Distiller’s Friday Roundup – October 30, 2020

October 30, 2020

Here we are at the end of October. And while this year our Trick or Treating will be kept to a minimum, we can treat ourselves to some of these new spirits. As for one of the treats, the Venn diagram of whiskey drinkers and Bob Dylan fans overlaps with the second Bootleg Series for Heaven’s Door. Act fast, though; last year’s edition sold out quickly. But if tequila is more your speed, Maestro Dobel 50 is sure to set your hairs tingling. The trick to this tequila is that it’s an extra añejo release. However, it’s been filtered to remove the color. Boo!

We’ve got a lot more new releases to share this week including Irish whiskeys named Oak Devil and Murder Lane—spooky enough for ya? If you’d like to know more, fear not! We’ve got all the details below in Distiller’s Friday Roundup for October 30, 2020!

Heaven’s Door Spirits Announces Second Release in The Bootleg Series

Volume II: Sunset, Monument Valley is the second release in the The Bootleg Series for Heaven’s Door Spirits which collaborated with recording artist and legend Bob Dylan for a series of whiskey releases. Volume II features a 15-year-old Tennessee whiskey bottled at cask strength. Then the whiskey is finished in former Jamaican pot still rum casks and later bottled at 104.6 proof.

“After nearly two years of experimentation with different blends and barrel finishes, we have created an incredible whiskey for the Bootleg Series Vol II,” said Ryan Perry, Heaven’s Door master blender. “I was intrigued by the idea of using Jamaican pot still rum casks to imbue the 15-year-old cask strength whiskey with a soft, round and lasting finish that is distinctive and complex.”

The whiskey is presented in a ceramic bottle featuring Dylan’s painting “Sunset, Monument Valley.” Additionally, it comes in a leather case.

It has an SRP of $499.99. However, fewer than 3,000 bottles are available as of early November 2020.

Heaven’s Door the Bootleg Series Volume II: Sunset, Monument Valley /Photo Credit: Heaven’s Doorr

New Riff Releases Winter Whiskey Featuring Oats and Chocolate Malt

New Riff Winter Whiskey is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey made with a unique mash bill. It’s made with 65% corn, 20% malted oats, 7% pale ale malt, 5% steel cut raw oats and 3% chocolate malt. The whiskey is aged for at least 4 years and is bottled-in-bond. It’s bottled at 100 proof without chill-filtration. This seasonal release is available as of November 2020 where ever New Riff is sold with an SRP of $49.99.

New Riff Winter Whiskey /Photo Credit: New Riff

The Dublin Liberties Launch Four New Aged Whiskeys in the US

The Dublin Liberties Oak Devil

Oak Devil is a blend of malt and grain whiskeys (30% malt, 70% grain) that has been aged for 5 years in ex-bourbon barrels. The name comes from the story of the Oak Devil that stood watch over The Liberties, the distillery district in Dublin, that suddenly disappeared one night. Legend has it that the Oak Devil was seduced by the whiskey angels escaping from the nearby barrels. This is bottled at 46% without chill-filtration and has an SRP of $44.99-49.99.

The Dublin Liberties whiskeys /Photo Credit: The Dublin Liberties

The Dublin Liberties Copper Alley 10 Year

Copper Alley was the oldest street in Dublin, named after the coin that was first minted there in the 17th century. Copper Alley from The Dublin Liberties is a single malt which is aged for 10 years in American oak ex-bourbon casks. It was finished in 30-year-old oloroso sherry casks. Copper Alley is non-chill-filtered and bottled at 46% ABV and has an SRP of $59.99-64.99.

The Dublin Liberties Murder Lane 13 Year

Murder Lane gets its name from the unmarked alleyway known as Murdering Lane in Dublin between Bow Street and James Street where many souls met their fate in the early 1600s. The single malt from The Dublin Liberties is aged for 13 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels. Then it is finished in Hungarian oak Tokaj wine barrels. It is bottled without chill filtration at 46% ABV and has an SRP of $89.99.

The Dublin Liberties Keeper’s Coin 16 Year

Keeper’s Coin is named for a series of crypts used as illicit drinking dens that once inhabited Dublin’s The Liberties area. The cellar keepers each had their own coins and casks. The Keeper’s Coin whiskey is a single malt which aged for 16 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels. It finished its maturation in ex-Pedro Ximenez hogshead casks. Bottled at 46% without chill filtration it has an SRP of $159.99.

