Global whiskey brand Jim Beam is launching two ready-to-drink cocktails made with a bourbon base: the Jim Beam Classic Highball and the Jim Beam Ginger Highball.

The Jim Beam Classic Highball combines Jim Beam Bourbon, bubbly seltzer and a hint of citrus, while the Jim Beam Ginger Highball combines Jim Beam Bourbon and crisp ginger ale, for a bold and balanced taste.

The canned cocktails are inspired by the sessionable, cult-favourite handmade Highball cocktails, which is made by mixing chilled Jim Beam Bourbon with ice and ice-cold, highly carbonated soda water or ginger ale.

“We know that so many drinkers get tired of beer and crave something refreshing, lighter and more balanced,” said Malini Patel, Managing Director for the James B. Beam Distilling Co. at Beam Suntory. “Our new ready-to-drink Highballs are the perfect way to enjoy Jim Beam in a new, refreshing way – whether you’re a bourbon fan or you’re trying bourbon for the first time.”

The new releases come in at 5 percent ABV each and are available as a four-pack or as single 355ml slender cans

For more information, go to jimbeam.com or follow the brand on Twitter  and Instagram

Global spirits producer Moët Hennessy, a subsidiary of LVMH, has announced it will join forces with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter to create a new groundbreaking whiskey, SirDavis.

Named in honour of Davis Hogue, Knowles-Carter’s paternal great-grandfather, SirDavis was created by Dr. Bill Lumsden, one of the world’s most awarded and highly regarded Master Distillers.

Knowles-Carter, who is a Japanese whisky enthusiast, felt the creation of her own whiskey was predestined when she found out that her great-grandfather was a farmer and a moonshiner in the American South during Prohibition,

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“I’ve always been drawn to the power and confidence I feel when drinking quality whisky and wanted to invite more people to experience that feeling,” says SirDavis Founder Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.

“When I discovered that my great-grandfather had been a moonshine man, it felt like my love for whisky was fated. SirDavis is a way for me to pay homage to him, uniting us through a new shared legacy,” Knowles-Carter continued.

Created with an unusual mash bill of 51% rye and 49% malted barley, Lumsden combined the elegant mouthfeel and texture of Japanese and Scotch whiskies, with the robust and deep flavors typical of classic American rye.

“With SirDavis, we looked to challenge the category norms and offer something new in the space,” said Lumsden. “The distinctive grain selection and unusual secondary maturation in sherry casks helped us achieve a signature profile completely unique to SirDavis, one of bold sophistication.”

To validate SirDavis’s quality, the liquid was anonymously submitted to numerous prestigious spirits competitions before launch. SirDavis won Best In Class for American Whiskey from the 2023 SIP Awards, outperforming over 100 other entries.

Awarded to only one brand per category, this award is reserved for premium spirits receiving scores in the pinnacle of their respective categories. It is SIP’s highest acclaim from consumer judges.

“SirDavis is not only a revelatory and exceptional American Whisky, which we are very proud of. It is also a testament of the unwavering dedication to craftsmanship, heritage and innovation shared by LVMH and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter,” said Bernard Arnault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LVMH.

The SirDavis bottle is striking and clean, with ribbed glass that beautifully catches light and highlights the liquid. It also features a black medallion with a regal bronzed horse, emblematic of strength and respect and symbolizing Knowles-Carter’s Texas roots.

In another nod to Knowles-Carter’s Southern heritage, the whisky is finished, blended and bottled in her home state of Texas. Unlike other acquired brands, SirDavis also makes history as Moët Hennessy’s first spirits brand developed entirely internally by Moët Hennessy in the United States. SirDavis is headquartered out of Houston, Texas.

“In partnering with Moët Hennessy, we have crafted a delicious American whisky that respects tradition but also empowers people to experience something new and unique in the category,” explained Knowles-Carter. “You can taste it better than I could ever tell you — welcome, SirDavis.”

SirDavis will be available at retail across the U.S. as well as in select airports (LAX/JFK/SFO) and stores in London, Paris, and Tokyo in September 2024.

Follow the brand on Instagram

US Bourbon brand Old Forester is giving a present to Bourbon drinkers with the release of its highly-anticipated Birthday Bourbon.

