Maker’s Mark 2020 Limited Edition, Very Old Dalmore & More New Whisky

There’ll be new whisky from a very remote place in a few years’ time…but since you can’t wait that long, keep reading for all the newest releases, coming out now.

First up, Maker’s Mark has unveiled its 2020 Limited Edition, made with custom staves. This year’s release uses two stave types and is priced at $60.

But wait, there’s more! Maker’s also very quietly rolled out a cask-strength version of Maker’s 46, on shelves now. This is also priced at $60 and available in limited amounts. Learn more about both of these new releases—and Maker’s custom stave program—on Instagram Live today at 3 p.m., when director of innovation Jane Bowie joins us for #TasteWithSpace.

The fourth release of Little Book is hitting shelves, this year a blend of two bourbons and a rye. Little Book Chapter 4: Lessons Honored is available in limited amounts and priced at $125.

Three very aged single malts from Dalmore are relaunching in the U.S. under the name Aged & Rare: 35 year old ($6,000), 40 year old ($8,800), and 45 year old ($14,600). Needless to say, they’re all limited.

Deanston Distillery is launching two limited editions in the U.S.: a 2002 vintage finished in pinot noir casks ($200; 1,062 bottles in the U.S.), and a 1991 vintage finished in muscat casks ($500; 300 bottles in the U.S.).

In addition, Deanston’s sister distillery Bunnahabhain is offering a limited-edition, 2011 vintage whisky matured entirely in manzanilla sherry casks ($200; 2,680 bottles in the U.S.).

India’s Amrut Distilleries is launching a triple-distilled single malt. Amrut Triparva is priced at $150, with 600 bottles available in the U.S.

Ireland-based West Cork Distillers has added an IPA cask-finished blend to its U.S. offerings. There are 9,400 bottles of the whiskey available, priced at $33.

Foundry Distilling Co. in West Des Moines, Iowa partnered with Kansas City-based Boulevard Brewing Co. to create Midnight Ritual, a malt whiskey distilled from the brewery’s Unfiltered Wheat beer. There are 10,000 bottles available, priced at $60.

Finally, Indiana’s Hard Truth Hills Distilling Co. has released a bourbon finished in rum casks. Hard Truth Sipes’ bourbon is priced at $58 and available in Indiana.

Read on for full details.

Update 9/4/2020: This article was updated to reflect that the Dalmore whiskies are not new releases, but U.S. re-releases of existing expressions.

Maker’s Mark 2020 Limited Release Stave Profile SE4 x PR5 Kentucky Straight bottle.

Maker's Mark 2020 Limited Release Stave Profile SE4 x PR5

Style: Bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
Proof: 55.4% ABV
Price: $60
Release: September 2020
Availability: Limited edition

Need to know:

The second release in Maker’s Wood Finishing Series, this bourbon started off as fully matured Maker’s Mark and then was finished in a cask made with with two proprietary stave types: new French oak with a medium convection, short toast (called the SE4 stave), which brings out caramel flavors, and new American oak with a slow-and-low convection toast (the PR5 stave), which amplifies vanilla.

Whisky Advocate says:

Maker’s Mark launched the Wood Finishing Series last year with RC6, a stave profile that showcased fruit and baking spice notes and scored 93 points in the Buying Guide. This year’s goal was to emphasize the underlying vanilla and caramel flavors of classic Maker’s Mark.

Want to know more? Join us on Instagram Live at 3 p.m. today when Jane Bowie, director of innovation for Maker’s Mark, gives us the first taste of the 2020 Limited Edition and answers questions!

Maker's 46 Cask Strength

Maker's 46 Cask Strength

Style: Bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
Proof: Varies (around 54.8% ABV)
Price: $60
Release: Summer 2020
Availability: Limited edition

Need to know:

This is Maker’s 46 with no added water—just straight from the barrel.

Whisky Advocate says:

Maker’s 46 was launched 10 years ago as the first line extension in Maker’s Mark history; it finishes the straight bourbon with custom seared French oak staves to amp up the spice flavors. This barrel-proof version has been available in the Maker’s Mark visitor center as Bill Samuels, Jr.’s Private Select, and now it’s being launched nationwide in celebration of the anniversary.

Little Book Chapter 4: Lessons Honored (2020 Release) bottle.

Little Book Chapter 4: Lessons Honored

Style: Blend of straight whiskeys
Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
Proof: 61.4% ABV
Price: $125
Release: August 2020
Availability: Limited edition

Need to know:

The fourth release in the Little Book series, created by eighth-generation distiller Freddie Noe, this is a blend of three straight whiskeys made by the James B. Beam Distilling Co.:

  • 4 year old bourbon made with brown rice
  • 8 year old “high-rye” straight rye
  • 7 year old straight bourbon

Whisky Advocate says:

Freddie Noe works with different whiskeys to create each year’s Little Book Blend; this year, the components are meant to honor Freddie’s father, Fred Noe, and their shared time working together. Even the neck tag means something; it’s blue for the Kentucky Wildcats, the Noes’ favorite team.

Dalmore Aged & Rare 35 year old

Dalmore Aged & Rare 35 year old

Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Highlands)
Age: 35 years old
Proof: 40% ABV
Price: $6,000
Release: Fall 2020
Availability: Limited edition

Need to know:

The liquid for this single malt was matured in three cask types: bourbon, Matusalem (30 year old) oloroso sherry, and colheita (vintage aged tawny) port.

Dalmore Aged & Rare 40 year old

Dalmore Aged & Rare 40 year old

Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Highlands)
Age: 40 years old
Proof: 42% ABV
Price: $8,800
Release: Fall 2020
Availability: Limited edition

Need to know:

Initially matured in bourbon casks, this single malt was then transferred to 30 year old Matusalem sherry butts from González Byass, and got a final finish in first-fill bourbon casks.

