In 1958, a rare blend of Scotch malt and grain whiskies was found in 10 oak casks in the Port of Leith, Edinburgh in a warehouse owned by William Muir. It was soon discovered that the blend was originally distilled in 1954, and that the original recipe dated back to the 1800s. Several years later, in 1966, a small quality of the blend (which was now 12 years old) was bottled for the private use of the directors of William Muir. Six individuals were instrumental in this project, and therefore the whisky came to be known as Syndicate 58/6, named after both the year the Scotch was discovered and the number of people involved. Syndicate 58/6 Premium Blended Scotch Whisky contains 18 single malt whiskies and 4 single grain whiskies, and is aged through a solera system. Solera aging involves filling a series of casks at different intervals over a long period of time. As whiskey from the oldest cask is emptied and bottled, the cask is re-filled with an equivalent amount of whiskey from the second-oldest cask in the solera. This cascading effect continues until the youngest cask in the solera is filled with new whiskey. As a result, no cask in the solera is ever fully emptied. In addition, as the younger whiskey ages and cascades through the solera, its average age and complexity gradually increases over time. Because of the solera aging process, Syndicate 58/6 still contains a small amount of the original blend discovered in 19858. Finally, Syndicate 58/6 Premium Blended Scotch Whisky is married and additionally matured for up to two years in Oloroso Sherry casks imported from the Andalucia region of Spain. As a result, Syndicate 58/6 Premium Blended Scotch Whisky has an burley aroma of roasted grains, cinnamon, oatmeal, orange peel and light smoke. The body is full of complexity, with notes of honey, apple pie, sherry and butterscotch, and leads to a hearty finish complete with smoked meats, pepper and tanned leather. This limited edition was bottled exclusively for Mahesh Patel and Whisky Concierge in 2014.

Amador Whiskey Co. Double Barrel marries the best of Kentucky Bourbon with Napa Valley wine barrel finishing. Its journey began in the heart of Bourbon country, where we selected exceptional Kentucky Bourbon that came to life in new charred American oak barrels aged 3 years.

We transported this treasure westward along the 38th parallel to California, where we finished the Bourbon with our family’s Napa Cellars Chardonnay French oak barrels for 9 months and bottled at 86 proof. This double-barrel aging technique creates characteristics from the individual barrels that are then blended together to make exceptional Bourbon, far greater than the sum of its parts.

TASTING NOTES

Exquisite copper brown color. Notes of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, roasted almond mingle with hints of honey and tobacco. Rich and full bodied with a creamy, long finale. Enjoy this unique Wheated Bourbon with Kentucky pedigree and California flair.

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 of 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 The Macallan's 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. The Macallan M Single Malt Scotch Whisky was crafted from a marriage of seven unique casks of Macallan, each of which was personally selected by Macallan's Master Whisky Maker after more than two years of searching through the Macallan's vast cellars of over 195,000 barrels. Each cask (the oldest whisky was distilled in 1940) was previously used to mature Oloroso sherry. As a result, the whisky as a deep copper color, along with an aroma of dried fruits, vanilla, green apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Rich, viscous wood spices dominate the palate, and are complemented by undertones of leather, cedar and violets. 

In 1898, Teddy Roosevelt a Long Island native organized the First United States Volunteer Cavalry, commonly known as the "Rough Riders," in preparation for the Spanish-American War. The regiment comprised 1,250 volunteers from across the country, including cowboys, Native Americans and other pioneers of the West. After seeing action in Cuba, the Rough Riders earned a decisive victory at the Battle of San Juan Hill before returning to Long Island. Upon their return, the soldiers celebrated their victory and presented Colonel Roosevelt with a small bronze statue of a cowboy riding a bucking horse. "There could have been no more appropriate gift from such a regiment," wrote Roosevelt later. "Most of them looked upon the bronze with the critical eyes of professionals. I doubt if there was any regiment in the world which contained so large a number of men able to ride the wildest and most dangerous horses." Crafted by Long Island Spirits, Rough Rider The Big Stick Cask Strength Rye Whiskey pays homage to Roosevelt's First United States Volunteer Cavalry, and reminds us of the President's old foreign policy adage, Speak softly and carry a big stick. The whiskey is crafted from 100% Long Island winter rye, which is planted on local farms to maintain the sustainable characteristics of the soils following the harvesting of Long Island's iconic potatoes. Aged in 30-gallon American oak barrels, Rough Rider The Big Stick Cask Strength Rye Whiskey is micro-blended from just eight barrels before being bottled at 121 proof. Rough Rider The Big Stick Cask Strength Rye Whiskey has an aroma of toasted rye bread, marmalade and cinnamon sugar, which leads to notes of malt chocolate and chile peppers on the palate. The finish is a touch warm and very smooth. "It's part of the pioneer spirit to try to do something by putting your own signature on it," says Richard Stabile, Long Island Spirits founder and master distiller.

