The best whiskeys that were released the week of Dec. 12 include some major offerings from big names. Read on to discover drams from brands like Old Forester and Jack Daniel’s, coupled with whiskeys from indie up-and-comers like Copper Works and Still Austin.
Kilt Lifter Whiskey by Copper Works Distilling Co.
The Manual reported on Dec. 10 about the release of Copperworks and Pike Brewing Company’s American Whiskey. Its cheeky name, “Kilt Lifter,” pays homage to the distiller’s beer, a winter-themed Scotch ale brewed by Seattle’s own Pike Brewing Company.
Pike Brewing’s first brewer and Copperworks Distilling Co.’s President and Co-Founder, Jason Parker, shared the production process for the base beer mirrored the process Pike’s uses for its flagship beers. The team brewed it at the gravity-fed brewhouse, and then after the distillation process, it spent over five years maturing in American oak casks. This whiskey has an ABV of 50% and just 1,800 bottles exist.
With aromas of pine needles and vanilla bean, the palate offers up biscuits, dates, and oats with a kiss of citrus peel. A tropical vibe plays out on the finish, with flavors of mango, interlaced with cinnamon candies. This whiskey hosts a suggested price of $59.99.
Distillery Series #16 by Jack Daniel’s
Fred Minnick reported on Dec. 5 that Jack Daniel’s dropped a new Distillery Series release, and this one involves quite the finishing process.
The Tennessee rye whiskey originates from a mashbill of 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley. It spent time maturing in new white oak barrels before finishing in barrels that held a “Southern-style table syrup,” according to the brand. Jack Daniel’s Barrel Maturation Manager and Master Taster Byron Copeland shared that the syrup finishing process imbues the whiskey with some “sweetness and depth.”
The release is available in 375 ml bottles and clocks in at 114.4 proof. Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series #16 is exclusively available in Tennessee at Jack Daniel’s campus and at the White Rabbit Bottle Shop. It costs $44.75.
200th Anniversary Edition Whiskey by Midleton
The Spirits Business reported on Dec. 11 that Midleton Distillery unveiled a 200th Anniversary release, which is a 28-year-old single pot still whiskey. The whiskey has a price of $1,860 and just 636 bottles are available. It clocks in at 54.7% ABV.
The Irish whiskey is a blend of juice aged in first- and second-fill American oak casks, coupled with a portion of the blend that spent time in a Mizunara oak puncheon. According to the brand, the Mizunara imbues the liquid with sandalwood and woody spice, coupled with fruit and lemon.
This rare release honors Midleton’s 200th Anniversary and is available for pre-order starting December 16.
Prohibition Era Still Proof Bourbon by Old Forester
Fred Minnick reported on Dec. 5 that Old Forester unveiled a new release within its 117 series, Prohibition Era Still Proof. The release celebrates the fact that Old Forester was one of the few whiskey brands allowed to legally make booze during Prohibition — for medicinal purposes, of course.
This whiskey clocks in at a hefty 130 proof, and that number is a deliberate choice. It pays homage to the fact that Old Forester was distilled at 130 proof during Prohibition. The release is available in limited quantities and possesses a suggested price of $64.99.
Interested parties can purchase it at Old Forester’s online retail shop. The brand will ship bottles to legal states — D.C., K.C., N.E. and N.D.
Tanager Cigar Blend Bourbon Whiskey by Still Austin
The Manual reported on Dec. 10 that Still Austin dropped the perfect bourbon for cigar smokers. Still Austin took a blend of red, white, and blue corn bourbon — how patriotic! — and distilled it from exclusively Texas-grown grains. This bourbon clocks in at 53.75% ABV.
Master Blender Nancy Fraley and Master Distiller John Schrepel chose this blended bourbon and used the Petites Eaux technique to cut it down to proof. Little by little, they would add pure Texas water until it reached the final percentage. According to the brand, this technique adds caramelized wood sugars and a longer palate to the whiskey.
Still Austin shares that the bourbon possesses a punchy nose with Manuka Honey, coconut and black tea. The palate is full of cherries jubilee, butterscotch, white pepper, and peach candy. The finish is full of bay leaf, lemongrass, and soft leather.
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