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Clermont, KY (June 15, 2017) – In 1992, Sixth Generation Beam Master Distiller Booker Noe created Knob Creek® Bourbon to restore the standards of pre-prohibition style whiskey, pushing the boundaries of an entire category with the introduction of super-premium, small batch bourbon.
Twenty-five years later, Booker’s son and SeventhGeneration Master Distiller Fred Noe is celebrating this milestone with the launch of an exclusive, limited-edition release – Knob Creek® 25th Anniversary Bourbon. Uniting the signature whiskey making styles of Booker and Fred Noe for the first time, Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Bourbon is a cask strength and unfiltered1 single barrel bourbon, aged in barrels for twelve-to-thirteen years and personally selected by Noe for this historic occasion.
“When Dad introduced Knob Creek and the Small Batch Bourbon Collection 25 years ago, he created it with the flavor, care and craftsmanship that defined high-quality, full-flavored bourbon,” said Noe. “I am honored to keep this tradition alive every day, and am proud to celebrate 25 years with our fans by releasing a special product that features Dad’s preferred ‘uncut and unfiltered’ style, combined with my passion for single barrel bourbons.”
With this unique combination, Knob Creek 25th Anniversary offers fans the truest expression of Knob Creek Bourbon, as close to standing in the rack house as possible. It features slight nuances in proof and tasting notes within each bottle, while still holding true to the brand’s overall taste profile. Each commemorative bottle is presented in a premium, wooden box and features a special label, including a handwritten bottling date and proof.
Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Bourbon is available nationwide in limited quantities for a suggested retail price of $129.99 for a 750ml bottle. This commemorative release offers the below characteristics, with each bottle’s unique tasting notes varying slightly:
In addition to the launch of Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Bourbon, 2017 proves to be an exciting, milestone year for Knob Creek and its fans. The brand launched a new campaign, titled “This Creek Runs Full,” at the start of the year driven by multiple consumer touchpoints, including print, social and digital media; out-of-home advertising; experiential on- and off-premise activations; and public relations. The brand also recently unveiled a new website, which will be expanded to include an e-commerce page later this summer, featuring merchandise and apparel for consumer purchase. In addition, Knob Creek is excited to collaborate with the Goose Island Beer Company on their Black Friday release of Bourbon County Reserve Brand Stout, aged in Knob Creek bourbon barrels.
For more information about this release or Knob Creek’s 25th anniversary, please visit the newly updated www.KnobCreek.com or contact beam@wearemultip.ly.
Born on the streets of Paris, Courvoisier® lives by a code—one of dedication, vision and respect for tradition, cultivated over 200 years of history as France’s premium producer of Cognac. Courvoisier has the conviction to craft only the finest Cognac by honoring a visionary code of controlling the entire cognac production process from grape to glass. The way the brand has chosen to live and evolve has shaped its newest campaign – Honor Your Code.
These values have forged a partnership between Courvoisier and rapper, actor, model and fashion icon, A$AP Rocky, who joins the family as Brand Ambassador starring in print and digital creative, partnering on collaborations and hosting exclusive experiences as part of its new campaign.
Before he became known as A$AP Rocky, Rakim Mayers cultivated his code growing up in New York by committing to being ambitious, inspiring and enticing. His vision was always to recognize growth and to be better than he was yesterday. With his promise to always strive, always prosper and to persevere through any struggle, A$AP Rocky honors his code to this day with his drive and ambition.
“I think your code is equivalent to your standards and your morals. It's whatever you believe in. And you should always stand by and honor what you believe in," says A$AP Rocky. “Courvoisier’s commitment to quality, old-school production methods, design and art speaks to me.
Like A$AP Rocky, Courvoisier is focused on making—not just making it. Founders Louis Gallois and Emmanuel Courvoisier set out to make a superior Cognac in the 18th century, not to become the toast of Paris society and the imperial court. But by focusing on creating, that’s what happened.The house eventually established residence in a chateau on the scenic banks of the Charente River in the town of Jarnac, just east of the town of Cognac, where Courvoisier’s grape to glass code is followed to this day.