Born in southern Burgundy, Alexandre Gabriel spent his youth working on his family's farm in central France. After studying at the Macalester College in Minnesota and earning a degree in Lyon, Gabriel began working at Maison Ferrand, one of the oldest cognac houses in France. During his tenure at Maison Ferrand, Gabriel would dispose of used cognac casks by selling them to distilleries in Scotland and the Caribbean. "Our love affair with rum began when we sold the prized casks that once held our Cognac to rum producers, and we fell in love with their product," says Gabriel. The tradition of "pineapple rum" dates back to the 1700s, when Caribbean distillers would soak pineapples in their rum barrels, giving the rum an uncommon richness and sweetness. Although the practice eventually fell out of favor, Gabriel and his partner-in-crime, cocktail writer David Wondrich, decided to revive the tradition after stumbling across several ancient recipes buried in the 1824 English Journal of Patent and Inventions and the 1844 Journal of Agricultural Society. To craft Plantation Stiggins Fancy Pineapple Rum, which is named after Rev. Stiggins, a character in Charles Dicken's "Pickwick Papers," Gabriel steeps the flesh of Queen Victoria pineapples in his aged Plantation Original Dark Rum. Then, seeking more aromatics, Gabriel distills the pineapple rind with his Plantation 3 Stars White Rum, blending the two rums together before letting the new spirit spend additional time in oak barrels. "It's not too weird... that's the strength of it," says Wondrich.

During the late 19th century, an overwhelming number of distilleries throughout the United States were still not aging their whiskey. As a result, some retailers would add juices and syrups to sweeten the whiskey, while others would add acid and tobacco to give their whiskey its signature, amber hue. In 1870, George Garvin Brown a young pharmaceuticals salesman from Kentucky saw the need for a consistently high-quality whiskey that would remain unadulterated after distillation. After saving $5,500, Brown and his brother opened the doors to J.T.S. Brown & Bro. Distillery and began distilling bourbon. Unlike other distilleries at the time, Brown aged his bourbon, which was named Old Forester, in oak casks and bottled it in a sealed glass bottle to ensure authenticity and quality. Since its introduction in 1870, Old Forester has been on the market continuously, even during Prohibition, when it continued to be sold for medicinal purposes. It is the only bourbon continuously distilled and marketed by the founding family before, during and after Prohibition. Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the second release in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, which aims to highlight the distillery's significant milestones and production innovations throughout its nearly 150 year history. The whiskey pays homage to the Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897 (27 C.F.R. 5.21), which stipulates that 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. Old Forester's 'sealed-in-quality concept preempted the Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897 and Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made according to the distillery's exacting standards which date back to the 19th century. As a result, the whiskey has a robust aroma of caramel, coffee beans and starfruit, which leads to a deep palate filled with oak, vanilla and gingerbread. The finish is slightly hot and full of flavor, including notes of sugar cereal, burnt toast and cloves. 

