea and tobacco, along with a dry cocoa finish. 

Related: 20 Best Bourbons for an Old Fashioned, Tasted and Reviewed

Finally, the maple pecan chocolate complements the whiskey’s grain, wood, and sweet aromatic character, highlighting brown sugar, pecan, and maple notes.

“The flavors in bourbon are so complementary to the flavors in chocolate, so partnering with Woodford Reserve was a perfect match,” said Grahm. “ I don’t think there’s another bourbon and chocolate pairing that is truly as perfect and in sync as Double Oaked and the chocolate truffles we’ve created.”

The limited-edition includes a 750ml of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and a four-piece chocolate box. 

Courtesy Image

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January 29, 2024

Buffalo Trace Lends Beloved Bourbon Flavors to 6 Limited-Edition Tequilas

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Tequila aged in bourbon barrels is nothing new. Bourbon can only be aged in new American white oak barrels, so when these distilleries finish aging their bourbons, they sell the used barrels to distilleries across the globe. From Ireland and Scotland to Barbados and Mexico, bourbon barrels are the go-to for maturing brown spirits. 

Inside these casks, notes of the former spirits linger, passing touches of flavor onto the next spirit that enters the cask. While most of the barrels used for these soon-to-be brown spirits come from mass-produced whiskeys, Corazón Tequila and Buffalo Trace wondered, what might happen if barrels used for some of the world’s most-beloved bourbons were used to age high-end tequila instead? Enter Expresiones del Corazón Collection.

Launched in 2021, the two Sazerac Company-owned brands continue to grow this project each year with ongoing success. They’ve just unveiled the latest limited-edition collection, which includes two brand new añejos aged in French Oak and ex-Weller 12-Year-Old Bourbon barrels, in addition to the award-winning Artisanal Blanco and William Larue Weller, George T. Stagg and Sazerac 18-Year-Old Rye Añejo Tequilas, which are featured again as part of this year’s Collection.

Related: The Best Sipping Tequilas of 2024

The collection celebrates the excellence that goes into making spirits, whether that’s distillation, aging, or hard-to-define experimentation. Overall, things are pretty simple conceptually: Corazón’s premium tequila is aged in barrels that once held some of the world’s most-coveted whiskeys produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Expresiones del Corazón Collection

Courtesy of Corazón

The Expresiones del Corazón Collection includes:

  • Corazón Weller 12 Añejo Tequila: Matured for 26 months in ex-Weller 12 Kentucky Straight Bourbon barrels, this moderately sweet añejo features notes of heavily cooked agave, toasted vanilla, oak, and a smooth finish.
  • Corazón French Oak Añejo Tequila: Aged for at least 13 months in French oak barrels that formerly contained Old Charter Oak French Oak bourbon, the resulting liquid delivers aromas of rich oak and vanilla. The palate is smooth and lightly sweet with hints of cooked agave, apple, and caramel.
  • Corazón Sazerac Rye 18 Añejo Tequila: 24 months of aging in barrels that formerly held Sazerac Rye for 18 years produces a moderately sweet tequila with strong notes of fresh fruit, oak, caramel, almond, and cinnamon.
  • Corazón George T. Stagg Añejo Tequila: After spending 22 months maturating in barrels that previously aged the high-proof George T. Stagg bourbon, this tequila delivers salted caramel flavors that burst on the palate followed by notes of charred pineapple that slowly transforms to tobacco, leaving a sweet-yet-smoky flavor on the finish.
  • Corazón William Larue Weller Añejo Tequila: 15 months of aging in barrels that formerly held this beloved wheated bourbon creates a balanced and dense tequila with a hint of sweet undertones. Aromas of wood, caramel, and almond are followed by a palate filled with chocolate, vanilla, nuts, eucalyptus and chamomile.
  • Corazón Artisanal Small Batch Blanco Tequila: This blanco tequila is the base spirit used for the entire Expresiones del Corazón Collection. It’s made with artisanal distillation techniques using the finest estate-grown agave and boasts a higher sugar content. The result is an elegant liquid with a sweet, gentle flavor; powerful notes of cooked agave; and hints of citrus and green apple.

Each tequila is sold separately in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection’s glass bottle, featuring a cork stopper and handwritten label specifying the barrel, bottle number, and date of bottling.

The Expresiones del Corazón Collection is available in limited quantities at select retailers, bars, and restaurants across the United States. The suggested retail price for the Artisanal Blanco is $60, while the William Larue Weller, Weller 12, French Oak, George T. Stagg, and Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Añejos have a suggested retail price of $80 each.

Related: 15 Best Cheap Tequilas to Enjoy on a Budget

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