“As a creator, A$AP Rocky embodies the progressive ideals and bold artistry on which Courvoisier was founded, making him an ideal partner for the brand,” says Gary Ross, Vice President, Courvoisier.
Through the partnership with A$AP Rocky and an inspiring campaign, Courvoisier demonstrates the real-life applications for honoring your code. A legacy it validates every day. A legacy of excellence crystallized in a bottle.
Chicago, IL (June 27, 2017) – For more than 200 hundred years, the humble town of Kilbeggan produced a whiskey beloved the world over. As Ireland’s oldest licensed distillery since 1757, Kilbeggan has always been more than just a stone building with a water wheel to power it and its copper pot stills. It has been the townspeople’s heart and soul, their pride and joy.
Today, the town of Kilbeggan celebrates the announcement of another beloved whiskey: Kilbeggan® Single Grain Irish Whiskey. Released in the U.S. this month, the newest addition to the Kilbeggan Distilling Company offers a premium whiskey for enthusiasts and bartenders alike.
When Prohibition in the U.S. and other factors contributed to the shuttering of Kilbeggan Distillery’s doors, the residents banded together to save the whiskey that defined their town. They pooled funds to pay for the distillery license and put in years of hard work, late nights and weekends to restore it until eventually the distillery came back to life and its stills were once again filled. Every bottle of Kilbeggan, an original Irish whiskey built on the strong bond between the town that birthed it and the distillery producing it, is proof that their spirit has never left. It is the townspeople’s dedication to honoring the whiskey-making traditions of the past while creating a better future that inspired the creation of Kilbeggan Single Grain. It can be said that this is a single grain made by a proud many.
“The passion and dedication that the citizens of Kilbeggan put into keeping this distillery alive is truly inspirational,” says John Cashman, Beam Suntory Global Brand Ambassador, Irish Whiskey. “Kilbeggan Single Grain is born out of this resilience and we are proud to offer a whiskey to be enjoyed by all – whether that’s as a traditional neat dram or in a modern craft cocktail. The folks at Kilbeggan Distilling Co. are happy to share it with you any way you like.”
The notion that “single grain” describes a whiskey made with just one grain is a common misperception. Rather, the term refers to whiskey made in a single location using malted barley and at least one other grain. Kilbeggan Single Grain is made of 94% meticulously-sourced corn plus 6% malted barley.
Distilled at 86 proof, Kilbeggan Single Grain is a delicate spirit that absorbs the flavors of the casks in which it is aged. After aging in ex-bourbon barrels, it is finished in a marriage of ex-bourbon and various fortified wine barrels. It possesses Irish whiskey’s trademark versatility and smoothness, making it the ideal for modern or classic cocktails, like a Whiskey Sour, but with enough depth of flavor to be sipped neat.
“Kilbeggan enjoyed a tremendous heyday back in the 1800s when Irish whiskey was thriving and distilleries abounded, before the devastation to the industry that came with Prohibition and other challenges,” says Cashman. “A few years ago, I’m happy to say, the world rediscovered the beauty of Irish whiskey. And Kilbeggan once again is rising to the top and setting the standard through innovations like Kilbeggan Single Grain. We can’t wait to see a bottle on every bar, just like in the good old days.”
With the booming consumer interest in brown spirits, Irish whiskey has seen substantial growth over the last decade. Per the Distilled Spirits Council, the national trade association representing producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the U.S., Irish Whiskey volumes rose 18.7% in 2016 to 3.8 million cases and revenues were up an impressive 19.8% to $795 million. The Council reports that much of this growth is fueled by the rise of high-end and super premium Irish whiskeys, which grew an astounding 737% and 3,455%, respectively, since 2002.
The U.S. will be the first country in the world to introduce Kilbeggan Single Grain Irish Whiskey. Available beginning in late June 2017 with a suggested retail price of $29.99 (750ml), it joins the U.S. portfolio alongside Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey (40% ABV), an approachable, smooth blended whiskey that is still made using traditional methods. With the new expression, Kilbeggan Distilling Company’s portfolio now features several whiskeys that appeal to and are available across a variety of consumer targets, price tiers and whiskey occasions.
