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New York craft distillery, Kings County, is releasing a new flagship blended bourbon made from house-distilled straight whiskeys.
Bright, complex and approachable, the new expression will be the brand’s most accessible aged spirit, ideal for both neat sipping or mixing.
Presented in a striking new blue label, one which clearly differentiates this spirit from Kings County’s established bourbon, rye, and single malt whiskeys, the distillery will ensure transparency by listing the exact blend composition on every bottle.
“As we have done with moonshine and bottled-in-bond, making a blended bourbon is a way of asking whiskey drinkers to reconsider an overlooked category of spirit,” said Co-Founder and Distiller Colin Spoelman.
“Blended whiskey is most often associated with crowd-pleasing scotch or Canadian whiskies. We used the all-but-forgotten category of blended bourbon to create the American analogue to these reliable and endlessly versatile spirits.”
By law, blended bourbon must use 51% straight bourbon. Still, the open-ended definition allows the Kings County’s blending team to use the full breadth of our mature inventory to craft a complex and purposeful flavour profile within the lineup. With this added flexibility, Blended Bourbon can become a volume leader in Kings County’s portfolio, joining an existing line of superlative aged whiskeys.
Kings County’s spirits have been widely accepted and appreciated, but with the supply of aged whiskey growing short across the spectrum of American whiskey, Kings County aims to lead the market with a superior all-purpose two-year-old spirit.
“While many distillers are raising prices, we are making our whiskeys more affordable and accessible,” said Spoelman. “We want to be the distiller that meets the moment for our customers and fans.”
With notes of honey, caramel, and rye pepper, this is a flexible whiskey and one that shows what can be achieved through the use of quality organic ingredients, careful distilling, and creative blending. It also presents a spirit suitable for mixing, creating a new audience for the brand.
Kings County Blended Bourbon will be available throughout New York State starting September 14th with a national rollout to follow.
For more information go to kingscountydistillery.com
Move over pumpkin spice, s’mores is set to be the latest fall flavour trend as temperatures cool off and the cosy vibes officially kick in. This season, Baileys is giving you s’more ways to treat yourself with the new, limited-time offering Baileys S’mores Irish Cream Liqueur, an indulgent take on the classic campfire treat.
Made with the iconic taste of Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur, Baileys S’mores blends the nostalgic flavours of toasted marshmallows and sweet graham crackers with a rich chocolate finish for a truly unique, melt-in-your-mouth Bailey’s taste experience. Whether enjoyed neat, with whipped coffee or even in a marshmallow shot, Baileys S’mores gives you more ways to enjoy the classic treat anytime, anywhere!
“As s’mores are more popular than ever, we’re thrilled to introduce Baileys S’mores to help consumers (21+) enjoy the nostalgic treat while providing new and unique ways to indulge,” says Stacey Cunningham , Director of Baileys & Liqueurs, Diageo North America. “We encourage consumers to celebrate the ‘season’ responsibly and treat themselves to Baileys S’mores with friends and family.”
If the liqueur isn’t enough to get you in a seasonal mood, Baileys is serving up yet another way to treat yourself by partnering with Los Angeles-based artisan s’mores bakeshop, Smoreology, to curate a one-of-a-kind Baileys S’mores Skillet Kit perfect for fall gatherings.
The Baileys S’mores Skillet Kit includes all of the ingredients to bake a s’mores dip including a mini cast iron skillet, Baileys-infused marshmallows (non-alcoholic), chocolate bars, graham crackers (for dipping) and marshmallow skewers along with two mugs to recreate the ultimate s’mores treat to pair perfectly with a Baileys S’mores cocktail. The Baileys S’mores Skillet Kit will be available for online nationwide shipping at Goldbelly.com until supplies last.
Baileys S’mores is available throughout the US for a limited time. For more information, go to baileys.com
Global Rum brand, Bacardí, is hitting ‘play’ on summertime vibes with the launch of two new canned cocktails in Australia – Bacardí Raspberry Mojito and Bacardí Piña Colada.
“We are seeing more and more people reaching for canned cocktails, with an increase of 24% this year alone across Australia” said Bacardi-Martini Brand Ambassador, Loy Catada. “Mojito and Piña Colada rank amongst Aussie’s top three cocktails of choice, so we are thrilled to be introducing the new Bacardí Raspberry Mojito and BACARDÍ Piña Colada canned cocktails, offering our drinkers quality and convenience when it comes to their favourite cocktail”.
The refreshingly tasty Bacardí Raspberry Mojito lends a berry kick to the traditional mojito, offering a crisp blend of white rum, sparkling water and raspberry flavours. The Bacardí Piña Colada will transport you to a tropical paradise with the perfect blend of white rum, sparkling water and the essence of real coconut.
To celebrate the launch of the new Bacardí Raspberry Mojito and Bacardí Piña Colada canned cocktails, Bacardí has partnered with Australia’s largest independent music and entertainment company, Mushroom Group to present Bacardí Sounds of Summer.
After two years of cancelled festivals and concerts, and without international musicians able to visit Australia, 2022 is set to be one of the most exciting times in the music industry, reigniting Australian’s love for live music.
The Bacardí Sounds of Summer promotion offers Bacardí consumers a chance to go into the draw to win double pass concert tickets to some of the best gigs and music experiences nationwide, with thousands of tickets on offer.
Bacardí Brand Manager Colton Salter says Bacardí is grounded in its passion for live music and special occasions, noting “Bacardí is all about doing what moves you, and the Bacardí Sounds of Summer promotion brings our ethos to life. With some of the world’s biggest and best artists visiting Australia over the coming months, we want to give our customers the opportunity to experience the beat and buzz of live music all summer long”.