Laphroaig Releases Second Edition Honoring Ian Hunter

Ian Hunter was the last founding member of the Johnston family to run Laphroaig. His relatives Donald and Alexander Johnston founded Laphroaig in 1815. This second release in an expected five bottle series is aged for 30 years, like Book 1 released last year. Book 2, however, is aged in European oak ex-oloroso sherry casks. It is bottled without chill-filtration at 48.2% ABV and has a SRP of £760/$982.

The Last Drop Announces New Autumn Collection

The Autumn Collection will be available starting in November. As with all of The Last Drop releases, each bottle comes packaged with a signature 50 ml miniature and pocket-sized tasting book with additional pages for personal tasting notes.

The Last Drop Autumn Collection /Photo Credit: The Last Drop

The Last Drop 1980 Buffalo Trace Bourbon

This 1980 vintage bourbon was distilled at the George T. Stagg Distillery, today known as the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY. Its name was changed in 1992 when the Sazerac Company bought the distillery and its contents. This bourbon was matured there for 20 years in new, charred oak barrels and then placed into stainless steel tanks for another 20 years. Only 240 bottles were created for this release which is bottled at 90 proof. It has an SRP of $4,600.

The Last Drop 1976 Overproof Very Old Jamaican Rum

This is the first rum release for The Last Drop. It was distilled in 1976 in Jamaica where it initially aged in ex-bourbon barrels. After several years, the rum remained in the barrels but they were shipped to Liverpool, UK to finish aging—43 years in total. It is bottled at 135.8 proof and only 183 bottles are available. It has an SRP of $3,400.

The Last Drop 1959 Vintage Grande Champagne Cognac

This 1959 vintage cognac is the smallest release to date for The Last Drop. It matured in its original barrels for over 60 years. Only 21 bottles were produced. It’s available in November 2020 with an SRP of $5,200.

Maestro Dobel 50 Extra Añejo Cristalino Debuts in the US

Maestro Dobel 50 Extra Añejo Cristalino was created to commemorate the 50th birthday of founder Juan Dobel. The tequila was made using 100% blue weber agaves grown on a single family-owned estate. After double distillation in copper pot stills, the tequila was aged separately in Eastern European and American oak barrels for 3 years. Then the tequilas were blended and filtered using a proprietary process to remove the color.

“At Maestro Dobel, we are renowned for producing modern expressions of tequila, with artful skill and a refined craft that spans over 250 years,” said Alex Coronado, maestro tequilero and head of production at Maestro Dobel. “Using both Eastern European and American oak barrels in a single product is a first for us, and has brought out unexpected flavor profiles, providing subtle nods to each of the casks in which they have matured. Together with Juan Dobel, I am thrilled to share Maestro Dobel 50 Cristalino with the U.S., the most innovative tequila we have released to date.”

Maestro Dobel 50 Extra Añejo Cristalino is available nationwide as of October 2020 with an SRP of $145. Notably, it is a permanent addition to the portfolio.

Maestro Dobel 50 Extra Añejo Cristalino /Photo Credit: Maestro Dobel

Tequila Partida Launches Añejo Cristalino

Partida Añejo Cristalino Tequila is made using 100% blue weber agave from the Tequila Valley. After distillation, the tequila is aged for at least 18 months in American oak ex-bourbon barrels with a medium toast. Then the tequila is filtered through a proprietary process to remove most of the color. It’s diluted with demineralized volcanic spring water to bring it to 40% ABV. This is a permanent addition for the brand. It has an SRP of $59.99 and is available nationwide as of November 2020.

Partida Añejo Cristalino Tequila /Photo Credit: Partida Tequila

Volcán De Mi Tierra Adds New Addition to Its Collection

Volcán De Mi Tierra—land of the volcano—is the first tequila brand for Moët Hennessey which added the brand to its portfolio in 2017. This Reposado release is a new addition to the collection and is made using 100% Highland (Los Altos) agaves. After distillation, the tequila is aged for 135 days (just over two months) in new American and European oak. It’s available in select markets as of November 2020 with an SRP of $55.

Volcán De Mi Tierra Reposado /Photo Credit: Volcán De Mi Tierra


Interested in Maestro Dobel 50 Extra Añejo Cristalino?

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