Released every September 2 to celebrate the birthday of the brand’s founder, George Garvin Brown, this year’s release is 12 years old and 107 proof. 

“Twelve years of maturation in Warehouses G and L has produced a rich and unique flavour profile perfect for this sought-after annual release, ” said Caleb Trigo, Old Forester’s Assistant Master Distiller.

Trigo assisted Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris and Master Taster Melissa Rift with hand-selecting the liquid from 209 barrels.

“There’s no better way to celebrate our founder and longstanding history than by getting our rarest expression in the hands of bourbon lovers across the country,”  Rift said.

The release has notes of juicy fruits on the front of the palate, with toasted oak and warm cinnamon spice rounding out the flavour. The finish has hints of caramel apple mixed with sweet tobacco, ground cinnamon and cacao.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon will be available through an online sweepstakes running on the brand’s website until August 21, 2024.

The distillery notes that anyone winning the opportunity to purchase a bottle through the sweepstakes must purchase and pick it up at the Old Forester Distillery in Louisville between September 5, 2024 and December 14, 2024. 

For more information, go to oldforester.com

Kentucky distillery Michter’s are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the launch of its US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon this September with the release of the 2024 bottling.

“Ten years ago, after a good deal of research and experimentation, we released the first toasted barrel whiskey: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon,” observed Michter’s President Joseph J. Magliocco. “We had no idea it would be such a groundbreaking product.”

The 2024 special Toasted release starts with fully matured barrels of Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which is then transferred into a second barrel which is toasted but not charred. This second barrel is made of 18-month air-dried wood for additional ageing.

“It’s a testament to our team that so many other great distillers have followed us in releasing toasted barrel finish whiskeys,” explained Michter’s Master of Maturation, Andrea Wilson. “There are many different toast profiles in which the barrel is heated to create beautiful flavor notes.”

Responsible for Michter’s ageing and finishing program, Wilson continued, “This year’s Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon reminds me of a fall evening where we are roasting campfire treats with graham crackers, marshmallows, caramel and butterscotch.”

For more information, go to michters.com

Kentucky Bourbon brand Four Roses is set to release the 17th release of its annual Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon on September 14th this year.

The 2024 edition of the Small Batch Bourbon comprises a 12-year-old bourbon from the OBSV recipe, a 15-year-old OESK, a 16-year-old OESF, and a 20-year-old OBSV.

“Each year, we strive to bring a new and exciting experience to your glass by blending variations of our distinct recipes to create something you’ve never tasted before from Four Roses,” said Brent Elliott, Four Roses Master Distiller.

“This year, the recipes we hand-selected have created something truly vibrant, bright and unique while still maintaining a nice delicate spice at the end.”

Notes of creamy vanilla, honey, and brown sugar on the nose are followed by flavours of ripe berries and tangy citrus on the palate. To balance the layers of complexity and sweetness, herbal notes and Four Roses’ signature mellow spice provide a smooth finish.

Non-chill filtered and bottled at 108.2 proof, Four Roses will release approximately 16,000 750mls limited-edition bottles of the Small Batch Bourbon through the Distillery and selected retailers across the US.

For more information, go to fourrosesbourbon.com

Cocktail Syrup brand Liquid Alchemist has expanded its range by launching its newest tropical syrup flavour, Falernum.

A blend of almond, ginger, lime, cloves, and other spices, Falernum is a building block, adding complexity and depth to many tropical drinks such as the Mai Tai, Zombie, and Rum Punch.

“We’re excited to finally launch our Falernum syrup as a response to an ongoing request from the Tiki community,” says Randy Tarlow, founder of Liquid Alchemist, who notes that Falernum is typically a complex and complicated syrup to produce.

“Building on our reputation as a producer of top-quality Orgeat, Coconut, and Passion Fruit syrups, Falernum—which is difficult to find in the market—is our most exotic flavour yet. We’re thankful to have become a trusted go-to brand for professional bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts alike.”

Founded in 2009, Liquid Alchemist syrups are handcrafted by a bar expert and designed to elevate cocktails by simplifying complex recipes. With a range that includes Orgeat, Prickly Pear, Passion Fruit, Grenadine, and a dozen more, Liquid Alchemist syrups turn everyday drinks into memorable elixirs.

For more information, go to liquid-alchemist.com or connect with the brand on social via @liquidalchemist