James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits opens Distillery and Maturation Facility on University of Kentucky Campus

James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits opens distillery and maturation facility on University of Kentucky campus

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 7, 2023) – The University of Kentucky’s James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits officially opened its doors, elevating the institute’s impact on research, workforce development, education and outreach.

Since 2019, the institute has served as the industry’s research and development vehicle, pursuing its mission to ensure the welfare and prosperity of Kentucky’s spirits industry. Through teaching, research and outreach, the institute promotes economic sustainability, environmental stewardship and responsible consumption.

The new UK campus facilities include a research distillery building, with a 30-foot column still as the centerpiece, and the Independent Stave Company – Boswell Family Barrel Warehouse. The maturation facility allows the Beam Institute to experiment with barrel aging spirits produced in its research distillery.

“This is the largest teaching distillery in the United States and in the world,” said Seth DeBolt, institute director and UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment professor. “It will allow us to train the next generation of distillers and researchers, and to conduct cutting-edge research on the science of spirits production.”

As the first major gift partner to the Beam Institute, global spirits leader Beam Suntory made a long-lasting commitment to the Institute’s vision of excellent hands-on distillation, wine and brewing. The company, known for its iconic brand portfolio that includes Jim Beam, has continued to be a broad-interest partner, adding workforce education to its list of priorities through a one-of-a-kind apprenticeship. The Whisky Apprentice Program delivers a robust curriculum that includes safety, bourbon grains, bourbon engineering, fermentation, public speaking, customer relations, sensory, maturation and distillery science.

“When Beam Suntory first partnered with the University of Kentucky to create the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, we did so as an investment in the future of bourbon and the future of Kentucky’s workforce,” said Alex Alvarez, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Beam Suntory. “The institute has firmly established itself as a forum for continuing education and research, as well as collaboration across the industry to tackle some of our toughest challenges together. We’re proud to be an active partner in this work, pushing our industry toward a bright future.”

The Beam Institute offers engineering, chemistry, business, law, horticulture, forestry, food science, and entomology courses to address spirits industry needs in sustainable agriculture, research and development, and more. DeBolt said students will begin learning in the new facilities this fall.

The Beam Institute is a multidisciplinary effort of experts from the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences and Gatton College of Business and Economics. For more information, visit the Beam Institute website at http://beaminstitute.ca.uky.edu.

About Beam Suntory 

As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires the brilliance of life by delivering great consumer experiences through its world-class portfolio of brands.  Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam®, Maker’s Mark®, Basil Hayden® and Knob Creek® bourbons; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki; and leading Scotch brands including Teacher’s, Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Beam Suntory also produces leading brands such as Courvoisier® cognac, Tres Generaciones®, El Tesoro® and Hornitos® tequila, Roku and Sipsmith® gin, Canadian Club® whisky, and is a world leader in ready-to-drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails.

A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in more than 30 countries, one of Beam Suntory’s core values is Growing for Good and through its Proof Positive sustainability strategy, the company has committed to ambitious goals and investments to promote environmental sustainability in its operations, ensure the company has a positive impact on the communities where employees live and work, and programs to educate and inform consumers to make the right personal choices about drinking. Headquartered in New York City, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

About Jim Beam® Bourbon 

Jim Beam is the world’s best-selling bourbon, crafted by seven generations of family distillers since 1795. Fred Noe, Jim Beam’s 7th Generation Master Distiller, has stayed true to the family recipe that’s been passed down through generations. The Jim Beam portfolio of products includes Jim Beam Bourbon, Jim Beam Black, Jim Beam Double Oak, Jim Beam Devil’s Cut, Jim Beam Flavors, and Jim Beam Rye among other offerings. For more information, go to www.jimbeam.com @jimbeamofficial on Instagram and @jimbeam on Twitter.

The Harris Journal: Two Weeks To Go – Scotch Whisky News

There are just two weeks to go until we finally share our first whisky with you all.

