When Prohibition outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in 1920, a few enterprising residents of Iowa chose to become outlaws rather than teetotalers. Alphonse Kerkhoff, a farmer by trade, began cooking batches of rye whiskey near his home in Templeton to supplement his income. "The Good Stuff," as Kerkhoff's rye was known, was so popular that he began tying a white horse named Babe to a polein his front yard as a signal to residents that another batch of Templeton Rye was ready. Shortly thereafter, Kerkhoff partnered with notorious bootlegger Al Capone to distribute his rye across the country. Capone bootlegged hundreds of barrels of Templeton Rye to speakeasies in New York, Chicago and as far west as San Francisco legend has it that he even had a case smuggled into his jail cell at Alcatraz. Following Prohibition, Kerkhoff continued to cook Templeton Rye for his friends and family, before eventually passing the recipe on to his son, Meryl. Today, nearly a century after it was first distilled, Templeton Rye pays homage to that recipe by Keith Kerkhoff, Alfonse's grandson. Templeton Rye is made in Indiana from a variety of winter and spring rye grains that possess specific organoleptic qualities. The rye (which comprises over 90% of the mashbill, with the remainder being malted barley) is fermented for 72-84 hours using a yeast culture that was developed specifically for whiskey production. After fermentation, the mash is double-distilled and then aged in charred, American white oak casks (sourced from a Missouri cooperage) for a minimum of four years. The whiskey is bottled in Templeton, Iowa, where Iowa's hot summers, cold winters and wet springs (monthly average temperatures range from a high of 86.2 F to a low of 6.3 F) result in more contact between the whiskey and the oak prior to bottling, helping the whiskey mature faster and giving it more complexity and flavor. Templeton Rye earned the Gold Medal at the 2009 and 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was named "Rye Whiskey of the Year"in the 2009 Whisky Bible. It also earned the title "Best of Whiskey"at the 2008 Los Angeles Wine and Spirits Competition, beating out more than 4,000 other entrants in the competition. Now that Prohibition is over, you can enjoy Templeton Rye conspicuously.

In the 18th century, a Swiss Mennonite farmer by the name of John Shenk settled his family near Pennsylvania's Blue Mountain Valley. Within a few years, Shenk was harvesting more grains that he could sell, and so he began distilling the excess grains into whiskey. Shenk's distillery, which was eventually named Michter's Distillery, became the United States' first distilling company. Just two decades after Shenk opened the doors to his distillery, General George Washington began purchasing Michter's Distillery Whiskey in order to fortify his men as they camped through a long and brutal winter at Valley Forge. Michter's Distillery, as the saying goes, was the whiskey that warmed the American Revolution. The passage of Prohibition in 1919 forced Michter's Distillery, along with nearly every other distillery in the United States, to close. In the early 1990's however, Joseph J. Magliocco teamed up with Richard Newman in an effort to resurrect the brand. "When we set up our whiskey program for Michter's Distillery," says Magliocco, "Dick and I wanted to get back to the "cost be damned' roots and produce the finest whiskey possible. Our goal was to show that whiskey made in the United States could be the equal of great whiskey made anywhere in the world." Michter's Distillery 10 Year Old Bourbon is the brainchild of master distiller Willie Pratt. Pratt, a maturation perfectionist with over forty years of distilling experience, is known as "Dr. No" since he often refuses to bottle aging barrels of whiskey. According to Pratt, whiskey that is aged for over a decade hits a "fork in the road," and can either become incredible or unpalatable. "One of the barrels we sampled was unbelievably woody," Magliocco says. "And we reject that, we literally sewer it. Willie had another barrel that tasted delicious, but the consistency was like molasses, and we obviously couldn't sell that." Michter's Distillery 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon is a sourced bourbon that Pratt realized had hit its peak. The single barrel bourbon has a dark caramel color, along with an aroma of espresso, toffee and whipped cream. Notes of spices predominate on the palate, and are complemented by touches of lemon, grapefruit, molasses and vanilla. The finish is medium-long, with touches of tobacco, old leather and figs. Michter's Distillery 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon was named the "Best American Whiskey" by Food & Wine Magazine.

