Some of the best whiskeys for the week of July 18 honor national parks and feature collaborations with iconic, under-the-radar distilleries. We have also gone ahead and included a rare release from England’s oldest licensed distillery in this eclectic mix of releases, making it a truly global selection. Read on to learn more about the best whiskeys that dropped the week of July 18th.
001 by The English Distillery
On July 11, The Spirits Business reported a release from England’s oldest licensed whisky distillery, The English. The whisky honors the brand’s 18th anniversary, and the team drew the release from the first cask it ever filled: Cask 001. The outlet reported that the whisky spent 18 years aging in The English’s stone walls at its Bond 1 warehouse.
King Charles oversaw the official opening of The English in 2007, but the brand began distilling juice in 2006. 001 is an unpeated whisky, and it clocks in at an ABV of 54.1%. The outlet reported aromas of poached orchard fruit, coupled with vanilla. There’s a kick of salt adding a nice level of complexity to the pour.
The English 001 costs a pretty penny and sells for £3,000 ($4,070). Just 60 bottles exist, and it will be available for purchase in September.
7-Year-Old Bottled In Bond Bourbon by Old Grand Dad
Fred Minnick reported on July 14 that Old Grand Dad unveiled a 7-year-old bonded bourbon. This whiskey meets the requirements for a Bottled In Bond bourbon, in that the team at Beam distilled it within a single season following the Bottled-In-Bond regulations. It clocks in at the mandated 100 proof and was made from the brand’s high-rye recipe.
This whiskey brand’s robust history dates back to 1882, and James B. Beam bought the Old Grand Dad brand in 1987, according to Fred Minnick. Vintage is the theme for this release, and it features historically inspired packaging and flavors.
The whiskey spent extra time maturing to perfection in the barrel, which is a nod to the “classic” Old Grand Dad flavors of the past. Wine-Searcher reports an average price of $24.99.
5-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon by Wheelhorse Whiskey
Wheel Horse Whiskey is a Rhode Island-based brand, and the juice is distilled at the iconic Kentucky whiskey powerhouse, Green River Distilling. The brand announced a new venture in a line of barrel proof whiskeys on July 10, and just 2,100 bottles exist. Each bottle has a suggested retail price of $39.99.
Wheel Horse Whiskeys typically clock in around 101 proof, but the Barrel Master Select series experiments with offerings at barrel proof, and the brand’s Barrel Master, Stephen Corrigan says that uncut whiskey is “undeniably exciting.”
This offering hosts cherry, mocha and warm spice aromas coupled with a palate loaded with vanilla and café au lait. The finish is full of toasted walnuts, burnt sugar and Black Forest cake.
10 Year Rye Whiskey by Wolves Whiskey X Willett
Breaking Bourbon announced on July 11 that California’s Wolves Whiskey was dropping its most recent collaboration with the legendary whiskey brand, Willett Family Estate. The whiskey is a blend of rye whiskies, and this release is a marriage of juice from Kentucky and California.
Willett chose 10-year Kentucky rye barrels and Wolves chose 10-year-old rye that initially was from Indiana — we can surmise MGP — and spent three years finishing in Northern California. The final offering clocks in at 103 proof and costs $355.
Both brands claim that the diversity between aging environments adds a subtlety to the spicy nature of rye whiskey. The final whiskey blend features orange, baking spice, and caramel on the bouquet, coupled with gingerbread, toasted nuts, and a finish of vanilla, caramel, and spice.
National Parks: Acadia Addition by Wyoming Whiskey
The latest whiskey within Wyoming Whiskey’s National Parks series dropped, paying homage to Acadia National Park in Maine. The release made headlines on July 15 and is a significant release in that it’s the first whiskey honoring a National Park outside of the distillery’s home state.
The brand shared that it will donate $10,000 to Friends of Acadia to help support the park’s natural preserves. According to Wyoming Whiskey, this release is composed of non-GMO-grown grain a few miles away from Byron, Wyoming. The water used in the production process is drawn from an aquifer 50 miles away from the distillery, and this release spent a minimum period of five years aging in new charred oak barrels.
Wyoming Whiskey claims its Acadia release has aromas of baked honey crullers, with a heavy confectionary bent. The palate is full of cherry liqueur and almonds, and the finish is full of espresso and creamy milk chocolate. It hosts a suggested retail price of $79.99 and has a proof of 98.
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