New American whiskey and bourbon releases this week include a Bottled-In-Bond expression from Westward Whiskey and a new Experimental Batch bourbon from Chattanooga. Westland Distillery experiments with cask finishes, and Town Branch releases its annual straight rye.
Let’s take a look at these new releases in more detail.
Westward Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond American Single Malt Whiskey
The new Bottled-In-Bond expression from American single malt producer, Westward Whiskey, is exclusive to the distillery’s Whiskey Club. This is the third exclusive bottling to be released in 2024.
Westward Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond is an American single malt that was distilled in March 2007, and bottled in 2024 following seven years of maturation in the varying climate of Oregon. The result is a gentle single malt with aromas of “Toasted walnuts, gardenia, heather, green tea, meadowfoam honey, lemon, pear, [and] toffee,” on the nose. The palate delivers “Dark fruits, caramelized nuts, light ginger spice, honeyed pecans, [and] toasted banana bread.” And the finish has mint, dried fruits, oak, melon, and freshly cut grass.
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The Bottled-In-Bond designation was introduced in 1897 and has since stood as a pillar of quality assurance for American whiskey. To be labeled as ‘Bottled-In-Bond’ a whiskey must be:
- Distilled in one season (January-June, July-December) at a single distillery
- Aged in a government bonded warehouse for a minimum of four years
- Bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV)
- State the distillery and bottling facilities on the label
Speaking about the new expression, Westward Whiskey’s Master Blender, Miles Munroe, said: “With this expression, we set out to capture the pioneering spirit of the American Northwest while honoring a rich whiskey-making tradition. Bottled-In-Bond expertly demonstrates the maturing power of the Pacific Northwest’s climate and the skill of our blenders.”
The Westward Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond American Single Malt Whiskey is now available exclusively to Westward Whiskey Club members for pre-order for $99.95. You can join the Westward Whiskey Club here
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Chattanooga Experimental Batch 039: Harvest Bourbon
Chattanooga Whiskey has continued its Experimental Single Batch series with the release of Batch 039: Harvest Bourbon. The whiskey was bottled from a very small batch of six barrels.
In celebration of the beginning of harvest season, Harvest Bourbon is a “7-grain high malt bourbon.” It was aged for over five years in three different cask types. Each cask was toasted, charred, and seasoned to varying levels in order to bring out nuanced and complex flavors in the bourbon. Such flavors include “snickerdoodle cookies, fruit cake, oatmeal creme pie, horchata, and rice pudding,” according to a brand press release.
Commenting on the use of seven different grains, Founding Distiller Grant McCracken said: “Classically speaking, bourbon whiskey is a spirit made from four major grains: corn, rye, wheat, and barley. While these grains provide the familiar bourbon-y flavors that we all know and love, our distillers wanted to explore a completely different side of bourbon – made from a completely new ‘palette’ of flavor grains.”
Chattanooga Experimental Batch 039: Harvest Bourbon will retail for $69.99 per 750ml bottle at the Chattanooga Distillery and online via Seelbachs.com.
Westland Distillery Beer Cask Finish & Wine Cask Finish
Seattle-based Westland Distillery has expanded its Cask Exploration Series with two new American single malt whiskeys: one finished in a beer cask, and one finished in a wine cask. The two expressions, both bottled at 46% ABV, are now part of the distillery’s core range.
Speaking about the new expressions, Master Blender Shane Armstrong said: “The Pacific Northwest is known for its exceptional beer, wine and whiskey. These expressions bring those delicacies together.”
The Westland Beer Cask Finish American Single Malt Whiskey has been matured for eight years after being distilled from seven different types of malted barley. Following maturation, the whiskey was finished in a combination of beer casks: Scotch ale, stout, brown ale, doppelbock, saison, and stock ale. The resulting expression has aromas of “dried peach, honeydew melon, eggnog cake, and cocoa powder.” This is followed by “vanilla pastry cream, caramel sauce, and lavender green tea.”
Westland’s Wine Cask Finish Whiskey was distilled from five different barley strains and matured for five years. The whisky was then finished in wine casks: Tempranillo, WA Red Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. Tasting notes subsequently include “allspice, raspberry reduction, chocolate wafer, and dried rose,” on the nose. The palate delivers “chocolate raspberry turnover, Earl Grey tea, and dried strawberry.”
The expressions will launch at the distillery and online this month (August 2024) with a national rollout scheduled for September. The retail price is $74.99 per 700ml bottle.
Town Branch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Town Branch Distillery and Brewery has released its annual Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. In honor of National Rye Month, limited quantities of the expression have been released nationwide for an RRP of $49.99.
The rye whiskey has been distilled from a mash bill of 90% rye, 5% corn, and 5% malted barley and blended from whiskeys ranging from four to nine years of age (the average is about six years). Tasting notes include “rye spice, mature oak, vanilla, apples, and caramel” on the nose. The palate is characterized by “dry oak, spice of nutmeg, black pepper, walnut, brown sugar, and honey syrup.”
Released in a limited quantity of 500 cases, the press release emphasizes that “once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
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