Global Vodka brand Smirnoff has entered its Lavender era with a new Australian-only limited edition ready-to-drink (RTD) flavour, Smirnoff Ice Lavender Lemonade.

Just in time for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, the expression is a delicious combination of lavender and refreshing lemon. The premix bottle’s refreshing citrus flavour and cloudy lavender colouring has been designed to bring out the energy and fun that festivals evoke for music lovers.

Mexican Mezcal brand Ilegal has unveiled a new (yet limited-time) offering with the launch of Ilegal Reposado Caribbean Cask Finish.

As a pioneer of aged expressions, the Caribbean Cask Finish showcases Ilegal’s craftsmanship and innovation in blending the rich heritage of traditional Mezcal with a twist of Caribbean barrel ageing.

Crafted in small batches in Oaxaca, Ilegal Reposado Caribbean Cask Finish begins with the brand’s coveted Reposado mezcal, which is expertly aged in American oak barrels for 4-6 months. The liquid is then transported to 215 barrels that previously aged 8-year Caribbean rum, where it is finished to taste for up to two months.

The final maturation in premium Caribbean casks infuses the spirit with notes of tropical fruit, warm spices and a subtle hint of caramel sweetness and butterscotch, enhancing the aged agave notes in Ilegal Reposado and creating a harmonious balance between two distinct barrel styles.

“We’ve always welcomed the challenge of what we can create in the mezcal category and are proud of the achievements we and our longtime palenque partners have made in aged mezcal,” said John Rexer, Founder of Ilegal Mezcal.

“Ilegal Caribbean Cask Finish takes our Reposado to a new place and speaks to the community blending spirit Ilegal was founded on, marrying the agave-forward character of Ilegal with the vibrant influence of Caribbean rum casks. We look forward to sharing with our fans far and wide.”

The result is a mezcal of exceptional depth and complexity, ideal for savouring neat or elevating cocktails with its nuanced flavour profile. Each bottle exemplifies Ilegal’s commitment to producing high-quality liquid sustainably. Like all Ilegal Mezcal, Reposado Caribbean Cask Finish is made with just agave, sun and time.

For more infomation, go to ilegalmezcal.com or follow along @ilegalmezcal on Instagram.

Scottish Whiskey brand The Macallan are marking 200 years of whisky mastery with the release of the brand’s interpretation of time travel through whisky.

Blending cutting-edge engineering and ancient craftsmanship within both the liquid and the vessels, Macallan’s Time : Space Collection unveils two expressions that represent time travel with the past and future combined.

“It was an absolute privilege to be able to reach back in time and select stock from the 1940’s to honour and celebrate our 200-year anniversary,” explained Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker, The Macallan.

“As a Whisky Mastery Team, our roles are unique in the sense that we get to time travel – selecting whisky from the past crafted by our predecessors, whilst simultaneously laying down casks for future generations of whisky makers and consumers. To nose, taste and select whisky created over eight decades ago is an exceptionally rare occasion in the life of a whisky maker and one which I will treasure.”

The first release, Time : Space presents a dual chamber vessel that includes the oldest whisky released by The Macallan at 84 Years Old, as well as a second single malt that marks the first from the brand’s new distillery.

Only 200 available (one for each year of the distillery’s past), Time: Space captures the essence of time travel—a spirit spanning incomparable craft across generations.

The vessel has been designed with two chambers to hold each of the whiskies – housed in the outer chamber is the 1940 vintage, representing the past, and a 2018 vintage from brand’s new distillery (a nod to the future) that offers hints of lemon and lime, alongside vanilla shortbread.

The two casks have been meticulously hand-selected – a first-fill American Oak Butt and a second-fill European Oak Butt – both seasoned with sherry in Jerez de la Frontera and matured peacefully surrounded by nature in Speyside, Scotland.

Bottled at 43.6% ABV, an extraordinary 84 years of maturation has produced rich natural colour, exceptional depth and richness and full, long-lasting flavour unique to this rare, aged single malt Scotch whisky.

The second release, Time : Space Mastery, is a unique single malt with layers of complexity that embraces 200 years of history. The single malt housed in the central chamber is a 2018 vintage, marking a significant milestone as the first-ever whisky from The Macallan’s new distillery.