In 1886, William Grant, along with the help of his nine children and a single stone mason, began construction of the Glenfiddich Distillery, situated in the Speyside region of Scotland. After a year of hard labor, the first drop of whisky fell from the distillery's copper-pot stills on Christmas Day 1887. Today, Grant's passion, determination and pioneering spirit continue to guide Glenfiddich Distillery, which is stewarded by the fifth generation of the Grant family. Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch is made exclusively from malted barley, which is milled and mashed with water sourced from Robbie Dhu spring. The crystal clear spring water, which is bottled directly at the source, is incredibly pure the distillery purchased 1,200 acres around the spring decades ago in order to protect its unique water supply. After the barley has been mashed, it is fermented in wooden fermentation tanks made of Douglas Fir. While wooden fermentation tanks are more expensive and difficult to maintain as compared to stainless steel tanks, they absorb a portion of the heat generated during fermentation, and thus, enable a slower and longer fermentation process. Following fermentation, the wash is twice-distilled through Glenfiddich's copper-pot stills (the distillery employs a craftsman onsite to tend to the stills, which are unique in shape and size) before the heart of the distillate is cut and prepared for maturation. Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel Reserve 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is aged carefully in ex-bourbon barrels for 14 years. After this initial aging, Glenfiddich's Malt Master, Brian Kinsman, finishes the whisky in deeply charred new American Oak barrels supplied by The Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky. As a result, Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel Reserve 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky has a distinctly sweet aroma, reminiscent of bourbon flavors such as cracked corn, ripe summer fruits and caramel. The palate is spicy, with intense woody influences shining through, and leads to a clean finish accented by vanilla, almonds, raisins and faint wisps of smoke. Bottled at 86 proof, this whisky which pays tribute to the American bourbon industry is only available in the United States.

First released in 2006, Flaming Heart was the first whisky to combine the rich, complex spice of Scotch aged in new French oak with the evocative peat-reek smoke of Islay malt whisky. It created a genre-defying style that was smouldering, spicy, complex - and so popular that we’ve re-released it five more times in the years that followed. In this 2018 edition, we have reintroduced a subtle sherry-cask influence that adds an additional layer of complexity and richness. A medium smoky-peaty base is enriched by a sweet maltiness and notes of baking spices and dried fruit.

The flavors of hot summer nights and Southern mountain tradition come together to create the first-ever sweet tea-flavored moonshine. Drink it neat, or pair it with soda water, lemonade or a variety of other mixers.

American Born Moonshine honors the spirit of American moonshiners, which dates back to 1680 in Jamestown and continues through the Whiskey Rebellion, the Civil War, and Prohibition. ... With a patented pour spout, this moonshine is great for on-premise applications.

The oldest and most traditional mountain moonshine recipe is known as “apple pie.” Drink it as a chilled shot, or pair it with soda water or a variety of other mixers.

With heightened flavor profiles mirroring our Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka (80 Proof), Professional Proof 151 was crafted as a direct response to experienced mixologists looking for a spirit to use as a base for house-made bitters, aged infusion cocktails and fortified wines. Chefs also love the flavor profiles of this over proof spirit for the creation of sauces.

Awards

Boyd & Blair Professional Proof 151 is a 5-star-rated spirit, distilled from the same recipe as our original Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka. Because of its strength, this spirit is not meant to be enjoyed straight or in mixed cocktails.

In 1876, John D. Willett one of Kentucky's original bourbon aristocrats transferred his interest in the Willett & Frenke Distillery to his son-in-laws, Benjamin Mattingly and Thomas Moore. Mattingly and Moore continued to operate the Willett & Frenke Distillery together until 1881, when Mattingly finally sold his stake in the company to a group of investors. Within a few years, Thomas Moore acquired complete control over the distillery and eponymously renamed it. Moore would continue to operate the distillery for another five decades, until he was ultimately forced to close his doors at the onset of Prohibition. Today, the Barton 1792 Distillery operates on the same site as the historic Tom Moore Distillery, and continues to use the same methods that Moore used over a century ago when distilling his own bourbon. 1792 Port Finish Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made from a mash of corn, rye and malted barley. While the use of corn in the bourbon's recipe adds classic notes of buttered bread, biscuits and roasted nuts, the heavy use of rye in the bourbon's mashbill yields a more complex and full-bodied whiskey. After the grains are harvested, they are mashed and fermented before being distilled through a copper-pot still. After distillation, the bourbon is aged in new, American oak casks for six years in Warehouse Z on the distillery's estate in Bardstown, Kentucky. Warehouse Z is situated on the edge of a bluff and as a result, enjoys the intense heat and humidity that are ideal for maturing whiskey. When it comes to barrel aging, says Ken Pierce, Barton 1792's master distiller, it's just like real estate location, location, location. That's why 1792 ages in Warehouse Z up there on the bluff. In addition, during the maturation process, Pierce samples each cask of bourbon as it rests to determine when the bourbon has reached its peak of maturity. Quality in, quality out, says Pierce, who has over two decades of experience at the distillery. After its initial six-year aging, 1792 Port Finish Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged for an additional two years in casks previously used to mature port wine. The subtle, sweet characteristics of the port casks lend aromas of caramel apples, vanilla and intense chocolate to the bourbon, as well as notes of strawberry jam, raisins, gingerbread and cinnamon toast. The finish is long and complex, accented by hints of sweet licorice and cherry pie. Once the bourbon has matured for a total of eight years, it is brought to proof with water drawn from the Tom Moore spring. The iron-free, Kentucky limestone water the same water used by Moore over a century ago when crafting his own whiskey adds a subtle touch of complexity and depth to the bourbon. This fantastic bourbon is limited in supply, and wont be around long make sure you pick up a bottle (or two) today!