KILBEGGAN SINGLE GRAIN TASTING NOTES | 43% ABV
NOSE: Coconut cream, vanilla, jellied fruit and summer red berries
PALATE: Wafer-like biscuit sweetness, hazelnut and light spice with nice oak tannins drying on the side of the mouth
FINISH: Crisp and fruity, glazed cherries drying with a lingering spice
Islay, Scotland (June 2017) - Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Whisky, the oldest licensed distillery on Scotland’s isle of Islay, announces the U.S. release of the fifth and final edition of the exclusive Black Bowmore® 1964 distillation. The last cask rediscovered of Black Bowmore 1964 has spent an astonishing 50 years maturing in Bowmore’s legendary No.1 Vaults, the world’s oldest Scotch maturation warehouse, making this captivating whisky the most aged expression of the Black Bowmore series. A mere 159 bottles were produced and released globally. This July, a portion of these bottles will be available stateside as part of the Bowmore 50 Year Old VAULT LEGENDS collection at a suggested retail price of $25,000 (750ml/40.9% ABV).
Black Bowmore 1964 50 Year Old is the second expression in the Bowmore 50 Year Old Collection, a series honoring the rare single malts that were first distilled and began aging in the No. 1 Vaults during the 1960s, an era known for producing some of Bowmore’s most collectible bottlings. The first in the series, Bowmore 1961 50 Year Old was introduced in December 2016 and is no longer available due to extremely high demand.
Black Bowmore was distilled on November 5, 1964, and over the years, has become one of the most rare and sought-after single malt whiskies ever created. With four acclaimed releases – in 1993 (29 Year Old), 1994 (30 Year Old), 1995 (31 Year Old) and 2007 (42 Year Old) – one last cask was rediscovered in the darkest corner of the No.1 Vaults. Having been carefully nurtured by Bowmore’s master craftsmen, the last cask of Black Bowmore has all the hallmarks of a collector’s whisky.
Distillery Manager David Turner, whose Grandfather worked on the original bottling over 50 years ago, said “Black Bowmore is one of those whiskies that are spoken about in hushed tones by collectors and aficionados around the world. To have the opportunity to try Black Bowmore now – at the ripe old age of 50 years – is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Black Bowmore 1964
The unique environment of Bowmore’s No. 1 Vaults has ensured that this sequestered last cask of Black Bowmore has developed a rich and intense yet perfectly balanced flavor of exceptional depth and quality. After 50 years of meticulous maturation in the vaults, Black Bowmore offers a sublime elegance with flavors of tropical fruit and honeyed black truffle complemented by Bowmore’s signature peat smoke notes. With its exquisite deep black pearl color imparted from the Oloroso sherry casks that it was matured in, Black Bowmore 1964 50 Year Old is beautifully rounded and complex.
A refined whisky that is as beautiful inside as out, Black Bowmore 1964 is presented in a beautiful hand-blown bottle created by renowned sculpting studio Glasstorm with cork tops made by Scottish Silver. Each bottle is filled and sealed by hand and encased in a handmade Scottish oak cabinet created by John Galvin of John Galvin Design.
About the Last Cask of Black Bowmore
The tale of the 159 bottles of the half-century-old last cask of Black Bowmore is as beguiling as it is complex.
On November 5, 1964, seven first-fill Oloroso sherry hogshead casks (3708, 3710, 3713, 3714, 3715, 3716, 3717) were filled to mature meticulously in the No. 1 Vaults.
Every cask and liquid has a special aging relationship and, in October 2002, it was discovered that casks 3708 and 3714 were quickly losing their liquid to the angel’s share. As such, on October 23, 2002, these casks were combined into a single cask to preserve this precious liquid.
In 2007, 827 bottles of Black Bowmore 42 Year Old from casks 3710, 3713, 3715, 3716 and 3717 were released. Fortuitously as it turns out, the previously married cask was overlooked and was left undisturbed in the coolest, darkest corner of the No. 1 Vaults to continue its magical aging process.
