The best whiskey releases for this week featured some new beginnings for fledgling brands getting their start. Mississippi brand, Cathead Distillery, made a new whiskey that ventured into uncharted territory. Though that release was all about a new beginning, other releases this week were all about endings.
Respected brands like The Dalmore and Chichibu capped off some important whiskey series this week. This list features whiskeys from all over the world, making it an eclectic one with drams at varying price points. Read on to see the best whiskeys that were released the week of May 16.
18 Year Old Single Malt by Bushmills
Irish Whiskey Magazine reported on May 13 that the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, Bushmills, unveiled a new addition to its World Wood Series.
According to Bushmills, the whiskey spent a minimum of 17 years in a mixture of bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry butts. It then spent time finishing in exceedingly rare Colheita port casks from the Douro Valley.
With a suggested retail price of $140 for a 700 ml bottle, the expression is only available at global travel retail stores. Bushmills’ Master Blender Alex Thomas shares that the Irish whiskey is full of deliciously fruity aromas, and deep floral flavors coupled with vanilla and crée brûlée.
Straight Wheat Whiskey by Cathead Distillery
Fred Minnick dropped the news about the Mississippi-based Cathead Distillery’s 100% grain-to-glass wheat whiskey on May 8. The “seed to sip” whiskey is a pure taste of Mississippi and features locally-grown wheat.
The outlet reported that after the Cathead Team pot distilled the whiskey, it spent about 7 years aging in oak barrels with a number 3 char. The whiskey clocks in at 100 proof and has a suggested retail price of a modest $75.
Though we’re not quite sure what the bottle looks like, we know it’s a significant release for Cathead Distillery in that Cathead intends to distribute it outside of its home state of Mississippi — a first for the brand.
7 Gods of Fortune Jurojin by Chichibu
The Spirits Business reported on May 9 that Chichibu’s final installment of its 7 Gods of Fortune series, Jurojin, is concluding the limited series of whiskies meant to honor mythological gods in Japan.
Jurojin is a god in Japanese mythology who represents health, longevity and knowledge. The outlet reported that the whisky aged in an ex-Bourbon cask filled in 2016 and just 157 bottles exist.
The whisky clocks in at a 63.3% ABV. Since it’s the final release within the brand’s series that launched 3 years ago, Salud Spirits claims that there’s a “spectacular goodie” set to accompany the release. The nature of this extra treat remains top secret.
Luminary Series No. 3 by The Dalmore
Since we’re talking about concluding an epic whisky series, we had to include the final release of The Dalmore’s Luminary Series. Food & Wine reported on the latest drop for scotch whisky brand The Dalmore on May 7. The final release features The Rare and The Collectible — two specific whisky expressions. Just 2 bottles exist of The Rare, and 20,000 exist of The Collectible.
For The Rare, Dalmore and San Francisco’s respected British architect, Ben Dobbin, created a bronze sculptural masterpiece to showcase the bottle.
The Collectible features a more accessible price of $399.99. It is a 17-year-old scotch that clocks in at 49.2% ABV. The Collectible spent time maturing in a combination of ex-Bourbon, aged Calvados, rare sherries, a mixture of Bordeaux and Châteauneuf-du-Pape casks.
The Rare spent time aging in a mixture of vintage 1980 Calvados, 1940 Colheita Port, Tawny Port, and 40-year-old Pedro Ximenéz Sherry and Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine casks. Though the suggested retail price for The Rare remains unknown, it will go under the hammer. Dalmore intends to donate proceeds from the auction to V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum.
12 Year Old Bourbon Black Current Cask by The World Whiskey Society
News of The World Whiskey Society’s membership release made headlines over at Fred Minnick on May 8.
This distinctive bourbon’s finishing process in Black Currant Brandy Casks is unusual. But would the folks at The World Whiskey Society have it any other way?
Just Society Subscription members can access this release, and membership costs a quarterly fee of $150. World Whiskey Society shares that this bourbon derives from a mashbill of 78% corn, 13% rye, and 9% malted barley. It hosts an alcohol percentage of 52%.
With flavors that range from black currant to dark chocolate, this is a luscious bourbon for fans of fruity drams.
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