September is almost over, but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of great whiskeys that released this week. The best whiskeys to drop the week of September 12 hail from parts all over the United States and across the pond. Be sure to check out killer offerings from Ardbeg, Booker’s, Glen Moray and more.
Vintage Y2K 24 Years Old by Ardbeg
The Spirits Business reported on September 18 that Ardbeg unveiled a second single malt within the brand’s vintage series, Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 24 Years Old. The liquid entered casks in 2000, when Ardbeg resumed production after it was mothballed in 1997. The whisky features a 47.8% ABV and possesses a price of $927.
The liquid spent time aging in ex-Bourbon casks, and then Dr.Bill Lumsden MBE requested the whisky spend time aging in Amontillado Sherry Casks. This marks the first time Ardbeg aged its whiskies in Amontillado casks.
Lumsden claimed that the whisky was “sublimely delicate,” and had aromas that were a mixture of sherried toffee notes, with nuts and bonfire embers.
Jerry’s Batch by Booker’s Bourbon
Fred Minnick reported on September 25 that James B. Beam Distilling dropped the latest Booker’s Bourbon. The release is called “Jerry’s Batch” in honor of the only Master Distiller at Beam Distilling who wasn’t a member of the Beam family, Jerry Dalton.
The whiskey hosts a robust proof of 124.8 and features a suggested price of $99.99. The whiskey is a blend of barrels from seven production dates that spent time aging in nine warehouses and the average age is 7 years, 4 months and 21 days.
According to Fred Noe, without Jerry, Beam would not have been the same brand without his contributions.
Tequila Cask Finish by Glen Moray
On September 25, The Spirits Business reported that Glen Moray unveiled two tequila cask-finished single malts that spent time maturing in Tequila casks. One expression is peated and the other is not.
The unpeated expression spent eight years aging in Bourbon casks before the Glen Moray team moved it over to tequila barrels for the finishing process. It hosts an ABV percentage of 55.2% ABV and features a suggested price of $114. The whisky features vanilla custard flavors, coupled with aged leather and polished oak.
The peated whisky possesses an ABV of 58.5% and a price of $128. According to the brand, it features a more floral and dark chocolate-driven nose, coupled with a roasted banana-driven palate.
Distillery Series Selection #15 by Jack Daniel’s
Fred Minnick reported on September 22 that Jack Daniel’s is dropping a Sweet Mash Tennessee Whiskey as part of its Distillery Series.
Sweet mashing is typically more involved than the standard sour mash process, but each year Jack Daniel’s uses a sweet mash before it kicks off its distillation process. It uses the setback to support the brand’s sour mash process throughout the rest of the season. According to Fred Minnick, the whiskey possesses a mashbill that consists of 80% corn, 12% malted barley and 8% rye.
With a suggested price of $44.99 for a 375 ml bottle, the whiskey clocks in at 117 proof.
Café Honey by Tullamore Dew
Irish whiskey brand Tullamore Dew unveiled a honey whiskey liqueur with the addition of Irish-roasted coffee. Technically, this release isn’t a whiskey due to the fact that it is a liqueur, but we wanted to give a little love to this Irish whiskey brand.
The whiskey clocks in at 35% ABV and, according to the brand, takes European café culture and combines it with the allure of the Irish pub.
Café Honey features Tullamore’s triple distilled Irish whiskey, alongside roast coffee from Northwest Ireland and honey from the Czech Republic.
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