With every purchase of eligible Bacardí product, customers can enter the draw for a chance to WIN tickets to the most highly anticipated concerts of the Australian Summer (T&C’s apply). Promotion available at selected venues; eligible products include Bacardí Carta Blanca, Bacardí Spiced, Bacardí Raspberry, Bacardí Coconut, Bacardí’s canned cocktail range.
To find out more about the Bacardí Sounds of Summer promotion, go to bacardisoundsofsummer.com.au
Japanese Whisky brand, The House of Suntory, announces the release of Hibiki Blossom Harmony, a limited-edition blend featuring whiskies finished in Sakura casks.
This limited-edition bottle will be available beginning in October in select global markets, including in the United States , the United Kingdom , Australia , Germany , France , Spain , Austria , United Arab Emirates , Netherlands , Italy , Turkey , China , Hong Kong , Singapore , Taiwan , South Korea , Thailand and Vietnam .
Hibiki is a harmonious blend of various malt and grain whiskies from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries. Constantly pushing the boundaries of what Japanese Whisky can be, the House of Suntory continues to explore and experiment with various wood types. The Sakura cask intrigued Fifth Generation Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo.
“I have been mesmerized by the Sakura cask for the last five years now due to its symbolism, but also because of its distinctive, subtly floral and spicy aroma and flavour notes,” says Fukuyo. “There have been many experiments with malt and grain whisky components, and we found that there was special alchemy between the grain whiskies and the Sakura cask. It is this special relationship – harmony – that inspired me to create this blend.”
Achieving the right balance and orchestration proved to be a great challenge from the start since the Sakura cask is one with strong character that can easily become overbearing. After a period of trial and error, Fukuyo found that the grain whiskies finished in the Sakura cask best elevated the overall balance.
Sakura Blossom season in early spring has always been an occasion for celebration in Japan , with many gathering around the beautiful flowering Sakura trees that inspire the Japanese to appreciate life as it blooms. Hibiki Blossom Harmony captures this joyful spirit by blending a rare selection of whiskies finished in Sakura wood casks with diverse matured malt and grain whiskies to create this particular Hibiki.
Meaning “Resonance” in Japanese, Hibiki embodies the Suntory philosophy of creating harmony with people and nature. As a House of Master Blenders, the House of Suntory has gone to great lengths to explore the breadth and depth of what Harmony can mean for a blend.
For more information, go to whisky.suntory.com
US Small Batch Bourbon brand Knob Creek has announced the release of a limited-edition 18-Year-Old Bourbon that has been aged twice as long as its flagship bourbon and bottled at 100 proof.
Coincidimng with the 30th anniversary of the brand and its Small Batch Bourbon Collection, the new expression offers a complex, yet balanced, liquid with notes of caramelized oak and sweet vanilla with a warm finish. The unique flavour profile and rich copper colour are due to its mature age and demonstrates how great things take time and patience.
Three decades ago, Booker Noe, grandson of Jim Beam and Sixth Generation Master Distiller, set out to define the standards for pre-prohibition style bourbon by introducing Knob Creek to the world. Today, Knob Creek continues to honour his legacy by pushing the boundaries of the bourbon category, and this new, extra-aged and full-flavoured liquid reinforces the brand’s ongoing dedication and commitment to exceptional craftsmanship.
“As we celebrate 30 years of Knob Creek, it’s clear to me that Dad was ahead of his time in creating innovative expressions with big, bold flavours that defined pre-prohibition whiskey,” said Fred Noe, Booker Noe’s son and Seventh Generation Master Distiller. “This new 18-Year-Old liquid is a nod to his vision and commitment to quality and craftsmanship, and I know this is a whiskey he’d be proud to serve. I’m honoured to further his legacy with Knob Creek’s oldest and boldest expression yet.”
For more information about Knob Creek 18-Year-Old and the brand’s award-winning bourbon and rye portfolios, go to knobcreek.com or follow the brand on Instagram
Global mixer brand Fever-Tree is excited to bring back the brand’s refreshingly light Damson & Sloe Berry Tonic Water for a second year to supermarket shelves in the UK this Autumn.
Becoming a firm crowd favourite when it was initially released last year, this Autumn / Winter expression makes for the ultimate seasonal sip. Designed to elevate a G&T into something unique, the expression is made from hand-picked damsons from the fields and hedgerows of Herefordshire and foraged wild sloes from the foothills of the Black Mountains.
With an enticing plum colour, evoking the Autumnal hues of the English countryside, the expression uses sustainably sourced ingredients with no artificial sweeteners, colourings or preservatives.
The rich, vibrant fruity tartness of damson combines perfectly with the intensity of the sloe, and the warming spice including cardamom, star anise, nutmeg and cinnamon, makes this expression a stunning staple to add to your drinks cabinet.
“Damson & Sloe was crafted together with local suppliers from here in the UK, and it’s their expertise and passion for nature’s best ingredients which makes this liquid so special,” said Ross Haddow, Fever-Tree’s Head of Innovation. “For me, it’s everything you want in an Autumn / Winter drink. Rich, warming and spicy it makes for the ideal welcoming drink when friends and family arrive for festivities.”
The more inventive among us can try a ‘Damson and Sloe Fizz,’ a simple cocktail to get the party started, made by mixing with a little Cointreau and Prosecco. A fan of deep purple? Pour with Whitley Neil Blackberry Gin and garnish with lemon zest for a deliciously deep Bramble G&T.
For more information on Fever-Tree, go to fever-tree.com