Situated on a ridge above the banks of the River Spey, the Easter Elchies House has been the spiritual home of The Macallan for over three centuries. In 1820, Alexander Reid began renting the home from Sir Lewis Grant. Reid was a farmer, and soon after he sowed the fields surrounding the home with barley, Reid established the first licensed distillery on the estate, which he named Macallan after an ancient church that had been destroyed by fire during the 15th century. In the winter when there was little activity on the farm Reid would ferment and distill his excess grains into whisky, which was often drunk straight from the still or sold to travelers passing through the town. Today, the Macallan Estate encompasses 370 acres, 95 of which are devoted to the production of the Macallan Estate's Minstrel barley (a single acre produces about 2.5 tons of barley each year, enough to yield 1,800 bottles of The Macallan). In addition, the distillery contracts with farmers to purchase barley that is low in nitrogen and high in starch, resulting in a rich and oily whisky. After the barley is harvested in late August and early September, it is malted before being mashed in one of The Macallan's two mash tuns, a process that takes between four and eight hours. Then, the barley is fermented with a specially cultured yeast before being distilled twice through copper-pot stills. The copper comprising the stills acts as a catalyst, and enhances the formation of sweet esters while minimizing impurities such as sulphur. In addition, the curiously small stills some of "the smallest stills within the Scotch whisky industry,"according to production manager Alexander Tweedie produce a whisky with a heavy, oily flavor. Following distillation, The Macallan distillers remove the heads and tails of the whisky and collect approximately 16% of the spirit to fill into casks for maturation. This "cut,"which is among the highest of any Scottish distillery, results in a more full-bodied and and rich whisky. Bottled by Gordon & MacPhail one of the most prominent independent bottlers in Scotland The Macallan Speymalt 42 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky was originally distilled in 1970 and matured for over four decades in a cask that was previously used to mature sherry. After its maturation, the whisky was bottled in 2013. The single-barrel whisky has an aroma of vanilla, raisins, toasted almonds and a touch of caramel. The aroma gives way to notes of dried fruits, particularly cherries and strawberries, along with hints of dark chocolate, warm spices and Christmas cake. The finish is long and smooth, and ends with a touch of creamy vanilla. The Macallan Speymalt 42 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky represents a unique opportunity for Scotch aficionados to try a limited edition bottling from one of the most prestigious distilleries in Scotland. Pick up one of these rare treasures today!

Distilled in a 450-liter Christian Carl pot still manufactured in Goppingen, Germany, Dry Fly Gin is handcrafted by Don Poffenroth and Kent Fleischmann, the master distillers at Dry Fly Distilling. After training in distillery operation withAlexander Plank and Nick Haasein Germany, Don and Kent opened the doors of Dry Fly Distillery in 2007, making it the first legal distillery in Washington state since Prohibition. Don and Kent have embraced a grains-to-glass approach to craft distilling they use only locally-sourced grains and botanicals grown at sustainable farms. Their commitment to sustainable farming is reflected in the gin's recipe which calls for juniper, coriander, lavender, Eastern Washington soft winter wheat, mint, dried Fuji apples and hops. This unique recipe gives the gin an apple and honeysuckle nose and a sweet, well-balanced flavor. This balance means that the gin makes for an unusually sublime martini garnished with either lemon peels or olives. The recipe also earned Dry Fly Gin the Silver Medal at the Micro Liquor Spirits Awards in 2011 and the Gold Medal at the New York World Wine & Spirit Competition the same year.

