WHISKEY | AMERICAN MADE
“ We are currently experimenting with a wide variety of mash bills and finishes for our own brands and for our Collaborative Distilling Program customers ,” says David Mandell , president and CEO of The Bardstown Bourbon Company . “ We are also participating in Independent Stave ’ s Experimental Barrel Program , and we are working closely with the cooperage to test a number of innovation barrels .”
This year , Campari America released the first offerings from The Whiskey Barons Collection — Old Ripy and Bond & Lillard . “ And we continued that thread of experimentation with Wild Turkey Master ’ s Keep Decades , a mingling of 10- and 20-year-old whiskeys , in honor of Master Distiller Eddie Russell ’ s 35th Anniversary with Wild Turkey ,” Price says .
“ Currently , Stillhouse B at the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery contains our craft still , providing our team a chance to experiment with new flavor profiles ,” Kelly says . Another part of Diageo ’ s strategy is the Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company , which rescues long-forgotten barrels of rare whiskeys . The upcoming release will be Rhetoric 24-Year-Old , within the next year .
Additionally , The Archive Collection includes select Orphan Barrel releases packaged in a custom wood-finished whiskey
crate . This year , Bulleit also re-released Bulleit Barrel Strength , which is an ongoing limited annual release .
Redemption Whiskey expanded its portfolio with its first Wheated Bourbon , with a mash bill of 45 % winter wheat . Another project for the company is Redemption Ages , which will release a 36-year-old bourbon and a 17-year-old rye in limited quantities . Now in the rickhouse awaiting release next year is Tyler ’ s Mistake , which was born out of an accident by an employee under previous ownership . Steffanci liked the rye-bourbon “ mistake ” so much , the company is creating enough for a limited release .
Angel ’ s Envy is the first brand of the Louisville Distilling Co ., but Henderson says the company could release other whiskey brands under that umbrella . “ Times are good ; we ’ re seeing unprecedented things happening in the category ,” he says . “ But we can ’ t take anything for granted because things change and you always have to bring your A-game .” •
THOMAS HENRY STRENK is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer with over 20 years experience covering the beverage and restaurant industries . In his small apartment-turned-alchemist-den , he homebrews beer kombucha , and concocts his own bitters and infusions .
38 StateWays | www . stateways . com | September / October 2017