Dalmore Aged & Rare 45 year old

Dalmore Aged & Rare 45 year old

Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Highlands)
Age: 45 years old
Proof: 40% ABV
Price: $14,600
Release: Fall 2020
Availability: Limited edition

Need to know:

This whisky first matured in bourbon casks, then was transferred to two colheita port pipes from Graham’s, and underwent a final finishing period in first-fill bourbon casks.

Whisky Advocate says:

Update 9/4/2020: Dalmore has clarified that these are not new expressions, but re-releases of existing whiskies that are returning to the U.S. after an absence, under the name Aged & Rare.

It’s been a minute since Dalmore released outrageously aged (and priced) whiskies; the distillery has been quiet over the last few years, continuing to produce its usual range of expressions and the occasional splashy one-off. There have been very few single malt scotch releases in 2020, no doubt because of the 25% tariffs, so these expressions—all bottled in Baccarat decanters—stand out even more than they might otherwise. If you’ve got the cash and want to invest in a collectible whisky, you could do worse than Dalmore.

Deanston 2002 Pinot Noir-Finished

Deanston 2002 Pinot Noir-Finished

Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Highlands)
Age: 17 years old
Proof: 50% ABV
Price: $200
Release: Fall 2020
Availability: 5,604 bottles, including 1,062 for the U.S.

Need to know:

Aged first in ex-bourbon casks, this whisky was finished in pinot noir casks for a year and a half.

Deanston 1991 Muscat-Finished

Deanston 1991 Muscat-Finished

Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Highlands)
Age: 28 years old
Proof: 45% ABV
Price: $500
Release: Fall 2020
Availability: 1,402 bottles, including 300 for the U.S.

Need to know:

Initially matured in bourbon barrels, this single malt spent three years finishing in a muscat cask.

Bunnahabhain 2008 Manzanilla Matured

Bunnahabhain 2008 Manzanilla Matured

Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Islay)
Age: 11 years old
Proof: 55.4% ABV
Price: $200
Release: Fall 2020
Availability: 9,240 bottles, including 2,680 for the U.S.

Need to know:

This unpeated Islay whisky spent its entire maturation period—11 years—in manzanilla sherry casks.

Whisky Advocate says:

In addition to these three whiskies, all available in the U.S., parent company Distell is releasing several more limited editions from its three single malt distilleries that are for sale overseas:

  • Tobermory 2007 Port Pipe-Finished—55.7% ABV, £100, 3,101 bottles
  • Ledaig 1998 Marsala-Finished—58.6% ABV, £200, 1,126 bottles
  • Ledaig 2007 Pedro Ximénez-Finished—55.5% ABV, £100, 1,345 bottles
  • Deanston 2002 Organic Pedro Ximénez-Finished—49.3% ABV, £140, 3,102 bottles
  • Bunnahabhain 1997 Moine Pedro Ximénez-Finished—50% ABV, £350, 1,661 bottles
Amrut Triparva

Amrut Triparva

Style: Single malt
Origin: India
Age: Not stated
Proof: 50% ABV
Price: $150
Release: October 2020
Availability: 5,400 bottles worldwide, including 600 for the U.S.

Need to know:

Amrut’s experimentation with triple-distillation resulted in this whisky, which is the first of several planned releases.

Whisky Advocate says:

Triple-distilled whiskey is common in Ireland, and even found at some American and Scottish distilleries, but this is the first time Amrut—or, indeed, any Indian distillery—has used the method. Learn more about how triple-distilling can influence the final flavor of whisky.

West Cork IPA Cask-Finished Blended Whiskey

West Cork IPA Cask-Finished Blended Whiskey

Style: Blended whiskey
Origin: Ireland
Age: Not stated
Proof: 40% ABV
Price: $33
Release: August 2020
Availability: 9,400 bottles for the U.S.

Need to know:

A blend of 75% wheat and 25% malt whiskeys aged 4 years, this is finished for 6 months in an IPA cask from Blacks Brewery in Kinsale.

Whisky Advocate says:

Beer cask-finished whiskeys have been around for a while now, and although IPAs aren’t usually aged in barrels, they seem to be a popular choice for distillers, with Glenfiddich, Jameson, and others all offering their own iterations.

Midnight Ritual

Midnight Ritual

Style: Malt whiskey
Origin: Iowa
Age: 2 years old
Proof: 44.5% ABV
Price: $60
Release: September 2020
Availability: 10,000 bottles; for sale in IA, KS, MO, and NE

Need to know:

A collaboration between Kansas City-based Boulevard Brewing Co. and Iowa’s Foundry Distilling Co., this whiskey uses the grain bill (pale malt, malted wheat, and raw wheat) for Boulevard’s Unfiltered wheat whiskey. The unfermented wort was trucked to the distillery for fermentation, distillation, and aging in 30-gallon new charred oak barrels.

Whisky Advocate says:

This is the first in a planned series of collaborations between Foundry and craft breweries called the Brewer–Distiller Alliance. The partner breweries will vary, but Foundry will always do the distilling and maturation.

Hard Truth Sipes' Bourbon

Hard Truth Sipes' Bourbon

Style: Finished bourbon
Origin: Indiana
Age: 4 years old
Proof: 45% ABV
Price: $58
Release: August 2020
Availability: For sale in IN only

Need to know:

The first bourbon from Nashville, Indiana’s Hard Truth Hills Distilling Co., this 4 year old whiskey is finished in rum casks. It gets its name from Henry A. Sipes, the area’s first known distiller.

Whisky Advocate says:

Hard Truth also makes rum and vodka, and plans to release additional whiskeys later this year, including a rye made with sweet mash.

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