Situated along the northern coast of South America, Guyana was colonized by the Netherlands in the early 17th century. Much like other European countries at the time, the Dutch used their settlement's tropical climate Guyana enjoys an average temperature of up to 89.6 F and up to 137.8 inches of rain annually as a source of raw, fresh ingredients that were unable to be harvested on the European continent. In 1658, Guyana began exporting sugar back to the Netherlands and within a decade, farmer's along the Demerara River began distilling their excess cane sugar into rum. By the turn of the century, the tiny Caribbean country had over 300 unique distilleries. Today, Demerara Distillers Co. the last remaining rum distillery in the country pays homage to Guyana's rich tradition of distilling fine rum with El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum. El Dorado Rum is made from fresh, raw sugar cane cultivated in Guyana's rich, alluvial soil. After the sugar cane has been harvested by hand, it is transported back to Demerara Distillery by barge. There, the molasses is fermented with a proprietary strain of yeast specifically designed to control the Brix of the wash (Brix is the measure of dissolved solids in a solution). Following fermentation, the rum is distilled through Demerara Distillers' antique wooden and copper stills (the stills, which are up two centuries old, were used when the country was still a settlement). El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum is matured in bespoke, 45-gallon American oak casks for a minimum of twelve years. The hand-coopered barrels are allowed to mature in a custom-built warehouse, where Guyana's intense heat and tropical climate forces the rum and wood to mingle. Th rum has a smoky, savory aroma, with hints of oak, cinnamon and caramelized oranges. Notes of tropical fruits, banana bread and coconuts dominate the palate, and are complemented by touches of tobacco, cedar and woody spice, and lead to a long, caramel finish. El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum earned the Gold Medal and the title "Best in Class" at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2011. In addition, it was named on the "Top 10 List" by the The New York Times. 

Created in 1840, this yellow liqueur is inspired by the Elixir Végétal recipe. It was so popular that Father Garnier, attorney and responsible for liqueurs at the time, subsequently decided to officially name it Chartreuse Jaune and registered the “Chartreuse” mark in 1852. It was a liqueur with a 43 ° content, produced and still made today by the Chartreux Fathers.

TASTING NOTES

An intense yellow color, a fresh and spicy nose.

A soft structure.

Scents of turmeric, citrus and anise.

Floral notes extend the tasting.

In 1837, Henry McKenna emigrated from Ireland to the United States. After spending nearly two decades as a farmer in Kentucky, McKenna founded an eponymous distillery in 1855. At the time, McKenna focused on the production of wheat whiskey (the only crop he was harvesting at the time) and was able to distill enough whiskey to fill one barrel each day. As word of McKenna's high-quality whiskey spread, McKenna was able to triple his distillation capacity, and began experimenting with the production of bourbon. Following his death in 1893, McKenna's three sons Daniel, Stafford and James began operating the business. Today, Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey honors the rich family tradition and pioneering spirit of the McKenna family. The bourbon, which is made from a mash of primarily corn, is the only extra-aged bottled-in-bond single barrel bourbon available today. Pursuant to the Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897 (27 C.F.R. 5.21), any spirit labeled as "Bonded" or "Bottled-in-Bond" must be the product of one distiller at one distillery during one distillation season. In addition, the Act requires that bonded spirits be aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof. Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey is matured for a minimum of forty Kentucky seasons (ten years) before each bottle is filled and labeled with its batch and bottle number. As a result of its extra-long maturation period, the bourbon has an aroma of warm spices, smoke and burnt caramel. The aroma gives way to notes of chewy leather, chilli peppers and habanero, which are complemented by subtle touches of dried fruits, vanilla and cinnamon. The finish is warm and lush, with bold notes of roasted corn, cloves and woody spices. Since each bottle of McKenna's Single Barrel Bourbon is bottled from a single cask rather than being crafted from a batch of casks, however, each bottle is slightly different and entirely interesting. Henry McKenna 10 Year Old Bourbon was named one of the top 12 spirits ever tasted by Proof66 and was called "magnificent" by Jim Murray, author of the Whisky Bible. In addition, the bourbon earned a score of 90-95 points from Wine Enthusiast. 

