Now that Passover is behind us, Buffalo Trace is rolling out the 2021 batches of its kosher trio of whiskeys—bourbon, wheated bourbon, and rye. Curious why Passover matters? Check out our detailed feature on the complex rules and methods of making kosher whisky.
On to the newest releases. First up, Laphroaig is adding an oloroso sherry-finished 10 year old to its range. Though available in limited amounts, it’s a permanent addition, priced at $90.
Rabbit Hole has unveiled a mizunara cask-finished bourbon as part of its Founder’s Collection. There are just 1,403 bottles, priced at $1,500 each.
The 2021 special-edition Glen Scotia released for the Campbeltown Malts Festival comes out soon. Finished in bordeaux red wine casks, the whisky is priced at $80 and available in limited amounts.
Four Gate Whiskey Co. is rolling out its latest limited edition, Kelvin Collaboration III. The finished bourbon is priced at $199, with 2,470 bottles available.
Bardstown Bourbon Co. has created an extra-matured version of Phifer Pavitt Reserve, its bourbon finished in cabernet sauvignon barrels. The whiskey is available at the distillery for $200.
Stranahan’s is also offering a distillery exclusive, a single malt finished in Bushmills Irish whiskey casks. It’s priced at $70 and permanently available.
Finally, Diageo is marking the reopening of Brora Distillery with a high-end collector’s set. Brora Triptych includes three extra-mature whiskies from the distillery’s previous life, packaged in 500 ml bottles. The Trio is priced at £30,000 (around $41,265) and available at the distillery and abroad.
Read on for full details.
Laphroaig 10 year old Sherry Oak Finish
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Islay)
Age: 10 years old
Proof: 48% ABV
Price: $90
Release: March 2021
Availability: Limited edition
Need to know:
This is everybody’s favorite peat bomb, Laphroaig 10 year old, finished in oloroso sherry casks for 12 to 18 months. This will be an annual limited release, with 26,700 bottles available globally this year.
Update 4/13/21: Per the brand, we originally reported that this is a cask strength release, but the brand has since confirmed that it is not.
Whisky Advocate says:
Peat and sherry represent two of the more popular flavors in single malt scotch and this gives whisky drinkers a chance to experience both at the same time. Laphroaig has previously explored sherry finishing through its Triple Wood and Cairdeas series but this has the added benefit of a 10 year age statement. There’s no word on how many bottles are coming to the U.S., so ‘Phroaig fans would be wise to keep a watchful eye out.
Rabbit Hole 15 year old Japanese Oak-Finished Bourbon
Style: Finished bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: 15 years old
Proof: 57.1% ABV
Price: $1,500
Release: May 2021
Availability: 1,403 bottles
Need to know:
The second release in Rabbit Hole’s Founder’s Collection, this starts off as 15 year old straight bourbon and is then finished for a year in virgin Japanese mizunara oak casks. The casks come from Ariake Sangyo cooperage and have a 3-5 mm char.
Whisky Advocate says:
Mizunara oak adds delicious and complex flavors to whiskies of all styles, but it’s rare enough that only a handful of bourbon makers have ever used it, notably Angel’s Envy. We look forward to reviewing this mizunara-finished Rabbit Hole in an upcoming Buying Guide! In the meantime, check out our current issue for an in-depth feature all about this special Japanese oak.
Glen Scotia 10 year old Bordeaux Cask-Finished (Campbeltown Malts Festival 2021)
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Campbeltown)
Age: 10 years old
Proof: 56.1% ABV
Price: $80
Release: June 2021
Availability: Limited edition
Need to know:
Comprising whiskies distilled from 2009 to 2011, this was initially aged in bourbon casks and then vatted for a 5-month finish in red wine casks from Bordeaux’s Médoc region.
Whisky Advocate says:
Each year Glen Scotia releases a special whisky for the Campbeltown Malts Festival, which usually takes place in May or June. Like last year, this year’s festival will be virtual—but the whisky will still be available IRL, though in limited amounts.
But there’s plenty of widely available Glen Scotia to find at American shops. The distillery is one of our recommended “hidden gems” of scotch; check out the full article in the current issue!
Four Gate Kelvin Collaboration III
Style: Finished bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: 9 years old
Proof: 61.85% ABV
Price: $199
Release: April 2021
Availability: 2,470 bottles
Need to know:
This whiskey combines two bourbons: a 9 year old made from 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, and a 12 year old made from 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley. The blend is then finished in casks that first held Pedro Ximénez sherry, and then rum.
Whisky Advocate says:
Four Gate has a close partnership with Kelvin Cooperage, which creates custom barrels like this one for finishing the company’s whiskeys. The first and second Kelvin Collaboration bourbons scored well—93 points for Batch 1, finished in sherry-rum casks like this new release, and 94 points for Collaboration II, which was finished in cognac and rum casks. So we expect great things from this one too!
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Distillery Series Phifer Pavitt XO
Style: Finished bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
Proof: 54% ABV
Price: $200
Release: March 2021
Availability: Limited edition; for sale at the distillery only
Need to know:
The first in Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s new distillery-exclusive series, this started off as Phifer Pavitt Reserve but stayed in the cask for a whopping 44 months, rather than the standard 18.
Whisky Advocate says:
Visitors to Bardstown Bourbon Co. will be able to bottle their own Distillery Series whiskey straight from the cask. These limited-edition releases will change as they sell out; upcoming offerings include a double-barrel expression of Bardstown’s Discovery Series bourbon, as well as whiskeys finished in French oak, cognac, and syrah casks.
In addition to the new Distillery Series, Bardstown is releasing a second batch of bourbon finished in The Prisoner wine casks ($124). The 50% ABV Tennessee-made bourbon tacks on an extra year of age, from 9 to 10 years old.
Stranahan’s Bushmills Cask
Style: Single malt
Origin: Colorado
Age: Not stated
Proof: 47%
Price: $70
Release: March 2021
Availability: Permanently available at the Denver distillery
Need to know:
This is Stranahan’s single malt that has been aged for at least 4 years in new American oak barrels with a #3 char, and then finished for at least 1 more year in Bushmills Irish whiskey casks.
Whisky Advocate says:
This is the first expression in the Stranahan’s Distiller’s Exclusive series, in which the distillery aims to release expressions that show dedication and innovation within American single malt through unique finishing methods, such as this Irish whiskey finishing cask. While this series is new, it’s certainly not Stranahan’s first attempt at finishing its single malts. Stranahan’s Sherry Cask was released four years ago and scored 90 points in the Buying Guide. We’re excited to see how this Bushmills Cask stacks up!
Brora Triptych
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Highlands)
Age: Varies
Proof: Varies
Price: £30,000 (around $41,265)
Release: May 2021
Availability: Limited edition; not for sale in the U.S.
Need to know:
Launched to celebrate the reopening of Brora Distillery—taking place next month—this set includes three whiskies, all packaged in 500 ml bottles:
- 1972 Brora 48 year old Elusive Legacy, 42.8% ABV—The oldest Brora ever released publicly
- 1977 Brora 43 year old Age of Peat, 48.6% ABV—Heavily peated in a classic style for the distillery
- 1982 Brora 38 year old Timeless Original, 47.6% ABV—Made with lower peat levels than its elder sibling
Whisky Advocate says:
After decades of silence, Brora will officially start making whisky again next month. If you travel to the distillery—and have the cash—you can buy this special trio of whiskies there. It’s also available internationally through select retailers, though not hitting U.S. shores.
