Kentucky whiskey brand Maker’s Mark has unveiled FAE-01, the first of two limited release expressions from its Wood Finish Series.

Marking the third year of limited releases from Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series, the 2021 release utilises the distillery’s wood stave-finishing technique which emphasizes dark, dried fruit and woody notes and a full-bodied texture.

“Every whisky in our Wood Finishing Series is meant to have a strong point of view; it should tell a story about what we do at the distillery,” says Jane Bowie, director of innovation at Maker’s Mark.

“For 2021 we wanted to use wood to draw out those underlying bold qualities of classic Maker’s that we get from non-chill filtration — heavy oakiness, earthy fig and that creamy, palate-coating mouthfeel. The more we experimented with different stave types, the more we realized one bourbon wouldn’t even scratch the surface of big flavour and texture, so we’re excited to share a pair of releases that tell two sides of a complete story.”

FAE-01, uses an American oak stave seared on one side, and left raw on the other, to amplify dried fruit and oak flavours. Maker’s Mark derives these tasting notes from naturally retained elements of barrel char and organic compounds called fatty acid esters (FAEs), the company says, which are responsible for both fruity tones and texture variations.

“This first release tastes just like a Kentucky barrel warehouse smells,” says Bowie. There’s tons of pleasantly dank wood and tobacco on the nose, and rich, warm raisin and fig on the tongue — it’s literally like sipping on angel’s share.”

Each side of the FAE-01 stave draws out different characteristics of these two flavour components, the company says. The charred side offers dark leathery tobacco notes, while the raw side yields fresh fruit.

The second expression, FAE-02 which will be released later this year, will focus more on a rich, weighty texture.

For more information, go to makersmark.com

Kentucky Whiskey Distillery Old Forester is marking 91 years since Repeal and the end of Prohibition with the release of a new, limited-edition expression: Warehouse I.

The latest addition to the 117 series features 11-year-old bourbon, which has a unique flavour profile that captures the holiday spirit.

Each bottle of the limited-edition whisky comes from barrels aged in Old Forester’s Warehouse I, resulting in a flavour profile distinct to the warehouse’s unique maturation environment. These Warehouse I barrels were heat-cycled since 2013 and chosen exclusively from the hottest floors, Old Forester Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo.

“Our 117 series is all about experimentation, and the characteristics of Warehouse I make it perfect for this innovative series,” Master Taster Melissa Rift added. “This one-of-a-kind bourbon is a great way to celebrate the holidays.”

Warehouse I is bottled at 95-proof (47.5% ABV) and offers orchard fruits with butterscotch, clove, and nutmeg on the palate and a slightly dry and oaky finish with pear and white pepper.

For more information, go to oldforester.com

Kentucky distillery Elijah Craig is elevating a beloved holiday tradition with the launch of “Craig Nog,” a new limited-edition, luxury eggnog cocktail designed for its award-winning Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon.

Raising the bar on the nostalgic flavours of eggnog, Craig Nog is made with superior ingredients like Madagascar Vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. It is topped with gold glitter-adorned star anise and a Bourbon barrel-aged stir stick.

“One of my fondest holiday memories is of my grandmother whipping up a batch of her famous eggnog– the adults would always spike their cup with a little Kentucky love,” said Lynn House, National Spirits Specialist and Portfolio Mixologist at Elijah Craig Bourbon. “While nostalgia inspired the creation of Craig Nog, we wanted to breathe new life into the beverage. The complexity of flavours found in Elijah Craig Bourbon was the perfect upgrade to begin with.

The Craig Nog cocktail kit, available to order nationwide, allows you to slow down and enjoy the season while handcrafting your new signature holiday drink at home. It also makes the perfect gift! Each cocktail kit features a 375ml bottle of Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, premeasured portions of each of the Craig Nog eggnog ingredients, and a limited-edition etched Elijah Craig pitcher, the perfect keepsake for remaking your Craig Nog for seasons to come.

