The bourbon and American whiskey industry has been busy in recent days, with a whole host of new releases hitting the shelves. Amongst these new releases are two Bottled-In-Bond expressions from Savage & Cooke, Booker’s first batch of 2024, and Chicken Cock bourbon in collaboration with PGA pro, Kevin Kisner.
Let’s take a look at some of the notable new releases in bourbon and American whiskey.
Orphan Barrel Indigo’s Hour 18 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Diageo-owned Orphan Barrel unveiled a stunning new bourbon: Indigo’s Hour. The whiskey celebrates the period when day turns to night. The bottle is beautifully designed, featuring a Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly. The creature is native to Indiana, from where the whiskey hails.
Distilled from a mash bill comprising 68% corn, 28% rye, and 4% malted barley, Indigo’s Hour was aged for 18 years in new, charred white oak casks in Kentucky. The whiskey’s time in Kentucky is honored by a depiction of the so-called ‘Witches’ Tree’ on the label.
The tree, located in Louisville, is an historical landmark in Kentucky. According to lousivillehistorictours.com: “ it has become custom to visit “the Witches’ Tree” and leave trinkets and tokens for good luck. “
Orphan Barrel‘s Indigo’s Hour was bottled in Tennesee at 45% ABV, as is shown by the landscape depictions of Cascade Hollow and Tullahoma on the label.
This multi-state bourbon, according to Diageo’s Master Blender Andrew Mackay, “ is perfect for those who appreciate the complex flavors and craft behind American-bourbon making. Its liquid and bottle symbolizes how the Orphan Barrel collection continues to evolve from its predecessors, making it a true collectible for those who appreciate fine spirits and rare whiskies”.
Indigo’s Hour 18 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey contains aromas of vanilla, spices, and red fruit. On the palate expect honey, caramel, spice, and vanilla rounded off by a velvet oak finish. You can purchase a bottle for an RRP of $225 from ReserveBar.
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Great Jones x Wölffer Estate Cask-Finished Bourbon
A collaboration between Great Jones Distilling Co. and Wölffer Estate Vineyard has seen the release of a Cask-Finished Bourbon.
Having been established in Manhattan in 2021, Great Jones Distilling Co. is the first distillery to ever work on the island. Multiple new make spirits from Great Jones were initially matured in new, charred white oak casks for between four and seven years. The whiskey was then finished in Wölffer Estate’s Cabernet Franc Barrique wine casks. This makes the new Great Jones x Wölffer Estate Cask-Finished Bourbon a uniquely New York bourbon whiskey. It was then bottled at 44% ABV.
In a joint press release, Great Jones head distiller, Celina Perez, and Wölffer Estate winemaker, Roman Roth, said: “We started with a beautiful synergy of flavors between the berry notes of our Caya Cabernet Franc and the sweet notes present in the Great Jones Bourbon, and it has been a pleasure to watch how the whiskey has matured to a complex final spirit.”
Drinkers of the new bourbon should expect notes of date, vanilla, kumquat and pepper on the nose. This is followed by spice, fig, herbs, and crème brûlée on the palate.
You can purchase the new Great Jones x Wölffer Estate Cask-Finished Bourbon on the Great Jones website for an RRP of $59.99.
Booker’s Springfield Batch 2024
Booker’s Bourbon has released its long-awaited first batch of the year: The Springfield Batch 2024.
Named for the small, central Kentucky town where Booker Noe – the founder of Booker’s Bourbon – was born and raised. It was here he developed a fascination with farming and eventually bourbon production. He later moved to Bardstown and began distilling at the age of 21.
Booker’s Springfield Batch 2024 is comprised of barrels taken from four different areas of the maturation warehouse:
- 17% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse G
- 7% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse H
- 31% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
- 45% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse 3
The combination of whiskeys matured on different warehouse levels, and therefore subjected to varying temperatures, creates a complex and layered bourbon. The whiskey was aged for 7 years, 7 months, and 8 days, and was bottled at 124.5 proof.
According to Fred Noe, Booker Noe’s son and 7th Generation Master Distiller: “I’d say Dad is probably one of the more recognizable figures to come from Springfield. Even when he moved away, he spent a lot of time going back for family dinner, holidays and even the extended Noe family reunion every summer. You never forget your hometown, and this batch is in honor of Dad’s. I hope you enjoy it as much as he would have.”
On the nose, Booker’s Springfield Batch 2024 exudes notes of vanilla and caramel. The palate is complex with layers of vanilla, oak, and nuts with a long and full finish.
Booker’s Springfield Batch 2024 is available nationwide for an RRP of $89.99.