"Kirk and Sweeney was the name of a wooden schooner that was best known for smuggling rum from the Caribbean to the United States during Prohibition," says August Sebastiani, President of 35 Maple Street Distillery. Just before it entered the territorial waters of the United States, the schooner would drop anchor and sell the rum to smaller boats which would come up alongside the Kirk and Sweeney. The smaller boats, which were faster and more maneuverable than the boats in the Coast Guard's fleet, would smuggle the rum ashore. As other boats followed suit, the edge of U.S. jurisdiction the line where boats like the Kirk and Sweeney dropped anchor became known as the "Rum Line" and the row of ships waiting to sell rum on the Rum Line were said to be anchored on "Rum Row." Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Old Rum is a rum crafted in the Dominican Republic from raw sugarcane. After being distilled, the rum is aged for twelve years in American oak casks. As a result, it has deep mahogany color along with an aroma of earthy sugar cane and vanilla. The initial flavors of sweet nectar and honey give way to notes of oak and toffee. The finish, which is bold and ripe, ends with a smooth vanilla kick. "Playing off the concept of global navigation," says Sebastiani, "we silkscreened an antique nautical map of the main rum smuggling route around the circumference of the bottle"of Kirk and Sweeney Rum. In addition, the neck of the bottle is hand-numbered with the rum's batch and bottle number, while a photo of the Kirk and Sweeney and the bottle's safety seal are printed to look like authentic nautical brass. "The overall design serves as a reminder of the risk so many were willing to take for a good taste of rum during the 1920s," says Sebastiani. Kirk and Sweeney 12 Year Old Rum earned a score of 95 points from Wine Enthusiast, which named it one of the Top 50 Spirits of 2013, and was called one of the Best New Rums of 2013 by Liquor.com. 

THE SPIRIT

Real absinthe. No artificial ingredients, no gimmicks.

The first legal American absinthe released after the U.S. ban was lifted in 2007, St. George Absinthe Verte remains one of the most acclaimed and respected spirits in this category.

Made from a host of real botanical ingredients, ours is a layered and evocative expression of this beguiling and highly spirituous herbal elixir.

And it has a monkey on the label!

Yamazaki® Whisky is Suntory's flagship single malt whisky, from Japan’s first and oldest malt distillery, multi-layered with fruit and Mizunara aromas.

From Yamazaki was born the surprising, delicate yet profound experience of a Japanese single malt whisky.

Spiritual and deep, made at Yamazaki Distillery, the soulplace of Japanese whisky, its signature multi-layered taste is highly praised by whisky connoisseurs all over the world. Today, Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki® Whisky is not only the No.1 single malt whisky in Japan, but is enjoyed in more than 35 countries.

Tasting Notes

Color: Pure gold

Nose: Peach, pineapple, grapefruit, clove, candied orange, vanilla, Mizunara (Japanese oak)

Palate: Coconut, cranberry, butter

Finish: Sweet ginger, cinnamon, long finish

Tasting Notes

Nose : Heavy, thickly oaked and complex: some curious barley-sugar notes here shrouded in soft smoke. Big, but seductively gentle, too;

Taste : The delivery, though controlled at first, is massive! Then more like con-fusion as that smoke on the nose turns into warming, full blown peat, but it far from gets its own way as a vague sherry trifle note (curious, seeing how there are no sherry butts involved) - the custard presumably is oaky vanilla - hammers home that barley - fruitiness to make for a bit of a free-for-all; but for extra food measure the flavours develop into a really intense chocolate fudge middle which absolute resonates through the palate;

Finish : A slight struggle here as the mouthfeel gets a bit puffy here with the dry peat and oak; enough molassed sweetness to see the malt through to a satisfying end, though. Above all the spices, rather than lying down and accepting their fate, rise up and usher this extraordinary whisky to its exit;

