Portuguese producer UP Craft Spirits has debuted a new gin matured in ex-Port casks and infused with toasted cork to help age the liquid.

UP Craft Spirits is a venture between Barney Wilczak, a distiller at Capreolus Distillery, and cake designer Catia Mesquita. The duo has launched their first product as part of the venture, called Ginout, an offering for spirit enthusiasts who are looking for an unexpected alternative to the usual options on the market.

The new gin is distilled with botanicals including fig leaf, olive oil and peony flowers. After distillation, the gin is matured in ex-Port casks to add autumnal notes and rich flavours filled with wild berries. The expression is described as the ‘first gin to be aged insight out’.

Mesquita said: “The influence of tawny and ruby Ports bring autumnal notes, rich and filled with wild berries. And at the forest floor, we find the sweet, cocoa and humus-rich fig leaves. And our flor de sal, with its own unique appellation in the Algarve, brings a minerality that makes the whole sparkle.”

Following its maturation in ex-Port casks, Ginout is macerated with toasted cork, which the brand says marks the first time that cork has been used as a botanical for ageing spirits.

Wilczak added: “Here high notes of conifer buds evoke sun-touched forest canopy. Ageing with cork, toasted to different temperatures to highlight different elements of this vitally important tree, brings out hints of smoke, vanilla, sun-warmed wood and gorse like coconut.

“Peony flowers growing wild in Portugal sing, their floral notes high and delicate. Olive oil sourced from Catia’s home in the Algarve bring elements of herbaceous understory and beyond this a textural layering.”

Ginout is bottled at 46% ABV and available across European markets including the UK, Portugal and Spain.

Kentucky Bourbon brand Old Forester has announced the national debut of one of its most coveted and rarest expressions, President’s Choice.

Previously available only at the Old Forester Distillery in Louisville, this marks the first time President’s Choice Bourbon and a new expression, President’s Choice Rye, will be offered at select retailers nationwide in limited quantities.

Inspired by private single barrels offered in 1964 by former Old Forester president George Garvin Brown II, this modern offering is specifcally selected from matured barrels with exquisite quality and distinct characteristics.

“President’s Choice has always been an incredibly rare and cherished bottle, and most consumers have never seen it, let alone tasted the whisky,” Master Taster Melissa Rift said.  “We are honoured to bring it to a wider audience.”

To celebrate the national debut, beginning at 10am ET on Saturday, June 14, Old Forester Distillery will be releasing a limited number of bottles for in-person purchase at the distillery and in our online store at shop.oldforester.com for shipping to states where it is legal (D.C., KY, NE, NH, ND only).

This year’s release includes both President’s Choice Bourbon and, for the first time, President’s Choice Rye, offering whiskey enthusiasts a new way to experience Old Forester’s most exceptional barrels pulled from its historic brick warehouses in Louisville.

“Every barrel selected for President’s Choice tells a story,” Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo said. “These are the barrels that showcase an extraordinary depth of character. Whether it’s the bourbon or our new rye, each bottle represents the pinnacle of Old Forester’s craftsmanship.”

Each President’s Choice barrel is aged between 7 and 9 years, and bottled at proof points selected by Caleb and Melissa, highlighting their unique flavour profile, which traditionally ranges from 110 to 125 proof.

Blake Lively’s Canned Cocktail Brand, Betty Booze, is putting tea time on ice with the launch of two Vodka Iced Teas.

With the flavours, Vodka Iced Tea + Meyer Lemonade and Vodka Iced Tea + Passion Fruit, the brand is bringing its real-ingredient ethos to non-carbonated, ready-to-drink cocktails.

“Our new Vodka Iced Teas are summer in a can—real tea, real fruit juice, clean spirits, and zero artificial anything …just like all our other Betty Booze drinks.” explained Lively. “We’re thrilled to introduce our first Vodka offering with this launch. Expanding our “bar” from Tequila and Bourbon.

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Photo Credit: Guy Aroch

“With a taste that’s crisp, easy, comforting and clean – and with beautiful cans to match – our new Vodka lineup is Meyer Lemonade Iced Tea and Passionfruit Iced Tea. Whether you’re at a BBQ, a beach hang, or just spending time at home, our new Vodka Teas are made from recipes created in my home, by hand, built to share and enjoy.”

Made with naturally gluten-free corn vodka, real black tea, real fruit juice and a touch of agave, the releases mark the brand’s first foray into vodka cocktails, expanding a portfolio known for sparkling tequila and bourbon drinks.

