NEWS RELEASES

The week's list of new releases is led by the American side, with bourbons and American single malts at the fore, as well as a new tequila-finished rye from High West. From Scotland, Kilchoman offers its annual Sanaig release, and from Ireland, we have what might be the final release from Waterford Distillery, which went into receivership in late November. It seems likely that funding will be found to keep Waterford going, possibly under a different owner, but for now, everything remains on hold.

On a happier note, Indian single malt maker Paul John has just released its annual Christmas Edition. Those who've discovered or wish to discover this producer should take note: two previous Paul John Christmas releases we've reviewed both scored 91 points. And from Kentucky, Blue Run also gets into the season with its new Blue Run Ember release, made with holiday sipping in mind.

Paul John 2024 Christmas Edition Indian Single Malt

ABV: 46%

Price: $80

Availability: Limited; 7,000 bottles available nationwide; imported by Sazerac

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, which means it's time for another annual festive release from John Distilleries of Goa, India. This year's Paul John expression is unpeated and made from a combination of virgin oak-matured and Caribbean rum cask-finished single malts. Each year's release is different, and this 7th edition is the first in the series to use rum casks. The 2023 edition, the 6th release, scored 91 points.

Old Forester 117 Series: Warehouse I Bourbon

ABV: 47.5%

SRP: $65/375ml

Availability: Limited; at Kentucky retailers.

Old Forester's 117 Series showcases the distillery's experimental side, focusing on interesting cask finishes or unique aging processes. This new expression features barrels that were aged entirely in the distillery's Warehouse I.

Warehouse K is typically used to age single barrel expressions, and its 117 batch was blended from barrels aged on multiple floors. Warehouse H is a fairly curious one, as its heat-cycling system makes it so that the highest temperatures are found on the lower floors rather than the higher ones.

High West The Noble Share Blend of Ryes

ABV: 52%

SRP: $175

Availability: In limited quantities starting December 8

In a first for High West, the distiller has teamed up with Casa Noble tequila on a blend of ryes finished in añejo tequila casks and amburana barrels. The Noble Share melds ryes aged from 4 to 10 years; some of the rye is sourced from MGP (95% rye, 5% malted barley), with the remainder coming from High West's Wanship, Utah distillery (80% rye, 20% malted barley). While the majority of the blend is finished in Marques de Casa Noble añejo tequila barrels for 6 months, a smaller portion is finished in amburana barrels with a char level 3 or medium toast.

Blue Run Ember Kentucky Straight Bourbon

ABV: 64.4%

SRP: $130

Availability: Limited; online at bluerunspirits.com and retail in Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Virginia

Blue Run's latest limited release taps into the holiday spirit. In making Ember, head of whiskey development and innovation Shaylyn Gammon selected three barrels of high-proof Kentucky straight bourbon, all of which, according to her, emphasize char and wood spice notes that complement cooler temperatures.

Founded in 2020 by Mike Montgomery, Tim Sparapani, Jesse McKnight, and Andy Brown, Blue Run initially attracted attention thanks to its liquid advisor: blender Jim Rutledge of Four Roses fame. The brand was bought by Molson Coors last year, and the four founders and original whiskey team stayed in place following the acquisition. Before the Molson Coors purchase, Blue Run announced plans for a stunning new distillery in Georgetown, Kentucky, which is set to open next year.

Copperworks Color Cask Single Cask American Single Malt

ABV: 50%

SRP: $150

Availability: Limited; at Copperworks's Seattle and Kenmore tasting rooms

Copperworks Whidbey's Port Cask American Single Malt

ABV: 50%

SRP: $90

Availability: Limited; at Copperworks's Seattle and Kenmore tasting rooms

Washington-based single malt maker Copperworks Distilling Co. has released two new single-cask expressions in time for the holidays. The first, Color Cask, was fully aged for just under 5 years in a 200 year old sherry cask sourced from the Bodegas Argüeso winery in Cádiz, Spain. It was distilled entirely from the heads and tails of prior distillations, using a process that the distillery calls a “Queen's Run.”

The second expression uses Copperwork's flagship five-malt mashbill and was aged for around 7 years in a refill American single malt barrel, before being finished for 7 months in barrels that previously held Whidbey's Port—a port-style wine from Washington that is fermented in the city of Prosser and is cellared in neighboring Grandview.