In May 2010, expert jimadors from the Corazon Distillery began harvesting agave from the rolling hillsides of Arandas, which is situated in the Jalisco region of Mexico. Rather than clear-cutting the fields from the outset, the jimadors employed scientific tools in order to analyze the precise sugar content of the 80 tons of agave plants in Arandas. Once the sugar content had been determined, the jimadors combined agave with a low sugar content (a low sugar content will produce a tequila with a drier, more mineral flavor profile) together with agave with a high sugar content (a high sugar content will produce a tequila with a sweeter and more bold flavor profile) in order to produce a unique blanco tequila. Once the tequila had been produced, it was fractionated and matured in three unique types of casks: casks that had been previously used to mature Buffalo Trace Bourbon, casks that had previously been used to mature George T. Stagg Bourbon and casks that had previously been used to mature Sazerac Rye. Corazon Sazerac Rye Aejo Tequila is aged for 24 months in casks that were previously used to mature Sazerac Rye. It has an aroma of strawberries, butterscotch and toffee, which give way to notes of caramel, roasted nuts, and ripe citrus on the palate. The finish is sharp and bold, with touches of pineapple and agave balancing notes of spicy rye. 

In May 2010, expert jimadors from the Corazon Distillery began harvesting agave from the rolling hillsides of Arandas, which is situated in the Jalisco region of Mexico. Rather than clear-cutting the fields from the outset, the jimadors employed scientific tools in order to analyze the precise sugar content of the 80 tons of agave plants in Arandas. Once the sugar content had been determined, the jimadors combined agave with a low sugar content (a low sugar content will produce a tequila with a drier, more mineral flavor profile) together with agave with a high sugar content (a high sugar content will produce a tequila with a sweeter and more bold flavor profile) in order to produce a unique blanco tequila. Once the tequila had been produced, it was fractionated and matured in three unique types of casks: casks that had been previously used to mature Buffalo Trace Bourbon, casks that had previously been used to mature George T. Stagg Bourbon and casks that had previously been used to mature Sazerac Rye. Corazon Buffalo Trace Reposado Tequila is aged for over 10 months in casks that were previously used to mature Buffalo Trace Bourbon. It has an aroma of oak, caramelized agave and a hint of salty tang. Bold notes of fruits and agave dominate the flavor profile, and are complemented by touches of woody spices, black pepper and cinnamon. The finish is long and warming, with a touch of vanilla.

Straight Rye Whiskey has experienced a strong resurgence in the American whiskey landscape, yet Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. was making this style more than 100 years ago. This small batch, Bottled-in-Bond 100 proof straight rye whiskey pays tribute to the former Distillery owner with a unique rye whiskey reminiscent of days long past.

TASTING NOTES

An altogether different recipe and profile than Sazerac Rye, this recipe contains just rye and malted barley, no corn. The result is an aroma full of dried fruit, black pepper, and a touch of fresh dill. A small sip brings an array of flavors both sweet and savory with a terrific balance of dark spices and subtle caramel overtones. The finish is especially pleasing with an oaky dryness that lingers just long enough.

"Simply spectacular!" - John Paddon, blind tasting notes - 2015 International Whisky Competition

Since 1989, the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers has regulated the supply of Canadian maple syrup in order to ensure that prices remain stable. Maple trees need optimal climate conditions cold nights and temperate days in order to produce sap, which in turn, is used to produce maple syrup. In order to keep prices stable, the FQMSP purchases and warehouses maple syrup in years where trees produce abundant sap, and sells maple syrup in years where production is lacking. It may seem bizarre, but Quebec produces 77% of the world's maple syrup. Tap Port Finished Canadian Rye Whisky is matured for up to eight years in a combination of traditional North American oak casks and casks that were previously used to mature port wine. Once the whisky has matured, it is finished with an aliquot of port wine. "Because Canadian distillers are dealing with a severe shortage of aged rye whisky, Tap Rye Port Finished has been made in a finite, limited quantity," says Michel Marcil. "There will not be another bottling once this small batch is sold out." Tap Rye Port Finished Canadian Rye Whisky has an aroma of red fruits, berries and plums. The aroma gives way to notes of honey, milk chocolate, dates, figs and nougat that are balanced against a spicy backbone. The finish is gentle and slightly sweet, with a hint of citrus, ginger and rye. Pick up a bottle of Port finished Canadian Rye today!