Sometimes, we think we’ve seen it all at T8ke.com, and then there are weeks like this when we discover new releases and think: what will they think of next?
The whiskeys that dropped this week had interesting stories, to say the least. From hazmat-proof selections to a $14,000 Jenga tower filled with 25-year-old Japanese whisky, there were some wild releases this week. Read on for the highlight reel of the most compelling releases the week of July 11.
Hokkaido Mizunara Oak by Bardstown Bourbon
Bardstown Bourbon announced the release of Hokkaido Japanese Mizunara Oak Barrel Finish on July 8, according to a press release that ran on Breaking Bourbon. The outlet shared that this blend of 9-to 18-year-old whiskeys spent time finishing in a Japanese Mizunara oak barrel. Mizunara oak grows within Japan’s Hokkaido province and possesses a reputation of being notoriously difficult to work with. Because of this, whiskeys that age in it often fetch exorbitantly high prices.
Clocking in at 109.3 proof, this whiskey spent 28 months finishing in six 66-gallon Mizunara barrels at Bardstown’s Warehouse H. The barrels then moved to Warehouse E’s first floor on the Bardstown campus. Bardstown Bourbon claimed that the whiskey had toasted oak and vanilla aromas typical of a bourbon. The Mizunara oak imparted a distinctive twist of coconut, incense, and sandalwood.
The limited release hosts a suggested retail price of $99.99. It is a part of the brand’s Distillery Reserve series, and it is available in small-format 375ml bottles.
Decade by Barrell Craft
The Robb Report announced that Barrell Craft is releasing Decade, and this year’s whiskey has a 30-year age statement. Yet perhaps the most interesting thing about it is its staggering proof of 142.7, which makes the whiskey a hazmat-proof release.
According to the outlet, Decade features a blend of Canadian whiskies distilled in consecutive years from 1995 to 2005. Though Barrell Craft remains mum on where exactly the whiskies come from, one portion purportedly comes from Calgary’s Alberta Distillers Limited. A small portion of this blend spent time finishing Hungarian oak barrels in Kentucky, and port barrels that previously held Spanish brandy.
Barrell Craft’s Decade hosts a suggested price of $200 and will launch later this month.
6 Year Old Small Batch Bourbon by Castle & Key Distillery
One More Dram reported that Castle & Key dropped a 6-year-old small batch bourbon on July 8. The team at Castle and Key Distillery distilled the bourbon from a mashbill composed of 73% white corn, 10% rye and 17% malted barley—the offering clocks in at 101 proof.
The brand shares that Castle & Key’s 6 Year Old Small Batch Bourbon hosts aromas of butterscotch, red apple, honeysuckle and graham cracker. The palate features golden raisins and apples, drizzled with molasses, and the finish features plenty of shortbread aromas that segue into candied orange peel and cacao nib.
The bourbon hosts a suggested retail price of $39.99. Visit the Castle & Key website to purchase a bottle.
Batch #13 by Kentucky Owl
Fred Minnick reported that Stoli-owned Kentucky Owl unveiled the Batch #13 release, and it holds a particular significance.
Master Blender and Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Inductee John Rhea worked on the blend, and it is the last whiskey he made before retirement. The whiskey retails for $399 for a 750 ml bottle and clocks in at 56.8% ABV. The outlet reported that Rhea blended five high-rye bourbons and wheated whiskeys between eight and nine years of age.
Rhea claims that mature high rye bourbons interspersed with wheated barrels create “a very special expression,” that hits just the right balance of depth and zesty freshness.
25 Year Japanese Whisky “Zeus” by Janga
Japanese whisky and Jenga fans alike are going to be thrilled with this wild release. Sora News 24 reported that Janga — a new company not to be confused with the popular game — is elevating this classic game to a new level, where it is creating 54 bottles that hold a shot of whatever alcohol you prefer. The brand is sweetening the deal by filling a limited run of these boozy Jenga towers with a 25-year-old Japanese whisky.
This game-inspired whisky is available by application only in Japan, and just 10 bottles are going to be sold via lottery for – and here’s the kicker — $14,000.
Those interested in entering the lottery can do so via the lottery application here.
No responses yet