Buckner's 15 year old Single Barrel Bourbon

ABV: 59.25%

SRP: $300

Availability: Limited

Augusta Distillery is bringing back its 15 year old single barrel bourbon for the first time since 2022. This ultra-aged release will be available at the Augusta, Kentucky-based distillery starting Saturday, December 14. Augusta is hosting a holiday party, coined “A Very Buckner's Christmas,” in celebration of the re-release; the event is free and open to the public and will feature bespoke holiday cocktails and Kentucky barbecue from local outfit Rescue BBQ. The event is set to go from noon to 5 p.m.

Ahead of the release party, Augusta president Ryan Edwards will lead an exclusive tasting event at 10:30 a.m.—tickets are $550 apiece and grant access to a tasting of Buckner's 10, 13, 15, and 17 year old single barrel bourbons, as well as the distillery's 8 year old Old Route 8 single barrel bourbon.

Windsor Reserve Blended Canadian

ABV: 46.6%

SRP: $20

Availability: Nationwide

Windsor Canadian whisky has added a more premium expression to its portfolio. The new whisky, like the brand's flagship, is a blend of rye, corn, and malted barley; unlike the original whisky, however, which is bottled at 40% ABV, Reserve clocks in at 46.6% ABV.

Windsor is made at Calgary-based Alberta Distillers Ltd., which holds the distinction of being the No.-1 rye producer in North America, with more than 450,000 barrels of aging stock. Its distillate appears in many brands other than its own, ranging from Vermont's WhistlePig to Jefferson's in Kentucky. The distillery is owned by Suntory Global Spirits, while Windsor itself is owned by Prestige Beverage Group.

Fuji 50th Anniversary Single Malt

ABV: 52%

SRP: $500

Availability: 3,000 bottles; 400 for the U.S. in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington

To commemorate its 50th anniversary, Fuji Gotemba Distillery has released an ultra-aged single malt. Master blender Jota Tanaka blended malts distilled between the 1970s and 2010s, with the youngest whisky in the blend hovering at 12 years old, and the oldest at 50 years. The final blend features whisky aged in bourbon, beer, oloroso, and French red wine casks.

Fuji was built in 1973 as part of a partnership between Japanese beer and beverage holding company Kirin and drinks multinational Seagram Co. These days, the distillery is owned entirely by Kirin, but those cross-cultural roots have had a lasting impact—in addition to its malts, Fuji makes a bourbon-style grain whisky on a beer column and doubler, as well as a Canadian-style grain whisky distilled with a batch distillation method in kettle and column stills.

Kilchoman Sanaig Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch

ABV: 57.8%

Price: $100

Availability: Limited: 2,520 bottles; imported by ImpEx Beverages.

Kilchoman has bottled a limited-edition release of its Sanaig core expression (46% ABV). The malt is peated to 50 phenol parts per million (PPM), and Kilchoman fans will be heartened to know that they have bottled this at its natural cask strength of 57.8% ABV while maintaining Sanaig's oloroso sherry character, achieved through a combination of oloroso sherry hogshead finishes and full maturation in oloroso sherry casks.

Meanwhile, Kilchoman fans should look out for Kilchoman Comraich this holiday season, an 8 year old single malt made solely from barley grown at the distillery on Islay and aged in bourbon casks. Comraich is Scots Gaelic for sanctuary, and this whisky is exclusive to Kilchoman Comraich bars and restaurants, a select list of affiliate establishments across the country, where it is available by the dram only. Click the Kilchoman Comraich link to locate your nearest bar where it is being poured.

Waterford Cuvée Luna Irish Single Malt

ABV: 50%

SRP: $120

Availability: Widely; imported by MORF Brands

Waterford, Ireland-based Waterford Distillery went into administration at the end of last month, and the search is now on for a buyer to enable the Waterford story to continue. While the future of Waterford Distillery remains uncertain, a new biodynamic whiskey was set for release and is still expected to go on sale. This cuvée is a combination of three single farm origin parcels from the biodynamic harvests of 2018 and 2019.

Waterford's cuvée concept is inspired by France's greatest bordeaux and champagne houses and involves blending different individually-distilled component whiskeys from barley grown on different farms. Waterford Cuvée Luna is a non-age statement single malt matured in a combination of new American oak, first-fill bourbon, French oak, and Vin Doux Naturel (naturally sweet wine) casks. Biodynamic Luna, Waterford's first release using barley grown using biodynamic principles, scored 90 points.

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