As far as releases are concerned, the best whiskey releases that dropped the week of June 20th involve some pretty high-profile offerings with hefty age statements. Barrell Craft and Laphroaig both earned a spot on our list because of these highly luxurious releases.
This week’s selection of the best whiskeys includes offerings from Scotland, Tennessee, Japan and everywhere in between. Read on to check out the best whiskeys that dropped the week of June 20th.
Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey from Blue Note Bourbon
Memphis, Tennessee’s Blue Note Bourbon brand added a new whiskey to its portfolio that is —surprisingly — not a bourbon. Breaking Bourbon reported on June 17 that the brand ventured into rye territory with the release of its first Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey.
This rye whiskey is distilled from a mashbill that consists of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. It was bottled somewhere between 116 and a heftier 124 proof after spending a minimum of four years aging. This whiskey hosts a suggested retail price of $34.99.
Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey has aromas of baked apple and buttered toffee, according to the brand. The palate is full of cherry cobbler, and all that herbal spicy rye goodness. The finish is full of toasted honey and Thin Mint cookies.
20 Year Bourbon from Barrell Craft Spirits
Fans of rum-finished bourbons will be delighted with Barrell Craft’s latest release, which Fred Minnick announced on June 18. This whiskey is a 15-year-old bourbon from Tennessee that spent five years aging in a blended rum from Barrell Craft.
Barrell Craft shares that the blended rum it released in 2020 was a blend of Jamaican, Guyanese and Barbados rum. The extremely limited edition consists of just 250 bottles, and it has a suggested price of $199.99.
Barrell Craft shares that this rum cask-finished bourbon features high-ester aromas of roasted pineapple and melon, coupled with flavors of buttery oak and milk chocolate. The finish bursts forth with banana bread and toffee.
Dram X Chichibu Exclusive Release by Chichibu and Dram
The Spirits Business reported on June 18 that Chichibu dropped a one-of-one bottling with a trendy bar in London called Dram. With an ABV of 59.4% and just 100 bottles available, each whisky has a suggested price of $440 (£330).
Music fans in particular might find this release appealing, as it sports a design that features a skull, a Gibson guitar, and a coiled snake to celebrate the punk rocker and member of the Sex Pistols, Steve Jones, who lived on the same street where the bar is located.
Chichibu and Dram chose to draw the whisky from one of the brand’s smallest casks, after the team distilled it from a mashbill of peated concerto barley. Those interested in picking up a bottle who happen to be in London can grab one from Dram Bar in Soho.
21 Year Old Whisky by The Glendronach
Whisky Magazine reported that the Speyside powerhouse known for its sherry bombs, Glendronach, just released a revitalized version of its 21-year-old whisky: The Glendronach 21 Years Old. This expression is the first whisky to be released from The Glendronach’s revamped ultra-premium collection.
This whisky has a 48% ABV and spent 21 years aging in oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks from Spain. Glendronach’s Master Blender Rachel Barrie shares that the whisky possesses aromas of blackberry and red plum aromas, a palate of bitter chocolate, and ginger-baked Victoria plum pudding.
The whisky hosts a suggested retail price of £250, or $336.63.
38 Year Old Whisky by Laphroaig
Whisky Magazine reported that Laphroaig dropped a 38-year-old whisky on June 16, as part of the second release within the brand’s Archive Collection. The outlet reports that Laphroaig distilled the juice for this whisky when production slowed and Laphroaig underwent renovations. Just 400 bottles exist, making it so exclusive we had to put it on our round-up of the best whiskey releases for the week.
This whisky features a hefty price tag of £4,100 or $5,521.94. The Islay whisky brand claims that it has aromas of Laphroaig’s signature peat, coupled with sugar-dusted ginger and cloves.
Laphroaig’s Private Client Director, Daryl Haldane shared with the outlet that this particular release was important because it offers drinkers the opportunity to experience Laphroaig at a time when it wasn’t always smooth sailing.
“The 1980s were a pivotal time for the distillery, but the focus never wavered,” Haldane concluded.
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