Behind the scenes, there’s a hive of activity with preparations taking place aplenty for two pretty important days in our distillery diary. We’d love for you to be part of the celebrations, whether joining us in Harris for a dram and a dance in one of the local bars that weekend, or by visiting us when The Hearach bottles go on sale at the distillery.

For those further afield, we invite you to join us online for an hour-long livestream from our distillery where we’ll be sharing a few stories, enjoying some island music, and raising a glass together for the first time.

Simply go to www.harrisdistillery.com/behere from 14.15 BST on 22.09.23

And don’t forget to buy a bottle (or two) when our online store opens at 10.00 BST on 23.09.23m. If you have any questions or queries, then click HEREHERE , and HERE to find the answers to lots of queries from past Journals.

Or, scroll down for more info on the latest updates happenings from here in Harris…

Slàinte mhor, and as ever here’s to The Hearach!

Le gach deagh dhùrachd,

Mike Donald, Chief Storyteller

Be Here With Us + FAQS

For those of you who will be in Harris over The Hearach launch weekend, there will be a few ways to join in the celebrations. On the evening of Friday 22nd there will be live music in the bars of Hotel Hebrides and the Harris Hotel in Tarbert from our friends Tosh and Costello.

Drams of our whisky will also be served to the public for the first time so please come along to enjoy our spirit and plenty of fine tunes. On Saturday 23rd our distillery doors open at 10.00am and the shop shelves will be full of bottles of The Hearach single malt whisky for you to buy.

There will also be an opportunity to sample the batches and we’ll also have live music by The Ragin’ Ceilidh Band from 2pm. That evening we’ll be heading over to the Mote Bar of Hotel Hebrides to enjoy more live music as we keep the island spirit flowing…

Hope to see some of you there!

 

With two weeks to go until we launch our island’s historic first dram, we’ve been inundated with messages of excitement and enthusiasm. So much so, we anticipate that demand for The Hearach here on the island and in our online shop may outstrip supply when the 23rd of September comes round.

So, we’ve decided to bottle one more batch of The Hearach to add to the original seven planned for our inaugural release, and make it available via our website and at the distillery. Batch number eight was originally set to arrive in early 2024 but we are pleased to now make it available in time for the launch weekend.

We hope this final addition to ‘The First Release’ helps ensure more of those who wish to enjoy our whisky this year may be able to do so.

Slàinte mhath!

If you buy a bottle (or two) of The Hearach Single Malt over launch weekend we’ll be working very hard to make sure your order is fulfilled as quickly as possible.

However, we expect to receive a high number of orders through our UK online store and so things may take a little longer to pack and process than usual.

We will confirm the exact shipping estimates with you next week but please be aware that the normal 3 working days delivery window usually in place will not apply over the launch period, and up to 3 weeks may be more likely.

Thank you in advance for your patience!

 

Our historic single malt whisky takes its name from the Scottish Gaelic word for a native of Harris. Like many words in our language, it can sometime be a little tricky to trip off the tongue.

So, watch our film and let’s help you say The Hearach!

WE’D LOVE FOR YOU TO SAY IT WITH US TOO!

Simply take a quick video on your phone of yourself, friends and family saying it and send us the video. Just a few seconds will do.

We welcome any language, pronunciation, setting, or situation so don’t be shy and we’ll then create a wee compilation to share with the world!

Send your clips to mike@harrisdistillery.com
Film by Laurence Winram lwinram.com
Soundtrack by Fraser MacBeath frasermacbeath.squarespace.com

Got More Questions? Click To Learn More!

Our mailing address is:

Isle of Harris Distillers Ltd is registered in Scotland.
Tarbert, Isle of Harris, HS3 3DJ

Highland Whisky Auctions August/September 2023 Auction Ends TONIGHT! – Auction Whisky News

Our August/September 2023 Auction ENDS TONIGHT!

Only 8.5% buyer’s commission.

Auction ends Sunday September 10th from 2000 GMT.

 www.highlandwhiskyauctions.com

Click here to register as a user.