There the story ended, or so it was thought, until this last cask of Black Bowmore was rediscovered when trawling through the stock ledgers in 2014
(Loretto, Ky.) June 29, 2017 – Two American icons are coming together once again to create an experience that captures the imagination and dazzles the senses. Maker’s Mark®, the pioneer of premium bourbon, is proud to celebrate the work of world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly with the unveiling of Chihuly at Maker’s.
Inspired by the distillery’s light-filled Burke House Welcome Center and surrounding lush campus grounds, Chihuly at Maker’s is a temporary, site-specific exhibition and the second installation commissioned for Maker’s Mark by Chihuly. His first celebrated permanent installation, The Spirit of the Maker, was unveiled in 2014 as a tribute to Maker’s tradition of bourbon making in Kentucky.
“I had the privilege to visit the landmark Maker’s Mark Distillery in 2014 when we worked together to install The Spirit of the Maker,” said artist Dale Chihuly.“I was inspired then by its unique landscape and architecture and am excited to share my work from the perspective of its special surroundings.”
Chihuly at Maker’s is comprised of six large-scale art installations sited throughout the distillery grounds.From July through October of this year, the Maker’s Mark Distillery will be transformed by Chihuly’s dramatic works of art purposefully set throughout the historic landmark campus to complement the distillery’s landscape and architecture. Included in the exhibition is: Summer Sun, a 12-foot tall blown glass and steel sculpture; a collection of five fiery-red Baskets; and an 18-foot wide Crimson and Chestnut Fiori Boat, which combines a range of forms massed together in a traditional wooden boat.
The Sapphire and Platinum Waterdrop Tower, which stands at approximately 12-feet, is a classic demonstration of Chihuly’s desire to mass color on a steel armature for dramatic effect. For centuries, blown glass pieces were small, intricately designed and admired from atop a table. In contrast, Chihuly’s Towers rise from the ground like huge stalagmites and have been an iconic aesthetic of installations in art museums and botanical gardens worldwide. Like all Chihuly sculptures, the Sapphire and Platinum Waterdrop Tower was designed specifically for its location, in this case, in front of the distillery’s cellar and natural water source.
“Just as my grandparents, the founders of Maker’s Mark, first envisioned, we’re committed to enhancing our visitor experience with culturally immersive opportunities unlike any other distillery in the world,” said Rob Samuels, the eighth-generation whisky maker and Chief Operating Officer of Maker’s Mark. “Creating our handmade bourbon isn’t a job – it’s an art form. It’s an honor to have formed such a lasting relationship with world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly.”
Chihuly at Maker’s is one of several site-specific installations from Chihuly that have been featured at high-profile locations around the country, including recent exhibits at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the New York Botanical Garden and the Catalina Island Museum in Avalon, California.
The official Grand Opening of Chihuly at Maker’s will take place Saturday, July 1, 2017 at 6:30 p.m., with a viewing picnic at the Maker’s Mark distillery. Admission is $50 and includes a meal and two drinks from the distillery’s new fast-casual restaurant, Star Hill Provisions™. From July 1 – Oct. 31, admission to Chihuly at Maker’s is included as part of the tour ticket cost ($12) during the distillery’s daytime operating hours, Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
In addition, on Saturday nights from July 22-Oct. 7, visitors will be able to enjoy the remarkable art of Dale Chihuly in a new way with “Chihuly Nights,” an exclusive and stunning look at the exhibition after dark. As the sun sets, guests will experience the enchanting glass sculptures glowing with light against the dark Kentucky sky. Maker’s Mark Bourbon and cocktails alongside fine Kentucky fare from the distillery’s resident chef, Newman Miller of Star Hill Provisions, will be included. Admission to Chihuly Nights is $20 and includes admission to the distillery grounds for self-guided tours. Separate tickets are required for day and night.
For additional information and to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.makersmark.com/chihuly or contact the distillery Visitor Center at 270-865-2099.
Chicago, Ill (July 21, 2017): Auchentoshan®, the original city Single Malt Scotch Whisky, today announced the release of The Bartender’s Malt, a bespoke innovation comprised of a blend of whiskies selected by some the most innovative bartenders in the world. Developed by bartenders, for bartenders, this is the very first Auchentoshan Single Malt Scotch of its kind.