2XO The Kiawah Blend
Kentucky-based whiskey blender, Dixon Dedman, has unveiled The Kiawah Blend as part of 2XO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey’s Icon Series.
The Kiawah Blend is inspired by one of Dedman’s favorite places: Kiawah Island, which is located 25 miles southwest of Charleston, SC, on the Atlantic Coast. Dedman would holiday there with family and friends to unwind and relax.
Dixon Dedman commented: “Kiawah Island is a special place for me. It’s where my family has been vacationing since I was a kid, where my wife and I have been taking our children. It’s my happy place – where I can get away with family and friends and step off the grid.”
The whiskey is comprised of two mash bills: one that is a high rye 35% bourbon mash bill and another that is a moderate rye 18% bourbon mash bill. The brand’s name, 2XO, refers to Dixon Dedman’s ‘Two Times Oak’ process in which the whiskeys are double-barrelled for maximum wood exposure.
On the nose, The Kiawah Blend boasts cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cedarwood. The palate is characterized by vanilla, oak, clove, and lemon with a pepper spice finish.
2XO’s Kiawah Blend joins three previous bottlings in the Icon Series, inspired by Dixon Dedman’s life. These include The Tribute Blend, The Innkeeper’s Blend, and The Phoenix Blend.
The Kiawah Blend is available for purchase online via ReserveBar and retailers nationwide with an RRP of $99.99.
Savage & Cooke Howling Mob Bourbon Whiskey & Bloody Butcher Bourbon Whiskey
A relatively new name on the bourbon scene, Savage & Cooke has finally unveiled two inaugural Bottled-In-Bond bourbons: Howling Mob & Bloody Butcher. The releases come hot on the heels of Savage & Cooke’s earlier whiskey success with bourbon, rye, and American whiskey expressions last fall.
Located on Mare Island, CA, Savage & Cooke began distilling in 2018 and has been patiently “raising” its spirits in the ensuing years.
The new releases are extremely limited in nature, with just 31 barrels of Howling Mob produced, and 44 barrels of Bloody Butcher. The whiskeys will be released annually every spring.
Distillery owner, Dave Phinney, is confident in the quality of these new BIB bourbons, saying: “When we began distilling in 2018, we knew we only wanted to use the best ingredients in our whiskey. Now that we are at a place where they are ready for release, we can really see the value in this attention to detail. The heirloom corn we get from nearby Winters, California is the perfect example. It makes these Bottled-In-Bond whiskeys so special. It was a long wait, but with each new release, we see how our patience paid off. We can’t wait to get them into the hands of our fans.”
Jordan Via, Savage & Cooke Master Distiller, provided these tasting notes for the new bourbons:
“Howling Mob Bourbon Whiskey
Rich amber hues with bright aromas of fresh orange zest and Madagascar vanilla bean. Smokey charred oak mid palate finishes with cinnamon bark and ground peppercorn. Full bodied and balance. This whiskey was aged four years and is 100 proof. It retails for $99.
Bloody Butcher Bourbon Whiskey
Deep caramel with an orange hue. Bright aromatics of ground cinnamon, dried orange peel and lilac blossoms. Finishes with a long, unctuous cherry flavor with pronounced minerality and a core of power. This whiskey was aged four years and is 100 proof. It retails for $99.”
Chicken Cock Kevin Kisner Double Oak Single Barrel
As part of a multi-year partnership with PGA TOUR golfing pro, Kevin Kisner, Chicken Cock has unveiled a new Double Oak expression.
This is the second such release from Chicken Cock and Kisner, with the first selling out in 2023.
Distilled from a mash bill comprising 80% corn, 11.5% rye, and 85.% malted barley, the whiskey was aged for seven years in ex-bourbon and then finished for two years in white oak. The whiskey was then bottled from a single barrel, handpicked by Kevin Kisner at 59.6% ABV.
Speaking about the collaboration, and his passion for Chicken Cock, Kisner said: “Authenticity and quality are two characteristics I value, which are especially true for Chicken Cock Whiskey. This is why we have again collaborated on this really nice Double Oak single barrel. From the authentic brand history to the meticulous attention to detail of its whiskey production, Chicken Cock Whiskey is a real one.”
Grain & Barrel CMO, Kyle Harder, added: “Kisner’s quick wit and sharp one-liners like ‘Ain’t No Hobby’ resonate with the audience. We wanted to bring that personality on these labels to reflect the bold, confident Chicken Cock attitude as well as Kisner’s personality”.
The Chicken Cock Kevin Kisner Double Oak Single Barrel is available to purchase via the Chicken Cock website for $149.99.
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