Brown Foreman whisky history page added

Managed to find out about the Brown Foreman Corporation early history Dating back from the 1870s starting with the Old Forester bourbon and still controlled by the Brown family firm.

Brands include Old Forester Bourbon, Early Times Whisky, Jack Daniels' Tennessee Sipping Whiskey and Woodford Reserve Bourbon From the Labrot  and Graham Distillery

For full History and Brands Click Here

Willett Distillery Page Added

Completed the Willett distillery page History expressions and Tasting notes of this award winning Bourbon

Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon 
2009 SFWS Competition - Product Design Category-Double Gold Medal 
2009 SFWS Competition - Bourbon Category-Gold Medal 
F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal - Four Stars/Highly Recommended 
Jim Murray's 2012 Whisky Bible - 95.5 Rating 
Malt Advocate-90 Rating 



Louisville Magazine's "Sexiest Bourbon"... No, seriously


This bottle has to be collected from the shop It would not survive the couriers

http://www.whiskymerchants.co.uk/#/willett-kbd/4575224617

Heritage Whiskey Brands from Jim Beam

Completed another page on my whiskymerchants website: Jim Beam Heritage whiskey brands, These are the brands that Jim Beam inc have retained from when Fortune Brands purchased National Distillers Group in 1987.

These included Makers Mark, Old Crow, Old Gran-Dad Bourbon and Old Overholt a Rye Whiskey. which they have kept but have since disposed of Old Taylor which was sold to the Sazerac Companyin June 2009.

Old Taylor Bourbon was named after Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. (1830-1923). Taylor founded and developed  several different distilleries throughout his career, the most successful being the O.F.C (aka George T Stagg). and Carlisle distilleries, the forerunners of today’s Buffalo Trace Distillery which is part of the Sazerac group so this brand has returned to its roots.

The page includes each whiskies history

More Info Click Here

Finger Lakes Distillery Page Added

Latest page to be added to our www.whiskymerchants.co.uk whisky information website

Finger Lakes Distilling is the first stand-alone distillery located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, The company is proud to produce only the finest spirits everything is distilled from scratch, in small batches, without any shortcuts.

As a New York State Farm Distillery, they only use New York State fruits and grains for their spirits. Most of the ingredients used comes within a 50 mile radius of the distillery.

The Finger Lakes Distilling story began in 2007, when Brian McKenzie, of Elmira, N.Y., met Thomas Earl McKenzie, of Monroeville, Alabama, at a craft distiller's conference. The two men aren't related, but they share a passion for high-quality distilled spirits. Brian had a background in finance and was looking to start a business in the Finger Lakes, while Thomas Earl was a wine-maker, brewer, farmer, and a consultant for many distilleries.

For More Details About Finger Lakes Distillery and Their Whiskies Click Here

The Gold Buckle Club malt whisky From The Ellensburg Distillery

Founded by two local businessmen

Berle "Rusty" Figgins, Jr. and Ralph Bullock, Jr.

The new venture moved into its 1200-square-foot incubator building space in August 2007. The distillery is working with its next-door neighbor, the Iron Horse Brewery, to craft a proprietary beer that will be distilled into whisky This is a sugar-rich wash, or grain and water mash, (All whiskies are basically grain-based spirits distilled from beer,brewed without hops.) This co-operation creates quite a synergy between the two businesses, lowers the distillery overhead costs and also creates a new revenue stream for the neighboring business.

First Batch

The Gold Buckle Club malt whisky, Washington's first single malt, was bottled on 07 November 2009. Only 300 standard bottles are filled from a 225-litre whisky cask. It is a single-malt, single-barrel, cask-strength whisky that was filled, corked, labelled and sealed, all by hand, with each bottle being lovingly placed into a hand-made, fire-branded, Douglas fir gift box. Each bottle is numbered and signed by the master distiller.

More Details about the Gold Buckle Club malt whisky and The Ellensburg Distillery Click Here

Prichard's Distillery added to whiskymerchants website

American Craft Distiller, Kelso Tennessee.


Principle Brands:
Benjamin Prichard’s Tennessee Whiskey (80 Proof)
Benjamin Prichard's Single Malt Whiskey (80 Proof)
Benjamin Prichard’s Double Barreled Bourbon (90 Proof) (Limited Offering)
Lincoln County Lightning (90 Proof)
Sweet Lucy Liqueur


These quality spirits are a recreation of America’s first distilled beverages.  The rums are made from sweet American molasses from the plantations of Louisiana and their whiskies are very similar in style to those produced by Benjamin Prichard in Davidson County, Tennessee way back in the early 1800’s.

