New bourbon whiskey releases in the USA include a rum cask finish from Yellowstone Bourbon, a double-oaked bourbon from Pursuit United, and an Apera cask-finished bourbon from Rabbit Hole Distillery.
Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Rum Casks
Limestone Branch Distillery has released the second installment in its Yellowstone Special Finishes Collection: a Kentucky straight bourbon finished in rum casks.
The new bourbon whiskey has been aged four years and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) and will be available nationwide at a suggested RRP of $49.99 by the end of March. You can purchase it now from the Yellowstone Bourbon website.
Beginning with Yellowstone’s traditional mash bill and distillation process, the whiskey was subsequently matured for nine weeks in a rum cask from Cuba. As a result, the bourbon carries notes of “toasted marshmallow, crème brûlée and toffee toasted oak; and the finish is highlighted by tobacco, clove, cocoa seasoned oak and honey”. Rum, being distilled from molasses, is very sweet and therefore imparts a unique flavour onto the bourbon.
Stephen Beam, Distillery Master, said “Rum is an exceptional compliment to bourbon, and they come together to create subtle notes of sweetness and brown sugar, which are soaked up and stored within the staves and perfectly complement the vanilla, caramel and rye flavors of Yellowstone. Our four-year bourbon is a classic Kentucky bourbon and makes for a fantastic base. This allows me to go in many directions with the finishes while remaining true to or original profile”.
The Yellowstone Special Finishes Collection was launched in 2023 with the release of the Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Toasted Staves.
Pursuit United Double Oaked Bourbon
Pursuit Spirits has announced the release of the new Pursuit United Double Oaked Bourbon.
The whiskey is made from Pursuit United’s signature blend and is matured in new charred oak, as is required by law. The whiskey was then finished in 36-month seasoned French oak medium-toasted staves.
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Bottled at 108 proof, the whiskey has a distinctive kick and oaky flavor with a “velvety mouthfeel”.
The whiskey was made available at the Pursuit Spirits Distillery on March 15th and March 16th for a selected period. Limited quantities have now been made available at selected retailers for $69.99.
Master Blender and Co-Founder of Pursuit Spirits, Ryan Cecil, said “As longtime fans of vintage whiskey, we wanted to craft something truly special that gave a nod to the best bottles we’ve been lucky enough to try over the years. This double oaked release encapsulates part of that
nostalgic flavor profile but in a modern, premium bourbon experience”.
Rabbit Hole “Heretofore” 117 Proof Straight Bourbon Finished in Apera Casks
The newest installment in Rabbit Hole’s Distillery Series is “Heretofore”, a double barrel Kentucky straight bourbon finished in Apera casks. ‘Apera’ is a Canadian and Australian term used to mean ‘dry sherry’. The term was coined as Sherry and Port now have geographical classification and protection from Spain and Portugal respectively.
The Rabbit Hole “Heretofore” was distilled from a mash bill comprising 65% corn, 25% wheat, and 10% malted barley. It was then aged for more than three years in new charred oak before being finished for 13 months in the Apera casks. The whiskey was then bottled at 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV).
Available exclusively from the Rabbit Hole Distillery and the distillery website, the release is extremely limited. Make sure to get your hands on this Apera-finished bourbon for $50 per bottle.
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