Customer Notice: Due to upcoming changes & web development there will be no storage option for this auction & next auction will be in November. We will keep you all up-to date in due course. Stay tuned.

www.highlandwhiskyauctions.com

Isle of Skye 21 Year Old Scotch Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B+

Isle of Skye 21 Year Old Blended Whisky
(Credit: Ian Macleod Distillers)

Ian Macleod Distillers is one of those fixtures of the Scotch industry that the average, casual drinker (even Scotch drinker) has never heard of. That is nothing to be ashamed of; I’d put down some money that 9 out of 10 of the folks who know what The Macallan is have never heard of the parent company, Edrington. Founded over 80 years ago and still a family company after all that time, these are the folks who make Smokehead, Sheep Dip and Pig’s Nose, as well as Glengoyne and Tamdhu.

The company is also behind the expansive line of Isle of Skye blended whisky. Although named for the famous Scottish island, the grain and malt whiskies sourced to make it are largely from the mainland, although some malt from Skye is utilized. The 21 year old sits in the middle of this range, separating the truly ultra-aged whiskies farther up the latter from the entry level and middle rungs beneath it. I think that is best reflected in the price point, almost double what the 18 Year Old expression costs.

The Scotch
This coppered dram has a faint scent and requires some deep nosing to develop fully, but one that mirrored some recent hikes when I took it into hand. Coupled to the standards of malted honey and toffee was a collection of elements that reminded me of being on the dried, late summer prairie: wildflowers, dry grass and a hint of exposed earth.

That earthy element turns nutty on the palate. The honey and toffee, the sweet side, becomes a baked peach with treacle and brown sugar dish, and the rest of the field side turns to pepper and a hint of smoke. The finish runs in dry wood and pepper, but this is a light touch.

Overall, this is a supremely smooth, silky sweet and easy drinking pour, and it is a real step up from the unimpressive 18 Year Old. One might expect an older Scotch like this to have a complex character, and Isle of Skye 21 Year Old is not really all that sophisticated, but that makes it an approachable, wonderful sipper.

The Price
The recommended price tag for this bottle is $114.99.

New: Sir Rod Stewart’s very own dram 🥃 – The Whisky Shop News

Just landed: Sir Rod’s New Whisky

Sir Rod Stewart’s New Tipple: Wolfie’s

Wolfie’s is a smooth sippin’ blend from the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, bringing together Sir Rod Stewart’s three loves: Scotland, Americana and Rock ‘n’ Roll. We have 10 signed bottles by the man himself. Purchase Wolfie’s now and you could find a signed one in your order!

Wolfie’s Blended Scotch Whisky

A perfect combination of grain and malt whiskies, matured in ex-bourbon casks by the team at Loch Lomond Whiskies. Discover a delicate taste of sweet peat and syrupy pears before finishing with candied citrus peels and a gentle oak spice.

£35.00

Buy Now 

“Wolfie’s is a rascal of a thing and with just a sip the whisky takes you back to the good old days. For me, Wolfie’s depicts the carefree behaviour of my more mischievous days and the excitement of what life still has to offer – let the good times roll!”

Sir Rod Stewart

Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more

Jack Daniel’s Announces Twice Barreled Special Release Heritage Barrel Rye Whiskey – American Whiskey News

Jack Daniel’s Announces Twice Barreled Special Release Heritage Barrel Rye Whiskey

Limited edition 2023 Special Release marries Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye Whiskey with the expertly crafted Heritage Barrel for a complex and unique rye 

Lynchburg, Tennessee (August 15, 2023) – The Jack Daniel Distillery introduces Jack Daniel’s Twice Barreled Special Release Heritage Barrel Rye as the newest member of its Single Barrel Special Release collection. The 2023 limited edition Special Release features Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye Whiskey aged first in new American white oak barrels and then finished in high-toast Heritage Barrels.

Jack Daniel’s Twice Barreled Special Release Heritage Barrel Rye has a grain bill of 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley and is charcoal mellowed before aging in new, handmade American white oak barrels for at least five years. It is then aged for over two years in uniquely crafted heavy-toast Heritage Barrels from the Jack Daniel Cooperage to achieve a complex rye whiskey full of unique, richer taste.