Auchentoshan has a bold, fearless approach to whisky and continually breaks convention in the industry by marrying traditional craft with progressive thinking to produce a triple distilled scotch that reflects its Distilled Different ethos. This dedication to forward-thinking was the driving force behind the creation of the New Malt Order - a collective of highly skilled bartenders from around the world who collaborated to produce The Bartender’s Malt.
“Each member of the New Malt Order has made an indelible mark on our Single Malt to create not just a new liquid but a new interpretation of our brand,” said Judith Giegerich, Senior International Brand Manager Malts for Beam Suntory. “We’re proud to champion the talents of dynamic bartenders from around the world who refuse to be constrained by tradition and look forward to sharing The Bartender’s Malt with the global bartending community.”
The New Malt Order team was responsible for every element of The Bartender’s Malt, from the careful selection of casked whisky to the packaging design and branding. The result is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky with the sweet and smoky aroma of apricots, honey and tobacco leaf, and a zesty yet smooth and delicate Auchentoshan taste. The Bartenders’ Malt is derived from a collection of whiskies matured in a diversity of oak, including American and European, as well as a variety of Sherry casks.
The New Malt Order was launched in 2016 to hero the best bartending talent from around the world. Twelve inaugural members were chosen from five countries to produce The Bartender’s Malt:
Auchentoshan The Bartender’s Malt is available in limited quantities nationwide, predominately in the on-trade, as well as at high end spirits retailers for a suggested retail price of $46.99 (750ml).
For more information about this release, visit Auchentoshan.com, and for cocktail inspiration visit ScotchCocktails.com.
31st July 2017 - Beam Suntory, the world’s third largest premium spirits company, today announces the international launch of Roku – the first premium Japanese craft gin in its portfolio. Roku is currently available in Japan, and will now be available from September 2017 in Germany, Taiwan, and South East Asian markets in a 700ml bottle at 43% ABV, with a recommended retail price of €25*. A special Select Edition will also be available in global travel retail from September 2017.
Meaning ‘six’ in Japanese, Roku incorporates six traditional Japanese botanicals which are infused, distilled and blended by the Japanese artisans of Suntory Spirits in Osaka, Japan. With history dating back to 1899, Suntory has earned its reputation as one of Japan’s most awarded spirits producers, mastering the skill of making gin since 1936.
This unique liquid was born out of a vision to create a truly authentic Japanese product to meet demand for a crafted, premium gin with a distinctive and balanced flavour. With the addition of Roku to its portfolio, Beam Suntory now boasts a differentiated and unique gin offering, spanning the standard, premium, and super premium segments of the category – with Larios, Roku, and Sipsmith respectively.
Jeanette Edwards, Beam Suntory International Brand Director, comments:
“We are very excited and honoured to bring Roku Japanese gin to global markets and a special Select Edition to global travel retail. We are confident that Roku will become the definitive Japanese craft gin in the global premium gin category, which has enjoyed significant growth in recent years.”
Roku is carefully crafted by Japanese artisans with skillful precision and meticulous attention to detail to create a perfectly balanced gin. Roku’s flavour profile is achieved by balancing six unique Japanese botanicals with eight traditional gin botanicals*. The six Japanese botanicals – Sakura flower, Sakura leaf, Yuzu peel, Sencha tea, Gyokuro tea and Sansho pepper – are harvested in accordance with ‘shun’, the tradition of enjoying each ingredient at its best by only harvesting at its peak of flavour and perfection.
The special Select Edition for global travel retail will feature a more prominent top note of Sakura, resulting in a bright and floral flavour profile.
In a process unique to Roku, the six Japanese botanicals are distilled using a selection of different pot stills, each chosen to ensure the best flavour is extracted from each botanical. The result is a complex yet harmonious gin with a smooth and silky texture.
