This week’s new releases from the USA include a double cask-finished bourbon from Penelope Bourbon, the latest installment in Pinhook’s Vertical Series, a single malt from Copperworks Distilling Co., and a Heathrow Airport exclusive from Maker’s Mark.
Penelope Rio
Penelope Bourbon, based in New Jersey, USA, has unveiled the “carnival in a bottle” – the Penelope Rio – as part of the Cooper Series.
The Penelope Rio is a bourbon that has been through a double cask finish, firstly in American honey, and secondly in Amburana, a Brazilian hardwood. The result is a complex yet sweet bourbon with a smooth finish.
The mash bill for Penelope Rio consists of 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. Tasting notes for the new release include “an aroma of sweet honey coupled with notes of cinnamon rolls; a rich body with notes of gingerbread, honey, nectar and baking spice; and a savory finish highlighted by subtle notes of honey and spice”.
The Penelope Rio has a suggested RRP of $89.99 per bottle. With only 5,000 bottles available, head here to ensure you don’t miss out.
Penelope Bourbon’s Cooper Series features whiskeys finished in casks from around the world. Previous expressions include the Tokaji Cask Finish and the Rosé Cask Finish.
Pinhook Vertical Series Rye 8 Year Old
Pinhook has added to its Vertical Series with an 8 Year Old rye whiskey. The Vertical Series consists of annual bourbon and rye releases from Pinhook, with the whiskey increasing in age every year.
Beginning with a 4 Year Old Bourbon in 2019, another bourbon and a 4 year old rye in 2020, 2024 marks the 5th year of annual Vertical releases from the brand.
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The Pinhook Vertical Series Rye 8 Year Old was blended from 32 barrels with a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. This spicy expression was then bottled at cask strength.
Tasting notes for the new release rye include “a bright nose of orange zest, green apple, caramel, and cinnamon; leading to an intricate palate of licorice, burnt sugar, cedar, and clove”.
Given the current pattern of releases in the Pinhook Vertical Series, we may expect a bourbon expression to be added to the lineup before the end of 2024.
The Pinhook Vertical Series Rye 8 Year Old is available from Pinhook for an RRP of $84.99.
Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey Single Cask No. 126-2
Copperworks Distilling Co., has revealed an American single malt whiskey bottled from a single cask: 126-2.
The whiskey was made from a mash bill consisting of 100% Baronesse barley, a rare barley strain that is grown in Colfax, WA. Following maturation in a refill American Single Malt Whiskey cask from Copperworks, the whiskey was bottled at 64% ABV. Only 195 bottles were produced.
According to Jason Parker, President of Copperworks Distilling Co., “[w]hile you may have tried one of our previous whiskey releases using this delicious barley varietal, this is our first-ever release of a Baronesse barley-crafted whiskey that was matured exclusively in a refill cask. As there is less direct flavor contributed from the cask itself, this style of maturation allows the nuanced flavor of this special barley varietal to shine through.”
Tasting notes for this single-cask whiskey include “aromas of candy orange slices, grape pomace, and honeyed bread. […] peach white tea, oak, a subtle salinity. […] apple pie filing, evergreen sap, oak, and amarena cherry get together on the finish”.
The Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey Single Cask No. 126-2 is available from Copperworks’s website for $89.99 + tax.
Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series London City Edition
To round off this week’s USA new releases, Maker’s Mark has unveiled the Wood Finishing City Series London City Edition, available exclusively at Heathrow Airport in London.
Debuting in 2022, the Wood Finishing City Series includes expressions for New York, Sydney, Frankfurt, and Singapore. The London City Edition will be the last expression in the series.
The whiskey was created in collaboration with Douglas McMaster – owner of the restaurant Silo London – and cocktail bartender, Ryan Chetiyawardana (A.K.A Mr Lyan). McMaster and Lyan are champions of sustainability with Silo London being a zero-waste restaurant, and White Lyan being the first cocktail bar in the world to not use any perishables.
Maker’s Mark commissioned these “taste masters” to help create a whiskey expression that captures the essence of London: a bustling and diverse city.
The resulting whiskey features “notes of buttercream icing, toasted vanilla, orange peel, maple, caramel and vanilla bean. On the palate, bright caramel, orchard fruits and marshmallow give way to notes of rich tobacco, oak and salted caramel. The creamy texture and forward palate finish is enhanced with zesty notes of citrus, spices and tobacco.”
As stated above, the whiskey will be available exclusively from Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, where an “experimental activation” will offer sampling, chats with brand ambassadors, and Maker’s Mark merchandise. Travelers will also be given the chance to sample the ‘Gold Rush’, the Maker’s Mark signature cocktail.
720 bottles of the Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series London Edition have been produced. They will retail at Heathrow T5 for $95 per 700ml. Better get to the airport quickly then!
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