Distilled in traditional copper pot stills using the techniques of the master distillers of an older time, Prichards’ American Spirits are most certainly, nothing like the commercially spirits that are mass produced today.


For Further Information About the Prichards' Distillery Click Here

High West Rendezvous Rye Whiskey

Located at exactly 7000 feet in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in Old Town Park City.  With the winters snows the distillery can lay claim to being the only ski-in distillery in the world.


A higher proportion of un-malted rye gives Rendezvous a unique flavour profile with notes of spicy cinnamon, caramel, honey, mint, and vanilla.

High West does not chill filter its whiskies because they prefer to retain the natural oils that contribute flavour, texture, and a lingering finish that you can really enjoy in a sipping whiskey. Bottled at 92 proof, the minimum proof where chill haze is less likely to form.

San Francisco, March 2008 – The most influential spirits industry professionals in the United States gathered at San Francisco's Mandarin Oriental Hotel March 15th and 16th to swirl, sniff, sip, spit and rank the world's best spirits at the 8th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the only competition of its kind in the United States.

High West Distillery  Rendezvous Rye Whisky
Winner of the Double Gold San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2008.

For more information about High West Rendezvous Rye Whiskey Distillery Click Here

To Buy High West Rendezvous Rye Whiskey in the UK Click Here

Wasmund's Single Malt Whisky

Distilled in Copper Fox in Virginia, Wasmund's Single Malt Whisky is made out of 100% Locally sourced barley.


Copper Fox distillery was the result of an idea of Rick Wasmund on how  could he make a distinct and wonderful whisky by using special fruitwood peat, and fruitwood barrels in a traditional whisky making process.


It combines the best of the grand tradition with creative and unique innovations using apple and cherry wood smoke to flavour the floor malted barley. The single batch copper pot-still produces one barrel at a time and the spirit is non-chill filtered to preserve the complete flavour and essence of the barley grain.

Reduced to 62% abv by the addition of their own calcium rich well water.
The whisky is then matured twice in used bourbon barrels.

The first barrel has a trap door through which an infusion of apple wood chips and oak is effected for 18 months. It is then left in the second barrel for 24 months.
The Wasmund's Single Malt discerns notes of calvados and a sweet nuttiness.

More details about Wasmund's unique distilling process click here.

To buy this whisky in the UK click Here

Pumpkin Spice Moonshine

As the weather begins to get crisper, the guys at Corsair Artisans  figured you should have a spirit specially designed to keep you warm, so they created Pumpkin Spice Moonshine.

This unusual white dog whiskey is inspired by pumpkin ales. First pot distil malted barley and malted wheat to make a sweet malt whiskey. Next they load the pot still’s vapour basket with ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and pumpkin, then redistill the whiskey to infuse and marry all the flavours.

There you have Pumpkin pie in a glass!!

Pumpkin Spice Moonshine Tasting Notes

Pie spices come forward first followed by the full sweet flavour of the pumpkin and malt whiskey. Great in a Manhattan.

For More Information about the Corsair Artisan distillery Click Here

RoughStock Montana Whiskey

Nestled at the base of the Bridger Mountain Range in beautiful south-western Montana,
RoughStock Distillery is quietly hand crafting the:

“First Best Whiskey in the Last Best Place.”

Owned and operated by Bryan and Kari Schultz who originally met in Bozeman and have worked toward their dream of starting and operating their own family business:

Montana’s first, and only, legal whiskey distillery… EVER!

RoughStock Distillery is a dream come true. a small craft distillery using 100% local ingredients for a product that is unique to the region.

The  location of RoughStock Distillery was carefully planned The purity of Montana’s snow-capped mountains feed the pristine high-elevation streams and rivers that serve as a foundation for the Montana Whiskey.

More Information about RoughStock Montana Whiskey Click here

To Purchase RoughStock Montana Whiskey Click Here

Balcones Baby Blue Texas Corn Whiskey

 Baby Blue is not only Texas' first whisky, but also the only blue corn whisky made anywhere.