Meticulous attention to detail – the signature of Japanese craftsmanship – also extends to the bottle. Roku’s bottle is cast in a hexagonal shape, representing each Japanese botanical, and is finished with delicate embossing. The Japanese kanji symbol for six is printed on the label, which is made of traditional washi paper and finished with subtle touches of gold. The Select Edition bottling, exclusive to global travel retail will feature an embellished label showcasing Sakura flowers, to reflect the more prominent Sakura flavour.
Roku can be enjoyed on the rocks or in a Japanese Gin & Tonic. Prepared with extra care, the Japanese Gin & Tonic is served with ice and slices of ginger to complement the refreshing and citrus top notes of yuzu. More than a simple gin & tonic, the Japanese Gin & Tonic reflects the spirit of Japanese hospitality, Omotenashi, and is a refreshing ritual to be enjoyed with friends.
For more information, please visit http://www.suntory.co.jp/wnb/rokugin/
NOTES TO EDITORS:
* Eight traditional gin botanicals are combined with the six Japanese botanicals to create Roku: juniper berry, coriander seeds, angelica root, angelica seed, cardamom seed, cinnamon, bitter orange peel and lemon peel.
* Exact prices may differ by market, based on local tax
Roku
RRP: €25*
Nose: Cherry blossom and green tea provide a sweet and floral aroma.
Taste: Complex, multi-layered, yet harmonious flavour of various botanicals. Traditional gin taste in the base, plus characteristic Japanese botanical notes including yuzu (Japanese citrus fruit) as the top note. Smooth and silky texture.
Finish: The crisp Japanese Sansho pepper brings a little spiciness to the finish.
Roku Select Edition | Global Travel Retail
RRP: €27.50
Nose: Cherry blossom and green tea provide a sweet and floral aroma.
Taste: Complex, multi-layered, yet harmonious flavour of various botanicals. Traditional gin taste in the base, plus characteristic Japanese botanical notes including Sakura as the top note. Smooth and silky texture.
Finish: The crisp Japanese Sansho pepper brings a little spiciness to the finish.
(CHICAGO) August 8, 2017 – Today, Jim Beam®, the world’s No. 1 bourbon, officially announced the latest addition to its flavored portfolio, Jim Beam® Vanilla. Jim Beam Vanilla blends Madagascar vanilla bean liqueur with classic Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.
Continuing a 222-year family tradition of innovation and exploration, Jim Beam distillers have struck the perfect balance of subtle Madagascar vanilla bean with hints of oak and caramel bourbon notes, producing a sweet vanilla aroma and golden brown color. Bartenders with early samples of the product have suggested mixing Jim Beam Vanilla year-round with cola and a cherry garnish for extra color and flavor.
Jim Beam’s flavored whiskey portfolio continues to contribute to the brand’s positive momentum following the launch of Jim Beam® Apple in 2015. According to Nielsen research, Jim Beam’s sales saw a 15 percent growth (USD dollar share) in the 12-month period that ended July 15.
“Jim Beam pioneered flavors in the bourbon category several years ago and the trend has continued to grow. We are always innovating, and are proud to offer a variety of flavors in our portfolio,” said Jim Beam’s 7th generation master distiller Fred Noe. “Of course, our newest is Jim Beam Vanilla, with a rich and smooth profile. But don’t just take my word for it, sit back and enjoy a sip.”
Jim Beam’s global brand partner Mila Kunis is also excited about the new innovation. Kunis will be featured in social and digital content around the official campaign launch this fall.
“I’m thrilled to collaborate with my friends in Kentucky to debut Jim Beam Vanilla,” said Kunis. “If you’re like me, you love the taste of bourbon but are sometimes looking for something a little different. Jim Beam Vanilla is perfect when I want a touch of flavor.”
Bottled at 70-proof, new Jim Beam Vanilla contains vanilla liqueur blended with Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. It offers the perfect balance of subtle vanilla sweetness and hints of oak and deep caramel bourbon notes. Jim Beam Vanilla joins the brand’s existing flavored whiskey portfolio already in market, including Jim Beam® Apple, Jim Beam® Kentucky Fire™, Jim Beam® Honey and Red Stag by Jim Beam® Black Cherry.
