New American whiskey and bourbon releases this week include Michter’s 2024 Legacy Series, a new. E.H. Taylor expression from Buffalo Trace, and a Wood Finishing release from Maker’s Mark.
Michter’s Legacy Series 2024
This July, Michter’s will release its 2024 Legacy Series comprised of two bottlings: Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey and Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon, both bottled in 2024.
The Shenk and Bomberger’s expressions this year will differ slightly from previous Legacy Series releases. Michter’s President, Joseph J. Magliocco said: “While there is some continuity from year to year, our production team makes creative adjustments to each edition of these whiskeys.”
Master Distiller Dan McKee explained the makeup of this year’s Shenk releases: “In the 2024 Shenk’s release, we used rye, malted rye, and for the first time caramel malt, which offers a nice creaminess to complement the whiskey’s herbaceous qualities and notes of spice.” The whiskey was matured in a combination of casks, including Vosges oak from France, air-dried and seasoned for 24 months to Michter’s specifications.
Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey is bottled at 45/6% ABV and has an RRP of $110.
“The 2024 edition of Bomberger’s continues the use of some Chinquapin (Quercus muehlenbergii) oak to accentuate the dark chocolate and stewed fruit notes in this big whiskey that are then complemented by the spice notes offering a bold, rich, balanced complexity and a long lingering warm finish for your drinking indulgence,” continued Andrea Wilson, Master of Maturation.
Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon was bottled at 54% ABV and has an RRP of $120.
The Michter’s Legacy Series bottlings honor the heritage of the Michter’s brand. The original Shenk Distillery was founded in Pennsylvania by John Shenk, a Swiss Mennonite farmer, in 1753. The distillery was later renamed Bomberger’s, before being christened Michter’s in the mid-20th century.
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Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Rye Bourbon Whiskey
Buffalo Trace Distillery, home to some of the world’s most famous bourbon brands, has unveiled a new offering from the Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. brand. Joining the brand’s core collection is “a new uncut, unfiltered rye recipe bourbon”.
The brand is named for Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, widely regarded as the “Father of the Modern Bourbon Industry” for his pioneering practices at the O.F.C Distillery, and for his instrumental role in passing the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.
According to a brand press release: “This expression of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. is the ideal blend of barrel proof strength and fresh rye spice.”
On the nose, expect aromas of “white pepper and nutty undertones, with a touch of fresh floral and candied apricot.” The palate delivers: “a range of complex flavors, balancing the sweet, dried stone fruit with pepper and oaky dryness. The lasting finish is full and sweet as honey, concluding an exceptional experience.”
“Bourbon enthusiasts know that there is no experience quite like tasting a whiskey in its truest, untouched form – straight from the barrel,” said Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “Barrel Proof Rye takes the beloved recipe of Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye Whiskey to a new level and brings a new release that perfectly complements the E.H. Taylor, Jr. Collection.”
The Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Rye Bourbon Whiskey is available now across the US, with an RRP of $77.99.
Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series, The Heart Release
Maker’s Mark has added to its Wood Finishing Series, The Heart Release. Using specially selected staves for finishing, the team at Maker’s Mark “enhance[s] distinctive characteristics already present in the brand’s iconic bourbon.”
This release pays tribute specifically to the Maker’s Mark team at Star Hill Farm, using French oak staves to impart notes of “caramel, maple, and chocolate”.
The new release is now available across the US for an RRP of $74.99.
Rob Samuels, 8th generation whisky maker and Managing Director at Maker’s Mark said: “Always staying true to my grandparents, our founders’ vision to deliver a full-flavored, soft red winter wheat bourbon with a smooth finish, Maker’s Mark continues to shape the brand’s future through purposeful, flavor-driven innovation. This Wood Finishing Series release celebrates the entire distillery team, who share our vision and who have contributed their perspective to craft the final expression.”
Beth Buckner, Senior Manager of Innovation and Blending, said: “It was a very unique, special experience to have the distillery team play a significant role in crafting the taste vision of
The Heart Release. Distillery team members all have different, yet very important jobs in creating our whisky; each person described aromas and flavors they experience throughout
their day, which helped us shape the flavors of this release.”
Kentucky Peerless Toasted Bourbon Batch 2
Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company has unveiled the second batch of its Toasted Bourbon, following on from the success of Batch 1. The family-owned and operated distillery will release Toasted Bourbon Batch 2 at 10:00 am on July 13th, 2024 at the Peerless distillery. From there, the bottles will be distributed nationwide.
Peerless Toasted Bourbon Batch 2 was aged in two separate oak barrels with different levels of char. The first barrel is charred to level 3, imparting caramel, brown sugar, and toffee. Then the whiskey is finished in a different oak barrel, developing flavors of “honey, vanilla, toasted spices, and chocolate.”
Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company Head Taster, John Wadell, said: “We hand-select each barrel for the finishing process. We chose a medium toast for the barrel finish because it contains less tannins, resulting in a more aromatic whiskey with warm, sweet, savory character and strong vanilla overtones.”
Head over to the distillery at 120 North 10th Street, Louisville, KY next Saturday to secure your bottle directly from the distillery. A two-bottle per person limit will be applied.
Wyoming Whiskey Independence Rock Bourbon
In a Wyoming exclusive, Wyoming Whiskey is paying tribute to the history of the state. More specifically, Independence Rock (sometimes called the Register of the Desert).
Independence Rock lies at an intersection of the Oregon, Mormon, and California emigrant trails used (at their height) in the mid-1800s by those emigrating to other parts of the USA. They hoped to reach the landmark by July 4th (Independence Day) and make it to their final destinations before the first snow covered the mountains. Many of these travelers would carve their names into the rock, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961.
Wyoming Whiskey’s Independence Rock Bourbon was distilled from grains grown in the state, distilled in Kirby, and matured in bourbon selected from Wyoming Whiskey rickhouses. Distilled from a mash bill comprising 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley, the whiskey was bottled at 49% ABV. Independence Rock is available exclusively in Wyoming for an RRP of $79.99.
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