Throughout December, those based in New York City and Chicago can also enjoy Craig Nog in prebatched and ready-to-enjoy cans by ordering through the Doordash app or website. Each order will be delivered in a limited-edition Craig Nog tote bag, perfect for transporting Craig Nog to and from holiday gatherings.

Perfect for any seasonal activities, such as hanging ornaments, opening presents or cheers-ing to the New Year, Elijah Craig recognised that eggnog can quickly be elevated with the introduction of Bourbon as the spirit.

For more information, go to cocktailcourier.com

Californian Whiskey distillery Redwood Empire has announced the launch of its new single-barrel program with the brand’s oldest grain-to-glass offering to date.

Crafted and aged in the ancient forests of the Redwood Empire, the programme features a limited number of hand-selected barrels of Haystack Needle Bourbon and Rye.

“We have a deep connection with every barrel we make, and a dedication to quality guides us through every step of the whiskey-making process,” says Jeff Duckhorn, master distiller at Redwood Empire Whiskey.

“We only distil four barrels a day and are focused on crafting spirits that truly express the grain character.”

Offering a distinct harmony of grain, distilling, and ageing, each barrel has been matured in meticulously toasted and charred barrels, allowing the whiskey to develop a balanced flavour profile in the cool Redwood Empire climate.

“These barrels represent what we value in whiskey—a quiet yet steadfast depth with layered influence that holds its own amongst the giants of the spirits industry,” says Lauren Patz, master blender at Redwood Empire Whiskey.

Paying homage to the distillery’s commitment to sustainability and its connection to the natural world, the packaging for the single-barrel program is as striking as the whiskey itself.

Designed in collaboration with Stranger & Stranger, the bottles feature a unique redwood bark texture inspired by the majestic trees of the Redwood Empire.

For more information, go to redwoodempirewhiskey.com

Indian Whiskey brand Paul John Indian Single Malts has announced the launch of its limited-edition 2024 Christmas Whisky.

Produced at the award-winning John Distilleries in Goa, India. This year marking the 7th edition release, this new unpeated Christmas expression has been finished in Caribbean Rum Casks that offer the flavors of spice laced with coconut, candied orange and a dash of toasted oak.

“We are excited to release the 7th edition within our exclusive Christmas Edition series, which we hope will bring joy to whisky collectors during the upcoming holiday season,” said Paul P John, Chairman, John Distilleries Pvt Ltd.

“We have seen an increase in consumer demand and anticipation surrounding each yearly Christmas Edition release, which inspires us at Paul John to continue to raise the bar on the quality of this limited and festive Indian Single Malt,” John continued.

Distilled in the warm tropical climes of Goa, the whiskey is non-chill-filtered and with no added colours or flavours and is created from Indian 6-row barley. 

The Paul John 2024 Christmas Edition Indian Single Malt Whisky is now available at select retailers across the United States.

For more information, go to pauljohnwhisky.com

Kentucky Whiskey brand Makers Mark has launched a collaborative custom blend with two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, NBA All-Star and Miami Heat starting centre Bam Adebayo.

Working on the blend with his mother, Marilyn Blount, the limited-release has been called “Bam & Marilyn’s 1 of 1″ and boasts bold notes of vanilla and baking spice, as well as toasted coconut and a light, bright aroma of honeysuckle and clove.

“My mom is my inspiration on and off the court, and it was a great experience to create our own custom blend of Maker’s Mark,” said Bam Adebayo.  “Bam & Marilyn’s 1 of 1 celebrates what my mom and I both love best about the iconic Kentucky bourbon.”

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Marilyn Blout and Bam Adebayo at Maker’s Mark Distillery

“It was a pleasure to host Bam and Marilyn at the Maker’s Mark homeplace this summer – to share what makes our brand so special and to bring their taste vision of Maker’s Mark to life through the Private Selection program,” said Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director of Maker’s Mark.

“This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to combine our passion for exceptional bourbon with a deep commitment to supporting visionaries who create a positive impact in communities around the country.”