A delicate fusion of flavors from seventh-generation distillers, this straight bourbon features a handpicked blend of 4- and 7-year-old bourbons, for an exclusive old-fashioned whiskey that honors its deep family origins.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Rye spice with soft, leathered cherries

Palate: Smoked caramel

Finish: Smoky oak and brown sugar

Awards

Gold Medal, SIP Awards 2018

Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2018

Gold Winner, Berlin International Spirits Competition 2016

Silver Medal, SIP Awards 2017

Gold Medal, L.A. Spirits Awards 2020

Situated in the Midlands region of Ireland, the city of Tullamore was ruled for centuries by Clan O'Molloy. On May 10, 1785, a hot air balloon crashed into the city and began a fire that destroyed over 100 homes, making Tullamore the site of the world's first known aviation disaster. Following the accident, the city adopted a phoenix (a phoenix is a mythological Greek bird that is reborn after it dies) rising from the ashes as its coat of arms, a symbol of its resilience and recovery. Tullamore DEW Distillery was founded within 50 years of the accident, and is situated at the very site where the hot air balloon struck a smoking chimney, which started the fire. Tullamore DEW Irish Whiskey is made from three different grains, including malted barley, unmalted barley and corn. Once the grains are harvested, they are milled and mashed with hot water before being fermented in wooden washbacks. During fermentation, the grains' sugars are converted into alcohol, creating a strong yet sour beer called wash. The wash is then triple distilled through three copper-pot stills: a wash still, a low wines still and a pot still. Through each distillation process, the alcohol content and flavors of the whiskey are intensified. Following distillation, Tullamore DEW Trilogy Irish Whiskey is aged for 15 years in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-Oloroso Sherry and special ex-rum casks, making this both the oldest whiskey ever released by Tullamore DEW and the first time the distillery has used rum casks in such a way. As a result, Tullamore DEW Trilogy has a rich aroma filled with tropical fruits, mixed nuts, tannins and oak. The palate transitions to flavors of chocolate fudge and whipped cream, and leads to an incredibly long and intense finish. Tullamore DEW Trilogy Irish Whiskey shows the power of three in many ways three generations of the Williams family, three types of Irish whiskey (malted barley, unmalted barley and grain), the distinctly Irish process of triple-distillation, the unique crafts of distillation, blending and maturation, and aging in three different types of casks.

In 1805, the Mitchell & Sons Wine Merchants Company was established in the heart of Dublin, Ireland. By the turn of the 19th century, the Mitchells sold a range of Irish whiskeys under the name "Spot." This name originated from the company's practice of marking casks of different ages with a spot of colored paint. As a result, Mitchell & Sons sold whiskies named Blue Spot, Yellow Spot and Red Spot, although Green Spot emerged as their most popular brand. Today, Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey continues to be crafted in the heart of Ireland. "Pot Still Whiskeys define the traditional flavor character of Irish whiskey and we have seen a renewed interest and growth in the category over the last few years," says Brian Nation, the master distiller at Midleton Distillery, which makes Green Spot Whiskey. Green Spot Chteau Loville Barton Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is made from malted and unmalted barley, which are milled and mashed before being distilled through a traditional pot still. After an initial aging in ex-bourbon (75%) and ex- sherry (25%) casks for approximately eight to nine years, Green Spot Chteau Loville Barton Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is finished for 12 to 24 months in casks that previously contained Bordeaux wine from Chteau Loville Barton. In addition to being very highly-regarded, the Barton house is unique in that it's named after famous Irish winemaker Thomas Barton, whose descendants still run Chteau Loville Barton today. Green Spot Chteau Loville Barton Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey has an aroma of wild raspberries, French oak, gingerbread and banana that gives way to notes of vanilla, green apple, lemon peel, honey and marshmallow on the palate. The finish is smooth with a pleasant chewiness, with hints of cereal, wine and Christmas spice. Green Spot Chteau Loville Barton Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is a limited-time expression of the whisky Jim Murray author of the Whisky Bible called, "unquestionably one of the world's greatest whiskies."