“Our lightly charred and heavily toasted Heritage Barrels showcase the expertise of our cooperage and elevate innovation through the barrel making process,” said Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “Our unique barrel toasting process and rye grain bill work together to create an extraordinary rye whiskey that marries sweetness with spice. We couldn’t be more excited for our friends to enjoy this special twist on our original Heritage Barrel expression.”

The Special Release Heritage Barrel Rye Whiskey has an aroma of toasted oak, light spices and honey. Rich flavors of oak and vanilla combine with notes of toasted rye bread and molasses, providing a unique finish of graham cracker and brown sugar balanced by rye and barrel notes.

Jack Daniel’s Twice Barreled Special Release Heritage Barrel Rye, bottled at 100 proof, will be available nationwide in limited quantities beginning in August at $75 for a 700 ml size.

For more information, visit www.jackdaniels.com.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

Please Drink Responsibly.

Jack Daniel’s Twice Barreled Special Release Heritage Barrel Rye Whiskey Finished in High Toast Heritage Barrels, 50% alc. by vol. Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 501: Auchentoshan 24 Year Old 1998 Thompson Brothers – Scotch Whisky News

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 501: Auchentoshan 24 Year Old 1998 Thompson Brothers

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries another Auchentoshan. Bottlings by the Thompson Brothers, who are also the proprietors of the Dornoch Distillery, sell out in the blink of an eye. So Mark felt very lucky to be able to add a few of these bottles from Auchentoshan to his collection. It’s a vatting of two refill barrels of his favourite triple distilled tipple, that yielded 321 bottles at cask strength. Let’s find out if this Toshan 1998 is any good, shall we?

https://youtu.be/RhDk96qX6IQ

Gordon & MacPhail BALBLAIR DISTILLERY 32YO 1990 Connoisseurs Choice (2022) Cask #4169 – Scotch Whisky News

 

BALBLAIR DISTILLERY

32 Year Old 1990 Connoisseurs Choice (2022)

Cask #4169

1990 vintage matured in a single sherry butt. 114 bottles. Balblair 32 Year Old 1990 vintage Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Single refill sherry butt #4169 bottled November 2022 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice series. Only 114 bottles.

Buy Balblair 32yo »

Stewed raisin aromas complement medjool dates and soft aniseed. Autumnal spice and fruitcake flavours are balanced by white pepper. A full and long finish with lingering citrus and plum skin.

£990.00

Balblair Distillery was originally established by John Ross at his Balblair Farm just to the west of Ederton by the southern shore of the Dornoch Firth. Whilst distillation was probably in progress as early as 1749 Balblair malt whiskey distillery was officially established in 1790. Then a short move into new Balblair Distillery buildings situated right beside Ederton railway station in 1894. Balblair is a fantastic Scottish Highland malt distillery which has retained its round red brick chimney, single pagoda roof and dunnage warehouses. The Balblair Vintage series encompasses single malts from the 1970s to the 2000s.

Click Whisky Auctions SEPTEMBER 2023 AUCTION NOW LIVE! – Auction Whisky News

SEPTEMBER AUCTION NOW LIVE!

We have an eclectic selection of bottles for you this month, including this stunning example of Macallan Private Eye, commissioned in 1996 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the famous satirical news magazine of the same name. Bottle 3375/5000.

Check out this stunning Bunnahabhain. Distilled in 1980, this is an incredibly rare 30 year old expression from the Islay distillery. Presented in this stunning leather case with quaich and scroll, this scarce release is bottle number 242 of a mere 357 bottles produced.

Next up, we have a trio of limited edition Rare Malts for you this month! A 1972 Teaninich 23 Years Old, 1973 23 Year Old Glen Ord and 1974 22 Years Old Inchgower. Many of these natural cask strength bottlings are highly regarded amongst whisky experts, which is why they are becoming increasingly hard to find.

These are only a few of the bottles in our September auction, to view more wee gems visit clickwhiskyauctions.com. Register to bid. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it! Auction ends Sunday 17th September from 8pm BST.