Old Forester has released the newest installment of The 117 Series, a bottle that commemoratives the 7^th anniversary of the fire on Whiskey Row that nearly destroyed the historic block.

“I remember that day and that fire vividly,” Louisville Fire Chief Greg Frederick said. “We are extremely proud of our brave firefighters who risked their lives and saved the block.”

On July 7, 2015, a four-alarm fire ravaged the buildings on historic Whiskey Row in downtown Louisville. Teams of brave Louisville first responders were able to contain and extinguish the catastrophe, preserving the site for the Old Forester Distillery at 117/119 West Main. The block is now home to restaurants, bars, a hotel and other businesses – and has become a tourist destination.

In 2020, men and women of Louisville Fire, many of whom fought the blaze, selected eight single barrels from a lot filled the same day they extinguished the fire. All 8 barrels sold out in two days and proceeds were donated to the Louisville Firefighter Disaster Fund.

The remainder of the barrels filled that day slumbered an additional two years in the warehouse and are now batched together to create the 117 Series – Fireman Barrels. At nearly 7 years old – these barrels are fully mature and wise in character.

Old Forester Whiskey Row Fire is bottled at 100 proof and will be available starting July 7th at the retail shop at Old Forester Distilling Co. for $59.99 in limited quantities. Visit OldForester.com for more information.

Tasting notes:

Color: Dark orange brown

Aroma: Sweet notes of honey comb, malt and marzipan mingle with delicate cedar and fresh oak notes atop cherries laced with vanilla cream.

Flavor: Brown sugar, marzipan, vanilla and honey sweeten a mix of berry fruit.

Finish: Long notes of honey and vanilla linger with a touch of fruit.

Utah-based Whiskey Distillery High West has collaborated with Tequila brand Casa Noble to create The Noble Share, a whiskey that tastes and feels unlike any other.

Released as a limited edition, the Whiskey utilises 4 to 10-year-old rye whiskeys finished in Marques de Casa Noble añejo tequila barrels for 6 months.

A portion of the blend is finished in Amburana barrels at a char of 3 or medium toast treatments for a small period to elevate the whiskey even further. The botanical character and spice from the base rye layers of the spirit blend, and the use of the Amburana barrels enhance the blend’s complexity.

“This collaboration is something that will appeal to both whiskey and tequila connoisseurs,” explained Tara Lindley, High West’s Director of Sensory QA & New Product Development. “The dichotomy of the brands and their respective regions is reflected on the label, mirroring one another yet displaying their vastly different geographies.

“This is an exciting collaboration for the Spirits community, and High West is honoured to blend its’ whiskey traditions with Casa Noble’s heritage and offer this new expression to consumers.”

The brands liken the aroma to sunset walks through agave fields, with notes of ripe mango, ruby grapefruit, spiced apple cider, piloncillo sugar, anise, allspice berries and mesquite wood. On the palate, the whiskey presents baked pear, charred peaches, cooked agave, ginger molasses cookie, freshly fried churro, orange blossom, cinnamon bark, black liquorice, oak and leather, with a finish of pink peppercorns and dark agave honey.

“This collaboration between Casa Noble and High West is a true celebration of craftsmanship and tradition, where the bold, botanical spice of High West rye meets the refined elegance of Casa Noble’s Marques Añejo French Oak barrels,” explained Pepe Hermosillo, Casa Noble Founder & Master Tequilero. “Together, we’ve created something exceptional that bridges the worlds of whiskey and tequila.“ 

For more information, go to highwest.com

US drinks company Spritz Society has partnered its passion for high-quality, convenient cocktails with V8’s tradition of bold, vegetable-packed flavours to create a first-of-its-kind Bloody Mary Spritz.

The limited-edition flavour is made with real white wine, all-natural ingredients inspired by V8’s classic tomato flavour, and the perfect blend of spices to combine the refreshing elements of a classic spritz with the savoriness of a Bloody Mary.

“We’re excited to join forces with Spritz Society to launch this first-of-its-kind Bloody Mary Spritz,” said Prabha Cheemalapati, VP of Beverages at Campbell’s. “Bringing this beverage to market showcases our continued dedication to innovation and collaboration, and this playful take on a Bloody Mary is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.”

Available to purchase as a pack of 4 cans, each 12oz can have an AVB of 4.5%, 120 calories, and just 5g of sugar and ready to enjoy for National Bloody Mary Day on January 1st.

“At Spritz Society, we’re always looking for ways to push the boundaries of what a spritz can be,” said Zach Weinreb, Founder & CMO of Spritz Society. “V8 is such an iconic brand, and it was an honour to work with their team on this collaboration. We wanted to deliver a drink that surprises and delights, while staying true to the classic flavour profile people crave in a Bloody Mary, and we can’t wait to share it with our community.”

For more information, go to spritzsociety.com

Kentucky distillery Wheel Horse Bourbon has announced the release of their new, limited-edition, seasonal Double Oak 5-Year Bourbon.

Distilled and matured at the historic Green River Distilling in Owensboro, Kentucky, the new expression is bottled at 101 proof, non-chill filtered and is the first five-year expression from the brand. After ageing over four years in its original charred oak casks, the whiskey was transferred to new charred oak barrels to finish ageing, giving the Double Oak Bourbon a rich, oak-forward flavour.

“Double oak Bourbons have gained in popularity over the last few years,” said Stephen Corrigan, Barrel Master of Wheel Horse. “Our goal when crafting Wheel Horse Double Oak was to complement the underlying cherry note of the whiskey with bold flavours of raw sugar and cocoa.

“To achieve this, we hand-selected a group of new Char 1 barrels whose staves had gone through extended air seasoning,” Corrigan continued. “After a little more than 6 months finishing in these casks, the result is complex and balanced, and something that we can’t wait for others to enjoy.”

On the nose, the whiskey is rich with aromas of chocolate-dipped toffee and pound cake. Once sipped, sweeter flavours of demerara sugar and vanilla custard appear before revealing notes of dried cherries and cocoa. The finish lingers, offering hints of chocolate cake and pipe tobacco with brown sugar aromas.

For more information, go to wheelhorsewhiskey.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