In 1934, Ernest Hemingway purchased a boat named Pilar from the Wheeler Shipyard for $7,495. Although he ordered the boat from a catalog, extensive customization was requested (including a livewell and a cockpit enclosed with copper screens) in order to make it unique. The boat would eventually become inextricably linked to Hemingway he used it to catch one of the world's largest sharks in 1935, and, during World War II, the author went hunting for German U-boats in the Caribbean waters on board the ship (the boat was equipped with a sub-machine gun and hand grenades). As a result of his extensive travels, Hemingway was said to have lived a life of perpetual motion, always acting as a trailblazer and never as a spectator. Papa's Pilar Dark Rum is inspired by Hemingway and his thirst for adventure. Papa's Pilar Dark is an ultra-premium sipping rum, bold and complex much like the man who inspired it - Ernest Hemingway. Made of hand-selected rums solera blended in Bourbon barrels, Port Wine casks and Spanish Sherry casks, this 86 proof award-winning rum has a rich, caramelized orange, maple, vanilla, and toasted almond taste profile and a long velvety finish. 2019 Platinum SIP Award, Double Gold recipient: World Spirits Competition, San Francisco.

The principal author of the Declaration of Independence and one of the greatest Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson was elected the third President of the United States in 1800. During his tenure, Jefferson authorized the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, dispatched Lewis and Clark westward in order to explore the remainder of the continent and repealed the Whisky Excise Tax. After Jefferson retired from public office in 1815, he often tended to the garden that he had cultivated on his Monticello estate. At the time, it was customary for wealthy farmers, including Jefferson, to distill the excess grains they harvested from their farms into spirits (George Washington was one of the country's largest distillers of rye whiskey). As a result, each farmer's spirits were unique and reflected the local terroir of their farm. Jefferson's Ocean Aged At Sea Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey pays homage to Jefferson and the exquisite whiskey he distilled. Jefferson's Ocean Aged At Sea Cask Strength Bourbon is first matured in older bourbon casks for approximately six to eight years on land, before the casks are placed on a ship and allowed to rest for another several months at sea. At sea, the bourbon and oak casks are forced to mingle with each other as the ship which stops in five different continents and crosses the equator four times during the journey rolls back and forth over the water. In addition, the temperature and barometric pressure fluctuations during the sea voyage cause the oak staves to expand and contract, and allow the bourbon to extract more of the tannins and flavor from the oak during its maturation. Bottled at cask strength for the first time, Jefferson's Ocean Aged At Sea Cask Strength Bourbon has an aroma of cinnamon buns, orange zest, burnt sugar and marshmallow. Thick notes of salted caramel, figs and chocolate fudge dominate the palate, and lead to a playful finish accented by sweet mint, lemon cake and nutmeg. We have only a handful of bottles available.

The Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve has been matured entirely in first-fill Sherry seasoned oak casks. With a delicious creamy texture that explodes on the palate, this burnished gold single malt delivers soft, spicy and fruity flavors - ginger, orange peel and sherry oak in perfect harmony. Sheer indulgence. Situated adjacent to the Burn of Rothes in the Speyside region of Scotland, The Glenrothes Distillery was founded by in 1879 by James Stuart, who had previously been employed at The Macallan Distillery. The distillery's history is marred by tragedy in 1897, construction workers who were attempting to expand its capacity started a fire that consumed much of the distillery's equipment and infrastructure. Twenty-five years later, a fire in the distillery's original warehouse caused the loss of 200,000 gallons of maturing whisky. Despite having lost ten copper-pot stills in various accidents since its founding, the Glenrothes Distillery is now a picture of tranquility. The Glenrothes Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made from plump, ripe Scottish barley, which is malted and fermented using water sourced from the Ardcanny and Brauchhill springs (the springs are situated adjacent to the distillery). Following fermentation, the grains are twice distilled through the Glenrothes' copper-pot stills. The stills, which were designed and fashioned to be exact replicas of the original stills installed in 1879, are incredibly tall and uniquely shaped, which contributes to the overall light and sweet flavor of the whisky. After distillation, The Glenrothes' stillmen remove the heads and tails of the distillate and preserve only the "hearts" for maturation (the hearts comprise less than 20% of the entire distillate). The Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a blend of rare and limited vintages produced at The Glenrothes Distillery, each aged exclusively in first-fill ex-Oloroso Sherry casks custom-made in Jerez, Spain. These casks cost as much as five times their American ex-bourbon equivalents The Glenrothes Distillery's Malt Master, Gordon Motion, who hand-selects the casks for the Sherry Cask Reserve, believes they are worth it. The whisky has a complex aroma of lemon cake, Christmas cookies, fresh pear and vanilla, which leads to an equally bold palate filled with notes of gingerbread, oak, flan and baking spices. The finish, which is bitter and nutty, is complete with memorable notes of orange zest. The Glenrothes is an award-winning Speyside single malt of exceptional quality and a pioneer in the Scotch whisky industry. All our Single Malt is Vintage Whisky. And when we say Vintage, we don't just mean aged; we mean whisky distilled in a particular year that has reached its peak of maturity, character and flavor. At which point, we have a choice to make: to either bottle these rare and finite expressions as Single Vintages, or marry them together in perfect harmony to create one of our exquisite Reserves. The Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve was awarded "Five Stars" and Highest Recommendation from D. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal in 2015.

For nearly 220 years, the Tuthilltown Gristmill located off Albany Post Road in Gardiner, New York used waterpower to mill local grains into flour. In 2001. Ralph Erenzo acquired the property and together with a partner, converted one of the mill's granaries into a distillery. At the time, Erenzo had little experience distilling spirits. After purchasing a furnace from eBay and a German copper-pot still that arrived without instructions, Erenzo attempted to distill a batch of vodka using apple scraps from a nearby apple-slicing plant in the Hudson Valley. Soon thereafter, Tuthilltown Spirits began experimenting with whiskey. "Our first aged spirit was an experiment that turned out quite well indeed," says Erenzo. "And since we are a small batch shop, we can change direction overnight. We also realized early that whiskey was coming back, in particular the interest in straightforward aged spirits; people are just tired of the same old thing. And we copied no one." Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey is the first rye whiskey to be distilled in New York since Prohibition. It is made exclusively from rye grains that are harvested by farmers situated less than ten miles from the distillery. After the grains arrive, they are milled and mashed at the distillery before being fermented for nearly a week. Following fermentation, the rye is distilled twice through Tuthilltown Spirits' 800-liter, hand-assembled German copper-pot still. After distillation, the whiskey is poured into 3-gallon and 14-gallon charred American oak casks. The casks are then laid to rest within a warehouse that is lined with heaters that power the distillery's stills. As a result, when the stills are running during the day, the warehouse becomes incredibly hot, causing the oak casks to expand and interact with the whiskey. In addition, each night, when the stills are dormant and the temperature cooler, speakers, which have been placed throughout the warehouse, play loud rap music with deep bass. The deep bass agitates the whiskies, and causes the barrels themselves to experience micro-expansions and contractions. This sonic aging process unique in the industry adds to the interaction between the oak and the whiskey. After a slumber of up to two years, each batch of Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey is brought to proof, before each bottle is filled, sealed and numbered by hand. Hudson Manhattan Rye earned the Silver Medal at the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and earned a score of 90-95 points from Wine Enthusiast. "We're not making whiskey the 'traditional' way, as defined for 80 years by the big whiskey producers," says Erenzo. "We are making it the way their grandfathers made it. We do all the work, hands-on, from scratch. All of our product are handmade."