“At Betty Booze, we believe that ready-to-drink cocktails can be as thoughtful and delicious as anything you’d find at a great bar. With the launch of our first vodka-based, non-carbonated flavours, we’re expanding that vision,” says Andrew T. Chrisomalis, Co-Founder of Betty Booze. “These new flavours are bright, balanced, and made with real ingredients, crafted for people who care about what’s in their glass or can. We’re proud to keep raising the bar on what convenience can taste like.”

The Betty Booze Vodka Iced Tea 4-packs are now available on www.BettyBooze.com, as well as in Total Wine & More, BevMo, and other stores nationwide.

Kentucky Bourbon brand Angel’s Envy has announced its newest Cellar Collection Series, Vol. 5, with the release of its Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in French Oak Extra Añejo Tequila Barrels.

To lock the flavour profile together into a cohesive, yet layered experience, the liquid is aged up to 7 years, then finished in French Oak Extra Añejo tequila barrels for up to 12 months, before being blended with an older Straight Rye Whiskey, aged for over 11 years.

Master Distiller Owen Martin travelled to Hacienda Patrón, the home of Patrón Tequila’s distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, to select the barrels, immersing himself in the world of tequila making.

“This launch is very special to me as the first Cellar Collection innovation for Angel’s Envy that I oversaw from beginning to end,” explained Martin. “As a part of the vision, we collaborated with Patrón Tequila’s Master Distiller, David Rodriguez, to identify a parallel between the production processes. We are always striving to showcase the unique character of a finishing cask and how it can amplify our base whiskey’s dynamic flavour – this release embodies that particularly well.”

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A golden caramel colour, the new Cellar Collection expression is floral and fruit-forward on the nose, with a toasty vanilla and subtle smokiness of clove. Flavours of baking spices and cracked pepper are tempered by notes of herbal agave for an earthy tobacco and brown sugar taste. The French oak finish ensures the liquid is soft and balanced, with orange blossom honey and tropical fruits.

Housed in a special-edition gift box, Cellar Collection Series Vol. 5 Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in French Oak Extra Añejo Tequila Barrels will be available at retailers nationwide and on ReserveBar (where eligible)

French organic spirits brand, Pegasus Distillerie, has announced the launch of a fresh, smooth and transparent mint liqueur called Minty.

Crafted using three types of organic mint, grown and handpicked in the heights of the Alps: orange mint, Japanese mint, and Moroccan mint, the liqueur with no artificial colors or flavors,  is uniquely fresh and smooth.

Transporting the drinker from the crisp heights of the Alps to the soothing warmth of Morocco, the liqueur awakens the senses and unfolds with the bright citrus notes of the orange mint, while the finish lingers with the depth of Japanese mint and the warm comfort of Moroccan mint.

“I founded Pegasus Distillerie on a commitment to bringing consumers the purest refined spirits that don’t sacrifice flavor or quality, and Minty is truly an embodiment of that,” says Maxime Girardin, Founder and Master Distiller at Pegasus Distillerie.

Standing out in the rapidly-growing liqueur category with lower sugar content, total transparency and a sophisticated flavor profile, Minty undergoes several rounds of distillation using the innovative iStill technology, adding body and smoothness to the neutral alcohol ahead of the botanical infusion.

“The inspiration for MINTY came from many years of skiing in the Alps,” continued Girardin. “Experiencing the invigorating freshness of the landscape with loved ones – and a desire to bottle those memories.

“I like to refer to Minty as an “Après-ritivo” – meaning whether you’re just off the slopes, ending a padel match with friends or wrapping up a presentation at the office, MINTY is made for savoring all the little shared moments that spark joy in life.”

Minty is best enjoyed pure, on its own or simply combined with unflavored sparkling water to create a unique ‘MINTY Spark’ spritz. It is available in Florida, NY State and California and online.

For more information, go to pegasus-distillerie.com

The UK’s Hawkridge Distillers has announced the launch of its debut premium whisky, made in partnership with the renowned Berkshire-based celebrity chef, Alain Roux.

Aged in oak bourbon barrels, the Single Malt is imbued with honeyed sweetness, toasted oak, and a hint of orchard fruits.

“English whisky is on the rise, and we’re proud to be part of its exciting resurgence,” says Phil Howarth, Managing Director of Hawkridge. “With this beautiful single malt, we’ve embraced England’s unique terroir and approach to whisky-making to create something genuinely special. This is a whisky that not only honours tradition but also pushes boundaries.”

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Known for its Gin varietals, the distillery combines the finest local ingredients with state-of-the-art techniques to create distinctly English yet globally celebrated spirits.

The new Whiskey expression will launch today at selected retailers nationwide and will be available internationally soon. 

For more information, go to hawkridgedistillers.com