Made from 100% roasted Hopi blue corn. It is used in many ceremonies representing long life, wisdom, understanding, and the strength that comes through overcoming hardship.

Packed with a rich, roasty nuttiness that is truly exceptional. It has the freshness and verve of a traditional corn whisky but with a refined complexity added by brief ageing in small oak barrels. 
It has a round nuttiness and roasty overtones with a smooth finish.

The brief ageing in oak certainly contributes some of the recognizable oak notes and characteristic of bourbon, but these flavours do not dominate the rich corn flavours.


More Details about the Balcones Distillery Click Here


To purchace Balcones Baby Blue Texas Corn Whiskey Click Here

Nashoba Valley Winery & Distillery Page Added to whiskymerchants website

Located in the heart of Massachusetts’ apple country, Nashoba Valley Winery can be found in a stunning hilltop orchard overlooking the charming town of Bolton.


Nashoba Valley Winery Distilling
Issued License Number FD-1 on February, 26th, 2003, Nashoba Valley offers a wonderful selection of distilled spirits in addition to its wines and beers.

Combining the award winning artistry of fermentation with years of experience in distillation, Nashoba Valley produces and sells some of the finest brandies, eau de vie, cordials and vodka (distilled from 100% apples) and now produces its own single malt whisky.

More details about the Nashoba Valley Distillery Click here

The Virginia Distillery Company added to whiskymerchants.co.uk

The Virginia Distillery Company’s home, Eades Hollow, is located in beautiful Nelson County on US Route 29 in Lovingston.

Situated only 25 minutes from Wintergreen Resort and the city of Charlottesville; Which itself is just a day trip from Richmond and Washington D.C.

This is a thriving community of wineries, breweries and other distilleries in this beautiful Region of Eastern USA



The Founders
Brian Gray, Joe Hungate and Chris Allwood are the three single malt enthusiasts who founded The Virginia Distillery Company. These successful professionals have developed deep appreciation not only for the complex tastes of the whisky but also the art of making it, they decided their next venture would be to bring this craft to Virginia.


For more details about The Virginia Distillery Company Click Here

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company added to whiskymerchants.co.uk

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company was founded by Becky and Scott Harris in 2009 and is the first family-owned distillery in Loudoun County Virginia since before prohibition.

Located in Purcellville, Virginia, in the heart of the Loudoun Valley. Loudoun County, often called D.C.'s Wine Country, is home to more than twenty vineyards and wineries, and now has a distillery.


The name "Catoctin" is a regional name. Pronounced Ka-TOCK-tin, the name derives from the Indian tribal name "Kittocton" which, legend has it, meant "place of many deer". Catoctin describes a range of mountains and the creek which flows picturesquely into the Potomac River and Chesapeake Watershed.

For more details about Catoctin Creek Distillery Click Here

Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey 47% 75cl Batch# 35

Straight Rocky Mountain Whisky.
100% Malted Barley.

A unique small batch whiskey cultivated in Colorado’s only micro-distillery is a whiskey unlike any other – a straight Rocky Mountain whiskey that embraces the true pioneering spirit of the West.

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey™ is expected to set a new classification for the liquor, as its unique distilling techniques blend the processes used to make both Scotch and Bourbon whiskeys. What results is a spirit with a traditionally Bourbon amber-red colour, but a lighter, smoother taste than any other whiskey on the market.
The whiskey mash includes four different barleys grown in the Northern Rockies and water from crystal clear Rocky Mountain streams.

“This cleaner, purer mash is double filtered and double distilled, giving the distillery a superior product starting off.  Our still is a pot/column combination — pot is generally a Scotch-style still, and column is a Bourbon-style still. We thought it would be an efficient way to achieve the purity we expected”, Graber says. “Being hand-crafted allows us to control the process and the quality a lot better.”

More Details about  Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey Distillery Click Here

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey 45%

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.


Buffalo Trace Distillery History

The McAfee brothers completed the first survey of the area north of the Kentucky River in 1773. Brothers Hancock and Willis Lee established a settlement two years later, after initial struggles and abandonment the area had developed into a thriving community by 1787.


During the prohibition era, the distillery's existence was spared by the allowance of a permit–one of only four issued in the country–to continue distillation for medicinal purposes.
 
 Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey 45% Tasting Notes..
 