Jim Beam Vanilla has a suggested retail price of $15.99 for 750mL, and is now available in bars and retail locations nationwide. Prices may vary based on market and product size.
For more information about Jim Beam Vanilla, follow us on Twitter (@jimbeam) and Instagram (@jimbeamofficial) or visit http://www.jimbeam.com.
Clermont, Kentucky – September 11, 2017 – Fierce competitors set aside their differences in the name of barbecue and a good cause as some of Kentucky’s finest distilleries and cooperages gathered at the Jim Beam® American Stillhouse in Clermont, Ky,. on Saturday for the inaugural “Great Distillery BBQ Cook-off.” Hosted by the world’s No. 1 selling bourbon, Jim Beam®, the event crowned a top bourbon-industry pitmaster and demonstrated that the world’s best barbecue comes from the world’s best bourbon distilleries.
“Here in Kentucky, our bourbon is the world’s finest,” said Fred Noe, seventh generation Jim Beam Master Distiller. “But our barbecue is also a force to be reckoned with. That’s why we decided to make history with an industry throwdown. It was big and bold – just like the whiskies my family has been making for more than 220 years.”
Ten four-person cook teams, representing The Bardstown Bourbon Company, Barton Brands, Independent Stave Company, Jim Beam Distillery and Wild Turkey Distillery, competed in ribeye, St. Louis-style ribs and chicken legs. Teams smoked, sauced and seared their way through the day as a prestigious panel of certified barbecue judges and select master distillers determined winners based on overall presentation, taste and tenderness.
Fred Minnick, bourbon expert and author, helped declare “The Smoking Barrel Boys” of The Independent Stave Company with the grand champion prize – bragging rights and a Deep South GC28 Smoker for future team use. Winners in individual categories included:
Ribeye – “The Boston Butts” – Jim Beam Booker Noe Plant
St. Louis-style ribs – “The Clermont Grillers” – Jim Beam Clermont Plant
Chicken legs – “The Smoking Barrel Boys” – The Independent Stave Company
“These teams stepped away from their day jobs and poured their hearts and souls into this barbecue competition,” added Noe. “It may have been an amateur competition, but these teams were on fire. And the camaraderie we distillers have forged over the years remained.”
The competition not only celebrated America’s native spirit, but also supported Operation BBQ Relief, a nonprofit consisting of volunteers from competition barbecue teams who provide hot meals to displaced families and emergency personnel in areas impacted by natural disasters. The organization is currently deployed in Texas and soon Florida providing relief to those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Celebrate America’s Native Spirit with Jim Beam
The spirit of National Bourbon Heritage Month continues at the Jim Beam American Stillhouse and Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse in downtown Louisville throughout the month of September. Bourbon fans from around the world can visit either visitor center to learn more about the bold, rich flavors of Beam’s award-winning whiskey portfolio, plus enjoy a variety of specialty programs and events including the celebrated Jim Beam Day at the Jim Beam American Stillhouse on Friday, September 15. The day includes bourbon -inspired fare from the on-site café, Fred’s Smokehouse, complimentary bourbon schwag, music and more.
More information about the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse and the Jim Beam American Stillhouse, visit www.JimBeam.com or Facebook and Twitter.
Photos and video from “The Great Distillery BBQ Cook-off” are available upon request.
CHICAGO, IL (September 12, 2017) - For more than three generations, the master blenders at Suntory Whisky, the founding house of Japanese Whisky, have devoted themselves to pursuing the harmony of Japanese nature and craftsmanship. One of the most impressive examples of this pursuit is found in Mizunara, the Japanese oak. The wood from this rare and demanding tree inspired Suntory to take a momentous step forward in whisky making, both in perfecting new cask-making techniques and in creating flavors never before tasted in whisky. Suntory’s blenders have brought the essence of the noble Mizunara into a peerless liquid – tantalizingly spicy, redolent of incense and uniquely Japanese.
Revealing their mastery of the Art of Mizunara, The House of Suntory Whisky proudly introduces The Yamazaki® Mizunara 2017 Edition™ available as of October 2017.