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During the transition to the new Distillery in 2018, The Macallan went to exacting standards to secure the continuity of the single malt quality and signature taste.

“For the 2018 vintage, the prospect of selecting a younger cask created a lot of excitement in the sample room – it is an opportunity to give others an insight into The Macallan’s future. This marked the first year of production in our new Distillery, which is truly a significant moment to be cherished.  Through a fusion of art and science, we have ensured the continuity of the character of our whisky.”

Both releases are symbolic expressions of The Macallan, shaped by an ongoing dedication to incomparable craftsmanship and creativity, while highlighting a deep connection to nature.

Jaume Ferras, Creative Director at The Macallan, said: “The introduction of Time : Space Collection is an incredible way to pay respect to our 200th anniversary by celebrating the significance of those who have come before us, yet it is also a symbol of anticipation of what is to come, as we build upon our heritage and look to times ahead.”

The whisky is housed in a crafted circular vessel representing the circle of life and the ongoing journey from the past to the future. In contrast to the subtlety of the exterior, the presentation case bursts to life with a vibrant red color – synonymous with The Macallan – and 200 spikes, for the brand’s bicentennial year, represent how nature guards what is most precious and fragile.

The release of Time; Space Collection is accompanied by a global marketing campaign, leading with two hero films that take audiences on a journey through a spiky world where time flows and nature protects what is most precious. The films follow two distinct stories, yet both highlight The Macallan’s intrinsic connection to nature through different characters, animals and plants.

On Wednesday, October 9th through Saturday, October 12th, The Macallan will also debut the Time : Space Experience, an immersive installation in New York City where consumers may purchase tickets to travel through the past, present and future of The Macallan.

Guests will enjoy cocktails crafted by Dante NYC while learning about The Macallan’s latest whisky innovations. . To purchase entry into the experience, please visit the link here.

The Macallan’s Time : Space is available to purchase through invitation from The Macallan, with price available upon application.

The Macallan’s Time : Space Mastery will be available to purchase from TheMacallan.com, subject to availability and location, as well as via The Macallan Society.

Global Whiskey brand The James B. Beam Distilling Co. and Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller, has announced its first line extension, Little Book.

The inaugural Little Book series, Little Book ‘The Infinite: Edition 1’ Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, will serve as the foundation of the line extension utilizing liquid from generations of the Noe Family through every future release.

A blend of whiskeys laid down by three trailblazing American Whiskey distillers, Little Book honours more than two hundred years of the rich Beam and Noe family history with 6th Generation Master Distiller Booker Noe, 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe and 8th Generation Master Distiller Freddie Noe.

In the Fred B. Noe distillery at the James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s Clermont campus, Freddie Noe was experimenting with blending varying-aged whiskeys when he sought to blend barrels his father, Fred Noe, and grandfather, Booker Noe, laid down. This resulted in a perfectly balanced profile forming ‘The Infinite’.

“My father and I are lucky enough to work together, side by side as Master Distillers, and I know he always dreamed of that with his father, my Grandaddy Booker,” shared Freddie Noe, 8^th Generation Master Distiller.

Each year, new whiskey will be added to the blend, delivering an ever-evolving confluence of artistry for a unique experience while pushing the boundaries of flavour and tradition. This initial, proprietary blend sets the series apart from other Little Book chapters.

“This new series pays tribute to that dream and inspired the first Edition of Little Book ‘The Infinite’, a multigenerational liquid that will form the foundation of all future releases. Once a year, I’ll bottle some up for the world to try.

Little Book ‘The Infinite: Edition 1’ includes the following liquids:

• Booker Noe’s Component: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Aged 20 years
• Fred Noe’s Component: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Aged 14 years
• Freddie Noe’s Component: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Aged 7 years
• Shared Family Component: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Aged 8 Years

Little Book started in 2012 when Fred asked Freddie if he wanted to join the family business. Without hesitation, Freddie said yes, embarking on a journey through distillery operations and discovering a fascination with blending different aged spirits. This passion for tinkering and innovation led to the creation of Little Book®, a nickname Booker gave to Freddie growing up.

Little Book ‘The Infinite: Edition 1’ will be available in limited quantities across the U.S.,

For more information, go to littlebookwhiskey.com

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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SirDavis

“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.

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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