Appearance: Light bronze in color with streaks of gold,

Nose: bears a complex aroma of vanilla, mint, and molasses.

Taste is pleasantly sweet and contains notes of brown sugar and spice that give way to oak and leather.

Finish: The long and dry finish has significant depth. When enjoyed with water, flavors of toffee, dark fruit and anise are revealed.

For Buffalo Trace distillery photo slide show and history click here  

Sazerac 18 year old Rye 45% Whiskey

Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey.
Bottled Fall 2007.

Tasting Notes-

  Malt Advocate rating: 95
Amber chestnut color.
Huge, spicy aroma. Very mature, with notes of oak, leather, and molasses. Enormous in every respect, from its thick, chewy texture to its unbelievably spicy and very powerful flavors.
The long, warm finish is preceded by notes of mint, eucalyptus, cinnamon, vanilla, molasses, oak, leather, and lingering pepper.

More Information about Sazerac Rye Whiskey at the Buffalo Trace Distillery Click here

Eagle Rare Bourbon Whiskey 17 year old Single Barrel 45%

From the Buffalo Trace  Distillery Kentucky

Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, Single barrel bottling
(90 Proof, "Rye Recipe" Kentucky Straight Bourbon)
Tasting Notes:-

Wine Enthusiast rating: 96

This deep, burnished-gold whiskey has a somewhat fragrant nose, and the aromas develop an almost wine-like character, with a hint of almonds lurking in the backdrop.
The body is big and silky, and the palate is far spicier than the nose leads you to believe, but there are also violet notes here, along with a touch of caramel and a hint of old leather.
The finish is very leathery, and very long.
This whiskey earned a great rating, but lovers of previous bottlings of Eagle Rare should know that this seems to bear a completely different style---it’s far greater than either the 10-or 15-year old.
WINE Enthusiast Magazine

 more information about the Buffalo Trace Distillery Click here

Evan Williams Extra Aged Sour Mash 43%

Evan Williams, born a Welshman, settled in Virginia and moved to what would become Kentucky (at the time was Fincastle County of Virginia) in about 1780. 

Evan Williams' extra aging gives it a richer, smoother Bourbon taste.

It was given a 90-rating by Wine Enthusiast Magazine who commented that Evan Williams has, "a deep vanilla nose...and the palate shows notes of oak, vanilla and dark berries."

Evan Williams' Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Tasting Notes..

Nose: Slightly sharp and green with a touch of menthol.

Taste: A very sweet start with soft brown sugars and caramel. As the middle is reached there is a hint of spice and maltiness.

Finish: A gentle finale to a light, easy-going whiskey. Limited vanilla and a little oak sap add extra weight but the small grains, especially the malt, do hang on to the finish.

Comments: An easy number, this. A fresh, light weight throughout makes this one not for those looking for the intensity you might expect at 7 years but a gentle, sweet, untaxing journey with not a bump along the way."

Jim Murray
Classic Bourbon, Tennessee & Rye Whiskey Tasting note Kindly supplied by Heaven Hill Distilleries.

More information about Evan Williams and the Heaven Hill distilleries Click here

You can purchase Evan Williams Bourbon at www.whiskys.co.uk 

Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Elijah Craig a Baptist preacher from Kentucky is credited with the invention of bourbon whiskey. He was also the founder of Georgetown College, in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Craig was born in Orange County, Virginia in 1738. He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1771, however he was imprisoned briefly in South Carolina, they say for disturbing the peace with his sermons.

He then moved to a large region of Kentucky known as Bourbon County, Kentucky and settled in the area of Frankfort in 1785. Two years later In 1777, he became pastor of Blue Run Church.

Craig was a shrewd businessman and a local entrepreneur; he built Kentucky's first fulling mill, its first paper mill, and founded a distillery around 1789 in Georgetown, Kentucky.

It's said that Craig's distillery was the first to age corn whiskey in new charred oak barrels, which is the decisive step in turning moonshine into Bourbon whiskey. This appears to have happened by chance.

After experiencing a fire in his barn where he stored his whiskey barrels. He continued to deposit his new whiskey in the burnt barrels anyway, Craig soon discovered that the whiskey aged better in the charred barrels, picking up colour and flavour, and earning Craig the title of the "Father of Bourbon."


More information and Tasting Notes about Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Click here


You can buy Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey here at www.whiskys.co.uk