From the House of Suntory Whisky
The Mizunara cask is a perfect expression of “Tsukuriwake” – the art of diversity in whisky making. Diverse grain types, as well as fermentation, distillation and maturation techniques, underpin Suntory’s legendary Art of Blending. This diversity enables Suntory to produce more than 100 different malt and grain whiskies at the Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries and allows Suntory complete self-sufficiency in the creation of its blends.
It is at Yamazaki, Japan’s oldest malt whisky distillery and the House of Suntory’s soulplace, where the art of “Tsukuriwake” is pushed the furthest.Built in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii, the founding father of Japanese Whisky,Yamazaki produces a wide variety of malt whiskies. Only Yamazaki whiskies—and only a few—have had the privilege of maturing in Mizunara casks, creating one of the most uniquely flavored and distinctly Japanese whiskies in the world.
For Suntory’s fourth Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo, every creation is a new journey to achieve the exquisite balance of subtlety, refinement and complexity that is the hallmark of all Suntory whiskies. In his pursuit of true “Mizunara-ness,” he tasted a few hundred Mizunara whiskies and made selections with varying ages, from 18 years old and beyond. A very small portion exceed even 50 years of maturation, which give this limited edition an incomparable depth and a flavor that lingers long after the liquid has passed the lips.
Fukuyo knew from the start that the Yamazaki Mizunara 2017 Edition was not intended for a familiar, relaxing moment. He wanted this uniquely Japanese whisky to be dramatic and unforgettable:
“I wanted to reveal the whisky’s soul that is the Art of Mizunara—a heightened sense and awakened palate engaged through aromas and flavors never known before. Encountering it should be a moment of epiphany.”
Pioneering the Mizunara Cask
It is said that in the early 1940s, Suntory’s blenders began small scale experiments with Mizunara. But it wasn’t until the end of World War II, when it became difficult to import wood, that Suntory truly focused on mastering the homegrown Mizunara cask.
Although only found in a few regions within Japan, it wasn’t Mizunara’s rarity that presented the greatest challenge to cask makers. It was the hard, permeable nature of the wood. The name Mizunara comes from the tree’s high moisture content – in Japanese “mizu” means water and “nara” means oak. Its permeable character is less than ideal for cask making since liquid can easily seep through the wood. And because Mizunara is a hardwood, it can be difficult to shape and join with the precision needed to prevent leaks.
Through great perseverance, Suntory’s craftsmen mastered the art of Mizunara cask-making by learning how to identify the right trees to make perfectly true casks. Although rarer, Suntory’s cask makers found that straight grain trees are less permeable. Trees suitable for cask making must have grown perfectly straight and have a diameter of at least 27.5 inches. They also tend to be far older than trees used in other casks.
In keeping with Suntory’s deep respect for the environment, trees are only cut if their removal will not jeopardize the health of the forest.
Taste Blessed by The Passage of Time&
Throughout their long history using Mizunara casks, Suntory’s blenders have observed that age is the key to unlocking the signature taste of Mizunara whisky. A long maturation period reveals the distinctive spiciness and incense-like flavor of sandalwood and aloe wood that Suntory considers as the quintessential “Mizunara-ness.”
With many other cask types, whisky usually reaches a maturation peak at some point. But even at 50 years and beyond, the top-note and after-taste aromas of Mizunara whiskies are generally still improving. This unique ability to support long-term aging affords endless opportunities to experience the evolution and refinement of Mizunara whiskies over time.
Tasting Notes
Color:Amber
Nose:Rich and elegant fragrance, aloe wood, cinnamon
Palate:Condensed sweetness, silky texture, dry fruits, coconut, orange marmalade
Finish:Distinctive spiciness lingers with Japanese incense, aloe wood, cinnamon and tartness
Yamazaki Mizunara Cask 2017 Edition is presented at 48% alcohol by volume (96 proof) with a suggested retail price of $1,000.00 (750ml). The bottle label is 100% handcrafted mulberry Echizen paper produced via a slow process of drying on wood boards (a traditional Japanese method). The wood box that encloses the bottle is made of cask material used in the aging of Suntory whisky.
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