
Several new whiskies from Canada, Scotland, and Kentucky are set to launch in the coming months. (Photo by iStock/coldsnowstorm)
Benjamin Chapman 7 Year Old, High-Proof Pinhook & More New Whisky
March 20, 2020 –––––– Susannah Skiver Barton
Benjamin Chapman 7 year old
Style: Blended whisky
Origin: Canada
Age: 7 years old
Proof: 45% ABV
Price: $39
Release: March 2020
Availability: Widely available
Need to know:
Sourced from Canada, this blend is comprised of 51% 10 year old rye aged in first-fill bourbon barrels and 49% wheat whisky aged in used American whiskey barrels.
Whisky Advocate says:
While hardly a week passes that there's not a new scotch, Irish, or American whiskey release, new whiskies from Canada seem to be in short supply these days. So it's exciting to see a new Canadian blend, with an age statement, hitting shelves. We look forward to bringing you a review soon!
Pinhook Bohemian High Proof Bourbon
Style: Straight bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: 2 years, 10 months old
Proof: 57.25% ABV
Price: $50
Release: March 2020
Availability: Widely available
Need to know:
Pinhook's first bourbon distilled and matured at Castle & Key, this was made with the brand's custom mashbill of 75% corn, 15% malted barley, and 10% rye.
Whisky Advocate says:
This is among Pinhook's highest-proof whiskeys to date, although notthe highest; that title goes to the 2018 vintage of the brand's Cask-Strength bourbon, which clocked in at 57.65% ABV—at just .4% higher, beating out this bourbon by a hair.
Daru Whiskey
Style: Grain whisky
Origin: Canada
Age: 3 years old
Proof: 40% ABV
Price: $30
Release: Spring 2020
Availability: AZ and CA to start, with expansion planned
Need to know:
Distilled in Canada from a corn base, this whisky is aged for three years.
Whisky Advocate says:
Brothers Sonny and Andy Sran started Sran Spirits, debuting with this whisky as the first product. It's inspired by a spirit made by their father decades ago in India. Indeed, the word "daru" means alcoholic beverage in India.
Tomintoul Seiridh (Batch One)
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Highlands)
Age: Not stated
Proof: 40% ABV
Price: $55
Release: March 2020 globally; September 2020 in the U.S.
Availability: 6,000 bottles
Need to know:
This whisky was initially matured in bourbon barrels and then finished in first-fill oloroso sherry casks.
Whisky Advocate says:
"Seiridh" is Scottish Gaelic for sherry, and the pronunciation is identical: "sheh-ree". No excuses for forgetting the whisky's maturation program!